It took me a couple of days to unwind after I came back from holiday trip.
My family went to Northern Thailand – Lala Mukha Tented Resort @ Khao Yai on 29 November to 1 December. This is the first time that I have travelled North of Bangkok. Previously we visited Bangkok and Phuket in the South.
Book a taxi for the 3 days trip in Khao Yai. From Bangkok airport to Khao Yai is about more than 3 hours drive (?)
We stayed at Lala Mukah Tents Resort in Khao Yai. The temperature is very cooling at about 15 to 20+degree C.
The resort has various tent sizes. I counted more than 20 of these tents. There is also a double-storey hut.
On Saturday, 30 November, we went to Dong Phayayen Forest
We went to Primo Pizza for lunch. Beside the restaurant, the place has also a farm with Alpaca's, sheep, goats.
On Sunday, 1st December, we went to the Jim Thompson Farm, Khao Yai.
Reflection:
Life is like a driving journey
"When you face obstacles, opponents and obstructions in your
pursuits in life, what is your reaction?"
These thoughts flash through my mind as we travel on our
journey in the taxi to Jim Thompson Farm, Khao Yai on the 1st
December 2024 morning. I was sitting next to the driver and has the privilege
of watching everything that is happening in front of me, including how the
driver navigates and behave while driving.
It was more than one and a half hour of ride. On many
occasions, we passed through narrow roads with a single lane on both sides
divided by a single line on the middle. These roads are often tattered with big
pot-holes which can damage cars when driving through them. Sometimes, there are
steps and uneven roads. Slowing down is quite common in such a situation. That’s
when my mind was triggered as I asked: “Why did the driver keeps slowing down
when there are no cars in front of him?” Then I started to observe and focus on
the journey. Sometimes, the driver had to drive on the opposite lane just to
bypass the potholes and look out for in-coming cars. Thankfully, most in-coming
cars slowed down and didn’t even horn at him. There is this mutual
understanding of giving ways to each other in difficult road terrains. Along
the stretch of road, it is common to have a slow-going truck or three-wheels
motorbikes loaded with fruit; vegetable and produces driving along side the
shoulder lane and blocking your way. Drivers tend to be understanding and slow
down for them, carefully overtaking them when safety is not compromised. Throughout
the journey, I have not heard of any drivers horning.
In many senses, life is like that. Some people are loaded
with burden, and they may cut into your path that seem to irritate you. Do I
slow down for them with grace and understanding or do I horn and flare up at
them? Potholes and uneven grounds are like storms in our life – COVID; retrenchment;
economic downturns; sickness; etc. These things do happen to everyone and
anyone. We just have to slow down or pause, navigate with care and not give up
on life. There is no need to feel depressed or shaken with such events. Someone
may need my helps when they drive over into my lane. I need to slow down to
help them pass by before carrying on my journey of life. Life is about helping
one another navigate through this fallen world with “potholes, obstacles” and
natural disasters.
God seem to be speaking to me as we journey towards Thompson
Farm. The hours spent on the road was not wasted. But surprise! When we reach Jim
Thompson Farm, we found out that it was closed for tourists.
We then went to Rai Maneesorn to see the Sun flower Field.
In the late afternoon, we visited the Chocolate Factory
We visited the restaurant in the Chocolate factory. Business was good but the prices are high and we decided to go the restaurants near our resort.
Mukdahan
On 2 December, we checked out of Lala Mukha and travel by road to Mukdahan, a town which is at the border of Thailand and Laos, separated by the Mekong River. We visited our in-laws and stayed at their home.
Catholic Church – Our Lady of the Martyrs of Thailand Shrine
The Martyrs took place during the Second World War.
On Wednesday, we visited a few places and also the Phu Pha Thoep National Park.
On the last day, we took a taxi to Ubon Ratcbathani Domestic Airport to return to Bangkok International Airport by Air Asia. The drive from Mukbahan to the Airport was about two and a half hour. I was trying to figure out where Ubon Ratcbathani is. Google map below shows the location.
