Party & Paradise

Fog machines blow smoke into the crowd, hard beats follow each other rapidly and thousands of hands are in the air. It’s a little after midnight and we are on Koh Pha Ngang, partying at the Half Moon Festival. Multi-colored strobe lights offer extra effects, entertainers are dancing with fire and black-light emphasizes beautiful colored body paint. Paint is all around us. On our bodies and by accident on our clothes. Some people look like Native American, others like Mexican death masks. A handful of tough guys have the Superman logo painted on their chest. It just started drizzling and the sand underneath my bare feet is getting muddy. It doesn’t matter. Nobody seems to care. The party continues.

We came here with a group of people. In Koh Samui we met Nikki and Maartje, two Dutch girls who are here on an internship to learn about castrating dogs. They are fun to be around, but I keep a safe distance, planning to start a family one day. Then there are Piotr and Kasha, newly weds from Poland, whom we met at the hotel. Why not go to a dance rave on your honeymoon? Amy from Australia completes our group, but we won’t have much opportunity to enjoy her company. Let’s just say she ‘peaked’ too early.

There is a main stage, a smaller stage and a cave painted with bright colors. Each area has its own DJ. Food vendors offer solutions to refuel your body after hours of dancing. The bar personnel is friendly and there is a positive atmosphere. We are dancing amidst people from all over the world, but tonight there is a universal language. We all came for the same reasons: enjoy music, party hard and build everlasting memories.

 

The days that follow are relaxing. We got a cab to the north-west side of the island to stay there for a couple of days. While checking in, the guy behind the corner gives Lars’ passport back to me. “You guys have the same face!” This is the second time this trip we hear that “we all look alike”. Do Europeans look similar through the lens of an Asian person?

The sky is cloudy and our location is remote. The only worry we have to deal with is how to limit the amount of sand we take with us into the hotel room. On Monday I rent a scooter to scout for a yoga or meditation retreat. I did some research online and there are a couple of candidates. Unfortunately none of the places I visit have, from my perspective, a good benefit-cost ratio. A bit disappointed, I decide to just explore the island further. Most of Koh Pha Ngang still has a lot of untouched nature. It is a joy to ride here. By now I feel so comfortable on a scooter that a helmet is no longer needed. I come across beautiful viewpoints, a waterfall and all of a sudden there are wild monkeys playing on the road. Homeless dogs are comfortably resting on the highway and don’t bother to move when someone is trying to pass. At one point I am stopped by someone controlling traffic in a little village. School is just out and dozens of teens in uniform are racing home on their scooters.

I drive back to the resort accepting that I won’t hit the last topic on my 5 bullet wishlist for Thailand. Then Lars asks me why I didn’t go check out The Sanctuary. “I was there last year and I know you will love it.”

The next day Lars and Wim are headed to Koh Tau to snorkel and dive for a few days. I’m heading over to The Sanctuary. We’ll meet again on our way to the Netherlands. The Sanctuary is situated in a cove on the east side of Koh Pha Ngang and is only reachable by boat. “Hi, I’m looking for an accommodation for three nights.” There are a few cabins available and I get Bungalow No. 1. There are daily yoga, pilates and meditation classes which you can join if you feel like it. The environment is gorgeous and there seems to be little to worry about. The atmosphere is serene and a thousand smiles are coming my way. Everyone seems calm, friendly and welcoming. This is exactly what I was looking for!

I get settled in my cabin, walk around the resort to explore and sit down at the restaurant to enjoy a good espresso and an Açaí bowl. One last FaceTime call and then it’s time to disable WiFi. I’m planning to be disconnected for 2.5 days. No internet or whatsoever. It seems a short period of time, but I cannot remember the last time I was both by myself and disconnected for longer than a day. Time for reflection and deep thoughts.

What will the next chapter of my life look like? I have some ideas but they are somewhat scary and uncomfortable. My younger sister told me: “Choose where and how you want to spend your energy. With everything you purchase or every action you take, you’ll leave your voice.” What do I want to tell the world?

I’m writing and stare at the water, while sitting on a meditation pillow. A pleasant breeze is dancing around me. James Brown’s ‘I feel good’ is playing on the speakers. The girl on the table next to me, who just finished drinking from a coconut, is moving her head to the melody. Behind me a group of people are discussing an exercise they are working on, while making notes in a journal-like book. There is a yoga-teacher training going on. A delicious smell is coming from the restaurant on my right. People are sunbathing on wooden beds on the left. The guy in front of me is checking his phone, while smoking a cigarette. Two small boats, moored at the shore, are gently riding the incoming waves. The staff is walking around to see where they can assist. Many of them are on a first name basis with the guests. I’m wondering how long people are staying here in general. I sit back, relax and read a book. Four o’clock, time for some Yang/Yin yoga. Whatever that is..

It turns out to be an interesting session with some shorter physically challenging poses that feel like exercises (Yang), followed by some intense stretches that last for a few minutes (Yin). At 6PM there is a meditation session where we all lay down. The teacher takes us on a journey. After fifteen minutes or so, I hear someone snoring next to me. When I wake up, the meditation session is over. Note to self: sit up next time. It does provide an easy ice-breaker during dinner: “Did you stay awake?” -“Nope, did you?” I’m having dinner with girls from England, Malaysia, Israel and the United States. Some people are here for a detox program, some to build new habits and others just for relaxation.

Next morning I’m participating in a different kind of yoga: Gentle Flow Yoga. Jonny Rose, our teacher has a soft but powerful voice and he guides us through the movements. This type of yoga is less gymnastic than the session yesterday and focuses on slow intense movements. Slow down. Pay attention to your body and move with intention. It’s much easier for me to stay connected to my breath. This feels great. I feel great. As we end the session with a vipassana, Jonny picks up his guitar and sings a beautiful and gentle song. It doesn’t get much more ‘hippie’ than this, but I don’t care. I’m loving it. I’m ordering my own coconut.

Days pass by with yoga classes in the morning, reading and writing in the afternoon and meditation sessions in the evening. I feel calm, centered and rejuvenated. My energy levels are high. It’s a gorgeous environment. The food is tasty and healthy. The classes are good. Everyone is focusing on their body and mind. As a result of all this, most people feel positive and extend kindness to others; which makes the whole setting even more wonderful. It is a virtuous circle. The Sanctuary: a little piece of paradise.