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A Stranger in a Familiar Land
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  • Siewch

A Stranger in a Familiar Land

Singapore & Thailand in the time of Covid Weiterlesen
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  • Beginn der Reise
    17. November 2021
    SiewchA Stranger in a Familiar LandReisender

    Prologue

    17. November 2021 in den USA ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Up until mid-October, I was dithering on whether and where to go for my first pandemic era international trip. My first preference was Singapore because I hadn't seen my family in almost two years, and so I monitored whether Singapore would waive quarantine for vaccinated travelers. My backup plan was to go to Canada or Europe.

    In September, Singapore opened up Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) with Germany and Brunei. I wasn't holding out hope that they would add a VTL from the United States in the near future because the Covid situation in the US was awful, and vaccination rates had stalled. But, rather unexpectedly, Singapore announced a VTL with the United States. Around the same time, there were also rumblings that Thailand may reopen. So, I decided to go to Singapore for a week to visit family and friends, and then head north to Thailand.

    Truth be told, I preferred to go to Asia anyway because I knew that, as a whole, people there view battling the pandemic as a collective effort, and so mask usage would be high, and people would get vaccinated as soon as they could secure one. Surprisingly, I also managed to secure a booster shot before I departed, which I guess was a sad consequence of having excess doses available due to the stalled vaccination efforts in the US.    Weiterlesen

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  • SiewchA Stranger in a Familiar LandReisender
    Supper: Beef and rice.
    Breakfast: Fried noodles with fish.

    Los Angeles to Singapore

    17. November 2021 in den USA ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Singapore Airlines SQ37 | LAX/SIN
    Economy Class
    9V-SMZ | Airbus A350-900
    ATD/2246 | ATA/0909+2
    Lounge: Admiral's Club T4

    ================================================================

    Only a handful of flights - all operated by Singapore Airlines - were included in the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) between the United States and Singapore. As such, I had to fly from HNL to LAX first, and then on the designated VTL flight from LAX to SIN. I primarily fly OneWorld, and so I did not have enough United miles to redeem for a premium class seat. I also I did not want to fork out extra cash for a premium class seat as I would have limited use for the Star Alliance miles earned, so I reluctantly stuck with Economy Class. As I had a seven hour layover, I redeemed Business ExtrAA points for a day pass to the Admiral's Club in T4.

    The LAX/SIN flight was over 17 hours, and it is my longest flight to date. I spent all of November 18th in the air. At check in, I sweet talked the staff into assigning me an exit seat with no one next to me. It was surreal boarding an SQ flight after so many years, but I was quickly reminded how much I miss SQ. I made an instant connection with the two cabin crew who sat at the exit for takeoff, and they paid extra attention to me and addressed me by name for the remainder of the flight. The seat was surprisingly comfortable for an economy class seat, and I slept rather well. I only watched three movies on this long flight.

    There were some obvious changes since I worked for SQ, particularly in catering. I noted that the mains were now served in plastic casseroles, and that the portion sizes were much larger. Gone, however, were appetizers, cupped water, cheese and crackers, and sliced fruit for breakfast. Overall, I liked the simplified meal concept. The black serviceware was also practical and elegant.    Weiterlesen

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  • SiewchA Stranger in a Familiar LandReisender
    Everybody has to scan a QR code with their Trace Together app to enter any public facility.

    Arrival in Singapore & VTL Isolation

    19. November 2021 in Singapur ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    I studied and read all the VTL requirements and I made sure I met all the conditions to avoid quarantine. To even get onto the VTL flight, I had to present a negative PCR test result. I had to point out to the harried check in staff at LAX where it said “PCR” on my test results.

    On arrival into a very quiet SIN, I had a minor scare at immigration when the officer wouldn’t even look at my paper vaccination certificates, and he wouldn’t accept my explanation for why he could not scan my vaccination QR. Fortunately, the supervisor on duty knew that the US QR code could not be scanned like normal QR codes, and she let me through. I was whisked to a swabbing station, and then into a waiting taxi which took me directly to the Quay Hotel on North Bridge Road where I was to stay in isolation while I awaited the result of my Covid test.

