While not exactly Gandhi, a special spa in tropical Thailand is offering to purge your toxic ills.

Although the New Year has only just begun, I am sure many "dietary" resolutions have already been forgotten. I have always been very fond of my food, but after years of drinking, smoking and exercise that can only be described as sporadic, my body deserves a break. And so what better way to do it than to sign up for a fast?
I was recommended the health spa, The Sanctuary, on Koh Phangan, Thailand, by two friends who had taken different 
programmes there. If I was going to stop eating for a week, at least I could do it in a beautiful location. So, in a brave move, I decided to go for the seven day fast and, in order to get the full benefit, I booked a package with fast, yoga classes and spa 
treatments plus accommodation and steam room use. 
Accommodation at the spa includes a range of options with the mid-range choice being a Thai-style room on stilts with the bathroom underneath and a balcony with a hammock. After reporting to the Wellness Centre I enjoyed delicious salads and other treats at the vegetarian and seafood restaurant. Yes, this was a final farewell to food.  Actually, the center recommends fasters prepare for two weeks beforehand and cut out dairy, wheat, caffeine, meat and alcohol. Only after passing a litmus test can fasting begin.
After a talk by the charismatic and eternally cheerful Moon, head of the Wellness Centre, fasters are sent off with ingredients for the morning "concrete shakes" - clay and psyllium mixed with water and knocked back in one go. Those who are good shot-drinkers will appreciate the ability to knock back liquid quickly.
The first day of the fast is full of new experiences - yoga class up on the hill, lots of herbal supplements, meeting fellow fasters and the first colonic irrigation (self-administered, naturally). During the training, looking at the odd set-up and hearing the words 'tube', 'oil' and 'anus' all used in the same sentence, it's possible you might get a little edgy.  However, once in the privacy of your own bathroom, it's not so bad. And there's nothing like colonic mucus to bring people together.
The spa tickets that come with the package make the foodless hours pass faster. Bliss comes in the form of an incredible oil massage and then a body scrub using a Balinese style mix of spices that makes the skin tingle and leaves you smelling incredible. There are a range of different things to try - polishes, scrubs, wraps, facials and massages, so by the end of the week, due to the fast and the treatments, your skin and eyes should be glowing like a purebred racehorse.
Every night is the veggie broth – a clear green hot soup with chillies and fresh limes. At this time, all the fasters come together, and chat about their day's experiences. It's all very pleasant, but by the fourth day I felt a bit rough and it was a struggle to make it up to the yoga hall. During the class, I burst into tears for no particular reason. However, by day six I was feeling good again. As the experts are always so fond of saying, this is all part of the process.
On the eighth day the fast is finally 
broken with some fresh papaya and lime (because it has to be broken slowly), and it's a waste of time to go straight back into old eating patterns. Suffice to say, eating was orgasmic.
Each person has a different result at the end of the fast. I lost seven kilograms, and was feeling fresh and glowing from head to toe, including incredibly shiny hair. The hardest thing to do is to maintain a healthy lifestyle after the fast, and personally, after seven months, I have fallen by the wayside somewhat. However, I have cut back on the martinis and have finally kissed the ciggies goodbye. I am also ready to re-book again for this year.

Helpful Tips:
   Bring lots of DVDs and books.
   Don't get hung-up about bodily functions.
   Bring loud music to listen to during the colonics
(I heartily recommend AC/DC).
   And be prepared for close encounters with frogs in the    toilet. You near the jungle, after all.

Getting There:
Bangkok Airways flies daily from Shenzhen to Bangkok, and Thai Airways International flies twice a day from Guangzhou to Bangkok.
From Bangkok, Bangkok Airways flies to Koh Samui.
Boats then travel from Koh Samui to various stops on Koh Phangan. Warning: don't choose a crowded boat.

How Much?
A full fasting package including 9-days' accommodation in a Thai-style room, 7-day yoga pass and steam room pass, 7 x 1 hour spa treatments, last meal before the fast and the 7-day complete cleanse is 26,600 baht (6,350RMB). Other packages and programmes are available on their official website: www.thesanctuary-kpg.com