So what was the challenge? Travelling across 2000km in 5 days with no travel money.
2500km, 28 lifts and 1 train later we made it! 😬
In our prayers before our journey, the three of us had a theme of the ocean, horizon, sun on our faces and wind in our hair. I believed that God wanted us to purely enjoy the road trip that he was taking us on. Just take in all of His glorious creation and acknowledge His presence along side us. We met wonderful and generous humans, we laughed, we sang, and no, we didn't cry! 😬 It was a journey of epicness.
An elderly couple had picked us up in their station wagon. They fed us mangosteen (a fruit of absolute deliciousness) and enjoyed hearing about what we are doing this year. They insisted on us taking a minibus, and I kept telling them that the money we had was for food and not travel. I thought something was lost in translation, but this couple, that didn't have much, bought us minibus tickets that took us 85km that day.
That night we decided to celebrate Aces birthday properly and have a decent meal. It all started with looking for wifi to let Team know that we're safe. The lady who owns Tulip Cafe in Lampang, Chook, invited us in. She gave us water as we used her wifi with no intentions of spending money. Her Amsterdam Hubby was cooking some meat on a fire and we couldn't resist the smell of home and the fact that we had reason to celebrate! We used a chunk of our money for delicious pork steak and chips. We all shared stories and she sent us away with well wishes, hitchhiking advice and water.
Just over the road we slept at the bus station, which one of the other teams happened to have set up for the night. The competition is on.
First thing the next morning, our lift was an airconditioned Bakkie. Two teachers happened to be Travelling to Bangkok (624km), which is exactly where we were heading!
That night we arrived late, but requested a few couchsurfers anyway. Felix (German dude with an Ozzie accent) replied within minutes, offering us shelter and shower. Him and his friend Thai (Vietnamese dude who grew up in Germany) welcomed us in and enjoyed all our story telling of the adventures we've had so far. We chatted well into the night and had a good night's rest. Thai sent us off with some snackage and water in the morning.
We thought we'd attempt asking the fire department for a lift out of the city to make it easier for hiking. After some discussion amongst the firemen, one offered us a ride to the bus station and bought us cappacinos along the way too. We tried to hike a little way down and a taxi driver ended up giving us 100 baht for our journey, but no one was wiling to pick us up. We considered getting a taxi but then, finally! A 55km ride south. This guy stopped at every policeman trying to help us get closer to our destination. They just said good luck and waved, haha.
It was beginning to be a looong day. Three lifts had told us to go to the train station. The third time, we listened and we had just enough cash, to get us to the next spot. No more food money, but the second lady had given us 10 packs of 2min noodles 💪🏻.
The train ride was a difficult sleep. According to the ticket, our stop was coming up. It's 00.22 am, we get ready as soon as we can and drag our bags through the narrow doorways and jump off. But. It's not our stop. "GET BACK ON!!" Jinne boet, was that an Adrenaline rush. Had visions of getting the bag through the door and then running after the train and having my feet drag on the pathway and face planting a pole. But we made it! Another two hours of using matchsticks to keep the eyelids open to see the name of each stop as the train slowed down. "Surat Thani" our stop is finally here.
We met a legend of a dog (Mufasa Noodle Pooch as we named him) who came bounding towards us as if he was our lost hound that we've been searching years for. We decided to sleep at a bus station rather than the train station, due to the possible human devouring rats. We crashed for 2.5 hours. Mufasa and Bennie kept watch and Bennie had written out a list of prayer requests.
After getting up bright and early and two lifts later, we standing on the side of the road admiring the view and thinking of our empty bellies. We needed water for our chow but didn't have enough to go around. Next thing, Daniel rocks up in his Bakkie, asks where we going, and he just happens to be going to Phuket too! Tells us to jump in, and in the back, there's 3 litres of water just sitting there and he offers it to us with a smile on his face! Another friendly legend!
