This morning started out a little disappointing when I arrived at the University Sports facility to be told that there would be no Aikido training this morning and that I should come back next week Saturday and Sunday.
But it brightened up considerably when I decided to take myself for a Thai massage at a newly-opened parlour. Called Sawasdee ("welcome" in Thai) it was an amazing experience! Simple, little touches like the little slippers for your feet, the warm foot bath with aromatic oils and the oversized, stone-coloured one-size-fits-all pyjamas you have to change into in your cordoned off sections with the gentle Thai music in the background; all of these add up to putting one at ease. Less is more, for sure.
Thai massage is similar to the shiatsu that I know. It works similarly on meridians (called sen lines) running across the body. But I found it more 3-dimensional than the way I was taught shiatsu. While both systems apply pressure in different ways to different points on the body, Thai massage also throws in simultaneous stretches of the limbs to make the experience that much more intense! It felt really good for my muscles to get such a good workout and for the pockets of tension at least to be identified!! In the end when I was waiting to pay the US$28 for my hour of reconstruction, I was invited to take part in a lucky dip. I drew a free kiss! I wasn't sure who the winner would be - the masseuse or me- so we settled on a free bar of soap so that the aromatic experience could continue even after I left.
All in all I left the parlour a much happier person. With the intention to include a visit to Sawasdee in my weekly schedule. Kop Khun Kap!!!
And later I took myself down to Pasir Putih, the White Sands beach, to float in the warm waters watched over by the Christ statue and to allow my cares to float off into that great expanse of water, to feel supported, unjudged, accepted by the sea's salty arms and to revel in the lapping of the waves, the shrieks of the children and the taste of the salt on my skin... There truly is something divine in the restorative power of the sea. Growing up in a coastal city, a visdorpie, it is easy to take the presence of the sea for granted. But stay away from it for any great length of time and you do start to get withdrawal symptoms.What a nice end to my weekend.....
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