SUNDAY, AUGUST 2
11:15am – Grab packs & meet with team. We are going to Asia. Yay!
12:00pm – take public transportation to airport. Get glares from locals because my pack is invading their personal space.
1:30pm – check in for flight! Stand in line. It takes a long time to check in 50 of us.
4:00pm – fly to Istanbul.
7:00pm – land in Istanbul. Have airport staff escort us to our connecting gate because our flight is about to leave.
8:00pm – fly to Bangkok.
8:00pm-2:00am – watch movies. International flights are the best time to catch up on new movies.
2:00am-10:00am {time change} – fail miserably at sleeping.
MONDAY. AUGUST 3
10:00am – land in Bangkok. WE’RE IN ASIA!!!
12:00pm-2:00pm – take public transportation to train station. My body hurts from carrying my pack and my shirt is drenched in sweat. Carrying 50 pounds in 90 degree {oppressively humid} weather is not easy.
2:00pm – arrive at train station. Find out all the trains to Malaysia are booked so we’re stuck in Bangkok for the night… what a shame.
2:30pm – wait in train station while a few of my squadmates look for lodging in our budget {a whopping $5 a night}. Fall asleep. Get woken up by security.
4:00pm – hostel found… praise the Lord! Walk to hostel. Shower. Nap.
9:00pm – explore Bangkok.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4
11:00am – pack.
12:00pm – eat authentic pad Thai.
1:30pm – walk to train station.
2:45pm – train ride to Malaysia! My first ever sleeper car {and a whole bed to myself}.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5
8:30am – switch trains. Look at our tickets and find out we don’t have seats so we’ll be standing in the aisle {with our packs on} for the next 2 hours…
10:00am – border crossing. Walk across Thailand-Malaysia border.
10:30am – back on the train.
11:00am – arrive in Arau, Malaysia.
11:30am – find someone with a phone that speaks English. Call our host to find out how to get to our ministry site.
12:00pm – take taxi to Changlun, Malaysia
1:00pm – arrive at ministry site. HOME SWEET HOME!!!
