It Began with a Detox and Ended with a World Famous Full Moon Party...Oops: Koh Phanghan, Thailand

Well everyone needs to be a bit a little naughty sometimes right?

Feeling the picture of health, a few kilos lighter and with a fresh air of radiance following my detox at Spa Samui, the little devil on my shoulder (her name is Ra*) says to me, "You know how we are breaking our fast tomorrow? Well actually you are, because I broke mine last week, but anyway, it falls in line completely with the Full Moon Party. It's a full moon tomorrow night!"

My eyes almost touch her. You have got to be kidding me. I have just spent the last 9 days being kind to myself, I know these things only end up the way they were intended...MESSY. I mean I know what can only happen to me in places like this. As much as I thrive in a beautiful sanctuary environment like the Spa, for some crazy reason I happen to thrive in party places as well. Especially if excess is the key and the venue is one of the world's beautiful beaches (read: Koh Phanghan) and dancing all night is on the agenda.

These parties are world famous and apparently began in 1987 or 1988 when it started as just a birthday party or a few people strumming guitars on the beach. Today, thousands of party goers descend on the beach of Hat Rin, to dance under the full moon to beats pumping out of the many bars lining the beach. In low season up to 8,000 revellers can show but in high season, up to as many as 30,000 come to dance into the dawn.



This party was definitely on my THINGS TO DO BEFORE I DIE list, however was not ideal that it fell in line with the day I was due to break my fast. I thought I was being a little mischievous heading out for a cooked (vegan) dinner planned with the friends I had made as most of us were departing the following day, however this party could not be passed up.

Of course, it was exactly what I expected, lots of crazy souls lining the beach by 10pm, drinking whisky buckets sold by the locals, sharing them or dancing around them as they unknowingly kicked sand into their beverage pails. I did break my fast rather dastardly, I had a couple of drinks and I splurged on a vegetarian spring roll a the end of the night.

I had a brilliant time, I could have partied harder, but maintained some restraint whilst still allowing myself to have some fun. I mean aren't some rules meant to be broken? Plus the next morning will always remind you what you are NOT missing out on by passing up a few hard nights out with friends although they are still fun sometimes ;)

I've Got an Awesome Work Trip Coming Up!

Stay tuned, I have been a bit quiet of late, settling back into life at home and planning my next work trip. I have already started planning my shopping list. They include some electronics, a few cool kitchen gadgets, maybe some golf clubs (a half set to get me in the game) and some cool golf visors for me and the man. If I really want to spoil myself some clothes and shoes (not that I am half in the mood for these after my great shopping fun I had in Thailand recently). Anyway there is lots more fun to be had in this place rather than shopping and great places to see as well. Can you guess where I am off to???

Welcome to My Fast

On arrival at Spa Samui, I was greeted with some herbal capsules and a piece of litmus paper for me to test my PH levels should I be too acidic to begin my fast the following day. I became accustomed to my new surrounds almost immediately by reading in my hammock in the tree tops. The last time I was here, I had chosen to stay at the Beach Resort and this time I wanted to try out their neighbouring Village Resort in the rain forest. When the time came to check my PH levels in the evening, it was no surprise to me that I was NOT ready to begin my fast the following morning, considering the fun I had had with my partner in crime in Bangkok and Phuket earlier. No problem I thought, this gave me a chance to sample some of the delicious RAW and Vegan recipes at Radiance Restaurant for one more day whilst my body became more alkaline.

During the fast I made friends with fellow ‘fasters’, all from many walks of life and age groups, as we all headed to the Detox Drink Counter every 3 hours, shared in a coconut water or a broth, or just spoke of our individual experiences (of which there are many, including emotional healing, euphoria, lethargy, fuzziness, unlimited energy etc). It was nice to share what was happening with like minded individuals despite the fact we were all from varied backgrounds.

This fast, as opposed to the same program I did this time last year, was much easier for me. I believe it is because I had better prepared my body with suggested eating habits and mainly my juice fasting /feasting (my own verision) in the weeks leading up the fast. Also in my observation, a large majority of people come to the resort, because something just isn’t working in their life, either physically, emotionally or even spiritually. This time for me, I had mainly chosen to come because everything else in my life I felt quite content with, except for my diet and lifestyle choices.

Although I came to the Detox feeling happy and content with no desire to develop any particular aspect of my life other than those mentioned earlier, I did come away with more than I could of hoped. The friendships I made and the experiences I shared with these individuals is in most part why I have been longing all this week to be back in the simple relaxing rain forest, sipping on my coconut talking with my new pals about the plate of fruit we are going to devour when we finish our fast, just small talk or even sharing the results of our latest Mediation/Tarot/Birth Chart reading.

