My street, Moo 3
I am living in the town of Kamala on Phuket in an apartment over the office until the other house on the mountain is vacated. I have Thai neighbors on three sides and my balcony looks out over a jungle-like lot with wild palm trees full of coconuts, flowering vegetation of many kinds, and mountains behind. Three doors down is the local fruit stand where I go each morning for my breakfast. Mangosteens and mangoes are in season, but there are so many yummy kinds of fruit, and they are unbelievably flavorful, juicy and sweet! On my street there is regular non-tourist traffic of motor scooters with all manner of carts attached and ridden by people of every age. A man drives a bicycle cart with his handmade brooms for sale, riding through the neighborhood and ringing a bell to announce his arrival.
Kamala is a small and friendly town. I am getting to know local people and shop keepers. There are a fair number of foreigners who have relocated here, largely Australians it seems, but it is very quiet in this off-season. There are very few, if any, people on the beach. Everything is laid back – an unhurried rhythm. Except for sneakers for running, flip flops are the only footwear I’ve worn and we are barefooted in the office, houses and everywhere else inside.
I like to go to the Buddhist temple, Wat Kamala, most every day and spend time there, and Thai people have invited me to join in with them for blessings and prayers by the monks.
Wat Kamala (outside and inside)
I also swim in the ocean each day, read, draw, write, and go running when I am up early enough before the heat is too intense.
I discovered a meditation center (Karuna Meditation Center) way up through the neighborhoods and winding streets on the hills, and I going there too.
I go to amazing outdoor markets that are held three times per week and are full of local people and fresh produce, fish and seafood of every kind, spices, prepared foods, and other things I can’t identify yet. In the evening, the monks’ chanting is broadcast over speakers in town, and then the melodic call to prayer from the mosques wafts through the air (Southern Thailand has a significant Muslim population. Everyone coexists very nicely). My life is simple here and I like it.
Unfortunately, I lost my camera (set it down when laden with bags from the outdoor market), so there will be a delay before any more photos are forthcoming.