Who is Gonzo Part 1?

BT recently sponsored Gonzo to join our team without knowing what he's capable of. Poor Ben is stuck driving him around from city to city this fall promoting BT. We hooked them up with gear, a truck, and a disgusting amount of giveaways.

All you have to do is locate Gonzo to win...

Introducing Gonzo the BT Gorilla

Introducing Gonzo the BT Gorilla coming to a campus near you. Please visit our website to find out where Gonzo is and the daily prizes. http:beachtravellers.com

Massage and the Art of Relaxation in Thailand

There is no escaping the massage in Thailand.  And really, why would you want to? From Bangkok to Krabi, from Phi Phi to Chiang Rai, on the beach and in spas and even on the side of the road, this traveler has tried them all.

There are ample differnt types of massage avaliable in The Land of Smiles and over the last few months I have made it a personal mission to try them all. And because around the country there is a considerable variation from region to region and therefore no single routine, this experiment was all the more fun.

Thai Massage - A traditional massage technique used all over Thailand combining deep massage and stretching. 

 

Ones first experience with a Thai Massage may not be what they think. Us Westerners have a concept of massage that does not exactly mesh with what one will experience in a Thai massage. However, after some twisting, pounding, slapping, stretching, light punching and pulling and a few yoga-like positions one will have been converted and the addiction will  have begun. Most Thai Massages will cost between 150-400B and run between 1-2hrs.

Oil Massage - After a long hot day on the beach and maybe a few too many rays from the shining sun, a long soft Oil Massage is just the treat your body needs. 

Similar to a Thai Massage there is the standard rhythmic pressing and stretching of the entire body; however the addition of sencent essential oils to the mix makes this massage pure heaven. Perfect for those who maybe more of a pinkish hue and not so much the golden brown they had hoped  for.  Oil massages will run between 200-400B for an hour.

Herbal Massage -  Again a variation of the traditional Thai massage with a less aggressive approach and the use of heated herbal ball compresses this massage gives an all over sense of relaxation and rejuvenation. Herbal Massages cost between 200-500B per hour

Foot Massage - A classic. Who feet don't ache after walking for days in flip flops, carrying heavy packs into and out of buses, boats, trains, over rocks and beaches and maybe, even through jungles (it happens). The theory is simple but the practice is far more complex as a result of each part of the foot being linked to another, often distant, part of the body, including not just muscles but also to the vital organs.  A good foot massage will erase that stomach ache, head ache, and even the dreaded hangover. Foot Massages will cost about 150-250B per hour. Usually they end with the short BONUS leg, shoulder and arm massage.

Head, Back and Shoulder Massage - Its just what it says. An hour of sheer relaxation focused on the upper body. Starting with a short foot and leg massage you will soon have all the tension relieved from your upper body and you can ask your masseuse to target trouble spots (those backpack straps & hard hostel pillows can cause wicked kinks sometimes). Then the party really gets going when you flip over and have the most amazing head massage you will ever know. Who would have thought that tugging on your hair and smacking your forehead would feel so fantastic. HBS Massages will cost about 150-300B per hour.

Face Massage - If I must suggest just one massage to try (but I do suggest you try them all!) this is it. A hour of hot cloths, herbs, cold cucumber strips and temple pressure takes any pain, stress, thought or worry floating away. With soft but firm fingers all tension is erased and your face will be aglow when all said and done. A Face Massages will cost between 200-500B for between 50 - 60 minutes.

Travel Reads

Over the last four months I have had ample time (on buses, planes, trains, boats, beaches, in hammocks, bungalows and bamboo huts) to kick back and enjoy and become engrossed in the pages of a good book. I took with me two to being with but over the days, weeks and months that two has turned into the following:

• Generation A - Douglas Coupland
• On The Road - Jack Kerouac
• Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrand
• Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson
• Girl Who Played With Fire - Stieg Larsson
• Catcher in the Rye - JD Salanger
• Eating Animals - Jonathan Safran Foer
• Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
• Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert M. Pirsig
• The Triple Gem: An Introduction to Buddhism - Gerald Rosco

Some were interesting, some not so much. Some have been inspiring, others have been eye opening. Some of them were funny, some made me cry.

All in all, they are all now on my recommeded reading list.

UPDATE!

Well hello there! Its been AGES since I was able to log on and type up a few words. Time and desire and access to the interweb have kept me away from the blog. Its been fantastic being "off the grid" unaware of what is going on at home and just following where the road takes me.

These last 3 months have been unreal and I cant want to share all my crazy adventures once I am back in Vancouver all settled back in at home.

Since I left Africa on July 12 loads has happened:

• I have made my way through Southern Thailand, rawked it out at the Full Moon Party, sunned myself on numerous beaches and made some incredible new friends.
• I have seen the Temples of Angkor and the Killing Fields of Cambodia.
• I have crossed the street successfully in the busteling city of Saigon.
• I have biked through the rain storms of the Mekong Delta.
• I have night bussed it from the sleepy town of Mui Ne to the beach community of Nha Trang - And made it here alive.
• I have well over 10Gigs of photos to sort through and edit, post and share.
• I have pages and pages of journalying to pour over and re-write.

I still have a month to go, lots more to see and do and I cannot wait to see where the next adveture lurkes.

Until then ... CAIO!