Hmm…this is a tough one. I must start by saying, I’m not much of a fan of cities. They are loud, crowded, push a materialistic lifestyle, encourage people to waste money on stuff they don’t need…just generally make me feel all tense and bothered. So, you’ve got to take this entry with a grain of salt…
Hua Hin is a vacation town. From where the resort is and where I live, it’s about a 10 minute drive down a very busy street of apartment buildings, restaurants, hotels…to the center of town. Its loud. Its crowded. Its filled with shops selling a bunch of tourist crap. There is a nightly market that is 2 blocks long, always packed wall to wall with bodies trying to snatch up all the trinkets Thailand has to offer. (Clearly, these are not guests from my resort…because as you remember from my previous entry, the guests generally don’t step foot outside of the resort, and most don't bother buying things less than $200 in value.) The market attracts vendors selling all sorts of food (lots of unrecognizable mystery balls in various colors that the Thai’s seem to quite enjoy), silk this and that, carvings of elephants and Buddhas, illegally copied DVDs of all the latest Hollywood movies for $5, postcards, sunglasses…your typical fare for a market in a tourist town. After my first trip to town passing all of this, and all of the other tourist trap restaurants and trinket shops, I thought to myself, “Thank you very much. I’m ready to explore outside of town.” Stay tuned for my next blog entry.
However, there is one very redeemable part of this town in my opinion…coffee shops are to Seattle, as quaint little massage shops are to Hua Hin. (Doesn’t this wording remind you of those state-wide intelligence tests given in High School? Not sure where I pulled that out from.) Anyway, this is the best Happy Hour activity in the world! My friend and I walked into one of these places before dinner last week and sat down for an ‘hour foot massage’ that turned out to be 90 minutes and included our legs and shoulders…for $12! including tip! And, yes (I know some of you are wondering…) the place was very clean! Luckily for this anti-city girl, these places are EVERYWHERE, even on the beach. There are little umbrellas set up all along the beach with tables set up, for an hour massage for $7. As a matter of fact, I think I’ll leave this beachside table that I’m sitting at presently and go get one right now! Bye! ☺
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
$$$ One Thousand Dollars Per Day $$$
One Thousand Dollars a day. One, zero, zero, zero, point zero, zero. What would your vacation look like if that’s how much you spent each day? Well that’s what the guests here on average spend in a day. So let me tell you what their day is like…
First of all, let me tell you that there are only 57 rooms in the 7 acres of the resort….which means the maximum amount of guests at any one time is 114. The spa has over 50 massage rooms with a smorgasbord of options of things to be done to your body. There are 2 fitness studios for all sorts of exercise classes. A gym with the standard equipment. The yoga pavilion. The Thai Chi pavilion. The outdoor private massage pavillions. The outdoor pool. The indoor pool/Jacuzzi/steam room/cold plunge. The physical therapy rooms. The ocean view restaurant. The poolside/beachside restaurant…..so with all of this decadence, you can imagine that wherever you are, you feel as if you have the place to yourself.
Coming here is not like coming to any other hotel in the world. First of all, there is a security guard at every entrance and only people staying at the resort are allowed on the property. No kids under 16 allowed. It would upset the calm and relaxing environment, of course. People don’t come here to see the surrounding town (most don’t even set foot on the beach). They don’t come here to see Thailand either (unless they do so before or after their stay). People come here, to be HERE, at the resort. These people get the most personalized treatment you could ever imagine. If your mattress is too hard, we’ll bring you a softer one. If you want a foam pillow instead of a feather one, we’ll bring you that too. If you have dry skin or hair, there will be bathroom products in your room for dry skin and dry hair, and the contrary if you have oily skin or hair. Guests are sent a preference form before their stay to mark all of these details so this is already in place upon arrival.
Upon arrival, they are set up to see me (or one of my 5 colleagues). I go over their health history, ask them about their diet, their bowel movements, the amount of alcohol and water they drink, their emotional health….Needless to say, many cultures that walk into my office are not used to such questions and gee, it seems that by their answers, they are the poster child of perfect health…with skyrocketing blood pressure and a clear regular overindulgence in food. On the other hand, some of them immediately open up and start spilling their life story to me, as if they’ve been dying to tell SOMEONE for years, and they are now overjoyed at the opportunity to have found a listening ear. My job is to find out what their goals are whilst at the resort…relaxation, weight loss, decrease blood pressure, reduce pain and stiffness…. And then direct them to the best use of their time during their stay. This is when I encourage them to come and see me so I can analyze their health from a naturopathic perspective and do what I love.
The shortest amount of time anyone can stay is 3 nights. Most stay 7 or 10 days. A few stay for a month or two. (Can you say “Uber rich?”…do the math!) My job is to direct them to have an appointment with me, to get acupuncture, see the personal trainers, have an appointment with the physical therapists… whatever I deem appropriate given their present health condition. Included in their stay is 3 mostly organic, super healthy meals, a daily massage (10 different types to choose from), and then the grouping of treatments that fall under whatever ‘retreat’ they signed up for….weight loss, fitness, detox, physical renewal… If they want to do anything outside of that, its time to dig deeper into the ole pockets…and of course all of these extras show up on their bill at the end of their stay.
Most choose to just wear their bathrobes all day, which is perfectly acceptable anytime and anywhere at the resort, except at dinner when the attire is stated as ‘elegantly casual.’ Of course, if becoming ‘elegantly casual’ after a day of fitness, holistic health treatments, massages and the like is just too much work, they are ‘free’ to have their meal delivered to their room. (Of course, it’s not really ‘free’ in the true sense of the word.)
The list of awards that this resort has won is endless… from the #1 Spa in Asia multiple years in a row, to countless other “Best of’s” and “Top Ten” lists. From a business perspective it’s a brilliant idea to build an elegant spa that caters to the Uber rich from all over the world, yet in a third world country….Charge obscene prices (that most guests probably don’t even look at because its like pocket change to them) and pay a third world wage. There are 400 employees and 99.9% of them are Thai. The owner is a wealthy Thai (an oxymoron to the majority in this country) businessman. The General manager is French. My boss is American, and there are 5 other of us Yankees (who are paid a wage that would probably seem like winning the lottery to our local counterparts). There are two naturopaths from Australia, the acupuncturist from New York, 2 guys from England and the other 388 are pretty much all Thai.
So there you have it. For $1000 a day, you could wear your bathrobe all day, get a daily massage, improve your heart health with a personal trainer for an hour, get stretched by someone else for an hour, fix your stiff back with the physical therapists, learn about your health from me (well actually, that’s extra $$), and eat three organic meals a day…all within the confines of this pristine little secret hideaway unbeknownst to all the passer-byers on the street and on the beach. But! if you sign up today! You could have all of this for the super low price of $999! Special price, just for you!
First of all, let me tell you that there are only 57 rooms in the 7 acres of the resort….which means the maximum amount of guests at any one time is 114. The spa has over 50 massage rooms with a smorgasbord of options of things to be done to your body. There are 2 fitness studios for all sorts of exercise classes. A gym with the standard equipment. The yoga pavilion. The Thai Chi pavilion. The outdoor private massage pavillions. The outdoor pool. The indoor pool/Jacuzzi/steam room/cold plunge. The physical therapy rooms. The ocean view restaurant. The poolside/beachside restaurant…..so with all of this decadence, you can imagine that wherever you are, you feel as if you have the place to yourself.
Coming here is not like coming to any other hotel in the world. First of all, there is a security guard at every entrance and only people staying at the resort are allowed on the property. No kids under 16 allowed. It would upset the calm and relaxing environment, of course. People don’t come here to see the surrounding town (most don’t even set foot on the beach). They don’t come here to see Thailand either (unless they do so before or after their stay). People come here, to be HERE, at the resort. These people get the most personalized treatment you could ever imagine. If your mattress is too hard, we’ll bring you a softer one. If you want a foam pillow instead of a feather one, we’ll bring you that too. If you have dry skin or hair, there will be bathroom products in your room for dry skin and dry hair, and the contrary if you have oily skin or hair. Guests are sent a preference form before their stay to mark all of these details so this is already in place upon arrival.
Upon arrival, they are set up to see me (or one of my 5 colleagues). I go over their health history, ask them about their diet, their bowel movements, the amount of alcohol and water they drink, their emotional health….Needless to say, many cultures that walk into my office are not used to such questions and gee, it seems that by their answers, they are the poster child of perfect health…with skyrocketing blood pressure and a clear regular overindulgence in food. On the other hand, some of them immediately open up and start spilling their life story to me, as if they’ve been dying to tell SOMEONE for years, and they are now overjoyed at the opportunity to have found a listening ear. My job is to find out what their goals are whilst at the resort…relaxation, weight loss, decrease blood pressure, reduce pain and stiffness…. And then direct them to the best use of their time during their stay. This is when I encourage them to come and see me so I can analyze their health from a naturopathic perspective and do what I love.
