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April 25, 2024

Koh Samui: The journey of my life

The time was right for Koh Samui

When I decided to go to Thailand, I had an exhausting breakup with and opened my heart to another man who did not want to see my heart so much. But maybe there was not much more to see than a huge battlefield, and he was right. It was a big mess, and unlike before, I did not get over the events by crying, raging and talking to friends. Something inside me was completely confused. It felt like my soul needed a thorough inspection.

I thought of Oliver Stone and the "Kamalya". An acquaintance had told me about this magical place on Koh Samui where Chance meets the famous director while eating. But regardless of Oliver Stone, something had happened to my acquaintance that influenced her further life. Her stories had touched me a lot, and I sensed: The time has come to drive to this place. A place that is much more than a star resort under the palm trees. "It's not a holiday, it's a transformation "is among other things in the guest book of" Kamalaya ", The package I had booked was called "Embracing change". And I was ready to embrace the change. So what of!

The "Kamalaya" is a spiritual place

Shortly after arriving on Koh Samui, I embrace my life. On the way from the airport to the hotel we drive over the bustling island: narrow streets, corrugated iron houses, food stalls, shops - full, full life. And then it goes along a narrow street in the parallel universe. When I get out of the car, it is suddenly very quiet. At the reception a shrine with candles and a reclining Buddha. This is a spiritual place, no question.

The "Kamalaya" nestles with its many wooden buildings and small huts on a slope that leads directly into a bay. Lush tropical greenery, several pools, in between little steps and paths to the individual houses in which the guests are housed. Mine has a wooden porch and a large window overlooking the jungle. Through the branches of the plants I can see the sea, even from the bed.

You are here for yourself, if you want it - but not lonely

At the Lantern Ritual, everyone sends their wishes to heaven

The next day I meet Rajesh. The Indian will be my mental coach for the next ten days. He used to be a banker and then spent a few years as a monk in a Buddhist monastery before becoming a teacher at Kamalaya. There are people who come here just because of him. What my goal is, Rajesh asks me. "I want to break old patterns and not sink in endless musings about what I could have done differently or better, I'm totally confused and sad." Rajesh is silent for now. Then he says, "The problem is that we always try to avoid the pain instead of letting it in. We ask questions, we try to understand, we accuse, we do everything, just do not accept that we have to die a small death to live again. "

I nod in reverence while looking out the window of his room at the palmtrees. But how exactly is that supposed to work? I already cried my soul out of my body. He, Rajesh, will now look very closely as I try to escape the pain, and then close all doors. "No escapes, okay?". Yes. OK.

Easy going I go to the beach and lie down on one of the beach chairs, to let it all sag. The good thing is that in the "Kamalaya" somehow everyone is always slightly dazed. Because they just had a massage application, a meditation or thinking about something. You do not notice, if you are a bit deranged through the area. And you always find a place where you can come back to yourself. In my case, it is the beach chair on the edge of the small bay under the big cashew tree. Here I am every day, looking far over the turquoise sea and trying to let go of what is blocking me. In between, I chat with Suwit, the beach boy, or swim a round with Rob, the policeman from Japan, in the sea. You are alone in the "Kamalaya" - if you want it - but not lonely. Many of the guests are single travelers, but there are also couples or girlfriends teams.

My emotional tornado comes to rest

In addition to the sessions at Rajesh, various massages and acupuncture treatments are part of my program. So I'm lying on Aaron's couch at some point, and he chases a few needles to the appropriate places: back, knee, ankle. The needles are designed to relieve my sadness and make me more balanced. The Qi, the life energy, should flow unhindered again. As he puts one in the middle of the back of my head, I ask, "What is it for?" - "It stops pondering," says Aaron. I want more of that, I just think.

On one of the next evenings I meet Lyndsay. She sits with me at the community table, the big table for single travelers, who like to eat have company. They talk about the last yoga class, the incredibly good-tasting detox dishes, Rajesh's wisdom, or the healing sessions with Anna Hughes, a famous healer from Hong Kong who's just been here for a few weeks.

So far, I was more like rest, even when eating. I have so much to do with myself. Today I am curious, wanted to go to the others. England, Colorado, Australia - everything is represented. Some just want to eat healthy and do yoga, others recover from a burn-out. Everyone has their topic here.

