Pattaya Stories

Working on finding balance

The hill itself is a gradual incline from the beach. When I turn onto it, I'm about three-quarters of the way down, just past the steepest part.

It's all downhill from here.

I need to remind myself to relax my jaw and not feather the brakes, tuck my tailbone to broaden my back, keep a little micro-bend in my elbows to soften the impact, and avoid resting in my wrists. The bike is fixed gear, which requires me to pedal continuously; the outcome is dependent on the intensity you apply to the action.

Turns out it's a lot like cueing a hand balance.

I was a yoga teacher for a long time, a practitioner for even longer, and then there was the decade I was a studio owner. I needed to step away from the "wellness community" recently; it was actually making me feel unwell. Somewhere along my path, studio yoga seemed to lose its way for me; it started being more about consumerism and less about consumption.

I still practice yoga—in fact, I’m doing it right now. I’m just doing it in a less obvious way. I’m going to be sixty-two in a few days; life’s too short to be hyper-fixated on my abs or a handstand.

I’m going to be riding into the wind the whole way on this one—going against where yoga seems to be heading.

I ding my bell as I pass the lifeguard station; there’s the middle-aged couple new to town. Last week they told me that someone should really turn the lifeguard station into a coffee shop because they would like to stop here for a cup. I don’t tell them that you can’t swing an inflatable beach toy without hitting a coffee shop in Pattaya. Eventually they’ll figure it out for themselves or not.

No coffee — No Prana. Much like my experience in Thailand, I’ll never be able to fully extract the Ashtanga practice from my life.

Now I'm fixated on coffee, and that means I'm headed down to Na Jomtein, the far end of this part of the beach. There's a trio of independent pop-up stands down this way, each are different but equally good. I don't require much from my coffee; it only needs to be strong, black, and affordable.

Welcome to Sattahip Soi Nueng

Rains on the horizon; you can see it moving across the sea like a sour look. I ride down to the very tip of Sattahip before I turn back. The weather’s shifted gears. I haven’t. The shops may not all be there this morning; I may not get my pick.

The stand in front of the old abandoned seafood restaurant is open; it's tucked under the canopy of a row of frangipani trees.

I don’t stop.

The stand that sits beside the row of garbage cans, isn’t here today, just my luck. I do a quick shoulder check, but it’s hard to miss that little yellow truck.

The last stand is open; it’s also in front of another abandoned seafood restaurant. Only the sign remains; it’s just a big empty field now—a group of men have started playing Bocce in it. It will be another condo soon enough.

You are spoilt for choice when it comes to finding good coffee in Thailand. But I guess that depends on your particular taste. People travel here and only eat at 7–11 or McDonald’s because that’s what they’re used to. No judgement, but personally I didn’t come this far for a cup of Timmy’s double double.

Maybe it's better to be portable these days; you can pick up and move locations any time you want instead of carrying the overhead of a brick-and-mortar shop.

I settle in and adjust myself accordingly. I like it down here; there are big shade trees along the beach. It's a good place to sit and people watch—unfortunately all the people are watching their phones, so instead I watch the waves, the sky and contemplate life.

There are less and less of these mature canopy trees along the beach. Many have been replaced with a more “beach like” palm. Apparently it’s what the tourists expect — we wouldn’t want to disappoint the tourists.

It will be an easier ride back. I’ll stop by Khun Sorn’s tiny little bakery shop. It hangs off the edge of a 7-11 like a barnacle. I like Sorn, she's a real straight arrow and Daeng; the dog sometimes hangs out in front.

Almost every dog in Thailand that is this color is named Daeng — it means red. Keeping with the theme almost every black dog is named Dum and if it’s black and white, then it’s Panda. But you need to pronounce it Pann-Der.

I get a cream-filled doughnut—I roll the R in cream, in the Thai way when I order. I think it could be the best doughnut I’ve ever had. Its only twenty baht. Beats Tim Hortons by a mile. It’s as big as my hand, maybe even too much, but that’s okay; it’s a one-off and not a habit.

It’s too rough to go for a swim, so I’ll just head home instead.

Lola’s been visiting the powdered sugar factory again.

Thank you Adrienne Beaumont (World Bicycle Day) — Anu maheshwari (International Day of Yoga)— Paul Gardner (National Doughnut Day) and Sondra Singer - Still Vital (International Being You Day)

I don't need a designated day to enjoy any of these things, I’ve incorporated them all into my life.

Minh

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