Expat life in Phuket
‘Sawadee pi mai’ and ‘ Happy New Year’ everyone!
Songkran has always been one of my favourite times of the year since moving to Thailand. Imagine the joy of having two new years within a few months! Nadine Oliver tells us what Songkran means to her and what Phuket has to offer all of those looking for a New Year makeover.
While the traditional western style New Year has always been synonymous with too many parties, drinking, overindulgent eating and fireworks on the beach, the Thai New Year has always been a time of year for reflection and reassurance. January is the month of the tourist high season and peak periods in Phuket. February is a time for getting into the feel of the New Year. March is my birthday month, so always a good time to reassess everything in life and April is Songkran, a time to celebrate with all our Thai friends and the local community in Phuket. We always make the island pilgrimage to all the best hotspots.
This year, maybe the result of turning 40, I had become a lot more interested in my health and living in the healthiest way possible. Without sounding like Oprah, in her quest for optimal health, I had fallen off the waggon (again) in my healthy lifestyle as most of us do at that time of year. I needed a new approach. As I began researching the best therapies on Phuket to begin my new ‘makeover’ plan I came across something truly new and interesting that Dr Orawan has discovered. Dr Orawan is a well known holistic doctor in the kingdom, renowned for her cosmetic dermatology. On meeting Dr Orawan I quickly realised that she was excited to share something very innovative with me. Within minutes I was ushered into her clinic for a comprehensive report card that gave me the Elements of Human analysis which essentially determines what makes me ‘me’.
“Without sounding like Oprah, in her quest for optimal health, I had fallen off the waggon. I needed a new approach.”
With a quick procedure she can scan my entire body. The report can determine ones cellular structure, intracellular fluid, extracellular fluid, body moisture, inorganic substance, body fat, fat analysis, nourishment in the cells, issues with metabolism, muscle type, overall weight analysis and body form assessment. The tests can also act as a preventative measure to detect future disease.
The comprehensive report card could also determine my liver function, collagen, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular, gastrointestinal function, gallbladder function, lung function, rheumatoid bone disease, blood sugar levels, trace elements, vitamin deficiency, amino acids, human toxins, heavy metal build up, basic physical quality, obesity tests, skin quality, eyes and collagen readings.
“These tests are the best place to start with overall fitness in a makeover programme. If you do not know what’s happening internally the external cosmetology is temporary.”
Dr Orawan says “These tests are essentially a preventative measure as all disease can be pre-determined from looking at these test results and are best repeated every six months” and assured me that this is truly the best place to start with overall fitness in a makeover programme. If you do not know what’s happening internally the external cosmetology is temporary.
“OK so as usual the main recommendation from dr Orawan is that I need to do more exercise.”
She also shared with me that the next step for me would be to do a food intolerance test as she has seen truly dramatic results with patients losing up to 20 – 30kg from eliminating one food from their diets. This is truly an extraordinary find for me and will be next on my to-do list. OK so as usual the main recommendation from Dr Orawan is that I need to do more exercise. Some cardio is required so my next stop is to see Hayden Rhodes at Royal Phuket Marina. He is a local fitness legend who hosts a radio show on The Phuket News, is passionate about holistic health and encouraging people of all ages and sizes to achieve their optimal health. They have also just added tennis to their programmes with leading coaches from around the globe too so any tennis groups I’m sure would love to spend a weekend here.
“now for something a little more girly and fun.”
After the cardio, it’s off to Phuket yoga centre to see what classes someone at my level of fitness can begin. They offer small classes for women, weight loss, kundalini, couples and tantric yoga with many of Phuket’s leading yogis, offering a stream of visiting specialists from all over the world. They offer pop up classes and retreats for small groups of no more than ten people. I book in for classes which are run privately at a villa in The Lantern Residence in Ko Kaew, meaning ‘heaven’ in Sanskrit. So I’m looking forward to that too. Now for something a little more girly and fun with a visit to Kate’s hair and beauty salon, the absolute best stylist and hairdresser on the island. As I’m ready for a change, I totally hand myself over to her to see what she suggests on how to make me look my absolute best. I said “I’m ready for something fresh, modern and easy to take care of”. We plan a fun girly afternoon together.
We do a cut and colour, and I totally transform in a couple of hours from redhead to ‘metallic’. People pop into the salon all afternoon to see the progress. We then do a full red carpet runway look makeup, and I really feel like a new woman. Kate offers a fun forum for groups of girlfriends to get together, ‘mother and daughter’ makeovers and she pretty much is the wedding doyenne too. My daughter seems the most excited by my transformation and tells me ever so sweetly “I have never ever seen you look more beautiful mama!”
This was a great exercise in letting go. To walk into a salon and say if you could do absolutely anything you want to style me, what would you do? And this was the result. I’ve never ever truly been that brave, but my 40s are looking like a decade I’ll have fun looking forward to. I highly recommend anyone try that too! The Bangkok Phuket Hospital and international hospitals have planned a full internal/external makeover consultation, available to all, so do look forward to sharing the outcomes of that with our readers too. I’m also going to be reviewing all of the islands detox centres and healthy living centres that are popping up in addition to some of the best island day spas so will keep you posted.
Our aim is always to bring you the most up to date info on what to go, where to visit and offer our readers the best possible deals so feel free to contact me if you would like to know more information on some of the islands best kept secrets and hotspots while you are here.
Until next time wishing you all the most wonderful month ahead … Warmest, Nadine