Tags
Bucket List, Cinque Terre, family travel, humor, islands, Italy, Thailand, Thailand Guidebook, Travel
Recent travels through the blogosphere found me reading Winsomebella’s post If I Wandered and The Good Greatsby’s post 15 Things About Australia You Won’t Find in Lonely Planet . . Winsomebella’s post reminded me of my love for travel, and The Good Greatsby’s post reminded me of a post I wrote in June: Top Ten Helpful Hints One Will Not Find in a Thai Guidebook.
Both posts started me thinking about how we should not put off the things that we have always wanted to do, because one never knows when one’s toe is going to break or when one’s arm is going to die (I’m getting cramps in both just sitting here).
I’m not talking about huge undertakings like climbing Mt. Everest or adrenaline-starved-thrill-seeker stuff like the Tea Cups at Disneyland.
Ralphie and Kelly on the Tea Cups – I could barely stand to watch.
I have more ordinary list items in mind like hiking between the five villages of the Cinque Terre in Italy,
Tony and I hiked the Cinque Terre in 2010 and plan to go again in September.
. . . climbing the stairs of the Eiffel Tower . . . exploring the trails that crisscross the Swiss Alps . . . or traveling to Thailand. Destinations and activities that require stamina, balance, and the ability to consume rich and exotic foods without the help of a blender.
Already, I have had to cross off my list: “the lagoon” near Railay Beach because it involved hoisting my own body weight up with a rope. Even if I lose 50 pounds, the chances I’ll ever be able to get my arms up over my head and pull on a rope are nil.
Ralphie and Kip “hiked” to the lagoon – they said it was the most beautiful place on earth. This was the easy part of the hike – the hard part was lowering one’s self down a cliff to the lagoon and then hoisting one’s self back up. The boys mentioned a need to remind themselves of their “desire to live” to help them make the trip. I’ll never see this lagoon.
Tony, Kelly, and I opted for this while the boys hoisted.
Visiting Thailand is a bucket list must. By far one of the most interesting adventures I have ever been on. The people are friendly, the beaches are spectacular, the markets are fascinating, and the five-star resorts cost less than a churro at Disneyland.
If Thailand is on your list, do it sooner than later; it is a full body workout.
Top ten helpful tips hints one will not find in a Thai guidebook, but one should definitely take to heart:
10. Always sit in the middle front seat of a long boat (the opposite of what you would do at Splash Mountain in Disneyland).
9. Never sit at the front of a ferry on the top deck (the fact that there was standing room only in the ferry’s lower compartment returning from Phi Phi to Krabi is proof that even people whose frontal lobes are not fully developed, learn from their mistakes).
Ferry to the Island
Return trip – there are reasons for this – they are called giant, terrifying waves.
8. Don’t just carry mosquito repellant, plan on a tube per day and slather it on like it’s Coppertone in 1976. There is nothing more unattractive on flawless skin than itchy red polka dot blotches (except for maybe cellulite riddled floppy appendages slathered in mosquito repellant, but who cares). Spider repellant might be a good idea as well.
Killing the Spider – a family bonding moment – the transcripts. Note- that is a large bottle of water.
7. Do not even think about visiting Thailand unless you have practiced and mastered the skill of throwing your leg over the side of a moving boat, hoisting yourself up using arm strength only, and carrying luggage simultaneously while keeping your clothes hoisted mid-cellulite riddled thigh . . . in a sauna.
Option 1: Walking to long boat with the cool kids.
Option 2: Taking the tractor with the old people – guess which one I chose.
6. There is no shame in wearing seatbelts.
There is also no chance of finding a seatbelt.
5. Do NOT buy transportation vouchers in advance from friendly people who have a colleague in North Carolina. Contrary to what certain world traveling, 22 year old, college graduates say, it is cheaper to have your hotel arrange your travel.
Unless of course one is fond of taking impromptu helmetless rides on the back of a stranger’s motorcycle through the streets of an unknown city to retrieve 4000 baht from an ATM. We had no idea where we were!
4. Consider not haggling over a few baht. So what if you look like a gullible tourist and you spend an extra $1.00 on cab fare, you can whine about it over a Mai Tai in your pool villa later.
3. Yes, they do appreciate tips in Thailand and they do not consider it culturally insensitive when tourists give them money for excellent service. And on the topic of money, if you are going to Khao Sok, bring lots of cash.
Khao Sok
2. Pack flip flops; everyone takes their shoes off when entering buildings (including mini-marts). Also handy when getting into long boats – not so good in leech infested jungle.
1. Eyebrow pencil.
After reading this I’d say you will have no issues at all when visiting your Peace Corps son! Piece of cake!