The shortest amount of time anyone can stay is 3 nights. Most stay 7 or 10 days. A few stay for a month or two. (Can you say “Uber rich?”…do the math!) My job is to direct them to have an appointment with me, to get acupuncture, see the personal trainers, have an appointment with the physical therapists… whatever I deem appropriate given their present health condition. Included in their stay is 3 mostly organic, super healthy meals, a daily massage (10 different types to choose from), and then the grouping of treatments that fall under whatever ‘retreat’ they signed up for….weight loss, fitness, detox, physical renewal… If they want to do anything outside of that, its time to dig deeper into the ole pockets…and of course all of these extras show up on their bill at the end of their stay.
Most choose to just wear their bathrobes all day, which is perfectly acceptable anytime and anywhere at the resort, except at dinner when the attire is stated as ‘elegantly casual.’ Of course, if becoming ‘elegantly casual’ after a day of fitness, holistic health treatments, massages and the like is just too much work, they are ‘free’ to have their meal delivered to their room. (Of course, it’s not really ‘free’ in the true sense of the word.)
The list of awards that this resort has won is endless… from the #1 Spa in Asia multiple years in a row, to countless other “Best of’s” and “Top Ten” lists. From a business perspective it’s a brilliant idea to build an elegant spa that caters to the Uber rich from all over the world, yet in a third world country….Charge obscene prices (that most guests probably don’t even look at because its like pocket change to them) and pay a third world wage. There are 400 employees and 99.9% of them are Thai. The owner is a wealthy Thai (an oxymoron to the majority in this country) businessman. The General manager is French. My boss is American, and there are 5 other of us Yankees (who are paid a wage that would probably seem like winning the lottery to our local counterparts). There are two naturopaths from Australia, the acupuncturist from New York, 2 guys from England and the other 388 are pretty much all Thai.
So there you have it. For $1000 a day, you could wear your bathrobe all day, get a daily massage, improve your heart health with a personal trainer for an hour, get stretched by someone else for an hour, fix your stiff back with the physical therapists, learn about your health from me (well actually, that’s extra $$), and eat three organic meals a day…all within the confines of this pristine little secret hideaway unbeknownst to all the passer-byers on the street and on the beach. But! if you sign up today! You could have all of this for the super low price of $999! Special price, just for you!
My Typical Day at Work in Thailand...
written February 10, 2008:
It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything. Well, what can I say…I’ve been working. So what is my day like, you may ask, now that I’m all settled in, working at a 5 Star Spa in Thailand? I’ll paint a picture for you….I have two kinds of mornings: wake up at 6:30 and head up one floor to the gym in my 4 story staff house building, do aerobics on the roof, or head for the beach and take a swim in the ocean. My other morning is: lie in bed until the very last minute possible, grab a quick breakfast in the staff cafeteria on the main floor, and then head to work.
At about 8:30, I’m off to work and embark on my commute….a 3 minute walk down the alley that runs along the outside of the resort. I head out the door with an umbrella of course, like all the other Thai women, to protect my skin from the sun. Being a Seattle native, I’ve never imagined I would ever do such a thing! But if you add up 3 minutes x 4 commutes a day (I return to the staff house for lunch), that equals 12 minutes. 12 minutes x 6 days a week x 52 weeks in a year = that comes to 3744 minutes, or 62.4 hours, of sun during my commute in a year! And that doesn’t include all the other times I’m in the sun! So you see, the umbrella suddenly doesnt sound like such a silly thing anymore, does it?!
I cross over ‘the wall’ and enter the resort through a little maze of very industrial looking, stark hallways that run underneath the resort. I think whomever designed these secret, underground, staff-only hallways must have done so borrowing ideas from the layout of Italian fortress cities, making sure that the design was so confusing that if one’s enemy ever entered the city, they would surely never find their way to the center of town. Nonetheless, I have been here for a month now and have successfully made it to my office everyday.
I sit down at my computer and check who I will be seeing that day. We are sent a little email with their photos and the proper way to greet them. It could be Mr. and Mrs., Lord and Lady, The Honorable and the Honorable, King and your Highness…no joke. Havent personally worked with the later, but have with all the other titles. “The Honorable so and so” whom I worked with, he asked me to just call him David…and suddenly that was who he was, simply David.
Let me digress…I find it absolutely fascinating to be working with people from all over the world. Today I had 2 Japanese women, a Russian man, an English woman, a woman from Ireland, a couple from Switzerland, a man from Malaysia (well, actually they weren’t all today…more like the last few days, but anyway…). What this job does is it makes me acutely aware that each one of us should put aside all the cultural barriers, colors of skin, style of clothing, financial status, etc….and realize just how similar we all are. Everyone has some sort of physical issue, family stuff, emotional situation… Upon arrival in my office, I may at first feel nervous that I will have a difficult time talking with this person for x, y, or z reasons…but as the hour goes by, it becomes very clear to me that this person and I have a lot in common. It’s an awesome experience. We really are just one big global community.
Anyway, I meet with them upon their arrival at the resort to go over their medical history and any present conditions that we need to be aware of before taking part in the activities at the resort. We have a full physiotherapy division for those needing help with bad backs, shoulders, knees, recent surgery recovery, etc. We have a full fitness staff with personal trainers, yoga instructors, Thai kick boxing master, etc for those here to improve their fitness. We have a whole team of holistic healers…meditation practitioners, reiki masters, EFT, Chi Nei Tsang, breathing techniques, etc. And of course, we have over 30 massage therapists that do a whole host of various massage techniques.
During their introductory visit with me is when I encourage them to come and see me for an hour to talk about their health from a Naturopathic perspective and to give them treatment and lifestyle suggestions that the MDs out there have never informed them of. Here is the quintessential example of that: I had a woman in my office with osteopenia (pre-osteoporosis) and asked her if she did weight training as a part of her routine to keep her bones strong (which is the most BASIC suggestion that every woman with brittle bones should know about and do). Her answer was, “Why should I do that? My doctor said I would be fine if I just take this pill for the rest of my life.” What more can I say….
Right now I’m doing more first day consults than Naturopathic consults, but that will be shifting over the next months because they have plans to hire people to do that part so we can be freed to practice fully as NDs, and drop all the first day check in stuff.
And that’s my day at the office. I head out for my commute at 6pm, usually go the long way via the beach to take in a few breaths of the beauty of the ocean and the sky, head back to the cafeteria for dinner, and then to my room to catch up on emails and writing to you guys in my blog. As for today, its my day off so I’m headed to do some errands at ‘the mall’ and then off to relax on the beach! Love to you all!
It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything. Well, what can I say…I’ve been working. So what is my day like, you may ask, now that I’m all settled in, working at a 5 Star Spa in Thailand? I’ll paint a picture for you….I have two kinds of mornings: wake up at 6:30 and head up one floor to the gym in my 4 story staff house building, do aerobics on the roof, or head for the beach and take a swim in the ocean. My other morning is: lie in bed until the very last minute possible, grab a quick breakfast in the staff cafeteria on the main floor, and then head to work.
At about 8:30, I’m off to work and embark on my commute….a 3 minute walk down the alley that runs along the outside of the resort. I head out the door with an umbrella of course, like all the other Thai women, to protect my skin from the sun. Being a Seattle native, I’ve never imagined I would ever do such a thing! But if you add up 3 minutes x 4 commutes a day (I return to the staff house for lunch), that equals 12 minutes. 12 minutes x 6 days a week x 52 weeks in a year = that comes to 3744 minutes, or 62.4 hours, of sun during my commute in a year! And that doesn’t include all the other times I’m in the sun! So you see, the umbrella suddenly doesnt sound like such a silly thing anymore, does it?!
I cross over ‘the wall’ and enter the resort through a little maze of very industrial looking, stark hallways that run underneath the resort. I think whomever designed these secret, underground, staff-only hallways must have done so borrowing ideas from the layout of Italian fortress cities, making sure that the design was so confusing that if one’s enemy ever entered the city, they would surely never find their way to the center of town. Nonetheless, I have been here for a month now and have successfully made it to my office everyday.
I sit down at my computer and check who I will be seeing that day. We are sent a little email with their photos and the proper way to greet them. It could be Mr. and Mrs., Lord and Lady, The Honorable and the Honorable, King and your Highness…no joke. Havent personally worked with the later, but have with all the other titles. “The Honorable so and so” whom I worked with, he asked me to just call him David…and suddenly that was who he was, simply David.
