Like the many thousands of other tourists, we are just pleased to be home (sleeping will be good). There were big cheers on the plane as we touched down in Sydney.
We were really lucky to get on a Thai Airways flight from Phuket. The boarding selection process was rather strange to say the least. It felt like we were waiting in line (for four hours) to get entry to some exclusive club. Some people were given boarding passes and others were rejected. I am unsure what the selection criteria was. Everyone was desperate. I was ready to throw myself over the counter and fall at the feet of the airline staff and beg - thankfully it didn't come to that. It was obvious that money was changing hands and people were paying extra to bribe staff to get boarding passes. It's the way things work in Thailand so it's hardly any surprise that this may also be the way the Thai Government does business and the reason so many people want a new government. I really do not blame the demonstrators for the action they are taking and hope it gets resolved soon. Thais are truly beautiful people with permanent smiles on their faces. Life is not easy for them and it was an eye opener for me on many levels.
However, at the same time it was very frustrating for travellers mainly because of a lack of information. It seemed the airlines were only looking after their Business and First Class passengers. They were provided with hotels and meals yet all other travellers had to fend for themselves. Times like these brings out the best and worst in people so it was interesting to watch how people dealt with the situation. It's amazing just how many people fly in and out of Thailand on a daily basis. The country relies on tourism so this crisis will have a long term impact.I did worry for a while that Thailand may be my new home. When wandering the streets I came across this sign - I thought it was an omen of things to come. How funny is this?
So what was a girl to do but sample the delights of Lilly's Bar - it was so hot, really hot and I had time to kill you know how it is.....besides, I hold the philosophy that you have to taste all the cocktails on the menu before you can decide which one you really want to order......we all deal with a crisis in different ways...
I will resume posting and visiting your blogs in the next few days. Let's pray that no more people get hurt from grenades and that all travellers are able to make their way home as quickly as possible. Other than this little hiccup, I had a truly wonderful holiday and will go back to Thailand one day. I really want to see Bangkok (and its shopping centres) in all its glory.
Life is back to normal again or as normal as Lilly's Life gets........
77 comments:
Quite a journey!!
Congratulations on making it home safely! That has to be a huge relief (BATW)
So glad you were able to make it home safely. It's challenging times like these that make us thankful for all the good things we've been blessed with back home!
Lilly what an ordeal - imagine having to drink all those cocktails too.
(hugs) Seriously, I am glad you are home safe and sound,
Glad you made it home safe and sound. And thank you for that 'first hand' report. I read that about 30'000 arrive in Bangkok on a daily basis. Meanwhile, I had time to read more of your blog, and I must say, I had a very VERY good time!
Oh, Lilly,
I just this evening posted a prayer request in my sidebar about your situation.
Looks like prayers were being answered before I even shared the request!
Praise God!
So glad you're home!
Jlo
Oh, Lilly, I'm so glad that you are home safe! You've certainly been in my thoughts and prayers. I'm glad it was still a good trip in spite of the problems. These are indeed scary and difficult times. Get some rest, look forward to reading more soon.
Welcome home! How frustrating, but I can see that you have such a great attitude. I love that!
Welcome home, weary traveler. I am so glad you guys made it back in one piece, and I hope that is exactly how you left Thailand LOL (although I wouldn't blame you if you took out a little frustration after what you went through). I sure pray those poor people get what they deserve. It must be really bad in order for them to have taken such drastic measures.
Anyway, take your time getting back into the swing of things. I haven't even posted anything new since you left (except a Thanksgiving wish) because I just haven't been up to blogging lately. Hopefully I will get back into it myself.
Glad you're back, and looking forward to the stories. Oh, the "Lilly's Aussie Bar" sign was hilarious. You think someone may be trying to tell you something? :)
Wow!
I am so glad you are back safe and sound!
I was concerned about you.
Lol! I had to laugh about the cocktails! I'm there with ya girl!
Btw, that's crazy that you were there when all this "stuff" is going on!!! I'm sure you're glad to be home.
Visiting with BATW - kinda late . . . but, what can I say? Nothing really.
happy to hear that you're back in Safe :)
Welcome home Lilly! I missed you!
Oh my goodness! Sounds like a total nightmare! :( It's good you didn't start having panic attacks! You sound very patient...you most certainly don't have ADHD! I could never wait in a line for four hours!
aww, well its nice to have you home safe and sound, and thanks for posting pics, Love the sign, but its not a sugn, hehehe ;) LA
Hey Lilly!! Nice to see you online again. Missed you :) I hope you were able to try all the cocktails on the menu at Lilly's Bar. Your winner was...??
