Now For Something Completely Different ......

[Spee]

Everyone talks about unusual things that they come across in Thailand. Here's one I had not seen before this spring's holiday in Ban Phe. We went to Rayong to go shopping, and inside the mall, right outside the bowling alley, is a fish massage vendor.

Never seen anything like it, so of course I had to try it after we were done bowling. Pretty unusual at first, but after a few minutes all of the new sensations take over and it frees up the mind to relax. Pretty cool. YMMV.

[Scully]

They have these massage fish in many places in Thailand, I personally think they do very little in the way of massage and are just a gimmick.

Nice picture by the way, that reminds me I must go and muck out my pigs.

[MB1]

It's been around in Thailand for quite some time, in Pattaya in Central Festival 2nd rd it's been there quite a while, if I remember correctly in June and even before that, they had a promotion for 100 baht to let the fish eat all of your loose skin on your feet and also massage your feet.

Guess what, they don't change the water after a customer gets his/her's feet out of the tank and the next customer puts his/her's feet in it, but maybe the fish eat all the things that could spread to other humans.Example, athletes foot..

And then if you go next door, out of the central Festival, directly opposite Sabai Empress, theres a SUBWAY, where you can get a sub of the day, I prefer to go on a Thursday if I remember correctly, and have the tuna sub of the day.

I just love fish...

[Richb2004v2]

I found it quite relaxing, but don't think it had much greater effect on my skin than sitting with my feet in water alone.

[yabaaaa]

I did this 20 years ago in the Maldives just by walking into the sea, they eat dead skin off your legs its not massage and yes it just a con, I feel sorry for the fish, what do they do with them when the business fails? Ive seen several of these shops come and go now.

[sanook2me]

I did this 20 years ago in the Maldives just by walking into the sea, they eat dead skin off your legs its not massage and yes it just a con, I feel sorry for the fish, what do they do with them when the business fails? Ive seen several of these shops come and go now.

They should put them in the overlow tank in Thai style squat toilets then you wouldn't have to wash and go with your hand...just drop your rear end in the top of the tank and let the little fishes clean your hole

These fish spas are everywhere now...really popular...of course as a farang you have the choice to pay 200 baht or more to go to a Thai waterfall and experience the fish in natural environments in a national park...Thais pay 40 baht for the same...but thats a different thread

[dumball]

You could just as easily put your feet in a large bowl of maggots , they eat dead flesh , and it has been proven that they actually improve the healing proccess of wounds , used a very long time ago on the battle-field , troops carried them in small pouches for that specific purpose , they are in use today also .

[ballpoint]

I did this 20 years ago in the Maldives just by walking into the sea, they eat dead skin off your legs its not massage and yes it just a con, I feel sorry for the fish, what do they do with them when the business fails? Ive seen several of these shops come and go now.

The rise in sushi restaurants is no conicidence. You're correct that this isn't a real fish massage. That involves an old trout battering you while you flounder on the bed and sending you away with mushy peas. I will grant that the shellfish massage, in particular the cockle pickers delight and the winkle worrier, does have its good points though.

[IanForbes]

In the beautiful waterfalls of Mt Erewan in Kanchanaburi province the little fish are there in the clear mountain stream to nibble your dead skin for free.

Just stand still for a few minutes and they will be all over your ankles. It feels like a little buzzing vibrator

[Tokay]

In the beautiful waterfalls of Mt Erewan in Kanchanaburi province the little fish are there in the clear mountain stream to nibble your dead skin for free.

Just stand still for a few minutes and they will be all over your ankles. It feels like a little buzzing vibrator

We were just there last year. Beautiful place! We got nibbled too.

[dsprtliving]

Tried this in Chiang Mai a couple of weeks ago and had to fight the urge to immediately yank my feet out of the water in terror at first. However, It was an interesting experience to be sure and I wondered if it would be good for people with corns/calluses on their feet as the little fish seem to really go for the dead skin?

[eek]

Haha..sounds a bit like my experience dsprtliving. NOt terror for me, but just overwhelmed. When i first tried it i wanted my feet OUT! But, my friend told me to sort myself out and stay the course. For the first 5 minutes..tears were streaming down my face as i had a terrible case of convulsing giggles. I just couldnt cope with what i was doing and the tickling sensation. After a while i settled down. HOwever, its not something i really feel comfortable about..just feels too weird!

[Valdezugar]

Yea I tried this last year.

My GF said that Thais don't really like it because it ain't too healthy. Not sure

[elkangorito]

I expected to see a man with 3 buttocks!

[yabaaaa]

I expected to see a man with 3 buttocks!

Or a dead parrot? it isnt dead its just sleeping!!!!

[ballpoint]

I expected to see a man with 3 buttocks!

Or a dead parrot? it isnt dead its just sleeping!!!!

Just hope you don't go to one of these spas, dip your feet in and see the piranha brothers swimming in the tank.

[StreetCowboy]

I did this 20 years ago in the Maldives just by walking into the sea, they eat dead skin off your legs its not massage and yes it just a con, I feel sorry for the fish, what do they do with them when the business fails? Ive seen several of these shops come and go now.

The rise in sushi restaurants is no conicidence. You're correct that this isn't a real fish massage. That involves an old trout battering you while you flounder on the bed and sending you away with mushy peas. I will grant that the shellfish massage, in particular the cockle pickers delight and the winkle worrier, does have its good points though.

A euphemism in the hand is worth two in the bush; or vice versa.

I must commend your post which has everything I ever look for in a post

- smut

- humour

- potatoes (well, chip shop references will have to suffice)

Thank you very much

SC

[StreetCowboy]

Haha..sounds a bit like my experience dsprtliving. NOt terror for me, but just overwhelmed. When i first tried it i wanted my feet OUT! But, my friend told me to sort myself out and stay the course. For the first 5 minutes..tears were streaming down my face as i had a terrible case of convulsing giggles. I just couldnt cope with what i was doing and the tickling sensation. After a while i settled down. HOwever, its not something i really feel comfortable about..just feels too weird!

I bet you post that in all the threads

SC

[Jingthing]

You could just as easily put your feet in a large bowl of maggots , they eat dead flesh , and it has been proven that they actually improve the healing proccess of wounds , used a very long time ago on the battle-field , troops carried them in small pouches for that specific purpose , they are in use today also .

That's the next coming thing. Surely it will start in Pattaya and spread to the sin island Phuket. Total body immersion MAGGOT massage. I can't wait!

The wave of the future? Lice massage.

[elkangorito]

You could just as easily put your feet in a large bowl of maggots , they eat dead flesh , and it has been proven that they actually improve the healing proccess of wounds , used a very long time ago on the battle-field , troops carried them in small pouches for that specific purpose , they are in use today also .

That's the next coming thing. Surely it will start in Pattaya and spread to the sin island Phuket. Total body immersion MAGGOT massage. I can't wait!

The wave of the future? Lice massage.

The only way that you'll get a 'lice' massage (pubic lice) is if you do the following:

1] Poor whiskey over the affected area.

2] After 30 minutes, pour a teaspoon of sand over the affected area.

The 'massage' occurs when the drunk lice start to throw rocks (sand grains) at each other. Ultimately, the lice will destroy themselves so this also serves as a good way to get a massage & rid yourself of pubic lice.

[TAWP]

I expected to see a man with 3 buttocks!

Or a dead parrot? it isnt dead its just sleeping!!!!