Let me digress…I find it absolutely fascinating to be working with people from all over the world. Today I had 2 Japanese women, a Russian man, an English woman, a woman from Ireland, a couple from Switzerland, a man from Malaysia (well, actually they weren’t all today…more like the last few days, but anyway…). What this job does is it makes me acutely aware that each one of us should put aside all the cultural barriers, colors of skin, style of clothing, financial status, etc….and realize just how similar we all are. Everyone has some sort of physical issue, family stuff, emotional situation… Upon arrival in my office, I may at first feel nervous that I will have a difficult time talking with this person for x, y, or z reasons…but as the hour goes by, it becomes very clear to me that this person and I have a lot in common. It’s an awesome experience. We really are just one big global community.
Anyway, I meet with them upon their arrival at the resort to go over their medical history and any present conditions that we need to be aware of before taking part in the activities at the resort. We have a full physiotherapy division for those needing help with bad backs, shoulders, knees, recent surgery recovery, etc. We have a full fitness staff with personal trainers, yoga instructors, Thai kick boxing master, etc for those here to improve their fitness. We have a whole team of holistic healers…meditation practitioners, reiki masters, EFT, Chi Nei Tsang, breathing techniques, etc. And of course, we have over 30 massage therapists that do a whole host of various massage techniques.
During their introductory visit with me is when I encourage them to come and see me for an hour to talk about their health from a Naturopathic perspective and to give them treatment and lifestyle suggestions that the MDs out there have never informed them of. Here is the quintessential example of that: I had a woman in my office with osteopenia (pre-osteoporosis) and asked her if she did weight training as a part of her routine to keep her bones strong (which is the most BASIC suggestion that every woman with brittle bones should know about and do). Her answer was, “Why should I do that? My doctor said I would be fine if I just take this pill for the rest of my life.” What more can I say….
Right now I’m doing more first day consults than Naturopathic consults, but that will be shifting over the next months because they have plans to hire people to do that part so we can be freed to practice fully as NDs, and drop all the first day check in stuff.
And that’s my day at the office. I head out for my commute at 6pm, usually go the long way via the beach to take in a few breaths of the beauty of the ocean and the sky, head back to the cafeteria for dinner, and then to my room to catch up on emails and writing to you guys in my blog. As for today, its my day off so I’m headed to do some errands at ‘the mall’ and then off to relax on the beach! Love to you all!
I'm an 80's Aerobics Girl...Even in 2008, Even in Thailand
written January 26, 2008
I can remember when I fell in love with aerobics. I was 14 and the most gorgeous African American man I had even seen was my instructor. (Well, maybe it wasn’t aerobics I actually fell in love with…hmm, never thought about that before.) Anyway, I loved it. I bought the outfits and went to as many of Sean’s classes as he taught in a week. I’d even take the Metro bus to Broadway from Bellevue to take his Seattle classes. A few years into it, I even took his instructor training class and started teaching on my own, and I can still remember some of those routines…
So here I am in this gorgeous sunny weather everyday. I wake up and think, “Go workout inside at the gym on the second floor? I think not!” I’m only going outside. But, I love my knees too much to run anymore, and the wind has been making the sea too rough for swimming. So up to the roof top garden I went today. There is a little garden up there that even has planted grass (my knees love that). I set up my IPOD and portable speakers and just started rockin’ out. I had my pink Addidas hat on, my sunglasses, and I just started jumping around for about half hour or so, enjoying the view of the entire town, of the ocean, of the blue sky…better than any TV program or mirror I’d stare at in the gym, that’s for sure! The time just FLEW! And thank goodness all the Thai’s like to stay inside…not a soul seems to ever come up to hang out up on the roof like I do everyday. I think I’ll do it again tomorrow!
I can remember when I fell in love with aerobics. I was 14 and the most gorgeous African American man I had even seen was my instructor. (Well, maybe it wasn’t aerobics I actually fell in love with…hmm, never thought about that before.) Anyway, I loved it. I bought the outfits and went to as many of Sean’s classes as he taught in a week. I’d even take the Metro bus to Broadway from Bellevue to take his Seattle classes. A few years into it, I even took his instructor training class and started teaching on my own, and I can still remember some of those routines…
So here I am in this gorgeous sunny weather everyday. I wake up and think, “Go workout inside at the gym on the second floor? I think not!” I’m only going outside. But, I love my knees too much to run anymore, and the wind has been making the sea too rough for swimming. So up to the roof top garden I went today. There is a little garden up there that even has planted grass (my knees love that). I set up my IPOD and portable speakers and just started rockin’ out. I had my pink Addidas hat on, my sunglasses, and I just started jumping around for about half hour or so, enjoying the view of the entire town, of the ocean, of the blue sky…better than any TV program or mirror I’d stare at in the gym, that’s for sure! The time just FLEW! And thank goodness all the Thai’s like to stay inside…not a soul seems to ever come up to hang out up on the roof like I do everyday. I think I’ll do it again tomorrow!
White Shapes In The Sky?!
written January 25, 2008:
I need to buy an umbrella. “What?!” you may be asking. “You live on the equator, Jody!” Let me explain…As I am on my commute to work every morning (a 3 min walk down an alley to the resort), the sun shines so brightly that I thought it would be a good idea to have an umbrella to protect my skin. But this morning was odd. As I looked up into the sky, I saw something that I’ve never seen since my arrival here. It was all these various shapes of white things in the sky! Some were fluffy. Some were long and skinny. Some were big. Some were little. The wind was blowing them all around, and blocking the blue color, and occasionally even blocking the sun. I thought for a moment, “What does this remind me of?” Suddenly, I had this faint feeling of being at home, in Seattle…
I need to buy an umbrella. “What?!” you may be asking. “You live on the equator, Jody!” Let me explain…As I am on my commute to work every morning (a 3 min walk down an alley to the resort), the sun shines so brightly that I thought it would be a good idea to have an umbrella to protect my skin. But this morning was odd. As I looked up into the sky, I saw something that I’ve never seen since my arrival here. It was all these various shapes of white things in the sky! Some were fluffy. Some were long and skinny. Some were big. Some were little. The wind was blowing them all around, and blocking the blue color, and occasionally even blocking the sun. I thought for a moment, “What does this remind me of?” Suddenly, I had this faint feeling of being at home, in Seattle…
The Grand Finale of Spa Treatments
written January 22, 2008:
Today is Jan 22. I have been here for just over 2 weeks now, doing my job ‘training’ and I just counted…Since I arrived, I have received 30 various spa treatments. Let me name just few…Thai massage, Thai herbal massage, hot stone massage, lymph drainage massage, oriental scalp massage, craniosacral, guided meditation, laser skin rejuvenation, personal stretching session, body cocoon, floatation spa, detox bath, herbal facial, reflexology, reiki, acupuncture, accelerated body shaping therapy (as you can imagine, from all of this hard work, I’m too tired to explain that one right now…), energy healing, personal training session, flower remedy session… and that’s just a partial list. Well today was the big day. It was the last day of my strenuous ‘training’ schedule, and I think they must have saved the best for last…
You might think that after receiving as many massages as I have in the last two weeks that one might become immune to the oohhh’s and aahhh’s of getting a massage. (Well, I sadly admit that on some days, that kinda of happened. It was just another thing I had to do for an hour, and then I’d go off to lunch and soon forget that I had just had a spectacular massage.) Well not today. This one will be a hard one to forget…
It was called, “South Indian Body Pampering.” It is considered the ‘most indulgent experience’ offered here at the resort…and when this place is all about indulgence, you can only imagine what ‘the most indulgent’ indulgence must be. Well, imagine no longer… I am escorted by the massage therapist down the spa hallway in my robe and slippers as I have everyday for the past two weeks, and enter into one of the over 40 massage rooms. But when I arrive, there are already 2 other therapists in the room. ‘Hmm, interesting,’ I thought. I lie down on the table and the heaven begins…
One woman is on my right. One is on my left. Simultaneously they start pouring warm aromatic oil into my hands, which immediately makes every muscle in my body let go. For the next hour, one works on my left and the other on my right, continuing to pour hot oil over me as they go, making every stroke exactly in step with each other. Meanwhile, a third therapist spreads powdered Ayurvedic herbs all over my body, resulting in a full body exfoliation. Before flipping over to have this entire indulgence repeated on my front side, they cover me in steamed herb-infused towels for a few minutes…just in case I haven’t relaxed enough?! It was utterly amazing. Talk about indulgence. The sense of relaxation was beyond any massage I have ever had…..and to no surprise, I am now off to bed for a long deep sleep, too zen-ed out to type anymore. Good night!
