paulg

This is the story of how I got sober. This place will probably not work for everyone, but it certainly worked for me, and I will be eternally grateful for that.

Wat Thamkrabok - Associated Content

suki44883

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Gypsy Feet

neato!!

MycoolFitz

Very interesting, I did all my vomiting on the other side of recovery at the temple of the porcelen pot.

paulg

Thanks for your comments. Vomiting was such a part of my drinking life. Funnily enough, I don't remember vomiting once since leaving the temple three years ago.

Still Waters

Great link, thanks! You have a lot of articles there, that is really cool!

paulg

Thank you still waters. I added an article today about a monk who really helped me while I was at Wat Thamkrabok. He died a few weeks ago. He was a great friend to us addicts.

Still Waters

I'm guessing you spoke Thai before you moved there (I didn't read the articles about moving there)?

paulg

No, I learnt Thai while living here. My first few years in Thailand were spent as a drunk, and I learnt very little other than how to get served in bars.

Still Waters

How did you end up in Thailand if you didn't speak the language? Just visiting and decided to stay? Is the food as wonderful as I imagine it would be??

I've always wanted to visit that part of the world.

paulg

It's a bit of a long story. I had been working in Saudi Arabia. I had gone there because I thought the fact that alcohol was illegal would help me to stop drinking. It didn't. I soon got addicted to the illegally distilled stuff. This moonshine was mad-juice. I realised that if I didn't get out of Saudi I would end up dead. I came to Thailand on holiday and ended up staying.

Still Waters

You have an amazing story Paul, I hope that the rest of your life is as colorful minus the alcohol

paulg

Life is far more wonderful without the alcohol.

jamdls

You've got some great stories in there, thanks for sharing, I enjoy your writing.

paulg

Thanks for that jamdls. I suppose all of us who managed to get sober have earned some amazing stories along the way.

littlefish

That is really interesting, thanks for mentioning this. I have found that Buddhist ideas are helping me in recovery. Going to Thailand is not feasable for me at the moment, but I have been considering visiting some temples in my area.
Can I ask you what form of Buddhism was practiced there?

paulg

Hi littlefish, Thailand is mostly Therevada Buddhist, and so is the temple. The monks at the WT are always quick to point out that you don't have to be Buddhist or become Buddhist for the temple to work.

It isn't possible for everyone to go there, and it probably wouldn't work for them all if they did. I was told that the temple is only a small part of the equation. The main thing is having the determination to stop; and you can have this anywhere.

Good luck with your search. I wish you all the best.
Paul