I loved this experience and I would definitely do it again (hopefully very soon!) I can see why so many farang go to Thailand on holiday only to find themselves still living there years later. In a time when it is very difficult (however I realise not impossible without a little organisation) to remain healthy most of the time with so many social obligations and crazy work patterns (our poor bodies), I would love to commit to visiting some place like this at least once a year for a ‘tune up’. I already have another trip planned to Thailand early next year, purely by accident as my little sister leaves Oz for her obligatory stint in the UK and we are going to meet half way for a few weeks. I am still working on convincing her to surrender at least 3 and half days of her holiday for us to do a mini Detox at worst, but something tells me I won’t need to do too much convincing as after all she has been living on a party island for the last 6 months. Her body will be basically begging for it. So watch this space.

Are you interested in finding out more about this Detox? Drop me a line and I will be more than happy to share this wonderful experience even further.

So You Wanna Detox?

This was my second time at SPA SAMUI, Koh Samui’s popular rejuvenation destination for people from all walks of life. I had much success on my first time last year with weight loss and a new vitality that I have since joined in the ranks of so many others that return more than once.

The whole idea of this kind of Detox (or rather FAST) in my mind is to get rid of the build up of many toxins in our bodies that accumulate from so many processed and refined foods we consume. My interest in diet has always been there (mainly from a weight perspective) but in the last few years I have become more in tune with nutrition as my father was diagnosed with Celiacs disease (wheat and gluten intolerance) and Diabetes is really strong in my mother’s family. In her doctor’s words, “your children stand no chance!”

With this in mind I try now to be more informed on the food choices I make, not from a weight perspective anymore, but I do believe that if you do eat correctly and get enough exercise then the weight gain or loss will just follow naturally. So basically speaking, my eye is not on the weight loss ‘ball’ anymore. It is purely about health for me now.

The program for First Timers, is usually 3 ½ days or 7 days depending on your time available, and it includes twice daily ‘Colemas’ (self administered colonics), 5 times daily herbal supplements, 5 times daily ‘Detox Drinks’ (diluted fruit juice with psyllium and betonite clay to help with the elimination process) and 2 hot broths a day. You can also purchase a couple of coconut waters (my favourite) and different juices, and the Spa has a world renown Vegetarian Restaurant (one of the top 50 in the World apparently!) . This makes it worth staying longer than your fast, so you can sample the menu either before you begin or break your fast. They even have a wonderfully delicious RAW menu (and RAW food classes).

Having said all this, as I have been slowly heading towards a more healthful life I felt I needed a little jump start once again to lead me in the right direction. For me just going to the resort is the first step in the mental preparation. Just being there and investing the time, money and mind is a move in the right direction for me. Oh and the meditation, massages and the sea views from my hammock don’t hurt either.

[More to come on my Detox Experience. PS I feel AMAZING!!!]

And Another...

Where else in the World....

Would you find....

DOUBLE CHEESE PORK BURGER flavoured crisps?

I've seen Cheese and Onion, even BBQ flavoured, but combining 3 quite distinct flavours (cheese, pork and burger) and you have one of Thailand's versions of Lay's popular brands of crisps.

Being a pork product (?) I definitely wouldn't find it in my home country, how about yours?

How to 'Baggie' a Bargain

After years of changing currencies on an almost weekly basis, mainly due to my profession, I have perfected the way to remain organised with your money, and not have to have a zillion purses for each country’s visit.

Step in the ‘Sandwich Baggie’.

My boyfriend was horrified when shopping for bargains in Bangkok recently; I would pull out my ‘Sandwich Bag’ full of Thai Baht from visits long ago and an embarrassing amount of change. If you are like me, you just find it easier to hand over a note, and put the coinage away to be forgotten. Well forgotten no more.

I hate the thought that once you leave a country, you currency is deemed worthless unless you fancy holding up the queue at Thomas Cook Money Exchange with your handful of silver. I have a whole draw full of these bags labelled with their country of birth with some of these bags holding phone cards, travel cards and even discount cards ready for my return back to their home at some point.

If you just cannot bear to be seen in your destination of choice handling one of these, then simple. Empty your purse/wallet into another ‘baggie’ then VOILA! You have a purse/wallet now free to put your country of destinations money in. Or better still, keep a purse/wallet free ONLY for your travels and empty at the end of each visit (into a new baggie).

A word of advice though, despite my boyfriend's embarrassment at my new purse (I was just lazy to transfer it all into my wallet) we believe the ‘baggie’ helped me to secure some decent bargains, for the merchants felt sorry for me not owning a purse every time I pulled it from my handbag and thought I could perhaps use the savings to secure one.

**Update: I always try think and act as environmental as possible and in most cases these 'baggies' are reused or recycled ie I do not purchase new ones.

Flashpacker or Backpacker?