    I chose the Quay Hotel because it was cheap. When I got to the hotel, I realized that I booked a small, dark, windowless room, and I fretted about having to be confined in there if I tested positive. After a quick mee pok lunch (which I had to eat with my hands because there were no utensils in the package) delivered by Grab, I went to sleep. I was awoken by a call from a contact tracer around 5pm, at which time I checked my email and saw my negative Covid test result. As I was free to go, I groggily wandered out for a porridge dinner, and then I returned to stay the night. I had a roti prata breakfast the next morning, and then I checked out and headed to Hume Park.    Weiterlesen

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  • SiewchA Stranger in a Familiar LandReisender
    Gulf Air 787 with special livery.
    The "meal" on Gulf Air.

    Singapore to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi

    26. November 2021 in Singapur ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Gulf Air GF165 | SIN/BKK
    Economy Class
    A9C-FG | Boeing 787-9 with special 70th anniversary livery
    ATD/1355 | ATA/1518

    ================================================================

    When researching flights from Singapore to Bangkok, an intriguing option revealed itself: a fifth freedom flight with Gulf Air for only USD80. It was only a tad bit more expensive than the low cost carriers, and I had never flown Gulf Air before, so I happily booked it.

    The flight to BKK was surreal as there were only about a dozen passengers on the Boeing 787. The taxi to runway 02R was probably the longest taxi I've ever been on. The aircraft taxied north from the west side of T1, past the T5 construction site, and then southwards to the southern end of runway 02R. Service was perfunctory and somewhat cold. The inflight meal consisted of two plastic wrapped pastries.

    After landing in BKK, we taxied past dozens of stored aircraft. It felt like we were sailing past ghost ships.

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  • SiewchA Stranger in a Familiar LandReisender
    My quarantine room.
    The view from my room - a squatter colony between the hotel and the walled in private estate.Quarantine dinner: Thai omelette and tom yum goong.Quarantine breakfast: khao pad goong, fruits.

    Bangkok Test and Go

    26. November 2021 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    The paperwork to get to Thailand was a bit of a mixed bag. The first step is to book a flight and a Test and Go package at a hotel, as well as travel insurance. Once that was completed, one then had to apply for a Thailand Pass, which involved uploading vaccination certificates and QR codes, proof of travel insurance, and proof of having booked a Test and Go package. The application was a tad frustrating because the pdf upload wasn't working, so I had to take photographs of everything and upload them as jpgs. Once the application was submitted, I only needed to wait a few hours before my Thailand Pass and QR code were issued.

    Arrival into Thailand was efficient. Before reaching the immigration counters, we were made to sit on some chairs while attendants came to us individually to make sure we had the correct documents to present to immigration. The immigration counters were eerily quiet. Once through immigration, I met my Test and Go hotel representative who then took me to another holding area while he checked my documentation. After a short wait, another traveler and I were herded into a waiting van to the Elegant Airport Hotel.

    The Test and Go package includes one night at the hotel, three meals, and a covid swab to be administered on site. I specifically chose the Elegant Airport Hotel because it was close to the airport and because it was one of the more reasonably priced packages at THB3,900 (about USD130). On arrival, the efficient staff checked me in, got me to select my meals, and then sent me to the nurses' station for my swab. I was then informed that my test result would arrive at 4am.

    My room was large and very pleasant. Sadly, the view wasn't great. Right next to the hotel was a squatter settlement - the people there lived in shipping containers amidst piles of rubble. They were flanked by the hotel on one side, and a walled in luxury housing development on the other. This stark contrast was a familiar sight back when I lived in Bangkok on the 1990s, and it seems little has changed.

