Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
massage parlour. If the women are very young, scantily dressed or heavily made up, this
is a red flag that fuller services may be on offer. Private massage rooms at the back of the
salon in lieu of the more common curtained-off massage areas can be another clue that
the salon may be geared towards less savoury practices. A man asking for an 'oil mas-
sage' may also sometimes lead to techniques not on the advertised menu, even at what
appear to be classy establishments.
Once you're inside, take off your shoes and follow your masseuse. Sometimes you'll
be asked to leave your clothes on while at other places you'll be given a pair of Thai-
style pajamas or a sarong. In the case of the latter, strip down to your underwear either
behind your curtain or in a changing area, and put on the supplied garments. On the
beach you'll usually be massaged in your swimsuit, and a sarong is sometimes offered to
women who wish to take off their bikini tops.
The Massage
Thai massage is not for wimps. The session usually begins with relaxing kneading of the
back, arms and legs and the practitioner will often ask you if the pressure is light or
strong enough. Then it gets gnarly. First there's the chiropractic-like popping of joints -
mostly fingers and toes but sometimes whole legs and arms as well as the back and neck.
Then, even the tiniest masseuses will muscle you into yoga contortions that arch the
back, extend the legs and arms and so much more that it feels like you're being turned in-
to a human pretzel. You'll start the session on your back, get moved to a prone position
about midway and then end with your head in the practitioner's lap for a final head mas-
sage and a popping back stretch. Overall the treatment itself isn't very relaxing, but
you'll feel incredible afterwards. Let your massage therapist know in advance if you have
any injuries and don't be afraid to tell them to ease up on a stretch or joint pop. As with
any good workout, know your limits.
All this said, Thai massage in many tourist areas has become very watered down and
you may end up with just a light massage without being contorted or popped in the
slightest. Older ladies tend to give the most violent yet rewarding massages, but even
with younger ones, you won't know until your nose is hitting your knee what kind of tor-
turous therapy they're capable of.
If this sounds too scary, Swedish and other types of massage are also often available,
but you'll be missing out on a big cultural and maybe even spiritual experience. A more
