Tis the Season

I have always enjoyed the holidays and this time of year. My birthday is Christmas Eve and that probably plays a part in it. I enjoy the sentiment of giving and receiving cards and gifts. I love baking and enjoying tourtiere (French Canadian meat pie) with my family, especially while listening to Neil Diamond's The Christmas Album. Hearing him sing "O Holy Night" gives me chills.

The other day while I was out shovelling a boatload of snow in -7°C temps (before windchill), my neighbour made a comment about how the only white stuff he wants to see is some sand on a beach, somewhere hot. It's common for Canadians to escape to a hotter climate in the Winter. I didn't spend a Christmas away from home until the age of 24 when I moved to Japan. It wasn't tropical but there wasn't any snow to shovel.

While living overseas, I tried to make a trip home to Canada for the holidays, but for my 28th birthday, my friend Kate and I planned a trip to Thailand. We not only wanted to escape the cold, but also Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You blasting from every department store in Japan.

We made reservations at a fairly new resort called "Health Oasis" in Koh Samui, where they had morning yoga on the beach, cooking classes, detox and cleanses.

Kate, Pountong and myself

The main purpose of our trip to the Oasis was to study Thai massage. Our instructor was Pountong Suwanatrai, a lovely woman with very limited English. She provided some hand-outs so we would understand what the course entailed. We learned that a full Thai massage generally takes three hours but two hours is adequate.

During the week, Pountong took us through the 16 positions of a full body massage. She would practice on each of us while the other took photos, documenting the step by step process. The movements are both slow and methodical.



The massage begins with the feet as there are numerous pressure points; a stepping board to the rest of the body (pardon the pun).

My body was covered in ink. I had dots and numbers all over so I wouldn't forget when and where to apply pressure.












After massaging both my neck and head, my instructor gave me a karate chop on the head which felt surprisingly good.





To pass the course, we had to give Pountong a complete, full body massage. Shortly after I began massaging her, she fell asleep. I became worried how she could grade me if she wasn't awake. My frantic whispering to Kate woke her, and in her limited English she explained that falling asleep was a compliment. It proves the client is relaxed and enjoying the massage. Reassured, I continued the massage and Pountong dozed off again. She awoke smiling when I finished, and said I passed.

At the end of the week, both Kate and I were
rewarded with our certificates.

We still had ample time to enjoy ourselves after class each day. Our bungalow was steps to the beach and we spent a lot of time swimming and working on our tans. The serene setting allowed us to read books, talk with other guests and walk the beach. We visited the steam room most nights and felt both relaxed and rested. 

On my birthday, we went for a turkey dinner at a nearby restaurant. The turkey was a surprise as we were so accustomed to eating local Thai fare. Kate informed the staff from the Health Oasis that it was my birthday and they were kind enough to send over a birthday cake. We met a few expats and had fun celebrating the holidays with them.

Spending my birthday and Christmas in a foreign country was certainly different. There was no sign of Santa Claus, no snow and no presents under a tree. No midnight mass, eggnog or caroling. I have to admit that being in the sun, soaking up the heat, and swimming in the ocean were fair compensation to missing out on the holiday I would have spent back at home. 

Many people ask if I still utilize the massage skills I learned in Thailand. When I first got back to Japan, a few of my friends were lucky recipients. However, I don't utilize it as much as I should and feel my skills are rusty. My nephew Drew and my dog Kirby reap the benefits these days. Drew tends to kick me a bit more as his feet are sensitive. There's no chance of him falling asleep like my instructor!

Kirby is the perfect massage client

Now that I've got the fireplace going as the cold wind blows outside, shortbread cookies baking in the oven, Grandma Brooks' ceramic tree lit, and Love Actually playing on t.v., I feel thankful to be home in Canada and celebrating the holiday in a traditional setting. I don't care much for the commercialism surrounding Christmas, but the general spirit around the holidays is what I've come to love and appreciate. Escape to a warmer climate if you must, but for me there's nothing quite like a Canadian Christmas.



Wishing a safe and happy holiday to each one of my readers, wherever you may be celebrating. Until 2017...

~MT