Tag Archive for: Koh Samui

Why I left Koh Samui, Thailand and Why I moved to Tel Aviv, Israel

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This is a question I get asked A LOT, and I’m excited to share the answer with you! Read on to find out why!

When I first left my engineering job at Merck to cycle around the world more than 13 years ago, people told me I was crazy. They said I was committing “career suicide.” They said no one would ever hire me again and after traveling for so long. Luckily, I didn’t care what people thought and I did what I wanted to do. I traveled and cycled my way around SE Asia, New Zealand and Australia for 3 years and eventually settled in Koh Samui, Thailand after battling with my own illness and deciding to dedicate my life’s work to helping other people reverse disease and heal themselves naturally. It didn’t take long for people to change their tune and start to say, “How did you do it?” and “I want to live your life!”

The beaches of Tel Aviv are clean and quiet, especially during the week!

In Samui, I worked relentlessly day and night, learning and offering Iridology analyses, helping clients on their detox programs, teaching health and nutrition class, building a website from scratch all on my own and developing contacts all over SE Asia to present workshops and work in various countries. In 6 years, I don’t remember even having 1 day off. Clients came to my house at every hour of the day and night asking for detox support and health coaching services. Because I cared so much about each and every client’s health and success, I had a hard time learning how to say “No.”

The southern end of Tel Aviv beach looks over to historic Jaffa

Why I left Koh Samui, Thailand

I learned so much in the time that I was in Samui and I am forever grateful to all of my clients and colleagues for co-creating a fantastic destination for fasting, detox, yoga and health and wellness. And I LOVED living in Thailand. But eventually, it was simply time for a change. Not only did I feel like I wanted and needed new challenges in my life, but I was also craving a “regular” environment where people worked hard all week and then had time to enjoy their life on the weekends, just like everyone else. I realized that I wasn’t really helping my clients if I left nothing for myself. I knew that I needed to have time fill my “cup” too and also to make time for a loving relationship. And ok, I imagined a world where I could simply eat a meal in a restaurant where no one would approach me to show me a picture of their shit (yes, that happened a lot!) and then I realized, I think it might be time to leave Koh Samui!

In Tel Aviv, you can find fresh juice and smoothie bars everywhere, year-round

Why I moved to Tel Aviv, Israel

In the 2 years before leaving Samui, I traveled a lot and I visited many places, including Dubai and Israel. I knew I wanted a warm climate and plenty of fresh, organic foods available year-round as well as a place that was near the beach. I first went to Israel to attend the Gabriel Cousens green juice fast, and I can honestly say that I fell in love with the place! The climate was just perfect and the desert foods were such a welcomed and exciting change to my diet. For a raw foodie, Israel is a really easy place to live. I went on to visit Israel another 3 times and on my last trip, I met my boyfriend, an Israeli. Suddenly, I had a lot more interest in the idea of moving to Israel!

A delicious Acai Bowl from the juice stand at Ben Gurion and Dizengoff, Tel Aviv

My boyfriend wound up coming back to Thailand with me and we stayed there together for a few months before I finally packed up my bags and left. It was a very silent tip-toe departure mainly because I didn’t want to answer the questions, “Why?” and “Where will you go?” before I even knew the answers myself. We decided to take our time traveling and exploring some areas of the world that I considered moving to including Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Ecuador. After more than 1 year of traveling, we just didn’t find exactly what we were looking for: beach, organic food, nice people, good friends, high speed internet and enough safety to go for a run or walk on my own.

You can find organic produce at farmer’s markets in Tel Aviv or better yet, get it delivered to your door!

We arrived to Israel in July 2013 and since then, we’ve been slowly settling into life here. We live in Tel Aviv, 300m from the beach and a 3-minute walk from an organic market. We receive an organic CSA food delivery every week to our door, we have friends, and every day I can walk or run for miles right along the Mediterranean Sea.

The Yin and Yang

It’s definitely a unique cultural experience to live in Israel. Sometimes people ask me, “Why do you live in Israel if you are not Jewish?” or “How could you choose to live in such a dangerous place?” (In the same way that you don’t have to be Hindu to live in Bali and you don’t have to be Buddhist to live in Thailand, you also don’t have to be Jewish to live in Israel.)

The port of Tel Aviv is lined with cafes all along the Mediterranean Sea

I can say that in general, the city of Tel Aviv is very safe and not reflective of what you see on the news. There is a very large gay community in Tel Aviv. Recently, the city itself was voted #1 for nightlife by Lonely Planet. In the last 2 years, there has been a huge vegan movement that has swept over the city and most restaurants now offer a regular Meatless Monday dish on the menu. There are a lot of young people living here, it’s right on the beach and you can walk or ride a bike anywhere you need to go.

In short, I think the citizens here just want peace but the government leaders can’t seem to agree. Isn’t that the case pretty much everywhere in the world?

