Page 224 - Wake Up and do Your Thing

WAKE UP AND DO YOUR THING
I joined in. !Come on, Thomas. Time to spill the beans.”
Casilda caught Paul"s eye and nodded in the direction of the barman and waitress. He jumped up, stuffed some money in their hands, thanked and dismissed them.
Thomas chuckled. "Well, my boy," he began, "I'll do my best to keep it short and sweet.” Paul topped up Thomas’ glass.
“I"ve always been a bit of a wanderer at heart; you know that. So, when I felt an overwhelming pull towards the East, I knew I had to follow it. And so I sold all of my possessions except my cameras and booked a one-way ticket from England to China. I was twenty-three years old.
“I boarded the SS Canberra in Southampton along with more than two thousand other passengers. I was nervous and excited to set off to the other side of the world.
“We left England and sailed through the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal, and the Indian Ocean to reach Hong Kong. The bustling port was a stark contrast to the calm waters I left behind, but it made me feel alive.
A skilled storyteller Thomas’s theatrical voice, timing and gestures build suspense and create tension as he captivates and enchants his small audience.
!After several weeks of traveling by land, I arrived at a humble monastery nestled in the rolling hills of the Chinese countryside. The monks welcomed me with open arms, and
224