Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Lying in the mosquito net covered queen bed of my beach front bungalow, I listen to the stormy wind bring in sheets of rain and crashing ocean waves. I'm blissful. I'm on the southern coast of Cambodia at Otres Beach. I've spent the past 7 days passing hours doing so much nothing. I removed my watch and locked my phone away. Every moment timeless, dateless.
We have a little family here. Eight like minded travelers from all over the world. Although we are American, Canadian, Australian, British and German we have defaulted as a German family. Maybe because there is more than one German but mostly because we are learning essential German phrases daily. "Mein einhorn ist behindert." "Feuerzeug, bitte." "Warum liegt da stroh?!"
A typical day begins waking whenever our bodies have decided they are well rested. Waking early by the yelps of stray dogs playing on the beach or the mellow reggae from the beach bar is also welcome because we are never far from a sun soaked siesta in an oversized beach lounger.
I swim everyday. More accurately, I wade. I wade in the shallow water of the surprisingly tepid clear turquoise ocean. The pale sand feels like freshly sifted flour under my toes. We've spent a few days on adjacent islands where the waters are even clearer, the sand bright white. Our skin is permanently sticky from the salt of the ocean and the sweat from the hot sun. It is a welcome discomfort.
Our evenings are spent playing cards or other hilarious games, dressing up for Halloween, storm watching, sharing stories, gazing at sunsets, celebrating birthdays, laughing. A lot of laughing. Warm late evening swims in the dark of the night are ideal for viewing the electric flash of bioluminescent phytoplankton in the water.
I don't know what it is about this place. The company? The ease? The sound of the ocean? The handsome boy beaming at me from across the table? My smile is permanent here. It just feels like home. I could spend a lifetime here. But alas, most of the family left this morning, some the day before. I will be off to Phnom Penh tomorrow. The reality of our transient lives becomes apparent. It is bitter but always still sugar sweet. It is a subtle and beautiful reminder that home isn't a picture perfect Cambodian beach. It truly is a little place within your heart.
After a few more days in Cambodia I fly to Saigon, Vietnam where I will be reunited with most of my little "German" family. We will travel up the coast until it is time for me to leave them once again to meet my friend Jen in Nepal.
As for right now I will make my way back to a beach lounger as the storm has subsided. They never last long. The sun is never far behind the clouds. Another reminder of our joyously fleeting world.
I am happy.
- comments
Leah Sounds amazing yet again:) love you
Khyah *Beaming at you from across the globe*
Mom Mmmmmmm...it's colder than a witches tit up in here......bbbrrrrrrrr...November 15th....
Dad Feeling your glow from the other side of the world. Missing you now.