Nakkon Si Thammorat, Thailand; City of Buddha
12 Sep
Nakkon city is situated on the east coast of southern Thailand, just 100 km south of Surat Thani (the port city for the islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.) The city is quite spread out, though completely accessible via bicycle. Traffic is heavy in the main city centers at morning and afternoon rush hours, as well as on the weekends. While the centers of town are bustling, it takes only a few minutes ride in any direction to find less noise, country village roads, and sweet solitude.
Aside from the typical wat-type points of interest, I’m finding more and more sweet spots to hang out around town. Most farang in town frequent ‘Rock 99’ bar downtown. The pizza Fridays and long outside tables of foreigners talking over classic rock covers are fun for a night, but start getting old after two. I prefer chatting up Pom at ‘One Love’ reggae bar whilst Job 2 do or Marley set the scene. Or jammin on djembe with Moosa and friends at ‘Sa Nam Na Meuang’ park near city hall. A really cool crew of reggae Thai boys I’ve become friends with spin fire poi and batons while others practice dijereedoo and jam out.
What else. Theres a great yoga center just beside Robinson’s Ocean department store that is a meeting place for alternative-minded Thais to practice vinyassa together in a semi-heated room. ‘Paknakkon’ is a small fishing village less than 10 km east on the coast, where it’s possible to position yourself under a gazebo at the end of the pier with a good book and some snacks and lounge the afternoon away. The beaches are a bit further north; Tha Sala is about 25 km up the coast. There are sporatic untouristed pockets of white sand framed in towering coconut trees, and many places to burn your skin, go fishing, or swim at your leisure.
Essentially, I love this city. Which is a terrible shame, as I’m relocating to Surat Thani in a week and a half. My job is floating me back to teach at a Nursing College there, where I’ll get to make new friends and re-settle. Oh re-settling. Not one of my favorite things to do, but I’ll manage. The best part of the deal is that I will return to Nakkon on Saturday and Sunday to teach my lovely kindergarten kids and have one evening on the town.
I know Surat Thani is a city city, bigger than Nakkon, but I’m looking forward to better exploring a place ( which is by the way very close to the islands) that I’ve only seen for a few days. So currently I’m in the business of packing up my plants and possessions, as well as performing kid’s songs whilst dancing in front of 500 screaming primary schoolchildren. It’s so fun performing; kids asked me for my autograph after the assembly! I greatly amused them by starred my i like a real rock star. 🙂 I’m soaking up the attention, it’s hilarious.
Also: A boy had a hedgehog at the bar last night. It was just sitting on the bar, munching on a wriggly worm. I tried to touch it but it stuck out it’s spikes. I’ve never seen a hedgehog before, it was pretty cool. Maybe I need a pet? Let’s see if my jasmine plant survives the move to Surat. How’s it go? First plants. If they survive 6 months, get a pet. If it survives a year, get kids. 🙂 Sounds like a plan.
MRumianowski
Plants yes, animals NOOOO, KIDS– not yet please… your students are enough for now.