    Despite the comfortable surroundings, I had a fitful nights' sleep. I'd had a negative PCR test result two days earlier, but there still is a certain amount of anxiety when waiting for a Covid test result. The result came in as scheduled, and I was free to go. I ate breakfast, and then made my way back to the airport for my flight up north to Chiang Mai.
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  • SiewchA Stranger in a Familiar LandReisender
    Instagrammer getting ready for a shot with the pigeons...
    ... and here is the money shot.Thapae GateCity wall.The moat surrounding the old city.Random sights from my initial explorations.Random sights from my initial explorations.Random sights from my initial explorations.Seen on a scooter.Thailand really needs to figure out its wires!I watched with bated breath as I was terrified that the squirrel would get electrocuted.Random sights from my initial explorations.Random sights from my initial explorations.The immature part of my psyche is always amused by anatomically correct lions.

    Thapae Gate & Initial Explorations

    27. November 2021 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    After a quick taxi ride to my lodging, I was out and about on the streets of Chiang Mai. My first order of the day: food! Specifically, khao soi, a northern Thai curry noodle dish rarely found in the US. I made my way to the nearest khao soi stand and had a satisfying bowl of noodles. The rest of my day was spent wandering around the city, getting my bearings in order to set myself up for the days of exploring ahead. I looked out for useable landmarks and noted where my sightseeing targets were. I quickly established that the city walls and moat, and, in particular the eastern gate, also known as the Thapae Gate, were my best landmarks. The only visible highrise was the Meridien which also served as a secondary landmark. Overall, though, I was just pleased to be back in Thailand. This is a country I have lived in, and I love the culture and the people. Because I can get by in Thai, it is also easy for me to figure my way around.

    At Thapae Gate, I observed in amusement as instagrammers paid a man to first feed pigeons and then hurl a stick among them to get them to fly around the subject of the photo. Nearby, the photographer would be clicking away in the hope of getting the perfect shot.

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  • SiewchA Stranger in a Familiar LandReisender
    Wat Inthakin Sadue Muang.
    Wat Inthakin Sadue Muang.Wat Inthakin Sadue Muang.

    Wat Inthakin Sadue Muang

    27. November 2021 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    During my initial wanderings, the first temple I visited was Wat Inthakin Sadue Muang. Aside from this temple, I didn't visit any others because I was focused on getting my bearings for a more detailed exploration later.

    That evening, my friend Paul and his wife Renu came to get me at the hotel. We drove out to dinner at a restaurant by the Ping River. I had a great time catching up with Paul, and getting to know Renu. Like me, Paul took a career break in 2017. Unlike me, however, he did not return to the United States. He met Renu in Bangkok, and when he got home, he sold his apartment, disposed of his belongings, and flew back to Thailand. He now owns a small real estate development and management firm in Doi Saket on the outskirts of Chiang Mai.

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  • SiewchA Stranger in a Familiar LandReisender
    Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
    The naga steps up Doi Suthep.Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.Google Translate said the Thai characters meant "moron". LOLWat Phra That Doi Suthep.Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.Snoozing dogs at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.Hazy view of Chiang Mai from Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.The famous naga steps at Doi Suthep.The famous naga steps at Doi Suthep.The famous naga steps at Doi Suthep.

    Doi Suthep

    28. November 2021 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    I awoke early and decided to start my explorations with a trip out to Doi Suthep, a sacred mountain to the west of the city. It didn't take me long to find a red sawngthaew to get me out to Doi Suthep. I paid the going rate for a charter out there. In normal times, I would likely have been able to find other travelers to split the cost with me, but not this time. In any case, many of the hardworking locals were probably having a tough time getting through the pandemic, and I wasn't going to nickel and dime my way with them.

    The drive to Doi Suthep took about 30 minutes. Before long, we reached the mountain proper and started our ascent. En route, I observed locals giving alms to monks. As it was Sunday, there were many cyclists riding up the mountain, along with a handful of runners. I observed with amusement that some of the friendly stray dogs trotted alongside the cyclists and runners as they made their way uphill.

