THIS MONTH
Hua Hin Events
Baby Cookie, mother Rung, father Brian
Baby Nice, mother Gey, father Note
Baby Poppy, mother Boom, father Colin
Baby Tangmo, mother Ple, father Ess
A baby explosion in Hua Hin this last month sees four new readers for the magazine - welcome to the world all!
Jeab and Steve tie the knot at her family home in Kui Buri - congratulations!
Jitrada and Steve celebrate their wedding at the Sailom hotel with colleagues from 2nd Home - congratulations!
The Annual Vintage Car rally at the Sofitel took place in early december -here are some of the classics on display
The grand opening of the Leisure Art gallery in hua hin (see article on the exhibition in local news)
(From left) Faa, Naen and Nam celebrate a first birthday for Nam - happy birthday!
Hua Hin Online Community
We hope all our readers and sponsors had a grand Christmas and New Year period; the forums were busy as always. There was more talk about the Market Village and the fact that they don't show movies in English at the Cineplex, it seems bizarre that a primarily tourist orientated town would have an all-Thai cinema. The two hyped motor shows came and went, they resembled the forecourt of a Honda dealership rather than what most people would consider a motor show. Speaking of motors, danger on the roads at this time of year is elevated, we hear of accidents involving farangs nearly every day, please, please, please if you have to use a motorcycle drive carefully out there, wear your helmet, and have eyes in the back of your head.
Our reservations system has been flat out with people making late bookings for the holiday period, if you're looking for a room in town please book as far in advance as you can, Hua Hin gets very busy over Christmas and New Year. Now that the panic is over take a look at Top Marks Hotel for clean rooms close to town or the brand new boutique hotel Araya Residence in Chomsin road, beautifully decorated rooms without the five star price tag.
There was plenty of discussion on bars as the party scene livens up for the high season, the good, the bad, the renamed and the refurbished all got mentions. We welcome Butterfly Rock to our sponsors' list, a bar that offers something a little different with its themed party nights. A new mini complex is being constructed opposite Hua Hin temple, its likely to have a couple of new bars in there but the majority of shops will probably be more tailors as there is a shortage of them in Hua Hin!
Christmas dinner was a huge affair this year in Hua Hin with big feeds being held at Crawfords, Johnny Walkers and Jungle Juice many of which were booked out long before the event. HHAD's first beach event went off with a bang down in Khao Takiab with beach games and good times all round. We plan to have one every month, the next being HHAD's fourth birthday party held at the end of January, see the site for details - last year's was a blast!
More property talk with advice on certain developments requested, as always we get both sides of the story on the board. The property market is well on the way to recovery following the hiccups earlier in the year. As usual more visa confusion as the third month for 30 day runs approaches; the recent changes are going to affect a lot of people, who knows where it will go from here.
We welcome a new guide to the area, www.khaotakiab.com is a new website offering information and plenty of photos on accommodation, attractions, restaurants and nightlife in Khao Takiab. It is the area's first online guide and is expected to grow as Takiab itself does; check it out online.
HHAD forums are the definitive online message boards and discussions for the area with over 2,100 members. There are sections for finding and booking accommodation, seeking out bargains, and exploring the local area and beyond. There is also a nightlife sectionfor the night owls, a restaurant and feeding guide along with an online meeting point for visa runners and clubs. The ever popular “Ask the expats” section is great for quickly getting the answers you need from the people that live here.
Logon and find out what is happening in Hua Hin:
THAI FOOD
Any food lover knows that thai food is regarded as some of the best in the world, and many people travel to thailand just to sample it in it's ‘original' form. If you have fallen in love with the tastes and smells of thai cooking, and want to try it for yourself, we have included a few recipes for thai dishes to try at home. These recipes are some of the most commonly eaten foods in thailand , and the ingredients can generally be found or substituted in most large supermarket chains or specialist oriental food markets outside of thailand . For further information about thai food, please see the information section at the back of the main magazine.
PAD THAI
Pad Thai is often called the signature dish of Thai cuisine. There are several
regional variations, indeed it has been said that Thailand has not only a different curry for every day of the year, but also a different pad Thai for every cook in
Thailand ! This is our variation. We're sure you'll like the recipe below, however
for a very simple, fast, easy-to-prepare Pad Thai, please click here for an instant
version.
This recipe requires 1 cup of dry roasted, unsalted peanuts. For best preparation,
coarsely break them up in a stone mortar and pestle.
Method: Heat a little cooking oil in a wok and add the garlic and shallots, and
briefly stir fry until they just shows signs of changing colour. At this point one
option is to add chicken meat and cook a bit longer, if you prefer chicken pad
Thai. Add the remaining ingredients except the egg and the bean sprouts, and stir
fry until the noodles soften (about 5 minutes). As you stir the noodles, periodically
throw in 1-2 tablespoons of water, and after 2-3 minutes add 1 tablespoon of
rinsed, salted radish (optional). Continuing to stir with one hand, slowly “drizzle”
in the beaten egg to form a fine ribbon of cooked egg (if you don't feel confident
with this make an egg crepe separately, and then roll it up and slice it into quarter
inch wide pieces, which you add to the mix at this point). At this point, a very
tasty but optional addition is a small handful of dried shrimps. Add the bean
sprouts and cook for no more than another 30 seconds. Remove from the pan to
a serving platter.
Garnish: Mix a tablespoon of lime juice with a tablespoon of tamarind juice and
a tablespoon of fish sauce, and use this to marinade half a cup of uncooked bean
sprouts, half a cup of chopped chives, and half a cup of very coarsely ground
roasted peanuts. Sprinkle this mixture on the cooked pad Thai. Cut several limes
into segments and also slice up some cucumber into rounds then halve the rounds.
Put the lime segments and cuke segments around the serving platter.
You may add Thai chili powder, sugar and crushed peanuts at the table.
