On a secluded island there usually aren’t many places to eat. Sometimes you’re lucky with what you get and sometimes you aren’t so lucky. As I crossed over the natural moat and walked up the small hill to the bamboo and thatch covered building that had a small sign ‘Paradise Restaurant’ posted out front I was kind of leery. Behind me in the distance lightning flashed ominously illuminating a sky full of grim clouds. It 6pm and the lights had just been turned on for the night. I could just make out the sound of music as it floated down from the cheerily lit windows. ‘Hope this place is good,’ I thought to myself as my stomach rumbled after a day full of activity.
…
‘Now that was tasty,’ I said to the young local girl as she picked up the empty bowl and plate where a Khmer chicken curry and rice had formerly sat. It had been a little bit pricey compared to the rest of Cambodia but this was an island so I couldn’t complain. Running my tongue around the edges of my lips I cleaned off the last hints of food and savored the quickly disappearing flavor. I lay back on the cushions and began to digest.
Down tempo techno throbbed from the speakers chilling the mood of the place until you could almost see your breath. Remixed jazz, classics, and reggae dominated the playlist as the computer played one track after another from the 500GB storehouse. My body practically oozed into the homemade sofa where I relaxed.
The view was second to none. Lightning from a distant storm flashed every minute or so punctuating the beat of the music and highlighting the dark waters of the Gulf of Thailand. From our hilltop position we could see far and wide and nothing was impeded by glass or the like. From three sides the salty wind swept in and flavored the atmosphere.
People filtered in and out on their own time. It was still low season and so most of the seats sat unfilled, which was a good thing, for me at least. There was no hum of conversation, no clinking of dishes, no thumping and bumping of feet, only the flow of music and rush of wind.
After so much travel it felt good just to let things go for a while. No hurry, no worry, and no internet…(though they did have wireless it was just down because of a broken part they had yet to replace…ack…) Now this was vacation.
I took a deep breath, held it for a few seconds, and then let it out. Yeah, I could get used to this…
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