I'm Rejuvenated!

I am now officially rejuvenated. Fourteen days and feeling pretty great. I've lost 3.5 kilos, but no need to get too excited: it was really just the red wine and escargots from France coming off. Gotta tell ya, I am not sure if I have been really lazy here or simply relaxed. I have done ab-so-lute-ly freakin' nothing... The typical day continued and I had quite the routine going. I did however eat different foods, but yes Joey, steamed bananas were a staple, I loved them! And I did manage to talk to people and have interesting chitchats with quite a few folks (mostly German and Russians, and one Canadian family). But I am telling myself that I really really shouldn't feel guilty for being a complete sloth and seeing nothing of Kerala. Hanging out in the hammock staring at coconut trees were just far more interesting for me than walking through the town of Trivandrum. Having said that, I would love to come back here and really see Kerala properly, maybe next time on a fishing boat.

So here are a few more pics: one of me in a steam bath with a red face from the heat, my two therapists who completely thrashed my poor body with their hands and feet, and another of a few herbs that I have been ingesting.



And yes, still no cigs.

A Typical Day...

So, its my 7th day towards rejuvenation, and my 10th day smoke-free, and gotta tell ya, feeling pretty darn good. I am beginning to feel that everything about me is cleaner, from my bones, blood and brain.

I've also just finished reading all 620 pages of Gandhi's biography, and I bet you didn't know that he took a sabbatical for a year. He said it "nourished the body and cleansed the soul". Okay, I'm only taking 3 months off, but its good to know that selfless and saintly men such as him have also given in to chilling out every now and then.

As for the moment, my typical day consists of the following:

8:00am Open Eyes

8:15am Go to Breakfast of steamed bananas, herbal water and carrot tea, say hello to this guy



8:45am Check emails

9:45am Yoga (Asanas and Breathing exercises)

11:45am Read Indian Express newspaper overlooking the sea and drink a lime juice with a wee bit of honey

12:30pm Lunch of lemon ginger rice, red spinach with carrots, dal and a mango lassi (yummy) while overlooking the sea



1:00pm Quick nap and/or read book hanging out on hammock


3:00pm Treatment begins of 1/2 hour back massage, 1/2 hour massage on floor with therapists feet, 1/2 hour two therapist massage, 1/2 hour oily stuff poured on forehead

5:00pm Come back to hut looking like this after drinking coconut milk


6:30pm Emerge from hut following a hot shower and check emails again


7:00pm Dinner of leafy vegetable soup, spinach and potatoes, raw veggies, indian sweet of some kind and hot herbal water

8:00pm Read book, send texts, chat on phone and/or write in journal

9:00pm Sleep

I seriously don't think I have ever enjoyed sleeping this much. It must be the nicotine and other poisons getting out. Yippee, and I have another week here!

"The Gateway to Serenity"

Okay, so this is a big part of what this whole adventure is about. Me doing some sort of detoxifying, balancing of the mind-body-spirit deal to clear my head and rid myself of all sorts of crap that has been floating in my system. To get on to that healthy road after living in one of the most polluted cities in the world. And of course, to quit smoking.

I'm on Day 3 now of the non-smoking and feeling pretty good. I was on the patch, but then read Allen Carr, who says "you are a nicotine addict, smoking is not a habit, you are a drug addict... as soon as you realize that nicotine is the problem, you will rid yourself of the god-awful terrible disgusting weed thing hanging from your mouth. Smoking offers you no benefits whatsoever, it robs you of money, health and happiness. Your inability to quit is dominated by fear. You have been brainwashed by big tobacco companies, the media and your teenaged peers who were cool when they were 15, but are now just idiots for continuing to smoke". (Paraphrased)

So for the detox I'm in Kerala, the land of mangoes, jackfruit and coconut trees in south-west India. Also the birthplace of Ayurveda, the ancient science to balance the body's energy, strengthen the immune system and protect oneself against disease. I arrived this morning and got my body type tested (I am dominated by the fire-y one, go figure) and my herbal meds are prescribed. My ailments are mainly toxin build-up and also my recurring neck and shoulder issues. So I'm on a 14-day rejuvenation therapy, no meat, no alcohol, no smokes. Instead I get daily 2 hour massages, daily yoga, lots of oils, lots of herbal teas and lots of veggies.

I am here at the Manaltheeram and am in one of those huts overlooking the sea that are on the pictures. I really, really, really don't think I will regret the cash spent on these few weeks...