1 week growth

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I shaved my head a week ago as a detachment from my ego, a reminder to what’s important in life and as an inspiration to others to focus on the true sources of happiness.  To my surprise, I actually really liked how my baldhead looked so in a sense my ego could be attaching itself to that new cool image.  The practice of detachment for me has been and will be watching my hair grow out and not wishing it to be different.  I noticed that I didn’t like it as much once the black stub started growing in, so I noted that dissatisfaction as an observation instead of a desire for it to be different.

In my last blog I said that the material and physical don’t bring us true happiness.  Today I would like to talk about what does and how to find that for you.  A good exercise to find out would be to reflect or write down all of the things that bring you joy. Once you know what they are you can spend your energy focusing on them to fill you with more joy and then the physical and material won’t seem so important.

What brings me joy is listening and living from my heart, nurturing myself, inspiring others, spending time with nature and animals, having heart-felt connections with others, living on a tropical island, sharing smiles with strangers, feeling vibrant health and energy, learning new things, exploring new places, puppies and babies, riding on a motorbike, walking along the beach, warm bathes, beautiful food that nourishes my body, knowing who I am, developing myself, overcoming challenges, giving to others, feeling the love from my family and friends…not how my hair looks.

Find and focus on your joy!

Grow

letting go of image

Shaving My Head

A Practice of Detachment, Reminder and Inspiration

Om Namah Shivaya

(I Bow To My True Identity)

ego detachment

My name is Elicia Woodford, I am 35 years old and currently living in Koh Samui, Thailand.  My business ePowerMe is about releasing thoughts, behaviors, beliefs, toxins, and stress that keep us from being who we really are and fully alive. I am launching another business called Samui Healing which is designed to provide cleansing information, services and resources to support ePowerMe’s mission. I’ve personally done many various body, mind and material cleanses this year. Cleansing is about getting rid of what we don’t need that is attached to the ego like stress, social pressure, and an image that is identified with the body and material things.  I decided to end my year of detox with a spiritual ego cleanse by shaving my head to detach from society’s pressure of looking a certain way and caring what others think.

Reasons, Reminders and Inspiration:

v    Spiritual Detox and Detachment

• Detaching from ego, image and identity

v    Source of Happiness

source of happiness

• How you feel is dependent of what you are thinking and the health of your body.  If you are overly concerned with physical appearance, and what others think, then you will cause unnecessary stress and unhappiness.
• Most people think that if they look good then they feel good.  If you dig deeper on what it is costing you in stress and worry to look good you will see that is not true. 
• Pay attention to your thoughts “My hair is too short, I wish my hair was straight/curly, my roots are showing, I want to look like Angelina Jolie, I can’t go out with this pimple, I need my teeth whitened, I wish I was skinny, my nail chipped…”
• All the physical things that seem to matter most are impermanent and will change.  Your hair will grow, your nails grow, you choose to adopt a clean natural diet and your skin and hair glow plus the extra 5 pounds comes off without trying.  With this awareness you can focus on what matters most in life: the health of your mind and body.
• I’m not saying to not care how you look and to let yourself go but instead let society’s pressure of how you should look go. Care more about what thoughts you let in your mind and what you are putting in your body.  Know what thoughts and food either feed you or deplete you.  Your happiness depends on them.
• Focus your energy up towards who you are, how you live, and your potential instead of down towards what you look like, what you have and comparing yourself to others.  Become aware by asking yourself, “Does it matter, does it make me happy and is it beneficial to my life?”
• Another thing to be aware of is how you treat others and your generosity.  When you give selflessly and are kind to others you feel good about yourself.  Practice compassion on yourself, while making changes, and you will feel good and be able to relate to others with a better understanding.

v    Cancer

prevent & heal disease

• Cancer is real and can heal.  Place importance on trying to prevent it by improving your lifestyle choices. 
• Cancer, and other illnesses, can only live in a toxic and deficient environment. The best defense towards disease is a healthy body.
• Focus on boosting your health with detox, cleansing and nutritional therapy.

v    Patience & Dedication

• Patience is needed for growth and development.
• Developing the mind with awareness and compassion for yourself and others requires practice and patience.
• Be excited to see what develops at each stage of the growth. It is about the journey and not the destination.

v    Embracing Natural Beauty

live & radiate from your heart and nature

• When you live from your heart and nature you radiate natural beauty.
• I am releasing what is not me (chemicals) to let my natural hair and self shine through.

v    Re-birth

• 2009 detachment & detox – from the things that I don’t need, that cause stress and unhappiness.
• 2010 birth & new development – caring and nurturing my mind and body like a newborn.

Let go of what you are not to find out who you are!

