Thailand - Planning The Return

I must back-track to the summer of 2010 to put the entire "Thailand Adventure" in proper context. The sequence of events and the period of transition, from permanent residence in North America to my arrival and part-time residency in Thailand a year later, is filled with serendipity.

Thailand was actually the second of two trips I had planned for the fall and winter of 2010 - 2011. I had always harbored a fascination with the history of eastern Europe, particularly Russia so scheduled a trip to Moscow for October and November of 2010, contingent on receiving a visa from the Russian Federation.

Coincidentally, a preliminary decision was made in the summer of 2010 to travel to SE Asia, Thailand in particular, to explore Thailand's potential as a secondary residence. This was influenced to a great extent by the multiple, exhaustive travel experiences in SE Asia by our family friend, Tom, who was aware of my frequent scuba-diving travel to the South Pacific and Hawaii.

Tom suggested that my affection for Hawaii, Oceania (Fiji, Tonga) and my desire to dive other venues in SE Asia as well, made Thailand a reasonable, if not logical choice for consideration. Planning my initial exploratory trip to Thailand with the possibility of returning later in 2011, became a joint effort with Tom and one of my best friends, Peter, who was my house guest for the summer.

Peter was nearing retirement, had lived and consulted as an Aerospace Engineer (tool designer) in several countries over the span of his professional career. He harbored a deep desire to spend a stretch of time in China and SE Asia where he had friends in residence.

Peter's talents are as varied as they are amazing, especially his language skills. Peter is modestly fluent in Russian, French, Italian, German and fluent in Spanish. He actually speaks reasonably adequate English, too. (Joking, of course)! Add to this, the fact that Peter had lived and worked in Russia, and you can instantly recognize his value in advising me on travel to Moscow.

JoySea - My frequent "home" while cruising the inland seas of the Pacific Northwest

This Would Be Peter!

Early on a beautiful summer morning in July of 2010, Peter and I loaded provisions for an extended trip by boat, and off we cruised into the San Juan Islands of Washington, State and British Columbia, Canada, to relax and plot the overseas trips.

During the course of our cruise, we began sketching out the details of a proposed inter-continental trek to Thailand. By the end of summer, we had the rough outline of our trip, and in October 2010, I ventured out on the first of my two solo adventures. (Moscow, Russia, then 12 weeks later, the exploratory excursion to Thailand).

  

Trip I - Moscow, Russian Federation

The Kremlin and Red Square - Viewed from Saint Basil's Cathedral

St. Basil's - Red Square At The Kremlin In Moscow

My trip to Moscow was undertaken in October and November (late fall) of 2010. I was greatly assisted by Peter who had put me in contact with friends in Russia, through whom I was fortunate to meet a remarkable young business woman who could act as my interpreter and hostess for approximately a month to explore the great Capitol of Russia.

She was also able to move me from my hotel in down-town Moscow, to the residence of another remarkable Russian, Robert, who invited me into his home as a guest (on the outskirts South of Moscow's main metropolitan area), providing accessibility to the primary sites I wished to visit during my first trip.

Robert welcomed me enthusiastically and provided a glimpse into the everyday life and challenges of surviving suburban Moscow.  We spent many early morning hours with coffee and brandy in hand, sharing our life's (post World War II) experiences and observations.

 

Robert - My Moscow Host and Friend

 Thank you Robert! Your hospitality and friendship is forever a treasured memory!

A few days after the first snowfall of the Siberian winter, which turned to nightmarish ice storms in December and January, I returned to the U.S. for an 8 week interlude between my trip to Moscow and my exploratory trip to Thailand.

I had scheduled a month's visit to Thailand in February and March to spend time in Bangkok and the southern Province of Krabi. February is "high season" in the southern provinces and that time coincided with the severe winter weather in North America, my permanent home.

 



Suffice-it-to-say, the dramatic topography, grand seascapes, beaches and the range of diverse outdoor and cultural activities available in Thailand and adjacent countries, was the final determining factor that would eventually lead me right back to Thailand if and when Thai Immigration granted me an "OA-Retirement" visa.

Trip II - The Proposed Trek - Return To Thailand

I returned to the United States from Thailand filled with anticipation and excitement. My intent was to return to Thailand as soon as I could accomplish the rental or sale of my condo near Seattle. I also needed to apply for, and hopefully receive, the "OA-Retirement" visa allowing me multiple entries in-and-out of Thailand.

Krabi Prvince, Thailand -Seascape Viewed From  Ao Phra nang Beach

On my return home, (Surprise! Surprise!) I learned that Peter's intent from the out-set, was to make this trip a circumnavigation of the globe without flying. This required some pretty fancy and complicated planning!

