I meet Beata in Bangkok. She is a freind of my friends , we meet, to talk. She has been travelling for many years and about the time, when I set off on the road Beata took a backpack and her man :), together they arrived to Bangkok just like that, because that was their idea , that they want to work in a multicultural city. Each of them found a nice job, rented a nice apartment and live there just as they like.
Chirag. A young man fro India full of determination to discover the world and the people added to my trip some freshness. We pitched our tents somewhere in the wild, have chinese noodles he brought for dinner and a lot of stories to share for dessert. Two of them are riding, Him and Emotions. So he says because Riding on emotions is his motto. He reads me like an open book, and the few hours of the meeting directs my thoughts to rather dormant emotions as well as to India. Again, I start to think about this destination. That fascinates me as much as I am afraid of . I'm scared of the noise, crowd, I'm afraid of annoying men , perhaps also a little of the dirt too, alhough it is generally plentiful in Asia. We drink a cup of coffee in the morning and everyone goes on their direction, but this is one of those meetings, and one of those people who leave a trace in my heart.
Ben, Szwed w dojrzałym wieku zaczepia mnie na pustym polu namiotowym, gdzie jako jedyni jak plaża długa i szeroka mamy rozstawione namioty. Zdaje się być zafascynowany moim stylem życia i chce wiedzieć więcej. „What’s driving you?” pyta. – Co tobą kieruje? Zadaje te i inne, wcale nie błahe – jak to zwykle bywa – pytania. „Jak to się zaczęło?" . Do not know. Od mobbingu w pracy? Od śmierci rodziców? Zmęczenia miastem? Podróży rowerowej po Japonii, z której nie chciałam wracać? Nad odpowiedziami na nie muszę się trochę pogłowić. Himself, close to heart attack due to work overload he chose to live in the country, where people are gentle and smiling, where nobody is in a hurry and he is convinced, that this won his life this way. I see in our stories common denominator.
I do not blame him. I also have had time to fall in love with and tame Thailand. It's the perfect blend of exoticism and suitable for me doped assets of civilization. Traveling, ignoring the fact that more and more heat this time of year is simple. Good roads. Nice and smiling people. Numerous roadside shelters where you can relax. Petrol stations, where you can take a quick shower or just pour the water. Without much effort especially on the coast there is a plenty of place to pitch the tent. Tired of the tent, or do not want to carry it with you? You're welcome, numerous resorts just wait for you to jump on clean sheets, turn on the aircon and wifi fire – You can find a room for 5 dollars. Food especially in the evening screaming to you with dozens of mobile stands - buy me, eat me! Cooking does not make sense, even most of the apartments do not even have a kitchen because people are accustomed to eat on the streets.
Thai national parks is my love. Is, and dozens of Thailand, mountain or seaside, but there is always room for camping, sometimes something more. Above all, however, is here ONA. SILENCE. It was her looking. It is with regret I left one, I'm going less than 40 and the second one. And although I did not have the plans I can not help, not to pop up here. Come for one night and stay three days since I can not leave. Long beach where I'm alone, sea at hand bewitched sound of the waves, small eatery with normal prices, which allows me to bend from hunger, water in the shower and even wifi, that reaches the tent. I paid for a place 3 zloty. I sit, I think, think I work, I bathe and listen to the sea. Nobody does not want anything from me . I can walk for half a day in his pajamas and not wear a bra under my shirt. Little things, which make, that day is beautiful.
Watching the people working there not the first time I, that work in the national park in Thailand is a dream job. Morning slowly sweep a few leaves, that came there since yesterday. Water from a water hose to fall off the bathroom. Or not to even. And that's it. on hour, or two. And then sit or lie down and nap, because it's hot. Lunch break, all of people here love to eat in groups. About two hours, to a good digestion. Sit a little, maybe do something else, stare at the tv and after 4 pm go home.
People can go on for hours motionless. Us in Europe, or generally broad considered western countries seems to bother any longer while of stagnation, that somehow it is necessary to quickly do something with.
Entering the room I leave shoes outside as others. I do not like this, This is one of the few things, which really do not like here. I understand, understand it is compulsory for temples, but why should I leave shoes at the door store and go around barefoot? The floor is not the only precious inlaid teak floors. This here just really do not like.
The doctor told me to rest . Do not carry, best if I could lie down. This much I know myself, more than a week of the pain in my back made that I could not stand up straight and steak like an old woman. For this some mischievous beast bit me pretty badly, does not heal. Week of waiting, that just disappears and in the end the decision, However, it must be the doctor. It is now better but the ride, even rather easy here, has to wait a little.
It's also the perfect excuse my stagnation. And yet the words below, which came from the pen of Peter Strzeżysz in response to a subsequent statement, that someone would want to ride too so, but there is no time.
"Who you took the time? Who it is? Who is owning it rahter then you? Boss? Wife? Work? Or maybe children? And when you will have the time for yourself? After all it is a matter of priorities.
During trips, I come across quite a number of similar people, who do, what they do, did not consider it something extraordinary. Just live like that. Though who knows them there, maybe however they consider, that are exceptional? -, it seems to me, that's exactly say, how they think. Simply choose yourself the way of life, not worse, or better, only their own. I have the time. They have it abundant. To go, for being together, for passing away, watching sunrise and sunset, to talk, for doing this, on what they want. And most of the time they have to do the proverbial nothing. Spend most of their time doing nothing.
And no matter, whether one is going in the heat, or in the rain and cold, pushing the bike against the wind, It does not matter; Important is, that one does not tell them, what to do, where, when, for which, what and why, that no one has the time, that one does not tell them, how to live, what to do with the coming day, with its every hour, every moment. " Peter Strzeżysz, On the bike.