The island paradise of Koh Chang has, since my last post, been beset by tropical storms. If you?ve seen the photographs on the tourist info site, you?ll have noticed how very green the island is; it was explained to me by a very sweet Israeli who runs and internet shop closeby that the forests owe their colour to the huge amounts of rain that fall here. Little did I know?! Over the past couple of nights, the girls and I have entertained ourselves with Chang beer and backgammon while imprisoned in our resort by the great deluges of rain hurled from black skies brightened briefly by tremendous thunderbolts ? sheets and forks of blue light connecting the heavy sky with the roaring sea. Paradise, LOST! I've been writing this post offline - the electrical fields generated by the weather create a barrier between the satellites above and the computers beneath, so these words have been sitting on the desktop of my machine, patiently awaiting their little space odyssey. Fortunately, our spirits are higher than the dewpoint, and we?re finding our situation truly hilarious. Alex made a special reqest for me to mention how difficult it is to get anything done here, and I must say she?s absolutely right. During the increasinly infrequent breaks from the rain, inertia, enemy #1 of the long-term traveller, makes it near impossible to move, even from hammock to coffee-shop. So far, we?ve visited neither waterfalls, wats, or other beauty spots. Zoe, who overslept and ended up on the wrong island, arrives this afternoon, if she survives the three-hour trip from Koh Makh to Koh Chang across the tempestuous straits. So we?ll be able to play doubles, while watching the water fall.
I've changed my plans yet again (what freedom!) and on the recommendation of my friend Angel (by name and nature), decided to spend the first part of next month at the Suan Mokh monastery. Since Kopan, my meditation practice has diminished completely and I?m back to my old scatty self, making trips between cafe and bungalow to rescue wallet, keys, walkman, sandals etc. Y'all know what I' m talking about. Remedial action will take the form of a ten day Vipassana retreat, accompanied by yoga sessions in the morning. Look forward to a brand new me - so thin, so calm, I'll be entirely unrecognizable!
I've changed my plans yet again (what freedom!) and on the recommendation of my friend Angel (by name and nature), decided to spend the first part of next month at the Suan Mokh monastery. Since Kopan, my meditation practice has diminished completely and I?m back to my old scatty self, making trips between cafe and bungalow to rescue wallet, keys, walkman, sandals etc. Y'all know what I' m talking about. Remedial action will take the form of a ten day Vipassana retreat, accompanied by yoga sessions in the morning. Look forward to a brand new me - so thin, so calm, I'll be entirely unrecognizable!
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