INGREDIENTS
8 OUNCES RICE NOODLES
THESE SHOULD BE SOAKED AT ROOM TEMPERATURE
FOR AN HOUR OR MORE DEPENDING ON HOW SOFT
YOU PREFER THE NOODLES
5-6 CLOVES GARLIC, FINELY CHOPPED
2 TABLESPOONS CHOPPED SHALLOTS (OR SMALL
RED OR PURPLE ONIONS)
1/4 CUP DRIED OR 1/2 FRESH COOKED SHRIMP
1/4 CUP FISH SAUCE
1/4 CUP REGULAR SUGAR (OR CRUSHED
PALM SUGAR)
2 TEASPOONS TAMARIND CONCENTRATE MIXED WITH
5 TEASPOONS WATER (TAMARIND JUICE)
1 MEDIUM EGG, BEATEN
1/4 CUP CHOPPED CHIVES
1/2 CUP ROASTED PEANUTS, COARSELY BROKEN UP
1 CUP BEAN SPROUTS
1/2 CUP TOFU (FIRM) THAT HAS BEEN DICED (1/2”
CUBES), MARINATED IN DARK SWEET SOY.
TOM YUM
Tom Yum is both hot and sour, and it's one of the main signature dishes that
defines Thai flavor.
METHOD: Wash the prawns and shell them without removing the tails. Bring
chicken broth to a boil. Add lemongrass, galangal and lime leaves. Bring back
to a boil then add mushrooms, fish sauce, prik pao and lime juice. Add prawns
and fresh chile peppers. As soon as prawns turn pink (cooked through) serve
garnished with cilantro.
A simple and effective way to make this dish is with a ready-made tom yum
paste. Add two tablespoons Tom Yum paste to three cups boiling water, add 1.5
teaspoons salt, add mushrooms and prawns, add 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice,
add 5-7 Thai chilli peppers and onions, and serve garnished with cilantro.
An alternative to Tom Yum paste is a Tom Yum spice mix which you can use to
make the soup. Both are readily available in Thailand and in most countries
TOM YUM INGREDIENTS
20 PRAWNS (SHRIMP), MEDIUM SIZE
4-5 CUPS CHICKEN BROTH/SOUP STOCK
2 STALKS FRESH LEMONGRASS, LIGHTLY POUNDED,
CUT INTO 1 INCH LONG SEGMENTS
4 TABLESPOONS FISH SAUCE
1/3 CUP SLICED FRESH GALANGAL
1/2 CUP STRAW MUSHROOM, HALVED OR WHOLE
6-8 KAFFIR LIME LEAVES, SHREDDED
4 TABLESPOONS LIME JUICE
6 CRUSHED FRESH THAI CHILLI PEPPERS (OR MORE TO
SUIT YOUR TASTE)
2 TABLESPOONS “PRIK PAO” ROASTED CHILLI IN OIL
FRESH CILANTRO FOR GARNISH
THAI PAPAYA SALAD (SOM TUM)
Green papaya salad is loved throughout SE Asia in various forms. Som Tum is a
classic Thai dish, commonly associated with the NE (Isaan) area but served all
over Thailand. Somtum is typically prepared three different ways.
It can be “Somtum Thai” which has peanuts mixed in, “Somtum Bu” which has
small pickled crabs pounded in, or “Somtum Lao sai pla ra” which includes the
juice of pickled mudfish.
Som tum is eaten as a snack and as a salad.
METHOD: Peel fresh green papaya, rinse the white milk off, pat dry, then shred
the whole papaya. Sprinkle with a bit of salt then rinse it off and drain. Keep 2
cups shredded papaya out, and put the rest in a sealed container for later use.
Slice tomatoes thinly. In a clay Lao-style mortar & pestle, coarsely pound the
fresh chillis (whole) and garlic. Add string beans and sliced tomato, and pound
it lightly (do not over-crush). Add dried shrimp, fish sauce, palm sugar and lime
juice. Add these items spoon-by-spoon, and taste as you go. If you want to add
peanuts, add now and lightly pound (optional). If you want to add pickled mud
fish (pla ra), add two tablespoons of juice (optional). Add shredded papaya and
pound together until mixed well.
Serve on a dish with fresh cabbage and string beans on the side.
SOM TUM INGREDIENTS
2 CUPS SHREDDED FRESH GREEN PAPAYA
3 MEDIUM ROMA TOMATOES, OR USE A FEW MORE
IF YOU CAN FIND CHERRY TOMATOES
A HANDFUL OF FRESH STRING BEANS CUT INTO
1 INCH PIECES
2 TABLESPOONS DRIED SHRIMP
4-6 FRESH THAI CHILLIS, REMOVE STEMS
3-4 CLOVES GARLIC
2 TABLESPOONS FISH SAUCE
2 TABLESPOONS PALM SUGAR
2 TABLESPOONS FRESH LIME JUICE
2 TABLESPOONS JUICE OF PICKLED MUD FISH (OPTIONAL)
THAI PORK SATAY KEBABS WITH PEANUT AND COCONUT SAUCE
Start by making the sauce, half of which is used as a marinade for the pork, the
other half as a dipping sauce. Start off by placing the lime leaves in a small bowl,
cover with boiling water and leave to soak for 5 minutes. When the lime leaves
have re-hydrated, remove from the water, then roll them up very tightly and
shred finely.
Place the lime leaves in a food processor with the lemon grass. Now add the
deseeded chilli, garlic, ginger, the lime juice and zest and the fish sauce. Next
separate the leaves from the coriander stalks, and reserve them until later. Pop the stalks into the food processor, then put the lid on, switch on the motor and process until everything is very finely chopped. Now add the peanut butter, coconut milk and light brown soft sugar and mix again until everything is thoroughly blended.
Then pour half the sauce (about 8 fl oz/225 ml) into a large bowl, which will be
for the pork marinade.
