Christmas time🌍
Logging off is liberating. A break from the daily hustle is vital. My vacation allowed me to reconnect with the present. This island getaway affirmed the transformative power of stepping back from routine and embracing the joy of living in the moment.
To log off is to unplug not from the network, but from the distractions, the noise, and the endless onslaught of demands. – Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
A much-needed break
I've been working and stressing about work a lot in the last few months. Applying for jobs both online and in schools. First in Vietnam and later on in Cambodia. Now that I've found work both in Cambodia and online, I'm constantly working to get better at it. It was time to take a step back and unplug. To be in the moment again, to take a deep breath and relax. To do that and because it was Christmas time, we booked a trip to Koh Rong Sanloem. An island in Cambodia. We both didn't take our laptops or anything work-related with us.
In hindsight, now that I look back on it, it was amazing. No stress, no pressure, just being in the moment living day by day.
Departure
After a nice and cozy Christmas Day, we left Siem Reap on Boxing Day. We got picked up in a minivan packed with other travelers. After a 10-minute ride, we hopped on the sleeper bus. We arrived 11 hours later in Sihanoukville, around 6 in the morning. We enjoyed the sunrise while waiting for the ferry to get us to Koh Rong Sanloem.
We initially had some trouble with our tickets. The ferry would take us to the southern part of the island. We stayed at M'pai Bay, in the northern part of the island. Between those two ports, there is only jungle and no means to cross. This would've meant that we needed to rent a private taxi boat to get us to the right port. Luckily, you go a long way in Southeast Asia by asking. The company changed our tickets to another boat company that would get us to M'pai Bay. All of this for free!
Arrival
When we arrived at Koh Rong Sanloem, I couldn't believe my eyes. It was like I walked in a picture or an ad for a tropical vacation. White beach, light blue seawater, blue sky, and a lovely authentic feeling fisher village. The smell of the sea was amazing, I only noticed it when I got off the boat.
We stayed at Dahlia's Guesthouse. It is a little guesthouse a bit up the hill at a 5-minute walking distance from the beach and 'Mainstreet'. You can't miss it, it is pink and blue with a small terrace as a chill area with hammocks and couches. When you go inside the Guesthouse, you have a lot of natural light, no drapes, and a lot of white and woodwork. It gives a very cozy and open vibe. The rooms, upstairs are amazing. Again a lot of woodwork and white. If you look outside you have a stunning view of the island. Of course, upstairs there is another hammock and chill area. Here we found that most people relaxed during the day. The little breeze helps to cool down. Anyway, it is safe to say that we really enjoyed our stay with Ellen, the owner of Dahlia's Guesthouse.
For the rest of the day we went exploring. The village is very authentic, with expats, tourists and local people living all together here, you get a nice and welcoming atmosphere. We ate a delicious burrito at the Seapony restaurant, went to the beach read our books, swam, and had a lovely time.
By nightfall, we went to the beach to eat dinner. We saw a red moon rising from the sea. It was magical! We walked around and saw a lot of small crabs crawling around.
The second day
The second day we had a slow morning, ate at the Seapony, and booked a boat ride to one of the other beaches on the island. We went to Saracen Beach on the east side of the island. The captain of the boat repeatedly explained to us that he was going to pick us up again at Sunset Beach, on the west side of the island. People advertise Saracen Beach as beautiful. I found that, yes it is a long white beach, and a lot of things to do for tourists, but it is also too polluted to fully enjoy. We were dropped off at Saracen Beach, but the pick-up point 3 hours later was at the west side of the island. So we had to hike up over the hills to get to the other side. We were so not prepared. The captain told us that it would be a half an hour walk. It took us about half an hour, but it was up and down a lot, and I wore flip-flops. Right before Sunset Beach, the pick-up point at the west side, we had to go down following a jungle path. A whole adventure in itself!
The hike was worth it! Sunset Beach is wonderful! The beach was stunning. The most beautiful coastline on the island in my opinion. We swam a bit and enjoyed the peace. Our pick-up boat arrived right on time, but there was no pier. We had to take all our stuff and carry it through the water over our heads to the boat. During the boat ride, we saw the sun setting. It was the perfect ending for a perfect day with lots of adventures.
Our last full day on the island
We snorkeled all day, after our breakfast at Seapony of course! There were so many fish and corals. We had to watch out for the sea urchins covering a part of the bottom of the sea. When we got a bit out of the pier at M'pai Bay, I experienced a strong current in the open ocean for the first time. Once we felt the current we immediately went back to safer waters. In the evening we saw another red moon rising, which later turned into a bright white moon. I feel spoiled. This marked the end of our last full day on the island.
Things I learned on this trip
Connection with the Present: Being in the moment on the island, away from laptops and work-related stress, allowed me to foster a deeper connection with the present. From enjoying the picturesque landscapes to savoring the tastes of local cuisine, it highlighted the importance of immersing yourself in the current experience rather than being tethered to future anxieties.
Quality Relationships: The authentic atmosphere of the island village, with a mix of locals, expats, and tourists, emphasized the value of human connections. Taking a break not only recharged my energy but also provided an opportunity to build and strengthen relationships, make new connections, and meet new people.
Physical and Mental Well-being: Snorkeling, hiking, and simply enjoying the natural beauty of the island contributed to physical well-being. The absence of work-related stress and the constant hum of technology improved mental health. I was less stressed and absent during this trip. Instead, I was fully enjoying every moment, not thinking about work. This underscores the holistic benefits of taking breaks – not just for relaxation but for overall physical and mental well-being.
Koh Rong Sanloem let me experience firsthand the importance and benefits of stepping away from the daily grind. Something that if done periodically, will help me to unplug more. That will help me to get a better work-life balance. It taught me to live in the moment again and embrace new experiences. This is not only good for your body and mind, but it also improves creativity, deepens and strengthens relationships, and increases your sense of well-being. All these factors are in turn helping you in professional and work-related aspects of your life as well.