Slow life

Our lives are incredibly slow, relaxing and predictable these days, which is the nicest life with a child, since when they know what to expect they are more relaxed and open to fun since they don't have to put energy into finding out what's what and what's where. And so it is the same for us grown-ups! So wednesdays and sundays there is market, in itself amazing with the weirdest items on sale, like 100 pair of used running shoes selling for 2,50 a a pair but no ordinary Thai (which are the folks that visit this market) would ever think of going for a run so it's hard to imagine how this is a good business. Or fried eggs the size of a tiny little cookie, and they come in cute little cups with a tiny little yellow yolk in the middle, or again the head of the pig that we have seen more often, or a whole heap of intestines (darmen) on the BBQ. Yum! Why we come to the market is for the big jumping cushion for kids and the trampoline that you can be on for 20 minutes for a whopping 50cents. Salome loves it! And she gets better and better at it. And it is a great idea! This market is a real-life Thai experience of course complete with very loud music, preferably two or three kinds competing with each other, blaring out of the speakers.
We also get to use a big private pool in the garden nextdoor (belonging to the owner of this hotel) and everyday we have jumping-sessions of about 100 times, giving you that good old chlorined-feeling of when you were young. Salome decided she no longer needs floats (bandjes), and after holding on to the side of the pool for 2 weeks since she is well aware that she will drown without them, she now taught herself to swim, this morning she swam 2 metres by herself, in the deep pool.
Another good example of Thai culture: we were looking for a cardboard box to make a doll-house, I was in the supermarket, everywhere cardboard boxes, I ask for one, but they say: no have. huh???. So I naively think they don't understand and try to explain, pointing at the boxes, telling them what it is for, but you look at this blank face with no effort to want to help you whatsoever, and the guy says: solly no have. So this is Thailand: some people will help you in unexpected circumstances in ways beyond your expectation and others won't help you at all in situations where you would expect it to be normal. So far for the culture gap.
It is just wonderful to be here, to be outside all the time, to enjoy this easy quiet time in our lives, riding our bike in the sun, visiting here and there, reflecting on our lives, meditating, having time for dreaming and taking naps, reading books, and being taking care of by these wonderful people of Dune Hotel. So, if anyone needs running shoes: let us know!