train to laos

After my TEFL course ended I decided to take the train from Bangkok to Laos to extend my Thai visa 60 days. I’m exploring Thailand and writing reviews of the health resort spas for a wellness guidebook that I am currently creating. I booked the 8pm night train on August 1st arriving in Nong Khai at 8:30am. It was raining all day in Bangkok, which makes for a slow taxi ride, so I decided to leave my hotel at 4:30pm and get to the train station early to see if I could get on one of the earlier trains that left at 6:30 or 6:40pm.

I arrived to Hua Lam Phong station just before 5pm, avoiding rush-hour traffic, and talked with a couple of helpful employees. They informed me that the 8pm train was the only sleeper. I had booked a first class cabin with a bed and if I downgraded to either of the earlier ones then I would be upright for 12 hours amongst many other people. The best choice was to keep my original ticket and wait at the station for 3 hours.

At first, finding a comfortable spot to read and write with my entire life to lug around was not promising. I viewed this with a detached point of view and continued walking down the busy waiting area wandering to find my spot. That is a great motto for me: wandering to find my spot. To see things for not what they are but in wonder to what there could be.

What I found was a small sign for massage. I thought that would be a great idea to kill time and to prepare for the long trip ahead. When I inquired I found out there was an hour wait. As my luck would have it I could wait inside with my luggage. I was able to write in a comfortable reclining chair while listening to relaxing music, away from it all. After my hour Thai massage I found a small travelers Laos map right next door and bought fresh pineapple and mango from a vendor. From there I boarded right away and snuggled into my private cabin.

The next morning the train stopped and we waited 2 hours to start moving again. The tracks ahead were flooded and they had to do something to them to make sure we stayed on the tracks. While we waited I remembered my experience the night before and wondered what this experience will now bring.

emma

During the 2-hour wait I was gifted with an adorable 4-year-old girl, Emma. She reminded me of what I was like at that age. My little girl came to remind me to play! Emma was singing, pretend playing, running up and down, teaching me Thai, and even said something I used to say to my Mom: “I’ll be right back, don’t sleep ok”.

These two nice men that were a couple cabins down from me on the train ended up offering me a ride into Vientiane that they hired. They were asking me about my travels and mentioned the book “Eat, Pray, Love” and asked me if I was soul searching. I replied, “No, I found my soul and now I’m just listening to it”. Then they asked me if I found it in Thailand and I replied, “No, I found it inside of me Thailand just brings it out and lets it shine”. This sparked a good conversation about the world’s new spiritual consciousness of oneness. It turned out to be a blessing that our train arrived 3 hours late and that I missed going to the Thai embassy before they stop processing visas at noon. I really did need to go straight to a hotel, drop off my luggage and settle in.

After checking into the Lao-Paris hotel, I went across the street to the Blue Banana to login, eat and ask a local some questions. This was the 2nd time I’ve been at a restaurant in the last 3 days during a happy-hour drink special 2 for 1. I chose not to drink both times. I’ve reached a point where I value my health, my time and my money more then I do getting buzzed. It wasn’t as easy as it usually is to turn it down, especially after 24 hours of hard traveling, but I am grateful that I did. Since Laos was once a French colony they have good wine here, unlike Thailand, for a good price. I went into the min-shop to get some water and snacks and they even had a whole wine shop in the back. Out of curiosity I went back to price it out and most bottles were around $10. A drunk with a puffy nose, red face and booze breath from Brooklyn/Miami came into the shop as another reminder of why I don’t want any. On my way home I opted for a 2-hour massage/herbal compress that cost me $11. I’d rather get a 2-hour massage than 2 drinks. I’d rather be clear, write and take in life fully. I am choosing my life one minute at a time. Next stop: back to nature in Chiang Rai!