You can walk or cycle for miles along the footpath next to Tel Aviv beach

As much as there is conflict in certain areas of Israel, in other areas you can experience such amazing waves of transformation, spirituality, light, consciousness, and love. Next to the dark there is always light. Next to yang, you must have yin. If you come to Israel and focus on the yin, you can feel a deep spiritual awareness like something you have never felt before.

Favorite Foods

If you love healthy food, then you already have the best reason ever to visit Israel. Everywhere here you can find large vegan salads and fresh juices. You can even order green smoothies at some juice bars too! There is plenty of organic food and also great Middle Eastern food like tahini, hummus, grilled eggplant (baladi), parsley salad (tabouleh), lentils and rice (mujadara) and tons of other vegan and vegetarian options.

Fresh olives alone are a reason to visit Israel!

Did I mention the dates? Yes, truly raw food heaven! And you can taste them for free!

A warm climate means many restaurants are outdoor in Israel – this one is just opening for the day

Nothing is Permanent!

I’m now enjoying set working hours and designated days off every week and feeling much more balance between my work and private life than I did while living in Koh Samui, Thailand. I enjoy living near the beach and I am proud to say that we now eat 100% organic food at home. They always say that when we trust and let go of fear, the universe falls into place and that’s exactly what happened to me when I got a new book deal within 1 week of arriving to Israel last year! So, will I stay in Israel forever? Or will I be off to a new destination and another adventure? Well, you’re going to have to stay tuned because I have no idea! One thing I do know is nothing is permanent in life; you just have to enjoy every day as it comes!

More on Traveling Raw:

Why I left Koh Samui, Thailand and Why I moved to Tel Aviv, Israel

by

This is a question I get asked A LOT, and I’m excited to share the answer with you! Read on to find out why!

When I first left my engineering job at Merck to cycle around the world more than 13 years ago, people told me I was crazy. They said I was committing “career suicide.” They said no one would ever hire me again and after traveling for so long. Luckily, I didn’t care what people thought and I did what I wanted to do. I traveled and cycled my way around SE Asia, New Zealand and Australia for 3 years and eventually settled in Koh Samui, Thailand after battling with my own illness and deciding to dedicate my life’s work to helping other people reverse disease and heal themselves naturally. It didn’t take long for people to change their tune and start to say, “How did you do it?” and “I want to live your life!”

The beaches of Tel Aviv are clean and quiet, especially during the week!

In Samui, I worked relentlessly day and night, learning and offering Iridology analyses, helping clients on their detox programs, teaching health and nutrition class, building a website from scratch all on my own and developing contacts all over SE Asia to present workshops and work in various countries. In 6 years, I don’t remember even having 1 day off. Clients came to my house at every hour of the day and night asking for detox support and health coaching services. Because I cared so much about each and every client’s health and success, I had a hard time learning how to say “No.”

The southern end of Tel Aviv beach looks over to historic Jaffa

Why I left Koh Samui, Thailand

I learned so much in the time that I was in Samui and I am forever grateful to all of my clients and colleagues for co-creating a fantastic destination for fasting, detox, yoga and health and wellness. And I LOVED living in Thailand. But eventually, it was simply time for a change. Not only did I feel like I wanted and needed new challenges in my life, but I was also craving a “regular” environment where people worked hard all week and then had time to enjoy their life on the weekends, just like everyone else. I realized that I wasn’t really helping my clients if I left nothing for myself. I knew that I needed to have time fill my “cup” too and also to make time for a loving relationship. And ok, I imagined a world where I could simply eat a meal in a restaurant where no one would approach me to show me a picture of their shit (yes, that happened a lot!) and then I realized, I think it might be time to leave Koh Samui!

In Tel Aviv, you can find fresh juice and smoothie bars everywhere, year-round

Why I moved to Tel Aviv, Israel

In the 2 years before leaving Samui, I traveled a lot and I visited many places, including Dubai and Israel. I knew I wanted a warm climate and plenty of fresh, organic foods available year-round as well as a place that was near the beach. I first went to Israel to attend the Gabriel Cousens green juice fast, and I can honestly say that I fell in love with the place! The climate was just perfect and the desert foods were such a welcomed and exciting change to my diet. For a raw foodie, Israel is a really easy place to live. I went on to visit Israel another 3 times and on my last trip, I met my boyfriend, an Israeli. Suddenly, I had a lot more interest in the idea of moving to Israel!

A delicious Acai Bowl from the juice stand at Ben Gurion and Dizengoff, Tel Aviv

My boyfriend wound up coming back to Thailand with me and we stayed there together for a few months before I finally packed up my bags and left. It was a very silent tip-toe departure mainly because I didn’t want to answer the questions, “Why?” and “Where will you go?” before I even knew the answers myself. We decided to take our time traveling and exploring some areas of the world that I considered moving to including Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Ecuador. After more than 1 year of traveling, we just didn’t find exactly what we were looking for: beach, organic food, nice people, good friends, high speed internet and enough safety to go for a run or walk on my own.

