Many More Miles Yet To Run...
It's nearly five o'clock in the afternoon, the rain has just started to fall and Sunflower Bar is filling up...
There seems to be a new surge of people on the island today.
I have an idea that they have come for Christmas; but they might on the other hand just be here for the day, on a boat trip...
The tide is further out than we have seen it, boys are racing about chasing a football, boats are sitting on the sand where they are normally floating... And I am sipping a coconut and pineapple shake.
I ached a bit in the night last night, in my forearms and my calves... but it was not as bad as the previous two nights, and in the morning although I still felt a bit weak, I knew I was much better...
We decided to go up to the terrace to have some coffee and juice, and eggs for Anadi, before we went exercising... I asked for coffee and orange juice and Anadi asked for scrambled eggs...
They didn't seem happy for me to have so little; and brought me a huge plate of watermelon, and two little bananas as well...
I ate all the watermelon, even though I still wasn't too keen on eating; but I saw that it came from their hearts, it was an act of kindness, of wanting to look after me and I didn't want to rebuff it...
Anadi helped out by eating the bananas...!
I was reminded how much food is about love and sharing and connecting with one another... Preparing it, sharing it, 'breaking bread together', is about so much more than simply nourishing our bodies...
Preparing food, offering food, accepting food nourishes our soul too.
The energy with which it is prepared, given and received all contribute to the positive energy that food gives us...
Our appetite for food, for life and for love are linked.
It was a beautiful start to the day, our exquisite view is now familiar, as is the little dog who comes and sits at my feet.. and Ond, greeting us warmly each morning and bringing us water, coffee, juice, Anadi's eggs - and my fruit...
We stayed awhile and then rose, put our hands together in the namaste position; Ond and the two women with him did the same, and we all bowed and smiled... Anadi and I then went back to our little home before setting off again for Mama beach...
Today we ran all the way, no walking, my body felt stronger and willing again!
I even darted between the wall and the sea as the waves came in, I made it hardly getting my feet wet...! Anadi chose to clamber on the wall again...
We reached the end of the beach and stopped at a little 'lean too' with a wicker roof which was offering an array of different massage treatments...
'I would love a foot massage...' I said.
'Both? ' she questioned...
'No... just me...'
Anadi left me there and went for a wander, and some time to sit and rest and be...
I lay down... I had pointed to the sweat running off me, concerned they would not want my sweaty body lying on their bed...!
She gave me a towel and indicated that she did not mind at all...
The efficient athletes body that I have, meant I carried on sweating for awhile! And halfway through massaging my left foot, she pointed to the calf and foot of my right leg, which had fresh beads of sweat forming...!
'Are you alright madam?'... She asked with concern...
'Yes, yes...' I said... I put my thumbs up and smiled at her to let her know I was feeling okay... 'I am a runner...' I propped myself up and did a running action with my arms...'
'Ah...' She smiled and continued with my blissful treatment...
It was like reflexology with extras! She reached every nook and cranny that a foot has, she stretched and pummelled and worked her way up my calf too.
Midway through she tapped me and said... 'Sorry madam, two minutes, and pointed to her tummy...'
She then leapt up, fetched her bike that was propped up on the side of the little building, and cycled off.
I lay listening to the lapping waves and the distant chatter and laughter of people on the beach...
When we met up afterwards, Anadi said that he had wandered about and discovered the Thai people's homes, they are living just behind where all the tourist boat trips, the restaurants and the massage is going on...
'I had gathered that' I said, 'because my lady went for a 'loo call' and cycled off in that direction....'
She came back and finished lovingly caring for and nurturing my feet... They have since asked that we go back for more...!
They loved it so much, and I loved and appreciated my feet so much; they have carried me so far, they are so willing, miles and miles we have journeyed... And - there are still many more miles yet to be run....
