On the Road with Mum
May 6th, 2007 | Published in dispatch, general, travel | 12 Comments
I write this at 1am from the bus to Maesai — mum is sleeping beside me. I’ve just taught her how to exchange her VIP bus ticket for 2 packets of green tea, and 2 packs of yuzu juice, and that’s after the free chicken drumstick and two cakes, orange juice and fruit yoghurt they gave us.
The only time I was this overwhelmed by the food and drinks a ticket anywhere included — I obviously travel budget airlines only — was aboard the Shatabdi Express from Ahmedabad to Mumbai.
Mum’s sole epiphany so far: it is difficult to use the toilet facility aboard a moving bus.
On the road together, we’re practically invincible. She is the source of my navigational abilities — no, she’s what GPS systems need to prove they can beat. Together, taxi drivers fear us. We know the backroads of Bangkok — and other cities — better than they do. Turn left here, she’d say. How do you know that? You’d never even been here. Keep right, I’d say, don’t go onto the bridge. How do I know that? I’d never even been in this neighbourhood. I think we need to join the Amazing Race, but she’d probably say I’m too ‘nua’ to be any good at it.
In a way, I’m pleased she’s here with me. This is my world — my world of 20 min bus stop breaks, when I know every song on the tv and the music video sequences, and even know what each stall by the road sells, the moment we pull in. I’ve been here before. And I’ll probably be here again. This is my world, one I’m finally sharing with her, though a part of me feels as though I barely need to introduce it to her. I travel this way because she first made me: dragging my lazy, sorry 10 year old ass out of sleeper trains and walking, just endlessly walking, across strange landscapes she called home, and which I now know to be my education.
May 6th, 2007 at 3:03 am (#)
that’s the coolest activity anyone can do with their mom. you sure r lucky! have fun!
May 6th, 2007 at 3:52 am (#)
you have one hell of a mum.
May 6th, 2007 at 10:24 am (#)
Hey gorgeous, it’s great to know that you’re having an awesome time with the mother. Come back soon!
May 6th, 2007 at 10:25 am (#)
:) Yes, I recall meeting your sense of direction.
A lil pause to get your bearings, and zipppp, you’re off.
May 6th, 2007 at 7:28 pm (#)
I wonder what your daughter’s inauguration will be like.
May 7th, 2007 at 9:10 am (#)
your mum is cool!
May 7th, 2007 at 3:25 pm (#)
Nice and warm post. First time here, and I really enjoyed it!
Reminds me of the time when I first travelled with my mom to HK for a job interview. I was feeling rather sore actually, as she was kind of being “bullied” by another passenger on the plane. But well, in the end, things turn out fine so…
That was a very memorable trip for me too. Travelling with your mom isn’t a bad thing after all!
May 8th, 2007 at 11:02 am (#)
Greetings from china : )
teddy, my ipod (& i found my sunglasses!) all say hi.
Go right to the end of the street in Mae Sai, just near the border checkpoint and eat the fried wontons!
May 10th, 2007 at 1:21 am (#)
with mummy dearest?? coolness!
hey nice reads here… interesting topics and excellent pics, especially that of the camels!!
now i wonder how u get the internet access in the bus??
May 10th, 2007 at 12:23 pm (#)
I get cheap internet access on my phone whenever I’m in Thailand or India. Their prepaid cards let me connect to the net — the one in thailand gives me 20 hours for 100 baht (S$4). :P
May 11th, 2007 at 9:42 am (#)
no disrespect to thailand or india but getting internet access while on the move in a third world country is impressive! its freaking cheap some more!
ok im going to krabi this month end. probably gonna grab the 100baht/20hrs prepaid card!
May 11th, 2007 at 11:32 am (#)
well you’d be surprised how far ahead they can be in some things ;P