I’m Home! | Thailand Trip: Part 2

If you’re reading this post, that means I’m home! I’m currently writing this from the airport in Taipei (5 hours into my 7 hour layover – yippee :’) I apologize for any sleepy typos because of it lol) but by the time this goes out, I will have been back in the USA for about a day or so. Either way, it’s time for a Part 2 on my trip to Thailand!

If you haven’t read part one yet, you can head here to read all of the fun things we did on the first five days of our trip. I’ll be slightly less organized this time around (blame it on waiting too long to write this post) but it’ll still have all the fun information. Now, onto the last week!

The Tha Phae Gate, Chiang Mai Zoo, The Cultural Museum, and Final Goodbyes

The next thing we did after our many outings was to head past the Tha Phae (T-haw P-hay) Gate and go to the night market (and the U.N. Irish Pub – I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to have my husband, who grew up in Ireland, go to an Irish pub in Thailand, where I grew up. Where worlds collide, am I right?). I don’t have as many pictures of those things, but we had a whole lot of fun. I was just so in the moment, I didn’t really think to get any pictures!

The Tha Phae Gate is part of the old wall surrounding the original Chiang Mai. The wall is thought to have been built around the 13th century, and it’s such an awe-inspiring feeling to be near something that’s seen so many centuries pass. You can learn more about the gate by going here, if you’re interested!

Next, we headed to the zoo!

We got to see hippos, capybaras, elephants, kangaroos, a rhino, and a whole lot more. If I’m being completely honest, I was kind of miserable (it was 85+ degrees Fahrenheit and I was grumpy) but Adam had a good time for the most part, and he was as sweet as ever to me even though I was a grump, so I’m glad that we went.

A day or so after that, with only a couple days left in Thailand, we headed to the Chiang Mai Cultural Museum. I had already been once a couple years ago, and I remembered it pretty clearly, but I still had a lovely time there. It’s always such a cool experience to learn more about the things that made Thailand what it is today, and to see the rich cultural history that this beautiful country has.

A lot of what we learned about was Buddhism, as well as how it affected the development of Thailand. It’s a staple part of the country, as well as its people. Getting to see how that development happened – where it started, who brought Buddhism to Thailand, how it’s developed and changed, and how animism is about equally as prevalent there now – was really interesting. The picture on the right (above) is an image of Buddhist texts, written in sanskrit.

Just two days after our trip to the cultural museum (and two trips to the Night Market later) it was time to head home. A beloved family friend offered to drive Adam and I to the airport since my parents had to go help some family friends with the after effects of the flooding in Chiang Rai (learn more about that and how you can help here), and then it was time to go.

And that’s where I am, as I sit writing these words. On the way back from my trip to Thailand. Reflecting on everything that happened. In complete denial that it’s all done (and that I have to get on a 10+ hour long flight a couple hours from now).

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to go. When I left two years ago, I was convinced I might never see my dog, my cat, or my home again. And honestly, that wasn’t an inaccurate assumption. Tickets to Thailand aren’t cheap, and I‘m a young newlywed and an author. (Basically, all the odds were against me! lol). I had absolutely no reason to think I’d be able to go back. But God was so good – and so generous – to make it possible for us to go.

I got to show my husband my home and my pets. I got to see my childhood house again. I got to see an old friend I missed a lot (and I already miss her again!). I got to make new memories to replace old, hard ones. And, best of all, I got to say really good good-byes again, and get even more closure than I got last visit.

God is so good. My time was such a blessing. And I will forever be grateful that He is so generous in so many different ways.

Thanks for keeping up with me as I shared updates on my journey in Thailand! If you went to Thailand, what would you want to see? Let me know in the comments!

P.S.

I have a video coming out today on my YouTube channel! It’s a vlog with a bunch of clips from my time in Thailand. I had so much fun putting it together, and it would mean so much if you could go check it out! You can find it here: https://youtu.be/21pcDG29Ytc

Feel free to subscribe while you’re over there – I’m planning on trying to post pretty regularly over there in the next few months, to see if it’s something you and I would both enjoy.

Thank you so much!

Also, have this gift I created:

That is all. Have a good day!