Last day and arriving back home

last day in Bangkok
I participate in group meditation at Wat Mahatat for about 3 hours. Talk to the meditation teacher Manit and a new student after. Go find a bookstore to get the book Manit recommended, can't find it, so aimlessly wonder around monastry. Stumble on a senior monk who speaks English and he agrees to take me there. He tells me it is very important for a student of meditation to ask his teacher many questions. I tell him that I do not have a teacher. He shows me some books I should buy and I ask him whether I can ask him some questions now. He says no; tomorrow. Tell him I'm leaving and he agrees to do it now. First I have to wait and watch as he shows some Arahant (enlightened person) relics to two ladies. Then we have a very inspiring conversation that last 2 hours. Senior monks like this enjoy very great respect in Thailand and it was an honour to discus matters with such an individual. His wisdom is deep and he gives me some great advice. I doubt it would make much sense out of context, but it has hit home with me and I can see it has changed my mediation without me making a conscious effort. Afterwards, he gives me an English book and then he also gives me a small buddha image that is to be warn around the neck. It doesn't have a necklace, so we go into the city to buy one. As we're walking around it feels as though I have a monk friend just for a little while. I have had enough encouters with people that I really respect, to know that as much as you respect some people, you should never put them on a pedestel.. for that is one way of disrespecting them.  So I like to think we spoke as equals, while I never forgot that this individual does deserve a lot of respect. He tells me that he received the image from his teacher who has now long since passed away. The image was made from dust of ancient arahants or something as well and his teacher put a concentration suta into it. So yeah, that was quite the honour, I'm still really proud of it as I wear it right now.

Meet cool German guy with an Australian accent in the bus. Get on my flight, watch half a movie (Armored (it's shit)), talk to the girl next to me, sleep for 8 hour, watch another half movie (Twilight saga's: New Moon (not much better)) and then I arrive. Great flight. They didn't put my luggage through to Amsterdam, so it's still at some obscure terminal, so I miss my connecting flight and go get my bag and get on the next flight.

Then finally see my parents at 4 o'clock! It is very odd being back, but very natural at the same time. It's the same, but different (same, same, but different :P). Really good to see my parents and sister again ofcourse. And now I'm back.... time will tell what will happen now.