We’re in Bangkok with a free afternoon on our hands. What to do? What to do? How about getting massages? Not just any old massages, though – massages by blind masseurs and masseuses. People who “see” with their hands. And “Thai” massages to boot. Sounds interesting, no?
Massage in Bangkok
We’ve only been in Bangkok for a day, but I bet I’ve seen at least a hundred massage places. I know what you’re thinking. Massage in Bangkok. Shady massage parlors. Uh oh.
I don’t think it’s like that over here. Massage is part of Thai culture. They’ve been doing it for thousands of years. There’s even a famous Thai massage school on the grounds of Wat Pho temple.
Not that nefarious massage parlors aren’t around. I’m certainly no expert, but it’s pretty easy to get an idea about what’s inside from the name on the outside. For example, if the place is named “Hotsy-Totsy Massage Palace,” well, that might be a clue.
But by far, most of the massage places we’ve passed on the street seem to be just about massage. Many specialize in foot massages. They look like nail salons inside. You can look through the windows and see big massage chairs lined up side by side. People have their feet massaged while they read the paper or talk on the phone. No big deal. Just having their feet massaged for an hour while they multi-task.
Most massage places we saw are as described above. Then there are the “in-between” places. They’ll have the usual set-up with the massage chairs in the window. Everything looks legit, but then there’ll be a handful of beautiful girls out front, beckoning you to come on in. Hmmm. Might be completely innocent. I just don’t know.
Perception Blind Massage
The place we’re going to is certainly special, even here in the land of the massage. It’s called “Perception Blind Massage.” All of the masseurs and masseuses are blind to some degree. The business is affiliated in some way with the Thailand Association of the Blind. We’ll get massages and support a good cause at the same time.
We’d had enough tuk tuk rides for one day, so to get there, we used the “Grab Taxi” service. It’s the Thai version of Uber, more or less. It worked great. Our driver delivered in no time, and with no hassle. Thank goodness we had the address and a driver who knew where he was going. The place was hard to see, even when we were standing right in front of it.
We went in through a door that opened into a narrow staircase. We found a small reception area upstairs. The light inside was dim. The décor had been done tastefully in grays and dark colors. It was a serene space. Very nice.
After removing our shoes, we were led to a room that was divided into partially enclosed massage areas. Each space was roomy and was empty except for a soft mat on the floor and a pillow.
Massage Time
Our masseurs greeted us individually and handed us loose-fitting pajama-like things to put on. Mine was about ten sizes too big. I couldn’t figure out how it was supposed to go on, so I just faked it. It wasn’t like I was going to be going anywhere for awhile.
My masseuse appeared to be in her late twenties or early thirties. She had a welcoming smile. Even though I was wearing clothes that could have fit two of me at the same time, I felt completely comfortable and relaxed. I felt like I was in good hands. (So to speak).
She started working on me, and for awhile it didn’t feel like much was going on. Looking back, I think she was probably just probing around, getting familiar with the very loosely-dressed slab of humanity lying before her, a.k.a. me.
Her touch remained subtle for awhile, becoming less subtle as the massage progressed. It was clear that she was following a process – probably the same one they’ve been teaching here for centuries. There was something methodical in her movements.
I was all ready to have my muscles kneaded like bread dough. Instead, she focused her energy on pressure points that seemed to be connected. Hey – I had read about this. She must have been following “meridians.” Whatever she was doing, it was working.
She had a little timer that quietly called out the elapsed time at 15-minute intervals. By the second call-out, I wished I had signed up for a two-hour session instead of just one. Had I not been under massage-induced sedation, I might have tried to remove the batteries in that timer without her knowing. Just kidding!
When we left Perception Blind Massage, we were happy campers. Travel fatigue? What travel fatigue? Stress? What stress? Life is beautiful! And tonight – Foodie Tour by Tuk Tuk!
To be continued…
