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art, artist, creativity, expression, fun, intuitive, painting, painting holiday, reconnect, Thailand, travel, Vancouver, Vancouver artist
I’ve been inspired to write daily reflections until my next birthday, which is in 12 days. One day for each month of the past year. Thus, “Living the Creative Life 2015, a Review” is born this evening …
January was a great month for creative living, it had it all… travel, adventure, painting and reconnecting with friends and places.
It all started with my 60th birthday and the Intuitive Painting Party I held for friends on Granville Island here in Vancouver on Jan 4.
By Jan 5, I was on a plane headed for a month of travel to Thailand to revisit friends, my old school and favourite places after living there for 13 years.
First stop, the Da Vinci Boutique Hotel, where western art meets Asian fashion designer. The owner was a successful children’s wear clothing designer, but now designs a line of luxury bed linens and cushions of the most beautiful fabrics.
Jan 8, my birthday, was celebrated at my dear friend’s Indian restaurant, Mrs Balbir’s, featuring some of the most delicious food in Bangkok.
Jan 12 saw a visit to another creative friend of mine, Sam Sethi, a clothing designer of Indian descent, whose exquisite creations in hand embroidered silks are an inspiration in themselves.
Later, creativity with food continued during a cooking lesson of Sri Lanken food at Mrs Balbir’s, followed by an evening with the Soropimtist’s Society and a talk on the history and collecting of Thai amulets. I was seated next to two wonderful women from Argentina, both artists.
My hotel was located near the painting studio of another ex-pat friend of mine, Elsie Evans Daily Paintings, always inspiring and never boring!
A trip to my old school, The Early Learning Centre in Bangkok, is a must for me. It has to be the most inspiring K-6 school I know, and I was lucky to teach there from 1999-2013. Very creative, amazing place.
www.elc-bangkok.com
Several days on the island of Samui was so much fun. I stayed in my favorite place, The Spa Resort and Radiance Restaurant, http://www.thesparesorts.net, where the beauty of Thailand meets western healthy living ideals and people from around the globe meet, with many returning annually for a month or more.
I drank tea at San-bao Veith‘s tea ceremony, laughed with friends, ate healthy food, attended daily yoga, had massages, walked along the beach and painted on the balcony of my hillside hut in the torrential rain. Heaven.
Back in Bangkok, I offered three painting workshops. Two were held at my Greek friend, Elena Karoumpi ‘s restaurant, The Olive Kebab and Cafe, and the third at my friend, Bita Sethi‘s yoga studio. Jan 30 was my last day in Thailand. How wonderful was this trip???? The best. Missing Thailand and all my friends and adventures there!!!!! How lucky I am to have the adventures I have!
Maryan Cerina, Artist 