Reader Submission: I'm Happy!!

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. If possible, they go on holiday there twice a year. Their favorite island is Koh Phangan, which feels like coming home. 

I'm happy!! Whistling I ride on a rented pink mio scooter through the beautiful north of Thailand. The view is great, it's warm, the sun is shining, the road is perfect, we're scootering, yay!! My life can't get much better. Although, a (small) downside is my sore bottom. But yes, after a day and a half and 250 km on the scooter…..

It's almost unbelievable; Depart from Brussels on Sunday afternoon at two o'clock and leave Chiang Mai on your scooter on Monday morning at eleven o'clock. The scooters are reserved in advance via the internet at Tony's Big Bikes. They were ready when we were dropped off at the door from the airport in Chiang Mai by taxi.

Day 1: To Mae Chaem

Less than an hour outside Chiang Mai, the highway is left to go to Mae Chaem. On day 1, 130 km had to be driven, which went well. At the end of the afternoon we have already fully enjoyed the beautiful nature in Northern Thailand and that wonderful feeling of being free.

Mae Chaem is a village of nothing and we end up at Navasoum resort. Beautifully situated on a beautiful hill with fantastic views. It is low season and we are the only guests in the resort together with a German motorcyclist.

The Finnish owner trudges around and tells me, looking at me with sad eyes, that he misses his wife so much, that he has lost 20 kg and that he drinks away the loss with six pints of beer a day. And that his new wife, a very young girl from the neighborhood, doesn't like that very much. But yes, it's give and take, and with those same sad eyes he quickly glances at his new wife, who is busy with her phone in an easy chair. The next day she is still there…

The atmosphere is friendly, he makes sure there are cold beers (the fridge was empty, because he had already finished his portion) and we enjoy a delicious meal. As the tiredness falls over us, we have a drink with the other guy who drives in the opposite direction of the Mae Hong Song loop on a motorbike and who tips us to drive inside.

We go to bed early, walk past the not too fresh and cold swimming pool and sleep in a basic bungalow where everything is what you need after a long flight and 130 km on the scooter.

Day 2: to Mae Hong Son

In the morning after a good breakfast we leave with our sweater on, because it is a bit misty and still fresh. The inner route is beautiful, but the road is bad and of course we are not making any progress. The temperature rises quickly and soon we are driving in our shirts and we are burned by the bright sun.

It is day 2. Today we drive 165 km to Mae Hong Son. Now 60 km to go, the road is perfect and the nature is just as overwhelming, I drive in front because I know the way. The sun shines intensely, the nature is beautiful, the driving is going well; I'm happy!

At the end of the afternoon we arrive in Mae Hong Son, find a place to sleep and treat ourselves to an ice-cold Singha after the long beautiful trip. MHS is a tourist town with many hotels and restaurants, we have a great time and don't lie in bed too late, because at twelve o'clock it is already quiet in the city! Tomorrow we have a short route of 110 km and that's a good thing, because sitting hurts.

Day 3: From MHS to Pai

I don't get bored on the way, how beautiful Thailand can be. Along the way we see beautiful yellow flowers and green rice fields. If we had to stop at every nice view, we wouldn't be home yet. We deviate from the route to take a look at a geyser via a narrow road through the jungle. The hot spring is not only visited by us, but also by a few Thai tourists and eggs are boiled in the water.

Pai is our next stop and it is busy there, many young people and a very pleasant tourist town with a very relaxed atmosphere. There is also a drop-out Vietnam veteran who invites us to the parade of fine people. We thank for the honor and cross the river over a rickety bridge to have a drink. In Pai we also enjoy ourselves in a dingy reggae bar along the river, but the kilometers of the past few days take their toll, we go to bed early.

Day 4: from Pai to Chiang Mai

The next day we drive 140 km when we get into the city, it gets very busy on the highway and we have to be careful. The scooters are returned and we end up in a hotel in the old center. We manage to score some beautifully tailored shirts in a few hours.

Because the Loy Kratong festival is coming up, it is very busy in the city and a number of Thai balloons are released.

Day 5: To Koh Samui

The next morning we flew directly from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui and then took a speedboat to our island; at half past three we are “home” on Koh Phangan. There is rain, a lot of rain, but that should not spoil the fun.

We buy a craft for Loy Kratong from a Thai girl, wait until the monks have finished singing and walk to the beach with the Thai villagers. Everyone, including us, gets a very large Thai balloon and they are lit and released completely disorganized. Not entirely harmless, because due to the wind and impatience some balloons do not take off properly and land in groups of people. The consternation makes me forget to make a wish, but oh well, I was already happy.

in the evening with the songtaew through the mountains to Haad Rin. While we're here, we'll of course be taking the Full Moon Party along. Enjoy the fire dancers, music and dancing in the sand, lots of young people going crazy. We can't believe our eyes, especially when a huge downpour comes, which drives almost everyone off the beach into the bars. A couple half-naked on the beach having sex has only eyes for each other. They don't feel the rain and don't notice that they are still quite in the spotlight on a dark empty beach...

The days after

The following days we are busy visiting Thai friends in bars, restaurants and travel agencies. Busy catching up with Hook, our French friend and bartender at the resort where we always stay. Hook has lived on Koh Phangan for 30 years, has wonderful stories, and prepares the tastiest cocktails at his slowest. Guests who know him a little order their favorite cocktail, take a shower in their bungalow and know that their drink is ready the moment they return to the bar.

Hook takes care of both his bar and his guests very slowly, but with a lot of love and he very slowly sweeps his beach bar clean. For as long as it lasts, because his bar is being eaten away by termites. Of course he is looking for a way to win the battle against these vermin. I fear that, given his pace of work, he will come up with a solution too late and will go down in battle. But Hook doesn't seem too concerned about it, so I shouldn't either.

We laze, rest and enjoy and after a few days we go again. We leave Thailand with my backpack full of beautiful memories, and I'm already homesick before I get home.

Submitted by Els van Wijlen