Today is Jan 22. I have been here for just over 2 weeks now, doing my job ‘training’ and I just counted…Since I arrived, I have received 30 various spa treatments. Let me name just few…Thai massage, Thai herbal massage, hot stone massage, lymph drainage massage, oriental scalp massage, craniosacral, guided meditation, laser skin rejuvenation, personal stretching session, body cocoon, floatation spa, detox bath, herbal facial, reflexology, reiki, acupuncture, accelerated body shaping therapy (as you can imagine, from all of this hard work, I’m too tired to explain that one right now…), energy healing, personal training session, flower remedy session… and that’s just a partial list. Well today was the big day. It was the last day of my strenuous ‘training’ schedule, and I think they must have saved the best for last…
You might think that after receiving as many massages as I have in the last two weeks that one might become immune to the oohhh’s and aahhh’s of getting a massage. (Well, I sadly admit that on some days, that kinda of happened. It was just another thing I had to do for an hour, and then I’d go off to lunch and soon forget that I had just had a spectacular massage.) Well not today. This one will be a hard one to forget…
It was called, “South Indian Body Pampering.” It is considered the ‘most indulgent experience’ offered here at the resort…and when this place is all about indulgence, you can only imagine what ‘the most indulgent’ indulgence must be. Well, imagine no longer… I am escorted by the massage therapist down the spa hallway in my robe and slippers as I have everyday for the past two weeks, and enter into one of the over 40 massage rooms. But when I arrive, there are already 2 other therapists in the room. ‘Hmm, interesting,’ I thought. I lie down on the table and the heaven begins…
One woman is on my right. One is on my left. Simultaneously they start pouring warm aromatic oil into my hands, which immediately makes every muscle in my body let go. For the next hour, one works on my left and the other on my right, continuing to pour hot oil over me as they go, making every stroke exactly in step with each other. Meanwhile, a third therapist spreads powdered Ayurvedic herbs all over my body, resulting in a full body exfoliation. Before flipping over to have this entire indulgence repeated on my front side, they cover me in steamed herb-infused towels for a few minutes…just in case I haven’t relaxed enough?! It was utterly amazing. Talk about indulgence. The sense of relaxation was beyond any massage I have ever had…..and to no surprise, I am now off to bed for a long deep sleep, too zen-ed out to type anymore. Good night!
Swanky Swanky!.. is Alive and Well in Thailand!
written January 22, 2008:
Ken is the ironically white-guy-from-New-York acupuncturist here at the resort. (Funny, dont you think…a white guy as the acupuncturist, in Asia?…well, he must be good.) Anyway, he is a great guy and took Monica and I out to dinner tonight. He moved here 2 years ago from the Big Apple and so its been wonderful to have him here to help with all the logistics of living in this foreign town. When he suggested dinner, I was thinking, “Great! He’ll know a fantastic little, local hole in the wall that I would otherwise never find on my own…”
As we rode through town, with me on the back of his motor bike weaving in and out of all the cars as seems to be the norm here, we arrive at our destination. Well let me tell ya, this isn’t just a little hole in the wall. Its a boutique hotel you’d find on the beach in LA. We stroll up the sleek, sexy, slinky staircase (try saying that fast 5 times….I just did…well, I tried anyway) up 4 flights of stairs until we reach the restaurant. Then up one more floor to the roof top seating. SWANKY!! Cushions spread in comfy circles with little low standing tables in the middle. And the view! The moon was full, deep orange….like a harvest moon, and was glistening off the ocean. It was absolutely stunning. And the view of the town, stunning as well. We had a scrumptious calamari appetizer then I had grilled scallops, Ken had tuna, and monica had a seafood salad….I kept pinching myself. “I’m not on vacation. I live here!” Whomever comes to visit me first, I promise I’ll take you!!! Just let me know when, and I’ll make the reservation!
Ken is the ironically white-guy-from-New-York acupuncturist here at the resort. (Funny, dont you think…a white guy as the acupuncturist, in Asia?…well, he must be good.) Anyway, he is a great guy and took Monica and I out to dinner tonight. He moved here 2 years ago from the Big Apple and so its been wonderful to have him here to help with all the logistics of living in this foreign town. When he suggested dinner, I was thinking, “Great! He’ll know a fantastic little, local hole in the wall that I would otherwise never find on my own…”
As we rode through town, with me on the back of his motor bike weaving in and out of all the cars as seems to be the norm here, we arrive at our destination. Well let me tell ya, this isn’t just a little hole in the wall. Its a boutique hotel you’d find on the beach in LA. We stroll up the sleek, sexy, slinky staircase (try saying that fast 5 times….I just did…well, I tried anyway) up 4 flights of stairs until we reach the restaurant. Then up one more floor to the roof top seating. SWANKY!! Cushions spread in comfy circles with little low standing tables in the middle. And the view! The moon was full, deep orange….like a harvest moon, and was glistening off the ocean. It was absolutely stunning. And the view of the town, stunning as well. We had a scrumptious calamari appetizer then I had grilled scallops, Ken had tuna, and monica had a seafood salad….I kept pinching myself. “I’m not on vacation. I live here!” Whomever comes to visit me first, I promise I’ll take you!!! Just let me know when, and I’ll make the reservation!
There Are Always Two Sides to Every Coin...
written January 18, 2008:
Yes, I live near a beach. Yes, I work at one of the posh-est spas in the world. Yes, the sun shines everyday. But I feel drawn to explain the other side of the coin tonight, as I sit here alone in my bed, in my very utilitarian 4 story apartment building. Dont get me wrong. I am thrilled at the opportunity that I have here. I have no doubt I am meant to be here and I will have many amazing experiences. But all of this ‘paradise’ does not come without its challenges…
I’ve already explained about my laundry challenge so I wont re-write about that. Let me tell you something about the Thai’s. This country is on the equator. Its hot. The sun shines all year round (I know, all you Seattle-ites are drooling). But what that means is that when they build things, they do so to keep the sun OUT. This resort was originally built 12 years ago with the intention of attracting wealthy Thai people. Well now, people come from all over the world, and I have yet to see a single Thai. Nonetheless, the original structure was built with the Thai people in mind. So what I am getting at is when I go to work, I often don’t see the sun. I am inside with AC all day and my window, which does not open, looks out to a cement courtyard. As one of the best spas in the world, I envisioned it out on a big bluff, all spread out over the land, surrounded by green rolling hills. Well, that’s not how it is. Its a long and narrow 7 acre rectangle. Beach on one end (but all the guests stay at the pool so the beach is empty). Busy road at the entrance end. Then a big cement wall (covered in greenery) to the north and south enclosing the property. I of course live outside the wall…which is where the very utilitarian 4 story staff apartment building is and the staff cafeteria, which brings me to my next point…
I really dont know what I am eating half the time. It comes in sauces, and little balls of who knows what. The salad bar is nice…as long as it hasn’t gone bad since none of it is kept on ice as it sits out for hours. The filtered water is good. As for any other beverage, it’s all sugar water in various colors. As for my room, I am very excited because I just moved into a new room…one that has a window. My last one was like a box, seriously. Apparently, when they were building it they ran out of windows for the top floor so someone decided that since we will be mostly working and not spending much time in our rooms, we didnt need windows. There was a door that opened to the outside 2′ x 4′ patio and that was it. Anyway, so now I’m in a room that actually has sliding glass doors that open out to a very narrow balcony. My view is of a dilapidated tennis court..but hey, its better than no window. The trade off for my window and balcony is that ants seem to love my bathroom and I could pee with more pressure than what comes out of my shower. After my ‘probabtion’ period is over, I will be given a housing allowance and can move somewhere on my own. I have my eye on some beach front apartments that I am going to take a look at on my day off.
Speaking of my day off, I am lucky to get it. The turnover rate for my position in the last year has been almost 100%. There is only one woman who has been here for over a year, and she is getting married to a Thai guy next month (she has motivation to stick around I suppose you could say). Everyone else has quit. Apparently they worked them with so much overtime that everyone has left. Given that, they are acutely aware that they dont want that to happen again. We’ve got a new boss who is promising to take care of us and seems truly like a great guy. One bummer thing for me that I just found out today is that I can’t call myself the title that I have been working so hard to achieve for all these years. I can’t call myself a doctor. I am a ‘Health Advisor.’ All of us in this position are not doctors so they dont want to confuse the guests and make some guests feel they are being met by a doctor while others are just met by an ‘advisor.’
Anyway, its all an experience that I am keeping open too. I trust I am meant to be here and am excited about what lies ahead. But, just know, it is up to all of us to find the paradise in our own lives…because even here in ‘paradise,’ its not always what it seems.
