Day 4 - Expectations

Phuket, Thailand

"Expectation is root of all heartache." - Shakespeare

It's been several years since I've traveled this way; not really booking anything in advance, going with the flow and seeing where the journey takes me, rather than me determining the path. I've found that the experiences are far more special when they are spontaneous. You are free to go wherever, and do whatever without any chance of expectations being crushed or any time constraints, and it leaves opportunity to really immerse yourself and enjoy each day independently. So it is (and should be) in all of life. When we set expectations, we are more often than not, not going to meet them. Stuff doesn't always go as planned, and expecting something, whatever it may be, will only bring heartache. Instead, live in the moment, and allow life to surprise you, change and teach you, and experience things you never would have, had you only been focused on your linear expectations.

I'm thankful I was reminded not to have expectations early on in my trip. My flight out of Korea was delayed, and I had mistakenly purchased a late flight in the first place, so I was a bit nervous getting into Thailand. On top of it, the immigration process was incredibly long. My hotel driver picked me up just before 1am and I as we were making our way on dirt roads through jungly farm fields, I was reconsidering my choice to stay north near the airport the first night in Thailand. I didn't sleep much - my hotel ended up being more of a shanty-house with with various open outbuildings. The plumbing (minus the toilets) emptied to the outside via pipes sticking out of the walls. My bed was full of ants, my sliding door would not lock, and because I could here someone moving around outside my room all night, I kept the light on and didn't sleep all but an hour. While not the best way to spend my first night in Thailand, I'm thankful for the story and the experience. :)