The question arose: what is it that I no longer keep with me after a year? Of what I packed when I left.

I made a minimalist quick inventory.

What did I leave behind on the trip?

I took this picture 384 days ago. I packed it two hours before departure, and in the end, I didn’t make a list before.

So now this picture is the starting point for the inventory.

I still “live a minimalist life”, or rather “I am living an advanced level of minimalist living“.

Therefore, the negative side of the inventory is not a big task.

In the picture you can see a pair of jeans with a matching belt. I ended up not bringing this, I put it back in the closet after the picture was taken. There was a hair clipper in the package. I gave this to a hotel employee in Bali. Also in Bali I gave the two packs of cards and the Rubik’s cube in the picture as a gift.

I read the only book in the picture, digitized it for my notes. Then I left it on the bookshelf of my second accommodation in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Maybe one day another Hungarian reader will come across it and find it useful.

I brought a course notebook with me. This was only because I didn’t have time to digitize it in Hungary. I did this on the island of Koh Samui and threw the notebook in the trash there.

I also brought a pair of beach shoes with me. These broke on the first use. Or rather, this was its second use, because I had used them once before in Croatia. So they also ended up in the trash.

The sea claimed one of the socks I brought with me in Bali. I declared one of them a heroic death after one of the muddy incidents and buried it in a trash can.

Although they are not visible in the picture, one of the smaller bags contained my blood pressure medications. The trash can also ate them. Among the general medications, there was one that had since expired. I didn’t keep these either.

I also had two shorts. Both were badly worn during the trip. I had one of them sewn up in Vietnam, but I don’t use it. Regardless, I won’t throw it away, because it’s also a spare. I folded the other one into the bottom of my laptop bag. That way, there’s extra impact protection under my laptop. If I drop the bag harder on the ground, the laptop won’t dampen my carelessness.

What didn’t I use?

There’s only one thing I don’t use on a daily basis, but I haven’t thrown it away. It’s my sweater. I wore it once. When we went to watch the sunrise in Bali at dawn by a volcano. It was cold then. I could have done without the sweater, but if I had it, I would have put it on on the way there.

Regardless, I won’t throw it away. It’s the only thing I have that can come in handy at any time.

I also have a first aid kit. I haven’t had to use it once. Naturally, I’ll keep it.

What did I buy in a year?

Before the Gibbon Experiences jungle tour, I bought a pair of long sweatpants. They said I’d need them in the jungle.

I didn’t need them. So I only wore this item of clothing once. When I tried it on in the store. I’m not going to throw it away. I’ve been to cold places in the past, and I’ve been cold. It’s good to have a plan B.

I also have the sarung I bought in Bali in my backpack. I haven’t used it since, but I’m sure I might need it again. Especially if I actually go to India.

I’ve been to a Decathlon store once. I bought two socks and a new pair of shorts there. Since then, I’ve worn these pants day and night. I usually wash them while I’m taking a shower, and they’ll have time to dry by the next morning.

I also bought new beach shoes on the trip. I wore them twice. The last time was when I visited “Rục Mòn cave – Fell but don’t die”. It bled there.

Once, I thought I lost a sock during one of the washes. At that time, a friend of mine gave me a new pair of socks. He was already heading to Europe, so he didn’t need them.

Another time, I found a nice scarf in the forest. I put this away because it’s nice to wipe away sweat. I can say that it was a useful find.

A friend gave me a color-changing, neon light. I carried this around for a while, but the last time it broke in my backpack on the bottom of a bus. The backpack must have been gently thrown away.

I have three books. I took two from a bookshelf where I could get them for free. I bought one for myself a few weeks ago.

I now have two bracelets, which are new purchases from last year.

I also had two sunglasses. One is in my laptop bag, but I don’t really use it. The other was in my backpack. It broke there. I threw it away two weeks ago when I noticed that it no longer worked.

And of course there are the iconic headphones that I’ve written about a few times. The one I left Hungary with has long since been in the trash. I have the last copy I bought in my ears. And I have three in my bag right now. One that’s good, but I don’t like it. It’s my backup. There’s the one that’s broken on the right side. And there’s the pair that I lost the case for the last time. I’m going to throw those last two out when I go to bed tonight.

I found a pair of scissors here in Vietnam. The headphones made me think I’d take them out of my bag tonight. I thought I’d use them. I was wrong.

So, after today’s inventory, all I have to do is throw away a few things.

Balance

If I look at the big picture, the contents of my two bags haven’t changed much.

I occasionally throw out all the little things that I still had or collected along the way.

I gave away everything I found or received as gifts along the way.

The inventory confirmed that I only have what I use or really need in an emergency.

On 3 occasions, I only had my small backpack with me for days. I’m not saying that I would be able to live with even less in the long run. But this year also included the fact that I managed my everyday life with just one small backpack.

After a year, I still dare to say that I live a minimalist life.

Really.

The post 346. | After a year they are no longer with me first appeared on Digital Nomad Blog.

Then a week later I changed my mind.

I will move to Indonesia, including Bali.

The reason is relatively simple: there will be programs in Vietnam that I would like to attend, but due to the visa, I will miss them if I go at the end of November. This way, I will try out Indonesian life and then go to Vietnam from there.

More details soon!

The post 145. | Bali first appeared on Digital Nomad Blog.

Last week, while browsing the menu at a small restaurant – well, I haven’t been to a big one yet! – I found myself flipping through the menu and not knowing what some food categories meant, so I didn’t even think about ordering from that section. So I ordered a stir fried noodle.

But, I don’t want to get ahead of myself. This post is a little summary of the dishes I’ve discovered here, or delved into here. Spoiler alert: I haven’t eaten anything bad yet.

I’m getting a little lost in the world of food, even if “The gastronomic revolution eluded me“. I’m not the type to take pictures of food, but since I knew I was going to write a post like this, I took pictures of most of my food here. That’s how the galleries for this post came about.

Pad Thai

I knew this from before, we also ate it occasionally in Hungary, it was a big favorite even then. What is pad thai?

A dish that everyone knows, but it always shows a new face. The rice noodles sizzling in the wok are sweet, sour and salty at the same time. The tangy freshness of the lime, the crunch of the peanuts, the meatiness of the shrimp or chicken – it’s as if you’re tasting the essence of Thai cuisine.

Pad Thai is the most famous Thai noodle dish, also referred to as one of Thailand’s national dishes. It is a stir-fried rice noodle dish made with eggs, vegetables, tofu and often shrimp or chicken. The flavor is given by tamarind paste, fish sauce, palm sugar and lime, and crunchy peanuts are usually sprinkled on top.

When I ate at Fisherman’s Village, I had the chance to watch a few dishes being prepared on two occasions, as they were being prepared almost in front of my eyes. The wok is always in the mood for a meal, as soon as one dish is ready, they clean it up with a spoon and the ingredients for the next dish arrive. Where I ate, you can also order all kinds of other dishes, so the wok is sure to add a lot of flavor to the previous dishes.

A little oil, add the rice noodles, some sprouts, beat an egg, drizzle with three sauces, a little sugar, add the meat and shake and stir. It’s ready very quickly. To be honest, I’ve always felt that the chicken could have been cooked a little more. But at least the experience is authentic.

For the second time – like the first time – I ordered and paid for crab noodles, but when I saw that instead of crab, the lady was throwing tofu and chicken into the wok, I didn’t have the heart to complain. While I was eating the tofu, I imagined that it was crab…

Pad Thai is sweet, sour, salty and a little spicy at the same time. And it’s iconic.

I had my first Thai Pad Thai on my first night. Since then, I’ve tried it in several places. Even in the same places, this dish showed different sides. Sometimes the noodles stick together into a big ball that I can barely untangle, sometimes the strands separate nicely from each other. Sometimes they sprinkle peanuts on it, sometimes they put it in the corner of the plate, sometimes they bring it in a separate bowl. The lime is never left out. And neither is the cacophony of flavors.

Curry

I ate this as a soup. The first two times – as is the Hungarian custom – I also asked for a Pad Thai with the soup. Then I had to realize that this amount of food is a lot. The first time they asked if I wanted boiled rice with the curry, and with the incomprehension of the ignorant, I thought that rice with soup is something that even my grandmother would not understand.

After a few occasions, I thought that I use curry as a spice at home. Here, I ate it as a soup in my confusion, but it is a main course. So, what is curry then?

The word “curry” is often confusing because it has several meanings.

Origin of the word: The word “curry” spread from the English language during British colonial times. It actually comes from the South Indian word “kari”, which originally meant “sauce” or “spicy food”.

In India, they don’t really say “curry” – there are many different dishes with their own names (e.g. masala, korma, dal). However, the English called any sauced, spicy dish “curry”. That’s where the common usage came from.

In Thailand, “curry” means a sauced dish made with spice paste and coconut milk. These are not soups in the classic sense, but thick, sauce-like dishes eaten with rice. Bingo!

Curry powder: In Europe and Hungary, when people say “curry”, many people think of “curry powder” (a yellow spice mixture). This is a British invention, which is a simplified version of Indian spice mixtures. It has no uniform recipe, but often contains turmeric (which gives it the yellow color), coriander, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, chili.