    The sawngthaew driver deposited me at the base of the famous naga steps. I made my way up the 300+ steps to the Doi Suthep temple, which was spectacular. The views over Chiang Mai were a little hazy, but I could make out the outline of the moat and the airport. After wandering around the temple grounds, I made my way back down the naga steps and back to Chiang Mai. I asked the driver to send me to a boat noodle stand of his choosing. There, I had a delicious breakfast which put me in good stead to continue my day of exploring.

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  • SiewchA Stranger in a Familiar LandReisender
    Wat Chedi Luang
    Naga at base of Wat Chedi Luang.Wat Chedi Luang.Wat Chedi Luang.Wat Chedi Luang.Elephants at Wat Chedi Luang.Wat Chedi Luang.I was born on a Wednesday. This is my deity.A chedi for the Year of the Horse (Jeff's year).A chedi for the Year of the Monkey (me).Wat Chedi Luang at night.Wat Chedi Luang at night.Wat Chedi Luang at night.Modern temple in front of Wat Chedi Luang.

    Wat Chedi Luang

    28. November 2021 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    My first sightseeing target within Chiang Mai was Wat Chedi Luang. The main temple, pretty as it was, wasn't my prime target. Rather, I was interested in the 14th century stupa behind it, and it certainly did not disappoint. I circumnavigated the breathtaking stupa several times and then I simply sat and admired it.

    Later that evening, I returned to admire the stupa while wandering the night market.

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  • SiewchA Stranger in a Familiar LandReisender
    Lese majeste protest at Thapae Gate.
    Lese majeste protest at Thapae Gate.Night market.Night market.Night market.Animal rights protesters at Thapae Gate.

    Night Market & Other Wanderings

    28. November 2021 in Thailand ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

    At Wat Phra Singh, I wandered the grounds for a bit before heading back in the general direction of my hotel. I then took an afternoon nap before heading out again. This time, I explored some of the sois just outside the old city. As I passed the Thapae Gate, I noted that there were about a dozen people protesting the lese majeste law. They were lined up on the side of the road holding up signs and giving the Hunger Games salute. Such a display would have been unthinkable when I lived in Thailand. Times have changed.

    Upon returning to the old city, I realized that many of the nearby streets had closed down for the Sunday Walking Street event. I had a pleasant evening out exploring the stalls, and also getting a nighttime perspective of the various monuments I had visited during daylight. I am sure that this event was a shadow of its pre-Covid self, but it was also nice to see the locals reclaiming the space. I was pleased to note that even the Walking Street event took Covid seriously. Checkpoints were set up at all the entrances. There, all people entering the street had their temperatures checked, and they were required to scan the QR code using the Morchana app. I had noted earlier in the day that most establishments had similar requirements.

    I had dinner at the Walking Street. I ate a searingly spicy mushroom salad, accompanied with a cooling mango smoothie. After dinner, I wandered some more, and I found myself at the Thapae Gate again. There, I ordered a sweet roti with nutella from a delightful Muslim woman. When she received my cash, she did a cute little ritual which involved touching various points of her stall with my 20 baht notes. Nearby there were anti-meat industry protesters dressed in black holding up monitors showing how animals were slaughtered.

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  • SiewchA Stranger in a Familiar LandReisender
    Wat Prabat Tinnok.
    More of the odd "moron" statues at Wat Prabat Tinnok.View from Wat Prabat Tinnok.

