I recently went home to my beautiful state of California to celebrate one of my dearest friends wedding in sunny San Diego! I have been MIA from blogging because life has been a whirlwind blur of everything and many countries and traveling to be had...rough life I know. The other part of me is realizing that this blog is about to end as I'm about to leave this beautiful country that I've been so blessed to call home for the past two years. Now as excited as I was to visit California for a few weeks, it meant it would be the end of my teaching days for awhile...and not seeing my students daily has really been a hard reality to grasp. My school has been so kind to me my secondary teachers threw me a beautiful lunch in appreciation and gave me a stunning akha (hilltribe village) purse and tears flowed. My little kids surprised me with posters of drawings of me with their names and little sayings "I love you" "I will miss you." My last day was filled with a huge emotional Rollercoaster of feelings. I would be flying back to Thailand before Australia, but I wouldn't be Teacher Dao anymore. I wouldn't hear the laughter of children echoing down the halls. The teasing of my naughty Mattyhom students. The boys playing guitar. Watching my boys play football. The girls skipping rope. The teachers calling me fat...oh wait, no I won't miss that haha.
So needless to say my last day was a it emotional. Jeffrey and wynie gave me a eautiful book filled with our photos and inside jokes and had teachers and students write me messages and sign in. One of the most valuable things I now own. Emily gave me a real microphone with a note saying I was now a Filipino. Now this is because we do a lot of karaoke and I actually have been working on singing with her and our last night karaoking I sang quite well and they were so excited and I got goosebumps. Filipinos have beautiful voices so having her approval means the world to me. She also had her students draw pictures of me with their little names (they're grade 2). Her little note also made me cry. Leaving my school was hard, but leaving my little family was going to be the hardest thing I would go through in possibly my life. And no I'm not being melodramatic. They have been and continue to be my world. They have showed me how to be the best teacher I can be, how to love unconditionally, how to forgive and let go, how to feel, how to always be kind. To always choose happiness. And to always, above else, be thankful. They all have the characteristics of what I have always wanted to attain. They have been there for me when I would throw a tantrum and they would remind me that everything will be okay and to not worry. They had my back when I would battle with the administration. They always comforted me when I would fall for the wrong guy and get my feelings hurt. Let me cry when I had my heart broken. They prayed for me when I traveled solo because that is just unheard of for people on this side of the world. They taught me their culture. Took me on adventures to explore our beautiful countryside. I learned about their families and how hard it is for them to be away from them. They rescued me from the frogs in my bathroom and the snake in my room and countless other thailand surprises. Most importantly, they just loved me for me. I never had to try to impress them. They taught me to be humble. To believe that things will be okay. Writing this is making me sad and I'm on a beautiful tropical island hah.
Point being. They would be the hardest part of me moving on. And I will forever carry them in my heart.
California was everything I ever could have imagined and much more. It was a sign that yes Australia was the next adventure for me. I got comfortable in thailand and thought about staying, but just a few hours of being in California I knew I was ready for a change. As much as I love my little town tucked away in northern thailand, it was time for me to take the tools I developed over the years and to apply them in a new setting. I played tourist and saw a lot of California. Spent time in San Francisco and saw my cousin, went to fisherman's wharf for some sourdough clamchowder bowls with another female traveler, checked out the alcatraz exhibit, and went to corepower yoga! Oh how I missed my mat and the familiar studio. I'm looking forward to going back to a yoga studio in melbourne. I connected with old friends and ate Mexican food. Life was grand. Explored Santa Cruz and reunited with friends. Headed to San Luis obispo to see Jackie and max and then we headed to San Diego! The wedding was to be held in Coronado and we would be staying at the Broadstone. 4 days of wedding SHENANIGANS! And what a beautiful weekend it was. So much fun. Pictures don't do it justice. After the wedding I stayed with my old roommate at our old house and we got sushi and wine and watched my new favorite chicken flick. Like old times. The next day I headed to LA to see an old friend and had a great time catching up. Then the next day I flew to my parents! Where I was greeted with altitude sickness joy! So my days were spent sleeping and eating and working out with my friends and of course yoga. Got to drive my mom's fancy new car and cuddle with my cats and the family dog. Walks to the cascades and time spent at the creek. Good old mountain living. Loved spending time with the family. My brother and his girlfriend even drove over for a few days. My last few days I went to see my grandma and Fred and spend some time with them. My grandma is just so cute. How I love that amazing woman. Such an incredibly strong woman. I have learned so much from her. And Fred, 100 years old and still healthy. Amazing. Both of them. Then I hopped on a bus to San Francisco and was able to catch up with my longest friend Katy Wells :) friends since babies. Then I took myself on a date to kuletos on union square where I had some wine and an appetizer before heading to the airport to board my 2am flight. What a trip!