(Ban Phe, Thailand. Monday, August 24, 2009)

Exclusive for The Atlanta Journal Constitution, by Tim Torkildson

FORMER ATLANTA BUSINESS WOMAN FINDS NEW CAREER AND HOME IN THAILAND

Happiness in Thailand

Elicia Woodford grew up in the Syracuse area, attending Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School and Bishop Ludden High School, where she excelled in sports. Her parents, Ray and Linda Woodford, still reside in the Syracuse area; they both have sales jobs and Elicia’s dad, Ray, is noted for building and racing road bikes. Elicia has one brother, Chad, who now lives in San Francisco.

After graduating from Bishop Ludden in 1992 Elicia went to Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, where she graduated with a degree in marketing. Wanting to challenge herself by moving to a place where she had no friends, family, or job prospects, just to see what would happen, she went to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1996, and spent several years there with ADP.  She says she has always considered Atlanta her second home.

With the advent of social media like Twitter and Facebook, Elicia started her own business, calling it ePowerMe. She successfully worked to improve business’ online presence with social media. But she felt an extraordinary pull, “my soul’s desire” she calls it, to move to Thailand. She felt that she could improve her business, and her life, by learning how to teach and communicate with other languages. This led her to sign up for the four-week TEFL International course in Ban Phe, Thailand. TEFL International is a non-profit organization that specializes in certifying native English speakers to teach abroad.

Ms Woodford plans to travel a bit after graduating at the end of August, with a stint in India to further her yoga studies, and then return to Thailand as a wellness mentor. She says “I feel at home in Thailand because it brings out my inner nature. My passion is health and wellness. Thailand is a relaxed and joyful place; I get a feeling of peace and calm here. The fresh fruit is utterly fantastic and the Thai method of massage is unbeatable and so affordable!”

For more information on TEFL International, visit their website at www.tefllife.com

#####################################################

Contact Tim Torkildson at torkil49@live.com

Toll-free phone: 866-384-8852

Contact Elicia Woodford at elicia@ePowerMe.com

Phone: +66 085 952 4734

1st night

Perceptions are not real, find and know your truth!

It’s always good to ask people about places and things but to take it as it is: their perception and experience, not yours.  I’ve learned to approach other people’s opinions and even my own with a question mark and not a period. If I listened to others, I wouldn’t have stayed in Bangkok.  If I listened to my first impression then I wouldn’t have stayed either.

My view of Bangkok after the first day was very limited and I felt unsure about staying there.  I did like the small boutique hotel and friendly staff so I decided to go ahead and book the next 5 nights while they had rooms available. I end up staying in 4 different themed rooms and loved the experience.  I thought at least I didn’t have to deal with my luggage and I could always stay in the room and read.  I observed these feelings and thoughts and noticed the tendency to feel safe.

last night

The mind’s need to feel safe is deceptive and keeps you and your world small.  Moving forward with that feeling will help you grow and experience joy.

I went out to walk the streets, explored and found a whole new perspective of Bangkok.  The uncomfortable feeling I had was just the unknowing.  My first day I walked down one street which was crazy busy and polluted.  I noticed that 1 out of 5 Thais were wearing disposable mouth protectors and I assumed that it was because of the pollution. Once I explored my surrounding neighborhood (and how to cross the street going up the stairs across the pedestrian bridge) I felt empowered and was able to tune into more things around me.  I also found out later by talking to someone that the Thais wore the mouth protectors because they were concern about getting the Swine Flu, not because of the pollution. My Kundalini Yoga practice each morning helped me tremendously while adjusting to all of the newness. I trained my mind to slow down and take things slow without any set plans or “have tos”. I decided that I would do one thing (on my mental wish list) each day and to trust my intuition as I made decisions. Taking deep breaths throughout each day also helped me presence myself.

