80 hours, 0 Showers
Travel Day Report: Thailand to Myanmar
Friday, 2nd of June, 2017
Pattaya, Thailand
Total Travel: 90 miles
Awoke to the sound of a push cart at around 5:00am. I was in no rush to leave the comfort of air conditioning and a semi-soft mattress. Those are luxuries on the world race, and you begin to appreciate small comforts. I rolled out of bed at 6:00am and took a shower. The spout was a mere 4 feet off the ground, which is just the right height to be obnoxious. I packed my bags, and threw away souvenirs, which I had unwisely purchased. A light pack is more important to me than bringing home any trinket. However, that doesn’t stop me from buying them. Just yesterday, I bought a bracelet made of watermelon seeds for a dollar. Why? I don’t know…but you’re not going to ignore a deal like that! Anyway, I met our squad in the lobby, and prepared for the long journey to Myanmar. We boarded a bus, and traveled approximately 2 hours to Bangkok. It was a light day. The real endeavor would start the following day.
Saturday, 3rd of June, 2017
Bangkok, Thailand
Total travel: 102 miles
The day began early. A mad rush to make our intended bus. We all called UBERs, private taxis, and were transported to the Bangkok bus station. The idea was that we would catch a bus at 9:00am to the border located at Mae Sot, Thailand. However, the buses were full…until 10:00pm. So, we spent roughly 13 hours hanging out in the bus station. Eating Kentucky Fried Chicken and filling out our travel visas online. We even visited a nearby mall. It was a much enjoyable day, until we realized that another day was under our belt, and we had traveled approximately 12 miles. There was a lot of road left to cover. I boarded the bus at 10:30pm, and tried my best to sleep.
Sunday, 4th of June 2017
I Don’t Know, Thailand
Total Travel: 407 miles
I didn’t sleep on the bus. I lived the night somewhere between groggy and motion sick. I exited the bus, in what I vaguely remember being Mae Sot, Thailand. I recall very little of this portion of the week. The mixture of Dramamine and Coca Cola left me feeling drowsy and sick. I had now been living in the same clothes for 24 hours. I hopped in a TukTruck, a truck with benches in the back, and was driven to the border. We walked across the border from Mae Sot, Thailand to Myawaddy, Myanmar. The crossing went fairly smooth, but I was shocked at the difference between the two countries only separated by a bridge. Thailand appeared to be a country with a stable economy. I mean, the Bangkok bus station had two 7/11s and a KFC. Myanmar did not appear to have the same affluence. We walked 20 minutes with our full packs to the Myawaddy bus station and found…nothing. It was a room, maybe 700sq.ft. It was already occupied by people. And our bus wasn’t for another 7 hours. Thank the Lord, there was a church across the street, which let the 50 of us store our packs and sleep on a covered deck. Their generosity was truly appreciated. I felt bad because when we left, I could not find anyone to thank personally. We bordered yet another bus which took us to Yangon, Myanmar. I tired to sleep yet again. I failed.
Monday, 5th of June 2017
Yangon, Myanmar
Total Travel: 669 miles
We had arrived in Yangon at 1am. I exited the bus and was approached by 5 very helpful locals trying to get me to where I needed to go. After a lot of discussion, they led my team of seven to another bus station which would take us to Mandalay, Myanmar. The rest of the teams slept in the first bus station awaiting morning, when they could contact their ministry hosts. My team did their best to sleep on metal benches overnight awaiting a bus that would leave at 9:00am.
Tuesday, 6th of June, 2017
Mandalay, Myanmar
Total Travel: 1058 miles
We then got on that bus and arrived at Mandalay by evening. We were tired, sore and grumpy. But never once did we complain. Minus my Dramamine induced delirium these are days I wont forget. Bonding through hardship. Laughing so you don’t cry. God’s provision through it all. It was truly something special. That being said…I don’t want to do it again.
Total Miles: 1058 Miles
Total Hours: 80
Total Meals Beside Snacks: 1
Total showers: 0
