On Monday we got to the front entry of the Mission Hospital at 8am for a 30-minute taxi ride we were told to the airport where we were to to fly from Bangkok on Air Asia to Chiang Mai at 10:30. Plenty of time we thought with only carry-on bags.
It took a while for the hospital guard to hail a cab for us and we thought he told the driver the airport we had shown and told him we needed to get to. So we headed off in about 25 minutes we started seeing the blue square with a plane in it at the corner of Thai language signs. Good, we're almost there we thought.
But then we started seeing signs on buildings in English with the international airport named and not the domestic airport where we needed to catch our flight now in less than 2 hours! And we had a hunch we needed to head back into the gridlock traffic we had seen going in the direction we now needed to go to the other airport!
The taxi deliver said, "Oh no" in English and got very nervous. So did we! In our minds we were sorting through our options. Give up the trip. Pay for new flights. Wring the neck of the guard. Pray for peace.
We did the latter.
Sure enough we headed back into gridlock traffic and went completely the opposite direction. Unexpectedly at one point the police had an on-ramp full of cars stopped which freed up traffic thereafter. We arrived at the right airport 45min before our flight departed. It helped we had only carry-on bags; the checked bag line snaked through the terminal for "miles". A very kind person helped us do self check-in. Security was very relaxed. We made it...whew.
Chiang Mai is a smaller city with large mountains nearby. We are in a hotel with a pool. Our restaurants have been wonderful. Teri took a Thai cooking class. We have been doing some shopping, sightseeing, reading and relaxing. Feels like a vacation.
Tomorrow we leave for two days at an elephant sanctuary where it will be more rustic. We have no idea what the Internet access will be like so you will understand if we are not updating this blog until the weekend.
Thanks for your interest in our travels.
Love,
P&T
Photos: Do you see the relief on Teri's face at the airport gate? She's ringing the good luck birthday bell today at the Temple.
Oh, you guys are having soooo much fun!! I'm happy for you. Lee chauffered me to work this morning as it was very icy and slick in places. Enjoy your sunshine.
ReplyDelete