Nop

Our final days in Thailand went quickly and were without obligation. We returned to the Walking Market for the third week in a row to see if we could find anything else we couldn't live without. We managed to fill our backpack with things we never expected to buy, such as an original painting and wall hangings with elephants and camels. Shortly before leaving we met Nop, the owner of a small massage business who was running a booth at the market. He had a unique twist on Thai Massage. His process is called Tok Sen and involves the use of small wooden mallets. The masseur follows the body’s sen (energy) lines tapping on a wooden ‘chisel’ as they move up and down the arms, legs and back. Although noisy, the procedure is remarkably pleasant. Our new friend Nop filled our ears with his story and his dreams of opening a local holistic wellness retreat center where people can learn how to eat and live healthier. We were intrigued and impressed with his aspirations and zeal. Nop invited us to his place of business (at his home) for an all day spa treatment and we accepted.

Our final day in Chiang Mai turned out to be much more of a treat than we expected. We arose as usual, had our breakfast, and walked outside where a TukTuk was waiting to take us to Nop’s place. Our spa day began at a local swimming pool with watsu sessions; watsu being a form of therapeutic bodywork performed in warm water pools. We returned to Nop's place for an herbal sauna, followed by some kind of scrub bath and shower, and finally a full Thai massage using the Tok Sen method. Nop’s little business was more of a Bed & Breakfast Spa than a massage studio. He had a multi-level house with many rooms which he opened to his guests. Anyone stopping by for a massage was allowed to stay over and enjoy the facilities, including home prepared meals, at no additional charge. He was dedicated to helping people increase their health and happiness. The evening dinner (which we helped to prepare) was mostly vegetarian. The meal was shared with guests from Thailand, Spain, Germany, Holland and the USA (us!). After the meal, Nop arranged for everyone to be driven to the local night market and see a cabaret show. The entire day was relaxing yet rejuvenating and provided a firsthand glimpse of daily Thai life. What a wonderful way to conclude our trip.

Back at our guesthouse that evening, we reflected on Nop and his desire to provide a facility that caters to people’s need for physical and mental prosperity. It's a goal that may seem impossible for an average Thai citizen to accomplish on his own, yet we had already seen it in action on a much smaller scale. Nop’s dedication to his clients and selflessness in creating an atmosphere of health and well-being were quite evident. His house was so full of residents that he had given up his own bedroom so that others would have a place to stay. The bill for our all day spa visit with him was nothing. He never requested money but allowed his guests to pay him according to what they felt his service and hospitality was worth. We wondered if we could find a way to bring him to America so he could share his talents and hopefully earn some money to take home to help pursue his vision. We were humbled by his graciousness, and our time with him was a perfect ending for our journey. We were leaving a land rich in hospitality, goodness and genuine caring for one another, and returning to a land where such traits are often challenged by our fast paced and self-serving society. We were reminded of the words of Wan, our gracious and fluent English speaking TukTuk driver in Cambodia, "We are all the same, we have the same physical bodies and the same minds, yet some people are born into plenty and others are born into poverty. It’s not fair but it’s the way things are, so we shouldn't complain, but strive to make the best out of what we have." Words that we hope will ever be engraved in our hearts and minds.