Memo: What follows comes from my erstwhile “Healing Journal” – written/compiled on a foggy meandering journey to various countries (Pacifica, Phitsanulok, Cochin, Pokhara, Dikwella/Galle…) visiting all manner of hospitals, clinics and exploring various healing modalities and techniques.
Shared here more-or-less unedited for posterity (whatever that is) and to shed light to those struggling who might come across this riff. Please watch the “Healing Ramble Introduction” video for context on this series.
With respect and understanding that not everyone can do *this* – i have another riff about “why” to seek medical care or healing treatment elsewhere (not in US/Canada in this case). For now, use it if you need it, if not just pass along.
Handy:
- Ayurveda Health Home web
- Ayurveda Health Home, Pokhara, map [update: showing as permanently closed, not sure accuracy]
- Ayurveda Health Home, FB
Memo: What follows is transcribed from my diary very shortly after my stay, more or less verbatim, at the risk of being redundant, i have previously shared:
Pokhara, Nepal, 2017
Along my healing journey, I received treatment had the most wonderful Ayurveda Health Home in Pokhara, Nepal.
This company operates two facilities, one in Kathmandu and one in Pokhara where i did my treatment [update: subsequently built a 3rd clinic which looks like a wonderful mix of the 2 and maybe this one is no longer operating?].
The hospitals are part of a German-Nepal partnership. As such, the facility ran on a very prompt German-like schedule, but with exceptionally diligent Ayurvedic practitioners, including several full-time doctor/medical officers.
The chief amongst their practitioners is the world-famous Dr. Rishi [update: RIP] – a most elegant and graceful man who emanated healing energy and power. While he is primarily based at the Kathmandu facility, he flew to Pokhara for my intake for which I was very grateful.
He had thoroughly reviewed my medical file in advance (including notes from Dr. Veena’s Ayurveda and my tests in Phitsanulok), and the intake was several hours long starting with a long discussion about my symptoms, background and objectives, followed by a massage, then an *extremely thorough* physical inspection.
I should mention that I had originally intended to go back to India and Dr. Veena’s Ayurmantra but for some strange reason, my Indian Visa was declined creating a rapid change of travel plans which became *a little bit expensive* and complicated but I worked through it all by adding in a wander through Malaysia after more hospital tests and treatment in Thailand, OK carry-on…
The days were very busy, but very well organized. I would receive very complete instructions, hands-on, for each of the different treatments, which I would later self-administer.
These included various mouth cleanings, nose cleanings, eye cleanings, eye exercises, meditation, and so on. I also received a series of instructional sessions about the overarching concepts of Ayurveda – the history, background, purposes and information about doshas and the importance of the mind/spirit/body connection.
I also participated on one-on-one yoga sessions. The yoga was very gentle and suited for my body and condition. Rather than complicated poses, started with very simple joint rotations and was very calm rather than stressful experience. (Note: it seems strange to call yoga “stressful“ but doing complicated poses and rapid movement is very difficult for me – as i found later at Peacock Ayurveda Garden).
I received dozens of different kinds of massage, with different oils, different techniques, sometimes two practitioners working on me at once, herbal poultices, salt poultices…
I also went through an extensive series of enemas (don’t freak out)… some to cleanse and some to fortify. It was pretty intense to say the least but I was extremely well supported through the process, and my diet gradually build back up from thin rice porridge and herbal tea, to more substantial food, before I would rejoin the rest of the group for more standard meals.
The meals were very light, unsurprisingly vegetarian, and generally served at a communal table, although the schedules of the patients didn’t always match up.
In this facility my fellow patients or three (sometimes four) women from Germany with whom I developed a camaraderie. Later in my treatment cycle, a fellow from Sweden (who lives in Thailand) who is a high-level yoga instructor who teaches yoga to yoga instructors, and his lovely companion, also a Yogi, from Vietnam.
I mostly passed my time here writing and extensive collection of poetry (such days!) both about Nepal and healing experience, and also about love and pain and loss and loneliness and the combination thereof, which were all very overwhelming feelings for me during this time {some in a collection called “Annapurna Sunrise” while others became songs with Mikael Lewis in SLC, UT}.
My room was simple but efficient with a wardrobe, desk, bed (changed daily) and wet bathroom. Being on the third floor, I had a lovely view of the “world peace stupa” on the mountain across the lake.
On the other side, though usually obscured by clouds, was the Annapurna massif. From my window, I could see the village life, as well as people participating in paragliding.
