Northern Thailand
family tour THROUGH THAILAND
Sara and her 8 year old travelled in January to Thailand on a 9 day G Adventures Family Tour.
“On arrival, I was incredibly anxious; worried about who we would be travelling with and that this could all be a terrible idea!
The weather in Bangkok was divine at the time. I remember the blue skies and cool temperature which I wasn't expecting.”
Was the accommodation what you expected?
None of the accommodation was luxurious, but everything that a family would need. Great buffet breakfasts, a pool for the kids to swim in and two double beds in all the rooms.
Any SPECIAL memories?
I have such fond memories of all the families we travelled with. Each family had their quirks, stories and way of life which we all loved sharing with each other. We travelled in two mini buses throughout the trip, all the kids and a designated parent in one, and the rest of the parents in the other. We heard stories of life in Johannesburg which haunted us all, and tales of immigrating from eastern Europe to Chicago and Toronto to give their children better opportunities. The pandemic hit 12 months after our return and we all shared our lockdown experiences via WhatsApp which were all so different. So many treasured moments!
What was your favourite meal?
I am obsessed with Thai food so I was in heaven! It was great to see my daughter’s interest and willingness to try different foods after our cooking class.
Learning to make Pad Thai was probably my favourite; it’s all about the sauce!
Any hiccups along the way?
On the way back down from the waterfalls I slipped and badly grazed my knee (terrible choice of footwear by the way!). I continued down the hill with blood running down my leg with all the thoughts of infection running through my mind. When I found our guide, he cleaned up my knee without hesitation and then went to the chemist and bought back a whole bag of medicated creams and bandages! He really went above and beyond to make sure I was OK.
Any unique cultural experiences?
So many! We loved the shopping trip to a local fresh food and seafood market before our cooking class. The cooking class was authentic and educational; the kids and adults all loved it. We did an overnight train from Chang Mai to Bangkok which was such a local experience. The trains are nothing flash but the scenery was incredible. I would highly recommend it. We also visited an elephant sanctuary up in Chang Mai which was really great.
How has this trip changed your perspective on life?
It really opened me up to travelling with others in a small group whether it be with other families or solo. Yes, there were times when travelling with other families was testing, but it was mostly fantastic. There is a magic that happens when you let your guard down and invest time into getting to know people and their stories.
The couple from South Africa owned a radio station in Johannesburg. They are surrounded by crime and tragedy all of the time and had so many horrific stories, but dedicated so much of their resources to helping women and children in need across Africa. Not so much advice, but it was really inspiring to see how they lived their lives and used their privilege for good.
If you could revisit, where would it be?
I did really like Chang Mai and would love to go back and explore Northern Thailand more.
Where's your next adventure?
Japan with my middle daughter!