My Stories
Do You Want a Taste of Thailand?
This is not it.
Written by Gillian Olivia Witter
Me: “I don’t know if it’s me manifesting like crazy or if it’s this place.”
Luna: “Gillian, it’s you IN this place.”
I just returned from my first trip to Thailand. Deep inhale. Deep exhale. Repeat.
I am not sure I can truly articulate how this trip has changed me, or even explain what really happened to me. I can say that if you are reading this to get a glimpse of the REAL Thailand, this is not it.
I knew as I planned this trip that I would not do or see all the typical things associated with Thailand. At least, not this time. I didn’t see elephants. I didn’t see tigers. I didn’t go to a Buddhist Temple. I didn’t battle the night and day in Bangkok traffic or have amazing street food. I didn’t do any of those things. I will, next time.
But this trip? After a 30-minute city bus ride to Jincheon City, I took a 2-hour bus trip to Seoul, a 1.5-hour subway ride to Incheon Airport, a 6-hour flight to Bangkok, a 45-minute flight to Koh Samui, a 40-minute boat ride to Haad Rin Pier, Koh Phangan , followed by a10-minute (hold-on-for-dear-life) boat ride to Hadd Tien Pier, I WAS HOME! The Sanctuary Life. I‘d been told it was worth it. I was about to find out.
I spent two full weeks on Koh Phangan, a small island off the eastern part of Thailand. On a daily basis, I floated through Haad Yuan, Haad Tien, and Why Nam beach coves, all within a 15-minute hike over the hills. My time at The Sanctuary has forever changed me. It opened me up physically, mentally, emotionally, and sexually. I smiled a lot. I laughed a lot. I ate A LOT. It was the perfect trip for me. It also exposed me to the world of the unique.
At The Sanctuary
My first week at The Sanctuary, I was flying high. There were so many people to meet, so much to see and do. I entered a spiritual collective of free souls who are healing themselves, finding themselves, getting lost in them, being themselves, getting lost in others, or they are there to party. Hippie-ish, Bohemian-ish, estoteric-ish, free-thinking-ish type of people. You feel me? Those around me were mainly people from Europe: German, Spanish, British, Swedish, Russian, Austrian, and Swiss, to name a few. It was not a typical “backpacking Thailand” experience. That’s for sure.
I loved my bungalow. It was perfect and beautiful - secluded and away from it all. I had a king-sized bed in a beautiful dark wooden mahogany setting. I had a beautiful terrace with a hammock. An outdoor washroom/shower area. Did I mention it was perfect?
The food was delicious. The Sanctuary runs detox programs, so the menu was full of delicious raw, vegan, and vegetarian cuisine. If you wanted to indulge, there were desserts that would make you weak in the knees. My favorite was the White Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake. I had five slices while I was there.
There was so much to do! Tarot card readings, reiki, yoga, meditation, a herbal steam bath, massages, weekly astrology forecasts, craniosacral therapy, cacao ceremonies, making dreamcatchers, writing classes, art classes, kirtan chanting, jungle walks, ahhhh… The list could continue, but you get the idea. I took advantage of it all. I did as much as I could while squeezing in daily massages for $12/hour, swimming and floating in the ocean, and participating in everything offered.
After a week, of trying to find my groove and trying to do a little bit of everything, something shifted on Christmas Day. I met Luna & Laura, two beautiful German women who I sat beside during the Christmas Show. We bonded over a slice of White Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake, great Christmas entertainment (The Sanctuary way). On Christmas day, we shared a meal together at Bamboo, another stunning, delicious restaurant. After a bit of conversation, I learned that I was paying almost $100/night when most regulars or locals pay $20/night. My two new friends started to connect me to the right people. I ended up get a new bungalow for about $40/night. BIG DIFFERENCE, with the same amenities.
Don’t get me wrong; The Sanctuary is a VERY special place. It’s worth the travelling and the money, but, as I said, something shifted for me. I felt the need to move.
Sprinkles of Manifested Miracles
Cats!
A friend in Toronto is taking care of my old cat, Missy. My friend is moving and she posted a picture of Missy hiding among the packed boxes. I said to myself in that moment how much I miss Missy. I went to breakfast and, when I returned to my bungalow, I met a cat sleeping on my bed. This cat stayed with me the rest of the time I was at The Sanctuary. I named her Star.
I am a Manifestor!
I learned that I fall into the group of 8% of people that are called Manifestors. I learned this through my experience of human design. Human design uses astrology, numerology, Kabbalah, and scientific methods to break down each of our purposes here on earth. I am a Manifestor. I am here to make things happen and inspire others. I am capable of powerful expression and manifestation.
TRE
While letting my inner child out, I sat on the beach playing in the sand and water. I was there for hours without a care in the world. A woman, Fiona, approached me. We chatted for a bit and I mentioned that I read tarot cards. She proposed that we do an exchange. She introduced me to Trauma Release Exercises. Let’s just say… whoa! Check it out if you are curious and want to learn about physically releasing trauma that may be sitting within your cells and DNA.
Watching the Sunrise
I watched the sunrise quite a few times. It was a highlight to connect to the start of the day. Some days, I had company with beautiful wise souls like my big sister Phillyis.
My time with Laura
There are few women in my life that own their femininity and sexual power. Laura is one of them. There was something about her - she owns it. She had many succumb to her Lioness energy. It was brilliant to observe, and it taught me how to own my sexiness. To own my feminine power, to get my intimacy fulfilled. She owns it. I admire her.
My time with Luna
Luna helped remind me that despite the size of our bodies, the right person, friendly or romantic, will see your soul. I saw Luna’s soul. It was beautiful. It reminded me that the right friend sees me, too. They see who I am. In turn, I see them for exactly who they are: beautiful souls.
Desi & Marcus
love getting lost because lovely things happen. I was trying to find my way around The Sanctuary and made a wrong turn. A friendly couple noticed and called me over. That was the start of a beautiful friendship. They invited me to their bungalow, where we had tea, chatted and connected. Throughout the rest of my stay, we would see each other daily for small chats and exchanges of love.
Beautiful Souls
I met so many great people: Gueila, Kanittha Tongsook, Marta, Nok, William and Fitz, to name a few… There are just too many to name. Or I only remember their souls but not their names.
