So after we packed full of suitcases (4) and trolleys (2) we left for the airport.
This blog was written while the country is still in turmoil due to the lack of lines for passports, but since we also have foreign passports, I decided to use them because the validity of the children's passports is about to expire in two months, and to enter Thailand you must have a passport valid for at least six months.
Also, if you stay for more than 45 days - a visa must be issued in advance.
Right before we left the house, I said to myself - come on, we'll also take the children's Israeli passports. what could happen? Even so, they only expire in two months. And how lucky I was to do it...
When we arrived at the airport - it became clear to us that we must leave (and enter) with the Israeli passport even if it is valid for a few more days... So at the security checks we had to go with a lot of passports (because the flights were booked with the foreign passports) but the security stickers - were stuck on the Israelis...
After going through this saga, we showed the corona vaccination certificates of all the children and arrived safely at duty free, not before we left the country with the Israeli passports...
We took a short flight to Dubai (about 3 hours) in a luxurious plane. The little kids on the flight got a picture book and my big ones - saw movies on the screens. No movies translation, but everyone got along.
About 40 minutes before landing, a message about CONNECTION flights appeared on the screens. I was happy to see that we land at gate C5, and our next flight takes off from gate C7. Just perfect!
While we are starting to fold things and get organized, a message popped up again, and this time we found out that we are landing at gate A5, while our next flight is at gate C7.
We have two and a half hours to make it. Will we make it?
We got off the flight and started walking. We went through quick security with the bags and the trolley and then we noticed that we were walking.. and walking... and we didn't stop following the signs.
We got to the train, which took us to another terminal... and - we continued walking. Lots!
40 minutes of continuous walking - with children - and 2 trolleys - we didn't really expect it - but we gave a final push and got to our gate where a lot of People from China were waiting for us. Wait, what Chinese? Are we not flying to Thailand? Maybe they changed our gate and we didn't notice?
So we waited a minute or two in line with other folks, and suddenly a call was heard - Bangkok? Anyone here for Bangkok? We waved and got out of line. We passed everyone else, stood next to a sign that said Bangkok - we showed our passports and re-entered the whole hall... full of People from China!
So we asked, and it turns out that our flight is a flight to Hong Kong, with a stop in Bangkok. We boarded the flight and right before the pilot started the engines, we made sure all the luggage was still with us, with the AIRTAG and SMARTTAG.
A few words about these accessories for those who don't know: if you have an iPhone, you need an AIRTAG. If you have a Samsung, you need a SMART TAG.
From here on, both are relatively similar in usage. You put them in the suitcase and as soon as the suitcase passes by someone with an iPhone (AIRTAG) or Samsung (SMART TAG), the accessory reports to this cell phone, which reports the location of the cell phone to the cloud.
When you look at the application and try to see the location of the accessory, you see the approximate location.
These accessories can be made to beep, of course, and receive a mobile alert when they approach us. Extremely useful while waiting for the luggage and then receive a vibration on the cell phone that says the luggage will soon arrive, long before you see it on the conveyor belt.
At the end of a seven-hour flight, we landed in Thailand at 12:30 in the afternoon, not before the pilot decided to lower altitude in a creative way and drew pictures in the sky of a circle and 2 arches.
We arrived at passport control (this time we used the foreign passports), passed it successfully and went to collect the luggage, almost all of which arrived safely, except for one that was hit. We were not asked for any corona tests or anything like that.
We stopped for a light meal in a field and exchanged money for baht (the local currency of Thailand), and waited for our flight to Chiang Mai.
After a flight of about an hour and a quarter, we landed in Chiang Mai, where we met our wonderful guide, Kay - KAY. In the north you can travel in several ways: independently, guided with a travel company or with a private guide.
Since this is our first time in Thailand, we decided to tailor a trip that fits our family like a glove and contacted Kai. Weeks (and even months) before - we talked a lot on WhatsApp in order to make sure what we were doing each day on the trip in the north and that it would be fun, but not too busy.
So anyone who wants to contact KAY, just feel free to send her a WhatsApp, and start planning the northern part of the trip.
Immediately after landing, Kai met us at the airport. She went with us to 7/11 to buy SIM cards for phones (the prices are more expensive at the airport) and even prepared for us ahead of time - mosquito spray.
After a short drive we arrived at the DUSIT hotel in Chiang Mai.
We chose this hotel because it had many recommendations. The rooms are not bad and we got a room with a connecting door. The breakfast is delicious and the location is excellent.
After settling into the hotel, we went on a tour with Kai in the night market of Chiang Mai, which is located a 2-minute walk from the hotel. Most of the sellers there are local and some even produce the produce themselves. There is not always something to bargain for (for example, to lower the price...)
In the market you can find many food stalls of different types (and different animals...). On the main road there is Chang's where you can exchange money and next to the hotel there is a branch of Pizza Hut, for those who want to eat to their heart's content.
Of course my girls focused on the most important attraction on the street, which is the local Starbucks branch!
We went back to the hotel to rest and sleep a little, because the next day we had an especially busy day...
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