    Wat Phrabat Tinnok

    29. November 2021 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    I spent the morning wandering the old city again after another noodle breakfast. I wanted to explore a couple of the museums, in particular the Lanna Folklife Museum, but they were all closed. After some walking, I returned to my hotel. There, I had a conversation with Jeff about whether I should cut short my trip due to the emerging Omicron variant. I assessed that because Thailand moved quickly to revoke quarantine free travel for people who had been in Southern Africa, the risk to my safety wasn't great. The bigger risk in my mind was whether Japan Air Lines would cancel my flights. As it were, Japan wasn't allowing foreigners in, and so they were operating overseas flights primarily for cargo and transiting passengers. After some discussion, we decided that I should continue as I only had six more days, and even if I could secure an earlier flight, I would not be able to board it unless I undertook a Covid test (which I had already booked for December 3rd). I'm a little nervous, but I have to accept that there is a real risk of getting stranded nowadays if I am to cross borders.

    Paul came to get me just after noon. Our plan was to drive out to the Doi Saket area, which is located about 20 minutes drive northeast of the old city, where he lives and works. Our first order of the day was more khao soi, this time at a roadside stall near his home. After that, we stopped by his office for a while, before we set off to Wat Phrabat Tinnok to enjoy some views of the area.

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  • SiewchA Stranger in a Familiar LandReisender
    Paul crossing the bridge to Take A Walk Cafe.
    The bridge to Take A Walk Cafe.The Hobbit house at Take A Walk Cafe.The Hobbit house at Take A Walk Cafe.The grounds at Take A Walk Cafe.The grounds at Take A Walk Cafe.The grounds at Take A Walk Cafe.The grounds at Take A Walk Cafe.The footpath leading to Take A Walk Cafe.

    Take A Walk Cafe

    29. November 2021 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Our next planned destinated was a waterfall known as as the Sticky Waterfall (Namtok Bua Tong). Getting there, however, required driving up to a dam and then along the dam. We drove to the dam via several routes only to encounter closed gates. Finally, we asked a guard and he told us the dam was closed to the public due to Covid. I cannot imagine why that would be the case, but we decided to go to another waterfall in the area called Namtok Mae Kampong. Getting there involved driving along some country roads. En route, we stopped at a property called Take a Walk for a coffee. To get to the coffee shop, we had to walk along a path and then across a suspension bridge. Once across the bridge, we got a lawn with a whimsical hobbit-like house, and various structures. After a good coffee, we set off uphill to get to the waterfall.

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  • SiewchA Stranger in a Familiar LandReisender
    Mae Kampong Waterfall.
    Mae Kampong Waterfall.Mae Kampong Waterfall.Mae Kampong Waterfall.Mae Kampong Waterfall.Mae Kampong Waterfall.Mae Kampong Waterfall.Mae Kampong Waterfall.Mae Kampong Waterfall.Mae Kampong Waterfall.Mae Kampong Waterfall.Mae Kampong Waterfall.Mae Kampong Waterfall.Our dinner venue.Our dinner venue.Our dinner venue.

    Mae Kampong Waterfall

    29. November 2021 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    The road to Mae Kampong Waterfall was narrow, steep, and winding. Along the way, we saw many lodgings, shops, and lodgings catering to domestic tourists. I developed a mild case of motion sickness and I was glad to finally reach our destination. A brisk walk in the cool mountain air (we were at an elevation of over 3,000 feet) helped clear the nausea.

    On the way back into Chiang Mai, we stopped for an early dinner at a restaurant that was hidden away. The restaurant itself was really nice, with rice field views. The food was good too. After dinner, Paul dropped me off at my hotel.

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  • SiewchA Stranger in a Familiar LandReisender

    Chiang Mai to New Sukhothai

    30. November 2021 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Pre-Covid, Thailand was one of the easiest non-English speaking countries to navigate. One could simply step into any of the numerous agencies and book transport and day tours. When planning this trip, I was a little concerned about whether the usual backpacker transport routes were running between Chiang Mai and Sukhothai (as it turns out, they weren't), and I was also a little concerned about the risk of being crammed into a minibus. Fortunately, Paul saved the day once again. His wife Renu had gone to her hometown of Kamphaeng Phet to vote, and Paul was planning to drive down, visit her family, and then drive her back. As Sukhothai was a short diversion, he offered to drive me.