The whole process was very intense, and at a certain point, I had terrible headaches of unbearable pain. Fortunately the staff contacted the doctors late night and helped me with some special herbs to alleviate the pain and help me sleep.
Frankly, some of the staff as they were so kind and sweet to me that i kind of fell into super-like with ummm… anyhow…
There was a compound behind the facility in which staff were doing laundry, growing vegetables, and ensuring the place was extremely clean and tidy. I was grateful for all of this, but mostly for the wonderful care I received from the diligent practitioners and doctors.
I only left the facility twice during my three weeks stay, once to get my beard trimmed (with all the oil involved in the treatments, a beard is a bit of an inconvenience so I switched to a ridiculously awesome moustache), and another time to order some custom hemp clothes.
It’s important during the treatment to remain very calm and mellow and limit physical activity. Does create a bit of “cabin fever“ as I was eager to explore the town but, the healing took precedence of course.
Overall, this experience was most excellent. The only downside was it was a bit expensive for a guy on a limited budget, but certainly well worth it.
On my final day of treatment, they performed a “re-birthing” ceremony in which I was on a table with six or seven practitioners massaging me simultaneously with gallons of medicated oil, while additional staff played traditional sound bowls (very large, like salad bowls) making a truly multi-sensory experience.
Then, I was led into a warm medicated bath, laden with flowers, with flowers spelling out my name “welcome Dave“. I lingered there for sometime literally soaking it all in.
Oh, before I left, made little cards for my fellow patients, as well as a card for the doctors and staff, from water-colours I had brought along with me.
The doctors also were very aware of my personal situation in which I’ve experienced the loss of my parents, relationships, career and the challenges of mental health that of come with this consortium of illnesses.
They also followed up with surveys, questions and someone along with sending me with the packet of all their full report, with their carefully hand written notes.
I very much look forward to returning to this wonderful place again.
After my treatment was finished, I did enjoy a few days in the “second city,” and also up in the villages in the Annapurna Himalaya region with brother Bob (came from Bangkok) with whom we kinda lived out a childhood dream. {Truly a moving experience which I will never forget. More to say under separate cover}.
I also attended a rock concert by the Nepatya (wiki), a legendary Nepali rock band who were playing their first outdoor show in many years (due to fairly recent civil strife). The local fans were so happy to see my sharp outfit :).
Plus while staying at Queen’s Forest Hotel Resto-bar (which i made my base outside of the hospital) made friends with a band called Trio Miles who I saw perform several times with great joy (and brother Bob *sang* with them (i have video :)) note have additional artifacts to share with these dudes and they became kind supporters of their adopted wanderer.
Some days later, before leaving Nepal, I visited the facility in Kathmandu, met some more of the lovely staff, and had a closing consultation with the wonderful Dr. Rishi who gave me some additional exercises to perform, then, delivered a variety of powders, appointments and so on to my crappy little hotel in Thamel.
I was a bit concerned about taking these strangely marked and possibly dubious looking substances across borders but have yet to experience difficulties :-)
Brief Field Notes: Bob and i stayed a night previously at legendary Yak and Yeti on Nepal New Year’s Eve as it goes. I should mention that i did stay in a ‘barebones” hotel and ramble around Thamel area of Kathmandu (sparking some of the old hippie trail vibes).
Unintentionally-ish ad some *cough* adventures which possibly weren’t the best idea after my time in healthy solitude #nodetails Made some friends let’s say.
{i’ll address more of the Ghandruk/Annapurna times and Kathmandu hi-jinks – well artifacts at least – in a “field notes” round-up}
Overall, the people of Nepal were most lovely and deserve much more written about them – since my time there, i’ve undertaken several campaigns to support them form various disasters and human-made conundrums (stay off the fcking mtn!)
Then off to Abu Dhabi on a planes loaded with young men heading for hard work in Arab states, a visit with a wise pal and then the sea, Nepal in my heart all the while.
Epilogue: transited Suez canal avoiding pirates making friends with Swiss and Scots, then Greece where learned of the death of a dear friend far away and visited the “other Olympia” and made paintings, then Rome where so lonely amidst the throngs, then Istanbul with schemers and scammers and so many cats and wrote so many poems and a mighty bath and massage, and then the future…
Questions welcomed, within reason.
Also wrote extended review (with photos), ergo: Ayurveda Health Home, Nepal – introduction + review etc and remember to watch Healing Ramble, introduction for context about this series.