Add the salted roasted peanuts and the reserved coriander leaves to the remaining sauce in the processor and pulse once again until coarsely chopped. (The chopped peanuts add a bit more texture.) Now pour the sauce into another bowl, cover and keep stored in the fridge until about 1 hour before you are ready to serve.
Next, to prepare the kebabs, cut the pork into bite-sized pieces – about 3/4 inch
(2 cm) cubes (you're aiming for 36 pieces). Now add it to the marinade in the
bowl, mix well, then cover and leave aside for a minimum of 1 hour. Meanwhile,
put the wooden skewers in a shallow dish, cover with hot water and leave to soak
for a minimum of 30 minutes (this helps to prevent the skewers from burning
under the grill).
When you are ready to cook the kebabs, pre-heat the grill to its highest setting
for at least 10 minutes and line the grill pan with foil. Remove the skewers from
their water bath, dry them in a tea towel, then brush them with oil to prevent
the pork from sticking. Thread 3 pieces of pork on to each skewer, keeping them
slightly spaced apart, and arrange the kebabs on a wire rack over the foil-lined
grill pan. Brush liberally with any remaining marinade and place under the grill,
about 3 inches (7.5 cm) from the heat. The kebabs will take 15-20 minutes to
cook, and you need to turn them and brush them with the remaining marinade
as they cook.
Serve with the sauce, garnished with wedges of lime.
SATAY KEBAB INGREDIENTS
1 LB 4 OZ (570 G) PORK TENDERLOIN, TRIMMED
6 OZ (175 G) SMOOTH PEANUT BUTTER
2 OZ (50 G) SALTED ROASTED PEANUTS
7 FL OZ (200 ML) TINNED COCONUT MILK
3 FREEZE-DRIED KAFFIR LIME LEAVES
1 STALK LEMON GRASS, ENDS TRIMMED OFF AND
TOUGH OUTER LAYER DISCARDED, ROUGHLY CHOPPED
1 MEDIUM RED CHILLI, DESEEDED
1 CLOVE GARLIC, PEELED
1/2 LEVEL TABLESPOON CHOPPED FRESH ROOT GINGER
JUICE 2 LIMES
GRATED ZEST 1 LIME
1 TABLESPOON THAI FISH SAUCE
3/4 OZ (20 G) FRESH CORIANDER
1 OZ (25 G) LIGHT BROWN SOFT SUGAR
LIME WEDGES, TO GARNISH
12 WOODEN SKEWERS AND OIL, FOR BRUSHING
THAI GREEN CURRY SHRIMP WITH NOODLES
A combination of the classic Green Curry with shrimp and noodles.
Puree shallots, lemongrass, garlic, ginger and cilantro stems in blender with curry
paste, sugar, salt, turmeric powder, and water until as smooth as possible (about
1 minute). Heat oil in a wide heavy pot over moderate heat until hot but not
smoking, then cook curry paste mixture, stirring frequently, until it just begins
to stick to bottom of pot (8 to 10 minutes). Add coconut milk and broth and
simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about 3 2/3 cups (8 to
10 minutes).
While sauce simmers, cook noodles in a pot of boiling salted water, uncovered,
stirring occasionally, until tender (4 to 6 minutes). Drain in a colander and rinse
under cold water. Drain noodles well and divide among 4 large bowls.
Add shrimp to sauce and simmer, stirring, until just cooked through. Remove
from heat and ladle over noodles.
GREEN CURRY INGREDIENTS
1 CUP CHOPPED SHALLOTS
2 STALKS FRESH LEMONGRASS (REMOVE OUTER LAYER,
THINLY SLICE LOWER 6 INCHES OF EACH STALK)
2 LARGE CLOVES GARLIC
1 TABLESPOON CHOPPED PEELED FRESH GINGER
1 TABLESPOON FINELY CHOPPED FRESH CILANTRO STEMS
1-2 TABLESPOONS GREEN CURRY PASTE
1 1/2 TEASPOONS SUGAR
3/4 TEASPOON SALT
1/2 TEASPOON TURMERIC POWDER
1/4 CUP WATER
1/4 CUP PLUS 2 TABLESPOONS VEGETABLE OIL
1 13 OZ CAN COCONUT MILK
1 3/4 CUPS CHICKEN BROTH
1 14 OZ PACKAGE WIDE RICE NOODLES
1 1/2 LB LARGE SHRIMP
THAI VEGETARIAN CURRY, “KAENG PHAK”
Truly vegetarian or vegan Thai recipes are rare (at least in Thailand). Not only
are fish sauce and shrimp paste signature ingredients of much Thai food, they are also present in such key ingredients as curry pastes. Thus a dedicated vegetarian must not only cook for themselves, but nearly always cook from scratch, which is at the very least a time consuming process.
An alternative to the approach given here, you could thin the sauce with 2 cups
of water or vegetable stock, and then simmer the vegetables in the sauce.
METHOD: Prepare the rice in an automatic rice cooker. In a wok heat the oil,
and then briefly saute the chilli, onions and ginger until aromatic. Stir the oil and
aromatics into the rice, stirring vigorously so that all the rice is coated with the
mixture. Add the stock and water, and cook to completion.
In a wok saute the aromatics, then add the rice to the wok, remove it from the
heat, stir until coated with oil, then add the stock and water, and return to the
heat. Once it boils, lower the heat to a gentle simmer, cover and leave undisturbed for 20 minutes.
While the rice is cooking prepare the curry:
In a saucepan over medium heat combine the ingredients and simmer for 5
minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste for flavour balance and adjust as necessary.
Transfer to a sauce boat or small bowl.
To complete the dish you need half a cup each of various vegetables to make a total of 3 cups. We suggest cauliflower (separate the florets, and slice the stalk thinly), asparagus, baby corn (cut lengthwise in half), bamboo shoots, Thai eggplants (or standard aubergine, cut into balls with a melon baller), and snow peas.
Place these in a bamboo steamer and steam until barely cooked (they should still
be firm and snap when bent).