You can find organic produce at farmer’s markets in Tel Aviv or better yet, get it delivered to your door!

We arrived to Israel in July 2013 and since then, we’ve been slowly settling into life here. We live in Tel Aviv, 300m from the beach and a 3-minute walk from an organic market. We receive an organic CSA food delivery every week to our door, we have friends, and every day I can walk or run for miles right along the Mediterranean Sea.

The Yin and Yang

It’s definitely a unique cultural experience to live in Israel. Sometimes people ask me, “Why do you live in Israel if you are not Jewish?” or “How could you choose to live in such a dangerous place?” (In the same way that you don’t have to be Hindu to live in Bali and you don’t have to be Buddhist to live in Thailand, you also don’t have to be Jewish to live in Israel.)

The port of Tel Aviv is lined with cafes all along the Mediterranean Sea

I can say that in general, the city of Tel Aviv is very safe and not reflective of what you see on the news. There is a very large gay community in Tel Aviv. Recently, the city itself was voted #1 for nightlife by Lonely Planet. In the last 2 years, there has been a huge vegan movement that has swept over the city and most restaurants now offer a regular Meatless Monday dish on the menu. There are a lot of young people living here, it’s right on the beach and you can walk or ride a bike anywhere you need to go.

In short, I think the citizens here just want peace but the government leaders can’t seem to agree. Isn’t that the case pretty much everywhere in the world?

You can walk or cycle for miles along the footpath next to Tel Aviv beach

As much as there is conflict in certain areas of Israel, in other areas you can experience such amazing waves of transformation, spirituality, light, consciousness, and love. Next to the dark there is always light. Next to yang, you must have yin. If you come to Israel and focus on the yin, you can feel a deep spiritual awareness like something you have never felt before.

Favorite Foods

If you love healthy food, then you already have the best reason ever to visit Israel. Everywhere here you can find large vegan salads and fresh juices. You can even order green smoothies at some juice bars too! There is plenty of organic food and also great Middle Eastern food like tahini, hummus, grilled eggplant (baladi), parsley salad (tabouleh), lentils and rice (mujadara) and tons of other vegan and vegetarian options.

Fresh olives alone are a reason to visit Israel!

Did I mention the dates? Yes, truly raw food heaven! And you can taste them for free!

A warm climate means many restaurants are outdoor in Israel – this one is just opening for the day

Nothing is Permanent!

I’m now enjoying set working hours and designated days off every week and feeling much more balance between my work and private life than I did while living in Koh Samui, Thailand. I enjoy living near the beach and I am proud to say that we now eat 100% organic food at home. They always say that when we trust and let go of fear, the universe falls into place and that’s exactly what happened to me when I got a new book deal within 1 week of arriving to Israel last year! So, will I stay in Israel forever? Or will I be off to a new destination and another adventure? Well, you’re going to have to stay tuned because I have no idea! One thing I do know is nothing is permanent in life; you just have to enjoy every day as it comes!

More on Traveling Raw:

What’s the best detox retreat for raw food, yoga, juice & meditation in Thailand?

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Detox is great for the body & mind!

I receive countless emails asking me this question. Choosing a detox holiday can be overwhelming when you start to see how many resorts there are. In Koh Samui, Thailand alone there are more than a dozen places to choose from. So what is the best retreat for fasting, wellness, raw foods, de-stressing, weight loss and healing?

Asking me that is like asking me what house you should buy. How can I answer that question based on only knowing that you want a house? If I don’t know what you are looking for – how many rooms, what your budget is, etc., there is simply no possible way I can help you.

When you think about your destination for cleansing, first decide on your budget. Know how much you have to spend on the program itself and your room accommodation, and then decide if you have any extra cash for yoga classes, massages and private healing sessions. Figure out how much time you have for your program – 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, 14 days, 21 days or more….that will also help to narrow your search.

One benefit of Detox: Weight Loss

It’s then very important to sit with yourself and decide what you expect to achieve from doing a detox retreat – do you want to lose weight, rest, relax, cure yourself from disease or illness, learn more about nutrition or how to manage stress, take cooking classes, eat healthy food, learn better habits for going home, have access to yoga or fitness gyms, and also work on your spiritual and emotional healing as well? Maybe the answer is Yes! to all of the above! Haha…well, please go back and remember what your budget is too. A lot of times people want it all, but they don’t want to invest the money to do it.

Be realistic with your expectations if you choose a low-budget resort. You can still benefit from any detox you do, so whatever you choose, know that it’s the right one for you at this point in your journey. If you are not comfortable with juice fasting, choose a program with a raw food menu or gently cooked foods. That can still be a great gentle detox for people, especially if they are older, sick or living very high-stress lives.