Yes, he prepared us well – he planned the entire Thailand trip. He has definitely taken us out of our comfort zone.
As a confirmed “nervous traveler”, I have to admit that I have never even considered going to Thailand. Your post almost had me convinced that this is one adventure I should attempt….
You had me right up until the photo of the giant spider.
So this is why I read posts by my adventurous blogging friends! Thanks for sharing the excitement without sharing the bugs!
You should go! The spiders and leeches are only in the jungle. The mosquitos are everywhere, but the experience is so worth a daily dose of deet.
This post was so great! (And as a member of the Mouse Mafia aka: The DIS forums I especially liked all the Disneyland references. ;)
Perhaps a few travel reviews of trips from before I was a poor stay-at-homeschooling-mom would help lift me from the boredom.
And planning a trip to Thailand… hmmm… Maybe by my 40th birthday in *cough3andahalfyearscough* I’ll be able to save up enough money…
That’s so funny, I was just thinking of your post because I’m feeling bored and was thinking about eating something (luckily there is nothing to eat in the house except healthy snacks). I decided to read emails instead and check on what exercise classes are available at the YMCA tomorrow. The nice thing about Thailand is once you get there it is really inexpensive (three weeks in Thailand = three days at Disneyland). For me, planning trips is almost as fun as going on them.
Yes, planning is half the fun! I think I should have been a travel agent (ya know, before the internet obliterated the field).
Great post! You are giving me the travel bug. Now I have to look up a photo of Railay Beach…
Thanks Elaine. Here is a link to some of our photos of Railay Beach (beautiful!!!!) https://worrywarts-guide-to-weight-sex-and-marriage.com/category/6-27-speechless/ . If you find a photo of the “lagoon” somewhere within the cliffs (Kip said it was like an open cave – he could not get a good shot), please let me know. I think I will look, too.
ps Check out Winsomebella’s link at the beginning of this post – I think you would love her posts and photography.
Remember The Accidental Tourist? Why don’t you write the WorryWart’s guide to surviving vacations around the world. I would so read that and it would make me feel less afraid to travel to new places.
I actually wrote a book (unpublished) called the Worrywart’s Guide to World Travel and Risk Free Adventure in 2001. I finished it (literally) on August 11, 2001. Then September 11th happened, and I tucked it away. I pulled it out a few weeks ago, but haven’t looked at it – it has been sitting on a trunk in our living room. Thanks for the encouragement; I’d have to re-travel and update ;-) , but I do think there is an audience out there for worrywart travelers. Thanks Patrice.
I’ll buy a copy if you publish it.
Thanks YS – I don’t think you need the Worrywart version.
Being twice your age and definitely in the “tractor” class when it comes to visiting, even Cinque Terre (beautiful, never been there), I’ve been to Thailand such a lot that I even considered retiring there in relative luxury on my tiny pension. If it hadn’t been for an even more ancient Mum and the thought of having to do all that flying for frequent health alerts, I would have done. Costs in Thailand are so reasonable that once you’ve paid your holiday air fare, it’s no more expensive than staying at home. Much less expensive if you are actually living there.
And I don’t think I’ve ever once seen a spider (or a leech but i’ve never spent much time in the jungle). Snakes are another thing altogether, and I’d rather spiders frankly. Your photos are beautiful, made me quite nostalgic.
Thanks for your comments – I would consider Thailand as a retirement place, too if I were in better shape (if you were twice my age, you would be over 100 years old :-) ). I had a hard time getting into stuff (boats, trucks, tractors, etc.), but last night I found a video of the hike to the “hidden lagoon” on YouTube and it really inspired me to get my body working again (this is going to make looking at all of those beautiful photos of food on your lovely site even more difficult http://onefrenchword.wordpress.com/. )
You should definitely hike the Cinque Terre! I’ll probably write a post on it soon (I’m in a travel mood).
Mmm, yes, I think I”ll work on that. What is the best time of your in your opinion? Weather wise, but especially lack-of-people-wise?
We were there in July and during a train strike, so there were almost no other people on the trail which was blissful. However, my husband had to buy a new shirt in the third village because he was drenched in sweat even though we started our hike at 7:00 a.m. I suggest starting on the Monterrosso side early in the morning. It’s the steepest part (also the most beautiful) and good to get completed before it gets too hot.
We stayed in a great seaside town called Levanto and even though there was a train strike which kept everyone off the trail that day, we took a taxi to Monterrosso. Then we took a ferry from the fifth village, Riomaggiore (I think most people consider this the first village) back to Monterrosso. Just out of luck our original taxi driver was at the dock, and he didn’t charge us for the ride back to Levanto (it was a magical day).
