Merry X-mas: Heaven or hell?

I read this article from bbc´s news page today. Success in life. That´s why i wanted to write about holiday stress.

Toughest time of the year or most memorably? This is the question. Christmas is most popular time of the year to travel. Best getaway from stress, family and friends. No need to prepare family dinners or buy christmas presents. No need to talk your relatives. Or is this the timer of the year, when we feel pressure of life and success. We are comparing ourselves to others.  What i have, what you have...Stress of life. Are we incapable of enjoying what is important? Enjoy the moment while it last. Christmas should be the best time of the year.
Why we feel like this. Where is this pressure coming from? I have one theory. It comes from our way of life. We are competing on our holiday like we competing in life. We are going for gold all the time. We hate to lose. Holiday should be perfect, if its not, we have failed... And if we dont have pictures to prove it, we failed again.
Internet is full of articles, how to survive from holiday stress. How to make it true christmas. WHAT? Just be with your friends and family or travel somewhere. You can enjoy your life the way you want. Do you need guide book to do it?  Did people stress about christmas like this 300 or 500 years ago? I don't think so. So, why sould we.

I wish you all happy holidays. Where ever and how you will spend it, its up to you.

Nelson Mandela 1918-2013

Very charismatic person. By his owns acts he change the way many people see Africa and the world. He gave hope for millions and he was the person to seek inspiration. His ability to forgive his captors was amazing show of will and forgiveness.  I really wish that all of us could show more understanding towards different cultures, religion and beliefs. Because that’s the only way to life together in peace and harmony. Seek for power and money will lead us straight to chaos and despair. We have the choice in our own hands. He showed us the way, but do we have the courage to follow it. I truly hope we have. Otherwise racism and segregation will be our masters. Let’s stop it now. That would be true legacy of Nelson Mandela.

Apartheid. Legalized racial segregation in South Africa and Namibia. We should not forget it, but we should learn from it...Apartheid in South Africa

Rest in Peace

My winter home

Thailand. Land of smiles. It truly is. Situated between Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Malaysia. Thailand looks like an elephant. Northern part is elephants right ear, northeast is the left ear.  Capital Bangkok is elephants eye and southern peninsula is the trunk.  No wonder Thailand’s national animal is elephant.

This is not my first time in land of smiles. But it is my first time in southern part of it. I love it. Koh Lanta Yai is full of nature’s beauties. Wild monkeys, mangrove forests, jungle, white sand beaches and of course Andaman sea. Island covers area of  80 km² and has population of 10,000. Andaman sea offers amazing opportunities to snorkel, dive and enjoy clean waters.

Trips to Koh Muuk and Koh Haa are great for relaxing and snorkeling. Phi Phi, Railay and Koh Lipe are just a boat ride away.Coral reefs are full of life. Even this is not the Great Barrier reef, but still it offers dozens of different fish species and other forms of life.  On Koh Muuk you can swim true 80 m tunnel and discover hidden paradise and beach.Great experience.

Beaches are beautiful and there are plenty of them.  Beaches are peaceful. No need to hassle with beach vendors, because there is practically none of them.  But you have to take beach at it comes, no sun beds available. Just raw beach.

After sunset, it’s time for beer or two. There is a nice variety of bars and restaurants available. From British pub to Thai style bamboo bars. Class A -restaurants or street food. Listening live music or chilling at the beach bar.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money. Living costs are low. Lunch will cost you about 150 THB. That’s cheap and Thai food is so good. Food stalls offer even cheaper treats. Thai style banana pancakes with chocolate dressing cost around 30 THB. Yummy.

Overall, this is a place worth of visit. Pack your bags and it will be your winter home also. Truly amazing Asia is waiting.

Getting started

Why I am writing!

This is my first blog ever and english is not my native language. So, I apologize for all spelling and grammar errors. Hopefully you still have patience to read this blog. Feel free to comment my blog and correct my errors.

I was just lying in my bed one day and I got this urge to start writing something, anything. That’s how this blog got started.  I really don’t know, what I will be writing about. At least, I’m going to write about travelling/living abroad, differences of people, different cultures, sad things, happy things, tourism, movies, music, sport, personal opinions and dreams. Let’s see what will happen. Time will tell.

That’s how I started to think about myself and life in general. What I have done and what I haven’t done... and i´m still thinking.

What to do? What to say? What to think? What to buy? What to were? Where to go? Where to stay? How to live? What to eat? How to behave? How much to earn?

Have you ever thought that you haven’t done enough with your life? You have this feeling inside that you could archive much more if you want. But you are happy with things you have and what you have done. Or is something holding you back?

Why should we always need to work like slaves to get the newest mobile phone, laptop, television or car. Do we always need to compare ourselves to other people?  Do we need to envy somebody or to laugh when somebody is feeling blue?  Shouldn’t we enjoy our lives more without envy and stress? I would, I know it!

Of course it’s easy to say this if you have a regular job and your salary will cover all the necessary bills. But still, do we need to have so much money in our bank accounts to be happy with ourselves. Could we help others if we have possibility and money to do it?

Older i get, i’m thinking more about friends, family and happiness. Aren’t those the things that will tide us to this life of ours? Without them we are just drifting in the ocean without any harbor to dock. No place to take shelter when the storm is approaching us. People are coming more selfish and it doesn’t look good. Life is unique. We should enjoy it as much as we can.

What really matters in life…. I’ll say happiness! I’ll say meeting new people! I’ll say travelling! I’ll say helping others!  I’ll say doing the right thing!… it can be anything with a positive meaning. Let´s start with this. Welcome.

PS. Its fathers day tomorrow here in Thailand. Happy fathers day to all fathers all around the world. It´s a nice reason to call your dad :)