36 Inspirational Buddhism Quotes That Will Change Your Life Forever.

“Even if things don’t unfold the way you expected, don’t be disheartened or give up. One who continues to advance will win in the end.”

“However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?”

“Three things can not hide for long: the Moon, the Sun and the Truth.”

“If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path”

“It is in the nature of things that joy arises in a person free of remorse”

“Give, even if you only have a little.”

“What you think you become. What you feel you attract. What you imagine you create.”

“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it. No matter if I have said it. Unless it agrees with your own reason and common sense.”

“The greatest effort is not concerned with results.”

“Life is no more than a dewdrop balancing on the end of a blade of grass.”

“The mind is everything… What you think you become.”

“Happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are. It solely relies on what you think.”

“Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.”

“There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not sharing.”

“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”

“An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast. A wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.”

“You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.”

“Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.”

“We are formed and molded by our thoughts.  Those whose minds are shaped by selfless thoughts give joy when they speak or act. Joy follows like a shadow that never leaves them.”

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”

“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”

“Love the whole world as a mother loves her only child.”

“We are all strangers to our hidden potential until we can front problems that reveal our capabilities.”

“Whoever doesn’t flare up at someone who’s angry wins a battle hard to win.”

“The heart is like a garden, it can grow compassion or fear, resentment or love. What seeds will you plant there?”

“The darkest night is ignorance.”

“Learn to let go – this is the secret to happiness.”

“Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.”

“To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to ones family,to bring peace to all, one must find discipline and control of one’s own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.”

“True love is born from understanding.”

“Th tongue like a sharp knife kills without drawing blood.”

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.”

“Inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotions.”

“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.”

“Work on your own salvation. Do not depend on others.”

“Yes I am, I am also a Muslim, a Christian, a Buddhist, and a Jew.”

10 Amazing Destinations you Must Visit in Thailand

Pai

• If you’re in to waterfalls, hot springs, stunning mountain landscapes, reggae bars, breathtaking sunsets and experiencing a more laid back way of life, then you should add a visit to Pai to your bucket list. Accommodation tends to be much cheaper than what you would find in Bangkok or the south of Thailand and the climate is a little cooler. The wonderful people and chilled out atmosphere of Pai will have you wishing you could stay forever… Just be prepared for a hefty fine at the border if you do plan on overstaying your visa!

Koh Phi Phi

• You’ve probably seen the hit movie ‘The Beach’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Most of the movie was shot around the stunning islands of Phi Phi Ley and Phi Phi Don. The islands offer some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling in the world, a buzzing nightlife and a community of interesting locals and expats that have made this paradise their home. There are no roads on the main island, Phi Phi Don, and you could easily walk every path and pavement in a day, but keep an eye out for the local construction workers that weave through swarms of backpackers transporting their construction materials on bicycles and trailers, a collision could be painful!

Khao Sok National Park

• Khao Sok National Park is smothered by the oldest evergreen forest in the world (over 160 million years old!). Jagged limestone peaks tower over the rain forest below that is home to a huge variety of wildlife including Elephants, Tapir, Wild Boar, Tigers and Gibbons. You can hire a local guide for around 1000 baht a day (roughly £20/$30) who will assist you on your adventure through this tropical wonderland.

Full Moon Party – Koh Phangan

• Possibly the greatest beach party on Earth…

Koh Tao

• Another of Thailand’s many paradise islands. Cheap beach bungalows, golden sand beaches and crystal clear ocean – every backpackers dream. You may have heard about Koh Tao in the media recently for all of the wrong reasons, but don’t let it deter you from paying this beauty a visit.

Railay Beach

• Famous for its spectacular caves, pristine beaches and rock climbing, Railay is only accessible by boat from some of the neighboring islands or Krabi on the mainland. The isolation and complete serenity makes it a perfect place to unwind for a few days, and it’s also pretty cheap compared to other destinations in the South.

Giant stalactites looming over the beach below.

Ayutthaya

• The magical city of Ayutthaya was founded in 1305 and was Thailands former capital before Bangkok. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is dotted with stunning Chinese and Buddhist temples and ancient ruins that have stood for hundreds of years. Roughly one hour from Bangkok, Ayutthaya is the perfect place for a day trip if you fancy a break from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok…

Bangkok – ‘The gateway to South East Asia’

• The hectic metropolis of Bangkok has been dubbed by many as ‘the gateway to South East Asia’. The city is home to more than 6 million people, the traffic is ridiculous and the heat and sheer humidity is enough to turn any sane man insane; but despite all of that, Bangkok is truly an amazing melting pot of delights waiting to be explored and one of my favorite cities in the world.

Kanchanaburi

• Roughly 120 kilometers west of Bangkok lies the province of Kanchanaburi, home to the beautiful Erewan waterfalls, the River Kwai and the infamous Tiger Temple.

