We are Bailey and Denise, the creators of this blog, and enthusiasts of all things Van life. This is our story of How We Met: Love and Backpacking During COVID-19.
How We Met: A Journey in Thailand
We met in Thailand, both as backpackers. Though we were on separate paths, the night we met changed our lives significantly!
Bai’s Story: Before We Met
To give a bit of backstory: I (Bailey) arrived in Thailand at the beginning of January 2020. Six months earlier, I had been living in a shared house in the hills of Byron Bay, a tourist hotspot on the east coast of Australia.
Saving for a Gap Year
Living in a place like this, I inevitably met hundreds of interesting people from every corner of the world. Hearing their stories—and following them on social media—ignited a burning desire in me to see the things they had seen. I loved my job, but after working in the same restaurant for a few years, I wanted a change. I asked my boss for extra shifts and spent the next six months working hard and living frugally to save as much money as possible.
A New Adventure
I committed to my new adventure. I sold everything: my car, furniture, and all the little things I had collected over time, keeping only clothes and memories. To prepare, I wrote a small shopping list that included essential items like sturdy shoes, a rain jacket, and a 70L backpack to fit my life into. When my mother heard the news, she, of course, wanted to join. We drove to the airport and boarded a plane for the next nine hours.
Welcome to Phuket – Thailand
The first week was lovely. I relaxed by the beach and enjoyed the pool at a beautiful resort in Phuket. This wasn’t the travel experience I had envisioned, but it was a nice way to start with my mother. The week passed, and it was time for her to fly back; my solo travel adventure was about to begin.
The Place We Met: Koh Phangan
My next stop was Koh Phangan. I took my backpack and hopped on a bus, followed by a boat to the island. Upon arriving, I had no plans—only a hostel booked for the night and an intention to head north.
That night, I befriended other travellers. They shared tips about renting a motorbike and invited me to join a road trip around the island the next day. I couldn’t resist! Weaving through traffic on our motorbikes, we hopped from one beach to another until sunset. We were all tired, but a barbecue event kept us outside a little longer.
That was when I met Denise.
Den’s Story: Before We Met
Denise was never one to settle. She always wanted to see new places, never sticking with a job or a home.
Seasonal Work
After graduating, she landed a job with Nature Camps, guiding schools in fishing and other outdoor activities. “I love the job,” she says. “It fits my lifestyle—awareness and working in nature.” The job is seasonal, so she works many hours in autumn and spring. In summer, she serves as a travel guide in a different location each year. This arrangement is ideal; she can see many places while making enough to travel in winter, this time to Asia, hoping to advance her diving skills and maybe even work as a divemaster.
Underwater Adventures
She started in Indonesia for its incredible diving locations and good prices. “I stayed in Pulau Weh for three months to complete my rescue and divemaster courses. It was amazing! I met such lovely people that I’d love to see again. I had a simple room, no hot water, but a view of the ocean next to the dive school—Lumba Lumba.” She adds, “It was a small village where everyone knew each other. After three months, though, I was ready to see more, so I flew to Malaysia.”
Next Adventure: to Koh Phangan
Landing in Kuala Lumpur, she made her way through Malaysia by public transport, carrying a backpack from hostel to hostel. “Malaysia was beautiful, and the diversity in landscapes fascinated me—from highlands and jungle to islands and urban cities.” She heard about a dive centre looking for interns in Koh Tao along the way. She packed her bags and headed to Thailand.
“On the way, I wanted to see some islands. Through Hostel World, I found this amazing hostel in Koh Phangan with colourful dorms and a bar on the beach! What more could I want? I was excited to meet more people and sat at the bar enjoying my beer.
“That was when I met Bai.”
How We Met: A Fateful Night
Let’s return to Koh Phangan—the night we met. The barbecue gave us a reason to eat too much and stay up late as we shared our stories and made plans to explore more of the island.
Exploring the Island Together: How We Built Our Connection
Back to the motorbike rental we went. Those beaches never got old! We drove and swam the day away, keeping our stomachs full along the way. Before we knew it, the sun had set, so we parked ourselves at a bar. Little did we know, this was a Rasta bar. It was fun while it lasted, but it wasn’t exactly our scene, so we moved on to another, and then another.