Place the vegetables in separate serving bowls. Each diner then helps themselves to rice, a selection of vegetables, and the curry sauce. For flavour contrast the vegetables can also be eaten with any of the standard Thai dipping sauces (adjusted if necessary to vegetarian/vegan requirements).
VEGETARIAN CURRY INGREDIENTS
2 CUPS AROMATIC BROWN RICE
2 CUPS STOCK
2 CUPS WATER
2 TABLESPOONS PEANUT OIL
8 TEASPOONS SHALLOTS/PURPLE ONIONS, THINLY SLICED
4 TEASPOONS JALAPENOS, FINELY SLICED
4 TEASPOONS GINGER, FRESHLY GRATED
CURRY
GREEN CURRY SAUCE
2 TABLESPOONS GREEN CURRY PASTE
1 CUP COCONUT MILK
2 TABLESPOONS MAGGI SAUCE
1 TABLESPOON PALM SUGAR
1 TABLESPOON GARLIC, MINCED
1 TABLESPOON THAI CHILLI PEPPERS, FINELY SLICED
1 TABLESPOON GALANGAL, GRATED
1 TABLESPOON CORIANDER/CILANTRO, FINE CHOPPED
1 TABLESPOON LIME JUICE
1 TABLESPOON FRESH THAI BASIL LEAVES, FINE CHOPPED
1 TABLESPOON GREEN PEPPERCORNS
1 TABLESPOON THAI CHILLI IN OIL
2 KAFFIR LIME LEAVES, SHREDDED
THAI PEPPER POWDER TO TASTE.
Creative Theme Dinner
“Nikki Beach Full Moon-Party on the Beach”
At Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa, our Director of Food and Beverage, Ilias Tzanetoulakos has prepared his creative themed dinner “Nikki Beach Full Moon Party” for your next party in Hua Hin on Saturday, January 7 and February 8, 2007.
The Nikki Beach Full Moon Party will be organized on the white sandy beach, just a step away from Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa known as the best beach in Hua Hin. The themed dinner features a beautiful and romantic set up, and the grand international and fresh array of BBQ buffets. You will enjoy a spectacular bartender show, acrobatic fire shows and a fresh cool breeze of Hua Hin beach while you are having your dinner. The dinner price is only Baht 1990 per person including free flow of beer and wine.
The dinner-Nikki Beach Full Moon Party is also available for incentive group and company outings. You can be sure that Ilias and his professional team will make your party in Hua Hin a remarkable one. The Hua Hin Marriott, a 216-room resort and spa, is located on the beach with easy access to central Hua Hin. The resort has four restaurants and two bars, a Kids Club, swimming pool and Jacuzzi, tennis courts, fitness centre, and the Mandara Spa. Hua Hin Marriott attracts up-market leisure travellers, especially golfers who enjoy the world-class championship golf courses around the city.
Note: The price is subject to tax, service charge and reservation is required. For more information and reservations, call (66) 32 511 881 or visit www.marriottdining.com
COLLAGE OF CULTURES 2006
This cultural programme was organized by Webster Thailand Student Council and held at Hilton Resort & Spa. Like every year, this year was the biggest yet, and it was a big success. This was a very well organised event where one could actually see and feel the diversity of cultures from various countries such as Thailand, Canada, Malaysia, Korea, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Germany, Vietnam, U.S.A., and the list goes on.
The hosts took good care of the guests and made sure everyone was comfortable. From the beginning to the end everyone was well entertained. All the performances from the Musical Show to the dance shows all went smoothly and it was magnificently performed. Hence for those who had never seen a cultural dance performance from Burma or Vietnam or any other country, on this night one could actually experience all the cultural shows and felt like you were in a different world.
It was not only the music and dance performances that made this event a success, but also the cultural environment and all relished the taste of the delicious International Buffet. Even the Judges of the performances made the viewers feel that they were also one of the participants of this event, as they had costumes worn by Philippines and South Africa.
Last but not least Collage of Culture by Webster University was a fabulous event, which took a lot of effort and showed a myriad of diverse cultures in one night.
Thank You from Robert Tucker
On Sunday 3rd December 2006 I had a motorcycle accident outside the Victoria Bar and Georges Bar on the main Petchaburi Road. I would like to take this opportunity in the Observer to say thank you to the staff of both the above bars for their kind help and in looking after me while I waited for the ambulance. I would also like to thank all the staff at the San Paulo Hospital for all their excellence, and even though I cannot speak Thai they were so kind and helpful and willing to help in every way. It\'s a shame that the English NHS is not as good. Thank you all for all your help. It shows the Thai people are such a kind and caring people.
HEALTH Part 3
Spas and spa treatments
Our bodies should be treated like temples, so many say, and this month our health feature gives an insight into how the world famous spas in the Hua Hin area can give the outside of your temple a polish, while the recently opened Aardvark Health Villa can help sweep out the inside, with it's detoxification Programmes
Massage is by far the most popular treatment in spas, but there are an amazing
number of possibilities. Massage is the practice of applying structured pressure,
tension, motion, or vibration — manually or with mechanical aids — to the soft
tissues of the body, including muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments,
joints and lymphatic vessels, to achieve a beneficial response. A form of therapy,
massage can be applied to parts of the body or successively to the whole body,
to heal injury, relieve psychological stress, manage pain, and improve circulation.
Where massage is used for its physical and psychological benefits, it may be
termed “therapeutic massage therapy” or manipulative therapy.
There are well over 150 types of massage therapy. The most common ones in
the spas and massage establishments in Thailand are either Thai massage, oil (or Swedish massage) and foot massage, but in some of the more luxurious spas you may well find many other types such as Chinese Tui Na ,Zhi Ya and Tai Ji, Shiatsu and Soft Tissue Therapy.
