Bound By Adventure - Part Two

So, here we sit in Bangkok, Thailand.

"Hopes and Dreams amidst Amazing Turmoil" seemed appropriate as the title for this blog as we're always finding something most beautiful amidst the turmoil that can often be Thailand - or even traveling itself.

There are so many people and experiences we have come across on our exquisite adventure. We have made more memories in the last year, than we have in our lifetime. And the adventure has only just begun.

But let's delve back to the day we first arrived in Thailand. 

Tired, scared, and anxious to start a new life, we made our way out of the terminal and into the over-powering heat of Bangkok. Wide-eyed and on alert we had no idea what we were in for. You can only prepare yourself so much - expectations are never good to have before traveling to a new country. In my experience you have to let go, and take with you an open mind and an open heart. Only then can you experience all the wonders of the new country awaiting you. You'll find adventure and beauty in places you never thought possible. 

Tiny, dirty streets could be home to the most amazing restaurant and Thai food you have ever come across. Don't be afraid to dwell into places that don't fit what society has made you think are acceptable. Go fourth young traveler. Go fourth and delve into the unknown. Eat a scorpion from a stall - if you must - I have not yet tried it, but one of these days I'll be writing about the experience of eating some strange creature from a street food vendor. 

The best khao pad (fried rice) I have found on my travels so far, has been from a street vendor in Hua Hin - just three hours South of Bangkok, a small beach town, that I recommend you to visit. A sweet old lady and her daughter run the little vendor and are truly special. Always assisting, making sure you have everything you need, supplying water and going out of their way. The restaurant is opposite Cicada Market in Khao Takiab, Hua Hin. Look for it if you're ever there.

So from Bangkok we started our journey to Hua Hin to begin our life as English Teachers in Thailand. We completed a TEFL course in Hua Hin, the amazing month of November 2012 and from there on out, we were changed women. Xplore Asia assisted in preparing us for our teaching experience, and an incredible man named Jaco helped us through any rough times we stumbled upon. If it weren't for Jaco being there for us when we needed someone, I don't think we would have lasted through the first month. Such a fascinating, worldly soul that tugs at your inner traveler and somewhere light and happy. Jaco we thank you from the depths of our souls and to Xplore Asia - we're teachers today because of your guidance and your great course - thank you so much.

With traveling and making plans however, things change, plans change, and a new course gets thrown into place, and so teaching in Thailand fell behind us after we had tried to settle in Phuket. Along with changing our minds, came disappointing people we had never intended on disappointing. But alas, this was something Shelly and I had decided to do, and we did. We spent three days in picturesque Phuket and left back to Bangkok to attempt teaching with an agency in Minburi.

Phuket was not at all what we had expected. Patong beach was breathtaking, however riddled with tourists and sky high costs of living. We had gotten a taste of Hua Hin, and were completely hooked. Nevertheless, we made our 10 hour journey back to Hua Hin, where we stayed at a friend for a night, and hailed a taxi to Bangkok to settle into a South African filled Residence just a few blocks from the new agency we'd be working for. In the meanwhile, we had met a wonderful man named Peter, lead singer, and guitarist of the Hua Hin City Blues Band. The band had offered me a chance to sing with them over the weekends and I jumped at the opportunity, also one of the reasons we had left Phuket. Shelly had sacrificed a job for me to pursue one of my dreams - singing with a band. So from then on for two or three weeks, we traveled from Bangkok to Hua Hin every Thursday so I could sing my heart out, and then traveled back to Bangkok Monday afternoon to continue teaching Tuesday though Thursday. Our agency was aware of our situation and when we finally came to them and bid them farewell, we made yet another move back to Hua Hin, and there we stayed for a solid four months. 

An experience it has certainly been. Hours of bus rides, train rides, taxi rides. Disappointments, understandings and finally happiness when we had chosen to settle and remain in Hua Hin, We had given up the teaching for what we thought might be forever, but of course we find ourselves teaching once again - and falling in love with the Thai children and the way they creep into our hearts and cozy up there. 

The difference we make as teachers may be tiny right now, but every small detail counts and every new child we come across that takes a genuine interest in wanting to learn a new language and a new culture, takes our breathe away, and we're once again reassured of why we came to the Land of Smiles. 

#10 Strangely Beautiful Oddities About Thailand

#1 – Sweating

Yes you read that right. The heat in Thailand is a beautifully relentless fact that has most tourists swarming into the Land of Smiles most months of the year. For tourists though, they have the luxury of air-conditioning, most places they visit, or inside the hotel room, but for us expats living and working in Thailand, we get the poo end of the stick when it comes to suffering in the heat. Thought your job was tough? Try teaching children in stuffy classrooms with only a fan above your head, in 40 degree weather. You manage to sweat in places you didn't think possible. But alas, the heat is still a beautiful thing – along with the sweating – especially for those who want to lose weight, get fit and be healthy. The daily sweating surprisingly keeps one’s skin glowing and smooth, prevents wrinkles and shrinks our over-sized behinds to an acceptable jean size – not that one would dare to wear jeans in Thailand!

