Day 11 - 11th January 2015 - Welcome to Thailand!

Arrived here in the dark, which was quite exciting. The paths around the centre were lit by dim lanterns here and there, and I took a walk around the complex, taking in the sounds and scents and practising my night vision. I was up at 5:45, getting ready to meet a group of walkers, to hike to the local lake for a swim. It was a 3 hour round trip, and such a magical way to begin my stay here. i couldn't even properly make out the face of my fellow walkers as we set off, but as dawn came the world around us woke up at a leisurely pace. We crossed fields and traversed woodland, then had to walk across a narrow dam wall that was only marginally wider than one foot - the first test! When we reached the uppermost point, we welcomed the rising sun. 

At the top of the hill there was also a little shrine, and a grassy area where we did some group qi gong practices, finishing in a circle of ten holding hands and doing a balancing exercise, and not one of us falling over! 

I haven't seen the town yet, just lit up at dusk from the airplane. It was just hidden from view this morning, across the next hillside. I am not worried about heading there in  hurry; it is so peaceful here, and that is what I came for! 

The swim in the lake was like a baptism. it was crisp, but not freezing, and the water was really deep. 

After hiking back and arriving for breakfast, we all felt like superwo/men! 

The place is filling up. Apparently, there will be more than 100 people participating in this first week of training. Tonight, it begins!!!!