Kata Hill, Phuket
I’m not a traveller, but neither do I consider myself a tourist. I am fortunate to be able to get away from the city every now and then but extra fortunate when I fly out of the country for work and then get to squeeze in a short holiday.
I breathe new experiences, I hear different languages and I get to interact with various people.
I love home. But I also adore the idea of discovering things someplace else.
Fun trivia (or not): I hate being in a plane or on a boat. I’m a Virgo and that’s an earth sign. I guess that’s why I prefer to stay on land.
Given that I’m an earth girl, I love settling and getting comfortable wherever I am thrown. I like long walks on the streets but not guided tours. I could get a workout out of all the walking I like to do. Local cafes, quaint shops and sanctuaries are my thing. Just like this special one Nic and I found in Phuket, Thailand.
From my experience, the shorter your “list of places to visit” is, the more you see the city, town or province you are in.
In the book Thrive, by Arianna Huffington, she wrote that most people feel even more exhausted rather than refreshed after a Holiday. For the past few years, I was experiencing just that. Feeling like I needed another vacation shortly after I came home from one. That was until I got picky.
Nic and I chose NOT to go to nearly all of the most popular tourist destinations in Phuket. I felt like I disappointed my friends who made a lot of recommendations. But because every thing these days turns into a race against time, we made an effort to slow it down.
Be brave enough to miss out on the parties, the crowds (of tourists even) and the popular places to go to. Imagine your holiday is a long Sunday afternoon. Don’t rush it, otherwise you’ll find yourself dreading the start of another workweek.
We found this lovely place with a gorgeous view and spent a couple of afternoons here.
“You are what you eat”, so go ahead and indulge a little.
But throw the rainbow into your plate too. Eat well!
Take your shoes off and walk around barefoot. On the wooden floor, the grass, by the pool or on the sand…but maybe not the streets.
Let your hair down or put it up on a bun without giving a rat’s ass how it looks.
Take long hot baths too. Or in this case, submerge yourself in an ice bath! 😀
If that’s too cold, then don’t put up with it. Mindfulness is about making that connection with yourself so you actually enjoy this part of your journey. To make sure you are not there just for the sake of being there but to create moments that are worth more than the photos we post on Instagram.
We’re all a little different when it comes to how we enjoy the time we spend travelling. One thing is for sure, though, we all need to take a day or two out of our holidays to really take it all in. Like doing nothing, it’s an art too. There’s power in pauses and strength in both silence and slowing down.
Featured here: The Lennon in Really Black from People Footwear. (@peoplefootwearph)
Shot at: Santosa Phuket (@santosaphuket)