I think I need to buy a backpack. Yes although I am GirlonTour, I have only ever stayed in one hostel in my life, and I mostly associate travel accessories with wheelie bags or suitcases. Perhaps the wheelie bag attachment I have is from my years of company issued luggage but even when I go on personal holidays I still use the same company issued bags, and ALL my suitcases and overnight bags have wheels.

Years ago when I experienced my first and only Backpackers Hostel in Waikiki, Hawaii (I heart Hawaii!), I was so embarrassed that I looked like such a backpacking amateur. Here I arrived with not one but 2 large suitcases (I was moving country and was stopping by Hawaii, LA and Mexico on the way) and they were on wheels. As I walked across the courtyard where all the seasoned backpackers were fooling around in their board shorts, dreadlocks and facial piercings, I felt like such a fish out of water....and thought they smelt my fear.

I casually dragged my two suitcases up the 3 flights of stairs to my room I was sharing with 8 other women, all the while thinking about how much of a novice I appeared. I thought I knew what I was doing embarking on this world trip solo, I had been flying for a career for 4 years already. This was my life. WRONG.

Fast forward a couple of years to my first trip to Thailand, last year. Of course I thought I should bring a backpack to fit in with the usual casual crowd and also to assist me rather than dragging my luggage through the uneven paving or the dirt from reception to room, but I was staying in a ground level spa resort so I thought it would be no bother and wasn’t sure I would get the use out of a backpack. Plus I am still not sure if I am the backpacking type. Sure I love camping and the great outdoors, but who wouldn’t rather drag their luggage than carry it on their back. This time it wasn’t such a pain, however I did appear to look out of place and put me forward as the ‘flashpacker’ amongst the other bohemian types already checked in.

Today I decided to change rooms at the resort I am staying at, as I saw a mouse in my room (no food in my room sorry Ratatouille, I am on Day 3 of my FAST), and I was tiring of the mountainous walk to my room several times a day. Fine when you are in top shape, however when you are not eating for a week, yes you feel the need to nap for an hour after the climb.

On arrival here a few days ago, one of the staff drove me and my luggage up the hill to my initial room then carried the suitcase the 3 stories up. Needless to say I tipped him well. However today, a different staff member refused to take the golf cart up to the base of the stairs, (in broken Thai-English I think we both worked out that the cart wouldn’t make it this time?) so not only did he and I have to walk the steep hill to the base of the stairs, but we also had to climb them, then walk the suitcase down again.

I wonder if it is too late for me to invest in a backpack.

First had to walk up here......

Then here...

And here...

And here...

And here...

To arrive here...

Mini Triathlon Anyone?

A few weeks ago I attended a party, of which most guests I had never met before. Imagine my delight after a full week of juice fasting, to realise I had walked straight into a gathering of accomplished Iron Men and Fitness Freaks. The meeting was to celebrate a few of the gang’s Ironman success a few weeks earlier at the competition in Austria. After politely refusing a slice of delicious looking chocolate cake from the host’s very enviously athletic wife, I set about chatting with some of the guests and found myself being roped into a ‘beginner’s triathlon’. My excuse was not having the right bike.

“Oh no, that is not a problem”, one of the ‘Ironmen’ and obvious triathlon recruiters said. “We can arrange that within the group."

“Ok then, what are the distances?” I came back with.

“500m swim, 20km bike, 5km run.”

Hmmm I thought about it for a brief moment. 500m I can do (slowly and with a stop every few laps for a chin wag with C at the pool). 20km bike (pushing it, but can’t be too hard coming from a previous Spin class addict). 5km run (I’ve done a 10km and 12km fun runs before but that was a few years back...the extent of my running now is a slow jog on the treadmill every so often from anywhere from 5mins to an hour).

C and I often joke about some training days we have where we become “accidental” triathletes. We cycle to the gym (10mins away), we do a workout and maybe a run on the treadmill, and then a few laps in the pool. Surely this triathlon thing couldn’t be that hard. Given all my ‘perfect conditioning’ (NOT) I thought fantastic, if I trained properly, I think I could be in shape for this in about six months.

“So when is the big day?” I queried.

“November 20^th.”

Gulp

Oh crap....maybe I could start training for it and see how I go. Really not convinced my ego could handle the fallout when I collapse straight after the swim or trip over my bike to start the run. Despite all this, my boyfriend is adamant he needs another hobby to collect and is seriously thinking about it. In the meantime I might just start training with him.

My Brief Encounter with Dubai

Yes it sounds like I am always on holiday right? Well kind of right. I do always seem to be living out of a suitcase (either for work or pleasure), and although I am very lucky to have so many stamps in my passports and abilities to say Hello, Thank you and Goodbye in multiple languages, there are some negatives to my lifestyle as well. One of them was that my planned and paid for holidays earlier in the year got delayed due to a change in work commitments, so an intended trip to visit some friends on my debut to the land of the Burj was canned by me so at least I would still make my girls trip to Ibiza.

