Becoming a yogi

No, I have not got certified as a yoga teacher, but the transformation is more subtle – my possessions slowly leave me by giving away, losing and breaking. Whether I like it or now. At some point in Yangshuo I took a look at my beloved hoodie and made a realization that I had had for many years and maybe, just maybe it is time for a new one. Bah, the next day it is gone. No idea where or how. Same fate waited for my faux Billabong swimming shorts, which I had had for more than six years. They were still in one piece, but I got this idea in the back of my mind that all things come to their end sooner or later. Approximately one month later they were gone. Again, no idea where or how. Just gone. Mono no aware in action. A microfiber towel left me at some point too (I did not like colours anyway). After several unsuccessful tries to find a similar towel in Thailand and Malaysia, I eventually replaced it with a sarong, which is much more versatile and useful than a towel. My Lumix LX5 camera fell victim to sea water and eventually got replaced by Canon Powershot S95, which coincidentally I like much more. I lost two water/tea bottles, both in Thailand. It is most certainly not a time or a place for drinking tea here. Singapore greeted me with a loss of one Haglöfs shoe. They were securely attached to my backpack, but somehow when I made it to the hostel, I could not find one of the shoes. I bought them last summer or more like it felt like we found each other. Heavily discounted, my favorite colors, last pair and just my size. One of the most comfortable shoes I have ever used in fact. No blisters at any point too. They will be surely missed. The last in the series of losses is a broken blade of Leatherman Skeletool. I was opening a coconut with Skeletool yesterday and some point the blade just snapped in two. An interesting thing that I experienced no anger, no regret or no disappointment of any kind. No reaction at all in fact, just silent observation of the fact. The most important thing that I got the coconut opened and if to believe a local restaurant owner I am of the few persons who got a coconut open with an ordinary knife. Even though it cost me a broken blade. Fair game I guess.

So there you go all this damage in the span of almost five months. I used to think that I know how to take care of my things, but travelling in this mode seems to be very destructive. Looking back at the history of my stuff, I got this idea that most of lost things I did not like that much or did not need, so in a way they did me a favor by finding a new owner. The only regret is the shoes, but it might be a blessing in disguise which I cannot yet see. The time will tell.

A transmission from Haad Yuan

I visited Haad Yuan for the first time two years ago and immediately fell in love with the place. Haad Yuan is an isolated beach in the South-Eastern part of Ko Phangan reachable by boat or a two-hour walk through the dense jungle. It is only a short boat trip from the Haad Rin, the capital of the Full Moon party, but feels like a remote island with its own laws and customs. While the rest of Ko Phangan is rapidly developed, Hat Yuan does not change. Time is frozen here in a permanent state of bliss, tranquility and freedom. On a first sight Haad Yuan is like any other beach on Ko Phangan: white sand, turquoise sea, scattered resorts, bars and random activities. But the unique atmosphere and semi-permanent hippy community are what make Haad Yuan so special. Everybody seems to be on the same wave-length and share the same interests along the lines of chilling out, yoga, meditation and loud techno music. It feels like a mixture between Monkey Island (with pirates present of course, aaaarrrgghh!) and the mellowed out tropical Fusion festival all year around. Just beautiful.

I have been here a week and it looks like I will spend the rest of my Thai visa here. The place really pulls you in and once you land here you do not want to go any place else. Indeed, why go, when you know you can hardly top this.
New Year’s party at Guy’s Bar is lined up and hopefully some Ashtanga yoga, as soon as I get rid of my cold. Christmas Eve party was mind-blowing, despite the costs (water-damaged Nexus One and cold). Fingers crossed for the phone to come back to life.