(no subject)
My little bird whispered to me in an email that I will regret not documenting this trip on LJ, so here I am with only one week left and trying to recap the insanity of the last two. I think it is better for me to just start where I am and when I get back to try and sum everything up.
Last night we stayed in a wooden bungalow on a beach called Hat Yuan. It is very basic with a sheet and a mozzy(as the brits say)net, but it is absolutely perfect. The island can only be reached by a long boat or over a one hour hike through the mountain. Last night we went to a bar where everyone was so friendly and joints were passed around like chapstick among friends. There was a fire twirler and as many "special" shakes as you could drink. The music was great and everyone was either dancing or lounging on cushions around the dancefloor.
Today we woke up, ate breakfast on the sand and then played with the tiny monkeys that hang out in the restaurant. I have soaked up my share of sun for the day and plan on nothing more than eating drinking and reading for the next few days.
I expected to come here and be faced with the devastation of the tsunami but I have only had two conversations about it the whole trip and one corner on Khao San Rd where pictures of missing persons lined a wall. Other than that people seem unaffected by the devastation. I was talking to a guy last night who told me that it is part of the culture in Thailand to always keep smiling and not to allow other people's suffering to make you unhappy. It seems strange but at the same time very healthy for the well being of the nation.
I am having a lovely time, but if I had to do it over again I would say that three weeks causes shortness of breath from running in circles and trying to see everything at once.
Last night we stayed in a wooden bungalow on a beach called Hat Yuan. It is very basic with a sheet and a mozzy(as the brits say)net, but it is absolutely perfect. The island can only be reached by a long boat or over a one hour hike through the mountain. Last night we went to a bar where everyone was so friendly and joints were passed around like chapstick among friends. There was a fire twirler and as many "special" shakes as you could drink. The music was great and everyone was either dancing or lounging on cushions around the dancefloor.
Today we woke up, ate breakfast on the sand and then played with the tiny monkeys that hang out in the restaurant. I have soaked up my share of sun for the day and plan on nothing more than eating drinking and reading for the next few days.
I expected to come here and be faced with the devastation of the tsunami but I have only had two conversations about it the whole trip and one corner on Khao San Rd where pictures of missing persons lined a wall. Other than that people seem unaffected by the devastation. I was talking to a guy last night who told me that it is part of the culture in Thailand to always keep smiling and not to allow other people's suffering to make you unhappy. It seems strange but at the same time very healthy for the well being of the nation.
I am having a lovely time, but if I had to do it over again I would say that three weeks causes shortness of breath from running in circles and trying to see everything at once.