#2 – Cockroaches and Rats

We love them! The creatures of the night are what make Thailand. Without them you might as well be in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean. Dates are made better when a rat runs past your feet, or a cockroach brushes past your arm – heading to the hole he crawled out of. Yup, they certainly make Thailand for more interesting stories.

#3 – The oh-so delicious smell of Sewerage

The smell of Thailand is like no other. If you were blind, and walked around smelling certain parts of Thailand you’d think you were walking in a sewer. Alas, this is another trait that makes Thailand, well, Thailand. No complaints from me though. When I walk past a drain, and am greeted by a whiff of sewerage, I immediately get hungry. Oh wait – perhaps that’s the affect of living in Asia too long. Hmm... Perhaps it’s time to move.

#4 – Gecko’s

Every wall – every door – every floor! Gecko! Gecko! Gecko! I find them to be one of the most strangely beautiful things about Thailand. It’s a calming fact that Gecko’s are so comfortable around us giant creatures, to be out in the open so. They make home everywhere and anywhere, and NOT seeing them would definitely be something to behold. Their nature is very serene, much like the Buddhist ways, and that is what adds to their strange beauty. They are placid creatures in a placid yet bustled country. Two enigmatic contradictions to have the pleasure of witnessing and experiencing.

  

#5 – Taxi Drivers in Thailand

Ok! Every single Taxi Driver here thinks he’s Michael Schumacher or some Formula 1 racer. And the irony of it is that they’re probably better than most racers. Strangely enough I feel safe when my Taxi Driver is driving 140 kilometers an hour on the Freeway or even up a tiny little soi (street) that fits one and a half cars. They are certainly excellent drivers.  One’s that love to learn English, find out where you hail from and whether you’re on holiday or teaching English as most of us here are.  Sometimes you even find a female Taxi Driver who wants to have a conversation with you while applying makeup, learning English through her CD player and driving through the early morning Bangkok traffic. Yes – that, my friends is when you start praying to God she’s actually a man.

#6 – Khao San Road

I’m sure every person will know or will have heard of the famous Khao San Road, here in Bangkok. Once that place has you, it’s over - unless you have the strongest will power known to man. “One

Night in Bangkok and the World’s your Oyster” – well “One Bucket in Khao San and the street’s your Neverland.” It’s one of those epic party streets where the backpackers and one-nighter’s go before moving on to the next destination in Thailand. Unless you know what you’re up against, you’ll get ripped off, groped inappropriately, hawked at and countless other unattractive shenanigans that will make your night more interesting. But again I have to say, it is strangely beautiful. The road swallows you whole, gouges at your eyes, blinds you, and then spits you out at 8am in the morning – leaving you wondering where the hell you were and what the hell you did.

#7 – The Weird Blue Crabs

The tiny weird blue crabs that waddle along the shores of Thailand are certainly intriguing. They build their homes just below the surface, and scatter nervously at any sign of something or someone foreign to them. Trying to catch the weird creatures is another story. I have come across those who have managed to accomplish the impossible and have bared my pearly whites in admiration for the time and effort they put into waiting for the right moment. But most of us just admire the tiny sea beings from a distance and make our way to our final destination – the awaiting sun chair and coconut cocktail.

#8 – The Infamous Lady’s of Thailand

Yes, number 8 I talk about the strangely beautiful ladyboy’s. With legs for days, a great derriere, fake boobs, and long silky hair, they put most of us women to shame. Men fall face over feet when approached by a beautiful Thai women in a short skirt. But more often than not, what they don’t realize is that underneath all that womanly perfection is in fact a man that likes to dress up as a woman.  What can we say? Who can resist a putting on a black little number, stiletto heels and red lipstick – apparently not the Thai men? Alas, without them, Thailand would not be famous. After all – they are the pinnacle for Thailand’s sex industry. Just a fair warning to all you men thinking about travelling to this exotic destination – be very sure. In this case – looks can be extremely deceiving.

#9 – Soi Dogs (Street dogs)

There is definitely no shortage of soi dogs in Thailand. Beautiful dogs, fat dogs, skinny dogs, and dogs that straight up look like they belong in a Zombie movie. The downfall of this is that there aren’t many animal shelter’s in Thailand, and Rabies is rife. But that doesn't stop me from giving a sane looking dog some tender loving care from time to time.