As my confidence built I explored more and my perspective of Bangkok shifted. I loved taking the Skytrain and walking around.  I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all and now I had a sense of excitement and love for the city. Being very present and aware allowed me to be in the flow, this is when everything just falls into place. I would stumble upon exactly what I was looking for everyday. My next blog will have the details of the treatments and I experienced and how I found them. On my third day I got to know the map a little better and noticed a large park a block away from where I was staying.  The first couple of days I turned left onto Silom to walk to Health Land Spa and to the BTS Skytrain.  This morning I turned right instead of left and found my favorite discovery, Lumpini Park!

favorite discovery

After the first day I could have left in search of pleasure but staying and moving in the uncomfortable lead me to the pleasure that was all around me, just one turn away.  I am remembering this lesson right now as I begin my TEFL course in Ban Phe, Thailand.  It been a lifetime ago since I utilized my left-brain to study and I’m observing my desire to do other things that I know I love instead.  I also don’t think I’ve ever sat in at a desk in a chair for 8 hours a day for a month!  I’m embracing the uncomfortable to see what I find.

way to live

Trust yourself to find your truth – explore your thoughts alone.
The week I spent in Bangkok I found myself alone, without any distractions, for the first time in my life.  Canceling my cell phone plan broke my iPhone addiction and the many distractions that came along with it: checking and responding to my email, Facebook, text messages, and phone calls.  Shut off from all communication except the Internet (on my time and only when I’m back at the hotel) I am alone with my thoughts.  When I was outside walking around the city I couldn’t understand the signs or conversations. I also didn’t know anyone or meet anyone to hangout with and talk to, which was a nice change.  I had been craving this silence and solitude for a long time.  Being truly alone helped me sit and observe my thoughts and feelings.  I had the opportunity to pause before reacting, question, and reflect on things.  A week of “active meditation” helped me find my truth, at least about Bangkok.  Find solitude to sit, observe and question your thoughts to know your truth and it will set your mind free.

The Thai culture is pleasant and brings out my true nature.

free wellness in the park!

What I love most about the Thai culture is that wellness is their way of life.  Visiting Lumpini Park from 5-7am was my favorite discovery of Bangkok.  It was filled with Thais of all ages, with the majority middle age and elderly, working out in the “playground”.  They know the importance of tai chi, yoga, meditating, massage and stretching.  The sidewalks are lined with vendors selling fresh, local real food that people buy on their way to and from work.  They even sit and with regular social gatherings bonding on the street and in the park. The Thais radiate an overall feeling of happy and relaxed.

delicious new discovery

One morning I discovered a new delicious fruit over breakfast called Ramutan, or Ngow in Thai. I was told that it’s only in season this month in Thailand.  One of the many things I love about the Thai culture is that they eat local and in season, not much processed food if at all. All of the cheap food is local.  Anything that they have to import is priced like we would pay in the States.  Even though that makes sense, it’s not like that in the States because the government subsidized the corn, wheat, soy, dairy and meat industries.  Those also take up most of our farmland and pollute our environment and bodies with chemicals. With the government subsidies Americans can eat cheap junk “food”, get sick and take medicine that cause disease. So then the doctors keep their jobs and the industries continue to make money.  My dream would be for the US government to instead subsidize organic vegetable farms and wellness services.  Since I’ve been in Thailand I haven’t seen any obesity, felt any anger or depression and that has everything to do with their lifestyle.

Thai massage "medicine"

As I move through each day, things are peaceful and pleasant.  I find myself reaching for the Bangkok Post and feeling good as I read the entire thing.  The front-page headline yesterday was “Crossing At Their Own Risk”, the top news story was about the police cracking down on jaywalkers and threatening to fine them 200 Baht ($6) for not using the pedestrian bridge or zebra crossing.   Even though the city is heavily populated like NYC, there is calmness about it.  I’ve noticed that I haven’t heard even one police or ambulance siren. Another difference are the homeless people.  They really can’t work and are amputees with missing limbs or are burn victims. My heart goes out to them and makes me want to give as they ask in prayer. There doesn’t seem to be any violence or craziness.