Chiang Mai

In the sleepy North of Thailand, where the temperature is more tolerable and the tropical beaches are replaced by lush mountain ranges and waterfalls, lies Chiang Mai, the second largest city in the country. Lose yourself among the colorful market stalls and street food or take a trek through the jungle and mountains to meet some of the local hill tribes who’s ancestors have inhabited this surreal part of the world for thousands of years. Prices are much lower than Bangkok and other parts of the country, making Chiang Mai a hot spot for ex-pats who refuse to leave this fascinating city.

Can you add to this list? I’m sure there will be some destinations I have missed, so feel free leave a comment if you can add to it.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones  you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”– Mark Twain

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A day at The Killing Fields of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

During my 2 week stay in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, I spend a day at the killing fields at Chuong Ek, which is just on the outskirts of the city. I had heard about the mass genocide that had devastated the country under Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge in the 1970’s, but spending the day walking around the grounds of this haunting place opened my eyes to the suffering and torture that had taken place just 40 years ago.

It’s difficult to find words to appropriately describe my experience that day, so here are a selection of photos I snapped;

“Here was the place where a trucks transporting victims to be exterminated from Tuol Sleng prison and other places in the country stopped. Trucks would arrive 2 or 3 times a month or every 3 weeks. Each truck held 20 to 30 frightened, blindfolded and silent prisoners.

When the trucks arrived, the victims were led directly to be executed at the ditches and pits or were sent to be detained in the darken and gloomy prison nearby.

After January 7th, 1979, one truck remained, but it has been since taken away.”

A tree that could tell some horrific stories. As the sign explains, the tree was used to execute children by beating them against it.

The mass grave of 166 victims who had been beheaded. Just a tiny fractions of people who lost their lives to the Khmer Rouge.

A shine full of skulls. Most had fractures, missing jawbones and other terrible injuries.

A painting by a genocide survivor.

A selection of weapons that were excavated. Bullets were too expensive for the Khmer Rouge, so most victims were beaten over the head and thrown into pits full of acid.

“Would you please kindly show your respect to many million people who were killed under the genocidal Pol. Pot regime”

My experience at the killing fields was emotional to say the least. I learned a lot about the horrific past this stunning country has been through, and despite the memories that must still haunt the people of Cambodia to this day, they are some of the happiest and most welcoming people I have met.

Homeless Cambodian Man Earns Money by Perfroming Dangerous Stunts with Fire & Knives

Whilst backpacking in Cambodia last year I came across this charming homeless man who made just enough money to eat once a day by performing stunts with fire and knives for tourists in Siem Reap. His body was covered in deep scars and burns from years of accidents.

Training in Thailand – Why I love Muay Thai

• Thailand is the birth place of Muay Thai.

Knowledge of the ancient fighting style goes back generations and generations, so everything you learn here will come directly from the source. Your trainers will be highly experienced fighters, most with well over 100 professional fights in some of the most famous boxing stadiums in Thailand. Why buy into some rip off online training program that claims to teach you the ins and outs of the sport in 30 days, when you can come here and train with the people whose ancestors actually ‘invented’ Muay Thai.

• Muay Thai is a great way to lose weight and get in shape.

My friend Te from New Zealand came to train in Thailand to lose weight and get in shape after battling with his weight since he was a kid. Over the course of six months he lost over 35 kilograms, sometimes training twice a day with some of the best trainers in the business whilst only eating fresh and healthy Thai food. It really is that simple; train hard + eat healthy = lose weight. Check out this short clip of his story featured on AFP news:

• It’s easy to eat healthy in Thailand.

Thai food is ridiculously delicious, fresh and cheap. It’s my favourite cuisine on the whole planet. You can eat like a king on the budget of a backpacker if you stay away from western style food and expensive restaurants. I once stopped at a roadside fruit stand tended by an old lady who said her name was ‘Ping’, I handed her 100 baht (just over £2) and asked her to give me as much fruit as possible with it. I ended up with 3 brown bags full of the freshest fruit I have ever encountered. There must have been at least fifteen bananas, 3 large Papayas, a watermelon and over a dozen Asian style oranges. Thai food in general is pretty healthy and nutritious, and being a chef and somebody who has a genuine interest in food and nutrition, being in Thailand is like being a spoilt child in a sweet shop for me. Eating healthy is also very cheap, a typical meal like rice and chicken will cost you around 50-100 baht from most street food stalls and just a little more in a restaurant, a fresh fruit shake will cost you anywhere between 20-60 baht, so its not hard to get by and eat well on less that 350-400 baht a day if you find the right place and eat the right meals.

• You can make money training and fighting in Thailand.

