This one trip for Mom

Suniti Kharbanda 

MY 74-year-old widowed mother is a fiercely independent woman, staying on her own and managing the day-to-day running of the house without help from her children. We try to look for opportunities where we could be of some use to her. 

One day, my mother, my sister and I were chatting about everything, and nothing — as most mothers and daughters do. She happened to mention that her passport was never used. Her wistful look pierced our hearts. My sister and I decided to accompany her on a foreign holiday. We zeroed in on Thailand as it met our requirements. There was no dearth of tour operators and we finalised our departure date for a five-day trip.

The day arrived and we left for our jaunt. Her passport was finally stamped, which brought her a smile of fulfilment. We explored the island, saw a dance performance and relaxed with massages and fish spa. We visited one of the largest zoos of the world. The water and amusement parks added to the fun element. We were still left with one free day in Bangkok, which turned out to be the highlight of the trip.

We woke up on time to get an early start. We took a taxi to the Golden Palace, but learnt that there were still two hours before it would open. We were loitering around when we struck a conversation with a Bangladeshi settled there. He suggested we go on a river cruise. He hailed a taxi for us, spoke to the driver in the local language and sent us on our way. On reaching the pier, we had many boatmen vying for our attention. We tried to bargain, but were unsuccessful. Our driver came to our aid and got us a enviable discount. The boat-ride and the floating markets were charming. 

We returned to the palace but were disheartened to see long queues for entry. Our driver told us to return in two hours, by when the rush would have abated. He said we could go to a jewellery shop that was offering attractive schemes on its 50th anniversary. We bought a beautiful gemstone-studded bracelet for our mother. Since we had time, we thought of window-shopping. Strolling along, we came across a quaint Buddha temple. It was an old temple in need of repairs. An American art restorer was at work and he graciously guided us around, showing us the finer details of the carvings; it was an educational experience. When we decided to finally leave, to our delight, the American insisted on seeing us off and hailed a ‘tuk-tuk’ for us, so we could experience authentic Thai transportation back to our hotel.

 By the time we reached the hotel, we were exhausted, but emotionally on a high note, as on our unplanned reserve day of vacation, we had savoured the warmth of the people around. We did not see the Golden Palace, but instead, filled our hearts with golden memories. No amount of planning could have resulted in the delights we enjoyed that day. When we let fate have its way, it is ready to share its treasure troves.

 Thank you, Mom, you were the trigger for this unforgettable holiday.