Reboot

Are you hoping to ‘reboot’ and quit smoking, drinking alcohol, doing recreational drugs or eating junk food? Do you have an existing eating disorder or have you battled with anorexia/bulimia in the past? Will you need extra emotional support and additional therapies, such as hypnotherapy, NLP or EFT to help you with your addiction? Being honest with yourself will only benefit you in the long run. Let the retreat center know what you need and ask if they offer support. Buy some inspiring books full of success stories and read them during your cleanse.

Colon Cleansing

Some detox programs offer colon hydrotherapy as part of their package and some don’t. The colon cleansing can be called colemas, colonics or enemas – they are basically different versions of the same thing, which is cleaning the guts of that old toxic filth that you used to eat in your former unhealthy days. Personally, I would highly recommend choosing a program with this option included. When you combine colon cleansing and detoxing, you can release more toxins in a shorter period of time. It’s that simple.

Raw food, cooked food or no food?

Fresh Juice rebuilds Minerals

Herbal supplements or no? Just fresh juice or coconuts or both? Candida program, parasite cleanse, heavy metal detox, gallstone liver flush?? Just remember this: you have to start somewhere, and any detox is better than none. Don’t stress out too much over the details….just pick something within your budget that has most of what you want and preferably some colon cleansing too. Check out Trip Advisor for the latest reviews of any detox resort that you choose. Sometimes that’s the best way. Go with how you feel and embrace the fact that you are making time for a healthy holiday – to improve your health, body, mind and soul. It’s the best gift you can possible give yourself. Whatever you choose, don’t forget to book your Iridology Session with me. I can help you personalize your detox and make a long-term plan for positive change when you return home. I hope to see you soon!

Detox resorts in Koh Samui, Thailand:

  • New Body and Mind – near Lipa Noi
  • Natural High Retreats – Thong Krut

Detox resorts in Phuket, Thailand:

More on Traveling Raw:

Raw Food Slicer Salad Tool – Preparation Made Easy

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One of the things that I try to teach in my Raw Food Cooking Class is texture. When you learn to create new textures with raw foods, you can get away from the rabbit-like crunchy salads. Long-term, having different textures to play with will keep your food more interesting and you are much more likely to stay with the raw food diet.

Green Papaya, Daikon & Carrot sliced fast & easy!

The main tool that I use to create the texture of raw pasta is the ‘Som Tam’ or Green Papaya slicer.

This little tool is a must-have for any raw food kitchen.

You can use the slicer to make fast and easy strips for making Traditional Thai ‘Som Tam’ or Green Papaya Salad, but you can also use it to slice carrot, beetroot, cucumber, daikon or zucchini for your raw pasta or just a nice shredded-type of salad.

It takes no time at all to use. I travel with mine all over the world, and no matter where I am, I can make a nice carrot, beetroot, zucchini salad in minutes. In the video above, I show how to use the Som Tam Slicer to make Green Papaya Salad with my friend Ms. Ta from Thai Organic Life.

The blade is a zig-zag design made of stainless steel. It is made in Thailand, where it is commonly used for making the long strips of green papaya for the Thai ‘Som Tam’ salad. No cleaning of a spirulizer, just fast and easy raw pasta that tastes great! I highly recommend this little gem!

Raw Food Cooking Tool – Raw Pasta /Green Papaya Slicer
$7.95

More on Detox and pH Health:

Durian Fruit – Benefits of this stinky yet delicious favorite of the Raw Food World

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Durian: smells bad but tastes great?

Durian: smells bad but tastes great?

Ahh, the blessed durian! Seems like people either love it or hate it. Durian is a fruit native to South East Asia and happens to grow all over the island of Koh Samui, Thailand.

It is the big brown spikey fruit that you may seem at certain times of the year piled high on little road stands around the island. Inside the durian is the soft, custard-like flesh of the fruit and it tastes delicious. If, that is, you can get over the smell! Yes, it is the durian fruit that is widely known for being the worst smelling fruit ever. The smell is often compared to rotten eggs, dirty socks, smelly armpits and even toe jam. And it’s true!

In many places around SE Asia, durian fruit is banned in hotel rooms, buses, taxes and public areas because the smell is so strong, it can linger for hours, even days.

But, just like an aged cheese that might initially smell uninviting, when you get to the flavor, it can be astoundingly good! Amazing good! Quite possibly the best raw food experience you could ever possibly have!

The Durian Fruit, a favorite amongst Raw Foodists

The Durian Fruit, a favorite amongst Raw Foodists

Durian is sold fresh, either as an entire fruit or conveniently opened up and packaged for you. They also make durian chips which are deep fried – it’s like a potato chip but slightly thicker and made from durian. Even though the chips are cooked and fried, they are certainly a better alternative to potato chips which are most likely genetically modified and most certainly contain preservatives.

Like cheese, some people like the fresh durian more firm while others prefer it more soft, like a custard. In the supermarkets here in Thailand, they will not let you touch the pre-packaged durian because everyone wants to poke it to see how it feels!

In Thailand, they also make durian ice cream and durian candies. Thai people love the fresh durian! They instinctively know the durian fruit is good to de-stress naturally, gain energy & make you feel happy!

