Let me tell a funny travel story for once

Tuesday, Sep 28 2021

This boy enlightened my creativity and love

Here I go about my absent-minded travel to my Host Family in Bang Sai, Ayutthaya last weekend. Both ways of travelling were fucked up because of my poor ability to navigate ways and digest digital schedule. I was very excited to be an early bird to buy tickets at Chiang Rak train station, the nearest one to my university so I cycled happily, amidst my online class, to the school gate and took Song Theo to the station. It was a very long time since I last got this! I carefully checked the bus schedule the night before, yet I didn’t know how to read the new innovated website, I didn't notice a session that described the active status of the train. So I arrived so early for the inactive train and had to stay at the station for another 3 hours because there won't be any other cheap ways to reach Ayutthaya. Luckily I could work on some useful stuff like taking the remaining online class =))), and drafting out the essay outline for Social Innovation Class. How could I do that on the phone including extracting some complicated academic terms from literature! So proud of me.

And yahhh, finally the train arrived, luckily it didn’t rain hard like yesterday, otherwise, i will be dead meat. Luckily again, P’Kid could happily pick me up at that late time. 2 days later, on my return day, I finally managed to understand the guide on the website. Still almost missed the damn train though, because I didn’t dare to interrupt P’Kid snooker game. Or in fact, because of my long meeting, and I didn’t have time to eat breakfast, I came up to eat and said goodbye to my Mama. And luckily, P’Kid driving skill is excellent and the ticket counter opened even later after I departed to the Bang Pa-in station.

Railway on the way backkkk from Bang Pa-in

I dragged my body to the train, actually it was a very peaceful moment till I saw the sign “Thammasat University” with a slowing down speed of the train. I thought it was reaching the Chiang Rak Station, as just a moment ago, I checked the map, it was almost there. I turned my back asking a friend whether we arrived yet? She said yes but with a bit of hesitation and I trusted her. So I jumped out of the train, she followed me. Then we recognized we are in the middle of nowhere! It takes a distance to precisely land on my destination and she already passed by her supposed destination. Such a shame for both of us! 2 lost stars on the track. Must be fun if rain occurred.

We tried walking onwards however there came the end point of the footpath. We walked back and chatted to each other. Fortunately, we had each other so that we wouldn’t be lonely. She is from Lopburi where I know a friend is from there. I asked her if there are any interesting places to travel to because I feel like going everywhere in Thailand. She said something that I didn’t understand in Thai. I am still so badddd at the language lah. I didn’t ask back for clarification because of somehow not wanting to reveal my identity. She is working and coming to visit her friend in Chiang Rak Noi. We walked past a trash dump where all types of trash is there. I guess there won’t be any shit being done about it. How poor the passersby and the community people around. They have to suffer the polluted air, or probably they are already accustomed to the atmosphere. I didn't take any photo of the scene, it is only 200 meter away from the Bus Depot below.

Found this bizarre place in the middle of nowhere, right next to the railway - Thammasat University Bus Depot

Then we found a bus center of Thammasat University for the first time. All of the familiar buses I have taken for many times actually operate in this place. I came to ask them which bus to go to TU campus. Before responding to my question, they told me to be careful of the dogs. Whut?? Where are the fucking dogs? I kind of skimmed around but I didn’t see any spirits of them. What a strange response! But maybe they are kind enough to give us some heads-up.. There might be some accidents happening before. They shouted out to ask others about the information for me, they seemed so close and casual. They are government staff, recognized through their uniform. Then I was informed that the next bus is in the next 30 minutes. Right. I'll wait with my new friend. Yet, only 5m later, the bus started leaving. So I said goodbye to my friend and wished her safe travel because her friend would come pick her up at the spot.

I am glad that the whole thing was like an adventure. We got lost, we clung to each other to sort the problem out. And we became thankful for each other’s presence. It was destiny. As I was sitting and thinking on the bus, I observed that the way to my school gate is very devious. And my school gate is the very first stopping point of the entire bus journey from Thammasat to Bangkok. I always thought it was already on their way from somewhere. Well, maybe normally, people came to the central point before the bus even starts. I was wondering if her friend could find her easily, what if she got on the bus with me and her friend could find her at a more common place. The bus assistant didn’t take my money, lucky me again. I wish I talked to her more, or shared with her about my lost journey from Ayutthaya. Abou how I was so dump reading maps, with the fact that it was not my first time. How daring we were to jump out of the running train, the staff saw us and didn’t do anything with these two crap crazy girls. Come back later with more experience and stories to tell!

Thank you for going out on the weekend to unite with my dear host family and heal my mental health. Thank you for working hard to complete all brain-wracking exercises and a challenging open-book exam ever in my history. <3

#mydesirefortravelneverdies