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Archive for November, 2004

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Meditation in Chaiya

Thursday, November 25th, 2004

Well i heard there is a typhoon in the phillipines coming our way. Where i
was, cliffside in a bay in ko pha ngan only accessible by long boat (read:
wood, leaky, low to the sea, overcrowded) was getting mighty windy and the
seas very choppy, so i decided it was time to get back to the mainland.

The long boat ride was utterly terrifying, only one guy was willing to take his boat out. Once we were in the boat all the other drivers chanted in unison “he crazy , he crazy” cause the waves were “very, very big”. Out there it was like being thrown through a series of whirlpools with waves hurling towards us from all angles. The driver had to read the ocean very carefully to know whether to kill the engine and ride the waves or accelerate to the max to outrun them. Eventually, after half an hour of me gripping the sides and reciting mantras to every god and goddess, we made it to shore.
[read on]

Synchronicities and decisions

Saturday, November 20th, 2004

Just had a crazy 28-hr trip from Pai. i took the last seat of a 9am minibus to Chiang Mai. On the bus i met a thai business man who told me about a cheap flight to bangkok he was catching that afternoon. He then got on his mobile phone and organised me a ticket – i was to pay on arrival at the airport. When we arrived at the airport, the ticket was apparently already “paid in cash” – and who am i to argue – so i got on a free flight to bangkok. At the other end this man had his driver take me directly to the train station, he gave me his business card, and that was that. Amazing!

At the train station i walked straight on a sleeper train to Surat Thani, then a bus to the pier, then a 3hr nauseating boat ride to the island of Ko Pha Ngan and finally – finally – i had arrived at 1pm the day after my departure from Pai.
[read on]

The life of Pai

Monday, November 15th, 2004
Perhaps a good rule of thumb is to never email while angry, lonely or drunk; well apart from the latter i am sticking to that. LESSON ONE: Meeting people is easy in Pai (known here as Utopai, get it?) Every night ... [Continue reading this entry]

Plans change, particularly when at the discretion of a libran mistress

Wednesday, November 10th, 2004
After finding a brilliant organic vego cafe/restaurant/bookshop in chiang mai, which then became my local hang out, i met up with some folks who have spent that last few months in a tiny town called Pai and said i must ... [Continue reading this entry]

in the foothills of Northern Thailand

Sunday, November 7th, 2004
After only two intoxicating days in bangkok staying in chinatown, i am already in northern thailand. i started reading way too much lonely planet and got anxious that i didn't have enough time to go where i wanted to in ... [Continue reading this entry]

The eagle has landed

Friday, November 5th, 2004
Well first 24 hours in Thailand behind me, and already i've learnt a few things. . . 1. walking through Bangkok iS NOT easier than using public transport - it has taken me all day to get orientated, get lost, find ... [Continue reading this entry]