Local, Organic Tropical Fruit - Durian!

Local, Organic Tropical Fruit - Durian!

Durian is considered to be ‘The King of all Fruits.’ The ‘Queen’ is said to be the mangosteen, which, interestingly enough, comes into season at the same time as durian. Many people say that to balance out the energy of durian, one should also eat mangosteen sometime in the course of the same day as eating durian.

There are many health benefits to the durian fruit. It is excellent for overall cleansing because it is a natural sulfur food. It is an excellent source of good fat which is important to the raw food diet. It is organic and locally grown, so especially is you visit Asia, you should be eating this fruit and not buying imported irradiated grapes from Brazil!!

Perhaps the best health benefit of the durian fruit is that it gives you a natural high. It is an excellent raw food for relieving stress naturally due to the high amounts of tryptophan in it. Tryptophan is a naturally occurring element in the durian known to relieve anxiety, depression, insomnia, pain and pre-menstrual conditions (PMT).

Freshly Cut Mon Thong next to Durian Ban

Freshly Cut Mon Thong next to Durian Ban

Just as there are different varieties of apples, there are several different types of durian. The ‘Durian Ban’ is the small round shaped durian and is more used for the seeds which are traditionally cooked and eaten in Thailand. The ‘Mon Thong’ is one of the most popular varieties. In Thai it means ‘Golden Pillow’ and it really does look like a golden pillow! This durian is know to be sweet and very tasty. Then there is the ‘Channee’ which is a bigger durian.

I encourage you to try them all and see which durian you like best! If you can’t make it to South East Asia for your durian, try your local Asian market. Many times they sell whole frozen durians. Ask around! Whatever you do, don’t miss out on trying this very special fruit!

More Raw Food Desserts:

Jennifer @rawfoodbliss ranked #1 on Twitterholics Top 100 based on Followers in Koh Samui, Thailand

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#1 Bab-y!! 🙂

Jennifer @rawfoodbliss ranked Number 1!

Jennifer @rawfoodbliss ranked Number 1!

Jennifer on Twitter @rawfoodbliss

Jennifer on Twitter @rawfoodbliss

Thanks to all my followers, I have been ranked Number 1 on Twitterholics Top 100 based on followers in Koh Samui, Thailand.

Who says we can’t change the world one person at a time? Let’s continue to join together, share ideas, support each other, open up awareness in ourselves and in others to live a more natural, whole and pure life. We can make the world a better place for our health, our happiness, our environment…for all living beings on this wonderful planet!

Join in on the love…follow me @rawfoodbliss! Thanks to all my Twitter followers for your tweets, #ecoMondays, #FollowFridays, RTs, love and support 🙂

More on Raw Food:

Day 14: Fasting Detox in Koh Samui, Thailand

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Fasting Day 14 on Cloud 9!

Fasting Day 14 on Cloud 9!

Been too busy to catch up on the last few days between working and fasting..it’s a hectic schedule to try to get everything done! The fast is going exceedingly well now, and it feels really good to have 2 weeks behind me. Day 1 seems so long ago looking back! So much has shifted; I am feeling clearing and more positive every day, and very focused on my objectives for this cleanse. I’ve had a lot more energy in the second week and for that I am very grateful because I needed it for work! It’s been raining nearly every day but hasn’t bothered me because I don’t feel any pressure to walk the beach and I know that I need to rest so now I do just that with no guilt whatsoever.

It’s so nice to hear the sound of the rain combined with the waves from the sea.

As I suspected I had a healing crisis on Day 9 of this fast which pretty much lasted for about 36 hours. I was in bed all day for Day 10, and I just rested and let my body do what it needed to do. It’s a wonderful experience when you see that your body is finally strong enough to go deeper into the cleanse, so even though physically I felt pretty crap mentally I was really ok. By Day 11 I was starting to feel better and man, that was a good thing because I worked for 6 hours straight without a break. No way I could have done that the day before! Since then I’ve pretty much been smooth-sailing, having high energy and so much positive emotion, truly a natural high. On day 12 I had a 2-hour Thai massage to help recover from the previous 2 days – it was just what I needed to balance the energy again. I really should have a massage every day while fasting, but I just haven’t had the time.. One of the best things about fasting in Samui is that you can go to a spa every day and enjoy a massage for just s few dollars…yes I definitely need to make more time for that!

Today I had to re-stock my water supply so I rented a Jeep for that day and did a big water run at Tesco. Now I am well stocked so I can do another full week if I so choose. I’ve been doing 2 enemas a day at home so I’ve been going through loads of water. I think the Thai family who runs my bungalow place must think I am showering with the stuff!! They just can’t figure out all the empty bottles outside every day- ha! Imagine me trying to explain what I’m really doing!!!

Having a juicer is making this fast so enjoyable.

Faster's Fridge (or Restaurant Stockpile....)

Faster\’s Fridge (or Restaurant Stockpile….)

