Pause

It’s slightly amusing to me (and perhaps only me) that this beautiful island that’s probably rarely ever felt a cold front is called Samui, which is means cold in Japanese. I arrived here after my dive trip on the near by Koh Tao island for a flight to Kuala Lumpur, and booked a night at the Le Meridien Resort on Lamai Beach. It was a brief break from my backpacking accommodations as I needed a few more stays to maintain my SPG status, but I was very appreciative of being able to have my first hot shower and flushing toilet in a week (apparently this constitutes luxury on Koh Tao)!

In hindsight, I don’t think coming to an expensive beach front resort that doesn’t have much around it was the best idea. I’m surrounded by honeymooners and families, and they don’t do much besides sitting by the pool that overlooks the ocean. You know this is not a place for adventure when the pool is full and there’s absolutely no one in the ocean just 20 meters away 😛

Granted the view was absolutely gorgeous, it did make me feel a bit lonely. I almost felt restless after an afternoon of relaxing, especially since my exciting diving class only ended less than 24 hours ago. Then I found out Internet was out on the entire island due to a power outage a day before. This really put a damp on my plans of uploading tons of photos and videos and catching up on blogging.

Since my Kindle gave up on me (for the second time), I haven’t found it too convenient to read, but I did download plenty of books on my computer. Without activities, friends, or the Internet, I finally opened my first book on this journey. I chose Duras’ The Lover, a book I had read years before, but perhaps not comprehended well. Having visited Vietnam and walked along the Mekong River in Cambodia, the story became more vivid, and I can almost see the young French girl with her brownish-pink fedora standing onboard the ferry heading to Saigon. The words are heavy yet piercing, jumbled fragments of memory thrown around carelessly that don’t seem to quite fit together, but are more powerful because of it.

And that’s how I spent my last day in Thailand, bathing in the sun, reading a Chinese translation of the dark autobiography of a French girl living on the edge of the Mekong River. The next morning, as I watched the sun rise over the horizon, I let my mind pause for a few minutes and counted my blessings in life. I’m lucky to have adventures, but not ones that left scars; to have stories, but only those that make people smile; to make my own choices; to find requited love; to sit on a beach and watch the sun light up the sky, on an island far from home. And if you are reading this, I’m lucky to have friends who will read my silly musings, and share this journey with me 🙂

For what I have received may the Lord make me truly thankful. And more truly for what I have not received. – Storm Jameson