Last week I completed the massage courses that I came to do on this trip. I am grateful for a comfortable and nurturing environment to have studied in. Many thanks to all the teachers, student teachers, and students who were all part of this process.
I really enjoyed learning and practicing this beautiful form of Massage. Even though I took a variety of course they are related and can be used together for healing (as with many other modalities). My course work consisted of Thai Massage Level 1 and 2, Herbal Compress, Foot Reflexology, and my favorite, Tok-Sen. I will be coming back to further my studies.
I am really appreciative for my interest in Bodywork for that is what brought me to Chiangmai in the first place but I got so much more on many levels so much so that the intensity of what I experienced in the last few weeks I can't even write about and perhaps can't really talk about either for there are "no words". It is an experiential thing!!!!

Amazing Service in Chiang Mai (part 2)

In between my two dentist appointments today (the cleaning was at 4pm and the filling at 7pm) I stopped at an optical shop at 130 Thapae Rd. Tel: 0-5323-2156 asking how much for an exam and to look at some eyeglasses.
I have several pairs now but not with updated prescriptions. Before leaving the states I did get an eye exam going in with the impression that the exam would be at no charge. Even though I don't get vision with my benefits working with the city they did cover the exams in previous years but did not discover until afterwards that it was no longer covered. I had to fork out almost $100 bucks.
When I went into Top Charoen Optical I was greeted with lovely smiles and a glass of Orange Juice with a piece of Orchid as decoration, boy what class! I never experienced this in the states and many times people did not seem like they were very much interested in helping me. Again the level of service was wonderful and the price for the glasses and getting the transitional lens was a fraction of the cost I would pay back in California.
The level of respect they shown was mutual and I wanted to do business with them. There was no pressure and it made my decision process easy. I found a nice pair that I like and placed the order. I will be coming back when I return to Chiang Mai. Many thanks to the friendly staff at Top Charoen Optical.

Amazing Service in Chiang Mai (part 1)

I was walking down the street yesterday and notice a dental office (Dental4U Clinic) with a sign outside with some rates of the services they provide so I popped in to inquire about a cleaning and found the prices a fraction of the cost in the USA, particularly in California.
Some may be thinking why would you need to get dental work in Thailand when you have benefits working for the City of San Diego? Many people are under the illusion that working for the City we get great benefits....wrong! Actually we get a skeleton medical plan and in fact if you look closely there have been many changes even in the plan that I have but certainly no dental or vision.
I was not completely honest with dentist today when she asked me when I was last at a dentist office, I told her 5 years but actually it has been 10 years and I was embarrassed to say. I've been wanting to go see a dentist for a few years now and would look at ads trying to figure out where to go at a minimum cost. My previous dentist experiences were not positive and they always seem to need to do all this work. They are suppose to be the experts and they have out teeth in their hands.
The people here were very kind and gentle. They were committed in making me comfortable. All the noise freaked me out but I would have that wherever I go. They did an exam and proceeded with the cleaning. After the cleaning the comforting woman explained for my age my teeth are in good shape and I would need one filling. I've been in the fear for not going to the dentist in all these years that I would need more extensive work, so I was really relieved. For the cleaning it was 600baht and the filling was another 800baht (a total of about $45 USD).

If you find yourself in Chiang Mai just go east of the Thapae Gate just a few blocks on the left hand side at 382-384 Thapae Rd. Tel: 0-5387-4149

Intense Thai Massage Work Today!

Gotten quite a few massages in Thailand. Most places that I've been were good and for the price you can't beat it. Have not had a bad one since I've been here and today WOW!
During the Thai Professional Class I was worked on by two student teachers who really put it on me. Both had their own special qualities. My friend Zulu gave me some fantastic heavy work. He has been very good for me and my development to give me great feedback. The first week I took classes one of the things is when we connect with the client we asked do you want soft, medium, or Hard. After a few days working with Zulu and in my practicing he says he wants more so I have added another level....soft, medium, hard, or Zulu? This guy is extremely flexible and likes strong pressure. I just need to scale back some when I work on others. I was so wiped out after he worked on me. There was time left in class but I did not have anything in me to practice so another student teacher used me as an example and he brought another quality which was amazing. After both these guys worked on me I felt like spaghetti. Keep in mind I am a large student especially compared to most who come through this process. I am grateful for such an incredible experience. I know at these massage places if they worked like these guys did all day they could not last in the business.
Thank you my brothers!!!

My Five Wives!!!!!