The journey back wasn't too bad, thankfully I'm capable of sleeping everywhere (thank you universe). So now was the last haul of departing my beloved town....
Thankfully responsible me went through most of my clothes and things and determined which I would take to Oz and what I would give away. Naturally when I landed I was denial and so spent time in Chiang Rai avoiding reality and visited my friend in Mae Sai. 3 of my girlfriends and I planned 5 days in Koh Phagnan together so it wasn't completely farewell time. But I was avoiding Jeffrey, wynie, and Emily and I knew they were avoiding me. I was leaving in a few days and we just didn't want to deal with it. Said my farewell to my director and met the new teacher. Ran errands and cleaned my desk. Made cards for Jeffrey and wynie and tackled my room. It was my last day and I would be taking the 15:30pm bus to Chiang Mai. Emily wynie and Jeffrey helped me with my bags and I broke down. It wasn't really happening was it? Actually leaving my family. Not just taking a little trip and returning them with my shenanigans. Wynie, Jeffrey, and teacher Nope would drive me to the bus station but Emily couldn't go. I was her little sister and she the older sister I never had. We cried into each others arms and I'm crying as I type this. She told me to never let anyone else hurt me or else she would have to fly to Oz to kick my butt. Smiling through tears I climbed into the car and we drove off. Wynie and I held hands the whole way to the bus station. We made small talk to try to keep our spirits up and my eyes dry. We waited for the bus to arrive and they kept trying to joke about me staying and in all honesty, I was hesitant about leaving. The bus approached and I had to muster up all my strength to board it. We hugged each other and cried and I just sat in my seat crying while looking at them. Waving. And the bus pulled away and I was off. I just sat and let myself feel. To take in my last minutes of my town, not knowing when I would see my little world again.
So needless to say it's been while since I blogged for a reason. I managed to sleep and woke up in Chiang Mai. Got to my friends guesthouse and my friend had a drink ready in hand. I went to dinner with my old manager from Santa Cruz who happened to have just moved to Chiang Mai to teach so it was really great to see some California in thailand. I would be taking the trains down south and had no idea what to expect...it saved me costs of hostels and extra baggage fees, sleeping pills and movies downloaded, I was ready. I saw my old friends one last time and the next afternoon I headed to the train station...
I was pleasantly surprised with the train. I had an outlet to charge my electronics and the beds were quite comfy. My last thoughts before falling asleep lying in my little bed, curtain closed, the moon bright outside. Knowing that my entire life is right here, everything I own fits in my bags (granted it's a sight, but I can carry it all). Onto new adventures, pursuing my travel dreams.
I want to see the world. And I was ding it on my own. I somehow have managed to fill your passport with stamps, met people from literally all over the world. To try to learn some new languages wherever I went. To swim in different seas. Cross international borders via bus, minibus, plane, or by foot. To learn that a smile is the same in every country. That kindness exists everywhere. And that things really do somehow workout, even when it seems impossible at the time. Quite a serene feeling as I was heading to the south of thailand on a little train...oh Thailand, what have you done to me!
I arrived in Bangkok at a lovely hour of 6am and quickly found my hostel that I rent for the day and could let my bags free for awhile. I explored the area and met up with ynfriend and rode the bts one last time, as I would be flying from the south, not bangkok to Melbourne.
Now this time in Bangkok was very somber. I won't write too much on this as I'm still in thailand and talk about this is quite a sensitive subject.
