What I meant about bacteria was that you might be introducing some new ones, if the device isn't sterile, and secondly that your colon is flushed of much of its normal flora, isn't it? I am not all so sure getting rid of normal flora is so wonderful, re body defense, or that fasting is so good for you in that the body think's its starving and tends to react to that with increased fat storage after the fact. I don't have links on that, but it is part of what I have seen conjectured on why americans are so fat... the gain loss gain loss gain loss thing adds up to greater and greater gain over time, very gradual loss being considered the wiser way to slim.
I of course don't know, am just musing. And I do easily see the psychological/emotional benefits of a purge/fast.
As to health faddist, I am not. I am also not one who runs around sterilizing my kitchen counter, etc.
Yes, Osso, I agree about the fat/thin/fat thing, but last time I did this it gave me a great kickstart for eating sensibly and small, and shrinks the stomach so a little suffices. Also I've yoyo'd so often in the past, one more time probably won't hurt! And this time I'll be living on my own and able to regulate better my intake. I've had boys at home to feed all summer which weakens the will. And HK is always a bit of a food trip.
We are given acidopholous capsules every night and an implant when we come off the fast, so the bacteria thing is probably OK. The instrument is sterilised in hydrogen peroxide and heat every time it's used too.
I don't think I'll do this again, it is very unnatural, though many cultures have touted it as a means to live longer. Also, so much food is junk, and a good clear-out once in a while feels sensible. Apparently many people find a thick solidified mucus appearing after a few days, which has lined their gut and prevented proper digestion, according to the gurus. But I am as ever sceptical about most of these things! You can read the pro-lobby stance on the website.
I am getting to know some of the people here fasting. There are 2 women of my sort of age from London, art/teaching sort of people; a Balinese and a Malaysian both of whom work in Vienna; an earnest Danish couple; some wacky young women who are stringily thin, but seem to manage the fast robustly; and a few other oddballs I don't know so well. Always good to meet people in this sort of environment where you can talk about mutual hunger pangs etc from the very start!
I understand deprivation as a foundation for joy. Memories of not having a shower or bath at home for a year (I showered at the facility at work, sneaking in early..., or at friends' houses), ah, well, one appreciates things in their absence, sometimes more than in their presence.
Are you in Thailand? I seem to remember that that was where you were doing the fast thing..
Yes, I'm on the island of Samui in southeast Thailand. It's great as a detox place, totally relaxed, nothing to do and nowhere to go, other than read trash on the beach, dip in the pool, and as of today, eat delicious fresh fruit and veg. For $260 you can do the fast, and accommodation costs about half that for 10 days. An affordable holiday/rejuvenation and unlike at hotels, very good for meeting people. You have common cause with them all and there are may different kinds of people here. Highl recommended for slimmers, health freaks, or people who want a nice place to stay (the restaurant is in the 50 Best in the World, veggie and seafood, Thai and western).
Only 48 more hours here, unfortunately - it has been a great 'time out' and it's amazing how much I slept in the first 3 days.
Among the characters I've met here are: A 70-yr-old Balinese woman who lives in Vienna and knows someone I know (!) - a woman my age starting an art therapy course now her 5 kids have finally left home - a British car-fanatic who owns a walnut farm in NZ and is painting a beautiful batik for his newly re-met girlfriend - an earnest but sweet Danish couple who did so much pre-fasting fasting that they've been advised to build up their strength before starting - etc etc.
Sounds just what the doctor ordered, Clary! I really like the idea of taking time out like that, in an entirely different setting. The food sounds great, too. I'm jealous.
So what's next? Back to Hong Kong & more work?
NO MORE WORK EVER!!!! Well, just a little touch of editing when I get to London, but I am not now accepting paid work in the English language field. I want to keep my life clear for INTERESTING AND STIMULATING NEW PATHWAYS to open up!!!!
Today I managed to get off the raw food (yes, yes, I know they're good for you, but they aren't real food) and had the most delectable cabbage leaf spring rolls, crammed with veg and cooked in a slightly spicy broth. I've got to be sooooo strict with amounts if I am to continue to lose weight like this!!!
Anyway, also using up my very last day of tropical beach to finish the trashy love novel and get as brown as I dare before the burn sets in... and going to have an oil massage too. Tomorrow it's off to the delights of Bangkok airport, and a few hours later, meeting delightful middle son Bruno and charming girlfriend Katie at the exciting venue of Bangkok Railway Station for an overnight ride to the Lao border - YIPPEE!!