So when you hear “curry”:

• In India = a spicy, saucy dish (but that’s not what they call it).
• In Thailand = a saucy dish made with coconut milk and spice paste.
• In the West = mostly a spice blend.
• In the English = any spicy, saucy dish

The point from the previous paragraph is that there are several types of curry in Thailand (red, green, yellow, massaman, panang). Each one starts with spice paste and coconut milk, with lots of fresh spices and chilies. The flavors range from very spicy to milder, sweeter.

My favorite is the yellow curry.

Khao Soi

An iconic soup from Northern Thailand: a coconut milk curry base, egg noodles, and crispy fried noodles on top. It’s often made with chicken or beef, and served with pickled mustard greens and lime.

I had a chance taste test for this dish. I was going to order Pad Thai, but I saw a poster of the dish on the wall, so I ate it.

I’ve only had it once, so as BB said in Forrest Gump: that’s all I can say about Khao Soi.

Stir fried

This is not a food, but a cooking technique. I saw it a few times on menus that it was stir fried, stir fried, but I couldn’t decide from the expression whether it was an English word – as I suspected – or the English equivalent of a Thai word that sounds similar to English. I had the feeling from the word “fried” that it might mean frying, but you can’t be sure of anything.

Stir fried dishes are dishes that are quickly fried in a wok, with a little oil and at high heat. They can be meat, seafood or vegetable versions, and the seasoning is done with sauces (e.g. soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce). This is one of the basic techniques of Asian “everyday cooking”. That’s why I wrote that Pad Thai is also made with this technique, to explain to myself why there is a Pad Thai and a stir fried section on the menus. Because if we were to group dishes based on technique, Pad Thai would be under stier fried and lost among the other dishes.

Here I will give a brief overview of basil.

There are several types of “Thai basil”:

• Thai sweet basil (horapha) – has a slightly anise-mint flavor, is common in green curries.
• Holy basil (kaphrao) – has a spicier, pepperier flavor, is a classic in Pad Kaphrao (fried meat with basil).
• Lemon basil (maenglak) – has a lemony aroma, is used in salads and soups.

The adjective “holy”:

• Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum / tulsi) is truly a sacred plant in India and Thailand.
• In India, the plant (Tulsi) is revered in the Hindu religion and is also kept on altars.
• In Thailand, it is less of a religious and more of a gastronomic shrine: it is so central to the flavors that it could be the “soul” of Thai cuisine.

Esan

This is the cuisine of the northeastern region of Thailand, which is simple, rustic, with very strong flavors. Examples include som tam (papaya salad), larb (spicy meat salad) or sticky rice. They usually work with a lot of spicy and fermented ingredients.

There is no gallery about this, because I have not eaten it yet.

It is here because – although the experience is still waiting for me – I have often seen it on menus and I became familiar with the concept at the same time as the others.

Other foods

The gallery speaks for itself. What can we see in it?

• Japanese curry,
• tamarind chutney, green coriander-chili chutney,
• Mushroom Mutter,
• papadum (“The flavors and kindness of India”),
• avocado sandwich (with the only slice of bread I’ve eaten since August),
• fried banana,
• pineapple sticky rice (it’s like a sausage: it stuffs the subject back into itself),
• some kind of sausage-like balls (there was no menu, I didn’t ask what it was called, they were selling it from a tricycle and two dogs asked for the third of it),
• furred crabs, with garlic cookies, a traditional Thai dish, its real name is fried tofu with garlic,
• grilled corn,
• crab rolls.

Fruit drinks

In one place it’s called smoothie, in another place it’s called juice. Some places just mix fresh fruit with ice, some add honey or sugar, and yogurt. The common feature in the drinks is real and fresh fruit, plus a magical orgy of flavors. If you look at the gallery, you have a chance to guess which one is my favorite.

I also placed two cuckoo eggs among the drinks.

One is available in a drink bottle on a stand. At first I thought they sold elderberry syrup in so many places. Then it turned out that it could be used to water the scooter.

The other is the second of the two dragon bottles. The first one shows an energy drink with the inscription “PharyaNak”, in a yellow bottle. I bought this one day and it was really tasty. The next day I thought I’d try the other one right next to it. I opened it in front of the shop, on the street, licked it, and the taste gave me a strange feeling. I quickly took a picture and showed it to ChatGPT, saying, “Come on, tell me what the hell I’m drinking.” “The label says: Phaya Nak, “Naga King” (the legendary dragon/snake creature). The top line says: herbal distillate, 12.8 degrees alcohol content. This is not a soft drink, but a strong drink made with herbs. It is a traditional Thai drink, often steeped in various plants, roots, and barks that are considered medicinal. It is drunk in small quantities, usually like a medicinal drink, not in large quantities.” So that’s how I accidentally found the Thai Jagermaister…

The post 141. | Flavors born on the beach first appeared on Digital Nomad Blog.

The morning after the motorbike tour described in the post “Ring Road of Koh Samui”, I went back to the scooter rental company and rented the little blue vehicle for another day. My main renter recommended a few attractions, I planned to spend a few more hours seeing some interesting places. By the end of the day, I ended up putting another 70 kilometers on the scooter.

Overlap Stone 2 – Best of Samui

My first stop was Overlap Stone 2. Two because there is one, not far from the other two. According to my host, it is not as spectacular as the other two and is more expensive. Yes, because you have to pay an entrance fee to these places. You don’t just go to see a rock! Based on this, I decided that visiting just one would be enough for me.

This stop is located a half-hour scooter ride from me. At the Wat Sila Ngu temple, which I introduced in the post “My first long walk in the tropics”, you don’t have to turn left towards the inside of the temple, but right, up the mountain. The road up is a real thrill. Especially if you go by scooter. I couldn’t find any information on the angle at which the roads rise, so I’m obviously exaggerating what I think, but I estimate the slope of the road to be 45 degrees. The road there is quite steep.

You can’t go all the way to the finish line, a few hundred meters below there are very strict signs warning that the further road is dangerous and entry is prohibited. Skulls and all! If I hadn’t wanted to park my vehicle, I would have had to do it here. I left my scooter there for 20 BHT, and in return they took me up to the finish line in an SUV. Along the way – but especially on the downhill section – it became clear why ordinary vehicles are prohibited here. The main reason is that it seems almost impossible for anything other than an SUV to come up here. For example, I certainly wouldn’t have been able to bring the car down in one go!

So after a short drive, I was up at the stone and the facilities built around it. The entrance fee is 200 BHT, but I also got an adhesive wristband for it!

The term overlap stone is used in Hungarian as a swinging stone. The Rocking Stone on the island of Koh Samui is a huge granite block that sits on a cliff ledge as if it could roll down into the valley at any moment. This natural wonder has stood there for thousands of years and is also revered by the locals as a sacred place.

From the stone, you can enjoy a stunning view of the sea, the hills of the island and the surrounding green landscape. The unique shape and location of the stone made me feel like this place represents the fragile yet eternal balance of nature.

Na Muang Waterfall 1

Yes, there are one and two of these. You don’t need to buy an entrance ticket here. Not only that, but I decided to see both of them. I paid 20 BHT for parking the motorbike and went to admire the water falling down.

The water thought differently, so it didn’t fall. The waterfall was closed that day. So, I could admire the place where water usually falls, but now it had other things to do. This fact didn’t cause me any mental breakdown. On the one hand, the place was still beautiful, and on the other hand, I decided that I would come back here during the rainy season that was starting soon. Then there would definitely be water.

While enjoying the peace and quiet, I sat down and ate some grilled corn and drank from a coconut. I was suspicious of this coconut, so I asked the AI: “I drank the juice of the fruit in the picture, and I ate the thin layer that can be scraped off the inside. It was sold as a coconut, but I have a feeling that it’s not a coconut, but something else. Am I right or wrong?”

He diplomatically didn’t say a word that I was wrong, even though that was the truth. I learned that it was indeed a coconut, just not the brown, hard-shelled, fully ripe variety that we usually see in Europe.

Coconuts can be found in stores and on the streets of tropical countries in two forms: young (green) coconuts and mature (brown) coconuts. Young coconut: The fruit, harvested while still young, has a green shell and contains abundant, refreshing coconut water inside. On the inner wall, only a thin, soft, gelatinous layer of coconut meat forms, which can be easily scooped out with a spoon. In Thailand and other tropical countries, they are sold freshly cut, with a straw and spoon. Mature coconut: This is the fully ripe version, with a thick, fibrous and hard brown shell. There is only a little liquid left inside, but the coconut meat is thick, hard and oily – this is what makes grated coconut, coconut milk or coconut oil.

I met – quiet – European people in the parking lot. They asked me where the waterfall was, it wasn’t hard to tell them that it was 100 meters from where we were standing, but I also told them that there was no water in it. I also told them that I was planning to go to Na Muang Waterfall 2, but they told me that there was no water there either. This information changed my plans and I chose another destination. I decided to visit Khun Si Waterfall.