Just a side note, the trail between Riomaggiore and Manarola is not very pretty, and unfortunately I think it is what most people see because they are afraid of the steeper parts (there is nothing to fear – it’s a very safe trail).
Thank you for taking the time to explain that. I’ll start looking at maps!
I admire you thoroughly. I just couldn’t do it. You lost me at mosquitos and then clinched the game with leeches. I loved looking at the photos, though! I’m afraid that I’m a hopeless city girl. I don’t mind some physical effort on a vacation, but not if it involves humidity. Gawd, I’m a wimp.
The spectacular beauty and culture are well worth the sacrifices especially if one is prepared (mosquito repellant and approriate clothing). You know I’m a wimp, a city girl, and a humidifier all wrapped into one and I loved it there.
I was in Thailand in 2007. Loved seeing it from your perspective as I was mostly doing aid work and didn’t get to visit a lot of the must-see destinations there. The photos are amazing!! Made me reminisce. Lovely post, thanks for sharing!
What type of work were you doing?
I was with a non-profit organization and we spent 2 months working with orphanages, in refugee camps along the Burmese border, human trafficking awareness and prevention, and slum relief. Its such a beautiful culture, with wonderful people, and some amazing natural wonders! Just loved seeing it through your eyes!
Work like that should be on everyone’s bucket list! Also, I love your post to your mom – looking forward to reading more.
I’m such a homebody that I don’t travel much, but that’s possibly because “travel” to me right now conjures up images of herding my little kids through airports while they cry because the self-flushing toilets scared them half to death. I never considered Thailand, but your post has moved it to the “maybe someday” list, as long as I can get a certified letter from the Thai government promising the spiders will stay in the jungle…
I linked to your site from a comment you left on I’ll Sleep When They’re Grown, and I’m so glad I found it! I’ve been all over your blog, and I find it funny and charming and visually brilliant. There’s something about it that makes me feel… cozy, I guess would be the best word for it. So I hope you don’t mind if I come back often; I’m your newest follower.
I’m glad you visited. I’m looking forward to reading more of your blog! We started traveling when our kids were 1, 3, and 4. We went to Tonga and New Zealand. That was crazy – if I could remember anything more than changing diapers on my coat or the 30 hour flight (with several long layovers in tiny quarantine rooms), I would write a post on it. I don’t regret the trip at all, but it was hard work.
My one must share piece of advice for traveling with children is to do it before they are teenagers (13). Some teens are fun to travel with, but you never know what you are going to get, so have some fun before puberty has morphed your child. 10, 11, and 12 were the perfect ages (even for museums).
Thanks again for subscribing!
Great advice! I’ll try to come as close as I can to following it, but our kids are 20, 17, 9, 7 and 9 months, so I think I’m doomed to always have at least one in either the “We Forgot the Diapers?!?!” phase or the “What Do You Mean I Have To Spend Spring Break With My Boring Family?” phase. I admire your bravery, and I’m sure your kids have reaped the benefits of those experiences!
Oh, and thanks for visiting my blog!
This explains your quick wit!
Oh, I would never see that lagoon either…I couldn’t do a pull up to save my neck.
Lovely post.
Jess
I think you could make it up those ropes – you seem like a very strong woman.
I love Cinque Terre and I plan to go add Thailand to my bucket list. Ok, I don’t actually have a written bucket list but travel is my retirement goal.
I love travelling with my children and you are right about ages. I’m sad because we are planning a trip to Spain and for the first time, my oldest will not be able to join us. He has a real job now. I guess that’s why we sent him to college but I’m going to miss his presence.
Loved the post.
I don’t have a real list either, but I think I will make one and then figure out what I’m going to need my body to do to make it work. Our Thailand trip was the first trip our whole family took together since our oldest got a job in high school (that made going away very difficult).
When and where are you going in Spain?
Madrid, Granada and Seville. My middle child is doing a Study Abroad in Seville. If you’ve been there, I would love any advice or suggestions.
We have only been to Barcelona – I loved it. Sounds like fun – a great place for study abroad (seriously study abroad in Spain is on my unwritten bucket list – I have taken years and years of Spanish and can’t remember anything – I think living and studying in Spain would help).
This was on our bucket list, may have to move it up a few notches. Oh, not to criticize, but EVERYTHING is cheaper than a churros at Disney, so the reference isn’t all that helpful ! ;)
Have you been to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (we are going there for Kelly’s college graduation present)? I’m thinking it may be worse than Disneyland; perhaps I could talk her into going to England instead.
I’ll bet that the tractor ride with the old folks was actually fun. The mosquitoes, spiders and leeches… not so much.
