The Breeze
Ko Samui, Thailand
“The key to understanding is reflection.” Brad tells me as we’re all dressed up and ready to stroll down the beach for the evening.
It’s Sunday night and we’ve decided to walk on down to one of the restaurants on the sand. But before we left, we had a seat on the plastic chairs on the porch of our cottage. Tomorrow we’ll be leaving for Malaysia, so we took a moment to appreciate the moment.
The sunset on Ko Samui
The sun sets early here in Ko Samui, maybe 7:30 or so. By the time we sat down with some drinks, it had been dark for some time. There wasn’t anyone else around. Either our neighbors were reclusive or they were already out and about.
I never exactly recall how these conversations begin. They just sort of do. Brad was talking about the book he was reading called The Alchemist. Briefly, he said it was about traveling and following one’s dreams.
The fronds of the coconut trees swayed in the late evening breeze as we sat on the porch and shot the breeze.
We talked about Thailand and travel and dreams. The latter two are often topics of discussion because that is what we’re doing and what we’re following. I’ve heard that if you follow your passions, no matter how much it may hurt, it will lead to certain happiness.
You may be wondering how much it could hurt to be on a paradise island in the middle of the Gulf of Thailand. More than you could ever imagine. Believe me. Maybe not at this particular moment, but prior to leaving and when reality hits upon my return…
So then why do I do it? Why leave the comforts of my western home in my western world to go to Asia where life is vastly different? The answer is simple—to avoid regrets. Any dream that one may have that goes unfulfilled will certainly leave residual regret. I never want that. In these tumultuous times with threats looming like a dark cloud, I don’t want to follow my dreams later. Life is too urgent.
The conversation segued into friends and family as we plodding down the beach where we found a restaurant that had mats on the sand with a small table and triangle cushions to lean against while we sat down and faced the lapping water only a few feet away.
After some food and receiving a flower petal and styrofoam-bead lei from a few local children in exchange for a couple bucks and a brief English lesson, we wandered back from where we had come.
The moon, now high in the sky, reflected on the sea as we reflected on our lives. It’s taken awhile, but we both understand. More than ever now, we understand. Not just about Thailand, but about traveling and following dreams. That, we understand.
And the breeze. It picked up and we shot it.
Posted in retrospective, travel - international, my favorites, travel