Wat Khunaram (Phra Wihan Luang Pho Daeng)

Since I happened to pass Wat Khunaram on my way, I quickly pulled the handlebars of my motorbike and checked out this beautiful place. Behind the temple part there is a school, where there is a beautiful courtyard between the buildings. They were preparing for a concert, the equipment was already set up on the stage. However, I still caught the quiet moments.

It was not in vain to stop!

Khun Si Waterfall

I’m telling you in advance! There was no water here either! So, if you want to see amazing pictures of a working waterfall, you should look for them on the Internet.

I enjoyed getting to know this place even though the waterfall was turned off.

First of all, I had to get to the location on deserted forest roads. I passed two or three houses along the road in the forest. Yes, there were people living there! Here I thought that even such an island at the end of the world has its own end-of-the-world corner. Looking through the windows of these houses – a poetic image, I didn’t really discover a window! – I didn’t see the light of the big screen that enchanted everyone. I can also say that I inevitably thought about what the phrase “I live a minimalist life” would mean here…

I knew that a restaurant would be waiting at the top of the mountain. A small forest restaurant. Or rather a pub. I don’t know, because I didn’t visit it, I just parked my motorbike there. On the short road leading here, I was accompanied by two dogs, they were actively interested in riding a motorbike, I felt like they wanted to ride alongside me.

After parking the motorbike, I had to go up to an abandoned(?) house on top of a hill. I immediately looked for a stick, learning from the previous day’s experiences. On the short road leading up, I smelled wonderful scents, thanks to a tree with flowers I had never seen before. I learned from AI that the tree is a temple tree or also known as frangipani (Plumeria). It is a very common ornamental tree in Thailand, especially on the island of Koh Samui. The frangipani flower is used in many places in temples, for decoration, and for perfumes, and is one of the most well-known tropical tree flowers in Southeast Asia. Plumeria flowers are famous for attracting pollinators (especially nocturnal sphinx moths) with their scent, but they do not produce nectar. I thought about being a sphinx moth…

From here I had to walk down to the third waterfall in a 10-minute walk. After yesterday’s snake show, I was not at ease. Especially after looking down at the trees from the Overlap stone, about 5 meters below me, a snake was squirming on the top of a tree, and the courage that had put the reptile around my neck yesterday immediately faded. At the stone, I realized that I would not like to hike here just like that. Let’s just say that on the way to the waterfall, the thought kept running through my mind that there could be a living creature under any stone here that I wouldn’t like to meet – outside of a show.

The gloomy thoughts were compensated by the fact that there was a banana tree next to the road, from which I picked a fruit and ate it. It was a little unripe, but that didn’t take anything away from the experience.

I looked at the next waterfall. I imagined that where I was standing, I probably wouldn’t be able to stand if the tap were open.

I headed back to the snack bar, then to the motorbike. I dodged the routine dog interest, and after a half-hour ride I reached my own neighborhood. I had dinner there, then bought some groceries and ended the day’s wandering and motorbike riding.

It was an exciting day with the two dried-up waterfalls, the elephants, the grilled corn and coconuts, the dogs, the rickety houses, the buffet, the Plumeria flowers, the beautiful view, the off-road tour, the motorbike experience. I won’t continue this list because my fingers are getting tired. It’s easier to say that I’m grateful for this day too!

The post 140. | Best of Samui and the dry waterfalls first appeared on Digital Nomad Blog.

I see a lot of small street shrines in Koh Samui, which are built on small pillars, like a small model and sometimes have food/drinks inside. I also saw a ladder at one or two of them that leads up to them from the ground level. What are these little shrines called and what can I know about them?

This is how my conversation with ChatGPT started a few weeks ago.

After the conversation, I decided to dedicate part of one of my mornings to going on a photo tour with this specific topic in mind. The topic was therefore to photograph ghost houses, one of the most spectacular elements of Thai religious-cultural practice. Today was the day I set off.

During the 5 km walk, I took 140 pictures, and in the end I photographed 38 ghost houses. It was a short walk in a small area, but the numbers may give you an idea of ​​how common ghost houses are. The The gallery in the post was exceptionally long, containing 123 pictures, but I didn’t really know what to leave out of the photos, this mini-house living tradition is so detailed.

There are so many details to discover in the pictures. There was a house that didn’t have a statue. There was also one that was full crowded. I found one where one of the figures was facing the wall, the other was looking out the door. It’s worth looking for and discovering the mini statues inside the mini buildings! Sometimes I had the feeling that they were showing the family whose house the protective house belongs to. I saw animal figures, mainly elephants and horses.

Some photos of statues were also included in the gallery, because I found it interesting to see a few other cultural manifestations during the walk.

There were ghost houses that were body height, there were some that you had to look up at, or they were very tall, or because they were built “monumental”. Of course, I mean that they were much larger than average.

Their condition and location also vary. Most are freely accessible. I saw only one that was behind a fence. Private protection. Some were very well maintained, some were neglected. The last picture shows a custom-made structure, for me this was the most respectable, because all the other structures were purchased, this is the only one that I saw that someone built with their own two hands. It is worth looking at the roofs of the small buildings.

In terms of their material, most of the buildings are made of stone or concrete(?), wooden structures are rarer.

The colors are varied, you can read about their meanings below. On today’s tour, gold and white colors dominated, but for me, one of the very beautiful green ones was my favorite today.

The food and drinks that are placed for the spirits are again very colorful. My personal favorite is the picture showing the Fanta color range. We can see a lot of straw-based soft drinks, water, biscuits, dates. I discovered money in a single house. It is in the last part of the gallery, and based on the condition of the small house and the real house that is not visible in the photo, it is really nice that the owners of the house even gave the spirits from the seemingly little money available. I also saw a whole banana garland, where the whole for me is the perfect adjective. It would be very disrespectful to touch the food that is placed, I think no sane person would even think of doing it. At least not here. In Hungary, there is a tradition of stealing flowers from cemeteries, so I suspect that such a banana garland at home would definitely be eaten by the house spirits by morning.

To take the first pictures of the gallery, I just had to put on my shoes and go down the steps in front of the terrace. This little ghost house is here at the moment of writing. About 5 meters from me. I think it serves to protect this residential community, where I also live.

I also discovered incense and candles here and there. I note that putting candles out in the blazing sun in this climate doesn’t seem like a good idea to me, but it’s not my ghost house either. You can see a few candles bowing respectfully in the gallery.

I saw live plants, cut and artificial flowers. A very typical addition to the structures is that crepe-paper-like colorful logo. I couldn’t find out its name.

Right at the beginning of the walk, I also found the European equivalent of the structure that keeps evil spirits away. I placed it separately at the end of the post, outside the gallery.

Since I’ve known for days that this post will be the program for this morning, I looked for a black mini house, but I couldn’t find one. If I can take a photo of one someday, I’ll add it to the end of the post.

After the European solution…

You have a very good eye. What you see in Koh Samui (and all over Thailand, and even Southeast Asia) are ghost houses – in Thai: สางพระพรี (saan phra phum).

What are these?

• Small shrines, often house- or temple-like models, on a pillar or pedestal.
• According to Thai belief, every place (plot, house, business) has its own “spirit” (phra phum) who guards it.
• This spirit can “reside” in a ghost house, so it does not disturb the people living in the house.

Why do they put food, drink, flowers?

• Offering to the spirit of the place: food, drink, fruit, garlands of flowers, incense.
• Purpose: to appease, show respect, ask for favor (e.g. protection, luck, prosperity).
• Similar to leaving an offering to our ancestors: a connection with the invisible world.

Why the ladder?

• The small ladder or staircase is not an ornament, but a “way” for the spirits to “go up” to the cottage – from the plane of the earth to their “dwelling place”.
• This is a symbolic gesture: the spirit can easily find its place. A gesture to make it easy to travel between the invisible world and the visible.
• The ladder or staircase is a gateway for the spirit – This

Broader context

• In Thailand, you can find a ghost house in front of every house, hotel, shop, and even modern office building.
• Sometimes it is very ornate, gilded, and sometimes it is simple wood.
• It is not for tourists, but part of everyday spiritual life.

Meaning of colors

• Gold
  • The most common, because it is the color of abundance, luck, and prosperity.
  • It refers to the gold decoration of Buddhist temples, symbolizing divine light.
• Red
  • Strong, protective energy.
  • Sometimes chosen to honor more warlike spirits.
  • In Thai culture, red is the color of good luck and strength.
• White
  • The color of purity, peace, and spiritual protection.
  • Often chosen for places related to healing and peace of mind.
• Green / Blue
  • Colors associated with nature and harmony.
  • Green is a sign of growth, blue is a sign of protection and tranquility.
• Black (rare)
• For stronger, “stricter” spirits.
• It is more common in places where the area is considered to be ominous.

Types of shapes

• House-like spirit house
• Simpler, often wooden.
• Considered more of a dwelling place for “local spirits”.
• It is as if it were a home for the spirits of the earth.
• Temple-like spirit house (more ornate, gilded, with many details)
• “Phra Phum” – the home of higher-ranking, protective spirits.
• These are said to be inhabited by small statues, divine figures.
• Two shrines together
• It is not uncommon to see two different types standing side by side: a smaller one for the spirits of the earth, and a larger temple-like one for the spirits of greater power.

