Dec 30:
I learned to water-ski when I was twenty years old. I had tried the year prior, but my attempts were half-hearted as I had an irrational fear that fish would bite my toes if I happened to fall in the lake. Now, I am much older, half way around the world, and what do I do but submerge my feet in a tank of tiny little fish whose sole purpose is to bite toes and feet.
On our visit to Suan Lum Night Market in Bangkok I had two unique experiences. I tasted authentic Thai ice-cream; certainly different from North American ice-cream, but just as delicious. The second unique experience was going to a fish spa – an oversized glassed-in fish tank that people put their feet into. For only 150 Baht, for fifteen minutes one can have fish eat away all their dead skin cells, supposedly leaving their feet feeling healthy and rejuvenated. We decided we would see if this actually worked.
We were ushered into the building, shown to our seats and instructed to clean our feet. We prepared ourselves for this experience; I took a deep breath, drew on my inner courage, submerged my feet and immediately screamed. This was definitely NOT fun. While it wasn’t painful I also wouldn’t call it pleasurable. It was mostly just weird – it felt like what it was – hundreds of tiny little fish nibbling on my feet.
Eventually my whimpering and facial grimacing stopped, my heart rate slowed to a more normal pace, and my muscles relaxed somewhat. I say somewhat because my toes continued to be clenched together – I was not letting those little suckers get between my toes. Having other tourists come in to experience the same fun we were having helped to distract us. At ten minutes into our experience we were old hats at the fish spa business, advising the newcomers that they too would get used to the weird feelings. I was even told I looked relaxed – it truly is amazing how deceiving perceptions can be.
As for the two unique experiences at the Bangkok Night Market I can say with confidence I will definitely try authentic Thai ice-cream again.
On our visit to Suan Lum Night Market in Bangkok I had two unique experiences. I tasted authentic Thai ice-cream; certainly different from North American ice-cream, but just as delicious. The second unique experience was going to a fish spa – an oversized glassed-in fish tank that people put their feet into. For only 150 Baht, for fifteen minutes one can have fish eat away all their dead skin cells, supposedly leaving their feet feeling healthy and rejuvenated. We decided we would see if this actually worked.
We were ushered into the building, shown to our seats and instructed to clean our feet. We prepared ourselves for this experience; I took a deep breath, drew on my inner courage, submerged my feet and immediately screamed. This was definitely NOT fun. While it wasn’t painful I also wouldn’t call it pleasurable. It was mostly just weird – it felt like what it was – hundreds of tiny little fish nibbling on my feet.
Eventually my whimpering and facial grimacing stopped, my heart rate slowed to a more normal pace, and my muscles relaxed somewhat. I say somewhat because my toes continued to be clenched together – I was not letting those little suckers get between my toes. Having other tourists come in to experience the same fun we were having helped to distract us. At ten minutes into our experience we were old hats at the fish spa business, advising the newcomers that they too would get used to the weird feelings. I was even told I looked relaxed – it truly is amazing how deceiving perceptions can be.
As for the two unique experiences at the Bangkok Night Market I can say with confidence I will definitely try authentic Thai ice-cream again.
Mom at the fish spa from Ryan Detwiller on Vimeo.
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