Manchester Airport

Well I'm here having the first gin and tonic of the holiday.  M6 was a nightmare with the rain but just took my time.  Case checked in, perfume (too much lol) purchased and just relaxing until flight called.  Flight leaves at 20:10 but boarding from 19:10 so plenty of time to chill.

It's crazy his life just takes you on this journey.  Who would have thought that I would have ended up going to Bangkok of all places.  My father served his national service in Malaya as it was then.  He ever really spoke about the horror of it all, but at times would tell my brother and I about the sea and the jungle.  Back I. My black and white childhood (but remember I'm only 29) the Far East seemed like another world.  But now our planet is so small.  I think he would be proud of me and my spirit.  The sense of adventure I have, at times, astonishes me but hey this is my life and I need to make the most of it.  So Thailand - the land of smiles!  Since I was a child I can always remember there being a Buddha in our house; I guess from my Dad's experiences.  In fact, the Buddha that he gave me many years ago come with me in the car it just didn't seem right not bringing him lol. But now I am going to see so many different Buddhas, temples and hopefully elephants!  

A lot of people this week have said 'oh I think you are brave'.  I'm not brave - bonkers maybe, but not brave.  There are so many people out there being brave, day in day out, I'm not in their class.  But what I have learnt about myself is that I have spirit, I'm not frightened to give things a go.  Can't just sit around waiting for something to happen, I need to go find it and that takes courage.

Last Sunday I watched a film with Julia Roberts in it called Eats, Prays, Loves and saw, to some extent my life being played out on screen .........OK I'm no Julia Roberts lol but that aside, it was me, my life.  At the end of the film she said these words, which for me, rang true:

I've come to believe in something I call, the physics of the quest.  If you are brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting. It can be anything from your house to bitter old resentments and go on a truth seeking journey either externally or internally.  And if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue and you accept everyone you meet on the way as a teacher, and if you are prepared, most of all to  face and forgive some very difficult realities about yourself - then the truth will not be withheld from you.

I have, over the past few years left behind a great deal of familiar things, not through my own choice.  I have been on some amazing journeys and meet so many people who love me so very much.  Now it's time for me to face and forgive some difficult realities about myself on this trip, to find some inner peace, to make new friends and above all else my friends, to have fun.

So enjoy your Friday evening and tomorrow night I shall be in Bangkok lol!

Wow

Well here I am in cosy cottage all alone!  Hetty has gone on her holidays and it is all very quiet and the reality of tomorrow is just starting to sink in!  I have been overwhelmed totally by all the lovely text messages and FB messages and phone calls I have received tonight wishing me well!  I can't believe, once again, how many of you are looking forward to sharing my journey with me, through this blog.  I can't begin to tell you how much that means to me.

So why Thailand?  Well I have always been interested in Buddhism and have, over the past nine months explored it further.  So I was sitting here one Sunday thinking ...... There's not much going on, I need to see buddhist temples.  So here I am.  This trip I have arranged all myself.  So fingers crossed I haven't forgotten anything!  But hey ho I will have passport, credit card, iPad/pod and a smile lol - what else does a girl need?

Yesterday's horoscope summed it all up.




I like the bit 'the universe is inviting you to be courageous'.
Lol I'm not brave, slightly bonkers and you all know that already lol, but not brave!

So off to bed and the next update will be at the airport!

Sleep well my dear friends and thank you all for your love and support xxx

Not long now

Well I have just over a week now before I travel again.  I have my currency and thanks to Andrew Murphy and his excellent math lesson, I know now how to work it out!

However, that is it.  I haven't sorted anything else out yet, but it will get done.  The weather is 32 degrees in Thailand so I'm ready to feel the warmth of the sunshine on the tops of my toes!  My itinerary has been forwarded to those who need to know - just in cases!  I am so tired at the moment that I think as soon as I get on that plane I shall sleep.  But life is good; I'm very happy.  I have so many dear friends in my life. Those I have known for years and who perhaps know me better than I know myself lol.  Those who are new through work connection or through other people, some who are just virtual and those who were virtual but who now I have met - you all know who you are!  I was explaining to someone in my new job the other day that I go through life collecting people and I like that because every single one if you, in your own unique way are so special to me and enrich my life.  So get your passports ready folks and come join me on this latest crazy adventure as we take a look at Thailand and all that it may bring x

Fly my pretty, fly ....... again!

OK decided to go again.  I can't just sit here day in, day out, waiting for something to happen!  So I'm off to Thailand for Operation Madonna 2014 (as in Bridget Jones teaching the Thai female prisoners to sing Like A Virgin lol)!

This time I have booked and arranged the trip myself - not bad for a 53 year old going on 29!  All those Open University research tips have come in handy and I think, well I hope, I have done a good job.

So why Thailand?  Well since moving to Cosy Cottage in May I have started to explore Buddhism and see where that journey takes me.  So far I have gained a great deal from it so decided that I needed to see Buddhist Temples - hence Thailand.

So a quick overview.  I leave the UK on Friday 31 January, which is Megan's 20th Birthday.  I fly at 20:10 with Ethihad Airways to Abu Dhabi.  I did not know where that was lol but now know its is part of the UAE.  Then from there after two hours I fly to Bangkok.

I am having six nights in Bangkok and have booked myself into a traditional Thai guest house.  Which is a mattress on the floor and no shoes in the house - how great is that.  I will have breakfast included there and the whole six nights have cost £49! A bargain.  So have a look on Tripadvisor - its called the Khaosan Baan Thai and it has good reviews.  I am staying in the single room and will be exploring Bangkok from there.  I will be taking in as many Temples as I can as well as having a Thai cookery lesson, Thai massage, some yoga classes and also I am thinking of taking a trip to see the railway that was built by the POWs in the Second World War - time permitting.  Oh as well as the Ladyboys and nightlife, I will have to go and have a look at what is going on.

Then I will get a bus from Bangkok to a place called Trat which is fairly near to the Cambodian boarder.  On arrival here I will catch either a boat, speedboat or catamaran to a small island that is only 16 miles wide called Ko Mak.  Here I will be staying at the Bamboo Hideaway Resort with accommodation looking over the sea.  Whilst at Ko Mak I want to be riding and washing elephants, something Megan has always wanted to do, some more Thai cookery a Temple on the island as well as a school; both I wish to make contact with.  

I leave Ko Mak on 14 February - the anniversary of my Father's death and arrive back in Manchester on Saturday 15 February.  So a lovely little adventure.

Once again I will be keeping this blog, posting photos and ranting way at the cultural differences I will experience.  I hope you will be sharing this journey with me once again.

Karen