For many, Christmas conjures images of frosty mornings and roaring fires. But for one couple, their most memorable festive season was spent sweltering in Thailand, battling severe food poisoning and a broken-down boat in choppy seas. It's a story of festive misfortune that, against all odds, became a treasured memory.
A Festive Escape Turns Sour
The pair had chosen Thailand's Ko Phi Phi island for their 2014 Christmas break, seeking sun, sea, and a reprieve from traditional festive tunes. The island's party atmosphere was in full swing, but for their big day, they planned an adventurous outing: a boat tour for deep-water soloing. This involves climbing limestone cliffs without ropes before leaping into the ocean below.
The trouble began with a seemingly innocent meal. A delicious fish stew from a street vendor on Ko Phi Phi the previous evening became the likely culprit. By 3am on Christmas Day, the wife was violently ill. A few hours later, her husband succumbed to the same fate. Despite this, driven by a desire not to lose their deposit and fleeting moments of false recovery, they made a fateful decision.
The Ill-Fated Boat Tour
Somehow, they made it to the docks and onto a small long-tail boat. The guide set off for the dramatic cliffs of Maya Bay. The husband managed a couple of climbs and exhilarating jumps, though the aftermath of the fish stew meant he swiftly returned his pineapple snack to the sea. Then, their luck ran out completely.
The boat's engine failed, leaving them stranded and rocking in the growing chop. To add to the misery, rain began to fall. They huddled together under a blanket on the bare boards, a picture of festive despair. After what felt like an eternity, another vessel arrived but, rather than offering a dry refuge, it towed their stricken boat through the waves, buffeting them violently all the way back to shore.
An Unforgettable, Fond Memory
They returned to an island in the throes of Christmas partying. Swedish revellers in Santa hats waved glowsticks, trance music blared, and construction work hammered on outside their apartment. Their Christmas dinner was a humble meal of salty fries and Fanta, before they collapsed into bed by 8pm for a 14-hour sleep.
On Boxing Day, they swiftly arranged an escape to a friend's in Bangkok, leaving the ravers to their hangovers. Remarkably, this ordeal of illness and misadventure has become a story they cherish. It represents a pre-child adventure they recall with surprising fondness, a shared trial that ended in the profound peace and quiet of recovery. The ultimate festive lesson? Sometimes, the greatest gift is simply surviving the experience together.
