I am a lucky girl!

Everyday I wake up and give thanks for everything I have, all that I have experienced on my journey(good and challenging)and just enjoy each and every moment. So, I question why is it in the "real world" that we tend to take so much for granite and forget that each day is a gift and each day should be treasured as such? My goal is to bring all of that back home with me in my heart, body and soul and to remember these times always...the feelings and the gifts.

So is it luck or my choice to be here? Oh course I made he choice to make this trip happen but I also know I have been extremely blessed in so many ways before and during my travels. I have met some amazing people on this trip and feel I've made some life long friendships as well. I've also fallen in love with some of the places I've been to and embraced the different cultures-especially in Asia...Bali in particular and am already trying to workout ways that I can get back sooner then later and to do some sort of business to pay for it. If anyone has any ideas let me know!

Currently I am staying in Koh Samui which is Thailand's second largest island(not sure what the largest is??) I made my way down south and stopped off below Phuket and just south of Krabi in a beautiful area called Railay Bay. This area as well as the neighboring bay called Ton Sai Bay is famous for their cliffs and rock climbing. Then I headed to some very small islands called Pi Pi islands where the water was so blue and picture perfect. I did a day of snorkeling among some of the even smaller islands and inlets and the fish were plentiful although much of the coral has died due to our environment and global warming. We went to Maya bay where the movie "The Beach" was filmed. I had just rented the movie while in Bali so it was fun to see the area it was filmed while it was fresh in my mind. I only spent a couple days there before heading here to Koh Samui and although this is a larger island it is still very laid back and easy to find secluded places.

Speaking of secluded places; I am staying at a place called "Big Trees Village" http://bigtreesvillagesamui.com/about-us.html
and I love it here! My friend, Anna, who I met in Koh Phangan in January told me about this place and I am so happy to be here and thankful to her. It is in the trees above the town and the beaches and so peaceful and quiet that if it weren't for the heat, I'd never leave. It is the hottest time in Thailand right now so going for an ocean swim is essential to stay cool. Thanks to the owner, Steven, I also have learned to drive a motorbike/scooter which has been on my list of things to do(you might remember my "Vespa" and Italy fantasy in an earlier blog)so now I'm doing it! At first I was very nervous but after a couple of days I've got the hang of it and of course am VERY careful especially in town. I really wanted a pink one but since those were taken I opted for a turquoise one with pink on it as well. I am a happy girl! (as well as a lucky girl!)

I have another 3 1/2 days of the leisure life before heading to Koh Phangan-which is just a short ferry ride away-for my yoga training. I will be there for the month of April and have only three days off in that time period with training from 8:30am to 7:00pm. We do have an hour and a half lunch break and also a "beach" break in the afternoon. It will be intense but it'll be great too.
www.picasaweb.google.com/tonibodeau/thailandbeaches

Return to Thailand

So I’m back in Thailand and have spent the past few days in the busy city of Bangkok with it’s pollution, traffic and noise………so why did I leave Bali? I have not been to that many Asian countries but now that I have a few to compare, I have to say that I prefer Indonesia/Bali over Thailand. The feel is different altogether and I’m not quite sure if I can put my finger on the reasons why. Is it Hinduism virus Buddhism or just the overall culture? One of the things I loved about the Balinese is the emphasis on family and ceremony. It felt like such a gentle, happy culture and was so easy to immerse oneself into that world and never want to leave. Thailand on the other hand, has some lovely people and I believe being Buddhist they are inherently good people but there seems to be a leeriness about them….until you get to know them that is. Bangkok is not the place to judge Thailand on and I believe in the North and South there is a much gentler feel.

Thailand has some wonderful aspects to enjoy including the islands and beaches which is why I’m heading back south later this evening. I have to add that I’m doing an overnight bus after saying I would never do that again but weighing the options it seems to be the best choice. I am heading to Khabi which is on the west coast on the Andaman sea to explore some of the small islands of Koh Pi Pi . I will head to Koh Samui before taking a short ferry back to Koh Phangan for the month of April to do a yoga training/retreat. It will be a very busy time and I will probably not have much of a chance to email or blog so if you don’t hear from me don’t worry……and I will be in touch once I return to Bangkok before leaving for New Zealand.

I have another set of Photos from Bali that I’d love to share with you. Please go to www.picasaweb.google.com/tonibodeau/baliagain