#65: Return to Seuchland ... eeh Germany

20.03.2020

Should we really leave already? Almost three weeks earlier than planned?? I'm afraid we have to. Great.

So today we leave at 5:15 am, get ready and board the shuttle service at 6 am. Due to the virus situation, only one entrance to the airport is open, where a soldier with a thermal imaging camera checks people's body temperatures. There is already a huge line at our counter, over three hours before departure. Apparently, we are not the only ones who need to go home. The flight is even overbooked, so we are offered to take a later flight and get accommodation and expenses refunded. No thanks, we are already here.

After several security checks, we wait for the departure. The flight to Dubai takes just under six hours and is relatively comfortable. We spend the time playing a game of chess on the seat screen, watching two movies, and eating.

In Dubai, we have an hour and a half to make the transfer. It turns out that the airport is either super large or very labyrinthine. We are at least on our way to Gate A12 for quite a while. In between, we even have to take an airport train.

The second flight lasts seven hours. We spend the time watching a movie, listening to an audiobook, looking out the window, and eating. We arrive at 0:15 Thai time, or 18:15 German time, in Frankfurt am Main. Whether it's because of Corona or the long flight, the (German) people at the airport are definitely all in a bad mood. There are loud arguments and complaints, pushing and shoving. At the same time, the security check is surprisingly poorly organized, so there is no queue, only a crowd to line up. And that in times of Corona. We haven't come across such organization in six security checks in Asia.

Glad to have survived the chaos, we collect our baggage. We wonder a bit about what awaits us here in Germany and how people actually deal with the coronavirus. Outside the airport, we meet Martin's sister, who kindly picks us up and drives us home.

After a pleasant ride and plenty of provisions brought by her, we arrive home at 20:40 (Thailand: 02:40). It feels somehow strange to be back here. Everything seems to be as usual, as if we had never been away. However, we have experienced and seen a lot in the meantime.

In the apartment, we find a very nice welcome sign and a fully stocked refrigerator with all kinds of goodies, which we are very happy about. Feeling a bit nostalgic that it's all over now, we go to sleep very exhausted.

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Our journey was super exciting, very diverse, and totally impressive. We experienced a lot and had a lot of fun.

From the chaotic and impressive Bangkok by bus to the Gulf of Thailand to Hua Hin. From there, by bus again via Bangkok to the beautiful north of Thailand to Chiang Mai. After over a week, we fly to Angkor in Cambodia via Bangkok. With a stopover in crowded Phnom Penh to the idyllic Kampot in the south. After an unplanned short stay in Kep on Cambodia's coast, we go to Phu Quoc, the largest Vietnamese island. Then to the green Mekong Delta to Can Tho and the mega city of Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon. From there, we fly to the tourist-filled Phuket and from there to the beautiful and paradisiacal island of Koh Yao Noi, where we would spend our retirement.

The trip was a lot of fun and we were able to gather a lot of new impressions and experiences. In addition to the many major adventures depicted here, the countless small experiences have also contributed to a very special and unforgettable time. We would do everything exactly the same again.