Yes, I live near a beach. Yes, I work at one of the posh-est spas in the world. Yes, the sun shines everyday. But I feel drawn to explain the other side of the coin tonight, as I sit here alone in my bed, in my very utilitarian 4 story apartment building. Dont get me wrong. I am thrilled at the opportunity that I have here. I have no doubt I am meant to be here and I will have many amazing experiences. But all of this ‘paradise’ does not come without its challenges…
I’ve already explained about my laundry challenge so I wont re-write about that. Let me tell you something about the Thai’s. This country is on the equator. Its hot. The sun shines all year round (I know, all you Seattle-ites are drooling). But what that means is that when they build things, they do so to keep the sun OUT. This resort was originally built 12 years ago with the intention of attracting wealthy Thai people. Well now, people come from all over the world, and I have yet to see a single Thai. Nonetheless, the original structure was built with the Thai people in mind. So what I am getting at is when I go to work, I often don’t see the sun. I am inside with AC all day and my window, which does not open, looks out to a cement courtyard. As one of the best spas in the world, I envisioned it out on a big bluff, all spread out over the land, surrounded by green rolling hills. Well, that’s not how it is. Its a long and narrow 7 acre rectangle. Beach on one end (but all the guests stay at the pool so the beach is empty). Busy road at the entrance end. Then a big cement wall (covered in greenery) to the north and south enclosing the property. I of course live outside the wall…which is where the very utilitarian 4 story staff apartment building is and the staff cafeteria, which brings me to my next point…
I really dont know what I am eating half the time. It comes in sauces, and little balls of who knows what. The salad bar is nice…as long as it hasn’t gone bad since none of it is kept on ice as it sits out for hours. The filtered water is good. As for any other beverage, it’s all sugar water in various colors. As for my room, I am very excited because I just moved into a new room…one that has a window. My last one was like a box, seriously. Apparently, when they were building it they ran out of windows for the top floor so someone decided that since we will be mostly working and not spending much time in our rooms, we didnt need windows. There was a door that opened to the outside 2′ x 4′ patio and that was it. Anyway, so now I’m in a room that actually has sliding glass doors that open out to a very narrow balcony. My view is of a dilapidated tennis court..but hey, its better than no window. The trade off for my window and balcony is that ants seem to love my bathroom and I could pee with more pressure than what comes out of my shower. After my ‘probabtion’ period is over, I will be given a housing allowance and can move somewhere on my own. I have my eye on some beach front apartments that I am going to take a look at on my day off.
Speaking of my day off, I am lucky to get it. The turnover rate for my position in the last year has been almost 100%. There is only one woman who has been here for over a year, and she is getting married to a Thai guy next month (she has motivation to stick around I suppose you could say). Everyone else has quit. Apparently they worked them with so much overtime that everyone has left. Given that, they are acutely aware that they dont want that to happen again. We’ve got a new boss who is promising to take care of us and seems truly like a great guy. One bummer thing for me that I just found out today is that I can’t call myself the title that I have been working so hard to achieve for all these years. I can’t call myself a doctor. I am a ‘Health Advisor.’ All of us in this position are not doctors so they dont want to confuse the guests and make some guests feel they are being met by a doctor while others are just met by an ‘advisor.’
Anyway, its all an experience that I am keeping open too. I trust I am meant to be here and am excited about what lies ahead. But, just know, it is up to all of us to find the paradise in our own lives…because even here in ‘paradise,’ its not always what it seems.
Luxurious Spa Treatments Can Be...Exhausting!!
written January 16, 2008:
I know. I know. How dare I even say that when many of you would love just to receive one, let alone 10 in 7 days. Let me explain myself…so as I just said in my previous entry, EVERYTHING here is new to me. I’m not even sure what I’m eating half the time or what my co-workers are saying to me in their Thai-English. So here I am getting all of these luxurious spa treatments and yet in the midst of them all, I am meeting department heads, learning the computer program, getting an overview of my new job…. So one minute, I am completely letting go and opened up, and the next minute, I have to look all professional and meet the General Manager. One minute I’m talking with the resort monk/meditation leader as if I were in a therapy session and start crying my eyes out, and the next minute I am doing a personal training session. One minute I am completely blissed out getting a massage, and the next minute I am doing Thai kick boxing…
So yes, the spa treatments have truly been amazing, but when you have every hour booked for 12 of the past 13 days, not to mention just trying to adjust to everything being different and new…I hope you can now understand why I can say, 2 weeks of spa treatments can be exhausting! Whew, I’m off to bed!
I know. I know. How dare I even say that when many of you would love just to receive one, let alone 10 in 7 days. Let me explain myself…so as I just said in my previous entry, EVERYTHING here is new to me. I’m not even sure what I’m eating half the time or what my co-workers are saying to me in their Thai-English. So here I am getting all of these luxurious spa treatments and yet in the midst of them all, I am meeting department heads, learning the computer program, getting an overview of my new job…. So one minute, I am completely letting go and opened up, and the next minute, I have to look all professional and meet the General Manager. One minute I’m talking with the resort monk/meditation leader as if I were in a therapy session and start crying my eyes out, and the next minute I am doing a personal training session. One minute I am completely blissed out getting a massage, and the next minute I am doing Thai kick boxing…
So yes, the spa treatments have truly been amazing, but when you have every hour booked for 12 of the past 13 days, not to mention just trying to adjust to everything being different and new…I hope you can now understand why I can say, 2 weeks of spa treatments can be exhausting! Whew, I’m off to bed!
Doing my Laundry
written January 16, 2008:
Here I am in a foreign country where everything and everyone is new. Everything. The language. The food. Where I sleep. Most of my coworkers are Thai and even if and when they speak ‘english,’ I usually still can’t understand them. I even have to trust other people to do my laundry…
I walked down to the laundry room looking for the self-serve machines…well, there aren’t any. So I tried to explain to someone that I didn’t want certain things dried. Good luck. No one in the laundry department speaks english. What an exercise in letting go. As I looked around, all I saw was huge commercial size laundry machines with piles of laundry from every department of the resort stacked up like mini mountains…and there was my little bag, with my treasured shirts, a few socks, my brand new workout gear….and I just had to trust it would all come back to me. That was 3 days ago...
So today was the big day when it was supposed to be ready. I head down there and not only is everything dried but half of it is missing. I have a minor panic moment and go up to my room to double check that I am sure things are missing…yes, they are missing. So back down I go. I just looked at the lady and said ‘English?’ She goes and gets some guy…and much to my hearts content, as soon as he comes over my way, I notice another little stack of laundry in the corner that is the other half of my stuff, dried as well so it probably doesnt fit anymore (exaggeration) but hey, at least it didn’t get eaten by the big commercial size washing machines.I try to ask him how I can make a note next time that I do not want my things dried. He told me to just write it down next time when I drop my next load off. But I wasnt feeling too confident about that plan since no one in the laundry department spoke english. After he scratched his head for the tenth time, I just smiled and said thank you and walked away. Thank goodness for my sink, my liquid soap, and my drying rack….
Here I am in a foreign country where everything and everyone is new. Everything. The language. The food. Where I sleep. Most of my coworkers are Thai and even if and when they speak ‘english,’ I usually still can’t understand them. I even have to trust other people to do my laundry…
I walked down to the laundry room looking for the self-serve machines…well, there aren’t any. So I tried to explain to someone that I didn’t want certain things dried. Good luck. No one in the laundry department speaks english. What an exercise in letting go. As I looked around, all I saw was huge commercial size laundry machines with piles of laundry from every department of the resort stacked up like mini mountains…and there was my little bag, with my treasured shirts, a few socks, my brand new workout gear….and I just had to trust it would all come back to me. That was 3 days ago...
So today was the big day when it was supposed to be ready. I head down there and not only is everything dried but half of it is missing. I have a minor panic moment and go up to my room to double check that I am sure things are missing…yes, they are missing. So back down I go. I just looked at the lady and said ‘English?’ She goes and gets some guy…and much to my hearts content, as soon as he comes over my way, I notice another little stack of laundry in the corner that is the other half of my stuff, dried as well so it probably doesnt fit anymore (exaggeration) but hey, at least it didn’t get eaten by the big commercial size washing machines.I try to ask him how I can make a note next time that I do not want my things dried. He told me to just write it down next time when I drop my next load off. But I wasnt feeling too confident about that plan since no one in the laundry department spoke english. After he scratched his head for the tenth time, I just smiled and said thank you and walked away. Thank goodness for my sink, my liquid soap, and my drying rack….
