Landed on a tropical island: The noodle shop
Els van Wijlen has been living for more than 30 years with her husband 'de Kuuk' in a small village in Brabant. In 2006 they visited Thailand for the first time. They made a wonderful journey by car from North to South Thailand and thought it was a great country.
If possible, they go on holiday there twice a year. Their favorite island is Koh Phangan, which feels like coming home. Lazing on the island and scootering, with a small backpack full of little.
Another ten days or so and then it's vacation again. This time the Isaan is on the program and the last week we go to Koh Phangan as always. The Isaan is completely new to us and Koh Phangan has felt like coming home for years. Here my husband, the Kuuk, can hang for hours in the endlessly repaired hammock between the palm trees. Looking out over the sea, enjoying his cigarette.
In my mind I go back to last year, when we were visited by Korn, a Thai acquaintance, who has been working in the market for years in one of the many food stalls. She tells us that she can start her own noodle shop. She would be more than able to make a living there and she already had almost all the necessary money together.
Unfortunately there is one small problem. She is still a few thousand baths short. Whether she can borrow it from us, just for a day or ten. After all, she has already converted an enormous amount in those ten days and can easily pay us back. And of course we can come and eat with her for free. And in fact, she needs the money tomorrow.
She looks at me with big dark eyes and, to be honest, it takes me quite a lot of effort to tell her that we wish her a lot of success, but that we really aren't going to borrow any money. I'm not completely retarded, of course that money will never come back. As I say it, I look at the Kuuk and then I already know that it is going completely wrong.
He says: Oh dear, maybe we should do that anyway. She's always so good to us, why don't we help her? I tell Korn we'll think about it. We'll make a decision tomorrow after seeing her noodle shop.
I have to laugh at my own made-up contract
In the evening we discuss the matter and ask ourselves if we can trust that the money will come back. Of course we disagree. Of course it's not a huge amount, if it doesn't come back it's not that bad either. But I don't understand how the Kuuk can be so naive. He is really convinced that she will return the money. He trusts her completely.
Then suddenly I get a really bad idea and I immediately blurt it out. Well, if you have that much confidence in her, then you lend her the money. And if she doesn't pay you back, you quit smoking. Just think about that for a moment. Hahaha, I don't think he will. I have to laugh at my own made-up contract and I think that I am always in a win-win situation. Either the money comes back or he quits smoking.
Satisfied we go to sleep. So we go to visit Korn the next day. The modest noodle shop is hidden behind a roller shutter on the main road, in the center of Tong Sala. She is already waiting for us and opens the roller shutter with her key and proudly shows us “her” shop. The noodle shop does indeed exist and it also looks good. With the money she borrows from us, she can buy the ingredients so that she can open the shop at 06.00:XNUMX the next day. Of course, De Kuuk had already pinned and hands her the baths. We wish her good luck and promise to come for dinner tomorrow. That's not for nothing, we'd like to pay.
In the evening he is gently reminded by me that I am happy with the way things are going. I don't have to worry about anything, it's always good for me. Yes, it is for you, says de Kuuk and it seems that he only realizes that his beloved checks are a thing of the past when Korn does not keep her appointment.
The staff is sick, the opening has been postponed
The next day the Kuuk has left the resort early. Of course, he went to see if “his” business is open. Not so… A phone call makes it clear why the business is not open. Her staff are ill and therefore the opening has been postponed.
The days pass and the Kuuk drives past the noodle shop at least three times a day. His anxiety grows, and of course I make no effort to reassure him. I tell him that he can smoke for at least another eight days….. We call to ask how things are going. First, according to Buddha, it was not a good day to open, then mother was sick and now she doesn't answer the phone after four days.
The frequency of passing by is increased to six times a day. De Kuuk is getting more and more nervous. I feel sorry for him, and when we visit a temple, I offer some baths and hope Buddha tells Korn to throw open that tent. And yes it helps… After six days the noodle shop is open. We enjoy a delicious meal and wish Korn every success. She gets a deferment of payment from us. If she returns us the money one day before we leave, everything will be fine. We enjoy another fourteen days of a carefree holiday.
We say goodbye to Koh Phangan with tears in our eyes
A day before departure we agree that Korn will bring the money, but she does not come and does not answer the phone. The next morning we have to leave the island early by boat. We drive past the noodle shop and when the Kuuk sees that the place is open, he yells STOP! And jumps smoothly, probably because of the adrenaline, out of the car. He disappears in the noodle shop and does not return. Time is running out, the boat is not waiting and neither is the plane, we really have to go to the pier now.
Then I see the Kuuk come out and jump on the back of the scooter at Korn, I understand that he is going to withdraw money and that we will meet again at the pier. I am unloaded at the pier and am relieved when I see the Kuuk arrive on the back of the scooter. They had gone to the ATM, but that was of little use, because of course there was nothing to withdraw. We agree, against our better judgement, that we will get the money back in the winter, wish her good business and get on the boat.
When we hang over the railing and say goodbye to Koh Phangan with tears in our eyes, the Kuuk smokes a cigarette; and the smoke blows in my face…