A Fish Spa

[TotallyOz]

In Singapore for holiday and having a good time. I did a fun thing today. I had a foot massage. But, it was no ordinary foot massage, it was one given to me by fish. Yep, that's right, Fish.

 

I love a foot massage sitting on the beach in Jomtien and relaxing. I just love it. Having seen signs on a Singapore taxi about a fish spa, I decided to give it a try.

 

They clean your feet and you put them into a tank of water for 30 minutes while the fish suck and nibble the dry skin off your of feet and legs. They say it is a very natural way to exfoliate. LOL It was entertaining as I went with a lady I met at my hotel and we were chatting and we both decided we wanted to try it. Her husband was here on business and her days were free so she became my shopping buddy for a few days. I have had a blast with her as she loves to shop and is one of those women you see on Sex in the City with a very open mind and always pointing out the cute guys for me.

 

Anyway, perhaps this is a new business for the BF? Do you think this is a good gimmick? I did enjoy it and my feet have never felt cleaner. It was ticklish at first but after a few seconds we just sat back, relaxed and drank some hot tea. We started in the tank with the smallest fish and then moved to the one with larger more aggressive fish. It was absolutely amazing how the fish were all over the tank until we stuck our feet in and they then IMMEDIATELY swam to us and started their respective jobs. Here are a few pics with my new camera. I needed a compact camera for a trip next month so I bought the new Sony t700. It is small, compact and takes 10.1 MP. Sorry if the images are not great but it was my first with the new camera.

[Gaybutton]

That definitely fits into the category of "now I've seen everything." Don't you wonder who came up with this idea in the first place?

 

By the way, you've got great legs. Are you busy this weekend . . . . . ?

[Guest]

A good article on Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_fish

 

A good video on BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7532248.stm

 

PS Available all weekend.

[Guest jomtien]

Anyway, perhaps this is a new business for the BF?

 

 

Personally, I wouldn't want MY boyfriend sucking and nibbling on strangers feet, but to each his own I guess.

 

 

 

 

[Guest buaseng]

Several years ago I visited a national park somewhere south of Chantaburi in the Trat area on one of the sight-seeing trips which dear old Ian McKnight from LCR recommended.

Near the top of the hill there was a waterfall which fed a large pond on a flat area before the fall continued down the hill. The pond was stocked with a huge quantity of quite largish fish which, when one put one's feet in the water to cool them off after the long trek up the hill, performed the same service.

[Gaybutton]

in the Trat area

 

In other words, those fish were hot to Trat . . .

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Personally, I wouldn't want MY boyfriend sucking and nibbling on strangers feet, but to each his own I guess.

 

 

I think he meant to have a fish spa, not boys nibbling on feet. LOL

[Bob]

In other words, those fish were hot to Trat . . .

 

Just so you aren't wondering, I give you my official "GROAN...."

Very punny indeed and, in your honor, for breakfast tomorrow my fish are going to have toest & jam.......

[Gaybutton]

for breakfast tomorrow my fish are going to have toest & jam.......

 

What kind of jam? Toe jam, no doubt . . .

 

I don't know if I would want to go to this spa. You get your feet cleaned, yes, but is that enough to truly satisfy? I'm getting a few kinky thoughts about other parts of the body that might get a rise from certain . . . . . ablutions, courtesy of the fish. I wonder if that is offered.

[Bob]

Today, saw a brief tv interview with some spa owner (I think in California) about the same topic. Some concerns were raised about whether the procedure is sanitary and the owner responded that they change the water after each "cleansing." Rather stupid answer, I thought, as they don't change the fish (which, if carrying nasty germs or infections, just carry on in the newly added "fresh" water). In that spa, they were doing it in little plastic tubs.

 

Probably relatively safe and sounds like some new age thing to me; regardless, my feet won't be used for bait anytime soon.

[Guest xiandarkthorne]

Unless I misremember, the fish originally came from a special pool in South America (I think there was a tv documentary on it) and the phenomenon occured naturally. It was medically proven that the fish really helped people with various forms of skin disorder like psoriasis. I always thought it one of those especially charming wonders of nature...and now somebody's reduced it to a tacky commercial venture for the kind of jaded people looking for a new experience, to whom I wouldn't give the time of day.

 

Whomever it was that came up with the idea of the fish spa, I hope they reserve a special place in hell for him.

[Guest]

and now somebody's reduced it to a tacky commercial venture for the kind of jaded people looking for a new experience, to whom I wouldn't give the time of day.

 

Oops. I think that is me. I have always said I was a bit jaded. I enjoyed it and it was fun to try. I think they said the fish originally came from Turkey and it took off in Japan and then in other areas. I enjoyed the experience so much that I am thinking of opening one of them. I am not sure if I can teach my goldfish to do this kind of work, but I started training them today. Wish me luck.

 

PS, they would come no where near my feet. Tomorrow, I have purchased some double sided tape and will take their food to my toes to get them started.

