Thailand
We were all looking forward to the prospect of an epic month in Thailand, with dreams of joining a worldschooling community in Koh Lanta. I was itching for the kids - and us - to hang out with other families who were breaking the mould, doing things differently, and most importantly, thriving in the process. We're still in the awkward phase of trying to find this alternate path in life, but ultimately heading back to the UK and a system that doesn't fit all of us. Sadly, Thailand gave us the boot - we got priced out! Turns out, travelling during their high season is like trying to book a holiday in your favourite Cornish spot in the summer - triple the price. So, the worldschooling hub? Yeah, that wasn't an option for us this time.
We're diving back into that head-versus-heart debate that Dan mentioned in his blog post, and it's probably the most intense it's been since we started travelling. That's likely because the end of our journey is rapidly approaching! What will happen when we return? We can feel our stress levels are rising again - the thought of going back and facing everything we left behind is daunting. Especially with Phoebe returning halfway through the GCSE period, and the one who arguably faces the most challenges, we definitely don't want this trip to have held her back. There are so many questions swirling around - like Dan mentioned, is there ever a perfect answer as a parent? We won't truly know the impact of all this on them until we get home. Amidst some other stresses from home, we're really trying to refocus and give it our all to live in the moment for the time we have left. But wow, what a challenge it is!
Alright, I'm sure you're all rolling your eyes thinking, "Stop moaning, you're in Thailand!" And you're absolutely right. I had to give myself a reality check more than once while sitting on a beach, watching the sunset with the kids frolicking around. Sure, we missed the worldschool hub connection — and maybe a little help with some of those tricky life questions —but we still managed to pull off a couple of fantastic weeks of adventure. Who needs answers when you have sand between your toes? For now, we'll keep our heads buried in that sand and practice the art of pure denial - and we really will try and savour every second of the time we have left.
And what a way to start our adventure - we swung from the vines of the jungle and landed smack bang in a hostel just 500m from Khao San Road, right in the heart of Bangkok. And, thankfully, everyone handled the transition amazingly well. We touched down at sunset, and all our tired brains could manage was a raid on the 7-Eleven on the corner for snacks and a round of good old English breakfast tea before hitting the hay. And, as it often goes when we stay in hostel rooms, everyone enjoyed the best snooze and the most relaxing lie-ins ever!
We absolutely loved the chaos and commotion of Bangkok! Kicking off our first day with a canal tour on a traditional longtail boat, we got a glimpse of the city and a real sense of the buildings and lives that many people here experience, with so many looking run down, dilapidated and need of more than a little TLC. As usual, the worldschool curriculum gave the kids a real-life lesson on how people actually live in these places, beyond just the highlight snapshots they see of these places on Instagram. We had a blast at the floating markets and attempted to see the Buddha statue - the tallest statue in Thailand standing at 300 feet high and 210 feet wide - though it was unfortunately covered for maintenance at the time. On the way back, we played "Spot the Water Monitor" - so many of these creatures swimming alongside us and basking in the sun right next to us - yikes!
We spent a couple of hours in the afternoon to relax and reduce stimulation - everyone diving back into their English and maths apps - before heading out to the legendary Khao San Road in the evening. Wow, what an assault on the senses - in the best way possible! We couldn't help but grin as we strolled down the street, feeling the vibrant buzz all around. The street was electrifying to explore, browsing all the market stalls before we plopped down in a restaurant to order pad thai and indulge in some serious people-watching. After settling the bill, it seemed only fair to treat ourselves to a foot massage with the lively street and its people as our backdrop, before, of course, diving into a bit of food tasting ourselves! Not quite daring enough to try the crocodile or snake, we went for some crickets, with just a sprinkle of salt. I can't say they were anyone's favourite!!
The next day, already desperate for a bit of green because we just can't shake off our country-loving roots, we discovered an amazing spot called Lumpini Park - Bangkok's first public park, offering a peaceful vibe right in the heart of the city. It was perfect for a stroll, watching people practice tai-chi, letting the kids run wild and enjoying nature with the bustling city as our backdrop. And guess what? The place was teeming with more water monitors! It's like being at The Heath, our local park back home, but instead of ducks swimming and waddling around, these impressive creatures are everywhere. The kids loved it. After a couple of hours here, we hopped back home for our downtime and English and maths sessions - naturally jumping in a tuk-tuk. Seriously considering how I can legally have one of these at home? It would make school runs and food shopping much more interesting!
We're spending our last night in Bangkok at another vibrant night market, savouring more mouthwatering pad thai, and everyone is on a mission to find birthday presents for Phoebe, the soon-to-be birthday girl! It's no surprise that Floss is absolutely the queen of bartering - I'm thrilled to let her work her magic and snag all the best deals. Her personability, charm and gift of the gab are definitely her superpowers and will take her far in life. In fact, despite all the worrying we've done about everyone else, we think this trip has truly transformed Floss. She's blossomed back into her own beautiful, confident, natural self, thriving in all the new places and loving the thrill of discovery. We're certain this experience has opened her eyes to endless possibilities for her future.
Next stop: Phuket! Why Phuket, you ask? Well, it's Phoebe's birthday, and we've sniffed out a dog sanctuary here. Considering Phoebe's not exactly a beach enthusiast - sand sticking everywhere isn't her idea of fun and can easily send her into a sensory overload, and she's hardly a sun worshipper with her fair skin - plus we're all missing the comforting and calming presence of our own dogs at home, and the therapy they unknowingly provide all of us, we decided this would be the paw-sitively perfect birthday surprise for her!
