And so it begins...

Photo: Working remotely in Krabi by LittleGiantAdventures.com
Photo: Working remotely in Krabi by LittleGiantAdventures.com

A sabbatical year in Thailand during a pandemic

A sabbatical year for a Pediatric Infectious Diseases doctor and Scientist postponed for almost 2 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. My wife and I finally set foot in Thailand in November, 2021. This is the space where we will be sharing our experiences, observations, and thoughts during this unique time.

Tales

Photo: Sunrise view from the patio by littlegiantadventures.com

After 5 weeks of being constantly on the go in Vietnam, Greece and Spain, we decided to find a place where we can practice the art of doing nothing...

Photo: Viewpoint at Arachova by littlegiantadventures.com

We debated how to plan the trip in Greece for weeks without any conclusion...Once "city in the sky" landed on our search, the plan finally started to shape itself!...

Photo: A karst en route to Railay Beach by long-tail boat by littlegiantadventures.com
Photo: A karst en route to Railay Beach by long-tail boat by littlegiantadventures.com

Once we walked into the swimming pool area, the view quickly took our minds off the heat...

Photo: Sand Pagodas in Wat Lok Molee by littlegiantadventures.com
Photo: Sand Pagodas in Wat Lok Molee by littlegiantadventures.com

Although it was yet another COVID induced "dry" Songkran without the famous water fights, it was actually a great chance for us to enjoy the real Thai New Year traditions.

Photo: Baan Phuvara Retreat บ้าน ภูวรา รีทรีท by LittleGiantAdventures.com
Photo: Baan Phuvara Retreat บ้าน ภูวรา รีทรีท by LittleGiantAdventures.com

For people coming from the North, be sure to give yourself a few days to get acclimated to the heat...

Photo: Sunset by Ao  Nang beach by LittleGiantAdventures.com
Photo: Sunset by Ao Nang beach by LittleGiantAdventures.com

While we were sitting by the beach and wondering if we would ever get tired of the marvellous sunset that lights up the sky in orange, red, and gold...

Photo: Empty Khao San Road by LittleGiantAdventures.com
Photo: Empty Khao San Road by LittleGiantAdventures.com

Even though It wasn't our first time in Bangkok, it's the first time we were to spend more than a week and get to know the city a bit more.

Photo: Railay Phutawan Resort by LittleGiantAdventures.com

After 18 months of barely leaving home because of COVID, we decided to start our time in Thailand with a week in the south....

Observations

Photo: Taroko National Park, Taiwan by LittleGiantAdventures.com
Photo: Taroko National Park, Taiwan by LittleGiantAdventures.com

Motor scooters are one of our favourite ways of getting around Thailand and south east Asia. Even though Grab is now popular...

Photo: En route on Nok Airline by LittleGiantAdventures.com
Photo: En route on Nok Airline by LittleGiantAdventures.com

One of the best parts of Southeast Asia are the large number of discount airlines...

Photo: 7-Eleven in Bangkok by LittleGiantAdventures.com

7-Eleven in Thailand is nothing like at home and as a foreigner here...

Photo: street food by LittleGiantAdventures.com

So much delicious food, so little time.
We will take it one bite at a time...

Prequel

Remember the time when you could dial a phone number that you know by heart to call your close friends and family...

Author: LC | Nov 1, 2021
Photo: Yuga Kurita / Getty Images

Moving to a new country for a year in your 40s, isn't as simple as tossing shorts and t-shirts and a Lonely Planet into your ...


Author: LC | Nov 7, 2021
Photo: LittleGiantAdventures

Credit card and ATM fees we ignored before....

Author: LC & GS | Dec 8, 2021Photo: TechCrunch


No one said it would be easy traveling during COVID. The only constant in this new normal is "change".

Author: LC | Nov 21, 2021
PHOTO: The ups and downs of the Thailand Pass. (via Evan Krause / Unsplash)