Thank you, Asia "Massages" (67 days to go)

March 25, 2021

We love massages.  In Asia, we have been able to afford them, too.  When you are a tourist in a country like the Philippines or Thailand or Vietnam access to massages on the beach is quite common and quite inexpensive.  In China and Hong Kong there are streets with multiple massage parlors ready for customers. 

I remember going to Krabi, Thailand and finding my first massage on a beach.  There is usually a tent, with maybe 4 tables set up.  You can ask for 30 minutes to 90 minutes and your masseuse will oil you up while you keep your suit on (or most of your suit).  The breeze off the ocean and sound of the waves and beach-goers wafts over you while you find yourself more and more relaxed.  A decade ago when we first had this experience, a massage cost the equivalent of $8 USD.  You can imagine, we made daily trips for beach massages.

Click here for a picture from Boracay, Philippines.

There are different types of massages.  In Thailand the customary massage is not oil but more of an acupressure point with stretching and contorting of your body by the masseuse while you lay on a mat on the floor.  They may even walk on your back.  Usually there is a cloth between you and the masseuse. I now prefer to ask for this kind, even in Hong Kong.

In China and Hong Kong "foot massages" are quite common.  In this case you sit entirely clothed in a room with strangers or friends also receiving foot massages.  First you soak your feet in hot water.  Then the masseur sits on a stool at your feet and massages your feet and calves while chattering away in Cantonese with the other masseuses.  Usually the final 5 minutes is a shoulder massage.  I don't like this one very much, but do it more as a social event with friends.  (Something I will be doing tonight.)  These are usually 30 - 45 minutes.

Foot Massage at Luxe in WanChai

Photo Credit Sarah W.

In Hong Kong the price can vary widely depending on how fancy the place is.  There are streets with several massage parlors, usually located up several flights of rundown stairs.  They advertise with guady neon signs in their window or pamphlets shoved in your face by an employee standing on the street as you go by.  But don't discount these places, they can be quite good.  Upon a rare occasion we have also had in-home massages, that is when someone comes to your home or hotel rather than you going to them.

Of course Brent and any other man in Asia will be able to tell you stories of mistakenly ending up in a massage parlor that gives "happy endings".  Oh oh!

I have had my fair share of massages over the past eleven years, yet my total is probably half of Brent's as he shoots for one per week.  Of course during Covid-19 the availability of any sort of massage has been on-again off-again.  Hong Kong has been quite strict with what services are and aren't available during Covid and massage parlors have suffered greatly.  

We are happy that the parlors are presently open again and hope to get in many more before heading back to Wisconsin.  Kah pun kah, Asia, for all of the relaxation.