1.09.2008

money can't buy it all

for the past two weeks i've been staying at a gorgeous Sheraton resort, complete with a 300 meter pool, six restaurants, beautiful rooms, endless staff members, and their own trio of elephants. i've had elaborate meals ranging from foie gras to authentic paad thai, the best wine the hotel has to offer (sometimes TWO glasses, one red and one white to complement whatever we're eating), and have literally no limit to what i choose to purchase for food or drinks or room service when i'm on my own (which is really special, because who has ever longingly looked at the drinks and snacks in the minibar and known you can't have them cause they're too expensive?? i know i'm not the only one).

but tonight was probably the best night i've had the whole time i've been in thailand and it only cost me 60 baht, which is roughly $2 USD.

nikki and i borrowed the bikes from our families' villa and rode about 4 miles away to a beautiful beach tucked in the corner of a big cove, where fishing boats and tailboats floated offshore and small little bars happily played Bob Marley. we got there around 4pm and spent an hour or two just dozing on the beach while listening to our iPods, and then watched the sunset - one of the prettiest i've ever seen - while drinking iced mochas and agreeing that God really does orchestrate everything in nature to be beautiful. afterwards we rode our bikes - on a gorgeous beach front road - back to the hotel and went to have dinner at a nearby italian restaurant.

so, money can buy lots and lots and lots, but i would take evenings like these - just a bike, a friend, some good music, and a beach - over five course meals anyday.

we're heading back home on friday night, so there's only 2 days left here. tomorrow the plans are to play tennis in the morning and maybe kayak afterwards, and then get one last massage on the beach. they're ridiculously cheap and so wonderful...

i think i want to move here.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

SO, I've been up 20 out of the last24 hours because I was on call. I cut off a man's leg myself(literally) and helped try to put a different man's arm back together after it was shot nearly in two. The last part about "one LAST massage"...it almost made my gouge my eye out. But I love you.

Anonymous said...

Hi there! I found your blog through Mrs. B's and just wanted to leave a quick comment... Your recaps of the Phuket vacation have been wonderful! I, too, think I want to move there. :) But I also love how you relay to your readers what *truly* matters.

Keep up the great work!