My Life

This adventure has done soo much for me as a person. I feel stronger in my own skin. Like I can finally wear my true personality on the outside. Everything feels different, better. I went to a vipassana retreat in Chaing Mai with Gabby. We signed up for 10 days and managed to finish 4 before sneaking out. When we were on the street it felt like I hadn't seen a Car or a store for ages. I think thats sort of how I feel now. Like I get to have the new sock feeling everyday:)

A few moments...

~Gabby and I were having breaky together in Chang Mai at this wicked cafe that was actually someones house. We sat in this back courtyard that was deliciously decorated in random paintings and plants and furniture and jars of snakes and chaos...When saying thank you to the owner and telling him how much we enjoyed his place he started telling us about his life. How he meditated everyday. I asked him what kind of meditation he was doing?(feeling quite savvy after doing my 4 day retreat) "It doesn't matter what you do, he said, just try to concentrate on one thing for awhile and give your mind a break...I paint."

~In the ruins of Angkor on our second day we started to get creative. We decided to climb through the rubble to see what we could find. We peaked over the roof to find a family of locals just chilling and eating lunch.

~In deep practice during the vippassna retreat. I was in my room speaking, we're not supposed to be speaking but me, Gabby and this Australian Actress Kat were in my room speaking. This monk walked by and yelled, "everyone practicing" and in a panic the three of us ran into my tiny bathroom in giggling hysterics. We were plotting mine and Gabby's escape from the temple. I had asked earlier to our teacher, Chi Bo Din, " we'd like to leave today. We've decided that this type of meditation is not what we're looking for and we'd like to have our closing ceremony and leave the monastery this evening."
"Mmmmm, Yes yes, He said, Everyone practice in the temple today. The construction here is to loud." "No We'd like to leave today." " Yes, you go to the temple for practice today" and strolled off, barely even acknowledging the fact that I'd said anything.

~On Ko Chang Island I met so many musicains and so many Rastas. One in paticular named Tong was insanely good at playing Bass. I asked him one day, " how did you get so good on guitar? You know so much theory." " I go to school, he said, "My friend, my friend and I live togetha for 3 years. He go to school and I wait at home. Then when he comes home he teach me what he learn. That way we have more money for ganga. His money for school, my money for ganga..."

~Let me try to give you the mental picture. Your zooming up a half built road, cautiously but also with a ton of adventure lurking in your mind, you ride almost straight up. You come to a peak in the road and you stop. The sun is bright because it's about to set and it's golden rays are shining. Your standing between these 2 dirt cliffs on both sides from the most insane beauty you've seen in maybe years. as you coast down you stare at the bay and the valley of trees and the turquoise water, not a glimpse of civilization in site...All I could think was this is my life!

I hope that all of you are living in whatevere way makes you happy. If your not happy then get out. Even though I know it's cold back there at this time just be thankful of all the people and moments and food is about to be around you. I expect all of you to take an extra peice of Turkey and eat it for me.
I wish for you all everything that you want for yourself in this life.

Annie B