Some thoughts on meditation -
I never thought meditation would be something for me but I can feel that it really helps me. I committed myself to do a 30 day challange, waking up at 6am and doing a 30min yoga-meditation practice at 7am. Of course, the timing doesnât always work, especially if I have an early morning bus or if I went to bed late. But surprisingly, it works most of the time! I am very proud that I have been consistent and even if not at 7am, I found a way to include those 30min every day. And I can feel how much strength it gives me, it is kind of like tuning an instrument, but with your mind and body, it has been very grounding. And I can feel how much aliveness, playfullness and kindness it seems to bring for the day. For quite some time I am struggling with my focus and racing thoughts and I am surprised how much meditation helps me to, whenever my mind starts to overthink or go into distractions, to go back and find a kind of center within myself. Itâs like training that I can apply throughout the day.
Flower Photo Shoot -
I walked to a park in the morning and there were so many flowers, it was beautiful. A very joyful woman was taking pictures and then asked me if I would like to join a photo shoot and showed me some dresses that I could pick. Her positive energy was incredible. I had 3h to spare until my bus to Chiang Rai (not completly, I had to fit in check-out and giving back my rented scooter and also fill up gas. And there are 20min drives between the hostel, rental and bus terminal). SoâŚplenty of time! The photo shoot was fun. At some point we sat down under a dome of flowers, the woman takes out a replica of a womanâs pelvis to look at (and told us some interesting factsâŚhow the womanâs pelvis is less stable but more flexible compared to the maleâs pelvis so itâs better for child birth. and how there is a study showing that the male pelvis is changing in the last 500 years in the direction of the female pelvis. maybe because the stability is not needed that much anymore bc we sit more and do less battles and hunting. but there are only speculations. donât ask me why she had the pelvis in her bag in the first place), another woman in a very flowery dress joins us and shows us her collection of different scents (rose oil blessed by Amma, sage leaves from a special place, rose pedals etc). After an hour I excuse myself and recieve a good bye blessing with a single bowl.
Chiang Rai -
Everything worked out in time, I even had time to go to a small coffee roastery/cafĂŠ before the bus departed. We arrived at 2pm in Chiang Rai and I sprinted to my hostel to check in. There was another girl checking in with me, but I didnât take much time sozializing, because I had a mission: the white temple. And it was the most beautiful temple I have ever seen. And I think I got there at perfect timing, because there were not many people. AND THE LIGHT. The light was so beautiful, because the sun started to go down. And then I see that girl from earlier from the hostel. She asks if I can take a picture and then a video and then the most fun photoshoot happend. We basically ran through the temple taking very quick shots of each other and the guards yelling at us that the temple is closing in like 1 min. We went to the blue temple afterwards. That temple was VERY blue. And incredible in its own way. What a day. This trip was so worth it, even though I only had one afternoon. And I met quite a few amazing people today. I donât regret missing the bus yesterday. It was so perfect today. And with so much heart.