I have met fighters from all over the world, from Brazil to Kazakhstan who are training and fighting professionally in Thailand. You can’t earn huge amounts of money fighting here, and it certainly isn’t a career path that would suit everybody, but there are a lot of people doing it and living a pretty decent life. Most gyms sponsor fighters and will provide food, accommodation and training in return for representing their gym. I have heard of foreign fighters earning anywhere from 4,000-8,000 baht per fight, roughly (£70-£150) which isn’t a huge amount of money, but you can’t put a price on living and training in a paradise like Thailand.

• The weather is beautiful (most of the time…)

As you probably already know, the sun shines a lot in Thailand, and apart from the monsoon season which lasts a few months depending on where in Thailand you are, I can almost guarantee that you will be greeted every morning by sunshine. Think of all that extra vitamin C your body will be soaking up. Just remember your hat and sun screen, you won’t be doing much training if your stuck in bed with sun stroke.

• It’s easy to travel and train.

There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of Muay Thai gyms and fight camps dotted all around Thailand, from the lush mountains of Chiang Mai to the picturesque beaches of Phuket and Krabi, you will never be too far from one. This makes travelling and training an easy combination, and a great way to learn Muay Thai whilst still being able to explore and do the standard touristy things. Check out www.muaythaicampsthailand.com for a huge list of gyms, with detailed descriptions, pictures and reviews.

• Accommodation is cheap. 

A lot of people worry about finding a place to stay when they arrive in Thailand and jump into booking hotels and expensive guest houses online… if you are travelling on a budget then this is definitely not the way to do things. I stayed at a charming hostel called ‘The Outback’ in Phuket for around 4 months – it wasn’t actually a hostel, more like a plot of land dotted with around 15-20 small bungalows surrounded by jungle vegetation and hammocks, which in my opinion is way more comfortable than any hostel I’ve stayed at. Most of the other guests were training and a few were living here and fighting professionally. I payed just under 5,000 baht a month (roughly £100) which included the use of one of the owners scooters and a helmet.

Training in Thailand is one of the most authentic and exciting experiences I have ever had. I feel that Muay Thai has helped me grow me as a person, both mentally and physically and transformed me into a more humble and grateful human being. I have learnt lessons and formed friendships here that I know will stay with me long into the future. Whether you fancy yourself as the next Ramon Dekker or Jean Claude Van Damme, or just want to get in shape and loose some weight, you should definitely consider coming to Thailand to learn the beautiful and often brutal art of Muay Thai!

8 things you MUST pack for a backpacking trip to Thailand

Insect repellent

Although diseases like Malaria and Dengue fever aren’t as common as they were ten years ago in Thailand, the mosquitoes and insects here will still eat you live if given half the chance. Be prepared for a mosquito invasion and pack plenty of insect repellent, especially if you plan on visiting northern parts of Thailand (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai).

Camera/video recorder

Don’t miss out on capturing some of the most amazing images/video footage you will ever get the chance to capture.

Emergency money

You really don’t want to loose your debit card and find yourself in the situation I found myself in a few years ago… it’s pretty scary being thousands of miles from home, alone, with only enough money in your pocket to feed yourself for the next day or two. I recommend getting a travel money card from the Post Office to use in emergencies (like getting drunk and loosing your wallet), you can deposit cash directly from your bank account and use it at most ATM’s in Thailand. I would also recommend keeping all your forms of payment seperate so if you lose one you dont lose them all!

Travel insurance

Medical treatment isn’t free in Thailand, and you will most likely be refused treatment or turfed out onto the street if you don’t have the means to pay for yourself. I advise arranging travel insurance before you leave to save a lot of hassle and expense if you are unfortunate enough to have to make a trip to the hospital whilst in Thailand.

Plug converters

You will definitely need a plug converter. You can pick them up for as little as 99p in some shops or online.

Hiking boots/trainers

You will most likely find yourself venturing off the beaten track at some point, and whilst being very practical, flip flops aren’t the best form of footwear to wear whilst trekking through dense jungle. I recommend packing a pair of hiking boots or trainers, but if you forget you can always pick up a cheap pair when you get to Thailand.

Sun cream

This one is pretty obvious. You can buy sun protection in Thailand but I have found it can be a lot more expensive than what you would pay at home, and lets be honest, buying sun cream is going to be the last of your priorities when you get here.

An open mind

During your time in Thailand you will meet all kinds of people from all different background and walks of life, the culture is completely different here to the way we live in the west, having an open mind and being open to new ideas will ensure that you make the most out of your adventure. Try not to be too judgemental if you see something you don’t like. Thailand is still a pretty poor country, children selling roses to tourists on the street at 3am is quite normal and prostitution isn’t exactly frowned upon, so experience it for what it is and have fun, but don’t get involved where you shouldn’t.

First post – Escape reality & live your dream!

Since leaving school at 17, I have spent the last 5 years working as a chef and travelling as much as possible. There’s something about Thailand that has kept me going back again and again, and over the years this amazing country has started to feel like a second home to me. I hope my future posts will give you an insight of life in paradise, and show you how easy it really is to escape the rat race and live your dream!