The tractor is sort of like taking a limo to the long boat. It feels wrong, like an over-indulgence, but if you asked a local what they would suggest, they would think you were crazy not to take the tractor. I’m all about doing what the locals do (the locals also wear life jackets – food for thought).
Truly a bucket list destination so I am glad you shared your experiences here. Thanks for mentioning my blog too :-). I hope you pull out the book you have written and forward go!
I think I would need to re-travel to move forward on the book, which wouldn’t be so bad. I hope everyone here visited your beautiful blog.
Lucky you! My Australian friend, whom I’d love to visit soon, keeps telling me that before we go to Brisbane we must go to Thailand. He said it was the best trip he ever took in his life and couldn’t wait to get back. A couple of my family members have spent a lot of time there as well. They always talk highly of the people and culture. But, yikes, that’s a giant spider!
Great pictures and a great read!
For you, I’m thinking some pre-trip conditioning with Jane Fonda’s upper body workout tape.
I love your photos and commentary. You should set up tours and be the guide. That would be fun!
Up until last year, I used to take sixth graders on an annual Realize the College Dream field trip. It was a two day trip. We visited two universities, three cities, stayed in a five star hotel (for pennies thanks to a manager who valued what I was trying to do for my kids; which was a once in a lifetime experience for them), explored two museums, saw either a play in the city or a college game . . . . I would make binders for the parent chaperones with details down to the hour of the what, where, and how of the trip . . . .
At the chaperone meeting, I would always warn the parents, “I’m going to be stressed out – it’s really hard to be a control freak and be in charge of 150 people. I APOLOGIZE in advance.” After the last trip, all I heard were complaints (to my face) about what a bitch I was on the trip. And rightfully so.
That is my long answer to your nice suggestion. Worrywarts are excellent planners, but bitchy, control-freak tour guides.
I can’t believe you used to do those trips — that’s amazing! At the foundation where I work, I’ve had a couple people contact me wanting to seek grant money to do something similar — with kids who are of low income and (first generation) of parents who never attended college. They’ve taken the kids to our local University but never a two-day trip. If I were those kids’ parents, I would happily let you be a bitch in the name of experience and enrichment. My hat is off to you, my friend.
I think it’s one of the best things we can do for kids. I know it will be part of my life again at some point, just not in a huge group (because I don’t like being a bitch and I had no control over the anxiety that took over). The parents who were not on the trip (the low-income parents working three jobs) were enormously grateful and so were the kids (all of them). Thanks Angie.
I agree (best thing we can do for kids). It’s amazing how many kids have simply never envisioned college in their lives — and to walk around a campus, walk through the dorms and cafeteria and theater and football stadium and visualize themselves there experiencing all of that one day. HUGE. Better yet, at a young age where they still have time to reset their academic path. Sorry, I’m pretty passionate about this too :)
I knew there was a reason (beyond your excellent writing skills, endless knowledge of the Eighties, clever use of onomatopoeia, and the possibility you may be the funniest person I [don’t really] know) that I like you so much! That sentence probably doesn’t make sense, but I feel better about the world knowing this is something you are passionate about.
Now you are giving me the itch to travel! There is just so much terrain to explore! I lived in Switzerland for a summer and spent a lot of time wandering to villages on those trails. It was very memorable experience.
Do you have a favorite in Switzerland? We’ve only been to Murren, but are planning to go back in September (we’re going to Amsterdam, Paris, Switzerland, and Italy). So if anybody reading this has any recommendations, please share. And do visit Belle’s latest post – it’s a fun one.
You make me want to travel! But you also make me want to be careful. Doesn’t that make you feel so good?
Yes it does (and someday when EB is 30 you will know just how much joy that gives me :-) ).
This was fascinating. Thailand is on my bucket list, so I’m glad to get the inside scoop from someone who knows what the guide books don’t tell you. Thanks for the excellent heads up. Now if you’ll tell us what to eat……
The food in Thailand is delicious. We took a cooking class at an organic farm which was really fun (included going to a market unlike any I have ever been to) so we learned how to make some of our favorite meals. If you do go to Khao Sok, go to Pawn Restaurant – it’s basically a slab of cement with a tin roof, but has the best food in Thailand. I think it is even listed on TripAdvisor and we are talking middle of nowhere, hole in the wall (except – no walls) kind of place.
Never get me started on food!
BTW I really liked your suggestion to take a little time off of blogging to do something nice for someone (your post was more articulate than this comment).
I am going to bookmark this post for my next trip to Thailand! Also, amazing pictures!
It is pretty easy to take amazing photos there – the whole country is beautiful.
What wonderful photographs and such a great adventure. I think this may get on my bucket list ;)
Red.
Highly recommend it!