Revolving Peoplescape of Bangkok

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

PEOPLESCAPE
Bangkok's peoplecape is a revolving door - a kaleidoscope of personalities, experience, insight and narratives. Individually, they are animated with layered dimensions. Collectively, they can move mountains!

Andi OO
Andi OO is passing through Bangkok! What gift to have her presence here. She is one of the few exceptional guru-types who impressed me in Ubud. I attended her vitality talks, participated in her Hatha Yoga class and squeezed whatever conversation I could muster given her tight time frames.

I relate to her on so many levels - yoga, meditation, Burningman (she makes an annual pilgrimage), fitness, empowerment, enabling, etc.

Reconnecting after 2 years, I was hanging by every word she uttered. I'd like to think we are on parallel evolutionary paths but she's far ahead, more prolific and deeper into her practice. I tried to wrap my head around what she was saying, to wit...

• translating consciousness into binary code for artificial intelligence (AI). I understand consciousness. I understand binary code and I understand artificial intelligence. But to pull them all together into a seamless singularity?
• that prana resides within. Air through Pranayama is not the source of prana but simply a technique to keep the prana within the body. I have already read this from Krishnamacharya but she put clarity into it. Either way, Pranayama is for strength, for protection and resiliency - which explains my Superman-Effect.
• using Blockchain technology outside crypto-currencies

That's Andi for you. Can't wait until our paths cross again. Love you Andi ❤❤❤

Hanka
I'm not really sure if I met Hanka at Burningman or met her in Canada with the Toronto Burners, but I've always associated her with Burningman. "The Man", as I affectionately call the spirit of the burn, has never left me. It still burns inside and continues to guide me through the path. Here's the uncanny thing. I haven't seen Hanka in 14 years and hardly kept in touch - but I remain bonded to her. From out of nowhere, I received a powerful message from her that changed my paradigm about receiving and accepting. And that's it. I've not communicated with her since. In the unique way I see my reality, The Man sent an oracle (Hanka) to deliver a transformative message I needed to understand, accept and embrace. That changed things radically. Thank you, Hanka. Love you ❤❤❤

Hanka blogs:

1. Peoplescape of Chiang Mai Jan 24-Mar24, 2019
2. 2018: A Year In Review Dec 31, 2018
3. Revolving Peoplescape of Bangkok Oct 8 - Nov 8, 2018

Chai
Chai and I, we go back to our UP Diliman days - one of a few I have a laid-back comfort level with. She's one of my constants here in Bangkok - a must-connect when in Bangkok. We went out for the Blues at Adhere 13th, had good eats at Dalad Vietnamese and watched a free Ethan Hawke movie at Alliance Francaise. She bailed me out when she agreed to have me do her online purchases to convert my bank money into cash. I was already down to my last cash of B100! These cloaked Good Samaritans come out of the woodwork when the need arises. Thank you for always being there, Chai!

Lina
A beautiful Colombian yogini, author, life coach, muay thai warrior and fitness enthusiast, Lina is strong, driven and focused. She came to Thailand to develop her Muay Thai. The first 5 minutes into our conversation, we instantly connected. Our bond just deepened with every conversation on the 3 days she stayed at Adventure Hostel. It has been a long while since I came across someone who parallels my journey. We are both seekers, staying on the narrow path in pursuit of our evolution. We share the same vision of someday having our own camps as a community gathering place for like-minded seekers. As she left for Chiang Mai, I began my preparation for Danang. We may not meet again but moments with her was priceless.

May
We met at Rinna Pow's Walking Tour of Little India. She's a self-proclaimed fashionista with style to show for. I was amused. I asked her if she can dress me up from my disheveled look. She said she'll make me wear short pants. I said, "Like what I'm wearing now?". Without missing a beat, she said, "Much better than that!" LOL !!! We soon became FB friends and on this visit, we hung-out for Vietnamese eats at Dalad Vietnamese, night market walk on Chatuchak and roof deck chills at Adventure Hostel. It's all good, but the thing is, she's 20 and I'm older than her Dad...and we get along well. No, we're not going out...just hanging out. It's seamless...and yes, it's cool.

Comments:

Rosemarie
(Nov 4, 2018) You're only as old as you feel

---

Trebs
(Nov 4, 2018) It is after all and at the end of the day just a number, Chief?

---

Sharon
(Nov 4, 2018) The spirit has no age

---

Lembot
(Nov 4, 2018) You never run of funny things to say

Ifah
I feel that Ifah is on the cusp of transformational change with her career as a make-up artist. She's passed the tests and venturing on to social media to put the word out. We shared insights and struggles on our many long talks on the roof deck of Adventure Hostel. On her departure, she even gifted me a wonderful bracelet. She's back to Malaysia but we continue to touch base.

Rinna
In Bangkok, Rinna is also becoming one of my constants. We met during her organized Walking Tour of Little India. We have since connected and spent time - dinner at Dalad Vietnamese, the Halloween Party at Steve's, working-out on the roof deck of Adventure Hostel. She's easy to get along with and easy to have a comfort level with. She has many events in Bangkok and I try to be there when schedule allows.

