Where in the World is Garry?

Paradise Lost - Koh Samui, Thailand, January 2006

Empty vessels make the most noise

As a race and society we take many of our cues from watching others. This is especially true when we are children but also true when we are adults. We step over the homeless not because we want to or we think it is OK but because we see other people doing the same. In public places we look to see if anyone else has their feet on the table, their hat on indoors, is littering or all number of things which we rationalize as being acceptable simply by virtue of the fact that if others can do then so can we.

It is only the true ignoramus who can "do" when no others are "doing".

One of the many things I enjoyed about staying at Charlie's Hut is that it is a veritable oasis from the prevalent behaviour of the outside world. At 10 o'clock or there abouts the movie ends, the kitchen closes, the staff batten down the hatches for the night, shower and retire to bed on the premises. This is obvious to those but the most ignorant. From this time until dawn things that one shouldn't do because no one else is doing them are as follows; shout loudly and bang on your friend's hut when staggering in from the bar; stay up all night drinking on your verandah talking at a volume which would lead one to believe that your are both simultaneously conversing and listening to your Walkman; or run around shouting "I'm a f*@ 'ing Canadian from Toronto man!"

These are not complaints and protestations cast down from any moral high ground. On the contrary; I have been there, done that and bought those particular T-shirts. I have stayed up all night drinking but at a bar, not on my verandah when all around me is quiet and tranquility. I've rolled in at dawn from the full moon party and quietly gone for a swim, breakfasted and gone to bed.

I know I am starting to sound old and curmudgeony, I'm allowed, I'm old and I'm a curmudgeon. However, the excesses of youth are still no excuse for this kind of behavior and I'm going to write a strongly worded letter to the Koh Samui tourist board.

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