Credits:

Hairshaver – Dany Lopez,  samuihair@yahoo.com, +66 (0) 81 787 4893

Blue Sarong – Donated by Ta from Thai Organic Life

Photographer & Samui Healing Model - Carrie Bain

Spirit of Kamalaya

A couple of days after my cleansing program ended at The Spa Chiang Mai I flew directly to Koh Samui to make it in time for the Healing Forum during the Mala Festival.  The Healing Forum was held at Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa, who just won six 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards, including the Crystal Award for Favorite Spa in Asia.  I stayed at this “wellness paradise” the night before the forum and was able to experience some of what they have to offer the day of the forum.  They get my vote for best spa but it’s hard to even call Kamalaya a “spa”, they are so much more.  Kamalaya is a very special and sacred place.  This is the spot for those looking to reconnect with themselves holistically and in luxury.

When I landed in Koh Samui I knew there was something different in the air and felt my soul’s desire to stay.  Thailand is at the top in the world for wellness travel, and Samui is where to go for healing.  My wellness guidebook received a more narrow focus upon arrival.  I decided to stay awhile, research and discover all of the healing services on Samui. Samui Healing was born to provide the information to help people decide which program is best for what they are looking for.  The Healing Forum turned out to be very synchronistic for me since the main topic of discussion was the need to have all of the wellness resources on the island in one place, through an online wellness directory. This project lives in my heart and is something that I tried to do almost 2 years ago in the US, called wherewellness.com.  I’m not sure if I will end up helping them with that project but I know there is a need for an online, printed and personal healing guide.

joining together at the mala

I’ve spent over 2 weeks now researching and experiencing most of the cleansing programs on Samui.  Kamalaya may be the favorite but it’s not the best choice for people looking for a fasting program or raw food. That’s why I am passionate to help lay it out to make it easy so that each person can decide which is the right choice for him or her.  We all know what is good for us; we just need all of the information in order to make the best decision.  So far, I’ve researched over 10 different cleansing programs and still have a few more to visit before the end of the month.  Already I’ve  helped a few people in passing and I am excited to see what develops.

simple & powerful green smoothies

In addition to the various cleansing programs on the island, Samui is also home to many individual practitioners/healers to help support everyone’s overall well being.  The one that has impacted my life the most is inspirational Jennifer Thompson with Healthy Bliss.  She gave me my first crystal reading, which accurately showed me where I was with my chakras and what was happening in my life. It confirmed what I needed to do to be more in balance, which I am still working on.  The Green Smoothie Gathering she held last week was the best thing (for me) that I’ve experienced so far in Samui.  I’ve know and experienced the power of eating raw foods over the last 2 years but had not learned about the power of green smoothies until now. I’ve been struggling with how to eat a raw organic diet like I did in Atlanta since I arrived to Thailand a few months ago.  It was great to discover The Spa’s Radiance Restaurant, which is the only one on Samui (and one of the few and best in Thailand) that prepares raw meals.  When deciding on which part of Samui I wanted to live, my only criterion was to be in walking distance of The Spa for the raw food.  After awhile though, as with anything, I was looking for variety and a way to eat at home to save money.

gotu cola smoothie = happiness

Jennifer’s green smoothie class was just what I was looking for and more! Here is an excerpt from Jennifer’s handout: “Green leave are the only food source in the world that can transfer sunshine into energy.  They do this by creating chlorophyll.”  Chlorophyll is the edible energy from the sun.  Using a blender is not only fast and easy but it is powerful because it breaks the greens down so that our bodies can absorb all of the minerals and valuable nutrition they contain and we crave.  What about juicing?  Well juicing is good if you are fasting (to give your body a break from digesting to eliminate toxins) but when you juice you strip the fiber and antioxidants from the produce.  Jennifer’s passion and knowledge inspired me to immediately buy a blender, cutting board, knife, smoothie container, and fresh produce.  I’ve had 2 smoothies a day ever since and each time they are delicious and different.  This morning I blended an apple, fresh ginger, lime, cup of water, kale, romaine, parsley, banana, ground flax seed and bee pollen.  All of the produce I bought yesterday when I rode my bike to the street market for under $2.  I am a full blow green smoothie addict and I love it!  I feel so inspired and vibrant.

sunset at silver beach

My life here is simple and ideal.  I wake up and walk to the most beautiful beach in my backyard to do yoga, meditate and swim at sunrise. I come back to my room to chop some produce I bought at the street market the day before and blend it up.  After I drink up the vibrant energy, I wash the blender, knife and cutting board all in my shower.  I realize I don’t need much to be happy and actually not having much makes me happy.  Live raw, live simple, and be happy.