Natalia
From Ubud with Love! That is how Natalia is for me. We met in Ubud 2 years ago, did Pranawayu Yoga and Laughter Yoga, had lunch conversation and hung-out. She was engaged to be married then. Since then, she has lived in Abu Dhabi and became the yoga teacher to the Royal family and gone to Rishikesh to interview yoga's rock stars during the International Yoga Day. Now in Bangkok, she visits with her husband, Pradip, who I finally met. 2 years into her marriage and she's still in marital bliss!

Naomi
I seem to stumble-upon denizens from Burningman lately. From Canada, Naomi, whom I met at the Burn, happened to be visiting Bangkok. I haven't seen Naomi since France in 2004! She hasn't changed much, looking just as young and vibrant as when I last saw her. She's still on the path, like so many Burners who were tranformed by the event. I met her partner finally, Paul. They complement each other.

Joolia, Lintang and Sabra
It was a short quick talk while having breakfast at Adventure Hostel. They were there only for an overnight. Normally, the meetup would have been a passing blur. But it lingered. They were not your usual travelers you meet on a hostel. They were more corporate types who perhaps are on the fringes of the corporate world making this planet a better place to live. They were all beautiful, highly educated, articulate with impeccable English, upwardly-mobile and have a vision for the greater good. They didn't exactly articulate this, but that's the sense I got. I wish they stayed longer.

It was a particular delight to meet Joolia who comes from my alma matter, University of the Philippines. We exchanged student numbers (a form of handshake amongst alumni) and commiserated somehow on the Philippines' spiraling citizen-empowerment plight.

Tram
What are the odds that while I'm updating my blog on Danang, I met this beautiful Vietnamese lady who hailed from Danang? Serendipity? We had quite an engaging talk about Danang, Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam in general. I love that country and it excites me to be in Danang for my next trip. What I find surprising is that we both went to Plum Village - a monastery in obscure Pak Chong founded by renegade Zen Vietnamese monk, Thich Nhat Hanh. We kept missing each other's events (Halloween, Chatuchak), until she had to leave. Oh well, that's a traveler's very familiar peoplescape - friendships get a shelf life of 48 hours if you get lucky.

Kansuda
Kansuda is always busy, always on the move. But she makes the effort to meet-up with me despite that. As a photo-finish, she managed to make the trip to the hostel and even brought food for good eats at the roof deck. She works in support of abused women and tries to make a difference by enabling them to regain confidence and be productive members of society again. Asked how it affects her personal life, she said it does not. It's remarkable how she remains positive while dealing with all that on a day to day basis. Kansuda is sweet. I really appreciate the little reconnection we have when I'm in Bangkok.

Hostel Guest
No need to mention names, but I met this hostel guest when she asked me to prepare an instant ramen pack for her. I laughed how someone would not know how to do it. She said she's not used to being in the kitchen. True! In the 5 minutes I was in the kitchen, she exploded the microwave by heating an egg, clogged the drain by dumping all the egg debris there and used up a carton of napkins by drying up her mess, instead of using the wash cloth. It was amazing to see how destructive she was in that short 5 minutes. Leave her in the kitchen for a full hour and maybe she can implode Adventure Hostel! You meet all kinds!

Ending Thoughts
I met more people than I could write about. The convergence is just uncanny - Burningman (Hanka, Naomi and Andi), Ubud yoga (Eunice, Natalia and Andi), University of the Philippines (Chai and Joolia)...whoa!

I didn't even have to go out that much. With my 30-day stay at Adventure Hostel, I see the guest-turnover as a revolving door. They come and go and I'm still there. This hostel has good friendly energy and great space that lends itself to guest interaction.

But every exchange, every encounter is a story with a lesson to be gleaned from, if you look mindfully enough. Some faces will soon become a passing blur, some will remain and some will etch their presence into my psyche. There is nothing more animated, more colorful and more engaging than the wonderful people you meet as you take on the journey.

--- TheLoneRider
YOGA by Gigit | Learn English | Travel like a Nomad | Donation Bank

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Next stop: 30 Days - Goodbye Bangkok

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Bangkok, Thailand

HOTEL

Adventure Hostel Bangkok - N7 BTS train stop, dorm rooms, great for solo travelers, laundry, roof deck, entertainment center, kitchen, all-day tea-coffee, fridge, clean
1541 Phahonyothin Rd. Payathai

RESTAURANT

Dalad Vietnamese Restaurant - N7 BTS train stop, authentic Vietnamese cuisine, clean & hygienic, fresh green leafy vegetables
195 Soi Pradipat 19, Pradipat Road, Phayathai

SPA / WELLNESS

Bangkok Float Center - experience a surreal sensory immersion as you effortlessly float on 10 inches of water, 5-stars from 524 Tripadvisor reviews
99/6-9 SHOW DC Retail and Entertainment Mega Complex (4th Floor)

 GYM| YOGA

Now's Fitness Bangkok - gym equipment, yoga, Muay Thai, boxing, fitness trainer, cafe, healthy food
726 Soi On Nut 14 Rd, Khwaeng Suan Luang, Khet Suan Luang, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10250

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