Field Notes from #timeoff Thailand: Water from the Heart
written by: Huey Yin
An experiment
When I first saw the publicity for the #timeoff Field Trip, I was immediately intrigued, especially by the call for co-creators. I’m someone with many interests, amongst them are drama and photography. I had always wanted to facilitate an applied drama workshop beyond classroom settings, and to explore portrait photography. I was planning to leave my job and take a career break. To be able to experiment with these ideas while carving out time to rest and reflect to welcome the new season? Hell yeah!
But soon enough, hesitation crept in. Could I afford this when I am unemployed? Could I share a room with someone I didn’t know? (Yes, I could’ve paid extra for a single room but again, costs. Spoiler alert: It turned out well. Thanks for the roomie conversations, YQ!)
Still, curiosity (or maybe classic Singaporean kpo-ness) won out. I convinced myself: I’m buying an experiment for ideas I’m curious about. A few months later, I left my job and was on a flight to Bangkok.
Water from the Heart
As we sat by the Tha Chin River, Khloe shared a phrase with us: nam jai. It means “water from the heart,” a Thai expression that describes generosity and kindness with the purest intentions. That was exactly what the #timeoff Field Trip felt like. We were held by the land, by the space, and by each other.
Circle of Support
From Chaos to Quiet
Coming from the intensity of wrapping up work and the buzz of Bangkok, I thought I needed quiet time. But it wasn’t really quiet that I needed. I needed a safe space to unpack the year, connect with like-minded people and marvel at the little details around us. It was these small but meaningful moments that made the trip unforgettable.
Little details like having a rosemary plant on the table. SMELLED SO GOOD. SO CREATIVE?!!?!!
The conversations reminded me that we are on our own messy, uncertain journeys. And there’s comfort in realising we don’t have it all figured out. Through reflections, I realised I’d stopped doing things that once brought me joy, simply because they felt “too expensive”.
We are all on our journeys! GO HAVE FUN
But what do I really want to spend on in this life? What feels exquisite and beautiful? What does 知足常乐 (translation: contentment brings constant happiness) look like for me? Maybe it begins with figuring out what rituals I want to have.
And rituals don’t have to be complex. It can just be appreciating a slow breakfast.
Playing with Possibility
Being a co-creator gave me small clues about what’s next. I found myself drawn to a more documentary-style approach to portraits. And even though I am self-critical and saw plenty of areas for improvement in the workshop, I felt joy hearing others share their takeaways.
“First time I thought drama is not difficult”
“Felt that I could be anything”
Knowing we co-created a space where people could be authentic, playful and open, that felt enough.
Playing during the workshop!
To more Experiments
I wasn’t sure why the photo looked so different from what I was seeing in person but I loved the glow… and then I realised it was because of the condensation on my camera lens. Amazing how condensation can change your perspective hahahahahahhahahahahahah
It’s been over five months since the trip. And no, the #timeoff Field Trip didn’t magically fix my life (and I’m pretty sure Khloe and Clarice wouldn’t you it does either). I’m still very much lost and am figuring things out. But I think the field trip was an experience to discover clues about the kind of life I want to live out.
I probably could have visited the same places myself (and I do love solo trips for that freedom). But it is in the unfamiliar that I get to see things in a different light, and let curiosity and wonder take the lead. It was in saying yes to being a co-creator, to sharing a room with a stranger, to exploring a new place with new people.
So here’s to more experiments. To following our curiosity. And to water from the heart.
(And while the next field trip doesn’t have a co-creator’s option, I hear that the one at the end of the year might 👀)