Photography ethics at spirit houses

• Things to do
  • Keep a respectful distance – don’t step on the platform or touch the offerings.
  • Take photos from the front or side so that you can see the shrine and its surroundings. This gives the impression that the spirit house is part of the place.
  • Pay attention to the light – the colors are most beautiful in the morning or evening, especially with the gold decorations.
  • Notice the details – the small ladder, the drinks, the flower garlands all tell a story. You can also take photos of these up close.
  • Smile and nod before you click – many Thais believe that a respectful gesture is also addressed to the spirits.
• What to avoid
  • Don’t climb on it, don’t touch it – it is taboo to touch or move the shrine/offering.
  • Don’t take photos of people eating/drinking from the offerings – it would be disrespectful.
  • Do not place your camera/phone on the haunted house – this is offensive to the locals.
  • Avoid mocking poses – e.g. as if you are drinking from the soda left there.

And finally, the European solution to keeping harmful spirits away:

The post 139. | The spirit houses – saan phra phum first appeared on Digital Nomad Blog.

The park itself, as I already mentioned, is not a large area. It’s nice, but there’s not much to see, except for the beautiful, palm-lined view of the China Sea. As you enter the park, the road immediately starts to climb. Until the first bend. Because that’s where it really starts to climb. You have to climb at such a steep angle that it almost felt like I was walking in double gravity, every step is a real challenge. However, once you’re over that incline, you only have to walk twice as much to reach the lookout point. The last pictures in the gallery show the way down.

The viewpoint

Walking towards the viewpoint, I felt like I was walking on a deserted continent. A closed, cracked-floored viewing platform, next to it the cold place of a small restaurant that used to have a bar, a ladder with overgrown trees, a long-closed restaurant and benches fenced off with ropes lined the path.

Finally, I found a place with a nice view of the part of the island where I go to shop almost every day. I took a few pictures from there.

Then I walked a little further to see Bangrak viewpoint itself. Well, there’s not much to see here. Google Maps indicated that I was where the viewpoint was. It was just that I couldn’t see anything. The vegetation had grown so thick that the island was completely hidden behind it. Interestingly, there was also a house where the viewpoint should have been.

The dog situation

It was possible to go a little further, as the road continued up a small hill. I thought, I’ll go up there, see if I can see anything. Three dogs immediately put this thought out of my head. In such cases – based on my experience so far – I take a few steps in the chosen direction and then out of nowhere I hear dogs barking. They also want to be seen, meaning they immediately start towards me. The plural is justified, because it’s certain that more than one dog will attack me. In such cases, I feel it’s worth turning around immediately and signaling to them that I’m not going to argue, I’m going to get the hell away. Of course, they don’t slow down, they keep coming, barking. If I growl at them, they stop, but there’s always one in the pack who keeps coming. You have to talk to him harder so that he feels that I’m leaving, but that doesn’t mean he can come closer.

I escaped this adventure, the pack was left behind. I started back, thinking that there was nothing else to see here. Accessible, I might add.

I was wrong, because on the way down there was a steep path leading up to the right, with rocks on top. And a house. I made another mistake by going down this path. It’s true that I was aiming for the rocks on the right, but the dogs must have thought I wanted to disturb the peace of the house on the left. So they barked at me too. Three of them again. They came so close in an instant that they immediately surrounded me. The only reason not one of them got behind me was because the rocks were there, and there was no fourth. However, there were dogs in front of me, to my right and left. One of them was so curious that he took my hand right away in his mouth. It’s true that he did this carefully, and I can say that he was more of a pressure test on my palm, but despite his playfulness, he still bit me. Or something like that. I didn’t feel like it was the right moment to discuss the situation, so I quickly climbed onto the rocks.

I took a few pictures from where I had reached and decided that I didn’t want to get close to the three dogs again, so I climbed back onto the road on the other side of the rocks.

The next day mentioned in the “Ring Road of Koh Samui” post, I was taking pictures of the shipwreck on Nathon Beach and was already walking back to my scooter when three(!) dogs barked at me. I was quite surprised that they caught me on the beach. Although, there were houses there a little behind the palm trees. After I yelled at them something like, “Please hide the fuck away,” two of them took the bait and turned back. The third one wasn’t so accepting. I had to explain to him in a louder voice that I would rip his heart out if he came any closer. This made me think, he struggled a little to get closer to my feet, but then he went back somewhere.

The next day – Sunday (there will be a post about this day soon) – I drove to an area quite far from everything, where there was a restaurant. Two dogs accompanied me on the last few meters on the way there. Here I looked for a stick and walked with it. I did all this because it was clear that my path led from the restaurant to a house that seemed abandoned.

By now I had learned what to look out for. What is different from Hungary. There, dogs are behind closed fences, except in very rare cases. Well, they are really missing here. And where there is a building, even if it seems abandoned, there will be a dog. So, either you don’t go there, or you arm yourself and prepare for the encounter. They are obviously just protecting their territory – rightly so. If you don’t have to go there, then don’t be curious and don’t go there. If you do happen to go there, then be prepared!

I saw the stick come in handy. I went up to the building, which was a haunted place, I could imagine what a good time people could have here, whether in company or, unfortunately, alone, like me. From there, I went down to a waterfall, and during this short walk I put the stick to good use. Then when I went back to the motorcycle, one of the dogs attacked me. I was surprised that it came alone and the other two were just watching from a distance. Did you count? There were three of them here too! I kept this one away from me with the magic of my voice and the sight of the stick. When I got to the motorcycle, I leaned the stick against the vehicle when another dog came up. If it doesn’t bark, I don’t talk to it either, that’s what happened. When I put on my helmet, the stick fell off. The dog took it in its mouth and took it away. Maybe it didn’t get along with the third person who attacked me and liked the method? I didn’t ask, I gave it to him as a gift, if he took it anyway.

In summary, I can say that dogs in Koh Samui often live freely, without fences. They protect the area around the houses in packs, which is why tourists often encounter barking, attacking dogs. A stick or firm action can help, but the best prevention is to avoid private areas.

The post 137. | Bangrak viewpoint and the dogs first appeared on Digital Nomad Blog.

Tha date

A november 21-es dátumot az alapján határoztam meg, hogy ekkor lesz nagyjából 3 hónapja, hogy itt élek Thaiföldön.

I decided on the date of November 21st because it will be about 3 months since I have been living here in Thailand.

The truth is that this date may change, but it definitely gives me a framework for my stay here, keeping in mind that I will have to move on soon.

In my article “Missing post: The final practical steps” I wrote this: “Now I’m here and I don’t have a visa. I don’t think this will bother anyone for three months. Especially not me. Then I’ll go to another country, and I’ll be more careful with the visa issue there. I know from ChatGPT what kind of punishment I can expect in terms of the visa issue, so I’m curious to see what happens to me when I leave here. I’m hoping that this won’t be my first prison experience. “

While I was still at home, a friend of mine recommended the so-called consular protection service to me. This is how they described this option: “Whether you are traveling abroad for a short period of time or are living in another country as a way of life, we recommend that you register for consular protection and fill out the online registration form. If you register for consular protection, your contact information will help us provide you with consular assistance more quickly if you get into trouble abroad. Furthermore, the information you provide during registration will help us contact you if the Consular Service declares a state of emergency in the destination country where you have registered for consular protection. “

I have not registered for this protection now. However, I did look into the section on travel advice for the given country and what to do before traveling.

Here is some information about Thailand that is important for the date of departure from Vietnam:

• We would like to draw the attention of travelers to Thailand that from May 1, 2025, all non-Thai citizens entering Thailand by air, land or sea must fill out the newly introduced so-called “Thailand Digital Arrival Card” (TDAC) online within 3 days before arrival. I told you about this, I have one, although I filled it out in Bangkok, at the airport, not three days before departure.
• In the case of a stay of up to 60 days: Hungarian citizens (tourism, business purposes, occasional short-term employment) can stay in Thailand without a visa for 60 days after arriving by air, land or sea. It will no longer be necessary to extend the stay here for 30 days at the Immigration Office, but within 60 days. After leaving and re-entering the country (visa run), they can stay in Thailand for another 60 days.
• Starting from October 8, 2024, Hungarian citizens will be able to submit their long-term visa application electronically in the renewed Thai e-Visa system (https://www.thaievisa.go.th), and they do not need to visit the competent Thai embassy in person.

So, I am currently legally in Thailand and I need to get my 30 day extension in October.

So the target date is 2025.11.21

Why Vietnam?

I could say that only. But it’s a bit more sophisticated than that. Months ago I heard about an event called “Da Nang Nomad Fest 2026”. According to my information at the time, this would have been at the end of February, so it would be just in time for me to be in this country, so I could visit this event more easily.

However, according to today’s information, the exact date of the event is: Fri Mar 20, 2026 11:00 AM – Sun Mar 29, 2026 10:30 PM. These dates make the organization interesting at the moment. I wonder how long I will be able to stay here.

