As we were taxiing to the gate, I spotted out of the window the little airport busses waiting outside: no windows, fully open, like little sightseeing trams. They eventually dropped us off… no, not by a door. By an entry into a little alley in what looked like a lush green park. The alley turned out to be the queuing area for the immigration check. Outside. A smile of amusement was playing on my lips as I waited.
The immigration officer made an effort to pronounce “Georgia” and quickly pulled up visa requirements from his records. Looked through my papers, stamped them and smiled ear to ear: “You are my first Georgian visitor!” I beamed as I followed the alley a few meters under an imaginary doorway into the baggage claim area – breezy, warm, humid. No walls, no freaky security. Palms, flowers, ratan chaise longs and parasols. This place puts you in the vacation mood before you even pick up your bag. I later found out that Samui is one of the world's four open-air airports.
I followed the exit sign and faced another one: Gate 6. “Have a great vacation!” pulled me out of my disoriented stupor. It came from another tourist, his wife at his side with a tiny baby in her arms. “Oh, thank you! Uhm… You too!” “Well, we are leaving.” “Oh!” I swivelled around, looking for that exit sign that pointed for me to go this way. Sure enough, arrivals and departures did not seem to be distinctly separated. I figured the ATM and my airport transfer by a little counter in the "meeting area" and set off to my final destination, the Spa Resort. On the way, I was reflecting on how safe I felt and how easy it was to trust locals here.
***
Up early, I set off wandering to explore the grounds and find the yoga audtorium, which turned out to be an elevated wooden terrace. I spotted a tiny wooden yellow lizard in the corner of a roof log and admired the thoughfulness with which these "nice little touch" lizards were scattered around for decoration. It so happened that the next morning, my nice little lizard in the bathroom was sitting in a different corner and the yellow "wooden" lizard in the yoga auditorium disapeared. The nature is best at decorating...
***
***
- What is your name?
- Irena.
- That means Peace.
- Yes. I am just discovering my internal peace now, and it was there for me all this time. Engraved in my name :-) What does yours mean?
- Gila means Celebration. It is my chosen name. My given name is Anna Christiana, a Graceful Christian. I did not want to be a Graceful Christian, so here I am, celebrating life.
The meditation that followed, led by Gila, was based on Osho's Nadabrahma. The state of relaxation and stillness is achieved through humming. The humming creates sound and therefore inner vibrations which travel easily through the water of our body cells. Apparently, humming at higher pitches connects to the upper parts of the body, the head and the heart, while humming at lower tones helps relax and connect with the lower parts of the body.
***
- Bye... The humming meditation and qi gong will stay with me. Thank you.
- Bye, Peace.