Archive for October, 2006
Halloween is a one of my favorite holidays, but you never experience it the same when you’re out of the USA. Last year we had a great big party on Lizard Island so at least it felt like Halloween. Here in Thailand there is not a pumpkin in sight, and for sure there will be no trick-or-treating here tonight. It’s just another day on the beach in the tropics. I wish you all the best for a treat-filled fun and festive night at home!
Actually this month has been landmark in my travels in some ways. I have passed the 5-year mark on my travels so far. It was five years ago this month that I left the JFK airport in New York for The World, destination unknown. It is really unbelievable that 5 years has gone by already! In 5 years I have only been home one time and that was over 2 years ago now! As I always say, I just have no time to work – there is just so much to do out here – 2 years in SE Asia, 6 months in New Zealand, 2.5 years in Australia – and there is still so much of the world to see and experience!!
I know that I am a freak of society so to speak for choosing my lifestyle and approach to the world, but hey, it works for me. Many times I meet people who can?’ believe that I’ve been traveling for so long and they question my sanity or intentions. Don’t worry! This lifestyle is not for everyone, but working in an office isn’t for everyone either. We are all just visiting this plant for a short time; some people like to stay in one place and some people like to move around a bit more. Who cares! Just enjoy it and live each day to the fullest, no matter where you are.
I have also passed another birthday this month, just a few days ago actually. I had such a lovely day here and I am so grateful to have been able to spend the day with nice friends I have met on the island. They really spoiled me – I got a bouquet of lotus flowers, a birthday ‘energy ball’ and ‘raw’ apple pie; I had balloons and a really nice dinner at one of the nice restaurants on the beach in Chaweng. I also treated myself to a Tibetan Bowl therapy at the fancy spa across the road. I always like to try new things and so I gave it a go. It was a very relaxing 2-hour treatment where I had my chakras balanced and attuned from the sound frequencies released by the singing bowls. A great birthday gift!
So..the question remains: What next???? Well, I still have a few more things to achieve here in SE Asia, but I feel a ‘bit of travel’ coming on in my not-so-distant future. All I can say at this stage is: stay tuned.
October 31st, 2006
What’s the next of health to achieve after doing all this fasting – breatharianism! Don’t worry Mom and Dad – I am not about to give up food and water to survive only on breathing and the sun’s energy!! But there has been a man here this week who claims to be doing just that – actually he says that he has not eaten or drank for the last 10 years!
Well if you are going to be doing anything that radical surely you must be from India. This guy is a 39-year old Indian who calls himself a Sun Yogi. He gave a free 2-hour talk at the spa this week about his life and his goal of spreading more peace and love in the world. Actually he was a very nice, humble and inspiring guy, regardless of whether you actually believe his claims.
He said that he found this ability to get all of his life energy from the sun about 10 years ago, and afterwards he decided to walk around India to meet his local people and identify the true problems in his owm country. Well he ended up walking over 62,000 km! That makes the Appalachian Trail look like a warm-up exercise!
It took him 6 years to complete his journey, and now he has decided that he would like to share his experience with the world. He went into the science behind the sun energy gathering which was also interesting, but really spiritual galaxies away from what the average person can imagine. He had photos of himself doing his sun meditation and holding his breath with 2 doctors checking the pulse at each wrist to prove how long he can meditate without any air.
Personally I have no idea if the Sun Yogi is the real deal or not, but I think anyone who tries to spread brotherhood and understanding in the world is worth listening to even for a short time. I never thought that I would actually meet a breatharian, but now I can add that to my list!
October 14th, 2006
So yeah, it’s been about 2.5 weeks since the coup happened here; as far as I
know there is still no government running the country, and the only real
noticeable effect from it all is the lack of tourists around! I think a lot of
people must have canceled their travel plans because I’ve never seen it so
deserted on Koh Samui. I’ve been the only person staying in my bungalows
for the last few nights now, and I actually ALMOST started to miss those awful
Italian boys with all the prostitutes! I know, I realized real quick that the
silence here is a gift, so I am enjoying not hearing anything but the sound of
the waves from my bungalow!
Since the overthrow of Thailand’s Prime Minister, I have been to Kuala
Lumpur and Bangkok for a combined visa-run and break from the island.
After 3 months on the same little beach, it was good to enjoy the sites and
sounds of 2 big cities. I had a one-week city to city invasion, and at the end I
was definitely ready to get back to my quiet little life!
So I’m getting back into my routine here which consists of daily walks on the
beach, meditation, massage, reading in my hammock, socializing with
friends, watching pirated DVD movies before they even come out in the
cinema and eating lots of good, fresh, healthy food. It’s not a bad way to
escape from the hectic daily grind of the ‘real world!’
Everyone keeps asking me how much longer I’m planning to stay. As usual, I
have no idea. I am happy to be here for as long as I’m happy here, and then
it will be time to go. Unless the bank account goes bust before that, and then
it?s definitely time to go!
I hope to start learning Reiki Level 2 this week, and I’ve also been doing a bit
of Chinese Cupping as well so that will keep me busy. All in all I’d say this is
a good place to be in the world at the moment!
Here is a nice little quote that I got from one of the local monasteries (author
unknown):
When you clean your body,
Don’t forget to clean your mind.
When you feed your body,
Don’t forget to feed your mind.
When you study about the world,
Don’t forget to study your mind.
In every endeavor that you undertake,
Be mindful, and know yourself.
October 9th, 2006