My firstin Thailand – Songkran and other sweetness

OK, it’s technically been eight days, but you’ve got to give me a little bit of a break. Songkran took priority for a couple of those days, and bringing out any electronics would have been technological suicide.
Most of you are wondering what the heck I’m talking about. Songkran is Thailand’s New Year and basically the biggest water fight on earth. Guns, buckets, hoses – anything people can get their hands on (especially if ice-cold) to drench and celebrate with anyone in sight.
While a little more dangerous for the motorbikers than most of us feel comfortable with, and many of you will cringe at the lot of us packing into the back of a truck for the fun, it just may have been the best holiday I have ever celebrated. That level of living life and celebration is not something I will ever apologize for, and will go for all over again next week when headed to the full moon party with my mischievous little pal Pariny. We’ll see if we survive that one.
This last week…it has been a wonderful (and sometimes not so wonderful) mix of beer, food (the South African porridge being my personal favorite), sunburns, all the amazing pals I’ve made, bug bites, visiting the Big Buddha, checking out local markets, bruises, making it to my first Thai beach, traveler’s tummy, multiple massages (natually) and feeding a baby elephant (though of course I don’t condone the bad treatment of elephants that happens here way too often).
Home. A concept that is taking on a new meaning as this new lifestyle finally takes flight. The first place I can call home abroad (however long or short it may be) is an enchanted and tropical oasis where many are only on holiday as opposed to being expats or long-term travelers looking for more permanent accommodation, but there is a decent mix.
The good of those staying a shorter time is being around so many new pals from all of the world who are always looking to celebrate and bond with new friends fast. The bad is quickly losing those people as they move on. For those of us who have to still work remote, keeping focus while constantly being surrounded by so much amazingness and celebration can be quite a challenge, though my still being in a daze and the jet lag finally kicking in may be helping me out a bit.
The little things continue to be as entertaining as ever. Bras and underwear have become pretty much non-existent. Maybe because of the booty bath guns I have been so pleasantly surprised to find are a normal here, the constant swimming or the neverending sweating that make it pointless or too uncomfortable (underwire is the devil). Not only massages but mani/pedis and sending laundry out is so cheap, it doesn’t make much sense to do it yourself. Running out of water before the trucks come every day can be rough, especially in regard to the toilets, but it’s doable. Also a good reminder for Californians who don’t realize where the crazy drought over there is headed as well. Water for commerce. Well, I suppose the world always changes. Why not this, too.
Eight days…it feels like eight years. Trying to get my strength and peace back from dealing with so incredibly much before getting here as well as adjusting to this new life on the other side of the world, all the while diving right in. It may still be in a spin, but I don’t remember feeling this level of connectivity and open doors to finding happiness since Burning Man.
Home being in California already feels so far away. It’s such a short amount of time, but I already barely remember my life there. Maybe it was because I had mentally, emotionally and spiritually left far before I did physically. Either way, right now feels right. I’m finally where I’m supposed to be.