Page 62 - MN

62
Hit the Road, Thai Style
Let me tell you about Thai traveling.
It's not like our family did it, where the kids are in the back seat whining "When are we going to get there?" It's not about finding the fastest route and planning things. For Thai people, the trip itself is an adventure, and what would take me 5 hours will take them 8 or 10 hours easily. And they will have about 80% more fun.
First, every family has a cousin with a van. You pile in and head out of town, but if you see anything interesting along the way, you stop. Roadside stands are always favorites, and the women have to check out the different produce. Then there's food. Thai people love to eat, and they do it much better than what I'm used to. There is no such thing as your food and my food. You stop at a restaurant, everyone orders, the food is put in the middle of the table and everyone eats whatever they want. I was always terrible at sharing my food and that is now out the window. It wasn't as though I had a choice. You either share, or people look at you like you're an idiot. I am now a better person when it comes to sharing food.
Also, if there's a tourist attraction, you have to stop. It's the law. Meanwhile, while you're in the van, there is lots of laughter, sleeping when you feel like it, snacking, and no complaining at all. It's an adventure.
I was on the road in the U.S. for 40 years and I had no idea travel could be this stress free. Oh sure, some Thai drivers are maniacal speed freaks and the only solution is to avoid them. On the other hand I’ve played golf with ex-pats who feel it’s okay to down five or ten beers after the game and then climb behind the wheel. All nationalities have their idiots. I once saw a blind drunk Englishman stagger out of Number 1 Bar mumbling, “If I can find it, I can drive it.” People tried to stop him, but he was big, drunk and belligerent. Insanity.
Part of the lack of Thai travel stress could be because Jintana and her family grew up really poor. A road trip was exciting, something to be treasured. Or maybe Thai people are more easy-going than Americans. Or maybe both.