gua sha girl

I think I had gone crazy over Gua Sha.

At least the person I'm with thinks so.

At least, looking at my legs--I'd think so.

At least, anyone who had spoken to me the past few days would think so.

Maybe I'm a little crazy--at least it's about some old Chinese practice.

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I would like to thank my lovely friend Lirie for once again, going around China with me :)

It started with my wanting to have some cupping therapy done, to which the universe conspired against--to have me experience Gua Sha.

I won't talk technical / medical terms. But I will talk about assessments and feelings.

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The practitioner told me of three points that I knew for a fact, I was quite surprised how dead on the assessment was, given that I had not provided any information to them.

I was also impressed by how the markings on my back physically validated what I was feeling inside.

I was also told to keep warm, take it easy and not to take a shower that day. The last part I ignored. I did wait till midnight to wash up. I don't think that was what she meant though.

Maybe that was okay, my body has a pretty good sense of humour ;)

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Fast forward to one week later, I got my hands on a cruelty free water buffalo horn gua sha tool.

Late at night in my hotel room, I was sitting up, unable to sleep thinking about the workday, I decided to self gua sha.

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I was so delighted to see some red spots. I was more encouraged by the smoothing feeling it gave me, that maybe I over gua sha-ed.

That lead to a lovely night's sleep.

Then, I woke up.

Sore.

Bruised. Badly bruised.

I could hardly walk.

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The next two days were torture. It hurt to stand. It hurt to sit. It just hurt :(

It was also alarming to look at. I looked like I was a hazing survivor.

Some areas were purple, on top was a sprinkle of red rashes. The red dots were everywhere, actually.

The 'rashes' didn't hurt. It was not even itchy. It was just an eyesore--as I knew these would go away, I didn't feel like that was a biggie.

It was the bruising and pain that really got to me.

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I showed a photo of the rashes to my best friend and another girl friend, they both got goosebumps--as in they were grossed out!

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It had been a week today.

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Alternating Tea Tree Oil and Hirudoid application twice a day had really paid off!

The purple had turned red and there are areas that are now yellow.

I had recovered from looking like a hazing survivor to someone with liver dysfunction. At least there is minimal--if any pain at all.

I'm not sure which of the two made my recovery this fast--I remember estimating 3 - 4 weeks for everything to go away.

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What of gua sha?

Well, I gua sha-ed my arms the other day. Gently this time.

I had nothing, maybe around twenty red dots on my left bicep and fifteen on the right bicep.

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I had definitely learnt my lesson.

But this is not to say that I will stop practicing self gua sha.

one, two, click

My recent China trip somehow brought about some changes in me. I hardly imagine how those ten days brought about various feelings, decisions and perhaps some life changes for me. This may not be the entry that talks about those in depth, but it would be about one point.I took this photo using my three year only camera that I had spent all my life waiting for. I remember feeling giddy over a gadget for the first time and when I got it, I knew it was the one. It was first of its kind too.

As expected, multiple brothers and cousins had been released boasting of better features and new functions.

I know in my heart that the day would come when it would be time to let go.

This is an especially hard lesson that I am training myself to master.

One must not be too attached to material things.
Playing around with my friend's new camera, I could not help but feel like the day is near--after all, hers was a really good camera. Excellent shots and very light too.

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This was the day we were exploring HangZhou.

Obviously, the day was spend sightseeing, chitchatting and taking photos--thus rekindling a once intense relationship with my man.

By the end of the day, I knew.

I may be being too dramatic here, but honestly, truthfully, I am yet to feel something holding and using another camera. For some strange reason there is comfort and reassurance (really!) that mine gives me.

Maybe it is the magic that goes with first loves. Or the illusion of magic. But I feel it. It's there.

So when am I changing cameras? Not today.

West (Lake) Story

Ah, West Lake--it seems to me that I had encountered many, maybe too many West Lake referenced.

It would probably be appropriate to mention that I distinctly remember eating at a restaurant of the same name a very long time ago. Rhea, being Rhea would probably remember the incident. It is funny how I suddenly made the association when in my conscious mind, I had no idea or recall of that day from a long time ago.

Going back to our story, my recent China trip brought me to the actual West Lake. Not a food joint. Or a prop play set. An actual lake. The actual lake.

It was lovely :)Quite a nice place to spend an afternoon.

It might be just me, but it as lovely as the place was it felt lonely at the same time.Looking back, I'm glad that I made time to take some photos.To be honest at some point I sort of stopped taking photos. In fact during my last trip I took, I hardly had any.Perhaps taking photos, is not unlike sewing and writing for me. I feel that I must never feel that I must do it to do it. There is joy in doing something without pressure, agenda or purpose. Perhaps with purpose, but only to enjoy the act :)

that's my.,,

Why do I like this photo?Well, it really, isn't the photo. It is more what is in the photo. It is the fabric of the bag. It is exactly the same cloth that I used when I sew a dress a while back :)Everything comes from China!

fruit or vegetable?

I was eating quite healthily in China ;)

At night, I munch on fruits--okay... well, fruit flavored potato chips. LOL