Anyway, you gotta love the hiccups, they're what makes the travelling tale interesting to tell...
Glad you made it back safely! I can't wait to hear some of your tales!
I have a message for you on my post today. Can you read it when you get a chance? It'll save me from explaining myself.... lol
And, I just noticed the comment date and time! I thought it would leave it in my time, but, alas, nope. It is so not Dec 2 @ 4:ish pm. Although, if it were, I would be finished another day at work... Here it is Dec 1 @ 10:17 pm. That never ceases to boggle my weary little brain....
Thank goodness you're back safely! We kept hearing about the Thailand airport mess in the news and I thought about you. I guess these things occasionally happen when you travel. I always thank my lucky stars when I come home without anything really bad happening.
Your song request is now entered in my list of things to do!!
I am so glad you are home!!!
I told my men all about your dilemma! They put you in their prayers at school!
So so so glad you are home and safe!
Just an adventure huh? Just glad that both you and your daughter are home safely. I cannot imagine the frustration of the travelers that are still stranded in Thailand. Just hope that everything will be resolved soon.
I thought that sign was pretty funny. Maybe it was set up by you many years ago. :)
Visiting from BATW. Glad you made it home safely!
Onyer Lilly - welcome home! Missed you. Hugs
June
Came by way of BATW. Wow! This is quite the adventure it sounds. The part about "your" bar and the cocktails is hilarious. Glad you are back safe on your true home turf.
so good to have you back safe and sound! although i don't think something bad could happen to the good omen you are!
I'm glad your home! I'm also glad YOU went so I can learn from your travels! I dont fly--so I wont ever see such beautiful places.
An internet frind of mine went to Thailand a couple years ago and just loved it..she said the same thing--the people are just happy and very wonderful people.
Its to bad they are going thru this crisis--but then again--sometimes crisis brings the change needed.
Welcome home, Lilly. I'm glad you made it back safely. It will be good to read your posts again.
stoppin by to say Merry SITSmas
I am glad that you got back safe. My husband and I have always wanted to go to Thailand. We almost went for our honeymoon. Instead we went to romantic Bali. I loved it though.
Welcome home, you were missed!!!
Had you opened with the photo of Lilly's Bar, I wouldn't have had a hard time believing that you decided to be the enterprising woman and open a bar for the duration! Sounds like quite a trip. Glad you're home.
:)
Hello...from BATW
What an exciting trip! I'm so glad you and your daughter are okay.
Glad to hear you made it home safely!! :)
Glad you are back safe and sound. Kept thinking about you and checking for any news.Look forward to hearing more when you have recovered
Phew - I bet that's a relief. There's been a lot of coverage here in New Zealand because the aussies are getting out and kiwis are being left behind. Glad you made it out safely. I visited Bankok in 1975/6 and was caught up in riots then. I was only 10 at the time but it was pretty scary and has put me off ever returning to Thailand which I know is a beautiful city. Hope you had a good trip otherwise.
So glad you're home safe and sound. I'm sure you'll have stories to tell for years to come...but with everything happening in India I'm sure it got a bit spooky!
Welcome home, Lilly. Thanks for sharing your experiences and your wonderful impressions of Thailand in spite of everything.
I missed you and I'm glad you are back!
Welcome back girl! We kept your seat warm.
Peace - Rene
I'm so happy you are both home and doing well. What an ordeal! I hope you get lots of sleep.
I was in Phuket a couple of years ago. Beautiful place and I will always remember the great massages I got there! I think I would go back to Thailand just for the massages!
Glad to hear you made it out of there in all that mess.
Found you at BATW
So glad you're back safe and sound Lilly. Hey...at the very least, even at the worst..it was definitely an adventure!!!!
I missed your blogs and comments. Glad you're home and can't wait to hear all about the trip.
LILLY, LILLY, LILLY glad everything is ok. It's really good news about the airports opening up again too. I am sure there are many, many people who will be anxious to get home now. Thailand is a beautiful place and it is a great holiday destination. I read that Canadians and a Britain lost their lives in their hurry to get to Phuket to fly out. So many consequences from this civil unrest. Looking forward to hearing about your trip.
Lilly, I'm so glad you made it home safe and sound. I was worried for a little while until Tashabud let me know everything was OK with you. Not real sure how she found out, but I'm thankful she dropped me a note.
I bet you had a pretty lively time anyway. How cool that you have your own bar down there, LOL.
welcome home ~ Safely!!
