Memories and Nature connection
- Aoyumi Jung
- Sep 14, 2019
- 5 min read
14.07.2019
Bang Krachao Monthy Cycling Event.
This is another meaningful event for nature lovers coming to Thailand. Thanks Couchsurfing for exposing me to this like-minded group!
Saturday is always the most energetic day with physical exercises and a chill soul to me.
This Cycling Event was founded 4 years ago by 2 Thai ladies initially to bring cyclists together in Thailand. Overtime, it’s become a space for people to meet and connect through cycling in Bang Krachao – the hidden Jungle Oasis/ the lung of Bangkok. The tranquility and green of this oasis are totally contrasting to the hectic Bangkok, while Bang Krachao is located in Sumutphrakan province, around 25 km away from the central capital. Yet transporting from Pathumthani to that area seems to be the most troublesome thing to be prepared in advance. In total, I took 6 different types of vehicles: school bus, van, BTS, MRT, boat, bicycle – and forth & back. This is already interesting before starting cycling. Haha.
The first surprising thing is absolutely the oasis itself, specifically the pathway for cycling/ walking around the so-called island. It reminded me of Mount Faber in Singapore where I also had a great walking day of 22 kms to explore the entire connected parks. The difference here lies in the natural characteristics of Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park and Botanical Gardens. There are people doing small farming and small business which didn’t exist some years ago. That the government’s investment in developing this area for tourism is a good plan. Consequently, it generates jobs for the locals to build up their living, at the same time, people around the world can interact and learn from nature and the locals in this special area.
Secondly, the cyclists of today event are super cool. There are around 7 nationalities gathering! Those who joined share similar interest in traveling and preserving nature. We all accessed the event through Couchsurfing- the app for intrepid explorers 😊. Their backgrounds range from Architecture Design and Management, HR of police office, Sale & Marketing, Finance in Project Management, Animation Design Lecturer, Content Writor, English Major, etc and I am the youngest participant, as always in most of the programs I attend. To share one memorable point, it is most of us know how to balance our life between work and spending time for ourselves in order to make life manageable and joyful. Going around doesn’t mean that we have to spend much money and get distracted from daily routine, but on the contrary, it’s the chance to learn how to manage our budget wisely on right purpose, and it’s the gateway to enjoy the meaning of life.
Lastly, excitement literally means excitement when there is little expectation for it. The extra exciting part of today trip is the moment we were on the boat back to the land, the boat ran out of oil, the sky was fast turning dark and rainy. We had to sit still not to make the boat shake, otherwise, we all would fall down into the huge scary river. I was a bit worried to hear the boat sailor shouting someone’s name. The man made it to bring us back safely just in time before the heavy rain came.
What was bad is that we had a dinner plan at 6, it turned out we had to wait for the rain to stop for 1 hour in a narrow and dark area. But positively we had more time to talk to each other, and time for social media. Later, we continued to wait for the transition vehicle over 30 minutes as no taxi showed up. The leader smartly booked a van through Grab which should be the most convenient transport then. Logistics is not easy at all, also, it was about problem solving! I miss Lens on Mekong now.
Let’s join them if you love nature, and maybe struggle with directions like me. Never be afraid to get lost.
Cheers!
Memories and Nature connection
Cycling around the forest, around the peaceful roads threw me back to the days in Hoi An one year ago. I think the memories in Hoi An have become something in my subconsciousness, a natural feeling that costs me little effort to think of, rather it always comes softly and sentimentally. I do miss those days very much. It was the same time last year, we biked to school on a daily basis, we biked from the homestay to An Bang beach once every week to sunbathe and read books, I biked to my dear family to have cosy dinner, I biked through the air of Hoi An and stopped at some corner of the river to enjoy romantic sunset alone.
The green color brought me back to the artificial park in SG, the breath of SG, someone in SG, some places…And as always, green is part of sustainability, my major, my project, my hometown, and my mind. Sometimes, I was satisfied with being silent and deepened myself with thoughts of the moving life which I can’t remember now. It felt like in running time, I got drown in memories, worries, and silence as well. No force. Natural emotions. Natural scenary. Natural self.
The rain sent my thought to Bach Ma national park in Hue, the second weekend trip in Hoi An. We got soaked totally at 4pm, then we were standing next to the fire stove to dry our clothes with funny talks. We were sharing our music taste, how we view different songs and singers. I missed Jenny this afternoon, I missed our endless talks about all over aspects. I miss her facial expression, her voice, and her listening to me.
I miss my house mates and my class mates! You are all very kind, energetic, and intelligent. You told me lovely stories, you taught me to work hard and play hard, you gave me encouraging words, you brought me around the globe by your voice. You are my light. You are in my heart.
I read the book “The living book of Nature” this morning. Somehow the sponstaneity came perfectly to make the decision to bring along this book. It’s written by a Bulgarian philosopher who produced work particularly dealing with the interrelation between human and nature. His philosophical words helped me feel a deeper sense of serenity in the physical and mental discovery into nature.
Life is nothing more than a ceaseless flow of give-and-take between man and Nature, and sickness and death follow if this flow is interrupted or obstructed…This is symbiosis and it is the key to life. Health and sickness, beauty and ugliness, wealth and poverty, intelligence and stupidity, all are determined by the quality of our relationship with Nature. For everything is nourishment, respiration, ceaseless interchange. When we eat we make an exchange in the physical world, our feelings and emotions are an exchange on the astral plan and when we use our minds it is an exchange on the mental plan…If you want to live in a constant state of contentment and joy you have to learn how to live this symbiotic relationship with Nature correctly.
- The Living Book of Nature- Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov
Nature is fantastic.
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