The Fast: 4-13 October 2004 For those of you who don\'t know, my main purpose of being on Koh Samui was to go on a fast held by the Dharma Healing Centre. It really was an amazing experience. For those of you who are interested, (others, I\'ll bore you with some of the details), here\'s a brief synopsis on the program. It is generally referred to as an \'Elimination Fast\' which includes taking Chinese herbal formula balanced for eliminating old hardened mucoid plaque, bile, poisons, cholesterol and parasites that stay sometimes for years in the digestive organs and body tissues (yes, even in you). The day would kick start with a self-administered colonic irrigation containing organic coffee and then one at night using herbal teas, then a chinese concoction of herbs that helps loosen up all the nasties. Did I get hungry? Well yes, I had moments where the mind drifted to thoughts of some of my favourite mouth watering Australian seafood and my mum\'s rice pudding.... but to get through it all, you have a various liquids to consume during the day: purified water, herbal teas of the day, the all time favourite fresh coconut juice, finishing up with a veggie broth soup at night. Whilst it probably doesn\'t sound particularly appealing to some, everything was welcome and very delicious. The hardest (for me) was taking kitchen classes... the salvia went into overdrive whilst slicing into decadent Egyptian dates (god I love dates), rolling them up with sesame, ground peanuts, honey and tahini, be still my heart... but I made it through without one lick of the fingers. Throughout the week I learnt all about digestion and nutrition (yes, I was in my element), food combining, the art of eating, daily cleansing, breaking the fast, setting up a healthy kitchen with yummy recipes, even tips on travelling the globe and staying healthy. Other classes where based on iridology, self-administered reflexology, yoga, Qi Gong, exercising in the sea and Vipassana Meditation. I ended up completing 10 days, the minimum is 7, but I felt I wasn\'t quite ready to finish at day 7. Breaking the fast occurs over 10 days (post-fast) and then the real effects from the fast start to show. Today I am day 4 and starting to eat salads, yoghurts and maybe a little rice. So, would I do it again... of course. It had its moments, but it really was a life-changing experience that opens the mind, allows old memory to dissipate and a deeper awareness of mind, body, spirit to enter... so yeah... ohm to your heart\'s content :) ......... ok, ok I see some of you rolling your eyes HAHA