BANGKOK – Abhisit Vejjajiva and Korn Chatikavanij are preparing to embark on a historic three-week tour of the northeast region in order to create support for the party there, according to a source.
The unprecedented trip will also fulfill a pact the childhood friends and Oxford classmates made to “some day journey outside Bangkok to the provinces.”
“Abhisit started taking malaria medication a few days ago,” said the source. “Korn is currently writing his will.”
The pair will make their first-ever visits to Khon Kaen, Ubon, Udon and Surin, “where Abhisit is hoping to ride an elephant,” the source said.
Korn believes it could make for a good photo opportunity and has said he would bring a change of clothes for the occasion.
The source said the pair, who cannot eat spicy food, will bring Jaffa cakes and La Vache Qui Rit cheese for when they get hungry.
Abhisit and Korn have allegedly been preparing their adventure for weeks, meeting every Sunday to map out their itinerary with a Frommers: Thailand Abhisit picked up at Paragon Kinokuniya last month.
“They were hoping to visit the disputed Khmer temples on the Cambodian border but Korn’s wife is terrified that ‘the Khmer Rouge’ will kidnap her husband, so the idea is on hold,” said the source.
Another issue creating concern is that Abhisit does not know how to use a squat toilet.
Editor’s note: NotTheNation plans to follow Abhisit and Korn’s historic tour of the provinces as it unfolds.