Meeting Wayan

One of the main reasons, actually the only reason, I went to Ubud was to pay a visit to some of the spiritual healers I'd heard about. Admittedly I didn't hear about any specific healers but I'd heard from various people that's where most of the traditional 'old school' healers resided. So without any idea whatsoever of who I wanted to meet or where, I headed to Ubud with the attitude of 'if I'm supposed to meet anyone, they'll come my way'. And I was right.

I didn't have any expectations in mind; in fact I wasn't even sure what kind of healing would be on offer. But I did know that I was in serious need of re-energising. I also wanted to see for myself exactly what kinds of therapies traditional Balinese healers offered, plus I thought I had nothing to lose.

The healing I had was really quite unbelievable and to be honest if I hadn't actually experienced this all myself, I'm not sure I would believe half of what I'm about to tell you. I mean for me it makes sense as I whole heartily believe in the benefits of holistic therapies. Some of you would have never heard of this type of approaches so it'll be a harder pill to swallow.

I'm always slightly disappointed when I read an account of anyone else's 'spiritual' experiences so I'm going to write mine in detail in the hope you get a true understand of what occurred and you can make what you will of it. Some of you will think I'm bonkers, others will totally get where I'm coming from. It really makes no difference to me - I just like writing!

The people I met (healers and otherwise) were pretty amazing for all sorts different reasons. Some I immediately gelled with, others I could really resonate with despite coming from very different walks of life and others performed and introduced me to such intense and powerful healing therapies, they completely changed by perspective on life and everything that's happened to me (good and 'bad') to date. In fact, my experiences in Bali (and India) have fundamentally changed me as a person. No doubt changes imperceptible to anyone else but nonetheless huge to me.

My NHF (new hippy friend) told me about Wayan a Balinese Herbal Healer. The only advice she gave me was 'Wayan or something like that lives near the Buddha Cafe'...so off I went in search of Wayan. I found the Balinese Traditional Healing Center and Wayan - in her mid 40's although could easily pass for late 30's, Wayan is an attractive lady with hair down to her bum.

Thankfully she didn't have her usual queue of people waiting to see her - I was pretty lucky. Wayan was taught be her grandfather on the traditions of herbal medicine. She's very well known in Ubud and indeed in Bali. She's mates with the woman who wrote 'Eat, Pray, Love' which has ensured her a steady flow of customers. She's good though. Wicked sense of humour - pretty rude in fact but funny. Direct if nothing else.

First off I was given a glass of Turmeric, honey and carrot juice to cleanse me blood. Before she scanned my body she took the sheet of paper with my details on it, walked up to her shrine and began praying - I assume to ask her god for assistance in diagnosing me. Then she scanned my body: while I was standing in front of her she placed her hands on different areas of body, asked me to lift my left then right leg, checked my tongue and mouth, eyes, skin on my face, nails and pulse. Her diagnosis was pretty spot on as it completely matched what I've been told a zillion times of the last 10 months.

By the time my assessment was over another four people were sitting on the same table as me. One woman I got chatting too was a designer called Cathy, has a line and a stall called 'Lollipops and Ice Cream' on Portobello - aaaahhh the London accent, so good to hear. She was lovely, really sweet - very zen. Anyway, she was one of the people I ended up literally bumping into all over the place while I was in Ubud. We all had lunch at Wayan's which was completely amazing and extremely healthy - never tasted food so good - even the seaweed was lovely.

After lunch I was escorted upstairs for what turned out to me a 2.5 hrs massage with various herbs. At one point I had four hands massaging me. It was amazing. Afterwards I had a party mix of herbs to take away with me. I was about to leave when Wayan asked if I wanted to go with her the following morning to visit two other healers. Really old guys, renowned in Bali. 'Er, is the pope Catholic Wayan?!' I wanted to say but didn't. So I skipped out of the shop feeling very pleased with myself that I'd secured an appt with two traditional healers, two of the best in Bali and I'd only been in Ubud for two days....progress!