Relax - The one about turtle island

Relax

Features

Article

JOANNE'S JOURNEYS: day 5
Straits Times Online Editor Joanne Lee shares about her 'grueling' one-week detox holiday in Koh Samui in this exclusive blog feature.

I AWOKE much happier today.

Managed to have a good night of sleep so maybe my body is getting used to the initial shock of the detox programme. Then again, it might be because I'm starting to feel a little slimmer around the mid-section too. There's nothing like some feel-thin vibes to set a girl off on a good footing in the morning.

The morning was spent just like the other mornings: Kicking off with a detox massage to get the lymphatic system flowing without "blockages". This the masseuses achieve by pressing the tips of their fingers really hard and deep into various points on your abdomen - not the most soothing of massages, but it does the job in getting the insides loosened up.

Much smilier today!
[Photo: Joanne Lee]

Off for my morning sessions.
[Photo: Joanne Lee]

It hurts like hell but I'm getting used to it - along with the post-massage colonic hydrotherapy session. After three full days of (almost) fasting full-on, the hydrotherapy is beginning to rate a little lower on the discomfort scale. Still, I have to chant "just four more, just four more" to get me through the hour, lying there getting my insides flushed out.

Taunting me with Thai-style shrimp ceviche.
[Photo: Joanne Lee]

After a quick lunch (more veggie broth for me), we get set for a special afternoon. Claire Bostock, the Executive Director of Absolute Sanctuary (http://absolutesanctuary.com) has arranged for an island trip just for us.

My sister, Little Miss Triathlon, has been itching to do something active and Claire thought she might like to do some rock-climbing. So Claire wrangled us an invitation to nearby island Koh Som (http://www.kohsomparadise.com/), which is currently being developed into a villa resort by The Shores, a private island luxury resort developer.

Our hosts for the afternoon were Santos Asano, The Shores' marketing director, and Jason Bergerson, its operations director.

Our hosts at Koh Som.
[Photo: Janice Lee Fang]

Soaking up some sun on the private island.
[Photo: Joanne Lee]

The duo walked us around the private island on the north coast of Koh Samui - within eye's sight of award-winning luxury spa resort The Renaissance - before asking if we wanted to swim a short distance to the neighbouring Turtle Island to climb some rocks.

Since it wasn't really my thing, I've asked Janice to take over and describe her experience for the more actively-inclined out there.

"To many, the thought of sitting by the pool all day, every day, sipping cold drinks and reading in the quiet, might sound like paradise. But to me, too much of a good thing can be bad sometimes and by Day Five, I was going slightly stir crazy sitting around and relaxing. I needed to get out there, right now.

My mind yearned some outdoor stimulation and my legs itched for a good run around. I obviously needed the adrenalin rush and craved some adventure. So when Claire suggested a little trip out to a nearby island for some exploring, I was well up for it.

As soon as my feet touched the sand at Bang Rak beach, I knew I was in the right place. My sister walked ahead with our guides, doing her journalist thing asking all sorts of questions. I hung back, took in the sounds of the waves rolling gently onto the shore and took in probably one of the largest breaths of my life.

This is how I detox.
[Photo: Janice Lee Fang]

I waved at a couple soaking themselves in the sea nearby. They may have picked a strange spot to take a dip (right between several docked longtail boats), but they sure looked like they were having a good afternoon.

I smiled when they waved back.
[Photo: Janice Lee Fang]

Not many people get the chance to visit a private island before it’s even launched to the public, so spending an afternoon on Koh Som was just what the doctor ordered. Chetz got a chance to read somewhere other than the pool and I got to let my legs go bonkers for a day.

Boy, was I excited!

Who wants to climb the turtle head? I do!
[Photo: Joanne Lee]

Jason had suggested we take a kayak out but I was all set to swim across to the island so I set off running in that direction. The boys were a sport and came after me, even though they’d mentioned something about getting back to the office early. Unbeknownst to me, the water between Koh Som and Turtle Island was full of rock so we spent a good 25 minutes wading and negotiating the boulders. Both boys, bless them, were slip-sliding around on the slimy rock with flip flops. At one point, Jason’s heel looked like it had been cut by something so I was very thankful I had on my adizero's.

The scramble up to the top of the "turtle head" took a short but intense 15 minutes, and I’m proud to say I was announced the first woman to have ever made it up there. It was spectacular. Nothing but blue sea for miles. I actually wished I could just set up camp up there for the night, but I had an inkling my sister wouldn't be all that crazy about the idea.

Without safety harnesses and just trees around you to use as life support, the climb down was a lot more challenging. But we made it down fine and got back to Chetz in time for a celebratory sundowner Chang beer.

Insert fizzy can opening and ahhh sounds here.
[Photo: Joanne Lee]

I got my adrenalin fix and my taste of fine, Thai brew. Talk about a good detox!"

Meanwhile, back on the beach at Koh Som, the less active Lee sister was lazing on the beach with a coconut and a good book.

Insert yawns and coconut water slurps here.
[Photo: Janice Lee Fang]

And no, I stuck to my prescribed detox plans and did not join Janice and the guys when they cracked open the beers although I was sorely tempted. Sigh.

By the time we got back to mainland Koh Samui, it was time for dinner and I truly didn't have the heart to drag my sister back to the resort when she was so pumped up after sightseeing.

So, rather than rush back to my veggie broth and salad dinner, I agreed to curb my appetite and we went into Chaweng town for a nice Thai meal: Pad thai for Janice and a simple, raw papaya salad for me.

Heaping on the chili padi.
[Photo: Joanne Lee]

And that, dear readers, was Day Five - and a glimpse into just how different two sisters can be!

- Missed the earlier blog entries, read them here:
Day 1 - The one about the last hurrah
Day 2 - The one about "absolut" of a very different kind
Day 3 - The one with the Ménage à Trois
Day 4 - The one about resort etiquette

- Stay tuned for day 6's blog entry when Janice meets up with her university classmate who's now living the 'simple life' in Koh Phan Ngyan.

The one about turtle island

By Joanne Lee, AsiaOne | Tue, Sep 1 2009

While Joanne lazes on the beach with a coconut and a good book, her sister Janice gets an adrenalin fix with some rock climbing.

Keywords

detox

koh samui