THAI MASSAGE: Known in Thailand as Nuat phaen boran, which correctly
translates only as ancient massage or traditional massage, this form of massage
is also known as Thai ancient massage, traditional Thai massage, Thai yoga
massage, yoga massage, Thai classical massage, Thai bodywork, passive yoga or assisted yoga. It is usually soothing because of its emphasis on stretching and
loosening the body. Its roots go back far into history, originating in India based
on the Ayurveda, and then becoming popular in Thailand .
The receiver is put into many yoga like positions during the course of the
massage. In the northern style there are a lot of stretching movements unlike the
southern style where pressure is emphasised. It was believed that the massage art was brought over to Thailand by Shivago Komarpaj (Jivaka Kumarabhacca), a contemporary of Buddha almost about 2500 years ago.
The massage recipient changes into pajamas and lies on a mat or firm mattress on the floor. (It can be done solo or in a group of a dozen or so patients in the same large room). The massage giver leans on the recipient's body using hands and forearms to apply firm rhythmic pressure to almost every part of the taker's body.
The massage generally follows the Sen lines on the body-somewhat analogous to Chinese Meridians and Indian nadis. In some gestures, legs and feet of the giver are used to fixate the body or limbs of the recipient. In other gestures, hands fixate the body, while the feet do the massaging action. Usually no oil is applied. A full course of Thai massage typically lasts two hours or more, and includes pulling fingers, toes, ears etc., cracking the knuckles, walking on the recipient's back, arching the recipient's back in a rolling action etc.
There is a standard procedure and rhythm to the massage. Sometimes in a large group massage, the practitioners do the procedures in unison.
SWEDISH MASSAGE: This style utilizes long, flowing strokes, often but not necessarily in the direction of the heart. Swedish massage is designed to increase circulation and blood flow. There are six basic strokes: effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement, compression and vibration. Oil, cream, or lotion is applied on the skin to reduce friction and allow smooth strokes. This style of massage is generally attributed to the Swedish fencing master and gymnastics teacher Pehr Henrik Ling (1776-1839). However, it was in fact the Dutch practitioner Johan Georg Mezger (1838- 1909) who adopted the French names to denote the basic strokes under which he systemized massage as we know it today, as Swedish or classic massage. Somehow, the term Swedish Movement System was transposed to Swedish Massage System sometime during the second half of the 19th century. Ling's system was the Swedish Movement
System or Swedish Gymnastic Movement System. This may be how he has become incorrectly associated for so long with Swedish massage. In Sweden , the term “Swedish massage” is not used.
FOOT OR SOLE MASSAGE: Foot massage, as practiced by the Chinese is performed in the context of chi, in that each spot on the sole of the foot corresponds to an internal organ, and the applied therapy is healing to one's overall well being. The theory supposes that an ailment of an internal organ will be associated with the nerve ending on the sole of the foot. Before the massage, the patient's feet are soaked for about ten minutes in a foot bath, typically a dark coloured solution of hot water and Chinese herbs. The massage therapist uses liberal amounts of medicated cream, to moisturize the foot and to provide lubrication. The knuckles on the therapist's hand are usually used to provide a hard and smooth implement for the massage. As pressure is applied to the sole, theory holds that a healthy patient should not feel any strong pain. Painful spots, reflexologists believe, reflect illnesses of other parts of the body. The practitioner rubs and massages the painful spots to break down rough spots and accumulated crystals and increase circulation. The ailments are healed when the sore spots of the sole are treated and removed by massage. Based on this theory, some shoe liners are made with pressure points to stimulate the soles of the feet to promote better health of the overall body. The nature of these “crystals” has yet to be elucidated or demonstrated scientifically. Regardless of the actual correlation of reflexology to internal organs, many enjoy it for the mix of stimulation and relaxation.
FACIALS: A facial is a cosmetic treatment of the face, commonly involving a
variety of skin treatments, grooming steps and deep cleansing of the face by
various means including: steam, exfoliation, extraction, creams, lotions, masks,
peels, and massage.
AROMATHERAPY:Aromatherapy, commonly associated with complementary
and alternative medicine ( CAM ), is the use of volatile liquid plant materials,
known as essential oils (EOs), and other aromatic compounds from plants to
affect someone's mood or health.
HYDROTHERAPY: Hydrotherapy, formerly called hydropathy, is probably the
oldest form of medical treatment. It involves the use of water for soothing pains
and treating diseases.
Its use has been recorded as early as ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman
civilizations. Egyptian royalty bathed with essential oils and flowers, while
Romans had communal public baths for their citizens. It has been long accepted
that hot water springs can improve health by increasing circulation. Hippocrates
prescribed bathing in spring water for sickness. A Dominican monk, Sebastian
Kneipp again revived it, during the 19th century. His book My Water Cure in
1889 was published and translated into many languages. The use of water to treat rheumatic diseases has a long history. Today, hydrotherapy is used to treat arthritis, burns, spasticity, ankylosing spondylitis, musculoskeletal disorders, spinal cord injuries, and stroke patients with paralysis. It is also used to treat orthopedic and neurological conditions in dogs and horses, and to improve fitness.
ACUPUNCTURE: Acupuncture is a technique of inserting and manipulating
needles into “acupuncture points” on the body. According to acupunctural teachings this will restore health and well-being, and is particularly good at treating pain.
The definition and characterization of these points is standardized by the World
Health Organization. Acupuncture is thought to have originated in China and is
most commonly associated with Traditional Chinese medicine. Other types of
acupuncture (Japanese, Korean, and classical Chinese acupuncture) are practiced and taught throughout the world.
These days, more and more people are recognising the health benefits of holistic therapies. In Thailand these therapies have been used for centuries to heal, sooth and release blocked energy to create well being. It is a way of life, as
natural as breathing. Hua Hin is fast becoming the country's premium spa resort,
since the opening of the celebrity's favourite Chiva Som Luxury Health Resort in 1995. The town, nestled between sea and mountains has many luxury brand name hotels which incorporate spas, as well as independent spas within easy access of hotels and guest houses. You could not ask for a better place to pamper yourself, not to mention the benefits to your overall health.
