back to life. back to reality.

It's over.

The adventure of my (previous) life.

The long journey that I have been looking forward to for months and enjoyed to the fullest and absorbed into myself...

The 8 weeks went by so quickly.

Although I experienced and saw so much, and all of it would easily last for several years, I only marginally noticed how quickly time really flies.

So today is Monday, February 13th.

It's 5:15 am.

My flight to the 'North Pole' departs in about 4 hours and I am in the mini van on the way to the airport.

I slept for 3 hours and if I maybe unexpectedly get some sleep on the plane, I have the faint hope that the jet lag might not be as 'grown up' as last year.

Because since I'm flying in the morning and it will take a total of about 19 hours to reach Berlin, there won't be a night in between that could cause me (insomniac as I am) any trouble... So it doesn't look too bad.

At home, I just have to go to sleep in a timely manner... Then there will be only the 'post-travel depression', which I can already hear knocking softly. :)

...............................................

Well.

By now, the clock shows 7:10 am.

I have checked in my luggage and myself, got myself a window seat, went through security and passport control, and now I'm treating myself to Thai food for the last time for now.

Grilled cheese and ham sandwich, chips, and cola.

(Yes, I know that this is not really Thai food, but to 'formulate' it in Trump's words:

'alternative fact' and all that.

I am in Thailand.

So it IS Thai food.)

Well. That's it for now.

;D

______________________________

Let me briefly walk you through the last two days.

So the day before yesterday, we were basically on the road from morning till night to Bangkok.

We expected a 6-hour journey by ferry and bus... (Those of you who are paying attention can probably already guess... Yup.

In the end, it took 11 hours!!)

In the evening, we were only outside briefly. We were really tired and after 2 weeks on the island, Bangkok was just exhausting.

It was crowded.

Too loud.

Busy.

Stuffy.

Hot and full of smog.

And way too bright and hectic.

I longed so much to go back to Koh Chang.

.............................................

However, we had something exciting planned for the next day.

So after 3-4 hours of sleep, the alarm clock woke us up from our dreams.

When we crawled out of bed, we weren't sure if it would work.

We had also overslept a bit, so we had to hurry with showering...

We finally left at 7 am.

We roughly knew where to go thanks to Aunt Google.

However, the blog post I had read about it was already somewhat outdated, so we had to take a different route.

But the Thais we met along the way were all extremely helpful, and after a 2-hour journey by tuk-tuk, bus, and mini van, we arrived at our destination.

To WAT BANG PHRA.

That is a temple in the Bangkok hinterland. About 60 kilometers away from there.

And now you might be thinking... Vivien gets up early specifically to go to a temple where she wasn't even particularly impressed by Angkor Wat in Cambodia?

Well. I have read about it quite often.

About SAK YANT tattoos.

These are tattoos that have been tattooed by monks for centuries and are supposed to protect the wearer.

So they are magical tattoos.

And this time, I knew, THIS is it!

Lisa was also immediately thrilled, so we went back to the city a day earlier than planned in order to make it in time before my flight.

And what can I say.

Holy shit, wow.

We were actually tattooed by a Buddhist monk!!!

WE DID IT!

It worked.

Indescribable.

We are incredibly happy about it.

Let me explain it to you:

You go to the temple, find the right building, and buy offerings for 75 baht (about 2 euros).

This is basically the 'payment' for the 'body jewelry'.

Our offerings consisted of 1 pack of menthol cigarettes, incense sticks, and 1 orchid each.

In addition, a donation of 25 baht.

That's about 75 cents.

Then we entered a room after a short search, where already about 90 people were present.

In the middle, there was a basket where you put the offerings.

Then you sit on the floor and wait...

You wait until it's your turn.

It's not a tattoo studio, and there are no appointments.

You have to be there very early.

At some times, there were about 150 people in the room with us, and I think not everyone got their turn that day.

Lisa and I were the only foreigners and naturally attracted some attention.

At the beginning of the room, there were 2 monks.

They used traditional bamboo sticks, but also a machine, to tattoo everyone who was willing.

2 men stretched the person's skin, and then the monk started.

Only the monk sitting on the right tattooed women as well.

As we found out, his name is Luang Pi Nunn.

He is supposedly quite famous and can be seen in this picture.

However, this image is from the internet because taking pictures was strictly prohibited there.

Eventually, it was our turn. After a very long 7 hours.

The interesting thing about the tattoo is that you don't choose it yourself.

The monk decides.

He also decides on the location.

He looks at you and then decides what you need in your life.

Protection from evil, safety in all directions, strength, health...

The tattoo took about 5 minutes.

And it was very painful.

In the end, the two men let go of me.

The monk began to whisper.

He breathed or blew on the tattoo.

Then he murmured briefly.

Breathed on it again.

And that's how the tattoo was blessed.

The protection 'activated'.

What will it be for me?

And do I now have a tattoo on my neck or on my butt, chest, or forehead!?

Who knows. At least you don't. ;)

In about 18 hours, I will be back in Germany, and you will find out at the latest there. ;)

That was definitely the crowning and best ending to my exciting journey through Southeast Asia.

I am happy and grateful to have experienced it all and I'm looking forward to the next adventures that will surely follow.

Now I'll try to survive the 18-hour flight, which I will spend on my own, and I'm looking forward to seeing my family and my homies.

But I have my Kindle, Netflix series that I can luckily also watch in offline mode by downloading them, and a thousand memories that I can draw on in case I get bored.

My flight is leaving soon, and now I officially exchange heat, flip-flops, sunglasses, and shorts for snow, thermal leggings, thick socks, and a scarf.

See you soon, people. 🛫❄