Koh Phangan: 'Experiences of all kinds'!

Hello dear people!

How I enjoyed the holiday in my great adventure. Traveling around is tiring!

Koh Phangan, wow! My first week there, I thought: 'How boring on that island?!' No, there is so much to discover and especially to do! Not only is it a small paradise, but many people come here to recharge, meditate, go on retreat, take yoga lessons, experience spiritual things, party... In this small place I have never seen so many different types of people and religions together: yogis, hippies, spiritual people, m'as-tu-vu's, hipsters, partygoers, monks, and me 😀.

Amazing how this hodgepodge of people harmonizes so peacefully. If only this were the case everywhere!

If you read the above, you can imagine how many workshops there are to do here, right?! And guess what?! Yes, of course I did some of those workshops! On Koh Phangan I really went outside my comfort zone! No boundaries, at least as far as I'm concerned! For example, I took part in a 'Kirtan'! This is an old Yoga tradition where people sing mantras together. Musicians accompany the evening with different instruments and vocals. Strange but true, before I knew it, I let myself be completely carried away by the vibrations and sounds of the music. With my eyes closed I sang along and enjoyed this spiritual event. I was overcome by a peaceful tranquility. When the musicians increased the tempo and started singing louder, it was really ambiance. People started singing along loudly, clapping and some of them were dancing. Everyone enjoyed this unique experience. It sounds more spiritual than it is. I actually found it very enjoyable.

My next workshop was a 'breathwork'. Yes, you read that right. Breathing can really be work. Here I practiced a breathing technique where I had to breathe deeply in and out through and with open mouth for a longer period of time and with closed eyes. This breathing work can or would release emotional feelings, traumas... in your body because by breathing you literally let the energy flow again. Or you can completely relax like me. What a special experience, but it was worth the experience. I got tingling in my fingers, chin and forehead, above all I got incredibly tired. Lying down on the mat felt good after all that hard work. Crazy, how relaxed it made me!

I participated in an ' ecstatic dance ' twice. This is a type of dance where everyone can move freely. So you can let yourself go and be yourself on the dance floor without anyone judging you. Cell phones, talking to each other and alcohol were not allowed. I understand the idea behind it, because by dancing you get into a kind of trance and get closer to yourself. Some people went completely crazy: one writhed on the floor, another fluttered like a bird through the room, yet another did strange movements and I, I danced along to the rhythm of the music! Crazy, how quickly you have fun in your own bubble. Blissful even. I can hear you thinking... There is a different DJ playing every time, so people, it is not always airy-fairy music, right? Different styles of music were played. Man, I danced my legs off that afternoon. That is why I decided to do another one. The second edition was at a different location and took place during the evening! It would be a different experience every time. And it was, because this one had a different dj, a campfire, an ice bath, a sauna... Indeed, do you get the picture?! Both were unique.

Guide

Well, that's it for my new amazing spiritual experiences. And this was pure fun! Just be open to new things in life and before you know it you'll be completely absorbed in it. Together with a friend we visited the waterfalls, rode a scooter through the jungle and picked up a paradise beach here and there. Seaboard & the drum circle are definitely must sees. Seaboard is a beach bar that organizes a party every Wednesday on Haad Yao beach. In the street that runs to Seaboard there is an evening market with all kinds of homemade stuff. The market vendors are all people who live on the island but unfortunately not Thai. On Zen beach where the drum circle takes place every Friday, I could enjoy a direct rhythm experience. Here percussionists and dancers gather in a circle. Wow, beautiful beach, but oh so busy. A bit too busy but again a super cheerful event.

Feeling at home on Koh Phangan was easy. During that month I lived as if I lived there. Namely I had already acquired some habits such as: touring around on the scooter, meeting people I had met, going for coffee, participating in Pilates lessons or walking on the beach and taking a dip in the sea. Almost daily I drank my coffee at Cookies café . My favorite place was at Balance Speciality coffee . I always had a smoothie bowl there, mmm and it was the best on the island.

Exploring new adventures! Before I left Thailand I spent the night in Surat Thani. There I had a whole evening and late afternoon to walk and visit. Oooo my, this felt good. Finally, back on track! I walked around the streets again in admiration. On the way I came across Surat Thani City Pillar, a beautiful white temple that symbolizes the city. Mmmmm, I couldn't resist street food. After my stir fried curry vegetables & pad thai I ate another banana pancake. Yum, that was delicious again. When I continued my journey I came across a gigantic colorful evening market where the street art on the walls really came into its own. How nice! That banana pancake was so delicious that I went back to eat another one. Woehoew, satisfied I went to sleep with twelve kilometers in my legs.

Keep you posted!

Love & kisses, Helena 💖 🦩