Hidden gems

Now I know I've been talking like Krabi has really been getting me down lately, but with that comes a few hidden gems that I have discovered today. On my rides to Ao Nang these past two weekends, I have looked up and out of the song-tao to find a temple complex tucked up into a hill, above the buzz of the street. I thought to myself, I'll get there when it's time and capture the moment in my head and behind the lens. Today, I got out of school and went to my main food spot, Cafe Europa--which was apparently Leonardo DiCaprio's main spot when he was here years ago filming The Beach. Got fueled up with some dank breakfast and coffee, then it was time to hit up Wat Kaew. 

Ah, what a lovely sight indeed, towering high above me and complete with a bald, famished guard dog at the gate chilling in the shade. I love that about Thailand--one minute you can be in the hustle and bustle, the next you're completely solitary as you walk around a silenced wat. The afternoon light had a way of maneuvering through foliage and cloud cover to create the perfect scene everywhere I turned. The walk through was a bit shorter than I was expecting, but I was affected by the steadiness of the place, which parts of it were under construction by the way. Even the people working to reconstruct the beauty of it were emanating quiet, stillness and patience as well--qualities that I am always in need of these days.

On the walk back to the song-tao, I took a tiny detour into this cute stationary shop, not really knowing what I was looking for. I ended up walking aimlessly down each aisle, surveying all of the varieties of pens, paper and other office supplies. Took an immediate halt where the paper journals were and picked up a rubbery red one that had a small scene of silver trees, streetlights, a turtle and a car etched into the bottom right corner. I knew instantly what I was leaving with, as I didn't bring a journal with me to write in and have often found myself scrawling on a small pad that a short order cook would write on. In short, I left happy.

I then came to the coffee shop I walked past yesterday and had that wave of celebrity status again. I don't think a farang like me has ever been to this coffee shop before. I ordered my iced latte and the gal who brought it to me in this small glass pitcher asked if she could take her picture with me. Of course I agreed and all of the kind, smiling gals in the shop and I had a good laugh. So funny, these Thai ladies. Love em. Couldn't find a more pleasant place that had a wifi signal. 

Good day, indeed.