from the City of Pines

Wishing everyone Happy Holidays 

Bubble

Only you can make me forget everything else. Daily worries fade; the heart’s cries of despair are replaced by contented silence; happiness sinks in and nothing else matters except the small bubble of time we have together. Is it too much to ask for it to last? I am used to a life in solitude, and that makes each moment I spend with you more special. 

I yearned for the simplicity of routine - An evening walk, arm in arm, in fine weather... Time for idle talk. Preparing a meal together. Thank you for giving me that and so much more.

Become a stranger in a strange land

One of the paradoxes of otherness is that in travel, each conceives the other to be a foreigner. But even the most distant and exotic place has its parallel in ordinary life. Every day we meet new people and are insulted or misunderstood; we are thrown upon our own resources. In the coming and going of daily life we rehearse a modified version of the dramatic event known as first contact. In a wish to experience otherness to its limit, to explore its nuances, I became a traveler…. Non-travelers often warn the traveler of dangers, and the traveler dismisses such fears, but the presumption of hospitality is just as odd as the presumption of danger. You have to find out for yourself. Take the leap. Go as far as you can. Try staying out of touch. Become a stranger in a strange land…. 

 ~ Paul Theroux, Fresh Air Fiend: Travel Writings, 1985-2000, 2000

Dazed and Enlivened

The flurry of activities in the past several weeks has left me cheerfully dazed and enlivened. I am now trying to find my bearings before I get swept up, yet again, in a whirlwind of holiday madness.

Vacationing in Pattaya

I am too busy enjoying my vacation to write a sensible blog post.

loving the waters, the people, the sun, the sand in Pattaya, Thailand

Wish Granted

In the past few days I have been reading a lot about wish lists, gift ideas and everything Christmas. I am happy to say that with the unexpected arrival of a certain houseguest, I don't need to make a list anymore: my wish has been granted and I could not ask for more. Great things do happen when you least expect it. It just suddenly arrives and comes knocking at your door.