Clary wrote:NO MORE WORK EVER!!!!
Gosh, Clary. Wow!
This is such an interesting journey you're on!
Yay, Olga, come and join in!!
Now wouldn't that be good!
We're on the journey vicariously!
lounging, as I am wafted...
not to just make short of that.
I understand Clary's journey to attention to self.
Am all for it.
Hey we're off to France for a week, now, so
Hasta la vista, baby!
McT
Au plaisir et bon voyage!
(London - the meeting tomorrow - isn't really France, isn't it? So: ... 'ave a kitchen sink on me!
)
Apologies for long silence, Laos is not the country to rely on internet services, and also I had plenty to do NOT staring at a screen! It was a great trip. I met Bruno and Katie at Bangkok station, having stocked up with fresh pineapple and some rather tough fruit like underripe melon crossed with underripe pear for the journey. I love these overnight train rides! We found our seats easily - such courteous staff - and watched the dwindling light as we pulled out of stinky concrety Bkk and headed north, through Ayutthaya the old capital towards Udon Thani where it seems American military was stationed during/after the Viet war. Our beds were deftly made up when we felt the need to stretch out, and we all fell asleep early to the clickety click of the train. However the line got a bit more clackety bang as we went north, and alarming sounds gave us a wakeful 3-5 a.m. When dawn came, greyly, we were asleep, but managed to surface at Nong Khai, the town on the Mekong where the only bridge south of China is (built by the Aussies yay in 94) Went there in the rather bitty way you have to - tuktuk to the bridge, bus over it, taxi the other end after buying Lao visa and changing baht (which are small) into kip (which are infinitesimal). We went to the Thawee Guesthouse, recommended by the stalwart Lonely Planet guide, which is the traveller's bible. Single room with fan, about $4. Explored the town (Bruno reading out of the guidebook - he takes travelling seriously) and had delicious meal at a 'bistro' (just a smidgin of French influence left - nice baguettes, for example). Made a plan to hire a taxi to take us to a couple of villages and a lake, and on to a place about 75 miles away for the next day - the guesthouse receptionist's uncle was the taxi driver. $62 for the trip - a little exorbitant, but we did want to get out into the countryside and see the real Laos, since Vientiane is a city, albeit small.
So bright and early we drove out, leaving large bags at the guesthouse, and saw a muddy market place where baskets were made, and some rather dilapidated villages, where the fruit was cheap (hooray). At luch we arrived at the lake, a reservoir providing a huge amount of electricity, they even sell some to Thailand. It had been a steeply wooded valley (the trees in Laos are particularly large and beautiful) but now it's a huge lake studded with wooded islands (the tops of all the hills that remained after the flooding of the valley). Apparently petty criminals and prostitutes had at one point been rounded up and marooned on the islands - we couldn't find out more details but it seemed very cruel if there was no food, and also rather like an Outward Bound raft-making challenge, since the jungle trees could make superb craft.
We went out for a boat trip on the lake and then had the freshest fish ever in the ramshackle lakeside restaurant - we were the only lunchers. Wonderful huge river fish, with green papaya salad (full of vitamins).
More later - this is far too long, sorry!!!
My flight might go without me!!! Anyway we carried on up the only road in Lao (they don't pronounce the S and I suspect the French put it on because, well, they're French) to the village of Vangvieng, which has the most lovely scenery on the other side of the river - like Guilin in China - some nice photos visible on the Net from
http://www.pbase.com/dgawen/vangviengvientiane
There was supposed to be a bamboo bridge across the swirling swollen river but (somewhat to my relief) it gets swept away every year in the rainy season - we are right in the midst of that season, but it is impresive! Sowe watched little motor boats (called machine boats on the 'English' sign) zooming out upstream , and being sucked back down the other side to come to rest opposite the guest house. It was only $3 this time, all wooden, a rather neglected resort built and loved by a French couple who'd suddenly been required to leave when the government decided foreigners couldn't own land/businesses 2 year ago. But we found a really nice restaurant overlooking the river, the hills, and what wouldhave been the sunset had there been sun - those mtns wreathed in shifting clouds and mists were very lovely though. A Lao girl who'd studied in Melbourne was managing it for her parents - they seemed to alternate on the management. Excellent chicken in ginger, fresh veg - there are no factory farms or supermarkets in Lao, so the food is natural, fresh and delicious.
Now I really must go, they're boarding....