The road to Phuket was astoundingly beautiful. We arrive at a beautiful white sand beach, clear waters and grey sky. Daniel gives us more water and 100baht each for some lunch. He sends us off with well wishes and tells us to swim before the rain hits. We ran to the water! Our toes touch it, we take a photo and then the heavens unleashed a flood upon us. Running to save our bags from certain demise, we find shelter under a temple and wait it out.
s three wet dogs go to the nearest 7 eleven to have classic chip sarmies and dry out for a while. With the full belly, our spirits lifted. Time to leave or else we'll never make it to Malaysia in time.
A bright pink Mazda with minimal space picks us up. The couple are joyful newly weds laughing about how small their car is (please note that they didn't just comment on how massive our bags are😂). The hubby even offered us to sleep at their place if we don't find a lift.
This Oom stops for us in his Bakkie and he seemed a little grumpy but willing. After getting impatient with the translation and nearly driving off without Ace, he gives us a ride. He pulled off the main road and we got annoyed as this has happened a few times before. He's picking up his daughter and she tells us to sleep at them because the rain is coming and we won't get a lift now. The previous day we learnt from the repitetion of the train suggestion, that we should take this offer as it's now the second time someone has offered us a place to sleep.
The journey to their house was filled with gorgeous scenery and forests. They lived in a small Muslim village on the river. They welcomed us with Fanta, coke and Dunkin donuts. Offered us a shower and said they'd make dinner. Then the Oom tells us that we're going on a boat ride. Heck yea! It was like the Amazonian river (I say this as if I've been there, but you grip my vibes). We just enjoying this, huge smiles on our faces, amazed by God spoiling us like this. The boat is chugging along and goes around a bend and there's this unified gasp between the three of us. "Whaaaat?!" "No waaay!" "Bro there's a rainbow even!" it's was just glorious. This horizon of ocean and islands lie ahead of us. It's breathtaking. James Bond island just off in the distance, sun setting behind us, and a reminder of Gods promise just ahead. This was the moment God wanted us to have right from the beginning when we prayed. The pictures don't do it justice, you had to have been there. See it for your own eyes and feel the overwhelming presence of how much Jesus loves us. It's unfathomable.
We spent the evening sharing a scrumptious meal of rice, salted fish, spicy chicken and bamboo shoots. Looked at wedding albums, showed family pictures, chatted about our journey and learnt about eachother. We felt at home.
Last and final day. We start it with sunrise devotions and being thankful for all that we have. I prayed for a gap of clear sky over us as we travel. It has been storming all night. We hit the road after an interesting breakfast of pap, salted fish, soya sauce and pepper. Our second ride is a minibus that's willing to take us 65km for free. As we traveled, it only rained when we had cover or were in a closed car. Each Bakkie ride it didn't rain. We caught lift after lift and were dropped off by a couple of ladies, 30km from the boarder. We were hoping to be near a store to use our last 130 baht for a treat since the conversion would leave us with cents. No shops near by for miles and I was craving ice cream. Next thing you know, this sweet old man comes cycling down the street with his little ice cream cart. No ways! So we go for it and each take two ice creams without calculating. He rings it up and it's exactly 130 baht. Thank you Jesus!
It's dark and no one wants to give us a ride. Eventually, the ladies that dropped us off who live right there, decide to come out and take us to the boarder! Hallelujah! We're almost there.
All goes well with the authorities and now to catch one(hopefully) last lift. We looking at all the big cars and throwing our thumbs in the air. I turn around to Bennie and joke about how small one of the cars is, he laughs and he says, "Don't even try" 😂... I tried... They pulled up! These people were heading straight to the town we were going, saving us a ferri ride AND offered to drop us outside the front door. There was however no space in the boot... So into this little Etios we climb, day bags under our feet, backpacks on our laps, suffocating slightly, cramping occasionally, bags and elbows in faces, for the next two hours. Let's do it. Even got snackage and water on the way from the generous couple.
We arrive and fall out of the car, 6 hours late and looking rough! But we made it!!
Greeted by our team and having shower and bed waiting for us, we slept hella good that night!
It truly was a road trip with Jesus. He constantly told us not to worry about what to eat or where we're going to sleep. He spoke to us through people of peace and provided full bellies. He fulfilled his promise to us and showed off how breathtaking his creation is. How awesome is our God!?
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