Planning Ahead

I am at a point where I am nearing the end of my volutneer placement and am beginning to think about my travels ahead. I am trying to see all of Thailand while I am in Thailand, which will leave me with a more lesiurly pace through Vietnam and Laos. I am planing my first solo trip this weekend to Kanchanaburi to see the Bridge over the River Kwai as well as the many other sites there are to see. I am looking forward to doing this on my own as a mini-trip before I am thrown to the wolves with a month on the road on my own in Vietnam. I may also plan another weekend trip to Chang Mai. I am very much looking forward to both as I have hear great things.

On May 30th, I will be on my second overnight sleeper train ride heading South. I have decided to spend ten days in a Buddhist Meditation Retreat (contemplating life under a tree at the base of a mountain in South Thailand). I've been interested in Buddhism for years, have read a lot on the subject, and feel that since I am here, it would be amazing to experience the practice of Thai Buddhism first hand. There are countless wats in Thailand that offer meditation practice, but I found one that seems to fit with my beliefs and what I would like to get out of a retreat. It is called Suan Mokkh or "the Garden of Liberation," and the retreat focuses on the study of Buddha's teachings and on practicing unselfishness and compassion in everything you do. While I admit that just reading the description of the typical routine makes me want to run screaming, I think that if I can do it, it will be amazing.

After the retreat, I will have one more week at CCS and then the real journey begins...