De-stressing, Dehydration, Day Trips, Decorating Offerings, and Daiquiris
It seems we’re off to Thailand for the Ds.
In the winter break of 2015, and for my 42nd birthday, I took myself off to Thailand for some much-needed R&R.
I had graduated from my first degree, traded in my two part-time jobs for a full-time one, and returned to university as a part-time student. I was volunteering a few times a week, taking classes, writing assignments, catching up with friends, and getting used to a new position in a new industry — I needed a break!
De-stressing
When I arrived in the hot and humid area of Karon on Phuket Island, I was a mere shell of a person and spent the first few days lounging around the pool, reading mind trash (for a break from academic papers and texts), and taking occasional dips in the water, only to return to my beach towel and book.
I oscillated between the pool you see above and my hotel room when the humidity got the better of me, wandering into the tourist strip once a day to forage for food, sometimes get a massage, and have a look at the local items for sale.
Dehydration
I also discovered something that I had never investigated — a sauna.
At the end of the path in the picture above and to the left of my lounging pool, there was a gym. Gyms I knew all too well considering that I was a fitness junkie at the time.
Heading into the women’s washroom, however, I discovered a sauna tucked into the corner. Why not give it a go?
I became obsessed and sat in there after my gym workout almost every day, hurtling out of the wooden structure to dive into the pool and close my pores when I couldn’t take the heat anymore.
Day Trips
Apart from the trip to Thailand, my birthday gift to myself was a day trip out to see the hongs — donut-shaped caves — in Phang Nga Bay. A friend had suggested it and I’m glad I listened. It was spectacular!
After a not-so-spectacular ride in the minivan — Thai people drive like a Nascar driver on speed — I arrived at the launch point, a tad nauseous after my car trip. We boarded the boat and sailed out into the one of the most famous attractions that Thailand has to offer: Phang Nga Bay.
We were put into inflatable kayaks and each of us had a guide to paddle us in and out of the hongs.
Decorating Offerings
Part of the experience was to make an offering. We were given guidance to construct one as a thank you to those who had helped us along our way, and after a lovely lunch, got to building — again with the help from our guides.
After the sun had set, we piled into our kayaks again and headed into a quiet little alcove where we lit the candles and placed the offerings into the water.
After the ritual and bobbing on the ocean for a while watching the beauty of the scattered lights, all offerings were collected so as not to pollute the waters, and we headed back to the boat, and home through a terrific rain storm.
Daiquiris
The hotel had given me a voucher for a complimentary cocktail as a birthday gift and on my last night in Karon, I mulled over what to get.
I went with a strawberry daiquiri.
Not being much of a drinker at the time, it hit me like a steam train and I stumbled (ever so slightly) back up to my room to get a good night’s rest before returning to the lion’s den the following day.
I had a great ten days in Thailand and I hope you had a great time joining me for this nostalgic trip.
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