Koh Pha Ngan: Detoxed and clean

Nine days of restricted eating and I am finally done with my cleanse and detox program. It started off with two days only eating raw fruit and vegetables, then five days of fasting, followed by another two days of fruit and vegetables. Surprisingly, I have not felt hungry, as we had a busy schedule starting at 7.00 AM with clay and physillium shake (it is a delicious as it sounds!), and then we were scheduled to have shakes or herb capsules every 90 minutes until 21.30. First three days of detoxing was pretty rough, with nausea, weakness and headache…the price to pay for all that coffee, alcohol, sugar and processed food I have enjoyed over the past decades. The highlight of the day was the warm broth served for dinner. It really didn’t taste much, but with some chili and lime added, it seemed like gourmet food compared to the clay shakes.

The Sanctuary, where I did my detox, was a quite interesting place. Set on a small, secluded beach in the south part of Koh Pha Ngan, it has a very strong community feel. Aside from accommodation, they offer yoga classes, pilates and workshops on anything from mediation to chakra balancing (?). The crowd is a broad mix of people such as yogis, hippies, creative people and a selection of oddballs. Many people stay for extended period of times and return year after year. Life on the Sanctuary centers around the open restaurant, which feels a bit like a tropical living room (great for people watching) and offers a great vegetarian menu. Every Tuesday they show a movie on the beach and every Thursday they have an ‘open mic’ session where anyone that feels inspired can get up on stage and perform. The quality varies significant, with some really amazing performances and some less so.

The Detox Center forms a bit of a subculture at the Sanctuary, as the fasting participants tend to stick together, away from the temptations of the restaurant. Most of my detoxing fellows were also travelling solo, so it was easy to meet people. I was lucky to get in a group of really great individuals, so the days went by really fast despite the lack of food.

Two kilos lighter and hopefully with a healthier and cleaner colon, I am on my way north to Chiang Mai. One of the girls I met on the fast decided to join me for a few days, so I am in good hands.