I am still so excited every time I use it and so glad that I treated myself with it!! At Tesco I also stocked up on fruit and veg for the juices…I didn’t really think I had that much even but the Thai taxi drivers in the parking lot asked me if I own a restaurant – no joke!! I said no, I’m just a vegetarian, no chicken no fish only healthy healthy. They didn’t believe me. (I did have 5 pineapples….)

Today I made a juice with apple, pineapple, ginger, green veggies and cucumber. Verdict – fantastic!

I do hope the sun comes out in the next few days so I can start walking again, and I would like to make an effort to only watch health videos for the next week, and I swear I will as soon as I watch the latest episode of LOST 😉 …seriously I do think it’s better for the subconscious mind, and having said that I did watch Louise Hay’s ‘You Can Heal Your Life’ yesterday, so overall I think I’m doing ok there.

Most important thing while fasting is to stay positive in the mind and not attach to any negative emotions or situations.

Actually that’s pretty important while you’re eating too!

Until the next juice…

It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been away,
Been a long, long time since I felt this way,
Been a long, long time I find the words to say,
How much I’m grateful for my life today.

‘Cause under every cup you might find a nut,
Behind every corner you might get jacked up,
At the end of every rainbow you might find gold,
The last bite of your sandwich hope you don’t find mold.

‘Cause none of us can live a perfect life,
The kind that we see on Nick at Night,
And sometimes we all just lose sight,
Of the pain that will guide us from dark into the light.

We fall down, yes, but we get up,
And sometimes we just need a little bit of love,
to help you make it through another day,
into the night into the light into a Saturday.

So in the morning when I’m waiting for the sun to raise,
And my head’s a little foggy like I’m in a haze,
I remind myself that everything is gonna be ok.

I take a breath, slow down and say,

Why must I feel like this way today,
I’m a soldier but afraid sometimes to face the things that may
Block the sun from shining rays, and fill my life with shades of grey
And still I long to find a way,
So today, I pray for grace.

– Michael Franti, Pray for Grace

More on Lymphatic Detox/Cleansing:

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Day 8: Detox & Juice Fasting in Koh Samui, Thailand

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I'm fasting and I'm feeling fine...

I\’m fasting and I\’m feeling fine…

Well actually I think the ‘breakthrough’ happened on Day 6 for me..but I’ve been too busy to write these last 2 days. Sunday was my 6th day on the program but technically my 7th day of fasting, and I decided to use the opportunity to treat myself for having gotten through the first week.

The first thing I did was buy a juicer. And all I can say is WOW!

My entire world has changed since then!! I am so happy to have the freedom to make whatever juice I want whenever I want! I came home with the juicer and after cleaning it out went straight for my first concoction on this nice clean virgin juicer – love the sound of a good motor – I combined fresh pineapple, apple and ginger and I honestly think it was one of the BEST juices I have ever had!! Somehow it was the perfect amount of each, all at perfect freshness, and ok after 7 days of fasting it may have tasted a bit better than normal, but it was pretty close to heaven on earth for me! I must add that I had not bought one previously because I don’t actually have a kitchen in my bungalow and that has put me off wanting to mess around with the hassle, but I can tell you it is only a hassle if you make it one – it’s really not bad, and since I’ve been making a lot of smoothies and salads at home anyway, the juicer was the next logical step.

In addition to the juicer, I bought a $3 tray table which is now officially my new kitchen. Up until now, I have been cutting up fruits and veggies on a cutting board on the floor of my bungalow and it didn’t really bother me but I knew there was room for improvement. Can I tell you how incredibly happy I was to even get 10″ off the floor?? I was absolutely THRILLED!! So there I was using my new setup cutting up everything for my new juice. You may think I am a bit simple, but keep in mind that I did cook all my meals on the ground outside in all weather conditions imaginable for 6 months when I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, so even preparing meals on a clean tiled floor was pretty luxurious for me. We really don’t need as much as we think we do in life!

Then I proceeded to prepare some dishes for my friends who were having a Mexican Feast at their house that night. I wasn’t too crazy about not being able to enjoy the foods, but I still wanted to be social, and really it is only one meal missed in the course of many gatherings amongst friends in life – not a big deal to let it slide. For some reason I seem to love cooking when I am fasting – I think it’s because you really take the time to smell and feel the foods and there is no urgency to throw it together because you can’t eat it anyway so you tend to take your time and actually enjoy the art of preparing. With my new ‘kitchen’ again I was thrilled…I had my music playing and my door open to the view of the sea and I just took my time chopping and mixing and loving life.

Simple moments..

Anyway I made a guacamole and fresh salsa…I don’t tend to use recipes much; I just see what feels right and I swear somehow that day the combinations were channeled to me – I was in a zone and just mixing together the perfect blends and textures, without ever even being able to taste the food.

Kind-of like Beethoven composing the Ninth Symphony when he was deaf – ha! That’s how it felt anyway!!

