Goats Do Roam

Travel Writing

In addition to writing for GoatsDoRoam & my latest Travel Blog, Roaming Backpack, (which chronicles my newest adventures) I have been asked to join the Travel Writing team @ Drifter Alley(D.A).

Drifter Alley is a travel website that provides travel advice, and shares articles and blogs in hopes to make more people comfortable with travel. Our goal is to motivate and inspire people to get up off the couch and try something new!

I will continue to post about my travels this year on Roaming Backpack, as well as writing a few articles per week for D.A. If you would like to suggest a story topic or are interested in something particular you would like to hear about you can contact me @: Jamie@Drifteralley.com.

You can view my page, and follow my D.A. stories here. Enjoy & thank you for reading!

Sincerely,
Jamie

For The Readers

Hello all Goats Do Roam readers,
and thank you for reading my Travel Blog!
I now have regular viewers world-wide and it is so inspiring to know that my experiences can be of help or atleast some entertainment to people of all nationalities. I have enjoyed working on Goats Do Roam so much that I have decided to continue sharing my new experiences in a new, current format, My Roaming Backpack: Travel Adventures & Advice

After spending 9 weeks backpacking Thailand, I returned home to my job in Canada. Although I love my job so much, my recent experiences had expanded this curiousity of the world within me. I just couldnt stop thinking about how much I had grown as a person during those 9 weeks, and that there was still so much left to see in the world. They say that the world is a book and those who dont travel read but only one page. I couldnt help but think that I atleast wanted to get past the first chapter!

I knew I wanted to continue travelling and in the near future, but for how long? One year? Two years? Forever? Then I decided, I will travel for as long as I feel fit. I am dedicated to travel for atleast the next year but surely anything is possible-especially for the willing.After hunting down a reasonably-priced flight, obtaining a Working Holiday Visa etc. and giving my one month notice at work, I was on my way. I have just landed in Australia today after enduring another 27 hour flight. Blah! The jetlags not so bad, but here I am blogging at 3 am Aussie time because I cant sleep. Its all just part of the fun!

I intend to travel and work here for the next 6 months. Then I am planning to see Australasia, Asia, and Europe over the next year, perhaps two. I would like to officially invite all of you to follow my new adventure stories on my latest travel blog, Roaming Backpack. Goats Do Roam will remain available online for those of you specifically interested in my travel experiences in Canada and Thailand!

Thanks again for all your support,
XO Jamie

Contemplating One Thai Phrase

Travelling Thailand for 9 weeks, I think I have heard the phrase "Mai pen rai" about a million times.
Depending where you are and who you talk to, the meaning of this common Thai phrase varies a bit but always revolves around the same idea. The words mai pen rai literally translate to mean "not at all", in english. If you ask a Thai what it means you will hear several responses;

nevermind
no worries
no problem
bend in the wind like bamboo
go with the flow
youre welcome
whatever

Right before starting my bamboo tattoo!

The significance of these words in Thai culture is HUGE. It is so clearly a reflection of the cultural and religious beliefs and attitudes of the Thai people.

For me, it took me awhile to adjust to society and culture in Thailand. There are massive cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai which are c-r-a-z-y like Toronto or New York. Naturally I expected to see the same daily scenes: People rushing through crowds late for work, traffic jams, horns of impatience honking, and all the other precious moments of inner-city life. I was actually shocked at what I discovered.

Yes there are crowds, there are traffic jams, there are people late for work, but there is also an aura of calm amongst the chaos. "Organized chaos", if you will. It amazes me. If you are in Bangkok and missed your bus, your flight home, or lost your baggage, you may hear a Thai say to you, "Mai pen rai!" At the brink of losing your temper you wonder, "why are they so calm in the midst of their own misery and disaster"? Whats the secret?

Living amongst locals for 9 weeks, (and sharing several discussions with them on this topic) I have been able to observe and come to my own conclusions on the subject. It is clear that the basis of this way of life, or perception of disaster is deep-rooted. For some reason it is clear that the Asian culture gives more value to remaining calm, then for example North America. Perhaps this is because almost all Thais claim a Buddhist religion and Buddhists have a strong foundation-belief that all things are "anicce" (an old Pali word for impermanent).There is therefore is no need to suffer, it will surely pass away eventually- so why make it worse by carrying on? This is at the core of the Thai culture. Admirable, eh?

So! If you are waiting in a long line in Thailand,or anywhere for that matter, and are feeling impatient or frustrated in any situation, remember: it is probably best to smile, keep your panties out of a twist and just wait it out. Reacting with impatience, frustration or anger will get you nowhere- ESPECIALLY in Thailand, this I am sure of. It will only leave you with staring observers, and little respect.

Just some food for thought, but have you ever realized that at home in North America, most of us are used to having virtually everything we want or atleast need, when we want or need it? We often replenish our rations before they are depleted, sometimes we take too much and waste too much. We often fill our schedules to the very minute, trying to "maximize time", we say we are "maximizing life", "let me check my schedule". We work on strict timelines, and take power in knowing that we govern our own decisions, yet, when something back-fires on us, or doesnt go as we've planned, we have little time to spare to solve the problem. Sometimes the problem cannot be solved and we cannot accept that.

Perhaps we should try to be more flexible, more patient, more understanding, more loving. Maybe what we need is more Mai Pen Rai, more "nevermind"s, more "go with the flow". It is something to contemplate- isnt it?

@ Railey Beach

Welcome to Paradise

This was my 1st time going for a full-out swim in the Ocean...ever! That shit is salty! The Andamans coastal waters were warm, and beautiful blues and greens. It felt so good to break that fear, and it was soooo much fun<3 ..I love Krabi!!

Long-tail Boatin to RAILEY Beach!

Taking a long-tailed boat from AO NANG Beach to RAILEY Beach!

RAILEY BEACH is definitely one of the most beautiful beaches I have seen on the Andaman Coast of Thailand! The sand is white, I mean white! and soft and very clean. Being completely enclosed by tropical forests and limestones cliffs- its from a post card. Literally! The prices can be a lot higher here then on the mainland, but if youre looking for something similiar for a more reasonable price, Tonsai Beach is just around the corner. You can reach it by boat, or by walking the forest trail.