Janice Higgison

Coming away from the city shapes of Chiang Mai in mid March after two weeks of exploring, saw me holding my breath through a flight to Bangkok, then another to Ranong, jump on a local bus to the ferry terminal and fast boat to the Island of Koh Payham. I’m not yet a seasoned traveller so anxiety, worry and concern were my partners along the way! It’s not really what you talk about in posts, but the truth is there is a whole new world of things to learn while journeying on my own, and in a country where everything is not written in English. It is unnerving with the “L plates” still attached to my new suitcase, but easy once you have done it, and my little bottle of rescue remedy taken the day before works wonders. Thank goodness for friends who taught me how to book the flights, explained how to get the boat and then met me at the jetty on their little scooter.

After I arrived, we scouted out our beachfront huts at “Banana Hut” and then “The Lazy Hut” for premium relaxing. The joy of connecting with familiar faces and meeting new friends to add to the companionship is richly appreciated after travelling solo for a while. We develop a ritual of wandering the beach each evening under the late afternoon sky, we choose a deckchair with the optimum view for our evening meal and settle in to watch the best show on earth. Enjoying diving into the gentle waves under the setting rays that have lost their intensity and softly rinse away the day’s energy and refresh the senses. Appreciating how one can replace the evening news on television. Everyday it is amazing and constant and just slightly changing.

I have been told that you are not a ‘real traveller’ unless you:

– have been sick (which leads to homesickness)

– have had your card stuck in an ATM machine

– didn’t get your money out of the ATM machine

– cannot find your way back to your hotel

– have no money for a taxi

Well, it all happened in one day for me.

Two weeks into my time in Thailand when feeling extremely unwell, dosed up on painkillers, missing familiar surroundings and unable to read the street signs, the money machine ate my card and didn’t dispense the money needed for a taxi. I felt completely overwhelmed and I sat down on the street corner and cried. It was all too much! Then (there is always a then, because something will always happen next) Amy called me from England, she was on her way to the south of Thailand with a friend to soak up the sun on the beach and invited me along. She listened to my woes and reminded me there was only one week to go and I could join then in a new paradise. Just one week.

Suddenly I could cope with it all. With a friend to listen, and instead of my struggles being forever, it became one week (I think its called putting things in perspective). Time to get myself well, sort flights, go to the bank, and move on through the moment into a better place.

One month later I needed to return to Thailand briefly and inadvertently booked a hotel very close to that same street corner where life felt too much. I was singing and skipping along the footpath in the early hours of the morning feeling totally in control of life. When I recognised the street corner, I stopped and sat where my tears had previously fallen and appreciated just how much I had grown and how different the world can feel on a different day.

Everything you learn in life that is new will be hard, then after that it becomes familiar.

A journey away from distraction … A journey into the self

Traveling with intention to cover distance…Travelling with purpose within each step

Moving aside from the pace of humanity … Moving in stride with the body

Allowing the motion to be your own … Allowing the thoughts to be your own

Lighten up … Enlighten

Omg. Its finally happening… 26 February 2018… hello world!!!

fear . excitement . caution . tears . grief . nerves . anxiety . and love all come to visit me at the overwhelming start of the journey.

This is my story. My place you can find me and be with me on my way.

Auckland – Gold Coast – Kuala Lumpar – Chiang Mai

To plan the dream this big was no easy task.

Really it all started in January 2017. I noticed I was planning more and more time away from my business, friends and family, and my beautiful 3 acre lifestyle block in Tauranga that I had owned for 25 years. I seemed to need more and more time to recharge my batteries. I felt that the work was never done and noticed that my energy levels did not have the same volume. I had systematically worked to clear my credit card debts and live within my means, but realised that the one debt I would be paying off for a further 30 years was still my constant companion. My mortgage to the bank.

Somehow my paradise had become a prison. one that I now saw in a different light…

and once you you learn something … you cant unlearn it.

So

I decided it was time to stop this dream I had created and go and find a new dream. One that i could afford, one that would see me living inside my means. never again would I have debt.

This new choice needed a year. The property had seen a marriage start and end, four beautiful children had been born and raised there, the sorrow of a child lost had been grieved there, a business had grown from a dream to an amazing creative social enterprise there, a community of people had developed there and the organic farm system that was set to feed future generations had been nurture into life, Festivals had been run and parties and celebrations held. So people needed time to let go, things needed to be evaluated, considered and filed or gifted on, closure and completion came in many waves and shades. I needed to find the new owner so I could truely go in search of my new dream and store what was left of my life in one room. I needed to begin with a look at the world and see what else is possible.

So by the time I sat at Auckland airport on 28 February 2018,

I felt I had something to say cheers about….