transcendental travelation...
Saturday, December 10, 2011
I heart Bangkok!
"Bangkok! Bangkok! Wakey wakey!! Bangkok. Last stop. You get off NOW!"
Twelve hours and two buses later we journeyed from Krabi town to Bangkok. Our bus, containing 36 psychedelic dentist style chairs, traveled overnight and landed us in the overwhelming city of Bangkok. First impression: LOVE it!
After being somewhat rudely awakened and basically thrown off the bus, luggage and all, having no idea where we were, we hopped in a cab and directed him to bring us to "a cheap place". Well, that didn't really work out so well as his cheap place (for roughly $10) was... Well lets just say we probably would have left with a few bugs in our backpacks. The blessing in this though, was that at the early hour (6am) we were able to witness, across the street from us, a peaceful and humbling act. Monks receiving their daily alms. The orange of their robes was the brightest light on the dark city streets. They walk barefoot throughout the city and people will pack their car trunks full of food, pull over on the street and give offerings to the monks waiting in line. This happens twice a day and all they hope for in return is good karma in life and the hereafter.
Eventually we found a decent spot to lay our weary heads and have been here for 1 night with 2 to go. Bangkok really is such a captivating and wonderful place. We don't claim to be city people by any means but there is something quite captivating and mystical about Bangkok- air quality aside! Today we went to Chatuchak Market, an open air flea market which sprawls and crawls for 35 acres. We decided to get there as early as possible to one: beat the heat and two: get the best bargains. I highly suggest doing this if anyone finds themselves here. By noon the joint was swarming and steaming. Having been fairly conservative on purchases thus far, we felt we could go a little nuts today. And nuts did we go! Food galore, clothes galore, tuk-tuk rides, more food and then, to really take it to the next level, the most expensive Guinness we've ever had. It was all worth it tho and we adopted (at least for today) the motto, "money shmony". I'm sure that won't last too long!
A wonderful day, in a wonderful city with a wonderful man. Very grateful I am. And now off to eat again!
Twelve hours and two buses later we journeyed from Krabi town to Bangkok. Our bus, containing 36 psychedelic dentist style chairs, traveled overnight and landed us in the overwhelming city of Bangkok. First impression: LOVE it!
After being somewhat rudely awakened and basically thrown off the bus, luggage and all, having no idea where we were, we hopped in a cab and directed him to bring us to "a cheap place". Well, that didn't really work out so well as his cheap place (for roughly $10) was... Well lets just say we probably would have left with a few bugs in our backpacks. The blessing in this though, was that at the early hour (6am) we were able to witness, across the street from us, a peaceful and humbling act. Monks receiving their daily alms. The orange of their robes was the brightest light on the dark city streets. They walk barefoot throughout the city and people will pack their car trunks full of food, pull over on the street and give offerings to the monks waiting in line. This happens twice a day and all they hope for in return is good karma in life and the hereafter.
Eventually we found a decent spot to lay our weary heads and have been here for 1 night with 2 to go. Bangkok really is such a captivating and wonderful place. We don't claim to be city people by any means but there is something quite captivating and mystical about Bangkok- air quality aside! Today we went to Chatuchak Market, an open air flea market which sprawls and crawls for 35 acres. We decided to get there as early as possible to one: beat the heat and two: get the best bargains. I highly suggest doing this if anyone finds themselves here. By noon the joint was swarming and steaming. Having been fairly conservative on purchases thus far, we felt we could go a little nuts today. And nuts did we go! Food galore, clothes galore, tuk-tuk rides, more food and then, to really take it to the next level, the most expensive Guinness we've ever had. It was all worth it tho and we adopted (at least for today) the motto, "money shmony". I'm sure that won't last too long!
A wonderful day, in a wonderful city with a wonderful man. Very grateful I am. And now off to eat again!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Railey, Thailand
Whilst Nate snoozes quite heavily besides me in our bed here in Krabi town, I reflect on the day that slowly closes in on us. Waking up to our boisterous Dutch neighbor this morning who sleeps in the bungalow (don't you love that word!) next to ours, we both rose with anticipating smiles revealing the day ahead. Ever so quickly were our bags packed, bungalow closed behind us and bellies full, than we were aboard the long tail boat to the mystical beaches of Railay. I don't think that we quite understood the beauty that awaited us. Jade, turquoise and cobalt seas lapped at our toes as we embarked on the shores of this hidden (but not so secret) paradise. Apparently Railay is quite the rock climbing mecca in Thailand and for dang good reason! The limestone cliffs jutting out of the sea are like ancient hungry dragons. Tongues lapping you into their secret caves. Being wholly unprepared for those kind of endeavors, we chose to do what's best done in a tropical paradise...nothing! It's a skill we quite nearly mastered at this point.
Sun, spirits, soul feeding. I am fully aware of the gifts we have been given and I accept them with very humble gratitude.