After I finish my research at the end of the month I’m planning on living with the monks at a temple on the south end of the island.  I’m learning to sit with all of the ideas I have swimming around in my head and take the time to watch them develop.  Sitting in quiet meditation with no distractions is something I’ve been craving for a year.  My spirit blossoms when I’m at the temple and I’ll be able to teach the monks English while at the same time learn Thai and actually practice Buddhism.

morning meditation

Yesterday I wrote a testimonial for Julia Griffin with One True Self and I came to realize that exactly a year ago I started to manifest my life that I am living now.  Here’s what I wrote:

Julia is a very gifted intuitive and has helped me manifest my dreams that I am living right now.  I first started to work with Julia in Oct 2008 and participated in her manifestation ecourse. It was exactly a year ago and I was going through a painful process of losing everything I owned. Out of survival, I started to wait tables and feel depressed. Julia helped me stay focused on my vision and dream that lived in my heart.  She leads powerful live group meditations each week that she records and provides in mp3 format to listen to on your own. During these meditations I could see and feel myself living in Thailand on the beach while working on my mission to inspire and empower others.  I’m writing this right now from my balcony in Koh Samui, Thailand on the beach while I research and write about all of the healing programs on Samui.  I get daily message from people around the world thanking me for my inspiration. My heart bursts with joy and gratitude for Julia and my life that I’ve created.

This morning, as I was walking down the beach, I remembered seeing the same beach image in my manifestation exercises with Julia.  I remembered the joy that I felt in the picture that I am now feeling in my whole being.  Dreams do come true when you listen to your heart.

feeling the joy

What I contribute that has helped me really be able to listen to, and live from, my heart is the OneDream course that I completed in January 2009.  I also just wrote a testimonial for the School of Humanity and Awareness at CIK this same week that I am ending this post with.  I am filled with gratitude and love with this reflection.

I am forever grateful for finding the School of Humanity and Awareness at CIK.  I started with The Inner Knowing Course 4 years ago, which awakened something deep inside me that craved to know more about myself.  Since then I submerged myself into everything they offer (except the singles course, and yes, I’m still single :) Each course helped me open up to really know and listen to myself.  It is impossible to say which course was my favorite.  They all were in so many ways; building upon and complimenting each other.  How my life was before the SOHA and how I am now seems like a different lifetime.  I believe OneDream impacted me the most. It has really opened me up to trust and listen to my heart’s desire.  Some of the changes I’ve experience since starting OneDream are: quitting my 10-year corporate sales job, creating a business for myself to help others, release things that no longer serve me (including all of my material possessions) move to and thrive in Thailand.  I am so different then how I was before the SOHA  and now so me. I am living my life fully!

There is only one journey. Going inside yourself.
Rainer Maria Rilke

My Thailand journey just made a stop to go inside myself for a proper cleansing. Gandhi realized to change the world first he had to change himself. To heal the world I must first heal myself. I started The Spa Chiang Mai Resorts’ 7½ day Cleansing Program on Monday, September 14, 2009.

all signs point to health

When I arrived on Friday I did not know I was going to stay and go through the program, however, my body did. I’ve learned to pay attention to my body now and really listen to it. As soon as the driver pulled into the property I started to feel very uncomfortable and bloated. My digestion is so messed up from living in Thailand these past couple of months. The land of smiles overall is a healthy place to live since wellness is a part of their life and culture. Back in the US, my body had been used to mostly organic, raw, plant based foods, which is very rare to find in Thailand. We are so fortunate to have the choice.

In Ban Phe, where I lived for my first month, there were no raw organic choices. I was at the mercy of overcooked (dead) stir-fried veggies that were smothered with cheap oil, MSG and who knows what else. The workload was a lot and I was drinking caffeine with sugar all day to stay focused. I was eating and drinking things I was not used to digesting. After the course I was able to cut out a lot of things that I knew were causing trouble but I still felt like I needed help. I love how my life works out; I always find what I need when I need it.

table reminder

I was excited to talk with Guy Hopkins, the founder and pioneer of healing health spas in Thailand, to learn about his journey and resorts. Our conversation inspired me to listen to my body and take a break from my Thailand journey to stay and go through the program. I did a pre-cleanse diet for 3 days to prepare my body for the fast. That consisted of eating just raw organic fruits and vegetables as well as drinking a liver flush twice a day. In addition to their extensive and delicious menu in the Radiance Restaurant, they also have a Faster’s Menu. The first 2 pages of the Faster’s Menu has a list all of the liquid choices you can have during the 7 day fast and what you can order on days 1-4 when breaking the fast. The fast list includes “spa” vegetable broth soup with a few variations, wheatgrass, liver flush, vegetable juice, carrot juice and my saving grace – fresh coconut water.

what feeds me

If you know me you know how much I love health and detox. I may be even a bit obsessed with it. I’ve done different detox cleanses on my own now for 17 years. It started in college when I was reading The Chinese Book of Health and History and the Tao of Health, Sex and Longevity. I found out that Guy Hopkins was also reading the Tao of Health, Sex and Longevity around the same time. I’ve tried The Master Cleanse 3 times over the years, fasted with juice and water, ate clean and took herbs to detox, spent a week in an Ayurveda detox spa for panchakarma and I’ve also enjoyed many colonics. What Guy Hopkins has developed over the 14 years here in Thailand has just blown me away.

detox center

This is the most thorough cleanse I have ever done and most likely the best deal around. The program is well organized and very supported. They start by emailing, as well as giving you on arrival, “Your Cleansing Fast Step By Step Instructions” booklet. You then meet with the health director before your cleanse to go over what to expect and to answer any questions. Afterwards you schedule a viewing of Guy’s introduction to the program and colema video. In the instruction booklet there is a cleansing schedule to follow everyday that keeps you busy and full.

