Rainbow beach: Magic hat, Angel walk, Food circle
Trip Start
Dec 22, 2006
1
4
52
Trip End
Jul 16, 2007
Beach 25km from Kariburi, Thailand
Sunday, January 7, 2007
After a stop in Ranong for about 20 min. I was lucky to catch a (paid) ride with other travelers to the Rainbow beach 95km south at the Andaman Sea. Riding in the back of a pick-up, beautiful sunset, great sky...on my way to my first Rainbow Gathering.
We arrived way after dark, so climbing over the rocks along the beach to get to the site with a heavy backpack was not easy to do. I decided to crash the night at the welcome Home sign with Rob, a great Aussie on his first Gathering outside Australia. We talked until late at night! Sleeping in my sleeping bag on the beach for the remaining hours. Great welcome!
The next day made my climb along the rock to the actual beach
01_welcome home
. Felt right at home when I stept on the beach. Self-made huts, tents, relaxed people everywhere. Heard that Roman was already there, so went looking for him. Found him at the end of the beach, so many things to talk about, but I came to the gathering on SILENCE DAY, so NO talking!! Aaaahhhhh. That was impossible after all these months, so we sneaked out to the next beach. Great to meet him again. Gave him my chocolate present (it had not melted!), which we shared with other brothers and sisters....you should have seen the look on their faces: pure happiness, eating chocolate since forever. Great to see I can make so many people happy.The second night slept on the beach again, the weather is beautiful and almost full moon, so no flash light needed really. Roman has a girlfriend since the gathering, so kind of wondered around on my own as well. Hard to describe the setting. It's something you wanna experience yourself, or not ;-) But I will give it a try....
All sorts of people, travelers passing through, dreadlock hippies, nutrician freaks, yogis, arcobatics, musicians, healers and many more sleep on the beach or in the jungle right behind. In selfmade huts, canvas tents, tipis or hammocks. On a voluntary basis people cook twice a day. Big groups, as cooking has to be done for over 600 people at a time
02_Rob Aussie
. All vegetarian food, no eggs, fish, meat. Beautiful to taste that food can be delicious without all these ingredients! Food is served in a big open space, called Food Circle. Once food is almost ready, Food Circle is called out from the kitchen, and the message is spread around the area by calling out from group to group. Everybody gathers at the circle, lining up in big circles. Most of the time, songs are sung together, 3x a Ohm is made, holding hands during this time, thanking for the food after. The first day I was a bit sceptical and rational towards this ceremony, but now let this rational feelings go, and see it to be a beautiful thing to share time, space and food with so many brothers and sisters (as we call eachother here). Greetings during the day are made with a hug most of the time. All very warm and welcome. During food circle people step up and announce whenever they have a workshop they want to do the next day or after food. Things like ' astrology, Reiki, massage, singing badjhans etc. are few of the things mentioned.It is fun to explore the whole site, as many voluntary things have been set up. A fruit corner, where you can eat the fruit provided that day, a chai kitchen, where you can drink tea/coffee, popcorn kitchen, meditation house, childrens kitchen are just a few of them, all for free to use/eat/drink. All facilities made by hand with bamboo, clay, leaves, wood etc
03_first sight of Rainbow Beach
. Beautiful to see what people can make. Donations are made by contributing to the Magic Hat. A group of people will go around the circles just after food by dancing and singing with a hat, in which people can put money as much as they feel like or nothing if you feel you are contributing in another way. If the magic had it full, we eat well, if empty we eat nothing.So what have I been doing the last week: helping in the kitchen, chilling as much as I can make myself do, reading, meeting people. Had my ups and down as well. Split feelings as I feel really at home from the start, but also kind of alienated as if I do not fit in (yet). In way I feel intimidated by all these wonderful people, with so much knowledge about spirituality, yoga, healing etc. I know nothing about this, felt I cannot start a conversation with anyone. All topics I know are connected to so called 'city life', with which most of them have no relation what so ever. My head is filled with thoughts...I am on a cross-road, just chosen to live my life differently. Impatient, eager, scared, happy all mixed up. But do feel I made the right choice though, which gives peace of mind.
More about Rainbow, my moments and life after Rainbow in the next entry...if possible with photos too, if uploading is possible (slow computer here).
Love and light,
Liekie
