It should have been a good week. Kari, Jen, and I got on the night train and began our journey of word games, card playing, and music antics as we bumped and whistled down to Krabi province. We then caught another 2 hour bus ride and then a half hour pick up truck ride and next sat down for a 20 minute long tail boat ride out to Railay beach where we were to spend the next couple of days rock climbing, hiking, and beaching.
It should have been a good week. We got a nice place to stay, had great food, sat on the beach and then played in the warm water as the sun began to set. Kari and I dog paddled out a bit further to move the muscles that were cramped from traveling and I felt something like a head brush my back end. I hit the head with my left forearm only then to realize that everything that touched the head was in pain. I had just been stung by my first medusa cnidarian…a jellyfish. “I’m done! I’m done!” I said to Kari as I swam to the beach. The swelling and redness went down by the next day but my trepidation of the deep water did not.
It should have been a good week. The next morning was extra extraordinary as the three of us embarked on our rock climbing exertion. I can’t tell you how cool it is to find the perfect grip to pull up on the rock or the feeling of completely letting go and leaning back after reaching the top and bouncing back to the bottom. The coolest part however, were actually the grips that weren’t the best. When my foot seemed to slip on the rock and there seemed to be no way of getting to the next hold. “Stand up, trust your foot. It will hold.” So with blind faith I put all my weight on the slippery hold and bolsted myself up to the next spot. To actually trust something that you can’t feel or see was one of the coolest parts ever…and then for it to hold my entire weight to get me where I needed to go…well, there is a lesson in that somewhere…
It should have been a good week. We all rested on the beach after that and the next day we used our tired arms and legs to climb up a hill/crater to find the hidden lagoon in the middle of the stalagmite and stalactite caldera-like cavern. We did our obligatory yells and songs to hear the echo in the otherwise serene environment. It was pretty amazing.
It should have been a good week. We came back on the night bus on the bottom level right next to the bathroom which was a very popular spot for the other passengers. There were 4 of us down there playing cards and laughing at each others antics while trying not to breath too deeply. We made it home safe and sound and glad for the experience and people we met along the way.
It should have been a good week. We went to see Oot for fruit shakes that morning and she started to talk to us before even getting off her motorcycle/scooter. “Colleen, did you hear about one of my customers?” “No, what happened?” “He was hit by bus 30 in front of 7-11.” “Are you serious? Did he die?” “Yes! So sad! He was the old retired man that would ride his bike up and down the road everyday. He was Pii Sii’s regular customer too. You have talked with him and he would often talk about you to.” I remembered him. He was the man with the blue ball cap that had a young face and alive eyes. All the good times of the week were shot down.
It should have been a good week. Once again life’s reality hit me like a ton of bricks. Yet another person that I have talked to on this street that has been killed. I saw him almost everyday and we always exchanged smiles. Did he know God? No, probably not. Did I ever tell him? No. The Buddhists don’t know what to do either. They believe it was due to his karma so they don’t really show emotion either way. There are whispers about the situation and gory details shared, but no hope given.
Sometimes I hear people tell me, “Don’t worry, life goes on” when I’m going through a hard time. I have even said that myself…but sometimes, life really doesn’t go on. What am I going to do about that?