Thai travelogue

"The waves of the sea help me get back to me." - Jill Davis.

Destination: Thailand

Places you visited: Phi Phi island, Krabi and Phuket

Best cuisine: Pad Thai noodles and pancakes. Seafood. Spring rolls.

Breathtaking moments: Swimming and snorkelling in the blue green sea at Phi Phi, The Big Buddha, Island hopping in Krabi: the Chicken Island and Tup island (multiple islands connected together at low tide)

One local word that you learnt: Khob khun Kha/Khrap (Thank you) , Swadikha/ Swadikhrap (Hello)

Few Lines about the people there:  There are two kinds of people. The locals and the tourists. Thai people are very polite and hospitable. The tourists are highly carefree. And there are plenty of Indians everywhere

One Must Try / Best Things to Do there: Don’t just do tourist spots. Do something that matters to you. Do drive across cities from Phuket to Krabi. The roads are beautiful, bendy and scenic. A drive across cities shows some awesome views. An island hopping tour in Krabi is a must for a lifetime worth of experiences. Watch the sea merge from blue to green. Yes, the water looks exactly as green as in photos. Snorkel at exotic points. Watch as the sands separate multiple islands at low tide. Stay a while at Phi Phi. It has some amazing resorts and a chance to just experience the beauty of the sea and sands at a relaxed pace. Just walk across the sea and swim with the fishes. Watch the beach expand at low tides and fill up again almost magically the next day.  Do take a long tail boat tour acros some of the islands, maybe even at sunset. Try the Phuket city tour. Don't miss the big Buddha, Chalong temple or Karon viewpoint. Do go to the old market place. Do watch a Thai show and visit a theme park.

Your advice for ‘Essentials to carry’: Lightweight swim suits, coverups, sarong, colorful dresses, sunglasses, sunscreen, slipppers and you are done! 

And books and card games for travel. 

A good internet connection to navigate. And a portable charger. Carry cash and cards. Carry only a little cash a day to avoid stress in touristy places. Where possible, try to prebook and prepay so that there is less to carry or worry about

 Details: 

Plan your travel across cities taking into account the distance across cities, keeping less activity on the first and the last day if you have some days of travelling. We started with Krabi, then moved on to Phi Phi and culminated it at Phuket.

The best part was the clear, green water merging into blue at places. Krabi offers a mix of quaint city life and beaches. It's good for trying street food, getting your hair braided, going shopping and getting a thai massage. Of course keep some time for island hopping. The drive from the airport to Krabi gives you a glimpse of many cities along the mendering scenic roads. Soak in the culture. 

Phi phi is about relaxation and sea life. If you stay in Phi phi, it's worth having less activities planned there and taking things as you go in the flow. Whether it is walking across the lowtides, snorkelling or seeking a sunset spot. The resorts are fabulous. Try a high end one and bask in the luxury and thai hospitality with a sea view everywhere. Lie on a hammok and feel the waves gently brush you by. Eat a pizza at the beach! Eat seafood. Swim with a view of the sea. Click pics worth a lifetime of memories.

While in Phi Phi is travellers can rest their weary souls, Phuket is for explorers. The best way to get to know thai culture in a short time in to plan a city tour. Visit temples, the factories, the outworldly experience of Big Buddha and of course sop by many scenic viewpoints in between. Go to old city for shopping and bargaining. Do book a show experience Thailand's mini fantasy world at Fantasea or similar other enteryainment units. For the more adventurous there are also many waterparks. I loved Phuket's old market's structure and Big Buddha. It was special to hear the history of the monks of Chalong temple. We had our first honey ice cream and loved it at the bee keeping place. Having twisted my foot at Phi Phi, I could only hobble along in Phuket but it didn't frop me from the Big Buddha climb. At the rest of the places, I enjoyed the serenity of the environment.

When you are travelling alone or in a small group, it's  completely ok to custom-plan based on the experiences you want to take back rather than standard tours. But it may just make sense to stretch a little more and see a little more. Generally 1-2 landmark points a day is good, keeping  a buffer day in each city.

Lastly, it's not only about the sea but the water does leave one spellbound and it calls back to the soul to come back to it just as we did, after 12 years. The second trip left us just as in awe as the first one. While the first was a getting to know, the second built deeper into the connections without a hint of disappointment.

World Cup and leadership

With the world cup fever at its peak, recently I was rewatching the movie '83 with family. Besides the glorious game, I was very interested in the way the PM used cricket world cup to divert the people away from riots. The way team work and people management was carried out within the team either by the captain keeping faith in his team or the communication of the batsmen strategizing how they would play together in a mutually beneficial manner. Finally it's all about understanding people happiness. Whether it's at political levels, sports teams or in an organization or any other team. It's not so much about management but understanding what delights and inspires the people.