The guacamole was basically fresh avocado, onion, garlic, tomato, cayenne pepper, fresh chilies, fresh chives, black pepper, fresh lime, salt, yellow bell pepper, and olive oil. The salsa was a masterpiece – tomato, fresh coriander, onion, vinegar, olive oil, cayenne pepper, fresh chillies, fresh lime, fresh chives, salt, and fresh pineapple. Will definitely be attempting to re-create them again once the fast is over.

Sunset at Kamalaya...A Great End to the Day

Sunset at Kamalaya…A Great End to the Day

After all that it was time for my next ‘treat.’ I headed down to Kamalaya Spa in Koh Samui and splashed out entirely for a proper colonic hydrotherapy. Believe it or not, it was my first ever! All these years I’ve been quite happy using enemas and colemas and I didn’t really see the need in spending the money for anything else. Still I was curious…well perhaps the details are best saved for another entry but I can say that I was very happy with the results and was happy with the decision to try it and I would definitely consider doing it again while fasting.

From there I went to the Mexican night and I can report that the reviews for my creations were excellent. Even though I couldn’t indulge, it made me happy to see others enjoy.

All in all a wonderful day of fasting.

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Day 5: Fasting, Juice & Colon Cleansing in Koh Samui, Thailand

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5th day of fasting and feeling fine!

5th day of fasting and feeling fine!

I was going to make that ‘fantastic,’ but I don’t think I’m at that level YET…Everything is going pretty well so far – main problem I am having the last 2 days is time management. Can be difficult to work while fasting and I am ok with it but find I need to have A LOT of down tome after. Luckily I have plenty of books to read and DVD’s the watch to keep me occupied. Because of that I was not able to exercise or have a massage or steam for the last 2 days, and when I’m fasting I generally require at least 2 of those 3 on a daily basis. (Actually, even when I’m not fasting – ha!) Tomorrow I am hoping to get all 3 in, plus more rest. Many people I see never seem to rest during the fast – they go shopping, travel around the island, go walking/running even lift weights, and more than a few even go diving and jet skiing.

Chaos for a body trying to heal itself!

There is plenty of time for all of that ANYtime…why would you burn the candle at both ends during the one time you have set aside for cleansing? Any enzymes and energy set aside for the cleanse will be immediately used up by all of those physical activities.

So in the resting mode I remain for the evening tonight.

I shall continue to stay focused and inspired through reading books such as TNT The Power Within You (the original ‘Secret’) and of course Cleanse & Purify Thyself Books 1 & 2 which I re-read at the beginning of every single fast I do. There is so much valuable information in those books, and every time I capture something new.

Also while cleansing I think it is so important to stay positive and to surround yourself with positive people.

Energetically we are much more sensitive during the fast, and it’s always best to keep the mind full of positive, loving thoughts. I definitely do not think it is a good idea to watch violent or disturbing films during this time, but you would be surprised how many people do, and think nothing of it as well. In order to cleanse the body, you must also cleanse the mind. Keep the movies light, simple and funny.

I’m focused now.

Have my goals in sight.

Lots of healing happening, and yes, feeling fine.

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Day 3: Juice Fast Detox in Koh Samui, Thailand – Time to Focus

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All is going well on the eliminating side of things here on Samui…I am into Day 3 of the fast now and am getting more focused which is good – it always seems to take me a few days to settle my mind into the not-eating mode. I usually like being at the end of day 4 because if I choose to do 7 days then I am already half-way and if I go on to 14 then it’s a simple 10-day countdown left. Generally once I get cleansing I don’t think about it too much…there just always seems to be a lot of ‘mental negotiation’ in the beginning for me.

Fasting Guidance Comes from Within

Fasting Guidance Comes from Within

The weather here has been overcast, rainy and even what I would consider as ‘cold’…I’m guessing that means it’s about low-twenties Celsius which I think could even be in the 70’s F. Today I had a jumper on all day – that is cold for the tropics believe me. I do kind-of like it for fasting though, because when it is bucketing down a loud, torrential tropical rain, there is no pressure to do anything but stay indoors and relax, which is exactly what one should be doing while cleansing (the relax bit that is). I felt no guilt staying home, watching movies and reading all day.

I may be revising my one colema + one enema per day plan to 2 enemas per day, mainly because I do prefer doing my ‘washes’ in the privacy of my clean bathroom at home. I still find that I get adequate volume expelled with the enemas so there is no problem there.

I am having 4 coconuts per day + one or more juices…today I had the green vegetable juice. I don’t really care what the Spa says about juice – like I said before I follow Dr. Anderson’s program and I believe that for me the extra minerals and electrolytes in the coconuts are fantastic. I get my coconuts for 45 cents a piece, and I am well worth less than $2 a day of wonderful nutrition!!

