Wow - we are 4 months into our trip around the world and just nearing the end of our visit to Thailand, with India, Nepal and Dubai still waiting for us to explore. We are so thankful for the investment we have made in our family and our children's future by taking the brave move to step out in faith and showing us all what an amazing planet we live on. Meeting amazing people from all over and sharing in motivating people to take on big dreams.
There have been so many highlights, a few not so nice days but overall we have just been blown away by God's favour on our journey.
We can't wait to see what is lying ahead on our trip. The last month has also been one of dreaming of what lies ahead for us in South Africa and looking forward to starting our new life there after Christmas.
We arrived in Thailand a bit shell shocked after the hustle and bustle of China, Vietnam and Cambodia. Everything was, well just so , dare I say it, so orderly, the cars drove on the left side of the road (yup there were cars here....) and things just worked, most people talked English and it was just easy.
We decided we were experienced travelers now, so we had KFC on the floor in Bangkok station, did an overnight train in 3rd class to Chiang Mai, stayed with backpackers there, and chilled out in the jungle of Northern Thailand next to rice paddies outside Chang Rai. Did the train again (this time a more posh sleeper version to Bangkok) had breakfast at the station, then got the next train South to Surathani, before arriving at our next jungle hide away outside Kao Sok national park.
Thailand gave us tigers, elephants, the odd snake or two and zillions of ants. It thought us to never, ever, allow anyone to have cookies in your bed while watching a movie..... Ants are very clever and now how to tackle mosquito nets and it takes a loooooong time to get a few thousand cleared once they have arrived.....
We floated down a lazy river on tubes, swam in a jungle waterfall, lazed in hummocks, swam, chased crabs on the beach with our torches, read and played in the sand.
Alana and I did a PADI scuba course with Scubafish on Koh Lanta and had an amazing experience. What a privilege to do this with my daughter. I am so proud of her, she is so calm and relaxed underwater, she completed all her exercises and we dove in the amazing Koh Haa Island group. It was like diving in an aquarium. Crystal clear tropical waters and fish and sea critters all over. We were hoping to see a sea turtle for Alana but he didn't come and say hello, so we'll have to come and say hello next time! I competed my open water diver course and was rewarded with the most amazing dive at Koh Haa no 1, pure magic and I was just in awe of God's creation and the abundance of life everywhere. Rich colours, amazing camouflage, a little reef shark, warm water, well what more can you ask for? I decided not to opt for the third dive of the day and went snorkelling instead, saw some more pretty fish and then we had the biggest reward of all, a little (4m!) whale shark came cruising by with her entourage of pilot fish - majestic personified! She appeared out of the deep blue, swam by and just vanished again like that! How's that for favour?!!!! If I had gone diving I probably would have missed her.....
So heading off to the madness of Delhi tomorrow, our batteries have been recharged, we have made new friends and we have promised to come back. After all, Alana and I have to share this with Marilie and Thomas. A new adventure awaits tomorrow.
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