Sunday Sum - 14th Jan 2023

Hey , welcome back to

The Sunday Summary

, a collection of insights and my behind the scenes from the past week.

🇹🇭 Travel Update:Koh Tao, Khao Sok and KrabiSo whilst the Sunday Summary has temporarily become the SE Asia Sunday Summary, here's an update on my movements.  (Check out the Instagram if you want supplementary photos)

• I left Bangkok to go to Koh Samui, on route I had a message from an old travel buddy who was in Koh Tao. Abandoned my plans and went there.

• In Koh Tao I rented a scooter to explore the island.

• I also took my PADI Open Water Diving course whilst in Koa Top, sufficient to say that I'm fairly addicted and will more than likely be going back to complete my advanced course 😜.

• Went to Khao Sok national park and stayed on a floating bungalow overnight, out of this world views, caving and swimming in the lake.

• I'm now writing this from Krabi town before moving onto Ao Nang, more of a beach town in Krabi province

🌴 Moments of though and reflection:

• "Pursuing more with the expectation of less".  I probably read this on a sign or saw it somewhere. But a nice life aim is this. Admittedly a lot easier in an extremely cheap foreign country. But something I'd love to try and adopt back in the UK. I'm not sure how it would work in practice.

• "Health is everything". This has become a rhetoric to me from the Diary of the CEO podcast, but I've been able to really experience it myself on this trip.  The obvious one is physical health.  If you can't; climb on and off a long boat, climb to a top bunk, sit on bench seating for an extended period.  Then the kinds of experiences you are able to experience are severely limited.  Your capacity as a human being is diminished.  Then of course mental health. What good is it being able to experience a beautiful vista of a national park, floating on long boat. If your mind is occupied, swimming in thoughts, focussing on the past or the future?

🤿 My diving experience:I’ll be honest, it was a slight bit of peer pressure as well as the expectation of being on the island of Koh Tao which is known for diving (this tiny island has around 70-80 dive schools).  I’m not particularly good at swimming (or floating, as is a requirement of the dive course) but was instantly put at ease by Sandy (top bloke from Cumbria) or Crystal Dive School.   After a few dives in the ocean it became second nature, just gliding over coral, seeing a rock ahead, breathing in to go up and just keeping the zen of breathing.  It’s meditative and chill, and completely blew my expectations of what diving would be like!  I’m so excited for more that I am incredibly tempted to head back in March for the advanced course (30 meter certification, open water is just 18m).🎒 My travel backpack has been mega!:Osprey Farpoint 55LI mentioned this on a previous Sunday summary, prior to travel.  It’s now had almost 2 weeks of real world usage!  Effectively 2 bags.  A 40L Cabin size backpack, with a 15l day pack attachment.  When you jump on a ferry, train or bus you can detach the bags, conceal the straps of the larger one and then just keep your daypack of essentials (laptop, phone chargers, passport, money etc).  It’s the perfect size, way smaller than the typical "backpacker" size and if I’m completely honest I wish I brought less stuff!

💿 On heavy rotationCan't Let You Go - Oden & Fatzo & 

Has those instant nostalgia 90's feels.  Overheard a couple of lads playing this in The Yard Hostel in Bangkok.  It's been playing in my head a lot during my first week in Thailand. The lyrics have also progressed in relevancy during my time here 😅

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Please feel free to reach out to me with your; comments, concerns or just general conversation.  

I'd love to know what you're up to or what you might be working on!

 📝😁

Have a great week everyone!

Tom

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