This was not a total loss however, as recently I was able to make up for the lost time with friends in Dubai on my way through to my DETOX DESTINATION (more on this in a future post). As sightseeing was not highest on my agenda, I am afraid to say that I cannot comment on much of what Dubai has to offer apart from never ending hotel buffets, amazing nail bars, stunning views of Dubai Marina from friend’s wonderfully glamourous high rise apartment windows, and a never ending supply of beautiful people. Coming from where I normally reside, Dubai was appealing to me as a very LIVEABLE city.

The objective of this trip was to catch up with my close pals who had recently relocated there and with only 2 nights available to do so, much of which was spent eating and drinking, I was continually reminded I did not come to Dubai at the best time of the year to see it’s ‘Party Prowess’ as it was the last week of Ramadan. Despite the lack of music in the popular expat hangouts however, we managed to do some damage to ourselves all in the name of fun.

Having said that I intend to stop in once again on my way back home post DETOX (and hopefully with some iron-clad discipline NOT to over indulge – hard to do I imagine at a Friday Brunch???). Hopefully this time I hope to tick the Ski Dubai box, Mall of Emirates as well as experience a Desert Safari I have heard so much about complete with sand 4WD’ing, belly dancing and shisha.

Can any Emirati readers suggest anything else that is a must see on my next stopover in a few weeks?

High on the Hill with a Lonely Goatherd

On a recent trip to Austria, I was able to practice my new found confidence of Solo Travel instilled in me on my recent trip to Portugal where my boyfriend offered some really helpful solo travel tips (albeit we were travelling together and NOT solo). I was now ready to give them a trial run.

Armed with a few tasks and shopping items (including a request from friends back home to source some authentic Apple Strudel) I set off to explore beautiful Vienna. I decided early on that I wanted to hang out on my own as the crew had informed me before setting off that all they had intended to do was sink some serious Steins, and that was not on my agenda this trip.
Here are some things I experienced and discovered on my several day trip in the land of Opera, Balls and Mozart:

• Despite English being their second language, Austrians speak more English than their German counterparts in Hamburg.


• The city is amazingly clean.

• No where else in the world would housekeeping leave an Apple Strudel in your room each time they made it up. YUM.

• Sacher Torte is named after the Sacher Hotel , a dry chocolate cake with apricot jam
  

• Don’t forget your credit card’s pin number!!!! After 3 attempts at a cash machine, it will withhold your card (well ok this is not new information but made my shopping expedition a little less exciting and way more frustrating!)


• Due to my card being retained, I had to cancel my excursion to the motorbike shop to buy a new helmet for my scooter. Alas I will keep using my inherited Dirt Bike helmet a while longer (but is good for my street cred).


• Bikram Yoga – although carried out in German if you arrive early or call beforehand you can ensure your instructor carries out the class in English as well as German. Click here for the Bikram Yoga studio in Vienna. They offer a great deal for newcomers or even if you are passing through. For 10 euros you can come and do yoga twice in 10 days. Remember to ask for Lily, she was a lovely help over the phone.


• I can now do the Dining Out Alone. Granted I did take a good book with me to ease the pain ‘Coffee, Tea or Me', one of the original books based on the excitement of Life as a Flight Attendant set in the 1960’s. I also found that waiters are very considerate and friendly, especially to lone foreign diners. Very assistive with their suggestions on what beer to sample and also what to do in Vienna.


• The attempt at Veganism failed yet again :( , but after my delicious Wiener Schnitzel cutlet of pork that is pounded flat, coated in flour, egg and breadcrumbs, and fried in clarified butter, I was all set to start my JUICING FEST when I got home a few days later.


• For a girl that doesn’t really like beer (except maybe a Corona or a Singha with a hot Thai curry) I actually didn’t mind a Stein or two and looked forward to my mug with my dinner.

One of my most interesting finds on one of my walking ventures around the city was the Australian Bar. A common joke is that Austria gets often confused with Australia with expats’s mail from friends and family back home sometimes doing a detour Down Under and some souvenir Tshirts for sale, have a saying “There are No Kangaroos in Austria”. Imagine my surprise when a hop skip and jump from my hotel was the Austraila Bar and Cafe which got me thinking. What is a typical Australian meal? Any suggestions welcome but all I could come up with is a Roast Lamb or a Meat Pie with Tomato Sauce.....oh and a vegemite sandwich.

For those Aussie readers (and Aussie wanabees) take a shot at my fun little poll on the right to see what REALLY should be served at an Australian/Bar????