    Our drive took about 4.5 hours with stops en route for coffee and a random Portuguese egg tart stand at a rest stop. Along the way, we had some great conversations about how our lives and careers have turned out since the time he lived in Honolulu over a decade ago.

    Paul dropped me off at my guesthouse around 2pm. After checking in, I went out in search of food and to get myself oriented to New Sukhothai. Although New Sukhothai is a 20 minute drive from Sukhothai Historical Park, I heeded the advice from the Lonely Planet and other sites to base myself there because of the good budget accommodations and wider range of food options.

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  • SiewchA Stranger in a Familiar LandReisender
    The clock tower in New Sukhothai.
    Khun Thorh and his samlor.My room at Foresto Guest House.Pad kaprao for lunch. Unfortunately, this one was a fail.Khao man gai stand.Khao man gai.Squid on a stick.Sen lek narm gai. This was a result of a miscommunication when I tried to order Sukhothai noodles.The famous Sukhothai noodles with moo dang, raw green beans, and peanuts.Sankaya served in a banana leaf.Dessert.Public park at New Sukhothai.

    New Sukhothai

    30. November 2021 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    After a short rest, I ventured out again after sundown to eat at the night market. Thousands of birds were active after sunset, and the noise was deafening. I was surprised to find that only a small handful of the vendors had English signage, as I thought pre-Covid Sukhothai had a critical mass of travelers. Although I speak enough Thai to get by, I never learned to read it, so I am functionally illiterate in this context. I found a stall selling khao man gai (Hainan-style chicken rice) and tucked in happily. For me, one of my happy places is to eat on a makeshift table with traffic whizzing past just feet away. I felt as if I was meant to be right here, right now. For dessert, I had sankaya (a sort of custard), and I had a fun exchange in Thai (supplemented with gestures) with the vendor who was very interested in what vaccines were available in the US. She was very surprised to learn that I had my booster shot already.

    Included in this entry are shots of various other meals eaten in my three days in the area.

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  • SiewchA Stranger in a Familiar LandReisender
    Wat Mahathat.
    Wat Mahathat.Wat Mahathat.Wat Mahathat.Wat Mahathat.Wat Mahathat.Wat Mahathat.Wat Mahathat.Wat Mahathat.Wat Mahathat.Wat Mahathat - standing Buddha with palm raised.Wat Mahathat - standing Buddha with palm down.Wat Mahathat.Wat Mahathat.Wat Mahathat.Wat Mahathat.Wat Mahathat.Wat Mahathat.Wat Mahathat.Exterior shot of Wat Mahathat showing its scale.

    Sukhothai Central Zone: Wat Mahathat

    1. Dezember 2021 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    After a hearty breakfast the next morning, I asked the guesthouse owner if the sawngthaew that regularly plied between New Sukhothai and the park for 30 baht were running. He said they weren't. It certainly wasn't business as usual. He advised me to flag down a samlor (a pedicab powered by a motorcycle), and that the going rate was 150 baht. I certainly am having to pay more because it isn't business as usual. But, I am sympathetic to all the people in the informal economy whose livelihoods were upended when the tourists stopped coming.

    Sukhothai Historical Park is roughly divided into three zones - the main park itself, a northern zone, and a western zone. My samlor driver Khun Thorh (this is the closest transliteration of his nickname that I can think of; the intonation is similar to the second tone in Mandarin) dropped me off at a bicycle rental place and told me to call him if I needed a return ride. I then hoisted myself onto my rickety rental bike and ventured into the main part of the park. The bike rental cost 30 baht (US$1)!

    My first stop was the Wat Mahathat, which was a huge and spectacular ruin. The highlight of this ruin was two large standing Buddha statues. One statue had one hand raised, and the other did not. I was mildly amused by the cliched sight of two westerners meditating in front of one of the statues while listening to a recording of a Buddhist chant.

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