On 13th of October, his majesty the king of thailand had left this earth and his people. I have goosebumps just writing about how the country reacted. Every screen in Bangkok displayed his picture and his song rang on the intercoms countrywide. They lost their God. Nothing in the western world could be compared to the loss of what the king meant to his people he was the longest reigning monarch in the world and most thai people have only know him as king. Over 70 years he had the throne. The country declared 100 days of mourning and the loss was felt everywhere. No entertainment networks are allowed to air, no concerts, alcohol sales put on halt, music was not to be allowed to play. Black was worn country wide and there would be no talk about the Prince. And I will wait to write the rest until I leave this country as its illegal to even discuss this.
And Americans think sitting down during the national anthem is blasphemy...ah america, we have freedom of speech...
Anyhow...
I boarded my night train and put on a movie and fell asleep once they made my bed up. Woke up in surat thani where I would take an hour bus ride to the pier to board a 2 hour ferry. All in all travel time from Mae Chan to Koh Phagnan? 42 hours. Whoop! Finally arrived at the island and got a taxi to the hostel where I waited for my friend to show up. Explored the beach and just tried to take deep breaths. Was so excited to see my friends and have a fun girls time on an island I hadn't been to yet. By the next day the gang had arrived. 4 teachers, 3 Americans and 1 British. And 3 very ridiculous Americans in all different ways haha. Emma was mother hen and the week was off. We beached and explored on bikes and spent a lot of time by the pool, as girls do. We made friends with the Dutch guys in the bungalow next to us and soon spent most of our time together. Swimming, laughing, learning Dutch swear words - you know, being cultured. No music was played after midnight and no bars were open. We had a great time at the pool playing games and swimming. And so much laughter, it was a constant lol-a-thon ans i was so thankful and wouldnt have spent those days with anyone else in the world. We had the best time together. Somehow we managed to not annoy each other as well haha. Oh girls...After 5 days the girls had to leave to head north to go back to work and I headed to Koh Tao. I booked myself a private room so I could have some quiet time and time to myself. I was finally alone. They were the last little bit of home except for my friend Becca who I will see before I fly out, but for the next few weeks I would be solo traveling,
Solo traveling. Can be quite lonely at times and social in other aspects, it brings you out of your comfort zone that's for sure. Learning that if you want to make a friend you have to make the effort to talk to someone in the common area of a hostel. Taking that plunge doesn't come as easily for me as many probably think it would. I usually have to pep talk myself saying how I'm awesome and friendly I just need to make the move to socialize. Well thanks to this lovely Girls Love Travel facebook group, it makes it easier for girls to make girlfriends without the awkwardness of bars and hostels. I met a girl Nida who had just finished two years in the peace Corp living in Tanzania in a small remote village. She was heading back to DC after being away for 2 years and she was scared of the real world. I don't blame her, once away, going back is frightening. We instantly clicked having the love of travel as both high priorities in our lives. Was refreshing to make a new friend. Been a bit of a loner once my friends left because I had a private room and didn't really venture out much. It's rainy season so I've only seen a few sunsets. Now I'm in a social hostel and ready to be social again. Always good to take a few days to yourself to regroup before you're ready.
My little sleeping pod is quite comfortable and will be moving to an even cheaper room tomorrow. Oh that nomad life.
I have no clue how long I will be on this island. I also have no concept of time or the date. I wake up when my eyes open, I eat when my tummy talks, and I sleep when you eyes get heavy. My days are spent walking around the beaches and trying to find cheap places to eat. Might ferry to Koh Samui in a few days to explore that one before heading back to the mainland.
My dear friend Becca used to teach in my town, but now teaches in surat thani and she also just got back from melbourne so I'm going to stay with her a few days before my flight to Kuala Lumpur on the 4th of November, thinking I will stay the night in the airport and just watch movies and then on the morning of the 5th of November I am heading to MELBOURNE!
Just checked the date and apparently it's the 25th so will probably stay here 3-4 more days and head to the other island on Friday? Oh this life can be rough sometimes ;)
I'm off to get some sleep so I can explore the island tomorrow and do some much needed yoga on the beach :)
Phew that was a long one! Hope the next won't be quite so painful...
Until next time...
Sawadee Jao
Cailin
Location: Sairee Beach, Koh Tao, Thailand.