I guess our prayers work, oh ya and your extra $$$ to the airline/government folks... :o)
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I'm glad you're safe. There are many terrible things happening in the world.
Glad you made it back home Lily! I was just thinking about you when I heard about the situation there getting worst...
By the way you gals looks awesome in that picture.
WHat a journey you and your daughter had. I'm happy to hear that you both have arrived back safely. Looking forward to hearing more about your trip.
:)
So glad things have settled down over there and it was relatively peaceful. Sad about India too - absolutely sad. The world is getting to be a scarier place I guess which means we all have to start watching out for each other more than we ever have I think. It also shows how much we rely on airports to run smoothly and they certainly do for the most part. Cannot wait to hear about your trip as it has always been a place I have wanted to travel to as well.
holy crap. That was amazing!
However, how cool is it that you managed to open up a little cafe?
(hee)
Glad to know you and your family are safe,
Hugs
Maria
Hi Lilly! Oh, I'm missed you! Glad you and your beautiful daughter are home now! what an ordeal to go through. I know you're so thankful to be back home. Thanks for the visit.
Be a sweetie,
shelia ;)
So glad you made it home. You seem so cool about it. I would of been a "crying, screaming, popping Ativan" mess.
Ha, that is funny. At first I just saw Aussie bar but then caught the Lilly. Is Lilly a common Aussie name or something?? Cause that is too cute.
Hope you get some sleep! Glad your back!
Oh my goodness, I am so glad that you made it home safely. What a story though!
By the way, Lilly... You and your daughter look the same age! And you're both very beautiful.
Welcome back missus !
Wee 'tiny' problem - how ya gonna answer all yer welcome home doo hickeys pal ???
Cheers and Love Kate x.
Thanks everyone for your comments.
I am glad to see that the Thai Prime Minister has been ousted for electoral fraud and that a new government will be elected soon. It may not be the end of the trouble but the demonstrators have left the airport because the King's birthday is on Friday and they will be celebrating given they are royalists. This means that flights will be returning to normal and travellers will be able to return home.
Most of us are lucky we live in the countries we do. We need to do more for those who do not have the same as we do. The disparity is too great. I guess we help with our tourist dollars but there was a seedier side to tourism that I saw which I will blog about at some point.
Christmas is coming and I need to get back to my Christmas Goddess attempts before December 25 arrives. I will also have a contest in the next few days as well. I have also been trying to catch up with blogs as well. So glad to be back.
Well back. I am so glad you returned home safely!
I'm glad you are home safe! I guess now you always have a story to tell when the conversations slows. "did I ever tell you of the time I was stranded in Thailand"
{Merry SITSmas}
Thank goodness you are home safe. That cafe sign was really spooky.
As a little "welcome home," I left you a treat in my sidebar... xxx
No wait...it's not triple x rated, that was three kisses :)
Glad to have you back! Sounds like quite the adventure! :) And I think that you should have totally got free drinks at your bar...
So glad you made it back home safely.
What an experience! Glad you're back. :)
Welcome back sweetie! Your daughter looks so much like you!!!
It sounds like you had a great time, but busy! Glad you're back!
Glad you're back safe and sound!
I'm new here! What a great blog :) ♥ Hugs!
glad you are back safe and sound Lilly :)
sounds like quite an adventure :0
hope the cocktails at 'your' bar lol...made up for it :))
So glad you are home safe and sound, what an adventure!
Welcome back Lilly:)
What an adventure, and cannot wait to hear more. I think I would have panicked at the airport just not knowing and waiting for so long.
How cool that you found that sign, perfect!!
Will you be posting pictures of your trip to Thailand? My mother in law is from Thailand and she recently came home from a trip there. It is beautiful. I hope to be able to take my husband there someday for a vacation. I'm glad you made it out of there safe! Good to have you back!
OK, answer me this........how pathetic am I when I snicker at the word "Phuket"????
LOL, yeah....that's what I thought!
You are seriously one of the most witty writers I have ever come across.
Lilly's Bar!! (and spelt correctly)...I can see you as part of some drama and intrigue...just like in the movies..."Lilly's Bar" could be the title of a new TV series...every week a new story...another crime solved.
Seriously...It's so good you got back safely.
henry
Henry, I love when you comment because it always makes me feel better about the world. Hope you are going well - I guess Christmas time in your business is so busy. Lilly's Bar - oh, how I love the thought of that. In fact, I may incorporate it into my blog. Take Care and Stay Warm!!
PS I am no more mysterious and intriguing than the next person believe me.
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