Still Chilling on Ko Payam
Trip Start
Dec 22, 2006
1
21
52
Trip End
Jul 16, 2007
Ko Payam, Thailand
Saturday, March 24, 2007
I am still having a relaxed time on the island, my bungalow feels like my little home, even have 2 dogs with me all day, guarding me in the night ;-)
So what have I been doing there?! Is it not lonely / boring after a few days? these are some of the questions I've been asked. No, can tell you that I am loving it. Read a lot of books (Finally taking the time to read 'Sophie's World', great book about the history of Philosophy). Also do some swimming/snorkeling, but spend most of my time at my bungalow though.
Making rope-bracelets, getting to know my camera better etc.
Not being all days on my own though. Have/had great neighbours with which I had good talks and funny times. With 2 Aussie boys we build a BBQ and had a great grilled fish, roasted potato and salad. With a Dutch gay guy I had great talks now and then, learning from his 12-year !!! travelling. Now I have a polish guy as a neighbour, who knows lots about history and philosophy. Very interesting talks, from which I learn a lot again.
Cooking haa-sip haa-sip, which means 50-50%, sometimes going to a local restaurant and sometimes cooking myself on my fire-fy. A can be proud of me as my thai cooking is not bad at all ;-)) The squid was a new challenge, never disected them before. They really have LOTS of pitch black inkt inside them! But I managed and on the bbq, it tasted delicious. Gave the rest to a local thai teacher as it was far too much.
Also spending beautiful moments with local thai people. The owners of the bungalow are very sweet. Not speak much english, but my thai is getting better. Even went to Ranong with them and their daughter. The day turned out completely different then planned, but was part of a typical thai day I guess, eating lovely food, going to the talaat (market) and spending time at the top floor of a department store doing Karaoke ;-)
I was invited to a thai teachers-party on the island, where I spend a great evening with all the teachers from this district. Even was asked if I want to become a teacher on the nearby island Ko Cham, but feel my path is leading me elsewhere. Also met this great thai monk, who took a later boat just to be able to teach me a new rope-knotting-techniek. All the time we were being accompanied by 15 local fishing boys having a break from work, who gave me fresh squid and coconut. One even gave me beautiful carved fishbone to trade for one of my bracelets. The monk even made me rope-ring. It turned out to be one of those magical mornings.
Also doing a cleansing and vasting again now. On day 3 of vasting. It is going oke. Want to do it for 5 days, because want to have a last great meal with some people before I leave the island. Will be leaving the island on 29th to do another visa-run to Myanmar and then most likely go a little south to spend real tourist time at Ko Surin, where the snorkeling around the 9 little islands must be excellent.
Big Hug,
a relaxed-inspired-liekie
p.s. photos to be uploaded soon...
