BODY – HEALING AND PLEASURE
Sometimes the body is put under a lot of strain when travelling: Hiking, cycling, horse riding or even just being shaken up in the car – it’s exhausting. All the better when there are pleasant opportunities to do something good for the body!
In addition to massages of various styles that are available in many places, you can also try a basic body check from a different medical direction – Tibetan medicine and Ayurveda are known to look at people holistically and possibly offer a solution to existing problems. Also there is the so-called medical tourism, where people go on a longer stay abroad because of inexpensive alternatives or different healing methods – or even just use part of the journey for this. As we have no medical background, we do not make any recommendations, but we are happy to take care of the infrastructure for your trip. Everything we list here is at a level that will not cause any aggravation. We are only pointing out possibilities. However, it is essential to consult your local doctor, especially in the case of major health problems!
In addition to massages, there are also other ways to make your body feel good. Perhaps there is something here that appeals to you – we will be happy to arrange it!
Tibetan Medicine
Tibetan medicine requires many years of training in order to recognize imbalances in the human body and treat them properly. It is based on the understanding that illnesses are the result of disharmony within the body — and that this imbalance must be restored. Diagnosis is usually carried out through pulse reading. There are various pulse points at the wrist that correspond to different organs. A trained practitioner can detect irregularities and then clarify them further by asking specific questions (for example, the pulse may indicate a disturbance in the intestines, but not whether it is diarrhea or constipation). After the diagnosis, treatment is given in the form of herbal medicine mixtures. One advantage of these remedies is that they are considered to have no side effects (I now know many people who have taken them, and none have reported negative effects — in the worst case, nothing happens). It is therefore definitely an interesting experience — and sometimes even a path to healing
Ayurveda
Ayurveda is well known in India – but many of the population swear by conventional Western medicine. This means that pharmacies and doctors with Western medicine can be found everywhere, while Ayurvedic offers have to be looked for specifically. Nonetheless, if it suits you and is of interest, it’s worth giving it a try. Our experiences are:
- there are pharmacies with Ayurvedic medicine that you can get without a prescription -> cold medicine is pleasantly effective, at least for me.
There are various Ayurvedic centres where you can get short diagnoses and treatments, some of which last several days. One of my own experiences was interesting, exhausting and only moderately successful (a phlegmy cough/cold was to be “snotted out” with the help of incense and other things – problem: culturally I never learnt how to snot and couldn’t do it well). Side effects or similar were not observed - There are larger Ayurvedic clinics or resorts with clinic operations – here you book in for several days, receive a detailed diagnosis and a proper treatment plan including various treatments and dietary requirements. This helps many people and may also be a good way to take more care of yourself and your body
- Ayurvedic wellness resorts usually offer massages, food according to Ayurvedic principles and possibly other treatments. You can also book yourself in here “completely healthy” (but who is) and simply treat yourself to some in-depth relaxation.
- Ayurvedic massages can be found in the spa offers of various accommodations or extra centres – some of them are very knowledgeable and good, some are more amateurish, as a well-founded training is not a “must” in India. However, these offers are not harmful. It is common to be treated by the same sex. Ayurvedic massages always require a lot of oil and nudity.
Sanatorium
In the Soviet Union, workers were given spa holidays for general regeneration, education and leisure. These were particularly common where there were hot springs or other healing natural resources. Some of these sanatoriums are still active today, especially those near Issyk Kul in Kyrgyzstan. A visit to a sanatorium is a kind of curiosity in itself – if you are interested, we will be happy to organise it for you! However, knowledge of Russian is very helpful, or at least a good knowledge of translation programmes. You can find a report about a stay at a sanatorium in Cholpon Ata/Kyrgyzstan on my blog here and here.
Dental Care
Dental treatment has become very expensive in some countries. In this area in particular, there are some travellers who use their stay abroad for dental treatment. Either you know people who have already been successfully treated by certain dentists – or you carefully check internet reviews. If you are considering planning such a visit into your trip, we will be happy to support you. If you have an unexpected dental problem, please contact us or the guide(s) so that it can be quickly remedied.
Massage
Massage services are available almost everywhere, at least in cities and some resorts. Some salons offer different massage techniques, some specialise in Ayurveda massages, for example. The offer also ranges from shorter massages for individual body parts to 90 – 120 minute full body massages. Some practitioners have magic hands, others are more average. The facilities also vary from the simplest to the most tastefully decorated rooms. Especially after trekking or a long, bumpy car journey, a massage is a wonderful thing. Please let us know if you are interested!
Hot Springs
There are hot springs in various parts of our travel destinations – from many opportunities in Kyrgyzstan and various places in the Himalayas. In some places in India, unfortunately, the hot springs are not pleasantly treated everywhere – so if you read about the existence of some, it’s better not to look forward to a relaxing warm time. But that doesn’t apply to everywhere – in other places it’s a pleasure to get into the hot water. When you hike in the Annapurna area in Nepal, it is nice to spend time afterwards at Tatopani with its hot springs. In some communal pools you have to wear swimwear – please ask in advance if necessary or pack a swimsuit/shorts anyway!
Beauty Parlour
One of the best ways to get to know the India of women is to visit the Beauty Parlour. Those with a some money are more likely to be found here, those with less scrape together their savings for special occasions and put themselves in the hands of experienced women for a makeover. The main focus here is on hair (washing, cutting, colouring, styling, removing hair from legs, arms, eyebrows, etc.), skin (facials, manicures, pedicures, etc.) and colour (make-up, nail polish, Mehndi). Some of the methods used are the same as ours, while others have their own very interesting procedures (e.g. eyebrows are plucked with a thread). One thing is guaranteed: a treatment is an experience, the result is convincing and, depending on the desired service, also very relaxing. We are in contact with local beauty parlours in various places with a predominantly local clientele and staff who speak English.
The same applies to Nepal – though we have no experience in Kyrgyzstan.
Hairdresser
In India and Nepal, women usually go to the beauty parlour for a haircut (although we would recommend the men’s hairdresser for short hairstyles), while men go to the men’s hairdresser. There are big differences in the establishment – from a simple chair on the street to an A/C salon, everything is there. However, the quality is very good everywhere. Hair is cut and/or shaved at a reasonable price – followed by a head massage if you like. Entrust yourself to these experienced hands, have your face lathered and your beard hair removed (don’t worry, there’s never any blood) and/or your hair trimmed!
A visit to the hairdresser is also recommended in the post-Soviet countries, where haircuts are also good and cheap. However, there are also many more salons for women.
Mehndi
Mehndis are patterns painted with henna on the arms and hands that last for up to two weeks, depending on aftercare and activities, and then disappear again. The Mehndis are applied to the skin with a special cone and then left to dry for several hours. Depending on the shape of the body and the desired painting surface, the “painter” usually decides which patterns she finds most suitable during the painting process. Wishes can of course be expressed. Many women have also mastered this art, but they have not made it their profession, but use it to supplement their earnings. The prerequisites are a steady hand, an aesthetic sense and a knowledge of many patterns. The Mehndi painter is delighted to have her skills recognised. But other Indian women are also likely to take a closer look at your hand/arm and laugh in a friendly manner. They like it when travellers appreciate something from their culture. We are happy to arrange a Mehndi painter for you when and where you wish – but only in India and Nepal.
