Beach Chair Service
Posted by Stuart at 02:00 PM on May 25, 2003I left Kho and his sleeping "commune" this morning and struck out on my own. After an American breakfast on the beach, I sat in one of the beach chairs under a big umbrella to rest from yesterday's stressful day of... sitting in one of the beach chairs under a big umbrella.
There are two ways to look at the Jomtien Beach experience. In negative terms, you are never left alone for more than five minutes. "Hello Sir, would you like some ice cream... silk cloth... fresh fruit... water..."
The postive way to look at it is that you can sit in your chair all day without moving. You can eat all kinds of food (fruit, grilled shrimp, BBQ chicken, spicy papaya salad...) in your chair, have a manicure and a pedicure in your chair, shop for sunglasses in your chair, have a Thai, English, or German newspaper delivered to you to read in your chair, get a massage in your chair, watch kids play what looks like professional volleyball from your chair. Eating, sleeping, reading, resting, chatting with new friends -- all without moving an inch.
This weekend, I am choosing the positive approach. Learning to relax and learning to not worry whether or not I am being productive or not is not such a bad thing, is it?
HI,
I read your comments and was wondering where you saw the beach volleyball and was it everyday. I have been in Thailand for about a year and have been looking for a place to play competetive beach volleyball. Thanks,
Martin
The beach volley ball games do take place every day and it is quite competitive. To find the games, just go to "Palm Beach" and walk towards Pattaya until you see nets.
Beth,
The word "lazy" is an interesting one here in Thailand. I always considered being lazy as being abnormal and something to avoid at all costs. At least that was the way I was raised.
Now, whereas I will not go so far as to call Thai people "lazy", I will say that I see many people sleeping at their jobs or just sitting around the house doing nothing all day.
Along the same lines, I have never had anyone in Thailand say, "Stuart, you need to work harder." Instead I get, "Why are you so serious about your work?", Or, "Take it easy. Don't worry so much."
Just another one of those cultural differences...
No it is not a bad thing!! Resting and relaxing is being productive, when you need to do as such. :-) Doing it 24-7 for all of your life is just plain lazy!! See the difference? haha!
I had to MAKE myself stop long enough to spend time on the beach, while on vacation. It was a conscious effort .... once I did --- ohhhh wonderfulness. :-)
Love you!!