FINNISH MASSAGE? NO, FINNY MASSAGE

Zoomer | February 26th, 2013

ADVERTISING FEATURE

I could have had the Head Massage. Or the Hand Massage. Or the Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage. I might have opted for the Four Hands Oil Massage or the Eight Hands Oil Massage. Or I could have tried the simple Body Oil Massage (comes with your choice of jasmine, lemongrass or lavender and, the brochure promises, “makes your skin softy” stet).

All of this is offered in one of a succession of small shops on the street in Bangkok by a bevy of smiling, gracious women dressed in sarongs — and all dirt-cheap to a Canadian used to wallet-gouging back-at-home massage prices. The Eight Hand Massage is the most expensive option. It goes for $34 Cdn for one hour. Imagine: four attendants kneading away your bodily woes for a full 60 minutes.

Tempting, but in the end I went for the (much) cheaper Doctor Fish Massage.

Better than eight hands, I had several hundred mouths nibbling my feet and ankles for 20 minutes. Pure bliss.

Mind you I didn’t have smiling, gracious sarong-clad attendants. I had fish. Tiny fish with big mouths living in a large tank. I sat on the edge and dangled my bare tootsies and let the fish do their work. Think of it as Piranha Lite. The fish swarm your feet and nibble your calluses, flesh tags, bunions, corns and blisters. It is almost impossibly ticklish at the beginning, but if you stick it out it becomes delightful.

Does it hurt? Not a bit. Although a hotel guide tells the cautionary tale of a tourist who insisted on a double session. “Forty-five minutes – too long” warns the guide. “His feet bleed.”

Three dollars buys you 20 minutes and that felt just right.

The fish looked pretty satisfied too.

BALI, BANGKOK AND BEYOND
Arthur Black travelled on a Voyages to Antiquity cruise called Bali, Bangkok and Beyond on a cruise tour offered through Exclusive Tours. Read all about his adventures on board the Aegean Odyssey, a modern, slimmed-down cruise ship (only 350 passengers) making its way from Bali to Bangkok by way of Singapore, Saigon, Sihanoukville and Angkor Wat. His travel diary can be accessed by clicking the links above. Happy reading!

Live your own adventure. Cruise to Classical Civilizations on a Voyages to Antiquity cruise and discover the art, history and cultures of the ancient world.
Book today: 1.866.341.1777 or www.exclusivetours.ca