Dear all,

well, what happened? i got to Chiang Mai and haven't written anything since. I am now leaving for Singapore airpot in just over an hour for the mega flight home and an adjustment from 30 degrees that feels like 37 to -5 that will feel COLD.

Chiang Mai feels like a new home, new friends, a wonderful place. i taught, did yoga, went on the back or a scooter, shopped (of course), went into the mountains and saw some hill tribes, met up with an Israeli/Findhorn friend Azriel who has been living there for over a year who I hadn't seen in 5 years and over all loved being there.

I then flew to Bangkok 7am and began my train journey to Singapore. this started 2pm Tuesday and finished 9pm Thursday including 4 hours in Penang, Malaysia. i found myself wondering at times "why this?" why choose this as my days off, on a train, sharing a carriage with many different people, rows of berths one up one down hour after hour. I loved it. I dozed and stared out the window at green and water-logged fields and more green. i listened to music and  read 2 great books. the only time I got restless was when the train broke down. I got up to find out what was happening after 3 hours! I couldn't find any information that made a difference anyway.... being Asia, so went back to my book. I could have been on a beach I thought, I think I'd have felt lonely and awkward there. This suited me very well

Then to Singapore - the infamous city-state where men who arrived with long hair, until quite recently, either got turned away or had their cut before they were allowed in. Where the importing, selling and possession of chewing gum is banned! I have been staying with a family of 4 I hardly knew. Francesca is a 5R teacher - they moved out here from Sussex in May, 2 kids ages 2 & 4. My weekend workshop didn't book up so I taught Friday night and then had an enforced holiday; went on a duck boat, American war machine from the Vietnam war that now takes Tourists though the city on land and in the river, found our way to an organic farm up North that was peaceful and educational (growing 16 different kinds of bananas), have drunk cocktails (not the Singapore Sling), seen mega xmas lights bring up the sky, swam in their Condo pool, been very hot and sticky and played games with the kids. A good gentle reminder about motherhood - oh yes, laundry, cooking, squabbles, cuddles and smiles.

I now head home - home being Findhorn village and back to my friend Jane’s flat while the final touches, I hope, are made to the Cottage which God willing I will move into next week.

I feel very grateful to have had this amazing opportunity to travel and teach and meet some great people, to eat and shop and rest and recover my equilibrium some. Huge gratitude to all the people who organised for me and to Karl for being such an amazing Dad. During this time while I have been away we have started the buyout process of the Strawbale house which is progressing well. 

Onto new adventures back in Findhorn,

much love
Deborah

 

Tags: Personal, Asia, FIndhorn, Thailand, Singapore