I find it hard to believe that less than 3 days have past since leaving Melbourne. It feels like weeks have gone by! Everywhere I turn there is a feast of new sights, sounds and smells (not all of which are pleasant when it comes to the latter!). Months have to go by at home for me to experience so many new sensations.
Bangkok was full on. But not anywhere as much as I expected it to be. We shopped and checked out the grand palace and the famous emerald Buddha (photos to come). Shambara boutique hotel was gorgeous and is a good choice for those wanting somewhere quiet to escape the crowds i.e. Andrew.
Stef and I have now arrived in Koh Phangan, an island in Southern Thailand. Getting here wasn't the smoothest ride though, as Stef so succinctly put it "we got nearly fucking fucked!". The main reason being, we nearly missed our overnight train down the coast. It was prety funny actually. Thanks to a tuk-tuk driver with a death wish though, we made it with a bit of time to spare. We are staying in a simple hut about 15 metres from the beach, in a resort called Baan Panburi. It is spectacular here. An absolute oasis after the chaos that was Bangkok. Much time has been spent down on the beach.
On the down side, my pack weighs a bloody ton. Much of my walk from the bus stop to Stef's hotel in Bangkok was spent making a mental list of all the things I'm going to ditch. I got really excited this morning when I noticed that my moisturiser has nearly run out - at the thought of one less thing to carry.
Anyway, I love it here and am settling in already. I love the pace of life and the lack of agenda I currently have. It makes me imagine a life I could lead should I be prepared to make certain sacrifices. I'm not talking about a life living on the beach and not having to work. What I mean is, a more minimalistic life. One without so many distractions, where I have time for my thoughts. I noticed whilst on retreat back home, and even more so here, there is a quiet, subtle voice which becomes overwhelmed and drowned out by my pace of life in Melbourne. It saddens me that this is the case because I feel like this part of me is more accepting of lifes ups and downs, more content to just be. Being aware of this makes me realise how driven and task oriented my life has become - perhaps that is necessary for succes, but I don't think it is necessary for mny happiness.
Let me finish up with a word about the food. Oh god, the food. Andrew you are going to have a fit, it is amazing. The restaurant of our resort is apparently one of the best in the area. It opens onto the beach and has bamboo tables nestled in the sand. Lanterns and tea lights border its edges and the staff are kind and gentle. Last night Stef and I had fish with red curry (Stef) and chilli (me). It was orgasmic. It is not just that restaurant that rocks. Provided you stick to the recommended places, it is hard to have a bad experience. The delicious Thai beer (Chang) that you wash it all down with is dangerously cheap!
