Pahurat and Yaowarat, Bangkok Thailand. Prepare to get lost because you will

One of the many temples speckled throughout Yaowarat

Part of our justification for taking this trip to Thailand was to buy fabrics for the Queens business back home.  After much research, the best spot to buy seemed to be Pahurat (little India) and a side trip to little China (Yaowarat) to make for a lovely day.  One word of advice if you have an agenda and/or a place you need to find in Yaowarat.  Prepare to get very lost and very frustrated.  If you don't, prepare to be amazed!

The enthralling maze which are Yaowarat and Phahurat.

Most photographed place after the Grand Palace

Bangkok is an amazing city.  There is something for most everyone.  Even after our long 3 day flight ordeal we were so excited to be here that after a shower we were ready to go.  Since we were staying in Siam Square, we crossed the street and headed off to the MBK mall.

Booking hotels in Bangkok, Thailand. Travelling with children.

It is easy to just arrive in any city in Thailand, including Bangkok, baring a holiday, and book a hotel room.  Especially if you are on a budget, travelling with children, and care about getting the most bang for your buck.  In fact if this is the case, this approach is strongly recommended.

Damsel in distress.

Ultra modern. ultra clean Bangkok Airport

When we were getting our visas for Thailand in the Thai Consulate, we were asked if we could aid a Thai girl in getting home.  It turned out that for personal reasons a Thai citizen was in Lapaz and needed to get home but was scared to make the long journey by herself. Would we be willing to assist this young damsel in distress?
We all have our go to mode, or our first reactions when confronted with a request.  Mine is always one of generosity bordering on pulling down my pants, bending over and asking how else may I please you.  So naturally my first response was a whole hearted and happy yes to this humble request.  It was only afterwards when I had a moment to think and be Bolivian did some possible consequences of my acceptance play out.  The first and most natural scenario that played in my mind was that what better cover for a drug smuggler than to plant their mule with an unsuspecting family of 4 to take their several kilos of cocaine to south east Asia were a large profit could be had.  Scenes from Midnight Express played repeatedly through my mind.  My other thought was that some mail order bride was being returned to sender, some poor girl tricked into making the journey to Bolivia only to be abused by some pot bellied greasy old perv.  But I had no choice.  It was the right thing to do.

Bangkok (first world fun with third world charm)

One of many temple complexes sprinkled throughout Bangkok

Most backpackers seem to treat Bangkok as an arrival and departure point and little more.  A typical Bangkok tourist visit, will almost always include the Grand Palace.  After this Kao San road, MBK mall in Siam Square, maybe Chatuchak weekend market or floating market and if travelling without kids, probably a walk around Chinatown and Patpong.  2 or 3 days tops.  For repeat visitors, usually a direct flight to where they really want to be and you skip Bangkok altogether.

Old vs New.  Immaculate vs decrepit. Give yourself time to explore.

Doha Airport layover. (The Blind leading the blind)

Big spenders get to exit planes in Doha on covered stairs to be whisked away in luxury cars.  Cheapskates like us disembark the back of the plane on regular stairs to be herded on to buses.

They say first impressions are what count.  Fortunately for me this is not the case.  After being blown away by our journey on Qatar Airways, we were once again blown away by the heat upon exiting the airplane on arrival to Doha airport.  The airport here has an interesting system where all planes are parked on the tarmac and the passengers are shuttled to their respective terminal by bus for poor class, and BMW for the rich.  This requires you to exit the airplane on those roll away steps.

Buses for the plebeians

Limo service for big spenders

The point of a journey is not to arrive.

"Are we there yet?"  14 hours of this was sure to be a very torturous beginning to a very long vacation.  But it is my belief that if you change your view of where "there" is, then the question disappears.  Instead of viewing 14 hours of being trapped in an airplane as an ends to a means, we viewed it as a part of a journey.  The prince was key in making this transition of mentality from the destination becoming the prize to the journey itself being the objective.  So while the Queen and I were bogged down in the logistics of travel, the Prince handled the journey itself.  This began with internet searches on what plane we would be on, including size, capacity, speed, and specs.  It continued with maps showing what continents and countries we would be passing over.  He also studied what food was to be offered and what movies.  Thus we where very excited about the whole affair.

Doha Airport view of skyline

Layover at GRU airport Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Throw in a couple chickens and you have a Bolivian bus vibe going.

 We made it! We were now on our way out of Bolivia.  I do not know if BOA (Boliviana de Aviacion) maximized seating by squashing us in or that is how 737 flights always are.  But the flight from Santa Cruz to Sao Paulo, Brazil has won my reward for most cramped international flight ever.  If there was 6 inches between my nose and the seat in front of me I would be surprised.  This is after my nose job, I can't imagine pre-op.  Having said that, the flight was less then half of the competitors fare, and for 50% off give me a blanket and a seat belt and you can strap me to the wing!

Cochabamba to Santa Cruz. (You can never plan enough)

Tickets… check.

Visas… check

Permissions… Check

Brazil-Qatar-Thailand here we come!

Waiting room at Viru Viru International Airport, Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Going is easy. Leaving is hard

It is  a challenge to travel, especially when organizing it yourself, and more so when you need the extra paperwork that being a third worlder requires.  But the greatest challenge is getting things ready that are left behind.  The higher up you are on the responsibilities ladder the harder it becomes.  Most of my friends who are reading this might never even be able to dream of leaving work and the rest of life on hold for such a long time, just like we could only dream of taking off a year.

Journey to La paz Bolivia to secure Thai Visa

Heading down into La Paz Bolivia

Bullet dodged.  After we were able to resolve the ID mix-up, things went along pretty well.  Yes our Yellow fever vaccine record which we needed for the international certificate appeared in 10 minutes after a 3 dollar tip as opposed to the 24 hours it shoulda taken, but all in all preparations moving along.  Next stop La Paz to go to the Thai consulate and apply for a visa.

Shit or get off the pot!

Never been one for gambling.  Betting a buck on a futbol game makes me physically ill.  So after our all in move I glanced down at my hand and the sweating began.  We were holding no passports, no vaccination cards, no Visas, no connecting flight out of Bolivia, no permission for minors to travel abroad, and a lot of loose ends.  But dreamers dream and doers do.  So axe to the grinder we began.

And so it begins!

And so it begins a new blog which starts with a coordinating conjunction (just looked it up), our grammar always questionable at best, but so is this journey.  To travel or not to travel.  Are we really doing this?  What about school? Responsibilities?  How much time can we really take off? It's going to cost how much?  Can we afford to?  With each nagging concern, time racing by, and kids growing older the truth becomes self evident.  Can we afford not to?

We have dreamed of this for years.  Going away, far far away.  New sights and sounds and smells.  But reality has a way of holding you tight all the while the clock keeps ticking.  Then one day folly or wisdom sets in, which of the two it is depends on whom you are speaking with, and you decide you are doing this.  Low and behold Miracle of miracles.   You do.