Waking Up Rested and Disorientated

You know that feeling when you wake up, as soft morning light trickles in, and completely forget where you are? Often you’re sleeping somewhere away from home, perhaps with friends or family, or on holidays somewhere. Nevertheless, at home, you would’ve become accustomed to the feeling of your mattress, the pillows, and the way light hits the walls. I routinely get this sensation when I return to the Sunshine Coast after a weekend in Brisbane, or vice versa.

This morning, I felt that again. In the best way. I’d been knocked out all night, dreaming away in much-needed bouts of REM sleep. But it dawned on me that, despite my constant moving around this year, I haven’t really woke up feeling this way often, contrary to what I might’ve expected. Maybe my body just knows it will be a new bed every night and doesn’t have a “home” reference point to refer to. Having no routine is the normal.

So why was this morning different? I think a few reasons. Foremost, we just spent forty days stationed in one, very homely location. That had become the default, expected wake-up experience. That attachment hasn’t had time to develop anywhere else so far this year. Additionally, we flew in late last night. That means we lack any concept of what the city looks like, or the route we walked to get here. Simply, we followed a line on Google Maps, arrived, and then immediately crashed into bed. Mentally, we hadn’t actually arrived in Bangkok just yet. I also just think I had an amazing sleep, possibly one that was sorely needed.

Waking up somewhere new can feel strange and disorientating, but it is also quite nice if you embrace it. Every routine you can carve out for yourself afresh. The intrigue of a new location gets you out of bed. This morning, Bangkok waits outside the not-really-window of our hostel. I’m excited.