Back again! As you'll see I write when I have an internet connection so please be patient with the meandering thoughts, timelines, etc.
I think you all know that I totally have become a massage whore. There's nothing else for me...did I tell you that I haven't really had many cocktails??? I trek thru leeches and god only knows what else to discover that NONE of the mountain villages serve alcohol of any kind. No Chang beer for me -this is my new fav. It's double the alcohol content but that's another story,..Back to my massages (no pun intended).
I'm getting a massage in a mountain village that is 2x higher than sea level in Denver. I'm telling you, I"m not our of shape on these treks - there simply no oxygen (I also miss spellcheck). In the middle of my massage the Aka tribe massues gets a cell phone call!! Pulls a phone out of her tribe get up and starts talking while massaging with only one hand. Does she not realize how much I need this massage - it's my only connection with reality! I didn't even bring my cell phone bec I didn't think they had cell phone service...so no booze but cell phones..go figure.
The next day I get in my dirty clothes. For a split second I longingly think of BOB and all the cute dresses he's watching for me.
Next village - next massage is so strange...I particpate in a really cool tribal dance with drums, costumes, sticks. Really cool shit! So after dancing to the beat of a different drummer I eagerly say yes to a massage. But they tell me to go to the "head" tribesman's living room...this can't be good I think. But being the massage whore that I am I still think it's worth the risk.
I lay down on a hut floor of a smoke filled room. It's as bad as you're envisioning. There are about 6 men arguing or something in their native language, 2 old women in chairs stairing at me and a pary on the porch. Not exactly tranquil and relaxing. And if you know what a Thai Body massage is you can understand the extent of my uncomfortableness. (NOTE: I have a massage whore buddy - she's my new roommate so I wasn't alone.) A Thai massage twist your legs, arms and back into positions I didn't think I ws capable of....but a lot of tribes people now know i can be quite flexible.
I'm running out of time but I do want to mention the tribe children. They are beautiful and radiate joy. They follow us around the village when we enter and get up early in the morning to watch us eat breakfast (sound creepy but its really cute). They just want to have fun and laugh. A most touching moment was when a child reached out to hold my hand...wow. So I've learned a few things in life that are truly universal:
Smile are universal and can solve so many situations
Laughter is universal
Holding hands is universal
A child's joy is universal
Music really does bring people together
One of our trek guides (his name I Aye and he's a total new blog) said this: "Laughter is like lifting a heavy rock off your shoulder."
Well, I'm signing off. BOB and I are doing well in this unknown village. It was so exciting to wear a different, clean shirt today - thank you BOB.
Denielle