It would be nice to reach this festival, because the topics developed there are interesting, despite the strong overlap with the Nomad Cruise program:

• Digital Nomad Lifestyle: Navigate the ins and outs of thriving as a digital nomad.
• Launching an Online Business: Gain essential insights for starting and growing your online venture.
• Digital Marketing: Mastering Marketing in the Digital Age
• Building Your Community: Understand the importance of community and how to cultivate a supportive network.
• Finance & Passive Income: Explore strategies for managing finances and creating sustainable passive income streams.
• Productivity & Time Management: Enhance your productivity and master time management techniques.
• AI & Automation: Discover how to leverage the latest AI and automation technologies for your business.
• Personal Development: Explore tools and practices to enhance personal growth and mindfulness.

Visa

Since I came across such a good site where I can get official information about a country, I checked the Vietnamese visa framework at the consular protection:

• From August 15, 2025, Hungarian citizens holding private passports can travel to Vietnam for tourist purposes without a visa for a period not exceeding 45 days.
• According to our current knowledge, stays other than this purpose and exceeding this period are still subject to a visa requirement, but we are awaiting official confirmation from the local authorities. In these cases, the visa cannot be applied for upon entry, but must be applied for in advance, on the online platform set up for this purpose.
• According to the information provided by the local Immigration Office, the processing time for the e-visa is 3-10 working days, but according to experience, this takes longer. We recommend that the visa application be submitted at least one month before the trip. It is valid for 90 days and costs USD 25 for a single visa and USD 50 for a multiple-entry visa.
• IMPORTANT: If you require a visa for entry due to the duration of your trip, please wait for the Vietnamese Immigration Office to respond to your visa application. If you do not receive a confirmation email or if you have provided incorrect information during the application process, please contact the office at: https://evisa.gov.vn/support

Based on the above, I still have some uncertainty, but it will all be revealed in time.

I have to start slowly preparing for this trip!

The post 136. | Vietnam first appeared on Digital Nomad Blog.

I will tell you the story of the day.

Google Maps

The tour started with planning at home. I came across this circular tour in one of the videos I watched. The first picture shows the route shown there, and the second and third pictures show the actual route I took, on a motorbike.

Why isn’t my route in one picture? Apparently, I’ve never planned a route with more than 10 destinations using Google Maps. So it came as a surprise that this is the maximum number of destinations that can be placed on the map during a route. That’s why I had to plan my trip in two parts. The planning was very simple, the route I learned is along a main road, so I simply marked interesting points along the way on the map. And I also made a few detours. So a total of 18 markers were placed on the two maps.

The Scooter

It’s really easy to rent a scooter here, and you can do it cheaply. The day before, the rental company had just come along, so I got informed about what would be needed. So on Saturday morning, after making the itinerary, I set off with a comfortable backpack to start the transaction.

The two guys were very relaxed, but it seemed like they were working in an orderly manner. As soon as I sat down, I already had the paper, on which the boss had marked what I had to fill out, and given me a pen. Name, address, date. That’s about all the information I needed. The address is an interesting question here, because they always assume that I live in a hotel, where I have a room number. I don’t know the exact address of the apartment where I live. Let’s say, not even the exact one. I tried to look it up on Airbnb, but there too, only the district is listed. I couldn’t help but write this. It’s about It was as informative as if I said my exact address was Budapest. The guy looked at the address for a bit after I gave him the paper back, but then didn’t ask about it. I was really happy about that, because I can’t even fake an address here. What would I say? Koh Samui, Arany János Street 51.?

Renting a motorbike costs 200 BHT for a day, which is exactly 24 hours here. The paper accompanying the rental was also written in English and pretty well summarized the terms of the rental. It included the deposit amount, I signed it in two places, then tore the paper at the perforated part at the bottom of the page, and I had a copy. Perfect. A photo of my passport was also included in a mobile phone – okay, no GDPR here – and we were done with the paperwork.

The young man asked if I would deposit 3,000 BHT or leave my passport. Peace is better, I left money with him. When asked what kind of motorcycle I wanted, I told him the day before – using all my motorcycle knowledge – that I wanted a little one. Now another important question arose from my part: is there a mobile phone holder on the machine. Of course there is. I could choose a helmet for myself. There was no Batman one… The boss wished me a nice day, then handed it over to his colleague.

He introduced me to the mysteries of the motorcycle. For example, I asked if the motorcycle was automatic. It is. I asked how to start it, so I found out that too. You can lock the helmet under the seat and you can also lock the motorcycle with the ignition key. I forgot to ask what kind of fuel it needs, because this question only occurred to me after the start.

There was no great preparation for the trip, but I didn’t overcomplicate things either. I put on my helmet, started the motorcycle and set off with the determination of a professional. In the wrong direction, I realized this after about half a kilometer, but I didn’t despair.

These were my first meters in a country where they drive on the opposite side of the road to mine. As much as I was afraid of this, it was easy to get used to it. Once during the day I messed up a right turn. In this situation, I stop on the right side of my side at the dividing line, waiting for oncoming traffic. From there, you have to turn left on the road on the right, but with 32 years of driving experience, I turned right. Of course, a car came right in front of me. I thought, sorry, I think they meant stupid tourists, but nothing worse happened.

I haven’t ridden a motorbike since about 1994. At that time, I drove an automatic transmission miracle called Babetta – with great pleasure. I can say that these 31 years have passed without me falling out of the routine. The brilliance of this statement in my own eyes is not diminished by the fact that it is not a brain surgery to drive such a vehicle. You sit on it, pull the gas and the brakes.

Already in these 500 meters that I drove in the wrong direction, I felt that this was (also) my day! I enjoyed the freedom that motorcycling gives me immensely. By the end of the day, my teeth would definitely be full of muslin if there were such things here, because I drove so much that my mouth reached my ears. Maybe a few people noticed that a guy with a full face was driving a motorbike on the road, grinning. But it is also possible that they simply recorded that this one was going from some weed shop somewhere.

The point is that if I had done nothing else that day, except ride these 88 kilometers on the motorbike, it would have been worth it.

But that’s not all that happened.

Wat Phra Yai

Wat Phra Yai, known in English as the Big Buddha Temple, is a Buddhist temple on Ko Phan (also spelled Koh Fan or Koh Faan), a small island offshore from the northeastern area of Ko Samui, Thailand, connected to that island by a short causeway 3 kilometres north of Samui International Airport. As its name indicates, it is home to a giant, 12-metre-high gold-painted Buddha statue. Since being built in 1972, it has become one of Ko Samui’s main tourist attractions and a major landmark.

From this description I learned something I hadn’t noticed before, namely that this statue is on a small island. In fact, I was sitting on the causeway connecting Koh Fan to Koh Samui when I experienced what I wrote in the post “Lightning over the island”.

It was really nice to see this place. In this post, I will try to organize the galleries so that there are not too many, but at least the reader can have some idea of ​​what the place looks like.

The cavalcade of colors that appear everywhere next to the gold makes these places very atmospheric. Some of the onlookers are visitors like me. But here I saw a monk at work, and I saw a person meditating and getting lost in the right place. Not everyone behaved in accordance with the spirit of the place, but I think that is always the case.

I haven’t left the place yet, going a little further from the main area, there are quite a few interesting sculptures on the beach. They are clearly visible from the embankment, so I decided to check them out last time.

Then I jumped on the scooter and rode a short kilometer.

Wat Plai Laem

Wat Plai Laem is a modern Buddhist temple. The temple’s design incorporates elements of Chinese and Thai traditions and was in part designed by distinguished Thai artist Jarit Phumdonming. Its main statue, which is in Chinese style, is not of Gautama Buddha. It is a form of the bodhisattva of compassion and mercy, Avalokiteśvara, called Cundi. This form of the deity is known in Chinese as “Guanyin with eighteen arms.

Although it is an open-air image, it is located within an elaborate ubosot (the most sacred area of ​​the Vats) on a platform-pavilion surrounded by a temple lake.

In the gallery shown here, I tried to show how beautiful the paints are on the statues shown here. Each building is a miracle in itself. I could spend hours looking at the small details. However, there were still many kilometers ahead of me.

I also had to refuel. Here you have two choices if you need fuel. The traditional gas station or the roadside vendors. As I left the temple, I came across one of these. That’s why I bought 5 bottles of gas. For a long time, I thought these bottles were some kind of brandy that was sold in these places. The price of a bottle of gas was 20 BHT, which – as it turned out – gave me enough gas to cover 70 kilometers on Sunday, and it was enough to take the vehicle back on Monday.

Thongson Beach

Most of the points marked for my tour were beaches. They were easy to mark on the map. They were all different. I arrived at the first one.

I didn’t just look at the sandy part. Turning a little to the left of the beach, I discovered a rocky part, so I climbed up these rocks. It was a completely different view from there. Among other things, I saw the next beach, but I didn’t know at the time that it was the Naturism Beach. Looking back, it’s as if I was wondering what a completely naked man was doing on the beach. Now I understand. The silence that I experience in such places is soothing. Let’s just say, I had no reason to calm down at all.