Lyndsay is owned by a major artist agency in London, including Daniel Craig. She booked one of the beach villas with private pool for a week. Almost priceless, but of course terrific. Lyndsay is here for "stress reduction," as she says. And almost a bit stressful, we both find the food at the big table. Although I am otherwise sociable, I realize how thin my membrane is at the moment. And how much it relaxes me to spend the days just with my apps, small talk with Suwit and Rajesh sessions.

In the meantime, I am doing a mixed form of conversation and accompanied meditation with him, which makes me very happy. The emotional tornado that has been raging inside for months is slowly coming to rest. I get away from things and more clarity. Start to understand why it all happened, and what my triggers were. And most of all, I begin to accept that the experience in the end will make sense. Even though it may not feel that way right now. I am on a path that is important.

The soul of "Kamalaya": Karina and John

Karina and John: The two operate together the "Kamalaya"

Once I have lunch with Karina and John, the founders of "Kamalaya". The two are the soul of the place and are among the most warm-hearted people I have ever met. We sit under the cashew tree and John tells the incredible story of their love. They met in 1982 when John was living in an ashram in the Himalayas. Karina went there professionally, John saw her ... He says: "I was in love immediately and knew that I wanted to marry this woman."

They started a pen pal, it was no different, because John remained a monk. And Karina saw him all these years as a very good friend, but not as a potential husband. Another eleven years came and went and for Karina two companions, until John left the monastery, and the two eventually found each other. "I learned to be patient," says John, laughing. The "Kamalaya" is now her dream that she realized 11 years ago.

It's hard for me to leave this wonderful cheese bell, but it still makes me itchy to take a trip to Lamai Beach. There I was 15 years ago with my then boyfriend. We stayed in small cheap wooden cabins right on the beach and ate in food stalls.

I take a taxi and drive off. Lamai Beach is now an absolute tourist spot. The sandy track is paved, but the bustling life, the tuk-tuks, the shops with all the fake clothes, the smell of roasted in the muggy air - everything is a bit like before. I let myself drift through the streets, take a drink on the beach and enjoy being here.

As I am crawling into my jungle hut that night, with the sounds of the night around me, I read a Buddha's saying in a book: "In the end, only three things count: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how graceful you let go of things that were not meant for you. " And then I remember the question that I asked John: "Do you think you can make a mistake and miss his fate?" - "Good question," said John. "But I think when one door closes, another opens and you get another chance."

The travel info for Koh Samui

Getting there
After Koh Samui you fly over Bangkok. The flight takes about an hour. At the airport on Koh Samui, some pick up a "Kamalaya" driver.

The hotel
The "Kamalaya" is called "Wellness Sancturary and Holistic Spa Resort" and is not cheap. But you really get a lot for your money: yoga classes, meditations, lectures etc. It pays to book programs like "Detox", "Yoga", "Emotional Balance" or "Stress Reduction" - then you have full board included ( three meals a day). And the food is a dream: healthy, fresh, delicious. If you want, you can of course also without "input" spend time there, some guests combine a short stay with a larger trip to Thailand. Three nights are minimum.

The cheapest accommodations are double rooms (ask for one with "view", some are a bit dark), the more expensive "Seaside Suites" with sea view and balcony are very popular, also you can book the "Seaview Villas", houses of different sizes / categories. Double room from 110 Euro / p. P. The program "Embracing Change" costs all inclusive from 3135 Euro for 7 nights (without flight!).
Cheapest travel time: May 1st to October 31st
Further information: www.kamalaya.com

Into the bustle - the trip to Lamai.

Koh Samui
The island is next to Phuket one of the busiest destinations, located in the Gulf of Thailand and was therefore spared in 2004 by the tsunami. Definitely worth it to make some excursions. The "Kamalya" offers u. a. a temple tour, but you can also go well and cheap by taxi. Worth seeing, although very touristy: the place Chaweng and Lamai with long beaches, many bars, shops, markets ... Less exciting is the capital Nathon.

Good to know
Some of the villas in Kamalaya have outdoor pools. Showers in the open air is great, but who is afraid of animals, should ask for an indoor pool.

EXTRA tip: Round trip with bathing stay in Thailand (Display) from 999 Euro with flight booking in the ChroniquesDuVasteMonde travel worlds!