A pregnant scorpion stopped us in our tracks. Not that we tourists spotted it. There we were pootling along in our air-conditioned Jeep, en route to a spot of forest bathing, when our guide Dev asked the driver to stop. We screeched to a halt, disembarked, and walked back up the road until Dev located the arachnid, gently moved it to one side, while observing that it was with spiderlings.
Like many, I’m not a fan of these dog days of winter. I pour over glossy magazines, paying particular attention to spa guides. Over the years one place has always stood out. Chiva-Som – one of the oldest and most famous health farms of all. It took me two decades but last year I finally got there. Twice.