It's awfully strange being away from home this time of year. On the beach today someone has inscribed "Merry Christmas" into the sand. I had quite nearly forgotten what month it is! My mailbox would normally be receiving holiday cheer at this time and my kitchen would be filled with Christmas cookie creations but on the contrary, we eat at night markets and haggle with tuk tuk drivers from place to place. Christmas just isn't Christmas unless you are home...in New England. Thankfully we have each other. I think perhaps we will fill little stockings for each other (or something resembling stockings) and hang them by our bungalow door. Maybe there are little Thai elves here that I don't know about yet? Or maybe...just maybe...Santa knows his way to Thailand!
Sun, spirits, soul feeding. I am fully aware of the gifts we have been given and I accept them with very humble gratitude.
It's awfully strange being away from home this time of year. On the beach today someone has inscribed "Merry Christmas" into the sand. I had quite nearly forgotten what month it is! My mailbox would normally be receiving holiday cheer at this time and my kitchen would be filled with Christmas cookie creations but on the contrary, we eat at night markets and haggle with tuk tuk drivers from place to place. Christmas just isn't Christmas unless you are home...in New England. Thankfully we have each other. I think perhaps we will fill little stockings for each other (or something resembling stockings) and hang them by our bungalow door. Maybe there are little Thai elves here that I don't know about yet? Or maybe...just maybe...Santa knows his way to Thailand!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Koh Lanta
Captains Log:
Arrived on the island of Koh Lanta two days ago. After finally escaping the madness of Patong Beach, we headed a little further south to Kata Beach for a few nights. Found a great spot to stay (thanks Ben and Alex!) and shook the "Patong" off. Strategically we decided our next move would be Koh Lanta. It's not the most exotic geography of all the Thai islands but it seems to be getting us closer to our next destination, which is Cambodia. Its also not as crowded as some of the other islands and we booked a wonderful little bungalow ahead of time for $16 a night. It's the high season here now and prices are double what they are in the off season. All we really wanted was a quiet beach with a little reggae bar. Here we have been granted all of that and much more!
We met a wonderful trio of Australian brothers on the ferry ride over and have made very fast friends with them. We haven't really left the beach, or should I say beach BAR in front of our bungalows since we've been here. Our posse seems to be growing by the day and we now occupy three beach huts instead of one...life is pretty damn good!
The loose plan from here will be to head to Cambodia via ferry. It will take a few days for our visas to come thru online so in the meantime, "Chīwit pĕn s̄ìng thī̀ dī" - Life is Good!!
Arrived on the island of Koh Lanta two days ago. After finally escaping the madness of Patong Beach, we headed a little further south to Kata Beach for a few nights. Found a great spot to stay (thanks Ben and Alex!) and shook the "Patong" off. Strategically we decided our next move would be Koh Lanta. It's not the most exotic geography of all the Thai islands but it seems to be getting us closer to our next destination, which is Cambodia. Its also not as crowded as some of the other islands and we booked a wonderful little bungalow ahead of time for $16 a night. It's the high season here now and prices are double what they are in the off season. All we really wanted was a quiet beach with a little reggae bar. Here we have been granted all of that and much more!
We met a wonderful trio of Australian brothers on the ferry ride over and have made very fast friends with them. We haven't really left the beach, or should I say beach BAR in front of our bungalows since we've been here. Our posse seems to be growing by the day and we now occupy three beach huts instead of one...life is pretty damn good!
The loose plan from here will be to head to Cambodia via ferry. It will take a few days for our visas to come thru online so in the meantime, "Chīwit pĕn s̄ìng thī̀ dī" - Life is Good!!
...and now....exhale....
For the first time since beginning this journey, we are finally stopping to breathe and absorb all that is surrounding us. One would think that all we've been doing is relaxing on the beach and doing next to nothing but it feels like quite the contrary. It takes a while to shake the routine and responsibility of your former life off. We have been going, going, going since we left home and I still find myself waking up in the middle of the night, feeling as if I forgot to pay some bill or return a phone call. Once you gain traveling momentum tho, everything just....shifts.
Only fellow travelers can really understand this feeling I speak of. You get into a routine of having, well, no routine. The spool of western stresses unravels and only then can you allow yourself to just be. You find time again to write in your journal (and you vow to yourself to continue this practice upon returning home because it feels so good!). You walk and walk and walk nearly every day and then some days you stay at the same beach bar from sun up to sun down. You smile A LOT at strangers. You realize how truly fortunate you are in life. You try something new almost every day. You feel like you are finally LIVING.
Only fellow travelers can really understand this feeling I speak of. You get into a routine of having, well, no routine. The spool of western stresses unravels and only then can you allow yourself to just be. You find time again to write in your journal (and you vow to yourself to continue this practice upon returning home because it feels so good!). You walk and walk and walk nearly every day and then some days you stay at the same beach bar from sun up to sun down. You smile A LOT at strangers. You realize how truly fortunate you are in life. You try something new almost every day. You feel like you are finally LIVING.
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