So my journey to my new life begins with Etihad airlines. A sheek, high quality service, super comfortable, airline. The prayer in Arabic at the start of the flight takes me to another place, and I am drawn to listen to the resonating, deep voices of readings from the Quran on one of the radio stations. Such a beautiful language to listen to!
As I sit watching the clouds, the emotions start flooding in, the ones I’ve pushed aside for past months of intense organising. An exhausted ‘I’ve done it’, closely followed by ‘Oh shit.’ I’ve committed myself to this now. I distract myself by watching random episodes of Modern Family.
Exiting the plane at 9.45pm in Koh Samui, I reel back from the smack of humidity. Luckily my friend convinced me to pre-book a taxi since I was arriving so late. The airconditioned comfort was a needed respite.
The taxi left me with my 35 kgs of luggage that I carried on my front, back and off the sides, my shoes slipping along a dark, wet gravel path, towards the Thai ‘resort’ (a very loose term in Thailand).
‘Sa wa de kaaaa’ I yelled out at the very closed and dark reception. I’m not really sure what I’d hoped for.
The practical me observed how far it was to the main road and other potential accommodation options (all of which looked very shut as we whizzed past). I left the majority of my luggage and walked towards some dim lights glowing from some shacks about 200 metres away. It was, after all, about 10.30pm at night in quiet season.
I spot a young, slim Thai woman hanging out some clothing. I approached.
‘Sa wa de kaaaa’
‘Sa wa de kaaa’
‘Reception’ I pointed to the humid dark mist.
‘One minute’ holding up one finger.
‘Kop kun kaaa’
She finds her phone and begins calling a number. Another curious face pokes her head out the door, wanting a glimpse of the intruder. She giggles.
‘Sa wa deee kaaaa’
Smiling back, ’Sa wa deee kaaa. One minute’
‘Kop kun kaaaa’
The first woman says ‘Come, come’ and I am lead to another house. A small woman, but with the presence of someone who knows what she is doing, comes out, looking at me with light suspicion.
Her face relaxed on the sounds of my ‘Sa wa de kaaa’.
I explain my lateness and that friend recommended me to come here. She relaxes more and says you can have this hut, 500 Baht, but tomorrow a 400 Baht room will be available.
I enter into the bungalow. Oh my god, I’m here. I’m really here. The drabness, aged 70 style walls and bed sheets, creaky floorboards and the bathroom. The bathroom. A wet, slippery haven of adventure. Shower in the middle, pointed over the toilet. The toilet with the complementary hose.
Not exactly a resort, as you can see.
But I am here. Without western conveniences. With hard beds and pillows. And drab huts.
I went to sleep to the sounds of dripping water, and knowing, this is why I am here, to be closer to the rain than in sanitised apartments and buildings, where only if you look outside can you see its raining.
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| The floor ‘boards’ |
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| The slightly excessive amount of luggage I carry! |
I awake to the sounds of Thai women gently moving the tables and chairs into line, dogs sounding their turf, and the calls of birds yet unfamiliar to me.
Floods of images from the past weeks of my life overtake my mind, the beautiful connections I’ve made, the tough times, the times with friends, and the tiredness.
The excitement of what I am now doing begins to meander its way in.
I am doing this! I am here… its starting!!!
But first, some more sleep before I make it to my final travel destination.
And maybe a $10 massage or two.
And to enjoy this view.
