Just happy

Have you ever noticed just how silent the world becomes as soon as your ears are under water?

And you would think that it doesn't get better than that - a world of serene introspection, a world without misunderstandings, misconceptions, mistakes, disturbed only by the occasional cold-induced shivers...

In these last couple of months, I had moments of anger, frustration and sadness; but I also had moments of peaceful bliss, fulfillment and joy.

I witnessed the start of a new Chinese New Year - and what could have been better than to do it while having drinks in a Japanese bar? I've been to the seaside - once to spend the day at the beach, once to tease monkeys and then enjoy a seafood dinner; I hopped on the night train to Nong Khai and rediscovered just how beautiful life can be chilling by the Mekong.

Sometimes I worked hard, sometimes I didn't. Sometimes I had fun, sometimes I didn't. Sometimes I was careful, sometimes I wasn't.

But as I went back to the swimming pool and tried hard to numb my mind, numb my senses, it occurred to me that, in seeking the absence of pain, the only thing I will find is the absence of... everything. So I came out of the water and started walking. And haven't stopped since.