Our lives are hanging by a thread
Don't be alarmed, because there is nothing serious going on. On the contrary. My suitcase is packed and I am ready to travel to Bangkok.
Perhaps because of the increasing years I had to think back to my very first trip abroad to Weggis on Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. A nine-day trip 'all included', as they call it nowadays, for the sum of 79 guilders. There by bus and overnight in large army tents with wooden floors and steel beds. Meals were served outside. Not exactly luxurious or exclusive, but the surroundings were magnificent and we devoured the scanty Dutch pot served like lions.
Checklist
Over the years I have built up quite a list of items that belong in my luggage and things that need to be taken care of before I leave. Initially that list was quite limited and I remember all too well how strange the lady at Schiphol looked at me that I only checked in 13 kilos of luggage with a ticket that stated that I would only set foot on Dutch soil again in three months. Money, ticket and passport were the essentials that should not be missing for me. I had never heard of a cell phone at that time. Admittedly, I no longer reach that minimum weight by a long shot.
Plugs and cords
When packing my suitcase I was amazed at the amount of cables, plugs and adapters that are part of my luggage. Charging cables for my shaver, electric toothbrush, rechargeable batteries for the camera, laptop and last but not least the mobile phone. Twenty years ago I didn't miss all that stuff at all. Dear reader, you will have already noticed, I am no longer among the youngest. My life is literally hanging by a thread.
Another piece of Thailand
This time I'm going to a lesser known part of Thailand with a good friend. Mae Sam Laep is a small place on the border with Burma where I once lived twenty years ago and of which I have the best memories. Our second destination is the town of Mae Sot, of which the well-known writer Sjon Hauser wrote: “there are few places in Thailand where I would rather spend a few days than in Mae Sot, the vibrant district town on the Myanmar border in Tak province. Not only is it the perfect springboard to a number of beautiful nature reserves and other attractions, the city itself also has a lot to offer and has atmosphere.”
Promise you a story about our experiences. My laptop's wire is in the trunk
read your article with pleasure, short and concise and clear and……………….in flawless Dutch! my gratitude.
Capital letters are even more flawlessly Dutch. 😉
Jan
Joseph, I'm a little younger than you are, but I don't let my life depend on wires, cords and adapters. Electric shaver? Just shave wet, you don't need a thread! Electric toothbrush? Come on, just give it a good scrubbing with a regular brush! Laptop on vacation? What is so urgent that you need to use it during your vacation. Can it wait until you get back on base?
Traveling on your mobile? Someone once said: people go on adventures abroad, but even in the jungle they keep one foot in their backyard. Apparently contact with the home front should not be lost. I almost never have that thing with me and in case of emergency there is always a telephone available somewhere.
Leave all that stuff at home and enjoy your holiday without outside interference!
That is of course also a bit exaggerated.
Shave wet and just use a toothbrush, totally agree.
A mobile phone is of course not only for the home front, but you can also easily maintain contacts with fellow travelers. In addition, nowadays there are photo cameras that are of very good quality, so great for holiday snaps. Furthermore, nowadays you also have all kinds of travel apps that can be very useful.
Eduard, I also sometimes think about making such a trip, but then on my own, I am 78 years old, is that too old or are you my age.
I'd appreciate hearing from you.
Totally agree. When I went to Thailand for the first time two years ago, I had already spent two months making a checklist.
It started with passport, ticket, phone + charger, toothbrushes + charger, laptop + charger.
Stream stream and stream again. Working in IT, I can't do without the internet in my job, let alone a laptop.
One day when I had no internet in Thailand, or it was crazy slow. I only realized when we here in the Netherlands are extremely good with the digital highway.
As you write; our lives are hanging by a thread.
Dear Jan,
difficult to answer the question of whether 78 is too old to make such a journey.
i am now 77 and back in thailand and i have to say i feel a lot better now than when i left. I have had some medical complaints and that made me very nervous and that is over now that I have been on the road for almost 4 weeks.
but…… a few years ago I still made trips that required quite a lot of effort for me, such as a tour through myanmar, laos, cambodia, vietnam and thailand, now I can't do that anymore, I think.
i now have a beach holiday in thailand, i have been to bangkok at least fifty times to see all the palaces and temples, and i am no longer interested in that.
On Tuesday I will continue my trip to Bali and there I will spend another three weeks in a fairly luxurious hotel, where I will mainly laze around and enjoy good food.
in short, you must decide for yourself what kind of journey you will be able to handle and your doctor may be able to advise you.
I personally think that most of this age can still make such a trip and depending on the condition laze around or take all kinds of tours.
best regards
eduard
Dear Mr. Jan, I do not know how you are physically, but I know a person of 92 who goes to Thailand alone twice a year. He stays in a hotel for 2 months and he still likes it
and always has wonderful stories when he is back. So what prevents you from doing it with 77 years. I would say do it and wish you a lot of fun (because Thailand is a wonderful country for vacation.)
Gr Leny
Hi Jo,
Just read that you are traveling again so you are doing well! Have a safe trip and have fun and I look forward to hearing your stories.
Dear greetings
Marianna