The Story of Our Trip to Thailand: Part 5

Sometimes Wishes Come True

We were about to leave Pattaya and head to Koh Samui. I knew it was just the next part of the trip, but I was already starting to feel sad that almost half of our vacation was over. I had this secret wish that somehow we could stay longer-that this trip wouldn't have to end in the next seven days. Usually, those kinds of wishes only come true in the movies, but to my surprise, something actually happened, and we got five extra days to stay in Thailand.

All of this happened because Israel was at war. The skies were closed, and all flights were either canceled or moved to different dates. They were calling them “rescue flights,” but it’s funny because who really needsor wants-to be “rescued” from Thailand and sent back to a war zone?

The Magic of Koh Samui

Every place we had been so far was beautiful, and every city had its own special magic-even Pattaya in its own way. But Samui has a completely different vibe. You feel it the very moment you land at the Koh Samui airport. It doesn't feel like a typical, stressful airport with cold walls and endless corridors. Instead, it feels like the vacation has truly begun the second you step off the plane.

The airport looks more like a tropical resort than a travel hub. There are no massive concrete gates; instead, there are open-air wooden buildings with thatched roofs, surrounded by lush green gardens and bright flowers. You don't walk through long, air-conditioned tunnels; you hop onto a colorful little tram that whisks you through the palm trees to the arrivals area. The air is warm and smells like tropical blossoms, and the whole place is so quiet and peaceful.

Everything is built from natural wood and stone, blending perfectly with the island around it. Looking around at the flowers and the blue sky, the stress of the canceled flights and the news from home felt a world away. It was the first time on the trip that I felt I could finally, truly, take a deep breath and just be in the moment.

The Jeep Tour

We had originally planned the Jeep tour for our second day, which would have been Thursday. But it felt like too much, too soon. Everyone asked for another day off from attractions just to stay in the swimming pool and have fun. That’s the real secret to a good vacation: not running from one attraction to another, but actually enjoying your time. Luckily, I had already moved the Jeep tour to Friday while we were still in Pattaya, before we even arrived in Samui. So, on Thursday, we just rested.

On Friday morning, we were supposed to meet in the hotel lobby at 8:45 AM. We were told to bring swimsuits, towels, sandals or flip-flops, and something to cover our shoulders for the Buddha sightings. All eleven of us piled into one Jeep for a "jumpy" tour of the island. The itinerary was packed:

• Overlap Stone View

• Mountain driving with views of all of Samui

• The Big Buddha mountain view

• Lunch break at an infinity pool

• Visiting a rescue elephant sanctuary and feeding activity

• Dusit Dhewa Cultural Center with traditional costumes

• A five-minute walk to a beautiful waterfall

• Heading back to the hotel

It was a fantastic day. The kids were even "fighting" over whose turn it was to sit on the roof of the Jeep, but eventually, everyone got their chance. The guides took us to places we would never have found or seen on our own. It was an incredible experience, and the views of the island are something we won't forget anytime soon.

Samui Zipline

There are moments in life when you simply need to be brave. I live in Israel; I’ve been in the army and I’ve seen things. But heights? Heights are something I’ve never liked. Despite that, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and show my kids that even I can be fun and brave. After all, I’m their father. I kept telling myself, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure-you cannot miss this."

Usually, I’m the one who is always telling my kids to be careful: "Don’t do this," "Don’t do that," "Make sure you wash your hands before you eat." My 8-year-old son even tells me, "Dad, stay calm, you’re too tense!"

So, there I was, standing at the edge of a platform high above the jungle canopy. My heart was racing, and my palms were sweating, but I knew I had to do it. I wanted them to see their dad fly. When it was finally my turn, I took a deep breath, closed my eyes for a split second, and pushed off.

Change of Plans (Again)

It’s early morning, and everyone is still asleep. I wake up and head down to the lobby for my first coffee of the day. As I sit there, I check the flight app for any updates, and there it is: they’ve moved our flight from Thursday to Sunday. We officially have another weekend in Thailand!

Our original plan was to spend three nights in Bangkok before heading home, but I realized we should use this extra time to see somewhere new. I started searching for a location near Bangkok that wouldn’t require another flight, and then it hit me: Hua Hin. It’s only a three-hour drive from Bangkok, so even if the flight schedule changes again, we won’t have any problem checking out and driving straight to the airport.

At 7:00 AM, I sent a message to our "Thailand WhatsApp" group: “Our flight has moved; we have to go see Hua Hin.”

Everyone agreed that we shouldn't just spend those extra days in Bangkok and should head to Hua Hin instead. We looked for a place that would be entertaining enough for both us and the kids so we wouldn't have to go hunting for more attractions. We ended up booking the Holiday Inn Resort Vana Nava, which includes a crazy water park and is located right near two big weekend night markets. It turned out to be a very good call.

In the final part of my story about our trip to Thailand, I will tell you all about Bangkok, Hua Hin, and our journey back home.