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Published: October 3rd 2006
Friends,
I decided to spend my last days in Thailand on the tropical island of Koh Chang in Trat province. I was sad to leave the muay thai gym as the trainers became very dear friends of mine and I was really enjoying the exercise. After leaving the muay thai, I found myself having withdrawals and even caught myself trying to “knee” luggage carts at the Bangkok airport! Haha!
I chose Koh Chang because it offers more of a “jungle experience” that I have been anxious to have in Asia. This was my second trip to South Asia and I had still not experienced any remote wilderness areas.
The night I arrived, the island experienced an extremely violent storm that flooded shops and homes, washed out roads, and forced hundreds to evacuate. Apparently, I had walked right into the effects of a typhoon that was blowing its way to Vietnam!
The next morning I found a sweet moped and began my journeys. I had never operated a motor bike before and it proved to be a very comical experience. Within a minute of my departure, I lost a flip flop while trying to avoid crashing into another
vehicle. A police officer graciously returned my flip flop back after I pulled over…and I was like “dang dude" Seth. It took a few times of running off the road, but before the end of the day...I was laying tracks like Nascar’s Dick Trickle. I spent a full day cruising down the coastline, surveying storm damage, and touring a fishing village built completely on stilts over it’s bay waters.
I also spent a day at an elephant camp where I fed, swam with, and trekked through the jungle on elephants. The swim was exceptional and the trek was a unique way to get into the heart of the lush island jungle. I want a pet elephant.
The one thing I will cherish the most about Thailand is the people. Thai people overwhelm you with kindness, seek to please, and are welcoming on all occasions. They have an uplifting attitude that is always presented with a smile. Family and relationships are cherished long before the pursuit of success and material possessions. Aside from the violence of muay thai, Thai’s are peaceful in nature and “wouldn’t hurt a fly” as my buddy Jerry writes. I feel so blessed to have
been hosted by such wonderful people in such a beautiful place!
Next stop…..Christchurch, New Zealand. Miss you all!
Food For Thought:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Written by Marianne Williamson, Quoted by Nelson Mandela
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Cruisa
non-member comment
Dang dude
Seeing all those Muay Thai fighters made me remember all those muay thai fights we had at the mow house. Remember, I was soooo scared of you then. Other than that memory, I don't really remember much about you except your AOL screen name (Billdawg12). If you could try and jog my memory that would be helpful.