Comfortzone

Comfortzone is like a pair of old, worn  pajamas...nothing beats it but ultimately we have to leave it for our own good :)

Motherhood Management

This Mothers Day as I sat down and reflected, I realized yet again that the 9-10 year olds are much more 

mature these days. They are pretty independent individuals and thus require a different level of 

parenting than their previous generation. Maybe this changes in each generation or maybe this has 

changed more in recent years with the technological advancements being exponential. This made me 

realize that motherhood of a nearly preteen has its similarities to leading a semi experienced team.

While we are their primary carers and the love of parents transcends all bonds, here I talk primarily in 

terms of their education and extra curricular responsibilities and how they require a nurturing and 

motivational environment for their growth just like our team members. Here’s how:

1. They both need their own space and some time to think and try things on their own. 

2. Micromanagement doesn’t help.

3. They need a little direction to utilize their strengths to the best possible way and take up the

right opportunities. This could be in the choice of subjects or right projects.

4. In case of mistakes, they need a little patience and understanding and some kind of disaster 

management. Later on a discussion on how to avoid them in the future. Mostly they already 

take ownership and definitely don’t need blame games.

5. Timelines are helpful as are goal settings.

6. The clearer the communication regarding timelines and goals, the better. The more well 

defined, the better.

7. Brainstorming together is helpful in case of a new challenge. 

8. Having a routine helps. Be it school or fixed weekly and daily meetings.

9. Some autonomy is helpful. As is some togetherness. 

10. Sometimes it’s good to have fun together.

Leadership has no age

Recently our 9 year old son was chosen to be the School Marshal at his school. It was an extra proud moment to witness the Investiture ceremony from the front row seats reserved in his name and see the young ones taking their oaths so solemnly. Within days, I saw a change in his sense of responsibility be it in punctuality or managing the class. When he was recommended for his leadership skills in his report card, I was happy but surprised. What leadership skills could such young ones home? But then right through the application process till date, I have witnessed leadership at student level. From the way he carries himself, helps fellow students and teachers at his own initiative to the shine in his shoe which he ensures. The school plans to have leadership camps to help hone these skills further. Looking forward to this new journey for the young one. It has proven to me that that there is no age to learn but also no age for leadership.

Midlife Crisis

Recently I felt kind of goalless, in every direction and a bit empty. I realized I looked for happiness within those close to me and those aspects where we intersected but not in myself. After a bit of analysis, I realized that these were symptoms of mid-life crisis. 

The old goals stopped making sense and looking there did not lead to happiness. I needed to look for new reasons to find my bliss. It wasn't about major changes but about taking care of myself in everyday life. Sometimes grief of losing a family member affects even more with time. It grows heavier when you realize you need to keep carrying forever. So one needs to unload, take a break and redistribute it so that it is bearable. This redistribution requires one to look for new reasons to smile. Some of us may start a new book, a new series, a new hobby, walks, visiting new places, talking to old friends.  Or just curl up in your shell till you realize what you need. Changing an aspect of routine. Changing your style. Slowly redefining yourself. It is different for everyone. It may not happen at once. Each one of us will have our own pace as we move beyond it to the next phase.

LOTR vs Harry Potter

Recently I saw the LOTR series and revisited the Harry Potter series. I was yet again drawn to the similarities between the two and differences and ommissions from book.

The differences and similarities of different stories to the book with require its own series of blog posts, will do that some other time.

For now, I will focus on the similarities between the two series:

1. Friendship plays an important role: be it Frodo and Samwise or Harry, Ron and Hermoine. 

2. Or even Merry and Pip vs Fred and George. These two even seem similar in chatacters: pranksters yet loyal and important.

3. Nightriders and Dementors: they are creatures which are neither dead or alive and suck all joy and bring out a coldness. They can make a person worse tgan dead.

4. Gandalf vs Dumbledore. The wizened powerful wizards  who are mentors to protagonists even look so similar.

5. Sauron vs Voldemort: both are dark wizards gone wrong who don't have their own form and fullpower and are trying to regain it. Both are severely feared and manipulative. Both are too powerful even in their formless form.

6. The ring vs the locket horcrux: it changes the nature of the person. It sucks the power out of the person and tries to take control over the person. 

7. Protagonists need to destroy the  sources of power of these dark wizards and embark tough journeys for the same.

8. Gollum vs Kreacher: similar looking elves.

The two classics are very different of course but have sufficient similarities to feel that maybe the origins of Harry Potter started with LOTR.