Each day starting at 7am and ending at 9pm there is something to take or drink every hour and a half. At the detox center they specially prepare 5 detox drinks a day (a liquid bentonite and psyllium shake), provide filtered water, resources and FAQs. Each morning they give you 2 packets of intestinal cleaners and herbal nutrition tablets to be taken 5 times a day. Along with a flora grow probiotic to take before bed. The detox center also prepares the coffee colema that you administer yourself twice a day in the privacy of your own comfortable bathroom.

meditation sala

The Spa Resorts also offers a free meditation class every morning at 7:30am. Also available at no charge are many educational in-room videos, as well as, books to take out from the Sawadee (hello in Thai) Center. This is all apart of the Five Habit System to Longevity that Guy advocates throughout. Those five are: cleansing, breathing properly, food combining, exercise and meditation/peacefulness. The extra services available to help support you, and the cleanse, are: yoga, raw food and detox classes, herbal steam, Thai massage, reflexology, and ‘Ampuku’ (abdominal massage and pressure points for elimination). I chose to buy a package of 7 herbal steams and also a package of 7 Ampuku massages, 1 of each per day. A package of 7 only costs around $30.

For those who don’t think they need to clean the inside of their body, try it and see. It is truly amazing and motivating when you see the amount of toxic “stuff” that comes out once you stop digesting food. The right herbal support is also key to pull the toxins and mucoid plaque away that is wreaking havoc on our mind, body and spirit. This “gross” subject is the key to our health and needs to be talked about and addressed. I am reading one of the best books on health and the cause of disease from The Spa Resorts’ library; “Cleanse & Purify Thyself” by Dr. Rich Anderson. I highly suggest the book and this cleanse for radiant health and energy.

“The bowel feeds every organ, every tissue, and every cell in our bodies. When the bowel environment and function has become contaminated or inefficient, the cells and organs in the rest of the body will reflect that contamination and dysfunction. A toxic and acid bowel means toxic blood and lymph, toxic liver and other organs and cells, and poor health.”

organic garden

Our bodies produce this mucoid plaque for protection in an acid environment. To replenish the alkaline minerals and your health, eat raw organic plant based foods and stop (or limit) all intake of acid-forming foods. I will list those here:

Alcohol, all processed foods, anger, barley, bread, cake, canned fruit, cereals, chickpeas, chocolate, cigarettes, coffee, complaining, cooked grains (except millet and quinoa), corn, cornstarch, dairy products, drugs, eggs, foods cooked with oils, glazed or sulfured fruits, ketchup, legumes, lentils, meat, fish, birds, shellfish, mustard, nuts, seeds, beans, oatmeal, pasta, black pepper, popcorn, salt, soda crackers, soft drinks, soy products, stress, white and processed sugar, artificial sweeteners, black tea, overcooked vegetables, distilled vinegar, all forms of wheat.

Already after day 4 of The Spa Resorts’ cleanse my bloat is gone (most likely from all of the mucoid plaque and toxins released), I feel clear, inspired and happy. Seeing is believing and is also motivating to continue with the cleanse and an alkaline lifestyle.

wheatgrass pina colada

Remember to cleanse and purify to feel your power!

fresh mountain setting

Phu Chaisai Resort

Tel.+66 (0) 2661-5898-9,+66 (0) 2260-2646
E-mail : contact@phu-chaisai.com

Features:

Holistic Healing *Yoga and Meditation *Outdoor Natural Setting *Local Organic Ingredients

Phu Chaisai Resort, “Mountain of Clear Heart”, is nature’s cozy spa in the mountains offering organic sustainability for your health and the community. They have their own certified organic tea plantation, fruit farm, and vegetable garden that is picked and used right away. The Bamboo Spa, a spiritual sanctuary, was created from their bamboo forest and includes 4 outdoor spa areas each named after a different flower. The service all around is exceptional! Most of the staff is hired from the local villages, which is another way they support their local resources.  The therapists participate in bi-weekly yoga classes to remain healthy and injury free.

Ms Siwika and their homemade bamboo car

Phu Chaisai offers a wide variety of activities including trekking, pottery class, elephant camp, rafting, yoga and meditation.  The rooms are beautifully designed to blend in with the natural surroundings.  You can chose between Resort or Bon Thai style and 7 of the 50 rooms have their own infinity pool.

