Thai Massage Exploration

  Chiang Mai, Thailand
Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Sawahdee krap,

Ugne and I arrived in Chiang Mai via overnight train (very cool)on Saturday. Eventhough you can sleep on the train it wasn't restful sleep. So we staggered around town for most of the day until we found a nice guest house. We picked up a place for a month inside the moat near the fruit market. The room is simple, newer and half the price we paid in Koh Sumui for a week or the same as three nights in Bangkok. The other exciting part is that we are staying put for a whole month after so much moving around.

Chiang Mai is the center of Thai Massage. There are dozens of schools and half a dozen masters to study with. Prior to arrival we looked at schools that we could find online and through friends, thank you Kate and John. Being here, we have met other massage therapist who are studying in small groups with different masters. So we are getting to sample and sit in on classes that way until we decide with whom to study

On Monday morning we each had an amazing massage at Lek Cheya (Nerve Touch). The next day went the this little old ladies place who is the grandmother of Thai Massage. Another couple great massages from two of her students who know the massage scene here.

By that evening we are sitting in on a small group class from a blind Thai Massage Master. Unreal! Ugne is mostly decided on this master who lives outside of town, Pichette that requires a one month commitment. So through happenstance we are going up there tomorrow with some of his students.

Doi Suthep

This afternoon we took the scooter a little ways out of town to a Wat(temple) to get info on meditation retreats. The Temple was beautiful and filled with tourists and I couldn't find the people there meditating. I found a bouldering wall and a guy who takes people climbing for the day.

Ugne in Jungle

Love,
Brandon