What began as a simple two-hour visit for Phoebe's birthday quickly turned into a volunteering marathon! We got so hooked that we returned the next day for a full shift from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. We didn’t stop there - we were so inspired that we abandoned our ferry plans to Koh Lanta and found a new Airbnb so close to the sanctuary we could hear the dogs barking from the garden. We ended up spending the entire week hanging out with the incredible Soi Dog Foundation, volunteering every single day, all day long. It turned into a soul-enriching experience for everyone, teaching us about patience, kindness, love, forgiveness, and, most importantly, the value of time. Because, let's face it, giving time is the ultimate gift we can give in any area of our lives.
The sweet angels that live here and all their stories will forever be etched in our memories and hold a special place in our hearts! We've just had the most nourishing week—our souls are stuffed full! It's been so wonderful sharing this time with the kids, and fingers crossed, they'll come back someday, or maybe find another special place like this somewhere around the globe. The place was buzzing with volunteers dedicating a week, two weeks, a month, or even more of their time, and loads of annual returners, creating a real community atmosphere. We met so many inspiring individuals of all ages and life stages, each going through different ups and downs, planting seeds for the kids future - and for us too. As we always say, it's all the inspiring people we are meeting along the way on this trip that are really making a difference to our experience
We soak in our last sunset on the beach, on Valentine's Day no less, and gear up for our ferry ride to take us to Koh Lanta. Although our trip is going to be much shorter than planned due to the accommodation costs and our extended stay at Soi Dog, and we won't have the chance to meet other worldschoolers, we are really excited to have three days to relax and enjoy our first taste of Thai beach life!
We've found an ideal Airbnb tucked behind a tattoo parlour (and yes, we both end up getting an obligatory Thai writing tattoo!), just a five minute stroll to the beach and all the shops. The beach is blissfully free of towering hotel monstrosities — just charming bungalow resorts and cute little restaurants, making it a perfect place to wander along. The family vibe is where it's at: the older girls are off on their own adventures, hunting down the ultimate egg fried rice, while Fin is busy becoming a sandcastle architect. Pops is joyfully riding the waves, swimming, and exploring with Dan. It's truly beautiful here, and I really wish we could stay longer!
We spend a day on a trip to the Phi Phi islands, hopping onto another traditional Thai longtail boat. Setting sail at 8am, we aim to beat the crowds, but wow, there are tourists everywhere! It's a bit overwhelming and we can't help but feel a bit embarrassed being part of it all. The legendary Maya Bay, made famous by the film The Beach, is absolutely packed with visitors. We discover that it was closed for a few years to let the coral and marine life recover from all the tourism, and swimming is still a no-go. The islands are breathtakingly beautiful, though, and it's a thought-provoking experience and a fantastic lesson for the girls about the difference between what they are seeing online with social media and AI. Often, the only things shared are filtered fairy tails, not the real deal. Experiencing things firsthand is essential, and this lesson could not ring more true than today!
This was Maya Beach by 9am, already rammed! I can't help but imagine what it turned into later. All those "influencers" hogging the spotlight, cropping out the chaos and pretending they're the only ones basking in that turquoise blue paradise!
We wrap up the day with a boat lunch in a much quieter spot, followed by snorkelling at Shark Point. Poppy is absolutely buzzing at the chance to swim with black tip sharks! We all take the plunge - except for Fin - and after a hilarious moment of panic when a fish brushed my finger, I scream like a banshee and make a mad dash back to the boat, convincing everyone there’s a shark hot on my tail. Once I’m told I might accidentally drown everyone by clinging to them, I suit up with a life jacket and dive back in. With my trusty sidekick Floss by my side, holding my hand and guiding me through the vibrant fish, we explored the waters for about an hour swimming and searching. Alas, we didn't spot any sharks, and we have to call it a day.
We spend our last day strolling through the peaceful streets of the Old Town, and snagging a restaurant lunch right by the peaceful harbour's edge was just perfect. We then headed back for one last sunset on Khlong Dao beach. Enjoying some beach time has been absolutely amazing; we all feel so much happier with sun-kissed skin and hair that's more salt than style. We're all set to head back to Bangkok for a quick turnaround before our flight to Vietnam in two days (and the joy of affordable Airbnbs again!).
Now, hold the phone – we've found a ginormous perk to social media and its sneaky algorithms – the girls stumbled upon a Corgi Café in Bangkok on TikTok! Who cares about all those cultural sights we’re supposed to be seeing here when there are Corgis to cuddle? We’ve already booked our visit! After catching some Zs at our trusty hostel and cramming in some morning study time, we’re off for lunch. Seriously, has there ever been a more genius idea for a café in the history of the universe?! We sip coffee and munch on cake while a pack of Corgis competes for our affection. It’s the absolute paw-fect way to wrap up our little Thai adventure (sorry, I know I’ve already used that joke!). Wondering if we could recreate a Labrador and St. Bernard café when we get home? Although, it might end up smelling more like a "Eau de Fox Poo" with a side of slobber and a lot of dog hair... not sure that’s the next big trend!
We have just returned from our last night in Bangkok, and I'm so pleased that we capped it off by experiencing authentic Muay Thai boxing at the Rajadamnern Stadium! It was incredible to watch — this was far more than just a sport. It was a vibrant reflection of Thai culture, traditions, and religions, with captivating rituals throughout the event. I can't wait for our travel day tomorrow to spend some time diving deeper and learning more about this ancient art together with the kids.
Our tuk-tuk driver for the ride back must have had a sixth sense that this was our final trip because he handed his phone, connected to the speaker, over to Floss like she was the DJ of the century. Suddenly, Katy Perry's “California Girls” exploded from the speakers, and we all turned into wannabe pop stars, belting and rapping along with Katy and Snoop, Fin knowing all the words too. With the UV lighting transforming our ride into a mobile disco, it was the absolute perfect finale to an incredible time in Thailand.
We’re all back at the hostel now, all set for bed and super excited for an early start tomorrow to dive into the vibrant new world of Vietnamese culture…