calm, relaxed and in line for the train

Thai people are peaceful, healthy, happy and polite.  Taking the Skytrain (BTS) is even pleasant because people are calm and relaxed. They even form lines where indicated while waiting for the train.  The Thais look you in the eye and smile.  They are light-hearted people who make life fun and easy. They joke and laugh about things that might be embarrassing or frustrating to Americans.  When I slipped down the staircase at my hotel they commented about how I like to make a grand entrance and laughed instead of worrying.  Laughter and joking around was apart of all of my treatments that made me feel more connected with my heart to the other person.  The masseuse, my first day at Health Land Spa, pretended to gently massage my new goddess tattoo and giggled which made me giggle and enjoy her even more. They bow in sweet prayer when they say thank you (korb kun ka), and they thank you after any purchase including the 7-11.  I love the culture and way of life here and it brings out my true nature that is calm, relaxed, peaceful and filled with joy!

detox, yoga/pilates, spa and raw food

My soul was craving this trip and now I know why.  Since I’ve been living from and listening to my heart I make decisions and know why after.  I felt a very strong calling to Thailand for many years and decided to release everything I own and move there.  The two questions I was most often was asked by others were; “Why Thailand?” and “How long will you be there?”  My answers were always “I’ve felt a strong desire to be there” and “I don’t know”. This was not a trip that I heard of or researched about, it came from my soul.  The soul’s desire cannot be understood until that desire if fulfilled.  This is the difference when making decisions from the heart and not the mind.  The second question is interesting.  When I moved to Atlanta, Ft. Lauderdale, back to Atlanta, up to NYC, back to Atlanta, over to San Francisco and back to Atlanta not once did I get anyone ask me “For how long will you live there?”  It’s probably because anything foreign, even concepts, to most people make them scared and they have a need to know the future.

Planning and thinking in the future is very limiting and blocks the flow and pleasure of life.

home is where my luggage is

It just turned midnight on July 25, 2009 and I’m settling in at Gate100 waiting for my flight from SFO to BKK. I’ve shed my old life to transition into something new. Leaving everything behind, I am left with myself, which is the best place to start.

I have never been to Asia in this lifetime and felt a pull to Thailand for many years. With no rational thought I decided to release everything I owned and move across the world. With no regrets and no return plans. This journey comes from my heart, listening to and trusting my higher self.

Canceling my AT&T wireless account was the last tie (and bill) to the US that is now shut off. Gmail and Facebook will keep me in touch with my friends and family when I want to plug in. I’m craving silence, solitude and a fresh start with a new life living from my heart. Exploring, learning, and teaching others lies ahead in my journey abroad. How it unfolds I leave to mystery and faith.

Being in NYC without any change of clothes or money to buy new ones plus not eating for 4 days made me a little emotional and feeling very off.  I had planned on going to Pure Wine & Food to experience the atmosphere and read the menu without a desire to eat but by the time we got there I wasn’t feeling or looking too good so I decided I may need a bite of nutrients.  I ended up eating 2 small lettuce wraps, a couple bites of tomatoes and I snapped back to normal.

Today I got great news that my luggage will be delivered and I will be saved from wearing the same clothes.  As I write that it sounds so petty considering all of the homeless here that wear the same clothes all year but for me right now without food I need clothes!

On another note, I’m feeling great today and have incorporated Citrus Kombucha which I’m thoroughly enjoying as an addition to the ‘lemonade’.  I’ve been reading how Kombucha might not be all that healthy or safe…so I’m not going to continue drinking it but it feels good today.

Tropical Storm Kyle hit the city last night and the rain continues all day today, which puts a damper on exploring the city today.  Signs all lead to staying in, doing yoga, meditating, journaling, reading and doing some planning for next week.

I love NYC, it feels like home to me.  Being surrounded by the best restaurants and not feeling tempted to eat feels like freedom.  It’s definitely a different NYC experience.  Changing it up helps me grow.