Ban Khachao

This week has been very long and interesting. Thai massage level 1 course now completed! Bethany and I were the only ones in this weeks class as they run them every Monday to Friday. So we both had lots and lots of practice on each other and then on our instructor Jang. She was very helpful and excellent at correcting us as we went along. A typical Thai massage runs 2 hours long and I'm pretty sure I punished my knees into a grade 1 ACL tear from all of the kneeling. We were honoured to attend a once a year teacher appreciation ceremony that we chanted ancient Pali verses and bowed to the teachers and all of life's teachers as (symbolized in this altar) as well as given flowers to place on an altar to show respect. Contrary to western style massage, traditional Thai massage does not primarily work with the physical body but rather with the energy body of man. Its background can be traced back to India with an Ayurvedic understanding that "wind" or "chi" has invisible lines that flow through the body. If there is a blockage along the lines somewhere an ailment is presented in the according like fashion. We covered the full body as well as some cool stretching techniques all working on a large mat on the floor with different pillows to flop you around as needed. When I was getting treated by Beth I would slowly drift off to sleep but then a short time would pass and I would have to wake up and then work so it became difficult for me. Also Beth had some tummy troubles but is on the mend these past couple of days. The pharmacies here are very helpful and can pretty much get you anything you need. Now that the serious part of the trip is over we are off to Pai to party out! And by partying out I mean sitting by a pool complaining about the wifi and having a competition to see who gets dehydrated first.Okumaya devam et