Bon Thai room with infinitey pool

Note for vegetarians and vegans; their restaurant serves a beautiful salad filled with freshly picked organic greens but be sure to order it without bacon bits and cheese.  The spa manager, Nattamon Holmberg, recognizes the need for a healthy spa menu and will be creating one this year.

It is the proprietor, M.L. Sudavadee Kriangkrai’s, love of nature, joyful spirit and creativity that makes this resort so unique. She not only preserves the surrounding forest but also offers a popular free mediation retreat that is offered once a year; the next one is Sept 18-23, 2009.

Budget

Akha Hill House

Tel.+66 (0) 8999-7550-5
E-mail : apaehouse@hotmail.com

mud bungalow view

The Akha Hill Tribe hosts a guesthouse situated in the mountains one-hour outside of Chiang Rai.  They provide free transportation once a day to and from Chiang Mai.  The breathtaking views from the house are of the mountainous valley surrounded by tea plantations and a native jungle.  This is a great escape for relaxation and creativity! On average, a private bungalow in the off-season is $15/night.

They offer a unique herbal steam sauna using vine blood.  One of the tribe members prepares the sauna, by request.  He cuts down the vines and burns them under the hut for the herbal steam to heat up the small dark room.  You can sit in it for as long as you desire.  I savored the quiet, nurturing time alone and used it to chant and meditate for an hour.  The herbal steam and smell made me feel cleansed and vibrant.  When I exited the hut my skin was glowing and delicious.  The best $6 I spent all week.

nature's herbal steam hut

A note about their food; order the Akha specials over the traditional Thai dishes.  My favorites were the Akha chili paste (very spicy) with wild vegetables and the fried banana flower with egg and vegetables (very flavorful).  Each dish cost only $1.50.

Free

Huay Keaw Waterfall

Akha offers paid guided trekking tours but I opted for more alone downtime and left the exploring up to my own spirit.  The Huay Keaw 3 tiered beautiful waterfall was only a 10 minute trek away and had exceptionally well made bamboo bridges to cross.  I also discovered a nice quiet bamboo platform hut up on the mountain where I was able to take in the fresh air and journal.

relax, reflect and create

Raw & Detox Retreat/Spa/Café

Rasayana Retreat

57 Soi Prom-mitr,
Sukhumvit 39,
Tel: 0-2662-4803-5
email: info@rasayanaretreat.com

my favorite item on menu w/ coconut meat inside!

Rasayana’s café serves up the only raw/living food in Bangkok that I know of. Once you enter the beautiful property you forget that you are in Bangkok. I was amazed that the organic, plant based meals cost no more then I usually pay for local Thai meals.  They even have a variety of raw snacks you can purchase to take home.

clean them out everytime

I selected the Rasayana meridian abdominal massage and a colonic from their service menu. Both services were very effective and made comfortable. For the colonic, they added coffee, milk thistle, aerobic oxygen and red clover. They are in need of an English speaking therapist, especially for those getting a colonic for the first time.  The information on their website is outdated, the Bangplee location is close, and pictures would also be useful.

Bonus: you get a coconut kefir shot after your colonic and ginger/lemon tea after meals.

all of my favorite things

Budget

Thai Massage

Health Land

5 locations in Bangkok

massage = medicine

If you are looking for a traditional Thai massage you can usually walk out of your guesthouse door and have many to choose from.   I’ve had some of the best Thai massages at Health Land. They offer many services to choose from at great value in a nice, clean environment. It’s somewhat of a factory but reliable, if you like your therapist remember their number.

Free

Outdoor Gym

Adult Playground

Lumpini Park

Sala Daeng BTS Station and Silom MRT , at the junction of Rama IV and Ratchadamri road. A free outdoor “gym” that is 140-acre (0.57 sq.km) including colorful exercise equipment and many wellness groups such as Thai-Chi and Yoga.  The groups gather around 6am and 6pm each day. The park also has an artificial lake where visitors can rent paddle boats.

one of the many groups at 6am/pm

spend time in nature

Today’s unique date symbolizes the truth.  Your truth is found by listening to your intuition, gut feeling or inner voice.  We all are intuitive, we just have to develop our ability to tap into it and listen.  Intuition comes from our heart and right brain function.  Below are ways to find your own answers and guidance.

