Every Picture Tells a Story #5

[webfact]

Every Picture Tells a Story #5
Orlando Barton



Welcome to “Every Picture Tells a Story”; a weekly post about living in Thailand. Each week we’ll post a picture that illustrates some of the little things those of us fortunate enough to live here hold dear.

Wish we had that at Home

Live in Thailand long enough and you start taking everyday things for granted.

The idea that you can buy a bag of fresh sliced pineapple on the street for 10 baht is alien to my fellow countrymen.

Tell a woman from my country she can get a manicure and pedicure for $15 and she’ll act as though you are speaking some other language.

Sometimes I look in the rearview mirror while an attendant is pumping gas into my car and remember that he is an extinct species back in my country of origin.

When my brother and sister visited a few years back, their favorite phrase was “wish we had that at home”. Hand sprayers on the toilets … foot massage on every corner … food courts where you can eat for 50 baht; all stuff I’ve grown accustomed to.

In fact, only when someone new mentions these things do I realize how much I’m taking for granted.
This past week I was proud to acknowledge one of my favorite little differences without being prompted. As I pulled into the car park of my favorite sauna, it dawned on me that we don’t have these where I come from.

Over the years I’ve been to many versions of the Thai sauna. My first was in a tucked away jungle locale in southern Phuket. It was an herbal steam sauna using a boiler fueled by coconut wood and herbs from the owner’s garden. I’d rent a sarong and a towel for 50 baht, order a big bottle of drinking water and sweat out the night before.

Fresh water was supplied in giant urns where you scoop out a shower with plastic bowls. Alternating between the superheated herbal steam, the ice cold shower and drying off in the sun just melted the stress away.

The story this week’s picture tells is about my current sauna ritual site in Jomtien. It is a decidedly more upscale set up than my first encounter in Phuket, but equally as satisfying. When you check in, for 200 baht you get a locker, two towels, swimming shorts if you need them and an endless supply of ice-water in a bright pink pitcher.

There is an herbal steam, a dry sauna, a cold dip and a huge swimming pool. Seating is both covered and uncovered.

Many tables around the pool have electrical outlets for people like me, with a portable office. They even serve a very nice menu of Thai food. Many Sundays have been spent there expelling poisons and healing my soul.

To afford this kind of relaxation and stress release in my home country, I’d have to belong to some exclusive club with a huge annual fee. And, there would be all kinds of rules about what I could wear, or whom I could bring with me. For sure I couldn’t order a beer. I know of no public facilities in my hometown like those I’ve found in Thailand.

So, as I dry off from the cold dip and order some green curry chicken for lunch, I can’t help thinking, “I bet they wish they had this at home”.

Source: http://www.inspirepattaya.com/lifestyle/every-picture-tells-story-5/


-- Inspire Pattaya 2016-02-01

[timbothaivisa]

My first thought was that this piece would be about girl No.16 from Baccarra

[terryp]

I worked it out , that’s the go-go dancers number with a 2ltr chilled pitcher of Vodka

[realenglish1]

Table for Woman only

[DrTuner]

Ah yes, the bacteria infested water available at every Mama Nok's near you.

[aussiandrew]

A good read and it's quite true. It's still can be a great place.

[DogNo1]

You've obviously never been to a Japanese sento or onsen with a sushi bar nearby. Usually inside the bath there is a machine from which you can buy a variety of cold drinks. A pleasure with a different flavor but it rivals the Thai experience. And BTW, where do you get a manicure AND a pedicure for $15 these days? Both cost 600 baht plus in Bangkok these days.

[maingmoom]

I think I know the Sauna you speak of in Phuket. I used to go there about 12 years ago in Ao Chalong it was a great place to chill out and finish with a massage. It was very cheap but can't remember actual cost.

Where is this sauna in Jomtien. It sounds really good and I would love to visit ?

[DrTuner]

Where is this sauna in Jomtien. It sounds really good and I would love to visit ?

There's a couple of them. My guess is the photo is from Mari-Jari, it's a nice place.

[maingmoom]

Where is this sauna in Jomtien. It sounds really good and I would love to visit ?

There's a couple of them. My guess is the photo is from Mari-Jari, it's a nice place.

Thanks for that Dr Tuner I will give it a go

[LoZth]

I must be luckier than some, a manicure lady comes to the door regularly.

Manicure and pedicure 150bht.......

(she still tries to paint my nails in various garish colours, but I still decline her offer. 555)

[boonchu]

600bt manicures and pedicure??? I get mine across the road from my home for only 150 bt for both.

[oxo1947]

Thanks Webfact ----nice post...............................I do wish people would reflect more on what a Sh1t hole they left to come to Thailand....so some of them could sit on a bar stool and spend their life moaning.............

[louse1953]

Ah yes, the bacteria infested water available at every Mama Nok's near you.

Bacteria is good for you,if it doesn't kill you.

[bazza40]

My son visited in November, and was blown away by the cost of massages. $6-$8 for one hour. In Melbourne, the cheapest is $50 an hour, more commonly $60 -$70.

Scotch whisky $20 a litre bottle, in Australia the cheapest is $25 for a 700 mL bottle.

Build a 2-bedroom house for $25K including furnishings and aircons. Minimum in Australia $150K, unfurnished.

Agree with the OP - there's a lot of pissing and moaning, when we should be counting our blessings.

[djayz]

All of the above AND the climate here is, usually, just perfect!

We don't have weather like this back home - not even in summer.

[TheKnave]

Every pitcher tells a story, apparently...

[jacko45k]

The bum sprays in the toilet are fine here, but the recent cold spell reminds me why they may not be as suitable in my home country.

I will fix that dent in the bathroom ceiling soon.

[gemguy]

It has always been a toss up as to the many benefits or comforts or amenities that Thailand has on offer verses the home country environment that each person left long ago.

If you live in Topeka Kansas there would be a stark difference to the lifestyle you live there or the lifestyle you could create for yourself in Topeka Kansas verses how you can live your life and or lifestyle here in Thailand.

Often it depends a lot on what you left behind as compared to what is on offer here in Thailand.

Living in Thailand certainly is or can be more exciting and stimulating and interesting......but apparently it is not for everyone as many people come and experience Thailand once and that is once enough for many people...Thanks..... and now they are back at home...Home Sweet Home as they say, where they are comfortable and cozy in the environment that they grew up around and they are so familiar with and happy to be back home.

Meantime....Yes, long term foreign dwellers do need to be reminded of just how many services or products or self indulging forms of stimulus are available here that are not available or readily available back in their home country and all part of the charm of Thailand and amongst the many reason we choose or prefer to live here.

Cheers