Little stuff, Big Steps!
written January 13, 2008
After my week of ‘training,’ I had the day off today to explore town for the first time. Being that I have never been to Thailand, or even Asia for that matter, I had no idea what to expect from this town. Before leaving home, I stocked up on my favorite bathroom stuff (and paid dearly for the extra weight at the airport) and am using it daily as if it were diamonds, fearing the day when I run out. Well, I ventured to town today….and hey, found a drug store! And they have Neutrogena stuff, colgate toothpaste, Oral-B toothbrushes, tampax…it sounds so silly but I cant tell you what a relief it was to just see familiar brands. A few days prior, I even opened my own bank account and now have a debit card from the Bank of Siam. So today was a big day. I bought some bandaids (cotton socks don’t breath well on the ole’ toes when walking in heat….fyi), some nuts, some hair stuff…and I felt like, “Hey! I live in Thailand and I’m just doing my shopping. I’m getting along just fine!” But unfortunately, ever wonder why all the super-bugs come from Asia? Well get this…antibiotics are sold over the counter! Got a sniffle? Buy yourself an antibiotic! What a scary situation….
I continue to walk through town and around the corner I go and there it was…westernized living right here in Hua Hin. I came across a huge shopping mall complex with who do you think proudly owning the grand front and center location…but good ole Starbucks. Yep, so I had to walk inside and buy a latte. EVERYTHING looked exactly as if I was in any other Starbucks in America….the menu, the display case, the tables and chairs. So those of you using the lame excuse that you are addicted to your Starbucks and that is why you can’t come and visit me…gotcha! See you soon!
After my week of ‘training,’ I had the day off today to explore town for the first time. Being that I have never been to Thailand, or even Asia for that matter, I had no idea what to expect from this town. Before leaving home, I stocked up on my favorite bathroom stuff (and paid dearly for the extra weight at the airport) and am using it daily as if it were diamonds, fearing the day when I run out. Well, I ventured to town today….and hey, found a drug store! And they have Neutrogena stuff, colgate toothpaste, Oral-B toothbrushes, tampax…it sounds so silly but I cant tell you what a relief it was to just see familiar brands. A few days prior, I even opened my own bank account and now have a debit card from the Bank of Siam. So today was a big day. I bought some bandaids (cotton socks don’t breath well on the ole’ toes when walking in heat….fyi), some nuts, some hair stuff…and I felt like, “Hey! I live in Thailand and I’m just doing my shopping. I’m getting along just fine!” But unfortunately, ever wonder why all the super-bugs come from Asia? Well get this…antibiotics are sold over the counter! Got a sniffle? Buy yourself an antibiotic! What a scary situation….
I continue to walk through town and around the corner I go and there it was…westernized living right here in Hua Hin. I came across a huge shopping mall complex with who do you think proudly owning the grand front and center location…but good ole Starbucks. Yep, so I had to walk inside and buy a latte. EVERYTHING looked exactly as if I was in any other Starbucks in America….the menu, the display case, the tables and chairs. So those of you using the lame excuse that you are addicted to your Starbucks and that is why you can’t come and visit me…gotcha! See you soon!
Job Training, Part 2: Living like a Queen
written Jan 10, 2008:
The guests here come from around the world. Tonight at dinner, my table was comprised of an Egyptian man, an English woman, an Australian, a Russian, and myself, the lone American. (And by the way, I was the last to leave the table. I was really soaking it up because as of tomorrow, no more guest food for me. The part of my ‘job training’ in which I am to experience the guest food ends today…I know, its horrible and you all feel really bad for me. Please don’t worry. I’ll handle it just fine, eating the Thai food that is made for me in my staff house 3 times a day without me even lifting a finger). Back to the guests….The guests are either rich or famous (to the latter of course this means they fit into the former category as well, so excuse the repetition). There are also kings and queens that stay here, literally…
So as my ‘job training’ continued today, I realized that the common metaphorical phrase, “to live like a Queen,” was exactly what I was doing. I was living exactly as Queens have actually lived, and exactly in the same place as they have lived it. Let me describe my day: one hour floating weightless in a salt water pool, 1 1/2 hours with a Chinese medicine expert, an hour of Chi Nei Tsang (dont ask…just know it was good), taking a sauna and a hot tub and then a cold plunge into a pool covered in rose petals, and then of course, a much needed 30 minute nap on a heated hot water bed. To complete my day, I enjoyed a 5 course dinner with the aforementioned guests on the veranda overlooking the ocean, with a nice warm breeze preventing me from otherwise possibly dripping a bead of sweat from my brow as a result of the heat of the glorious sunshine glistening off the ocean. (Okay, well everything I just said above is true except that last part. The sun had already set by the time I ate dinner… I just couldn’t help embellishing a bit. Please forgive me.)
But my whole point is that today, it really was not a metaphor. Today, I lived like a QUEEN… And tomorrow?! Stay tuned!
(P.S. I just realized something….Another common phrase used in the english language is, “I feel like I’ve been hit like a truck.” Well I’ve lived that one too…but that’s not what this blog is about. For those details, take a look at the cover of the Denver Post, March 16, 1991.)
The guests here come from around the world. Tonight at dinner, my table was comprised of an Egyptian man, an English woman, an Australian, a Russian, and myself, the lone American. (And by the way, I was the last to leave the table. I was really soaking it up because as of tomorrow, no more guest food for me. The part of my ‘job training’ in which I am to experience the guest food ends today…I know, its horrible and you all feel really bad for me. Please don’t worry. I’ll handle it just fine, eating the Thai food that is made for me in my staff house 3 times a day without me even lifting a finger). Back to the guests….The guests are either rich or famous (to the latter of course this means they fit into the former category as well, so excuse the repetition). There are also kings and queens that stay here, literally…
So as my ‘job training’ continued today, I realized that the common metaphorical phrase, “to live like a Queen,” was exactly what I was doing. I was living exactly as Queens have actually lived, and exactly in the same place as they have lived it. Let me describe my day: one hour floating weightless in a salt water pool, 1 1/2 hours with a Chinese medicine expert, an hour of Chi Nei Tsang (dont ask…just know it was good), taking a sauna and a hot tub and then a cold plunge into a pool covered in rose petals, and then of course, a much needed 30 minute nap on a heated hot water bed. To complete my day, I enjoyed a 5 course dinner with the aforementioned guests on the veranda overlooking the ocean, with a nice warm breeze preventing me from otherwise possibly dripping a bead of sweat from my brow as a result of the heat of the glorious sunshine glistening off the ocean. (Okay, well everything I just said above is true except that last part. The sun had already set by the time I ate dinner… I just couldn’t help embellishing a bit. Please forgive me.)
But my whole point is that today, it really was not a metaphor. Today, I lived like a QUEEN… And tomorrow?! Stay tuned!
(P.S. I just realized something….Another common phrase used in the english language is, “I feel like I’ve been hit like a truck.” Well I’ve lived that one too…but that’s not what this blog is about. For those details, take a look at the cover of the Denver Post, March 16, 1991.)
The most Heavenly 'Job Training' in the world
written Jan 9, 2008:
Part of my job is to meet with the guests on the first day of their arrival and ‘prescribe’ for them how to get the most out of their stay given their desired health goals. Well, then of course it makes sense that for my job training, I must have a thorough working knowledge of everything that goes on here at the resort. So hmm, lets see what I did today for ‘training’….breakfast buffet pool-side (I must know what they eat too), stretch class, fit ball class, body awareness class, a massage, a facial with laser treatment, an hour with an energy healer, and the reward for my stressful day, a 4 course dinner pool-side. So I’m not exactly using my doctoral training yet….but would you blame me?!! Yep, I’m pooped. Off to bed in order to get enough sleep for my 6am yoga class…and lots more ‘training’ tomorrow. Stay tuned!
Part of my job is to meet with the guests on the first day of their arrival and ‘prescribe’ for them how to get the most out of their stay given their desired health goals. Well, then of course it makes sense that for my job training, I must have a thorough working knowledge of everything that goes on here at the resort. So hmm, lets see what I did today for ‘training’….breakfast buffet pool-side (I must know what they eat too), stretch class, fit ball class, body awareness class, a massage, a facial with laser treatment, an hour with an energy healer, and the reward for my stressful day, a 4 course dinner pool-side. So I’m not exactly using my doctoral training yet….but would you blame me?!! Yep, I’m pooped. Off to bed in order to get enough sleep for my 6am yoga class…and lots more ‘training’ tomorrow. Stay tuned!
My first look at the Resort!
written Jan 8, 2008:
Today was my official start date and my first official full tour of the property. Amazing really. Hard to describe….but I’ll try. As the guests arrive, they first see stunning arrangements of local foliage in a beautiful outdoor lobby which over hangs a large pond full of colorful fish. As they wind down towards the private pavilions, a 300+ year old banyan tree appears around the corner to take their breath away. The path continues to wind through the elegant silk shop, the private yoga studio, the indoor pool/hot tub/sauna/cold plunge house, the Thai Massage hut, the arts & crafts room, the cooking class kitchen…until you enter the Spa area. There are 57 treatment rooms (and by the way, there are also 57 guest rooms….making it probably the only spa in the world to have a 1:1 ratio of rooms to treatment rooms).