I really like this job, when I write these posts and the little details come to light that I can’t possibly know on site. Like now – it turned out while writing – I wandered into an area called the Geological Graveyard of Fossilized Corals (Paleonzoic Era). I saw such petrified corals, and I noted to myself how beautiful the stones were.

Incidentally, I also managed to mark markers with such sonorous names on the map, which – when I got there – turned out to be private areas. Once I arrived at a residential area closed off by a guard and a barrier. Here the guard stopped me, I asked if I could go in, and after receiving a negative answer, we said goodbye to each other with the greatest respect, smiles and wai. It was no problem at all that I had traveled several kilometers because of a barrier. After all, I enjoyed riding a motorbike.

Choeng Mon Beach

Looking back at my pictures of this beach, I realized that I can’t take fancy pictures like other people. I don’t really care about that part of it, I take pictures of what I see, maybe not what others want to show.

I’m only writing this because I wasn’t entirely sure I was even here. Although Google Maps says the place on my map as “recently visited”, and that was my marker, I was confused by how different my pictures were from what I see online. So for the first time in my life, I had to read the geographical coordinates from the photo I took.

In the case of one of the pictures, they look like this: GPSLatitude – 9 34 17.346359 (9.571485) GPSLongitude – 100 4 55.885078 (100.082190). It couldn’t be easier, I took the string “17.346359 55.885078” and copied it onto the map. I immediately knew that the picture was taken in the Arabian Sea under Oman. Well, that didn’t work. I thought maybe I was remembering the words wrong, so I swapped the two numbers (55.885078 17.346359). Then on the map I found myself in the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Poland. I was wrong here too. But finally, using the numbers in brackets (9.571485 100.082190) it turned out that I was really on Choeng Mon Beach. Yay!

Near Ko Mat Lang

The next stop was a random one. I wouldn’t even know where I was if I hadn’t tried this photo-information mapping first. So, I was cruising down the road on my little blue scooter and suddenly couldn’t resist the call of a small street from the main road. I went down some narrow winding roads to the beach, which doesn’t have a name on the map, but I managed to find out that I was right across from the island of Ko Mat Lang.

Lamai Beach

This name may be familiar to more discerning readers. Yes, I was here in “My first long walk in the tropics”. This is where the Wat Sila Ngu temple presented there is located.

This is a very frequented beach, so in the few minutes that I wanted to quietly look around and take pictures, four people asked me if I wanted to rent a bed, or get a massage, or rent some water stuff. In the past few days, I have watched a lot of videos about India. Almost everyone there complains that they never have a moment of peace because they always want something from them. I thought for a moment that I could be in India with the frequency of this question.

Buddha Footprint

Another unplanned stop followed. As I was heading towards the next stop, I happened to notice a sign that read “Buddha’s Footprint.” Without thinking, I pulled off the road and within moments I was standing there.

There were 156 steps leading up to the building (I wasn’t the one who counted it!), which was a rather shabby building. Until that moment, I had no idea that such a place even existed, so I didn’t regret my eagle eye spotting the ladder. By the way, there was a very nice view from the cliff behind the building.

On the way down, I noticed a nice modern, abandoned-looking building, and since its upper floor was open, I checked that out too. I could see beautiful wood carvings on the empty building.

Wat Phra Chedi Laem Sor

Wat Phra Chedi, located on Koh Samui’s southern coast, is a lesser-known yet historically significant Buddhist temple, set against a scenic backdrop of the ocean and lush greenery. Unlike the more famous temples on the island, Wat Phra Chedi offers a peaceful and authentic experience, making it a great destination for those looking to explore Koh Samui’s hidden cultural gems.

The temple features a beautifully weathered chedi (stupa), ancient relics, and serene temple grounds, providing a glimpse into the island’s spiritual and architectural heritage. With ocean views, a quiet atmosphere, and a connection to Koh Samui’s Buddhist traditions, Wat Phra Chedi is a must-visit for those interested in history, culture, and off-the-beaten-path exploration.

The things you read in the description of the first two paragraphs are all true. The temple garden is still dignified in its abandonment. I even lingered in the garden for a while, looking for traces of better times. There was a building next to the garden, I would have liked to go in, but I didn’t want to start my burglary career here.

The stupa is also a majestic sight, its solitude in front of the sea is very strange. The park that belongs to the place is simply heavenly. When I rested for a while and was about to leave, I saw two Thai ladies in the parking lot with their motorbikes. One of them was selling grilled food, the smell of it spread very nicely in the park. I didn’t really care what it was, I bought a portion and ate it while sitting at one of the small tables. It was a handful of sausages, which I was given another handful of vegetables, and half a handful of hot peppers. It was a real challenge, but I ate it. Two dogs immediately came up to me, not when I sat down, but when I paid for the food. These were very trained dogs. They also understood how cute it was, so I didn’t have the heart not to give it to him, so in the end the three of us ate the grilled balls.

Kobra Show

The next stop was another detour from the ring road. I went to the Cobra Show attraction. Where it turned out that there would be no show for me today. The cashier said that if I was alone, then unfortunately there would be no show because it wouldn’t be worth it for one person. However, she offered me to see the snakes alone for a quarter of the price. I thought, don’t let the day pass without a reptile, I’ll see them alone. I jumped out to the motorbike, which I didn’t lock and then… Well, I’m lucky, I’ll write about it soon. Just then a Russian girl came with her son. So there were three of us, and the show started.

We had to wait a bit, while I looked carefully at the inhabitants of the terrariums. Then the three of us were ushered to the edge of the ring and the SHOW began!

It was really enjoyable, the oldest of the three human characters was the ringmaster. He started with education, he gave a very nice summary of the behavior of snakes. I can tell you that if I meet a snake in the future, I won’t run away. Then it won’t be a problem. Our training didn’t take long. Then he quickly showed me what he was talking about. He called a cobra to help with this. They say that this was bad to watch. So, when the cobra – which, being a snake, does not have a vocal organ, so it makes sounds with exhaled air during the lesson – jumps towards the man after continuous teasing, I shit myself instead. He calmly grabs the back of the cobra’s head, because the snake can’t see that movement. Nor his forehead.

The water hit him a couple of times during the first performance, even though I wasn’t on stage. There was a collection of pictures on the wall that the master’s doctor friend had given him. These pictures were of snakebite survivors. Seeing some of the pictures made me think that I hope I never see one like that in person.

The snake charmer profession can’t be easy. The two guys have been studying it for six years. We learned that if it weren’t for the two guys, there wouldn’t be a show right now, because the gentleman who was doing the main attraction was bitten by a snake 3 days ago, so he’s in the hospital now. Another friend of the master recently died in Japan, also due to professional injury.

There’s definitely blood in the guys’ pussies. The next act was the jumping snake, which can jump up to a meter. The production was that the snake was made to be extremely nervous and the boy always jumped out of its way when it attacked him. All this while lying down and sitting down. I don’t know how much money the guys get for this, but I’m not sure…

There were a few other small things, but then we moved on to the mongoose standing on the edge of the stage. His presence increased the tension of the stage, because the cobra is supposedly watching him with one eye. They wanted to show that you can safely put a snake and a mammal in a cage together, because if the mongoose is well-housed, it won’t hurt the snake. And it is fed properly. Well, the animal didn’t understand the theory. As soon as they put the reptile next to it, it immediately bit the cobra’s head. They took the snake out of the cage very urgently…

This little animal farm was a very good place by the way. I really liked the kindness with which they greeted him, the friendly, patient performance. Maybe I’ll come back here again.

Oh, and the cashier girl and the master, when they heard I was Hungarian, they both immediately said “thank you!”

Lipa Noi Beach

This place reminded me of when I was a little tired and I started to realize that it was getting dark. I had rained a few times during the day, I tried not to imagine what it would be like to drive in the dark and in the rain, because the rain was a bit heavy.

Nathon Beach

This was the most beautiful of all. Maybe it was the evening, the white sand, the shipwreck. I don’t know. I could have easily spent the night here.

Let’s say three dogs attacked me on the way back from the wreck, but that didn’t dampen my spirits.

It was a tiring but very exciting day. On the way home, I passed through parts of the town that were not, to put it mildly, luxurious. And to do this, I only had to go a few streets behind the main road. I saw houses that I would think were used to keep chickens at home. Maybe my next tour will be for house-seeing purposes.

On Saturday, I went to bed with a grateful heart that I was sleeping in a good place and that I had the opportunity to gather excellent experiences during the day.

The post 135. | Ring Road of Koh Samui first appeared on Digital Nomad Blog.

My goal was to visit the red Wat Sila Ngu (also known as Wat Ratchathammaram) (Stone Snake Temple in English). After my own writing, I also included an “official description” in the post.

I’ve organized the pictures for this post into mini galleries. However, in order to show you where my journey took me, I’ll highlight four pictures here.

Az első képen Koh Samui területei láthatóak. Én Bohputban élek a sziget északi részén és dél, dél-kelet felé kellett gyalogolnom a cél eléréséhez. Keresztül kellett gyalogolnom Chawengen, hogy Lamiban találjam magamat.