9 Ways to Develop Your Intuition Using Your Right Brain

1. Be alone in silence – Each day make time for yourself and sit in silence.  Even if it’s driving home in the car with the radio off.  The less external distraction, the better we can listen internally
2. Deep breathing – Your breath is the most important thing in your life; you can’t live without it!  Deep, conscious breathing calms and relaxes your mind and body.  It is always available when you need it, especially when feeling stressed or anxious, so remember to use it.
3. Clear your mind – Write your thoughts and feelings down on paper. This allows for a deeper understanding, a clearer picture and a clearer mind.  Try this: write a question down before you sleep and when you wake start writing to see what comes out. Other great ways to clear your mind are Yoga, Tai-chi and Qigong.
   

   clear your mind

4. Meditate – You can use the above steps to prepare yourself for meditation by relaxing into your breath and clearing your mind.  If you are new to meditation, sit with your spine straight and focus on your breathing and the sensations in your body.  When thoughts arise, watch them float by without attaching to them.
5. Spend time in nature – Connect with Mother Nature alone without your iPod, allow your creativity and joy to flow.
   

   let your creativity flow

6. Create and use your senses – Your right brain engages when you use your 5 senses.  Do what you enjoy: cook, draw, dance, sing, and listen to music.
7. Listen to your body and trust yourself – If something doesn’t feel right to you or if you feel a pain in your body around a situation or person, pay attention because your body doesn’t lie.
8. Drink water throughout the day – Dehydration not only contributes to illness but it can fog up your brain.  Water helps you stay clear.
9. Write down synchronicities – These “coincidences” are signs to draw meaning from.  Trust yourself to know what these signs mean to you; use your intuition.

train to laos

After my TEFL course ended I decided to take the train from Bangkok to Laos to extend my Thai visa 60 days. I’m exploring Thailand and writing reviews of the health resort spas for a wellness guidebook that I am currently creating. I booked the 8pm night train on August 1st arriving in Nong Khai at 8:30am. It was raining all day in Bangkok, which makes for a slow taxi ride, so I decided to leave my hotel at 4:30pm and get to the train station early to see if I could get on one of the earlier trains that left at 6:30 or 6:40pm.

I arrived to Hua Lam Phong station just before 5pm, avoiding rush-hour traffic, and talked with a couple of helpful employees. They informed me that the 8pm train was the only sleeper. I had booked a first class cabin with a bed and if I downgraded to either of the earlier ones then I would be upright for 12 hours amongst many other people. The best choice was to keep my original ticket and wait at the station for 3 hours.

At first, finding a comfortable spot to read and write with my entire life to lug around was not promising. I viewed this with a detached point of view and continued walking down the busy waiting area wandering to find my spot. That is a great motto for me: wandering to find my spot. To see things for not what they are but in wonder to what there could be.

What I found was a small sign for massage. I thought that would be a great idea to kill time and to prepare for the long trip ahead. When I inquired I found out there was an hour wait. As my luck would have it I could wait inside with my luggage. I was able to write in a comfortable reclining chair while listening to relaxing music, away from it all. After my hour Thai massage I found a small travelers Laos map right next door and bought fresh pineapple and mango from a vendor. From there I boarded right away and snuggled into my private cabin.

The next morning the train stopped and we waited 2 hours to start moving again. The tracks ahead were flooded and they had to do something to them to make sure we stayed on the tracks. While we waited I remembered my experience the night before and wondered what this experience will now bring.

emma

During the 2-hour wait I was gifted with an adorable 4-year-old girl, Emma. She reminded me of what I was like at that age. My little girl came to remind me to play! Emma was singing, pretend playing, running up and down, teaching me Thai, and even said something I used to say to my Mom: “I’ll be right back, don’t sleep ok”.

These two nice men that were a couple cabins down from me on the train ended up offering me a ride into Vientiane that they hired. They were asking me about my travels and mentioned the book “Eat, Pray, Love” and asked me if I was soul searching. I replied, “No, I found my soul and now I’m just listening to it”. Then they asked me if I found it in Thailand and I replied, “No, I found it inside of me Thailand just brings it out and lets it shine”. This sparked a good conversation about the world’s new spiritual consciousness of oneness. It turned out to be a blessing that our train arrived 3 hours late and that I missed going to the Thai embassy before they stop processing visas at noon. I really did need to go straight to a hotel, drop off my luggage and settle in.

After checking into the Lao-Paris hotel, I went across the street to the Blue Banana to login, eat and ask a local some questions. This was the 2nd time I’ve been at a restaurant in the last 3 days during a happy-hour drink special 2 for 1. I chose not to drink both times. I’ve reached a point where I value my health, my time and my money more then I do getting buzzed. It wasn’t as easy as it usually is to turn it down, especially after 24 hours of hard traveling, but I am grateful that I did. Since Laos was once a French colony they have good wine here, unlike Thailand, for a good price. I went into the min-shop to get some water and snacks and they even had a whole wine shop in the back. Out of curiosity I went back to price it out and most bottles were around $10. A drunk with a puffy nose, red face and booze breath from Brooklyn/Miami came into the shop as another reminder of why I don’t want any. On my way home I opted for a 2-hour massage/herbal compress that cost me $11. I’d rather get a 2-hour massage than 2 drinks. I’d rather be clear, write and take in life fully. I am choosing my life one minute at a time. Next stop: back to nature in Chiang Rai!

