My last few days in Hua Hin were great fun. Lots more strolling along the beach, swimming in the pool and generally having a chilled time. 😎
I’ve also been having a few fabulous Thai foot massages. I’ve been back to the same place and the women there are so beautiful, friendly and kind. It feels like a personal experience, the massage I have on one foot/leg differs to the other. They can feel where they need to work on and the end result is amazing. 🥰❤️
As I mentioned in my previous blog there are a few Russian families here, Scandinavians, German there are also a few English people but I hadn’t really chatted to to many people whilst I’ve been here.
My last week however have been much more pleasant and fun after meeting and getting to know a lovely Australian guy called Daniel. He’s here for a month on his own for a holiday. We’ve had some meals, some cocktails, some chats, exchanged book recommendations and generally had a great time.
It’s surprising what a difference it makes when you have connections with people.
It got me thinking about my journey over the last 3 months and the fact that it’s been the most sociable period of travel that I’ve had to date.
In Sri Lanka I met up with the fabulous Tracey, I also met up with lovely Lisa and Matt and Alex & Leah! A veritable smorgasbord of social interactions!!
I then spent over 2 weeks with a group of really great people in India. Living in close proximity, seeing them every day. Which I loved.
I think this has been a real change for me. I usually spend my travel time alone, perhaps meeting people along the way, but not really spending any quality time with anyone or making deep connections.
I guess that the difference is that in the past I have travelled for shorter periods and also whilst I had the Coffee Shop.
Coffee on the Corner was my baby and I loved it, it was also a hugely social job. I spent all day, every day, interacting with people, both on a superficial, friendly, hospitality basis but also more often on a deeper more personal basis, as the majority of my customers became regulars who I cared about, many also became friends. This level of social interaction daily is fantastic but it’s also exhausting. So my 3 month travels in the summer offered me the space I needed to recharge, regroup and be comfortable alone and reconnect with myself.
I now no longer have the Coffee Shop, I’ve been traveling for nearly 11 months, I’ve recharged, regrouped, connected with myself and am beginning to need a greater level of social interaction! 😍
I am at heart a people person, I get a buzz from being around people, chatting, laughing, getting to know people or alternatively spending time with people I already know, who know me, who know everything about me, sharing jokes, stories, gossip or just being together. I miss this. I miss my family, I miss my friends. (Writing this has made me quite emotional, which is not great as I’m sitting in a very busy coffee shop!)
I think the reason I’m feeling so emotional at the moment is what’s happened over the last few days.
I was due to leave Hua Hin on Saturday 29th. I had a bus booked to go to Bangkok for 3 days before flying out of Thailand on Wednesday morning.
Unfortunately those plans have had to change.
I was sitting chilling by the pool on Friday afternoon, after a busy morning. When I got a message from my friend Jane, asking if I was OK? I then got a phone call from Tracey asking the same thing. As I’m sure you are all aware by now, there was a massive earthquake in Myanmar around lunchtime, the tremors reached all the way to Bangkok, which saw quite a bit of damage, swaying high rises and a collapsed building, and sadly many fatalities.
I have been really touched by the number of people that have messaged or contacted me to check if I’m OK. It really has been heartwarming. Thank you all for your thoughts and your care. This has also had the effect of making me miss home and all of you even more.
It’s just as well that when I leave Thailand I will be heading towards family and friends. Reuniting with my Grantley, then spending more time with Tracey & Jaques, before heading back to good ole Blighty!
Thailand & Hua Hin have given me just what I needed! Time now for the next adventure.
Books Read.
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane. Lisa See. This was a fantastic book.
I would highly recommend it. ❤️
Hereandthereclaire.com 