The list of spa treatments is endless. There is also an entire dermatology division, physiotherapy division, hydrotherapy division, and of course the part I’m involved in, the holistic health and wellness division. Part of my job is to guide guests to the treatments that will best fit their health goals for their stay. So of course, in order for me to do this, I must receive some of the treatments!…which is exactly what part of my training entails!
The resort has security guards at every possible entrance. Unlike most resorts, the grounds are absolutely closed to the public. I am not even allowed to take any photos, nor is anyone else for that matter. Computers, cell phones, and PDA’s are only allowed in the guest rooms, not in any of the public areas because this place is all about Health, Wellness, RELAXATION, rejuvenation….I just got the whole Welcoming-powerpoint-for-new-staff presentation today and was very impressed. They take health and wellness very seriously here…and they should at a price tag of $500-$1500 per day!!…but hey, that includes a daily massage, 3 meals, the fitness classes, yoga classes, and daily meditation classes…which of course are also part of my next 2 weeks of training. All the spa treatments are extra.
On my off hours, I am allowed to use any of the facilities…the gym, the classes, the indoor pool house with hot tub, steam room, and my favorite, the cold plunge! The only thing I’m not allowed to do is use the outdoor pool, lay by the outdoor pool, or eat at the guest’s restaurants. But apparently, we are understaffed in my division so I will be working 6 very full days a week. My meals are served in the staff house and I’ve been very happy….full fresh salad bar at every meal, and always at least 4 different hot food options, usually with tons of veggies….yipee! The fruit is all new to me and is great! The rose apple. The dragon fruit….yummy new flavors to add to my lifetime experience of mother nature’s delights.
As all of you are about to wake up shortly, (I’m 15 hours ahead of Seattle so add 3 hrs and then flip day/night) I better head to bed…tomorrow is day 2 and I am scheduled for hour long overviews of all the different departments. And come Wednesday, I receive my first spa treatment, followed by Thursday in which I receive 4! Stay tuned!
Today was my official start date and my first official full tour of the property. Amazing really. Hard to describe….but I’ll try. As the guests arrive, they first see stunning arrangements of local foliage in a beautiful outdoor lobby which over hangs a large pond full of colorful fish. As they wind down towards the private pavilions, a 300+ year old banyan tree appears around the corner to take their breath away. The path continues to wind through the elegant silk shop, the private yoga studio, the indoor pool/hot tub/sauna/cold plunge house, the Thai Massage hut, the arts & crafts room, the cooking class kitchen…until you enter the Spa area. There are 57 treatment rooms (and by the way, there are also 57 guest rooms….making it probably the only spa in the world to have a 1:1 ratio of rooms to treatment rooms).
The list of spa treatments is endless. There is also an entire dermatology division, physiotherapy division, hydrotherapy division, and of course the part I’m involved in, the holistic health and wellness division. Part of my job is to guide guests to the treatments that will best fit their health goals for their stay. So of course, in order for me to do this, I must receive some of the treatments!…which is exactly what part of my training entails!
The resort has security guards at every possible entrance. Unlike most resorts, the grounds are absolutely closed to the public. I am not even allowed to take any photos, nor is anyone else for that matter. Computers, cell phones, and PDA’s are only allowed in the guest rooms, not in any of the public areas because this place is all about Health, Wellness, RELAXATION, rejuvenation….I just got the whole Welcoming-powerpoint-for-new-staff presentation today and was very impressed. They take health and wellness very seriously here…and they should at a price tag of $500-$1500 per day!!…but hey, that includes a daily massage, 3 meals, the fitness classes, yoga classes, and daily meditation classes…which of course are also part of my next 2 weeks of training. All the spa treatments are extra.
On my off hours, I am allowed to use any of the facilities…the gym, the classes, the indoor pool house with hot tub, steam room, and my favorite, the cold plunge! The only thing I’m not allowed to do is use the outdoor pool, lay by the outdoor pool, or eat at the guest’s restaurants. But apparently, we are understaffed in my division so I will be working 6 very full days a week. My meals are served in the staff house and I’ve been very happy….full fresh salad bar at every meal, and always at least 4 different hot food options, usually with tons of veggies….yipee! The fruit is all new to me and is great! The rose apple. The dragon fruit….yummy new flavors to add to my lifetime experience of mother nature’s delights.
As all of you are about to wake up shortly, (I’m 15 hours ahead of Seattle so add 3 hrs and then flip day/night) I better head to bed…tomorrow is day 2 and I am scheduled for hour long overviews of all the different departments. And come Wednesday, I receive my first spa treatment, followed by Thursday in which I receive 4! Stay tuned!
My Backyard...the beach!
written Jan 6, 2008:
Took my first walk along the beach today…it goes for miles. I walked for an hour and it just kept on going. My resort is part of a string of private accommodations, hotels, fancy resorts, not so fancy resorts, condos, and random buildings with signs that say ‘private property.’ All along the beach there are little food and beverage huts, but my favorite is the many ‘Thai Massage” stands. One hour massage on the beach for less than $10. Cant beat that! Another treat is all the fresh fruit stands. Then you have your windsurfing lessons, boat rentals, jet ski rentals (which are actually not supposed to be allowed because the very revered King of Thailand lives here in Hua Hin and he does not like them…but apparently that rule is not enforced.) Parts of the beach are packed with people…all ages, vacationing from all around the world….and other parts are quiet and still. I actually did not take a dip because it was super windy and it actually made me a bit chilly… it was probably 60 or 65 with the wind chill…it is winter, you know.
I headed up to the top floor of the Hilton to get my first glimpse of the city. Gorgeous! The town has about 70,000 people and stretches from the beach to the foot hills of very lush mountains. Apparently there is a small mountain that rises from the beach at the north end of town with steps that reach to the top and strewn with monkeys all along the way. A good adventure for another day! Along my route today I met a Swed, a few English blokes, Aussies, Americans…all who live here. Apparently there is a large community of foreigners who call Hua Hin their home…and hey, I guess I’m part of that group now too!!
Ran out of time to explore town today but got a feel that it is packed with great eats and great shops. Stay tuned for more!
That’s all for now!
Took my first walk along the beach today…it goes for miles. I walked for an hour and it just kept on going. My resort is part of a string of private accommodations, hotels, fancy resorts, not so fancy resorts, condos, and random buildings with signs that say ‘private property.’ All along the beach there are little food and beverage huts, but my favorite is the many ‘Thai Massage” stands. One hour massage on the beach for less than $10. Cant beat that! Another treat is all the fresh fruit stands. Then you have your windsurfing lessons, boat rentals, jet ski rentals (which are actually not supposed to be allowed because the very revered King of Thailand lives here in Hua Hin and he does not like them…but apparently that rule is not enforced.) Parts of the beach are packed with people…all ages, vacationing from all around the world….and other parts are quiet and still. I actually did not take a dip because it was super windy and it actually made me a bit chilly… it was probably 60 or 65 with the wind chill…it is winter, you know.
I headed up to the top floor of the Hilton to get my first glimpse of the city. Gorgeous! The town has about 70,000 people and stretches from the beach to the foot hills of very lush mountains. Apparently there is a small mountain that rises from the beach at the north end of town with steps that reach to the top and strewn with monkeys all along the way. A good adventure for another day! Along my route today I met a Swed, a few English blokes, Aussies, Americans…all who live here. Apparently there is a large community of foreigners who call Hua Hin their home…and hey, I guess I’m part of that group now too!!
Ran out of time to explore town today but got a feel that it is packed with great eats and great shops. Stay tuned for more!
That’s all for now!
I've arrived!!...My first few hours
written Jan 5, 2008:
I’m here!
I literally arrived about 30 minutes ago in my room and before going straight to bed I just wanted to let everyone know I’m here, safe and sound. Left Seattle at 1 pm on Thur, Jan 3 and right now its about 1 pm on Friday, Seattle time (that = 24 hours of traveling!)….here its 4 am Saturday. (Thailand is 15 hours ahead of Seattle…so add 3 hours and flip day/night) As soon as I was dropped off in my room, my friend Monica who arrived 2 weeks ago (and has the same job as I do here) heard me because she is in the room next door and gave me a big welcoming hello. Wow, how lucky I feel to have 2 familiar faces here (another classmate of mine, Dave, also started 2 weeks ago). They are loving it…more about that later once I can give you first hand info.
