And suddenly, I’m a yoga teacher. Or was I already a teacher by nature, and now the word āyogaā only added to it? Never mind. You donāt change in a week, and thereās no reason to change much anyway. That week gave me a lot of energy, and I radiate it. I have a lovely conversation with a Thai woman from the hostel who tells me sheās also very involved with music and yoga. When I share my story, she feels inspired, and the next day after my training it almost seems like my first student presents herself. Not on a yoga mat during a class, but in a conversation. In that moment, I feel confirmation once again that this training was the right choice for me.
In the days that follow, I need to adjust to the lack of structure in my schedule. Do I miss having something planned? Yes. Is it bad to do nothing for a while and have no plan? No. Thereās plenty to do on the island, so I decide to visit a waterfall, my first one here in Thailand. For me, itās more about a relaxed morning in nature than actually visiting the waterfall itself. Once again, itās about embracing stillness and not rushing to do everything. A bit of climbing and scrambling, then I relax by myself and enjoy the sound of the crashing water. A simple walk, nature sounds, waterfall, Thai food, a small beach, a coffee spot, and the freedom of nothing that I have to do. That truly feels rich.
The next day, life fills in my schedule for me. I see Matilda, a Finnish girl with African roots. Sheās staying at the hostel and looks somewhat lost. I ask if sheās okay, and she says no. Her bag got stolen while she and her fling fell asleep in a hammock on the beach. That night she already went to the police, who told her to come back at 10:00 a.m. I decide to help her and go with her to the police station. Iām skeptical about whether theyāll actually do anything or if sheāll just be another tourist who lost her belongings. In this case, itās her handbag with her camera, personal items, and AirPods.
At first weāre sent from the regular police to the tourist police, and Matilda explains that her AirPods are still sending a signal. She asks if they can come with us to the location. Sheās hopeful, and to my surprise, they agree to go with us. Not one, but three officers get into the car. We hop on my bike and the police car follows us. The fact 3 policemen stepped in catches my attention. When we arrive at the location, we find a house with a man in his fifties. We search around the property where the AirPods signal is coming from. After about ten minutes, one of the officers finds the AirPods case in a shed behind the house. Matilda is called over, and soon she sees her scarf, then her camera, then her charger, her bag, and even her scooter key. Everything is recovered except for some cash, obviously.
In the shed, the police find more, other phones and a little bag with drugs. For us, the mission is accomplished. Matilda got all her stuff back. The police ask us to return in the afternoon to close the case. We ride back to her scooter together, and once weāre back at the hostel, our mission feels complete.
We have lunch and then head to the beach with two of her friends. Before that, we stop by the police station in the afternoon. Matilda and I are welcomed with big smiles and immediately invited into their office. A large amount of drugs is laid out on the table, the house search turned out to be a major drug bust. From pills to cocaine and other synthetic drugs, everything is displayed in bags. Matilda has to take a photo as evidence, and the police are extremely happy with their catch. What an experience, being involved in a drug bust on Koh Phangan. You couldnāt make it up. For proof, I do have the website link. A beautiful memory and an unforgettable encounter with Matilda.
The next day also has action on the agenda: a Muay Thai lesson with Supa and two of his German friends who live here. I mention that Iām a beginner. After three punches, one of the trainers says, āYou go, that group.ā Before I know it, Iām sparring with the fighter group. I take a few hits with a smile and sweat for two hours straight. A wonderful morning. That same evening, the hostel owner organizes a Thai BBQ for her motherās birthday. The hostel feels very homely, and I have a good bond with the owners. The days after that are less eventful. I meet some new people through Supa during a game night and BBQ and mostly enjoy the relaxed island vibe.
As for the rest of my trip, I do have some questions about where I want to go and for how long. If Iām honest, I donāt feel the need to move. Iāve dropped my anchor here for a while, and enjoying yourself is also part of traveling. I take a yoga class, hang around the hostel, and visit a night market in the evening. At the hostel, I meet Timo, a German guy. He feels like my little brother here and reminds me of my real younger brother back home. We go for a walk, chill at the beach, and talk about our lives. What I appreciate most is his openness and curiosity, qualities I recognize in myself.
The next day, Timo, Shiv, and I go to another waterfall. Shiv already reacts nervously when a small barking dog appears as we park our scooter. If thereās one thing Iāve learned, itās that barking dogs donāt bite. Apparently, this lesson is new to Shiv. During our walk, we hear dogs barking in the distance. He immediately grabs two large stones from the ground. I ask him why. He looks at me, and I see his pupils wide open with fear. The dogs arenāt even nearby, but heās terrified. I tell him to calm down and explain that animals sense fear. He puts the stones back down, and the barking fades away. The tension completely leaves his shoulders once we arrive at the waterfall. Itās fascinating to see how fear is visible in someoneās eyes and how it can soften. Eyes never lie.
January is coming to an end, and I finish it in style on the island with Thai food, snacks, cacao, and a beautiful hike with Supa, Pita, and Ling. We enjoy delicious Isaan food, and I blend in well with Supaās friends and, of course, Thai culture. Food remains one of the best ways to understand a culture, especially in Asia. It feels as though Iāve become a resident of Koh Phangan and that feels like the perfect summary of this blog.
The island keeps on giving šļø
One response
I really enjoyed the time we spend together. It meant a lot to me, and Iām very grateful for it.
You are a very special person to me, and Iām glad I had the chance to get to know you.
I also enjoyed reading your blog.
Wish you all the best for your adventure brother.
Greetings and love from Germany, Timoš«¶š¼