DETOXIFICATION
Aardvark Health Villa is a recently opened boutique beach resort, with both a
distinctive design and a new concept. The Villa is only 100m from the tranquil
Phu Noi Beach , located in the Khao Sam Roi Yot Marine National Park , where
you can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, golf, boat rides and kayaking, and some of
the best seafood in Thailand ! The unique aspect of the Villa is it's Detoxification
programmes, and we list the benefits and some of the details below.
It is believed that 90 per cent of all diseases are caused by toxic colons. People
with high levels of toxin frequently suffer from the following symptoms,
among other more serious diseases including colon cancer:
• Intestinal problems such as constipation, indigestion, stomach bloat and
bad breath;
• Weak immune system, which cause cold, influenza, cancer, cardiovascular
disease, arthritis and allergies and skin problems;
• Mental disorders including depression, insomnia and other forms of stress;
• Low energy;
• Headaches;
• Weight gain or unnecessary weight loss.
We are surrounded by toxins in our modern environment (e.g. smoking neighbours, air pollution) and through our food consumption. Refined foods such as refined rice, wheat, pasta, as well as other acid-forming foods such as meat and dairy products, in particular, tend to stick in the intestines and may not be removed through everyday bowel movements. Not only these foods build up toxic layers in colon walls, they also change the lymph fluid from clear to watery to thick mucus, making the body's cleansing system unable to eliminate toxins. When the body is unable to properly eliminate toxins, they accumulate inside the colon for a long time and eventually reabsorbed into the blood and poisoning the entire system and further weaken the cleansing organs such as colon, kidney and liver. Through practicing cleansing diet (rich in alkaline-forming foods) coupled with colon irrigation offered in the Detox Programme, toxins are removed from colons and your body's PH level regains balance. Simply put, fasting or cleansing diet gives your digestive system a holiday and rest. When your cleansing or eliminative organs do not have to work to digest food, they begin their own cleansing process, getting rid of damaged and dead tissues and cells, etc. Your body's cleansing system works better and faster after having been given a rest and having been removed of the toxic waste. This provides an essential basis for an enhanced general well being.
Here are some of the immediate and long run benefits of detox:
• Better functioning body's cleansing (or eliminative) organs;
• Stronger immunity against diseases such as cold, influenza, cancer, cardiovascular
disease, arthritis and allergies;
• Clearer mind and greater alertness;
• Radiant skin;
• Greater awareness on food and your body, which leads to better health habits
and closer-to-ideal weight;
• Generally enhanced well being (you just feel better than ever before!)
Aardvark offer Detox Programmes through fasting or cleansing diet, coupled with
colon irrigation, which has been proven effective to tackle the above common
modern health problems.
The Detox Programme features the following:
• A variety of options to adjust to individual needs;
• Set in a relaxing, clean and tranquil environment of the Villa, located in the
beautiful nature of the Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park;
• Programme guided in English or Japanese, and assisted by staff of the Villa;
• Safe and easy ‘do-it-yourself' colon irrigation;
• Use herbal formulas and fibre supplements, which have been proven effective
for removing accumulated wastes from the colon
• Additional services such as massages and herbal steam offered at reasonable
prices.
They also offer health food and other services, such as various types of massages,
herbal steam, and referral services for clinical colon irrigation sessions at a hospital
in Hua Hin at reasonable prices, which would make your stay more comfortable
and your cleansing efforts more effective.
Quite simply, the less workload your digestive system is given, the more effective
its natural cleansing function works. Thus, your cleansing effort, per given period
is likely to be more effective if you are able to fast (i.e. little or no intake of solid
food that requires digestion).
However, as described earlier, your cleansing effort to remove the accumulated
toxin during the past decades needs to be repeated regularly every 2-4 months for a while until the toxic level goes down significantly, and every 6 months afterwards, depending on the daily dietary habits of the individuals. Thus, a ‘one-shot' strict fasting of 3 days wouldn't do—unfortunately. They recommend that you start with a 2-meal-a-day cleansing diet if you are trying out a cleansing programme for the first time. This programme allows you to eat alkaline-forming, healthful food (primarily raw vegetables and fruit for lunch and dinner. Thus it is reasonably easy to stick to for the first timers as well as for you to repeat after going home. Our herbal cleansing shakes and the herbal supplements are effective enough to give a good start for your cleansing process while still eating some solid food. If you can, it is recommended that you stay on this diet as long as you can (2-3 weeks is recommended, but only if you feel comfortable!) By using the period of no or little food intake and intake of cleansing herbal supplements, they recommend exercising colon irrigation or colon hydrotherapy, which physically removes toxic waste in your colons with water. Colonic
irrigation also helps reduce ‘cleansing reaction' one experiences during the detox
programmes.
How hard or easy the Programme is very much depends on an individual. Generally speaking, the worse your usual health/dietary habits (e.g. smoking and/or drinking
heavily; ‘refined food' overload) the harder the fasting experience. Smokers seem
to frequently experience severe headaches and nausea during fasting and colon
cleansing. When the toxin level is high, the body experiences difficulties letting
it go. Others experience strong hunger and a lack of energy particularly during
the first few days. However, you may adjust the frequency of intake of fruit-based
drinks, herbal tea, and ‘snack' some dried figs and dates, which help reduce the
sense of hunger and compensates for the loss of energy while on the Programme. Most people experience a mild ‘cleansing reaction' particularly during the first 2-3 days, which include the following: headaches, fatigue, dizziness, blemishes, diarrhoea, nausea, muscular and/or abdominal discomfort. These symptoms show that your body is being detoxified - so as long as they are mild enough to tolerate, there is little to worry about. The symptoms generally phase out from 4th day onwards.
Practicing colonic irrigation helps reduce these reactions by physically removing
the toxins from your colon. Massage therapy and herbal steam or warm bath also
helps ease the discomfort as well as fastens the detox process by help eliminate
toxins through opening the pores of your skin.