My flights were great. I actually loved just sitting there doing nothing. It felt great to relax. It was 11 hours to Korea, 3 hr layover, 6 hours to Bangkok, then a 3 hour drive to the resort. Haven’t seen anything yet because its totally dark. I am on the 4th floor of the staff apartment building. Its very clean but stark…white walls with nothing on them. Good thing I brought plenty of pictures! We are next door to the resort…a few minute walk….and a 2 minute walk down the street to the beach. The food is served on the 2nd floor and there is a gym too. I have a nice little room with a big closet, my own bathroom, fridge, tv, desk…where I am sitting right now. There is a door to a little patio but all I see is the building next door (& some palm trees :-).
Feeling a range of emotions but now that all the planning and the 101 good-byes are behind me, I’m finally very excited for my adventure. I’ve had a lot of God moments telling me all is okay….my favorite # is 3 and I left today from gate #33; my room number is 3; I’ve been assigned to office #3; happened to look at the clock this afternoon and it was 3:33; I watched The Nanny Diaries on the plane and it ended with this quote: “when one immerses themselves into a foreign culture, it is a great teacher of one’s own culture and one’s own life and self”….very cool I thought.
Okay, well I’m going to get some sleep. My check-in time is 9am on Monday. How nice to have time to adjust to the time difference! So that gives me Sat & sun to explore. I just got lucky since I arrived on Saturday morning because when Dave and Monica arrived, they started orientation the very next morning.
So, that’s all I know so far!
Love to you all!
I’m here!
I literally arrived about 30 minutes ago in my room and before going straight to bed I just wanted to let everyone know I’m here, safe and sound. Left Seattle at 1 pm on Thur, Jan 3 and right now its about 1 pm on Friday, Seattle time (that = 24 hours of traveling!)….here its 4 am Saturday. (Thailand is 15 hours ahead of Seattle…so add 3 hours and flip day/night) As soon as I was dropped off in my room, my friend Monica who arrived 2 weeks ago (and has the same job as I do here) heard me because she is in the room next door and gave me a big welcoming hello. Wow, how lucky I feel to have 2 familiar faces here (another classmate of mine, Dave, also started 2 weeks ago). They are loving it…more about that later once I can give you first hand info.
My flights were great. I actually loved just sitting there doing nothing. It felt great to relax. It was 11 hours to Korea, 3 hr layover, 6 hours to Bangkok, then a 3 hour drive to the resort. Haven’t seen anything yet because its totally dark. I am on the 4th floor of the staff apartment building. Its very clean but stark…white walls with nothing on them. Good thing I brought plenty of pictures! We are next door to the resort…a few minute walk….and a 2 minute walk down the street to the beach. The food is served on the 2nd floor and there is a gym too. I have a nice little room with a big closet, my own bathroom, fridge, tv, desk…where I am sitting right now. There is a door to a little patio but all I see is the building next door (& some palm trees :-).
Feeling a range of emotions but now that all the planning and the 101 good-byes are behind me, I’m finally very excited for my adventure. I’ve had a lot of God moments telling me all is okay….my favorite # is 3 and I left today from gate #33; my room number is 3; I’ve been assigned to office #3; happened to look at the clock this afternoon and it was 3:33; I watched The Nanny Diaries on the plane and it ended with this quote: “when one immerses themselves into a foreign culture, it is a great teacher of one’s own culture and one’s own life and self”….very cool I thought.
Okay, well I’m going to get some sleep. My check-in time is 9am on Monday. How nice to have time to adjust to the time difference! So that gives me Sat & sun to explore. I just got lucky since I arrived on Saturday morning because when Dave and Monica arrived, they started orientation the very next morning.
So, that’s all I know so far!
Love to you all!
Jody's Moving Where?! Thailand?! How did that Happen?!
written Dec 31, 2007:
Happy New Year to all!!
I hope everyone’s holiday festivities have been decorated with love and time with friends and family. I have felt blessed to still be here in Seattle because my original departure date was in November….but now its Jan 3rd. So I sit here on Dec 31st at my mom’s kitchen table admiring the gorgeous blue sky that is shining in Seattle today, taking in these last few glimpses of the city I have called home for over 30 years. Some of you might be asking, how did this all happen?! You’re moving to Thailand?! Well, here is the story…
After 5 years of intense study, I graduated from Bastyr on June 25th and officially became a board certified Naturopathic Physician (or ND) on some date in September (when I received notice that I passed my board exam!!). I had been traveling to 5 different NW states, trying to figure out where the next city I was going to call home would be. Just for fun, I went to an astrologist to see where ‘the stars’ said I should go. The response was that I was meant to live abroad. Well, that’s nice, I thought…but moving that far away isn’t exactly what I had in mind. I told him that if the opportunity presented itself, I suppose I’d take it, but I certainly wasn’t just going to pack my bags and move half way across the world… The main criteria I knew I wanted was more sunshine and less traffic. Other criteria for my ‘ideal’ place would also include, being near the water and working with a community focused on health and wellness…but that seemed like a lot to ask…
One day I received an email from Bastyr for a job as a Medical Wellness Advisor at some place on the beach in Thailand. I replied to Bastyr to ask if they knew anything about it. They said ‘no’ and that they were just forwarding on the job posting for the folks who requested they do so. I checked out the website and it seemed quite impressive. The posting requested a resume and a photo. I figured, ‘why not’ and sent it in. A week later I was set up for an hour long phone interview with someone in Thailand. At the end of the interview they asked, ‘When can you start?’ One additional phone interview later, I was making plans to sell almost everything I own, find a new home for my cat (never want to go through this again, that’s for sure), and find someone to rent my home to (that I have owned for 9 years). My boss is from California and he knows about the reputation of Bastyr so he sent the job posting directly there because he knew he wanted a Bastyr grad.
So for the last two months, I have been letting go of almost everything I own and saying good-bye to everyone I know, and in 3 days I will be flying away to start my new life in Thailand. A very cool part of this story is that 2 of my other recently graduated classmates also were hired on and are already there and say its great! How cool is that?! So that’s the story of where, how, and why I’m moving to Thailand! Stay tuned for more postings once I arrive!
And in the meantime, go to www.skype.com to sign up! This allows us to call each other on our computers and talk for free via the microphone on your computer! Also, I have a video cam on my laptop so when you call me, you will actually be able to see me live and then I can walk around with my computer to show you my surroundings. So please sign up! Talk to you then!…
Happy New Year to all!!
I hope everyone’s holiday festivities have been decorated with love and time with friends and family. I have felt blessed to still be here in Seattle because my original departure date was in November….but now its Jan 3rd. So I sit here on Dec 31st at my mom’s kitchen table admiring the gorgeous blue sky that is shining in Seattle today, taking in these last few glimpses of the city I have called home for over 30 years. Some of you might be asking, how did this all happen?! You’re moving to Thailand?! Well, here is the story…
After 5 years of intense study, I graduated from Bastyr on June 25th and officially became a board certified Naturopathic Physician (or ND) on some date in September (when I received notice that I passed my board exam!!). I had been traveling to 5 different NW states, trying to figure out where the next city I was going to call home would be. Just for fun, I went to an astrologist to see where ‘the stars’ said I should go. The response was that I was meant to live abroad. Well, that’s nice, I thought…but moving that far away isn’t exactly what I had in mind. I told him that if the opportunity presented itself, I suppose I’d take it, but I certainly wasn’t just going to pack my bags and move half way across the world… The main criteria I knew I wanted was more sunshine and less traffic. Other criteria for my ‘ideal’ place would also include, being near the water and working with a community focused on health and wellness…but that seemed like a lot to ask…
One day I received an email from Bastyr for a job as a Medical Wellness Advisor at some place on the beach in Thailand. I replied to Bastyr to ask if they knew anything about it. They said ‘no’ and that they were just forwarding on the job posting for the folks who requested they do so. I checked out the website and it seemed quite impressive. The posting requested a resume and a photo. I figured, ‘why not’ and sent it in. A week later I was set up for an hour long phone interview with someone in Thailand. At the end of the interview they asked, ‘When can you start?’ One additional phone interview later, I was making plans to sell almost everything I own, find a new home for my cat (never want to go through this again, that’s for sure), and find someone to rent my home to (that I have owned for 9 years). My boss is from California and he knows about the reputation of Bastyr so he sent the job posting directly there because he knew he wanted a Bastyr grad.
So for the last two months, I have been letting go of almost everything I own and saying good-bye to everyone I know, and in 3 days I will be flying away to start my new life in Thailand. A very cool part of this story is that 2 of my other recently graduated classmates also were hired on and are already there and say its great! How cool is that?! So that’s the story of where, how, and why I’m moving to Thailand! Stay tuned for more postings once I arrive!
And in the meantime, go to www.skype.com to sign up! This allows us to call each other on our computers and talk for free via the microphone on your computer! Also, I have a video cam on my laptop so when you call me, you will actually be able to see me live and then I can walk around with my computer to show you my surroundings. So please sign up! Talk to you then!…
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