I accused Peter of hallucination...fancying himself a modern-day Magellan, but we set about the planning tasks to make his dream a reality and get me back to Thailand while I was still breathing!

SE Asia was one of the few remaining geographic regions Peter had never experienced, and it was now decided that Thailand was the place I was determined to make a "second" home for the foreseeable future. We decided that there was no compelling need to rush around the world, so decided to make a 4-6 month travel adventure out of our trip.

Our number one priority; plan the trip to accommodate Peter's "flight-less" fetish.

Also, I needed time to accomplish the substantial task of moving out of my house, arranging storage of my household goods, securing the required entry and residency documents for a long-stay in Thailand and all the other details involving finance, legal, insurance, medical, family planning and communication.

Packing and storing all of this!

Packed- up and ready to move

I soon learned that a transition of this magnitude requires a huge commitment of time and a lot of patient effort!

The up-shot was, Peter would eventually "train" to Florida, board the QE II and cruise to Great Britain. I would plan to fly over the pole, meet Peter in London where we would board Euro Rail for the journey across Europe, eventually connecting with the Trans-Siberian Railway in Moscow, Russia.

 

Peter wanted to visit close friends in eastern Europe (Kiev). My desire was to visit Dresden, Warsaw and spend a week or two in NW Russia (St. Petersburg and vicinity). Hopefully I would have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with my Internet acquaintances, Alena and Seveily near St. Petersburg, then travel on to Moscow and re-acquaint myself with Robert.

Peter would travel from Kiev, meet me in Moscow, then we would continue the trek via the Trans-Siberian Railroad to Beijing where Peter had close friends. He would live with them for a few weeks and decide on a schedule for transit to Thailand.

Chiang Mai - Moat Surrounding the Old City

At that point, Peter and I would separate for a couple months. I would continue (by rail) down the coasts of China, Vietnam, cross Cambodia by bus to Laos, transit the Mekong into Thailand to eventually arrive in Thailand's second largest city, Chiang Mai, where I would meet Peter in November of 2011.

The plan was for Peter to stay with a close friend who had immigrated to Thailand, marrying a Thai lady with whom he built a residence on the outskirts of Chiang Mai. I would continue, after a brief stay in Chiang Mai, to Bangkok and look for a suitable, residence which would become the "hub" for my travels in SE Asia and Europe for the foreseeable future.

Peter booked his train fare and prepaid his cruise to Great Britain aboard the QE II. April 30, 2011, he bid "Adios" to his family and friends and departed for Europe. I was to join him in London or in Western Europe as soon as I could rent or sell my condominium.

Living Aboard - Waiting for the visa and Peter's call

I packed my house-hold, moved everything to storage, prepared the final paper-work for the Thai Embassy, moved onto my boat and waited for the arrival of my visa from Thai Immigration.

My Son, Jonathan had quipped, "With a trip this complicated, you can count on something going side-ways...and that's when it really becomes an adventure..."

How prescient was his observation!

 

Serendipity Intervenes

Peter arrived Great Britain early May and joined his friends near London. It was expected that it would take several weeks to secure all the necessary documents for his extended-term visa to the PRC. Also, he was quick to learn that procedures for booking a private roomette on the Russian Trans-Siberian train to Beijing was a nightmare process and that a date certain for a reservation would not be quickly forth-coming.

I quickly put in place a "contingency plan" with friends in Bangkok, who had contacts in the real estate market there, and who could begin the search for housing alternatives for me in the event my travel plans had to be changed.

Strangely, I did not receive any communication from Peter for several days, and when I finally did hear from him, it was the worst scenario possible.

Tragedy Strikes

Peter had suffered massive heart/lung trauma and was confined in a British hospital, barely able to breath without assistance and totally unable to travel. I was devastated! I quickly responded to Peter that I was on the way if he needed anything, to make sure he could get safely back to the U.S. and his health care providers.

Peter remained under the hospital's care for several weeks until Doctors felt it prudent for him to travel under the watchful eye of medical personnel aboard a surface ship. He returned to the U.S. and is now back home in San Diego, living with his daughter's family, and under intense therapy.

A man of lesser courage and determination could not have withstood the physical and mental strain of this past year, but Peter is still intellectually and physically active, especially with his grandchildren and daughter's family, just a more "low-key" approach, as he's fond to say.

Suvarnabhumi International Airport - Bangkok, Thailand

My alternate travel plan was undertaken, and in July 2011, I arrived Bangkok's magnificent Suvarnabhumi International Airport having flown for the second time in six months across the Pacific Ocean to SE Asia.