Thailand Part 1

When I arrived in Thailand I was amazed at how clean it was. Chiang Rai is far more spread out and sparse (read normal) compared to Kathmandu. I could tell right away that Thailand is a much more developed country. The DTS location is also quite nice with longer beds, warm showers, and better food. It’s like I’ve moved from a one-star hotel to a three or four star.

So my 1st trip by myself into Chiang Rai was an adventure. I stood on the super highway trying to flag down a bus ride into town for 30 minutes before another YWAMer told me the proper way to get a bus to stop. I walked to the “the Big C” mall/store and took a cab ride to the bus station after I was done. I got on a bus and 30 minutes later if left, 20 minutes later than expected. I missed my turn off by some 14 KM and when I realized I was in the next town I got out and started walking back. I found a gas station and tried to see where I was at. No one on my trip back spoke any English! I managed to arrange a ride in the bed of a pickup truck that was getting gas. I thought I saw my turnoff so I got out only to find that I was mistaken. I continued to walk down the road in the middle of the night until an older man in his scooter stopped and offered me a ride. We rode to another gas station where he tried to find someone who knew more English. That didn’t happen and only THEN did I remember I had the intersection written out in Thai by a Thai DTS staff person that I was staying with. I showed it to the man and off we went again, this time to the right spot. So laugh all you want. I still made it home….just an hour later than expected.