Memorable Event

All for One, One for All
Being stuck in one of the most remote places in Cambodia does not seem like part of a vacation plan for anyone. In our lives, there will always be times when things do not go as the way you planed. As my grandmother always said, “Expect the unexpected”. But we never really take these words to heart. Whenever our family does something, we never really prepare for any emergencies. However, thanks to this habit of being unprepared, our family learned a very important lesson in life.
I was 13 when this incident happened. My family and I were on holiday in Thailand when we were left praying for help as our car got caught in the wet and muddy soil on the border of Thailand and Cambodia. It started off when dad insisted that we had to leave for home despite the weather report indicating that there was a 60 percent chance of a storm. As the head of the family, my father’s decision is final. Until now I still could not figures out why he had to insist on leaving when there was a storm coming.
We had been driving for six hours when we reached Trat, the province that marks the end of Thailand and the beginning of Cambodia. The contrasts between the two countries were rather distinct. The stone that made up the road became dirt, buildings turned into trees and cars turned into cows. To many of the foreign tourists, this was quite a sight.
As we moved on, our surrounding became more and more remote. Soon there was no sight of any human being, only dirt roads stretched out like veins running through our bodies. The wind of the coming storm began to pick up speed. Trees swayed from side to side as the glooming sky rumbled. By now I could feel the tenseness that mother radiated. I wanted to calm her down but the fact they we were alone in this remote place seems to take away all those words. Father sensed the unpleasant atmosphere and broke the ice.
“We had travelled on this route before. It will be alright.” These words seem to be filled with...