When I feel a bit down, usually there are two things that I would choose either to do to cheer myself up and stop me from mutating into a total pessimist. One is to get my hair trimmed, the other, which is also more frequently used, is to eat a nice meal. But this time I decided to take a brand new approach.
I bought two Thai massage coupons of a newly opened SPA shop from one of those popular discount websites at the time when I felt drained preparing for my IELTS exam. The offer on the website was not only in a very tempting price but also sounded exactly like what I needed then - with only 14 quid I can experience a 120 minute long ancient Thai style massage for the whole body to help relax your tense muscles.
However, I neither used the coupons during my IELTS preparation, nor did I use it as a celebration of passing the exam. I don't know what I was waiting for. Guess it was a bit like my 'Chrismas chocolate complex.' When I was still a kid, my younger sister Ruby and I always received loads of beautifully wrapped chocolate and candy at Christmas. Both of us had a tin box, Ruby's was sliver and mine was black, where we would put all of our chocolate and candy in. The bottom of Ruby's tin box was usually seen within one or two months after Christmas. As for mine, even though it was not my original intention at all, I usually let the chocolate and candy stay until passing its best-before date. Cos they were just too beautiful to eat. And I was also waiting for a 'special' mood, whether being depressed or happy, to feel like having the desperate need to enjoy them.
Despite intentionally choosing to walk for about forty minutes, instead of taking a bus there, I was still fifteen minutes early. A mild smell of incense wafting through the doorstep when the glass door was opened. The shop was pretty much the same as the photos I had seen on the website. Under my feet was clean and cool dark brown wooden floor. A wall of green plants stood at the left hand side at the entrance. Cozy rattan sofa formed the waiting area with a small bowl of white plumeria flowers casually placed on the rattan coffee table. There were also several different sizes of wooden and stone elephant sculptures resting at the corners on the floor and on the cabinets.
Although surrounded by very relaxing ambiance and having my feet washed and massaged, somehow all I was thinking was a footage of the famous Amercian chef Anthony Bourdain's programme Anthony Bourdain : No Reservations. In one episode he travelled to Turkey and went for a Turkish style massage. He was all wet and barely naked lying on a platform in a tiled bathroom with only a small towel covering his butt. Straddled by a Turkish guy he was painfully whining whiling having his limbs and body twisted and folded in a certain way. He claimed later in the interview that it was one of the most humiliated moments in his life. Suddenly, I felt a bit nervous and wanted to ask, 'errr, could somebody please explain what exactly the 'ancient Thai style massage really means?'
After the feet washing, I was brought to a room called Lavender in the cellar where I got changed into a loose-as-size-14 white cotton top and bermuda pants. My No.9 'master' (as what we call masseuse/ masseur in Chinese) is a slim Thai born Chinese woman in her early forty. To recall our conversation before she started her service, feel somehow now it sounds like lines in some kind of porn film.
'Is this your first time?'
"Yes, and actually I am feeling a bit nervous right now."
'Well, it is a bit painful if this is your first time. But, don't worry, I will try to be gentle. And you can always tell me if you want me to be even more gentle.'
There were some positions I think we might look like women wrestling on WWE women championship and I was preparing to scream if she bent my legs toward my head one degree more. Although I didn't fall asleep, which is what I had imagined and expected, we exchanged some interesting conversation. And I was surprised to know that actually there are much more men going for a massage than women. Interestingly, she also said that comparing to people in other countries, she thinks Taiwanese people prefer probably the most intensive strength on their massage.
Walking out the shop I can't wait to call Sabrina who recommended me to buy the coupons and shared with her my first time experience of having a professional massage. Although think I will add having a massage on my list as one of the antidotes next time, maybe not a Thai style one. (10 quid for a coupon to enjoy an ancient Thai style massage, anyone?)
No comments:
Post a Comment