Severe weather warning...

Greetings from rainy Koh Phangan :)! First things first: I'm alive and well! Thank you to all of you who expressed concern and asked about me. In Thailand, there is currently a severe tropical storm. The predictions about its path keep changing. At times, it was said that Koh Phangan would be heavily affected (to the point that we would all die), but then it was said that nothing would happen here. So, the predictions are constantly changing from we are safe to there is great danger. What's the actual situation like? Currently, no one can leave the island (ferry services are suspended), many shops are closed, and staying in our bungalow is not allowed (due to the risk of falling trees that could destroy the bungalows). However, the latest prediction is that the severe storm 'Pabuk' will NOT hit Koh Phangan! It is raining heavily and stormy here, but staying in solid buildings is safe, and everything is expected to get better by tomorrow evening.

I'm curious, but don't worry, I'm taking care of myself! The Thai people here are surprisingly relaxed even with the sometimes bad forecasts. Most buildings here are designed in a way that they probably wouldn't survive a severe storm. A Swiss restaurant owner told me that no one on the island is insured against storm damage. So, if the island is hit, people lose everything they have. It's tough and hard to imagine for cautious Germans. However, what is reassuring is that severe storms are often predicted here, but they usually are not as devastating as assumed. So, I think and hope that this time we are lucky too :). I'm grateful for the calmness of the people here, it somehow rubs off on you. It will happen as it should, we can't change anything, just sit down and wait. I think that's very true... nevertheless, a few more safety measures would probably not be wrong, so that the residents don't lose their belongings or risk their lives.

For me personally, the fear is not the worst thing right now, but rather the inability to go out, see things, and do something. Sitting around and doing nothing is already a huge challenge for me at home, even more so in this paradise where I would love to explore everything. But everything in life has a purpose, maybe I just have to learn relaxation the hard way right now. Since our accommodation seems to be too unsafe, I'm staying with a Swiss guy who was also in the hostel, and we went through the town in the boring European way and found a stone building. We will stay here until the worst is over. Equipped with good Wi-Fi for once, good food, good books, and accompanied by someone who speaks my native language, it's quite bearable :). Plus, we can watch the raging sea from here and have even been offered a place to sleep in this stone building in case the storm rages tonight. So, all in all, I'm doing fine given the circumstances :)! Probably just a very authentic Thai experience and a vivid warning about our climate change...

I'm going to order a coffee now and then write to you about my exciting experiences in the past two days. But before that, I want to kindly ask, especially my worried parents, please don't worry!!!!!Content