(Ban Phe, Thailand. Monday, August 24, 2009)

Exclusive for The Atlanta Journal Constitution, by Tim Torkildson

FORMER ATLANTA BUSINESS WOMAN FINDS NEW CAREER AND HOME IN THAILAND

Happiness in Thailand

Elicia Woodford grew up in the Syracuse area, attending Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School and Bishop Ludden High School, where she excelled in sports. Her parents, Ray and Linda Woodford, still reside in the Syracuse area; they both have sales jobs and Elicia’s dad, Ray, is noted for building and racing road bikes. Elicia has one brother, Chad, who now lives in San Francisco.

After graduating from Bishop Ludden in 1992 Elicia went to Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, where she graduated with a degree in marketing. Wanting to challenge herself by moving to a place where she had no friends, family, or job prospects, just to see what would happen, she went to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1996, and spent several years there with ADP.  She says she has always considered Atlanta her second home.

With the advent of social media like Twitter and Facebook, Elicia started her own business, calling it ePowerMe. She successfully worked to improve business’ online presence with social media. But she felt an extraordinary pull, “my soul’s desire” she calls it, to move to Thailand. She felt that she could improve her business, and her life, by learning how to teach and communicate with other languages. This led her to sign up for the four-week TEFL International course in Ban Phe, Thailand. TEFL International is a non-profit organization that specializes in certifying native English speakers to teach abroad.

Ms Woodford plans to travel a bit after graduating at the end of August, with a stint in India to further her yoga studies, and then return to Thailand as a wellness mentor. She says “I feel at home in Thailand because it brings out my inner nature. My passion is health and wellness. Thailand is a relaxed and joyful place; I get a feeling of peace and calm here. The fresh fruit is utterly fantastic and the Thai method of massage is unbeatable and so affordable!”

For more information on TEFL International, visit their website at www.tefllife.com

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Contact Tim Torkildson at torkil49@live.com

Toll-free phone: 866-384-8852

Contact Elicia Woodford at elicia@ePowerMe.com

Phone: +66 085 952 4734

1st night

Perceptions are not real, find and know your truth!

It’s always good to ask people about places and things but to take it as it is: their perception and experience, not yours.  I’ve learned to approach other people’s opinions and even my own with a question mark and not a period. If I listened to others, I wouldn’t have stayed in Bangkok.  If I listened to my first impression then I wouldn’t have stayed either.

My view of Bangkok after the first day was very limited and I felt unsure about staying there.  I did like the small boutique hotel and friendly staff so I decided to go ahead and book the next 5 nights while they had rooms available. I end up staying in 4 different themed rooms and loved the experience.  I thought at least I didn’t have to deal with my luggage and I could always stay in the room and read.  I observed these feelings and thoughts and noticed the tendency to feel safe.

last night

The mind’s need to feel safe is deceptive and keeps you and your world small.  Moving forward with that feeling will help you grow and experience joy.

I went out to walk the streets, explored and found a whole new perspective of Bangkok.  The uncomfortable feeling I had was just the unknowing.  My first day I walked down one street which was crazy busy and polluted.  I noticed that 1 out of 5 Thais were wearing disposable mouth protectors and I assumed that it was because of the pollution. Once I explored my surrounding neighborhood (and how to cross the street going up the stairs across the pedestrian bridge) I felt empowered and was able to tune into more things around me.  I also found out later by talking to someone that the Thais wore the mouth protectors because they were concern about getting the Swine Flu, not because of the pollution. My Kundalini Yoga practice each morning helped me tremendously while adjusting to all of the newness. I trained my mind to slow down and take things slow without any set plans or “have tos”. I decided that I would do one thing (on my mental wish list) each day and to trust my intuition as I made decisions. Taking deep breaths throughout each day also helped me presence myself.

As my confidence built I explored more and my perspective of Bangkok shifted. I loved taking the Skytrain and walking around.  I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all and now I had a sense of excitement and love for the city. Being very present and aware allowed me to be in the flow, this is when everything just falls into place. I would stumble upon exactly what I was looking for everyday. My next blog will have the details of the treatments and I experienced and how I found them. On my third day I got to know the map a little better and noticed a large park a block away from where I was staying.  The first couple of days I turned left onto Silom to walk to Health Land Spa and to the BTS Skytrain.  This morning I turned right instead of left and found my favorite discovery, Lumpini Park!

favorite discovery

After the first day I could have left in search of pleasure but staying and moving in the uncomfortable lead me to the pleasure that was all around me, just one turn away.  I am remembering this lesson right now as I begin my TEFL course in Ban Phe, Thailand.  It been a lifetime ago since I utilized my left-brain to study and I’m observing my desire to do other things that I know I love instead.  I also don’t think I’ve ever sat in at a desk in a chair for 8 hours a day for a month!  I’m embracing the uncomfortable to see what I find.