Ennek helynek az elérésére a Google Maps a második képen látható két gyalogos útvonalat adta meg nekem. A kékkel pöttyözött úton indultam el, erre a terv a Google szerint 3 óra 55 perc és a 16,8 km-es távolság. Az alternatív útvonal ezzel szemben 4 óra 49 perc és 18,7 km volt. Úgy terveztem, hogy a rövidebb úton megyek el oda, majd a hosszabb úton érkezem haza.

A harmadik és negyedik képek pedig a karórám által rögzített ténylegesen megtett kirándulás útvonalát mutatják. A képeken nem láthatóak az eredmények, de a nap végére 33,51 km-el, 6:59 perc sétával és mindössze 285 méter szintkülönbség megtételével lettem gazdagabb. Legalább nem kellett hegyet másznom!

Bohput

The first picture shows the areas of Koh Samui. I live in Bo Phut in the north of the island and had to walk south-southeast to reach my destination. I had to walk through Chaweng to find myself in Lami.

To reach this place, Google Maps gave me two walking routes, shown in the second picture. I started on the blue dotted route, which Google estimated would take 3 hours and 55 minutes and cover a distance of 16.8 km. The alternative route, on the other hand, was 4 hours and 49 minutes and 18.7 km. I planned to take the shorter route to get there and then the longer route home.

The third and fourth pictures show the actual route I took, as recorded by my watch. The results are not visible in the pictures, but by the end of the day I had walked 33.51 km, walked 6:59 minutes and gained only 285 meters in elevation. At least I didn’t have to climb a mountain!

Since I walked the entire way through a populated area, I didn’t expect many natural wonders. I only encountered a single snake on the sidewalk. And I walked in terrible noise, so I listened to a book almost the entire way. So by the end of the day, my reading experience memory was enriched by nearly 350 pages.

I saw a lot of unsightly places. By this I mean that there is quite a lot of dirt along the roads. At such times, I am confronted with the fact that despite all the serenity, Thai people also litter. The custom here is that the garbage truck goes around every night and takes the garbage away. We just put the black bags in the trash can, or next to it if it doesn’t fit. On this day, I saw a lot of black bags that hadn’t been taken away yet.

The other interesting thing is how people use the sidewalk. I think it’s natural for cars to stop on the sidewalk so that they can only be avoided on the road. But there are also motorcycles, which I’ve already written about, and I have an assumption that they grow in the grass, that’s all. Well, a motorcycle stopping in the middle of the sidewalk is also a natural thing. Or across the sidewalk. So, for a good part of my trip, I participated in a garbage bag and motorcycle/car dodging race. Seriously, if I were a little more dizzy, I’d throw up my guts, I avoided so many things that day.

I also mentioned that getting to the other side of the road is again in the impossible category. Since I had to pass quite a few intersections along the way, I had my fair share of waiting while walking. Drivers are not at all considerate. Westerners also drive stupidly. Thai people leave the least amount of distance they can when passing me. A Westerner will easily pass you by 30 centimeters. I am not a scared child, but I had to remind myself all day to assess my situation twice as carefully as I would in Europe before stepping on any roadway. And then there are steep places there too…

Of course I saw beautiful buildings, more modern than traditional. I learned that there is an elephant sanctuary not far from it. I decided to check that out next time.

The rain was a bit of a nuisance, but apart from that and the traffic, I reached Chaweng without any excitement.

Chaweng

This part of the settlement is no different from Bohput in that it is the same. I only found out that I had arrived here from the sign.

The weather was still cloudy when I was here, but having reached this far I could already experience what it means to walk in the tropics. Obviously the physical work had something to do with it, but I think the 70-80% relative humidity also helped that all my clothes were floating in water. By the way, the relative humidity in Hungary for the same period is 60-68%. By the end of the day, my pants were stained white with salt coming out of my body everywhere. I drank quite a lot during the day, but despite this – as is usual at this time – I didn’t have to go to the bathroom very often. I think I managed to illustrate quite thoroughly that I was sweating like a horse all day.

I approached Lamai. There is an unpleasant section between Chaweng and Lamai. I had to walk a lot on the side of a four-lane car road. There are no sidewalks on the road for kilometers. It was not worth walking on a main road, but I was a little excited not to end up back in any of the hospitals I saw on my trip today. Because I quietly note that I saw three hospitals on this 17-km stretch of road.

Shops in such a settlement are about every 300 meters, so I could buy water anywhere. Of course, I took some with me, which I consumed at the temple, when it was already quite hot.

Lamai

This part of the town is somehow more crowded than where I live. And I saw a lot more tourists. I avoided it. Looking at the pictures, I can’t really highlight anything special about this section.

Maybe just that I didn’t feel the need yet, but here I already put on my hat because I remembered that I didn’t want to get sunstroke. So, I looked for shady spots on the sidewalk so I could walk there, and after a while I felt my shoes getting warm.

Wat Sila Ngu

Then suddenly I was at the temple. I recommend reading the part about the temple at the end of the post, which I also mentioned at the beginning of my article. My own experiences were as follows.

It was a joy to catch a glimpse of the temple. That is, it was good to get there. I knew that I wanted to go inside the building, but only on the way did I realize that my knees were not covered by my pants, and covering this part of the body is a requirement when visiting Buddhist temples. Maybe it was good that I ran through airports twice this year in these pants without a belt, because at least that way I knew that if I loosened the belt, the pants would slide down just enough to cover the unwanted part of my body. My shoulders were covered, and you have to take off your shoes if you want to go inside, but it’s easier to take something you have than to replace something you don’t have.

The temple was very beautiful, as were its surroundings. Although, if I think about it, in the surroundings, only the statues and other buildings were beautiful, the surroundings themselves presented a clean and simple picture.

The church itself carried something special grandeur. I got there an hour before it closed, so I had time to admire the statues. I also had time to do a second meditation inside. This was not the first time I meditated in a church, I had already had the opportunity to do so in Milan, as I wrote about in my “Cinque Terre travel diary”.

This is a very interesting experience that the monk did not greet me back and there could be several possible explanations:

• Different cultural customs
  • In Thailand, monks (especially in the Theravada Buddhist tradition) often do not greet laypeople, especially non-female visitors. This is not disrespectful, but rather a way of following the rules of the order (vinaya).
  • The manner of greeting is also different: locals use the wai gesture (folded hands, slight bow), which monks generally do not return. They may respond with a small nod, a smile, or complete silence.
• Monastic rules
  • Reservation is important for Buddhist monks, and they often refrain from unnecessary talk. The monk may have taken a vow of silence, or he may simply not be in the mood for conversation.
• Personal reason
  • He may have been in meditation, thought, or the middle of a task and did not respond. This is not a personal rejection, but rather part of the moment.

It’s great to know this because it helps me understand the culture here.

I sat on the beach for a while, pondered the unknown cultural meaning of the sculptures, and then – since closing time was approaching – I headed home.

The way back

As I mentioned, I planned to take the other route home. I thought so until the bend that separated the two roads. But in the last few minutes I reconsidered and still stayed on the same route I came. It was obvious that I would be doing most of the way back in the dark. The alternative route was outside of the populated area, but on a highway. So I really didn’t want to risk being hit by someone in the middle of the island in my unlit outfit.

I stopped for dinner not far from the temple. I had a pad thai, and since I felt a little short now, I asked for another serving of fried bananas. I drank a Fanta, too, just for curiosity’s sake. It really tastes very different from Europe!

This restaurant was a very interesting place. It was actually part of the street, with the kitchen right in front of me, the chairs and the sidewalk. When I sat down, one of the ladies suggested that I sit at another table. I immediately understood that he was saying this because there was a fan above the table he suggested – aimed at the chair – which he turned on immediately when I sat down. Only women worked in this restaurant, of all ages. They were sitting at a table and chatting, but as soon as I told them what I wanted, they all(!) stood up and started doing something. In this way, I felt funny and uncomfortable when, after eating the pad thai, I asked for the banana and everyone jumped up again, as if they were members of an anthill. This is where I first encountered the linguistic inaccessibility. One of the sweetly smiling girls didn’t even know the word Fanta. Or was it me who pronounced it incomprehensibly?

I got a lot of invitations on the way. This is the part of the town where there are a lot of night clubs. The girls sit here, drink something, and if I walk towards them, they wave and invite me to join them. I’ve gotten used to being invited to a dozen massage parlors a day if I walk past them. In such cases, I always say hello with a wai and a thank you to indicate that I’m not going in. At the bars here, I just smiled and didn’t go in.

As planned, I arrived home before 10 p.m. Tired, with a good sense of exhaustion. I loved this day too.

Official description

source: Wat Sila Ngu – Wat Ratchathammaram

Wat Sila Ngu (also known as Wat Ratchathammaram) is one of Koh Samui’s cultural attractions, well worth adding to your itinerary and one of the most popular temples for the local Thai Buddhist population.

