If vacation means letting things go, then Thailand was a total success. I met a couple of traveling punks from Taiwan, who convinced me to let them shave the side of my head. I let go of the turtle.
I also learned to laugh at myself, after worshiping dead monks in Chiang Mai.
So I was strolling through Wat Phra Singh Woramahaviharn. In one of the buildings four monks sit meditating. Either I was a little awestruck walking around the temple complex or just a bit emotional that day. I was the only one there. I walked inside and quickly sat down – as to not disturb the meditating monks. I was really awestruck at their focus, having perfected their meditation skills through years of practice.
I meditated too. I listened to the birds, felt the breeze on my skin. It was a transcendental experience. I was dumbfounded how the monks could keep so still, but I hardly dared to look at them. After 20 minutes I reverently stood up, looked down, gave a deep bow and quietly walked out – truly feeling blessed for having been in their presence.
But something kinda gnawed at me that night…. How could they meditate with such intensity? Did they even blink their eyes? I didn’t really want to question the experience, however, I just wanted to enjoy the moment.
I went back the next day. My holy monks had meditated so long, that they had melted into waxy latex.
At first, I felt complete and utter shame. Although nobody else had seen me worship the wax figures, I was angry at myself. How could I have been so moronic? As the day went on, however, I started to laugh at myself. I allowed myself to not be perfect. I watched the video, I had secretly taken the previous day… and had to smile.
My Thailand vacation was a success. Now I was ready to face the Nordkapp.
I flew back to Berlin and got my bike and was ready to cycle to Norway.
“Then we added spices into the mix and all kinds of fruit I had never heard of. The only one I recognized was of course bananas but they tasted so fresh and so ripe in Thailand. Moving on the fresh fish department, there was much to choose from. Same thing from the meat department where you’ll get a couple of cuts which you won’t find at your local McDonalds anytime soon.”
OXLAEY