Finally relaxing after a busy first week in Thailand
I have been in Thailand for almost two weeks now on my five month trip around Southeast Asia. When I finished my roughly thirty hours of travel from home, I thought it would be a good idea to recover a little while in Bangkok. Little did I know, Bangkok isn’t the best place to relax. So i I spent a nice four days stressing out in one of the world’s busiest cities!
I was immediately relieved when I arrived in Phuket (pronounced “Poo-ket”, as with most Thai words, the “h” is silent), Thailand’s largest island. After a $22 plane flight—in which they gave me the Emergency Exit seating and a window seat—I could immediately notice the incessant hum of the city was gone! I arrived at my pleasant and peaceful hostel, then rushed to the beach to catch the last of the sunset.
Unfortunately, I only spent one night in Phuket before heading to Khao Sok National Park. There, I booked a private bungalow right outside the National Park Headquarters for a whopping $7 per night! That evening, I made some new tourist friends, and we decided to book a tour the next day to visit Cheow Lan Lake. Known for its massive limestone cliffs that jut out of the lake, Cheow Lan Lake was a once in a lifetime adventure. But after about a weeks worth of travel and stress—and a busted toenail from misstepping as I was jumping into Cheow Lan Lake—I had about as much as I could handle for a bit.
So now, I have accomplished a glorious nothing for the past week. Just slept in, relaxed in my hammock, watched the macaques play and eaten out of the fig tree behind my bungalow, and eaten out every meal—while still spending less than $7 a day on food. With five months of travel I’ll have to remember how good it is to relax sometimes. Next stop/s, islands hopping around Thailand’s beaches!
Relaxation means releasing all concern and tension and letting the natural order of life flow through one’s being.
Donald Curtis
Guru Hikes 
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