The name “Stone Snake Temple”, the English translation of “Wat Sila Ngu”, holds deep cultural and spiritual significance, rooted in the mythology and symbolism revered across Southeast Asia.

The word “Sila” translates to “stone” in English, while “Ngu” means “snake.” So, the name Wat Sila Ngu literally translates to the “Stone Snake Temple”. The snake, particularly the Naga serpent, is a potent symbol in many Asian cultures, including Thai. Wat Sila Ngu, or Stone Snake Temple, is a name that beautifully combines physical description with spiritual symbolism, enriching the temple’s cultural significance. It paints a vivid picture of the temple’s role as a spiritual haven and offers insights into the rich tapestry of Thai Buddhist traditions and beliefs.

In Thai and Buddhist mythology, the Naga is often depicted as a great snake or dragon, sometimes with multiple heads. It’s viewed as a protector and a symbol of great power and wisdom. Nagas are believed to be the inhabitants of a mythical underworld, protectors of treasures, and guardians of the Buddha and his teachings.

In the context of Wat Sila Ngu, the name could reference the physical attributes of the temple or symbolize the spiritual values it embodies. The temple’s exterior, replete with red clay tiles, is reminiscent of the scaly skin of a serpent, and the undulating pathways might mirror a snake’s sinuous movement. On a symbolic level, the name might reflect the temple’s role as a protector of spiritual wisdom and treasure, akin to the revered Naga serpent.

On approach to the temple, you’ll be greeted by the sight of the ornate edifice, majestically adorned with red clay tiles that glisten in the sunlight, offering a mesmerizing view. The distinctive red exterior is thought to symbolize the mythical fire-breathing Naga, a serpent deity respected across several Southeast Asian cultures. Overlooking the azure sea, this dazzling red temple provides a unique contrast to the lush, tropical greenery that surrounds it.

As you step inside, you’ll immediately notice the captivating tranquillity that prevails, allowing visitors to soak in the spiritual atmosphere. At the heart of the temple, you’ll find a large golden statue of the Buddha in the Subduing Mara posture, representing the moment of his enlightenment. Buddha’s teachings, philosophy, and life events are artfully displayed in elaborate carvings and murals throughout the temple.

The intricate details of these carvings reveal stories from the Jataka tales (stories about the previous lives of the Buddha), Buddhist doctrines, and the lives of revered monks. You’ll find these artworks rich in symbolism, from the lotus flowers symbolizing purity to the Bodhi tree signifying enlightenment. It’s a beautiful opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Buddhism’s rich tapestry.

Wat Sila Ngu’s history adds another layer to its allure. Established in the early 20th century, the temple has been serving as a spiritual sanctuary for locals and a fascinating destination for international tourists for over a century. Locals often visit this temple to pray and make merit, especially on Buddhist holidays.

Perhaps one of the most unique aspects of this temple is the hidden underground chamber, which houses a meditating Buddha and is reserved for meditation and religious ceremonies. This chamber is a place of profound tranquility, perfect for personal reflection.

Adjacent to the temple is a monk’s dwelling (Kuti) where monks reside and practice their daily rituals. Observing their disciplined lifestyle can provide a rare glimpse into the daily life of Buddhist monks. If you’re keen, you may also have the chance to engage in a ‘Tak Bat’ ceremony early in the morning, where locals offer food to the monks – an integral part of Thai Buddhist culture.

As you explore the temple grounds, you’ll also discover a number of smaller shrines dedicated to other deities and revered monks, each holding their own significance. Among these, you’ll find a statue of Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, a prominent figure in East Asian Buddhism. Her shrine is often visited by those seeking compassion and kindness.

To get the most out of your visit, consider hiring a local guide who can explain the history and significance of the temple, the murals, and the symbolism contained within. However, it’s also enjoyable to just wander at your own pace, taking in the peaceful atmosphere.

Remember, Wat Sila Ngu is an active place of worship. Therefore, it’s crucial to dress appropriately: shoulders and knees should be covered, and shoes must be removed before entering sacred areas. Be respectful, keep your voice down, and don’t point your feet towards Buddha statues or monks.

The post 128. | My first long walk in the tropics first appeared on Digital Nomad Blog.

My original plan was to go to a place called Private Park And Trail, about a kilometer away, and take a good look at nature there.

On the left side of the road is a field with fewer trees. I saw two buffaloes and two birds, representing the animal kingdom.

After climbing to the top of a fairly steep hill, another, even steeper hill awaited me. I climbed to the top of this one, then turned back here. Now – while writing – looking at the map, I see that if I had included a big down and up again section in this walk, I would have reached a place called – Bangrak Viewpoint – which is very suggestive based on its name and Google photos. Since this whole fun round trip is about four kilometers, I will definitely go back.

Walking on the beach

Since this walk was not enough for me, I decided to turn right instead of left at the park entrance – which was already functioning as an exit at that point. Since the sea is really only twenty meters from the road, I went down to the beach. There I decided to hang out by the water. I marked where I ended up going in the first picture of the gallery.

I saw all kinds of good and not so good things on the beach. It was nice to see Thai families swimming peacefully. Less so the Europeans who seemed to be driven by ego. This part of the beach was mainly full of hotels and private houses (they do not fail to emphasize this with signs placed on the fences). Accordingly, it is the territory of tourists with a larger budget. I felt like a stranger here, but this has not been a problem for me in such places for a long time: based on what I see and imagine about such places, I would not want to feel at home here.

I saw animals thrown out of the sea. And even more trash thrown away. I could see quite worn-out fishing boats and luxury ships. All kinds of fancy places to sit and lie down, where a ticket can cost a fortune, and the dad who was playing with coconuts in the sand with his sons, I guess to make an income from it for everyday life.

I finally got there before sunset, but the traffic conditions were not so favorable. The bottleneck was not this, but the fact that 10 minutes before I arrived, the part of the city – or garden – where the statue was – was closed.

So it can be stated that I did not manage to visit any of the selected and accidentally visited attractions with complete satisfaction. However, that would be a mistake! I was completely satisfied with today’s walk. Next time I’ll leave earlier, and after I’ve seen Bangrak Viewpoint, I’ll take a closer look at the Big Buddha Temple.

I came with lightning

Since I was here at this time, I thought I’d watch the sunset. As I dangled my feet on one of the rocks on the beach and admired the colors and the beauty of the evening, I noticed that lightning was flashing both to the north and south. So far away that its sound didn’t reach me. I made many small videos of the events. By the way, where I was sitting was exactly under the air corridor leading to the island’s airport. So when I filmed the first plane – flying towards the lightning – without pressing the record button, I was a little disappointed. But then I managed to make a video like this.

Shopping and dinner

In my hurry towards the church, I passed by a market. After I finished sitting on the beach, I went back there. I saw interesting things in the offer of goods. This is especially true for food. There was a smell of fish here, the aroma of gutted chicken and the fear of what would become of me if I bought something here. It probably takes some experience to buy and eat things that are not sold in this form in Europe. Chicken mince spread out on a cloth on a counter. Duck and chicken, on a little ice, or simply hung somewhere. Egg yolks taken from chickens in handfuls on the table under the fresh air (yes, not fresh). I think a lot about how – maybe not so – everything could be sold like this in the past, since there were no refrigerators, no regulations, and no rubber gloves…

In any case, if you can’t stand the smell of animal body parts, you shouldn’t go into such a market. Let’s keep it on the vegetable side.

Let’s say it’s strange there too that the cat is sitting on the vegetables that you can buy, but then even a dedicated cat owner wouldn’t disturb the animal from the living room. Here I finally found garlic, and all sorts of things that I know, but haven’t seen in a store since I’ve been here: potatoes, onions, garlic, etc. And of course there are a bunch of things that I haven’t seen before, so I can’t even imagine what they could be. Let’s say I eat these things on a daily basis.

My favorites were the frogs. I suspected that I wasn’t seeing the aquarium of the pet store that we are used to, but one of the items in the food market. I looked at them, but I didn’t have an appetite. For them!

However, since I had been on the road for hours, I was hungry. So I turned back from the market in the direction of the church, until I finally sat down to have dinner opposite the gate leading to the church.

I really enjoy that the fruit drinks are actually made from fruit. Watermelon drinks are now my favorite. It was hard to choose from the menu because everything I’ve had so far has been delicious, but I managed. The fact that they even put a special treat in front of me at the end…

Kindness!

It’s one thing that everyone is extremely kind, whether it’s when you greet them, when you leave, or when you order. To feel the concern they ask me while I’m eating if everything is okay with the food. But… Somehow here in Asia it’s hard to open the bagged things I received at the end of dinner. I wanted to open them because I was curious about what I got. As I was using my teeth to help me, one of the waiters suddenly walked up and asked if he could open it. He almost took the package out of my mouth, but in the end he just opened the other one. And I’m almost sure he wasn’t thinking about how lame I was.

I think the respect – which also surrounds the food here – makes the flavors much more delicious.

Even Ronald says wai here. Maybe the McDonald’s food tastes different too. I’m still waiting to try it.

The post 127. | Lightning over the island first appeared on Digital Nomad Blog.