It's all Greek to me...

So it has been almost two weeks since I have last wrote you all……I had a sense this would happen…..my life has settled into a nice routine…..no major news to report, no major travels or journeys to share, no earth-shattering stories to break to you.

I have just been spending wonderful days and nights both on my own and with friends….working (a bit), resting, swimming, snorkeling, walking and doing chi gong on ‘my beach’, spending countless hours in my hammock reading and writing, and having great moments meeting new and old friends.

It is a good life ….and I am constantly finding myself just pausing and giving great thanks for this life that I have created for myself….it really is a dream come true. And I don’t think I will ever take it forgranted.

I feel so blessed to be calm, rested, alert, aware…..and surrounded by great beauty and wonderful friends….


Friends….this is a word I will focus on here for a moment…for it seems when you are on a ‘working holiday’ such as I am , you have so much more time to focus on conversations with people on a daily basis….it is just part of my day now…I go and visit my friends for coffee, conversation, walks, and dinners almost on a daily basis. These moments are never rushed….everyone is relaxed, rested- no office to rush to, no shopping mall to run off to- no appointment book to keep checking…..it is an ideal life, I know, and I am fully aware that not everyone can always enjoy such liberties in their life…..

I am truly enjoying the chance to really have the time to focus on being as ‘present’ as I can with every person I talk to….these moments seem so filled with quality talk- and the laughter shared feels so heartfelt…..like we are all old friends reuniting after a long break of separation.

This, for me, is the greatest joy of traveling …it is the priceless souvenir of connecting with other kindred spirits and creating both momentary and lifetime connections….both types of connections are as profound…..the ripple effect of connecting from your heart is what always takes effect, whether or not you are even aware of this…..it is what will continue to help heal this often not-so-friendly world….it is what will continue to open peoples’ eyes and hearts to each others thoughts, feelings and cultures…it is what will make us all a more tolerant people in a hopefully more tolerant world.

Last night I was wonderfully reminded how much I enjoy being in the presence of so many cultures….I walked next door to one of my favorite places to lounge/eat/converse, only to be greeted by several large groups of people all seated throughout the restaurant. One group was filled with Austrians and Germans, another table, a large group of French. The Swedes were also well represented as were the Canadians , Americans, and Thai…. and yes, lo and behold, there was also a table of Greeks, smiles and all, waiting for me to join them.

Yes, it seems that I can never travel for long without meeting more fellow Greek gypsies on the road- it is like we are all family just waiting to be reunited- it is an instant bond, I have found- It never fails….Once you tell another Greek you are Greek, you become family….I have never felt otherwise ….ever.


I had heard about this particular group of Greeks being on the island a couple of days ago and was hoping I would meet them before they left. I figured if I walked around long enough on this rather small and intimate island, we would eventually meet !
And sure enough, while taking a ‘random’ morning walk yesterday to my local 7-11 store (which, incidentally, has become my local “COSTCO” here..;) ), I heard a couple of people speaking Greek.

I ,of course, immediately said hello in my broken Greek and knew it was probably “THEM”. Sure enough, after a few quick questions and a momentary “oh –my-goodness, how-did-she-know-it -was-us?” look from them, I knew these were the people from Mykonos I wanted to meet. Within minutes, we were making plans to meet for dinner.!

And what a night it was…Norman, our host at the restaurant/bungalow, bought us all Metaxa to drink and continued to play Greek music for us throughout the evening….we laughed a lot, talked a lot, shared stories, family photos, and even managed a few Greek dances after our meal….

Needless to say, I have new friends in Mykonos now ….they have all invited me to stay with them when I visit Greece in future trips and of course, they want to come visit me in Hawaii….alas, another friendship born !....and all because of synchronicity taking its wonderful effect, once again…

OPA !

p.s.I have included here photos of not only my greek friends but also others who have befriended me on this magical island


hope you are all doing well….

love, melina ☺



My friends Govindas amd Radha, yoga instructors and professional musicians from Los Angeles...the dog is a local dog who would also show up whenever they started to play music, both at sunrise and sunset.



A group of French friends gathering for a nightly meal...They are from many French-speaking nations , including France, Switzerland and Canada (Quebec)



My friends Ralf (from Denmark) and his girlfriend Gong (from Thailand). Ralf runs one of the more sucessful internet cafes and dive shops here on Koh Lanta...check out his website at www.flipflop.com !



Me and my very good freind Mona, a yoga instructor here on Koh Lanta. She is originally from Los Angeles and has lived here on Lanta for seven years. Like me, she knew this was "home" for her just minutes after she landed here by ferry..



Just a recent photo of me form my bungalow window....I hope you can see how happy and relaxed I am here.....

bye for now...