Saying Our Goodbyes
Eventually, the night ended, and Denise had to catch the next boat to a neighbouring island. We exchanged thanks and goodbyes as she prepared to start her next venture as a diving instructor. The days were long and tough, working from early morning until sunset. The pay was low, but it was a fantastic experience—practising a hobby all day.
We quickly ran into a common problem: we missed each other’s company. After receiving an invitation to join Denise on Koh Tao, I quickly boarded the boat.
Back Together: Continuing Our Journey After How We Met
Over the next two weeks, Denise continued her internship while I explored the island, indulging in local cuisine thanks to TripAdvisor. After meeting other travellers, we decided to head north. We took a ferry back to the mainland and then a 10-hour bus ride to Bangkok. A few days in the city were enough for us; it was nice to be in the hub, but neither of us thrived in urban environments.
A New Month: Extending Our Visas After How We Met
At this point, our visas were almost expired, so we scheduled appointments to extend them for an extra month before taking another bus straight north. We arrived in Chiang Mai, which felt surprisingly comfortable. We planned to rent motorbikes and loop around the north for the remainder of our visas. Renting a motorbike in the city centre isn’t always the best idea, but that’s exactly what we did, driving in circles in a car park to get comfortable before heading out.
Experiencing North Thailand Together
The north of Thailand is spectacular, though we were unprepared for how rural it would be. We found ourselves in the middle of nowhere with our bikes and backpacks as the sun set before us. Worry crept in until we stumbled upon a small village where we could rent a tent for the night. We lay there freezing—it was 5 degrees on top of a mountain, and neither of us had packed for the cold.
The next day, we prepared ourselves better. Our phones became our new best friends as we used Booking.com, Agoda, and Hostel World. For the next three weeks, we drove from village to village, warmly welcomed by locals at every stop. Northern Thailand doesn’t always offer many options for backpackers, so we often felt excited to see another tourist.
COVID-19: A Challenge Towards The End
By this time, COVID-19 had started spreading. We saw the news online but overlooked its impact while in rural areas. When we returned to Chiang Mai, we noticed things weren’t right. Most shops were closed, and finding a restaurant or place to stay became increasingly difficult.
It was the last day of our visas, and it was time to say goodbye. Denise needed to return to the Netherlands for work, while I planned to fly to Vietnam to continue my travels. Our experience together made parting difficult, but we were confident we would meet again.
Stuck in Asia: The Unforeseen Outcome
Shortly after our goodbyes, I received an email about the cancellation of my Vietnamese visa due to COVID-19 restrictions. With only a day to leave Thailand and risking an overstayed visa, I started exploring other options: Singapore, Malaysia, or back to Australia were my initial thoughts.
I chose Malaysia. Flying into Kuala Lumpur felt eye-opening. The airport buzzed with people, but everything was closed. The tram ride to my hostel was similar; seeing most shops closed in the city shocked me. When I arrived at the hostel, the staff informed me of new restrictions, which meant my stay in Malaysia would be cut short.
Back in the Netherlands
By this point, Denise had returned home, and we shared our concerns about the worldwide situation. I considered heading back to Australia, but together, we hatched a crazy idea. Denise’s work would likely be postponed due to the pandemic, and her parents agreed to host me at their house.
A New Start in the Netherlands: The Next Chapter
The next day, I staggered my way back to the airport to find out if it would be possible to fly to the Netherlands. As a non-EU citizen, I seemed to confuse the airport staff, as most were evacuating to their home countries. They were unable to give me a clear answer. I was told that I could buy a ticket, but the staff would make the final decision at the check-in counter.
Taking a chance, I bought a ticket, knowing it could be exchanged if I was denied entry. I waited, biting my cheek while the staff processed my ticket.
Nerves or Excitement
We all knew that Europe was going into lockdown at this point, though the restrictions were still very vague. The confused staff asked me some questions, trying to find a reason to let me through.
After some discussions in a foreign language, they printed my boarding pass and let me through. I spent the next 13 hours sitting on a half-empty plane, wondering what would happen when I landed in the Netherlands.
What Came Next?
The story of how we met in Thailand during COVID-19 is indeed one that we will never forget. Fortunately, our story doesn’t end there. We continued to build ourselves a life in the Netherlands which will continue in our blog – How we came to van life.
