Tag 262 - Changing Accommodations and Some Relaxations

Hello everyone,

Please excuse us, we took a longer blog break than planned as there was absolutely nothing to report. But it seems like things are getting better now and we have something to talk about and show you pictures of :).

So, first of all, let's talk about the last few days: It has been a very challenging month as it is difficult to get information here. Moreover, everything is announced at very short notice - usually just one day before it takes effect. For example, it was announced that the alcohol ban would be lifted on May 1st and 2nd and then reinstated on May 3rd. Yesterday (April 30th), it was announced that it won't happen and the ban will be extended until the end of the month. As you all know, I really value my evening nap, so the last-minute change bothered me a little... Of course, just a little... :)

But there were also some really great changes! The restrictions have been significantly relaxed in certain areas starting today. Some shops have reopened, restaurants, national parks, and hiking trails. You can't imagine how much we are looking forward to going for a little walk! Until now, the sub-districts were closed off, which means we were only allowed to move around in Chalong. This was comparable to being only allowed to stay in Regensdorf, but not go to Watt or Dällikon.

From today, all those borders are open again! Yesterday, we were at one of these checkpoints and inquired whether we are actually allowed to travel today. The road was closed at that point and diverted in a way that automatically led back to our own sub-district. The military was stationed at that checkpoint. We parked the scooter and approached the uniformed men a little shyly at first. But they were really friendly, confirmed the travel permission, and even managed to smile! So, I must say, you can't complain about the friendliness of the people here!

With this information, we returned to the accommodation and reserved the next place to stay. We spent hours searching! There are really nice houses here, but somehow each one had a catch. In the end, we contacted Piotr, who was the landlord of our very first accommodation in Thailand. We liked that place a lot, it met all our requirements, and after some negotiations, it also fit within our budget. Instead of paying CHF 2300.-, we now pay only CHF 900.- per month. Once everything was organized, today could come!

Today, we packed everything up and cleaned up the apartment. Just as we were finishing up, it was time for the handover - perfect timing! It wasn't easy to fit everything on the scooter as we had accumulated quite a bit of food and cosmetics. But somehow it worked and we were on the road. Honestly, it felt really strange to be "on the road" again. But that feeling disappeared as we turned onto the main road. The streets were bustling with the usual chaos. Cars and scooters were crisscrossing - just as you would expect in Thailand :).

The route to our new house passed by our favorite bar, where we made a quick stop to see how it looks now. The bar was open, we could hardly believe our eyes! As soon as we drove into the parking lot, the bar owner ran up to us with a huge smile and greeted us warmly. We told him that we now have a place in Kamala and promised to visit him later. We continued on to the accommodation. Meanwhile, black clouds were gathering and just as we reached the house, it started pouring rain. We chatted with the host for a while until the rain stopped and he left the place. After unpacking everything, we kept our promise and went to the bar. The owner offered us a beer right away and made a cocktail for me! We were absolutely amazed! Despite the ban on alcohol sales! Then, when we went to the terrace, there were already two other tourists sitting there. And suddenly, everything felt different. It felt like a vacation again! We sat there for a long time, chatting, laughing, and enjoying a cocktail or two :). We realized that this bar, here in Thailand, is sort of a "ground zero" for us and we enjoyed the view of the calm sea. Later, we met a Swiss man in his 60s. A really strange guy... but we chatted with him for a while too, before heading home.

In our accommodation, we ordered a huge kebab and spent the evening peacefully :).

Yes, it was an incredibly amazing day with soooo many impressions!

So my dear ones, it looks like you'll hear from us again tomorrow :)

Until then!