Thailand

We went to Thailand yesterday. Packing was easy: my passport, wallet and bathers. It all fit in my purse, except the camera.

Which is about right as the Malay/Thai border is about two kilometres from where we are staying with Judi Lee in Pengkalan Hulu, on the corner of Perkak/Kedah/Thailand. It is a different world from Sabak Bernam.

Here, we are in the Jungle. The green is no longer a panorama of Palm Trees: there is undergrowth, a variety of old growth and new growth trees, a variety of colors and textures. It is really quite lovely. While in Sabak Bernam, people is what there is in prolification. People and the evidence of people: mainly the mess they make: rubbish, water pollution.. air pollution: the smell of palm oil refineries, truck exhaust and burning slash permeates the air. But here, the air is fresh and the birds are wild: not living in the apartment above the KFC.

And you can see Thailand.

There are a couple of old volcanoes on the horizon, you can see them really clearly from on of Judy’s schools on a hill in the jungle.

So, after checking out a few more places for Judy to live, unsuccessfully, we headed for the border. I drove and then Vas took over and returned to Malaysia, while Judy and I walked to the first post. Good-bye Malaysia. It was like going to the drive-through in McDonalds.. on foot. The fellow wondered where our car was as a taxi pulled up behind us and the driver pushed his way in front. I asked to him to please wait as we were there first. He insisted.. I said “get out of my space!” I hate it when people butt in as you deal with confidential stuff.. especially at borders..

He was a lovely and patient man however, and gave us a ride, for nothing, to the next post: the hello Thailand part of the adventure. Good thing I hadn’t been too rude, as there is quite a distance between the getting your stamp out of Malaysia and into Thailand. Wouldn’t have wanted to walk.. not in the midday sun. This part of the world is at a much higher elevation than Sabak Bernam, cooler, but it is still hot!

Once on the other side a group of helpful people got us a car, a man and his abiah wearing wife took us into the closest Thai town..Betong, just four or five K away, for 20 MR.. which is about 200 Baht. The exchange on the currency is just a 0 away. Easy.

Even easier, they deal in Malaysian currency as well. No need to exchange money.

I suspect they may deal in a lot of things... it is a rather ‘seedy’ place. Very Muslim.. not really Thai at all: at least not the Thai of my holiday experiences. I am pretty sure no one goes there for a family holiday.

There are kereoke bars.. interesting women..  More Chinese and Malay food stalls: we thought we would get a Thai meal, but that was not to be.

But we did find a hotel that had a pool. It was supposedly a ‘new’ hotel, but I think it was just unfinished: had been and would continue to be, as I am not sure exactly who the clients would be.

After a swim, and a bit of exploring, we managed to get another taxi back to the border, and then returned ‘home’.

Sitting around talking to Vasi about the experience, Judy flipped through the National Newspaper, the People’s paper, the Star.. and she read aloud “No Malaysian victim in Yala (the state where we had been) Blasts” .. yes, plural. “The Foreign Ministry reminded Malaysians in Thailand’s three southern provinces to exercise utmost caution for their safety and security. Malaysians should postpone unessential travel to the affected areas until the situation there has improved.”

Yup.. earlier this week 3 people were killed and more than 40 were injured in separate bomb blasts throughout the area.. it was the anniversary of an anti-government demonstration. In September too, there was a lot of bombing.. 16 Malaysians had been killed along with a greater number of Thai’s.

Well.. I am glad we went. It was a lovely day. But let’s just say if we had read the paper before we went, we may never have gone. And I suspect it will be a while before Judy goes back.

Today.. we shall stick to Malaysia: we are off again.. looking for an apartment for Judy.