#10 – The Amazing Toilet Sprayer

You may find this weird and hard to believe, but I find it difficult using a toilet without using a sprayer since being in Thailand. It is hands down one of the best creations I have come across in a long while. Going back home for holiday leaves me missing my Thailand home for the simple fact I cannot use my toilet (water sprayer) sprayer when I go to the loo. I almost feel the need to go out onto the lawn and use a hose pipe, but that would just be weird, and right now we've concluded my top 10 strangely beautiful things about Thailand.

Bound by Adventure - Part 1

Traveling is no easy task. One has to be willing to let go and say goodbye.

This blog is the adventure journal of Shelly and myself. Our experiences, our trials, our triumphs, and most of all our mood wall.

It may not be every-ones cup of tea, but it sure as hell will be their shot of Tequila.

Before traveling I was stuck in a rut. I was leading the average mediocre life, doing everything by the book. Studying straight out of high school, settling into my career, working hard for 6 years to get promoted to something I should have been proud of. Working a nine to five job, settling down in a relationship, career sorted. You'd think that would be every-ones dream right? Not mine!

One morning in 2011 I woke up gasping for air, sweating profusely and feeling claustrophobic. I woke up this way every morning for months until I thought enough was enough. I couldn't do it anymore. I had realized that my average life had taken it's toll and smothered my inspiration for something more. It was a turning point in my life - coming to terms with the fact that my zest for life had been buried under a heap of the 'norm.'

I had thought about traveling, but the leap had always been daunting. Fear blanketed my thoughts. Leaving behind the comfort of a life I had come to accept and of course leaving behind friends and family was an upsurge I found myself not being able to make. And then I realized that if I didn't make wind of an opportunity, I'd be settling for the rest of my life. I'd go through the motions of this so-called life and end up with mounts of regrets, feeling lost and empty.

So I made an executive decision that changed my life forever. And three months later I was standing on a ship, cruising the Californian coast, the ocean breeze whisping through my hair, watching, in awe, as the setting sun danced across the turquoise expanse of endless possibilities.

Finally I could breathe! I could think! I could taste opportunity! And I had vision.

Never had my eyes seen such beauty. Never had my mind been challenged so, and never had my heart been so filled with hope and faith. To not experience or know beauty like that of a world we are not familiar with is a truly sad state, a devastation. The Californian Coast, the Mexican culture, the Alaskan glaciers, the old world charm of Victoria, British Columbia - had me in awe. The artistry and refinement of these adventures I had pursued were endless, spell-bounding. I had fallen in love with a travelers life - my life.

But as life goes, a day came when I found my chest constricting and panic rose up to my throat - asphyxiating me. The first time being away from family and friends, alone on the opposite end of the world was overwhelming to say the least and through the midst of my anxiety I found a piece of the puzzle that was me. Albeit I didn't last the first round, I had no regrets. The personalities I came across, the new world I had discovered, would never be taken away from me. Two months of being at sea was a miracle in my eyes - a rare opportunity that most people do not take advantage of.

And so I found myself back on land in a country I loathed. The monotonous life settled back in comfortably and I quickly fell back into the same routines - always pleasing people and putting every-ones happiness above my own. I didn't realize at the time that the person that needed my support the most was me.

I was there, in South Africa, going through the motions of the daily life I had thoughtlessly chosen for myself, but I had left my heart wondering aimlessly through a celestial sphere of an undiscovered adventurous world - waiting patiently for me to claim my fate, my journey.

I had come back to a man, to friends, to my family. But I was prejudice and treated them unfairly. They needed me, my boyfriend needed me, but shamelessly I had nothing to give. I was not able to be there. I no longer knew how to be there. I was a ghost of a woman with a fire burning deep within, threatening to erupt.

He would stare at me, hoping I'd come back to him, waiting to feel my love. But what he didn't know was that my heart had found a new lover, a new adventure, a new life. My imprisoned soul had a taste and was begging for more. Travel had now become my drug, and I could not, would not give up my addiction for anyone or anything.  I tried to show him as much as I could possibly muster up, but in doing so I broke him. I tore out his heart, and lay it bare, before him, crushing his soul. A time, in my life, that I regret and wish I could have handled differently. He was undeserving of such ill-treatment and I was selfish. I realize now that the longer you try to fix something that is broken, the more it splinters, until there is nothing left to fix.

To this man, who know who you are, I am truly sorry that I could not give you all of me when you needed it the most.

And so I convinced my best friend over a glass of red wine, one night at a Cuban bar, to take a leap and travel with me to the Land of Smiles - to enrich our lives, and the lives of others.

We were, and still are two against the world - the black sheep of our conformed society - because we did what other's fear to do. We said goodbye and didn't look back.