The Backpacker Family

Landing at Koh Samui Airport felt like being transported back in time. In place of impervious security lines and high-tech scanners stood what was quite simply, a Tiki hut. Walking out into the tropical air, I truly felt like I’d touched down in paradise. A world away from snarling traffic on the M4, we bumbled along the road for a week of pure bliss. The exotic food, clear blue sea and kaleidoscopic marine life only be rivaled by the warm welcome of our hosts. Thailand – we’ve arrived.

Paradise found; we left to continue our trip inland to the Elephant Hills resort. Picturing ourselves relaxing on the river surrounded by elephants was an image that would come to reality in a few days, after navigating what would appear an easy journey inland.

‘You want a massage?’ wasn’t exactly the first thing I expected to hear whilst boarding the ferry, the aroma of Thai spices permeating the air (NO DURIAN ONBOARD signs sparing us). After a relaxing jaunt across the Gulf of Thailand, we docked into what seemed to be little more than a village. Surely this wasn’t Surat Thani – a transport locus for most of Thailand? Sure enough, we were right, and being the only non-Thai people around, we followed suit to the only mode of transport, the local bus.

Fighting for the last remaining seats, we found ourselves spread across the bus, sandwiched between chatty locals. The journey allowed us to see some interesting parts of Thailand and wasn’t short of memorable moments, for example, when I realized the petite Thai woman sat next to me actually had a deep voice and rather large feet. 3 hours later, we were greeted by the hustle and bustle of Surat Thani.

After a great few days in the rainforest, we found ourselves back in this city. Full of chatter about our trip with our new Dutch friends, we bought our tickets to Bangkok via the backpacker special – the overnight train. With 6 hours to spare, we ventured into the city. I realized I’d found the real Thailand. It wasn’t the elephants or the beaches, but the people in their day-to-day lives. Stopping at the market for street food, we returned to the station. Leaning on my suitcase, Thai-style pancake in hand, I had to wonder how we’d ended up here, practically lost in a city we didn’t know. Perhaps that’s what traveling is meant to be about, losing yourself in a world different to your own. Pulling down my bunk bed in the carriage, I waved goodbye to a city I never knew would provide me with so many memories.