Other than that everything is fine, the fast so far is going according to plan. Oh yes, Guidance…that is the card for me for today, and seems appropriate:

Whatever you choose is always the right path

Whatever you choose is always the right path

The angelic figure with rainbow-colored wings on this card represents the guide that each of us carries within. Like the second figure in the background, we may sometimes be a little reluctant to trust this guide when it comes to us, because we are so accustomed to taking our cues from the outside rather than from the inside. The truth of your own deepest being is trying to show you where to go right now, and when this card appears it means you can trust the inner guidance you are being given. It speaks in whispers, and sometimes we can hesitate, not knowing if we have understood rightly. But the indications are clear: in following the inner guide you will feel more whole, more integrated, as if you are moving outwards from the very center of your being. If you go with it, this beam of light will carry you exactly where you need to go.

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Day 1: Juice Fast Detox at Spa Samui, Thailand & Reasons to Cleanse

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Fasting makes life better :)

Fasting makes life better 🙂

Today marks the start of another fast for me…only time will tell how long I shall go, but I do hope to do more than 7 days.

Yesterday I did a water fasting day, for no real reason except I wanted to start cleansing but didn’t feel like taking all the pills and drinks just yet.

So I gave myself a day of ‘no schedule’ fasting.

Best always to listen to your own body, and for some unknown reason that is what my body told me to do.

For this fast I will be taking some extra supplements in addition to the Arise and Shine – Cleanse & Purify Thyself Dr. Richard Anderson products – Chomper and Herbal Nutrition. I am taking Black Walnut (in both a tincture and pill form), fresh garlic and Grape Seed Extract – all for any lingering parasites and bacteria; Cayenne Pepper capsules for circulation and the liver; Milk Thistle capsules for the liver; Spirulina for minerals and chlorophyll; Flora Grow and HSO probiotics for natural bacteria and many herbal teas, including Pau D’arco for parasites and Red Raspberry tea for the female system.

Sunset in Lamai, pre-fast bliss!

Sunset in Lamai, pre-fast bliss!

My ‘daily washes’ will consist of one morning enema and one afternoon colema. I used this combination for my last fast and it seemed to work very well for me. For the enema I generally do a few water flushes first and then I take in a proper coffee enema as described by Dr. Richard Anderson, this in an attempt to help cleanse the liver. In the afternoon colema I usually add herbal teas to the water instead of coffee. I ensure obviously that all of my teas and coffee are totally organic; for the teas this time I shall be using Red Raspberry or Pau D’arco or Milk Thistle or even Chamomile if I am feeling any aches or pains. The teas I adjust according to how I feel. I add the tea bags directly to the colema water and usually 4-5 bags seems to be sufficient.

Usually when I am fasting I spend a lot of time on my own, either reading inspirational books or just relaxing and watching health-related videos.

I try to keep my conscious mind focused on good health – this helps me to stay motivated throughout the cleanse.

I also make a concentrated effort to walk every day, meditate every day and always allow time for a massage or an herbal steam if needed. It can be difficult to juggle work on top of all of that, but it is possible and just requires prioritizing.

A lot of people ask me how often do I fast, and my answer to that is ‘it depends.’

If you are feeling well, eating well and living a healthy lifestyle then I would say every 6 months is ideal but once a year is ok too. When you are unwell or out of balance, it takes more work and usually more fasting to get the body to heal, so in that case it would have to be much more frequent. If you smash up your car, it generally will have to be in the shop longer than just getting a maintenance check. Same concept.

So I wish all you fellow fasters and cleansers all the best with your own healing journeys…and perhaps I will see you at the Spa Samui (Lamai Beach) detox counter~!!

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Traveling Raw: Raw Food Thailand to Raw Food Australia

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Raw Food Bliss in Thailand!

Raw Food Bliss in Thailand!

Well it’s time for the test – can I manage to eat an all-raw diet in the ‘real world’? I have been living in Thailand for the last 10 months, and it’s been very easy maintaining a healthy diet there – with the large amount of fresh tropical fruits and veggies, who would want to eat anything else?? I’ve left Thailand for a break from Asia and now only time will tell if I can maintain a healthy lifestyle in a western country…

And the results so far are: GOOD!

Can I be this healthy in Australia?

Can I be this healthy in Australia?

I’ve been in Perth Australia for nearly a week now. And can I just tell you how much I am loving the fresh spinach, peaches and plums?? All of these things you just can’t get in Asia, at least not fresh or at a decent price…and here – wow! Honestly I think I needed a break from the pineapple, watermelon and papaya anyway…although I could never grow tired of durian!!

It’s great to be here and to be exploring having a variety of different fresh foods.

Also I seem to be influencing others around me in a positive way – the friends that I am staying with (thank you!!) are all enjoying my fresh salads each evening. It’s fun to eat healthy foods together – try it – you will feel happy and satiated instead of full and bloated!!!! You will sleep better, feel better and have unlimited energy all day!!!

I’ve got more work to do on this site, so please be patient while the beauty and inspiration unfolds…til then here is to your good health!!!

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