Bye bye Ko Samui

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Last night as I was returning home on the back of a motorbike, the sweet smell of shampoo blowing in my face from the long hair of the driver, lights punching holes in the darkness, I really wanted to write my blog. I was poetically inspired. Maybe it came from the first coffee drink I've had in months that didn't make me sick, or the excess of sugar from a scone I had just eaten, but I felt light and ready to share. Now, it's the morning and I leave in less than an hour and I'm not packed and I haven't picked up my laundry yet but I still want to share a little of my journey. Traveling alone is in turn hard and wonderful. The beach I'm staying on is gorgeous (I've tried to upload pics but it hasn't worked yet) but filled with lovers spreading sunscreen on each other and meaningfully holding hands across the table. Not a sight I'm extremely interested in seeing. I was feeling a little like a loner (okay a lot like a loner) until I went on a kayaking trip to a Marine National Park 2 days ago, where I met a couple from Atlanta, a couple from Germany, and a girl traveling alone (yes!) from Finland. We all talked and laughed and it was so nice. The kayaking was also wonderful. We went through beautiful caves and past white sand beaches. Then yesterday I met an Australian woman who lives in Bangkok and she gave me her phone # and said she'll show me around Bangkok when I go back. Yes! About Samui itself: it is filled with friendly stray dogs, nice Thai people, and tourists. The resorts make me sad. In the middle of the island you can see where it was once overgrown with trees and plants, but on the edges there is so much commercialism. You can really see what development has done to this island, and it's not that pleasant. Some other notes: Singha, the Thai beer, is really good. There's a Chabad and (gasp) a kosher restaurant on the island. There were also two Orthodox guys on my ferry over here. I've already read 5 books since I've been here. Yesterday I found a Starbucks (again, gasp) with a comfortable chair and airconditioning (it is extremely hot here) and was so overtaken by the book I was reading, Lovelybones, that I sat there reading for 6 hours and finished the entire book. (Okay, so part of it was that the book is about a girl who is murdered and I didn't want to go back to my bungalow alone until I knew what happened.) Motorbikes are so great also. The second day I was here I was trying to get a cab and this nice Thai woman with great smelling shampoo picked me up and drove me all the way to Chaweng beach, a 20 minute drive. The feel of wind and the thrum of the motor is so wonderful. I almost want to get one when I get back to the states. Today I'm going to Ko Tao which is supposed to be the best place in Thailand for scuba diving. Anyway, that's about it for now. I hope everyone is well and I love getting comments on my blog!

Love
Daniela

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Comments

[Alyssa Beth]

Daniela, your stories are wonderful. There's nothing like reading thoughts from the mind of a poet. Just keep writing. I love hearing about. I love thinking about you in Thailand. Do people look at you funny because of your lack of Thai features? Are you taller than most? Much Love

[tu madre]

Shampoo
I certainly hope you picked up some of that great smelling shampoo!! enjoy, love, tu madre

[Rebekah (Penkava) Hurwitz]

Island
A Starbucks and a Kosher restaurant! That totally sounds like my kind of island.

[Jana]

Emerald Cave
Have you found anyone who knows anything about this cave yet? It's the one my sone JJ worries about. I love your "travel" writing!