way to live

Trust yourself to find your truth – explore your thoughts alone.
The week I spent in Bangkok I found myself alone, without any distractions, for the first time in my life.  Canceling my cell phone plan broke my iPhone addiction and the many distractions that came along with it: checking and responding to my email, Facebook, text messages, and phone calls.  Shut off from all communication except the Internet (on my time and only when I’m back at the hotel) I am alone with my thoughts.  When I was outside walking around the city I couldn’t understand the signs or conversations. I also didn’t know anyone or meet anyone to hangout with and talk to, which was a nice change.  I had been craving this silence and solitude for a long time.  Being truly alone helped me sit and observe my thoughts and feelings.  I had the opportunity to pause before reacting, question, and reflect on things.  A week of “active meditation” helped me find my truth, at least about Bangkok.  Find solitude to sit, observe and question your thoughts to know your truth and it will set your mind free.

The Thai culture is pleasant and brings out my true nature.

free wellness in the park!

What I love most about the Thai culture is that wellness is their way of life.  Visiting Lumpini Park from 5-7am was my favorite discovery of Bangkok.  It was filled with Thais of all ages, with the majority middle age and elderly, working out in the “playground”.  They know the importance of tai chi, yoga, meditating, massage and stretching.  The sidewalks are lined with vendors selling fresh, local real food that people buy on their way to and from work.  They even sit and with regular social gatherings bonding on the street and in the park. The Thais radiate an overall feeling of happy and relaxed.

delicious new discovery

One morning I discovered a new delicious fruit over breakfast called Ramutan, or Ngow in Thai. I was told that it’s only in season this month in Thailand.  One of the many things I love about the Thai culture is that they eat local and in season, not much processed food if at all. All of the cheap food is local.  Anything that they have to import is priced like we would pay in the States.  Even though that makes sense, it’s not like that in the States because the government subsidized the corn, wheat, soy, dairy and meat industries.  Those also take up most of our farmland and pollute our environment and bodies with chemicals. With the government subsidies Americans can eat cheap junk “food”, get sick and take medicine that cause disease. So then the doctors keep their jobs and the industries continue to make money.  My dream would be for the US government to instead subsidize organic vegetable farms and wellness services.  Since I’ve been in Thailand I haven’t seen any obesity, felt any anger or depression and that has everything to do with their lifestyle.

Thai massage "medicine"

As I move through each day, things are peaceful and pleasant.  I find myself reaching for the Bangkok Post and feeling good as I read the entire thing.  The front-page headline yesterday was “Crossing At Their Own Risk”, the top news story was about the police cracking down on jaywalkers and threatening to fine them 200 Baht ($6) for not using the pedestrian bridge or zebra crossing.   Even though the city is heavily populated like NYC, there is calmness about it.  I’ve noticed that I haven’t heard even one police or ambulance siren. Another difference are the homeless people.  They really can’t work and are amputees with missing limbs or are burn victims. My heart goes out to them and makes me want to give as they ask in prayer. There doesn’t seem to be any violence or craziness.

calm, relaxed and in line for the train

Thai people are peaceful, healthy, happy and polite.  Taking the Skytrain (BTS) is even pleasant because people are calm and relaxed. They even form lines where indicated while waiting for the train.  The Thais look you in the eye and smile.  They are light-hearted people who make life fun and easy. They joke and laugh about things that might be embarrassing or frustrating to Americans.  When I slipped down the staircase at my hotel they commented about how I like to make a grand entrance and laughed instead of worrying.  Laughter and joking around was apart of all of my treatments that made me feel more connected with my heart to the other person.  The masseuse, my first day at Health Land Spa, pretended to gently massage my new goddess tattoo and giggled which made me giggle and enjoy her even more. They bow in sweet prayer when they say thank you (korb kun ka), and they thank you after any purchase including the 7-11.  I love the culture and way of life here and it brings out my true nature that is calm, relaxed, peaceful and filled with joy!

detox, yoga/pilates, spa and raw food

My soul was craving this trip and now I know why.  Since I’ve been living from and listening to my heart I make decisions and know why after.  I felt a very strong calling to Thailand for many years and decided to release everything I own and move there.  The two questions I was most often was asked by others were; “Why Thailand?” and “How long will you be there?”  My answers were always “I’ve felt a strong desire to be there” and “I don’t know”. This was not a trip that I heard of or researched about, it came from my soul.  The soul’s desire cannot be understood until that desire if fulfilled.  This is the difference when making decisions from the heart and not the mind.  The second question is interesting.  When I moved to Atlanta, Ft. Lauderdale, back to Atlanta, up to NYC, back to Atlanta, over to San Francisco and back to Atlanta not once did I get anyone ask me “For how long will you live there?”  It’s probably because anything foreign, even concepts, to most people make them scared and they have a need to know the future.

Planning and thinking in the future is very limiting and blocks the flow and pleasure of life.