The Detox Programme is NOT recommended for pregnant or lactating women and children under age 18. It is recommended that women start a Detox Programme after the menstruation period is over. If you have any other concerns (i.e. if any of the health conditions or medical history listed on the Registration Form applies to you), please consult your physician prior to enrolment in the Programme. In general, increasing the ‘raw food' proportion of your daily diet helps your body to cleanse every day and also to control your weight. A workable approach is to eat a ‘fruit and salad diet' for breakfast and lunch, 4 days a week, (and enjoy whatever you feel like for dinners and over the weekends. Why not take this opportunity to make a small positive change to your daily dietary habits?
Here are some of the more easier ‘cleansing habits' suggestions you may decide to practice daily, which might also help you maintain desirable weight:
• Drink lots of purified water, particularly in the morning;
• Increase raw food content in your daily diet (but not more sashimi and sushi!);
• Increase vegetables and fruit in your daily diet (don't mix them in one meal);
• Chew your food well;
• Engage in regular exercises of your choice (exercise that you actually enjoy!);
• Find ways to unwind everyday for a better sleep (e.g. warm bath with a few
drops of aromatherapy oil, meditation, relaxing music and conversation with your
loved ones - and preferably less reliance on alcoholic drinks).
More details about Aardvark Health Villa can be found on their website
www.aardvarkhealthvilla.com/ and by email on info@aardvarkhealthvilla.com .
CHIVA-SOM
73/4 PETCHKASEM RD, HUA HIN,
PRACHUAB-KHIRIKHAN
DUSIT RESORT DEVARANA SPA
1349 PETCHKASEM ROAD, CHA-AM, PETCHBURI
TEL: +66 (0) 3244 2494
EVASON HUA HIN & SIX SENSES SPA
9 MOO 3 PAKNAMPRAN BEACH, PRANBURI,
PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN
TEL: +66 (0) 32632 111, +66 (0) 32 631 603
ANANTARA RESORT HUA HIN
43/1 PHETKASEM BEACH ROAD, HUA HIN 77110
TEL: +66 (0) 3252 0250
HILTON HUA HIN RESORT & SPA
33 NARESDAMRI ROAD, HUA HIN,
TEL: +66 (0) 3253 8999
HUA HIN MARRIOTT RESORT & SPA
107/1 PHETKASEM BEACH ROAD, HUA HIN.
TEL: +66 (0) 3251 1881
AARDVARK HEALTH VILLA
MOO 4, PHU NOI, KHAO SAM ROI YOT NATIONAL
PARK, PRANBURI,
PRACHUAPKIRIKHAN 77120, THAILAND
TELEPHONE: +6681 634 8652
FAX: +6632 559101
CASTAWAY
A S OUR LAST CASTAWAY SAILS OFF INTO THE DISTANCE WISTFULLY LOOKING BACK ON THREE YEARS SPENT ON DOLPHIN ISLAND A NEW CASTAWAY IS BEING HOISTED ONTO THE EMPTY BEACH WONDERING WHAT HE HAS LET HIMSELF I FOR . WHAT WERE HIS SURVIVAL CHOICES ... HERE ARE HIS ANSWERS .....
Once a year you are allowed one visitor, for one day only. In the 3 years you can choose one family member (or close friend), 1 living famous person, and one historical figure (alive for their visit!).
A) FAMILY/FRIEND: To say Ghan my wife is the obvious choice so I think other half's should be excluded form this category. So on that basis my choice would be Mick Wittering the custom club maker here in Hua Hin. Since moving to Hua Hin I have made a good friendship with Mick and would desperately miss the banter that goes on between us. When I made friends with someone younger, taller, slimmer and better looking, well I was bound to come in for some stick.
B) FAMOUS LIVING: Billy Connolly, one of the funniest men alive, maybe he
could teach me how to tell one of his stories and make it sound remotely funny.
C) HISTORICAL FIGURE: Peter Ustinov, what an amazing life this man had
and what a fantastic out look on life, friend to stars and world leaders alike, I
would love to just sit there and listen to all the stories he could tell, I hope there
is another life because this one was far too short for him and everything he could
have achieved.
You can take five music CDs with you, but no box sets, compilations or greatest hits. Double/triple albums count as one choice.
(A) Sogno, Andrea Bocelli, when I listen to this CD I could leave the Island and
drift away to anywhere in the world, just wish I could sing along.
(B) Carmine Meo, Emma Shapplin, I came across this CD by accident a few years ago and love it for all the same reasons as above.
(C) Bat Out Of Hell, Meat Loaf. This one you can sing along with as loud as you like with no one to hear you.
(D) New Boots and Panties, Ian Dury and the Blockheads. When ever the depression of being stuck on the Island get's to me I would just have to play this CD to cheer me up.
(E) Love Songs, Nat King Cole. His velvet voice would be the perfect thing to listen too as you drift off to sleep after another hard day on the island.
3. You can take five books as well as one religious book (i.e. Bible). A choice can be a ‘Complete Works of...'..
(A) The Moon's a Balloon by David Niven. The funniest autobiography I have ever read.
(B) It's Not About The Bike by Lance Armstrong. Whenever I think thing's are hard on the Island I would only have to read this book to see just how pathetic I was being.This man was so driven for the ultimate survival, life,
and then to go on and achieve what he has is awe inspiring.
(C) Survival Guide by Ray Mears. Otherwise I would end up eating coconuts all the time, because I haven't got a clue on what I can eat without killing myself.
(D) Yoga for fat old beginners (Mick you don't need it mate) see question 8.
(E) A book of famous quotations. I love one liners and put down's. Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill, Joan Rivers are famous for this. Two of my favourites and I don't know who said them are :- There are two things wrong with that girl, her Face! And at the age of 15 I could not believe how stupid my Father was, by the age of 25 I could not believe how much my Father had learnt in 10 years.