So many wives, how do I keep track? Just kidding! Last night I joined one of our teacher's from The School of Massage and Health and some of my fellow students. We went to the Night Safari at the Chiang Mai Zoo. It was great to spend time with them and I had so much fun hanging out. The teacher was joking speaking of my Five Wives. Of course I enjoy the attention that I got from them and all the other people around who seem to get a kick from the great time we were having. The best part of the Night Safari for me was the light show later in the night. The grounds were very beautiful and I loved the landscape. As we entered there was a small circus type elephant doing tricks and seemed to make people happy which that part is okay but after my experience at the Patara Elephant Farm and everything I learned there it was a little troubling for me to see. Perhaps if I did not go to the Farm last week I would not feel this way. Besides that I enjoy checking out the flowers, the structure and how informative the rides were through the park. We went during the English version. What a cool evening of fun and laughter. The only thing is at the end of the night my wives booted me out. Just teasing, I love these special women and they made my evening very nice.

A Visit to the Baan Kingkaew Orphanage

I had the wonderful privilege to visit the Baan Kingkaew Orphanage today. In my short visit I was moved at how happy many of the children were. Just to see their beautiful smiles was very special! No need for me to say too much on this and I wanted to just provide a short share for my readers. I had the opportunity to connect with the kids from three different groups and even got a hug, played a few minutes, and was able to feed one child. I really liked how clean the place was and you can tell the team there really care for these children. The grounds are well taken care of and the facility seems very organized. I am proud to have shared just a moment with them and upon my return to Thailand will come to help out however I can if they allow me.

If you care to make a donation you can contact them at: contacktbkk@baan-kingkaew-orphanage.org or www.baan-kingkaew-orphanage.org you can also arrange a monthly direct debit payment with the bank.

Tok-Sen...Day 3

My third evening of this unique and special form of bodywork. I am really excited about it for many reasons. I would say the chief thing is that it feels so natural for me. It requires a certain level of rhythm and flow. I believe it has been easier for me to pick up and learn than both Thai Massage and Foot Massage. I do enjoy it all and with Tok-Sen we do use Thai Massage to warm up the body and the same with the Thai Foot Massage so both do solidify my Thai work. I really like the way that my instructor teaches me. She first has one of the Teacher trainees to model and some have not even received the work before. Then she does it on me and then I practice on her for the immediate feedback. It is awesome to have this one on one training of this very special work. The first evening she explained some things to me about the ritual of it with the symbolism of the color of flowers and where the wood comes from which I found very interesting. I did realized that it is very specific for this region and even then many people don't even know about it. The reason that I know this and it was confirmed because on my way home tonight I stopped for a quick 1hour Thai Massage at a place I've been wanting to go for sometime and I had a little chat with the practitioner and she had no clue. A few of her colleagues were giving sessions and was wondering about the tools and the techniques. I used the tools on them for a brief moment and they thought I was a teacher of this. When I went downstairs where they were doing foot massage I asked them if they ever heard of it and out of the 3 people working only one older lady had heard about it. I was really surprised.

I am extremely honored to be taught this and to connect with it on a deeper level. I am moved!!!

Letting Go Even More of Attachment

Boo hoo!!!! Got my haircut today. This was a major step for me. So, I was thinking back at the last time I had it this short. The first thought was when I join the Navy and went to boot camp but it still was longer then. So, the next thought was when I shaved it off back in 1975, yeah that's it, just a little longer than that. I can safely say many people that know me has never seen my hair cut this short. The lady who cuts my hair in the states I've been seeing for nearly 18 years I think. She knows how I like my hair cut and even when I say short it is not the short that most people think. The last haircut that I had was over a month before I came to Thailand so that makes it at least 2 months without one. I usually don't go more than 5 weeks without one. I was going to try and hold out for when I return in a few weeks but it has gotten out of control. When I take a shower and put in some of my hair care product it gets me by most of the morning but by the afternoon it is almost like I stuck my finger in a light socket. So after my Tok-Sen class this evening I stopped at a little place across the street from the school.
I started to try and communicate with her what I wanted but could not quite express my needs so I decided to breathe and experience (like my friend Rick reminds me of) so sitting in the chair she started to go to town and boy did she. At moments I began to get nervous because my beautiful locks were getting chopped off. The feeling I had is when I had my dreadlocks cut back in 1986 for those of you that remember.

When she was finish cutting and I had the shampoo I actually like it. It is very different for me. A funny feeling came over me because I never would imagine that I would ever cut my hair this short and I'm sure that if I could communicate with this nice lady I would not have had this cut and certainly would not have been present of how attached I've been over my hair. The thing is it can grow back if I choose to and either way will be fine. It was cool as I was walking home because some of the people that I come across enroute saw me made a gesture about my head and gave me a nod or the thumbs up!!!

I do see having it this short will save me a bundle of money in hair care products which I do spend a bundle with a variety of products from a special organic shampoo, several type of conditioners, balms, gels, and cremes.