So after a bit of a failed attempt at yoga, I swapped my daily relaxation 'exercise' to Ayurvedic massages. I simply decided that being able to totally switch off my mind for an hour* was far more beneficial for my psyche than struggling to remember patterns of movements whilst deciphering instructions through the teacher's strong Indian accent. When you've got your eyes closed, or you're staring at the floor with your bum in the air*, foreign accents just become impossible!

So I'm now having a daily head-to-toe Ayurvedic massage . I still haven't completely discovered what 'Ayurvedic' means -- it seems to involve pressure points, energy lines, and aromatic oils -- but I've discovered I like it. Just be warned, men seem to hold ALL positions of employment here, so finding a female masseuse can be a challenge.

I had slightly more luck finding a female beautician to do my leg and bikini wax***, thank goodness. But again, every country has their quirks! If I though I was going to be able to lie down and relax (well as much as you can relax when having your hair ripped out) while having my wax I was sorely mistaken. I was greeted with a chair. And no ordinary chair: it looked like one of those ancient dentist chairs used in horror movies -- the ones with the foot rests and head support. Hmmm. All I can say is she was very efficient. Even if I was made to stand up for her to do the backs of my legs. At least she let me lie down to do my bikini!

* paying just Rs.500 for the privilege. That's £5!

** Yes, having your bum in the air adds to the challenge.

*** I figured I might as well take advantage of the safety of the backpacker area for all these sorts of things while I have the chance