4. You can also take five movies on DVD (one box set allowed).
(A) Zulu, the original with Michael Caine. I saw this film when I was about 10
years old and still love it today, the native topless dancing girls at the beginning
made a big impression, which is a fascination that's never left me, funny that!
And I still feel sorry for the poor Zulu whose name was Will, every time they
attacked the soldiers were told to fire at him.
(B) One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest with Jack Nickelson. When ever I start to
go crazy being on my own all the time it would be nice to be in the company of
some other crazy's.
(C) Eddy Izzard live in concert. I love his slightly off the wall humour, he looks at life from a completely different angle to most people. I saw his live show in Southend (I know “ Essex ” boy) and cried with laughter.
(D) An extreme skiing DVD. I think I am a good skier until I watch these guy's. I spend the whole time shouting at the TV, No! No! Maybe you have to be a skier to understand just how insane and talented these guy's are.
(E) Moto GP featuring Valentino Rossi. Having been a born again biker (boys and toys, all the gear no idea kind of thing) and done a few track day's my comments in the last answer apply to this as well. But when I needed a buzz on the island I could watch this then day dream of being Rossi the greatest motorcycle racer in history.
5. You can take five items that will make your stay more enjoyable. Communication devices are not available or practical. Please note boats and ships can not disembark from the island.
(A): Hunting rifle and ammo. Again a bit of boys and
toys here but on a need to eat basis, I have never killed
my own food before.
At a party at my wife's family home, they had a live pig in a cage left out all day in the sun. I was hosing it down and giving it water, which her family thought was
hilarious as it would be killed that night, later that night could I eat it, could I hell.
(B): Fishing Rod. Again on the need to eat basis and also to try and fathom
out why people fish? I tried it once and within 30 minutes would have welcomed
death. I had eaten a whole days supply of packed lunches and was bored bored
bored. I can only think all fishermen are Arsenal supporters looking for excitement. Sitting there with there little rod's dangling in the water, reading Arsene Wenger's autobiography to make their day really go with a buzz. As I have stated I hate West Ham United more than Arsenal, but at least they CAN be exciting at times.
(C): Swiss army knife with every possible attachment, even those that you haven't got a clue what to do with, I could spend hours trying to work out what they are there for, I am sure they do it on purpose, adding things that can never be used for anything just to keep rival knife makers on there toe's.
(D): My dumb bells I could sit there watching them for hours, as I do now, and
feel so much better, it's a bit like paying a direct debit for a gym membership and
never going, every month you look at your bank statement and feel fitter for just
being a member and you never cancel it because next month you know the fitness routine is starting, er yes next month as I've been a bit busy again this month but next month without question!!
(E): My golf driver and a limitless supply of balls. Only really started to play golf
seriously this year and got conned into buying a new set of “custom made KZG
clubs” by yes you know who!! But now the driver is finally starting to work it is
almost orgasmic to see that ball fly true and straight 250 yards into the trees or
the water.
6. You are allowed to take one pet with you.
Presuming a playboy bunny is not a pet, a Jack Russell dog, I used to own one in
England hard as nails that dog, could get run over by a car, kicked by the horse
and just shake its self off and carry on like nothing had happened. Never backed
out of a fight no matter how big the other dog was, but the best thing about that
dog was his ability to catch and kill rat's. I hate rats and an Island free of rats would suit me down to the ground.
7. Please tell us the three things or people that you think you would miss the least during your stay.
(A): Hua Hin dogs. I have been coming to Hua Hin for around 4 years now
and is it me or has the dog population got totally out of control.
(B): Thai drivers, I have had to stop getting wound up and just laugh now at the total lack of any kind of road sense or self preservation. But hey their happy, they just laugh and wave goodbye after you have almost ground them into the tarmac.
(C): The advertisements on Surf FM radio. Now don't get me wrong
I think a local radio station is great and full respect to the guy's who put
there rear on the line each day. But the advertisements make me cringe every time I hear them. Maybe it's a case of reverse psychology, because believe me I do remember those adverts.
8. Finally, you must set yourself an objective to be achieved within your
three-year stay, something that you have always wanted to do (within the
constraints of being on the island of course!).
Yoga, now I have always found the idea of yoga as an exercise a bit of a joke, it's a man kinda thing, you know lift a few weights, go for a run yes but sit there with your leg over your head trying not to fart has never struck me as exercise, a spectator sport possibly. It struck me the other day whilst putting my socks on and hearing this noise like an animal in pain and realising it was coming from me, that a little stretching over the years wouldn't have gone a miss. OK if I am honest and want to know the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth, it was when my 23 year old wife came running over at hearing the
said noise and said “here let me put them on for you. “
EPILOGUE
Hmmmmm! How can we sum up this Castaway, let us examine the evidence.......
A West Ham geeezer who is a qualified ski instructor, but living in Thailand! What contradictions!
A boy at heart because he is into his mates, loves gadgets, pretends to ‘pump iron' and thinks only nancies do yoga. Although there is an admiration for ‘catty' humour and put downs, he is obviously thrilled with his recent marriage and yearns for a Playboy Bunny (or Zulu nudie). We are starting to get a picture here. Three smoochie luvvie CD's, but the boy must get out in Bat out of Hell and the smart humour with Ian Dury and the Blockheads. And the evidence mounts. He likes tough little Jack Russells that would ‘do the business' on a rat, but is exasperated by the lack of responsibility of dog owners.
For those of you who know Grahame we are sure you cannot wait to meet him to
discuss gadgets, speed and the lack of downhill skiing in Hua Hin (Please Note:
Jamaica had/has a bobsleigh team).
Yes, wind him up a little, but don't be too hard on him because we might be asking you to spend three years on Dolphin Island.
We are starting to build up a list of people willing to become a Castaway so get
your applications in quickly.
For those wishing to spend three years on Dolphin Island please contact the
Observer offices in person or via e-mail to: design@observergroup.net
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