Settling into island life again?
From an island in Australia to an island in Thailand I go – although Ko Samui is a much different island than Lizard of course. It’s changed a lot since I was here last – more development and more traffic which is to be expected I guess. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Ko Samui, it is not on the side of Thailand where the tsunami hit, so in that sense it does look much the same. Of course if you know me then you know what brings me back to this speck on the map and that is the fasting and cleansing program that is offered here. I have been here just over 2 weeks now and today I am on the 12th day of a most-likely 14-day fast. My main objective in coming back here this time is to rid my body of the 635 or ribonucleotide flavour enhancer that caused me so much grief these last fews years. Funny enough, on my first day of arrival, I met a lovely Canadian woman named Renie who had suffered from symptoms exactly like mine for 11 months and she has been on a wheat-free gluten-free diet for the last 6 months to combat it (that is what I did as well). She was quite certain it was the wheat and gluten causing her grief but after hearing her symptoms I was sure that 635 was a culprit for her too. She had never heard of it of course, just like me one year ago. We had a great exchange of information and she went home with some new insight into her condition which I sure she will follow up with at her naturopath’s. That is the thing I love about this place the most – is the people that it brings together. To date I have never actually met someone with my same intolerance so it was great for me to share my story as well.
Other than that it’s been fasting business as usual including lots of time spent in the Board Room, or colema room to you and me (that’s San Bao’s joke, not mine!). I have had a really good cleanse so far especially when compared to the last time I was here. Before I was completely riddled with 635 and suffered so many cleansing reactions that it took all my strength to preserve through it. This time I have the usual headaches and weakness but those are totally normal and pretty easy cleansing reactions. I have only had a small patch of the rash come out during the cleanse as well, so I am feeling much better about my overall state of health and the extent of damage it has done to me. I’ve been using my Zapper up to 3x/day, in addition I?ve been dry skin brushing, steaming, and of course getting massage every day. It becomes quite a busy schedule actually which is good because otherwise I think it would be easy to get bored and start thinking about food too much. I’ve seen a lot of familiar faces at the Spa as well, and it’s been really nice to catch up. I think a 14-day fast is a great way to start my time here.
On top of that I have met a wonderful Reiki Master named Jet Lei who practices just down the road from the Spa and right next door to where I stay. Him and his girlfriend have taken me in like family and it is so nice to spend some time with local people. Well he is from Hong Kong originally and she is from Thailand but I guess I mean non-foreigners; anyway he is so fascinating and they both are so kind that it’s been fantastic. He has spent 2 years studying with monks in Tibet, 2 years as a monk in Burma, 3-4 years studying under his Master in India, and 1 year teaching in the USA. No surprise here but he didn’t like America – said it was too crazy – so here he is back in Asia. Once I finish fasting I hope to start helping his girlfriend Chai learn English and maybe even learn some Thai out of it as well. The other morning they took me to the temple with them to make an offering to the head monk. It was so peaceful and interesting to see how they do the offering ceremony, and because it was so early, we were the only ones there. What a great way to start the day.
I am quite sure that the next entry will involve eating!
Add comment July 19th, 2006