[Guest xiandarkthorne]

Sorry if I stepped on your toes, GT, but I am absolutely furious at the exploitation of these fish and while I am no more a supporter of animal causes (not since they insisted sharks don't attack people - it's people who provoke sharks), I don't believe that something God (or Nature....take your pick) made for the benefit of humanity should be made to suffer because of their natural propensities or properties. Yeah, they change the water after each 'cleansing' but do they even think about what a traumatic experience it is for the fish to have their water changed so often? Or how much the fish suffer from being forcibly removed from their natural habitat and dunked into chlorin-impregnated water? And that is just the beginning. Did anyone ever think to ask the spa owners how often they have to replace the fish (think mortality rate)? And all that to make a few bucks....

[Bob]

I am absolutely furious at the exploitation of these fish

 

Geez, xian, rather far out on a limb, aren't ya? I'm guessing you eat fish occasionally but that somehow it's okay to catch the fish and suffocate it to death while letting these little fish eat dead skin from feet (and/or changing their water) is cruel or something? Srange thinking.

 

Speaking of thinking, they don't.

 

 

 

[Gaybutton]

the fish originally came from a special pool in South America

 

Oh my God. Piranhas!!!!

 

[Guest lvdkeyes]

I thought Gian was joking. Do you mean that posting was serious?

[Guest JoeM]

Fish have rights too...

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Fish have rights too...

 

Also cabbage, carrots, onions, etc etc. Get realistic!

[Guest ReneThai]

There seems to be a fish spa near the Asia Hotel :

 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293919-...:Fish.Spa..html

 

I cannot find the date of this article , maybe it is outdated ?

 

Rene

[Bob]

You know, I got to thinking (yea, I know, that's dangerous). From now on, I'm going to be a little wary of having a fish dinner in Thailand. Lord/Buddha knows, what I would be about to eat had been previously dining on GT's feet! Yuck!

[Guest xiandarkthorne]

Geez, xian, rather far out on a limb, aren't ya? I'm guessing you eat fish occasionally but that somehow it's okay to catch the fish and suffocate it to death while letting these little fish eat dead skin from feet (and/or changing their water) is cruel or something? Srange thinking.

 

Speaking of thinking, they don't.

 

First of all, my sincere apologies to anyone else whose toes I might have stepped on with my rant. I do realise that I sometimes reveal my worst troll-like characteristics for the most unexpected reasons.

 

Having said that, I admit that, of course, I eat fish, Bob. And I don't have a problem whacking them dead on the head before I gut, slice and fry or steam them. I am Chinese, after all! But I kill the fish I eat. And I kill the fish to eat them. I don't exploit them or torture them to make money (though I have used a fabulous fish dinner to get a good-looking guy into my bed....but that's another story.)

 

However, I think you have missed the point in my post. I never complained about them eating dead skin. That is what they do and do well, apparently. I understand that they perform a therapeutic function and I don't have a problem with that if people went to the pools where they lived and stuck their feet or whatever into the water. I foam at the mouth at the thought that they are traumatised repeatedly with frequent water changes et al (that was what set me off) in order for someone to make a few bucks.

 

While I don't have any really strong opinion about fish having rights, I do feel sad to think about that. In this day and age, do we really need to make another species suffer just so that a few people can get new jollies and go 'Hee hee...ooo...that tickles!"...and please, don't tell me that only people suffering from skin diseases or disorders patronize these places. Or that the proprietors opened the fish spa out of their concern for such dermatologically-challenged persons.

 

And no, I am not a soppy bleeding heart. My favourite kink is BDSM-related, everyone here knows by now, I am sure.

 

Xian

 

PS

Concerning fish being able to think, I am not sure I agree with you there, either. Recent experiments I saw on television seem to indicate that they do have some ability to make decisions. But that's not the point is it? It's simply a question of making something defenceless frightened or shocked repeatedly and unnecessarily, that I find cruel. For all my innate sexual sadism, I draw the line at that.

 

PPS

A branch of the spa just opened across the road from my flat in Penang. You can imagine how happy that makes me!

 

[Guest xiandarkthorne]

I thought Gian was joking. Do you mean that posting was serious?

 

Eerr...were you referring to me? I know everything isn't about me, but I really don't recall another board member by that name. If you were, yes, I was serious.

 

Xian

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Eerr...were you referring to me? I know everything isn't about me, but I really don't recall another board member by that name. If you were, yes, I was serious.

 

Xian

 

 

Yes, I meant you Xian...., Are you a vegetarian? Do you eat vegetables? If you are not a vegetarian or even if you eat vegetables, shame on you. Vegetables are living things until we brutally cut them down or pull them from the ground. Barbaric!!! Please!!!!!!! In case you are not sure (LOL), I am being sarcastic.

[Guest xiandarkthorne]

Yes, I meant you Xian...., Are you a vegetarian? Do you eat vegetables? If you are not a vegetarian or even if you eat vegetables, shame on you. Vegetables are living things until we brutally cut them down or pull them from the ground. Barbaric!!! Please!!!!!!! In case you are not sure (LOL), I am being sarcastic.

 

But of course, I eat vegetables. I eat everything that's tasty. I am Chinese, as I mentioned before, and there are very few things we don't stuff into our mouths!

 

And yes, I realized you were trying to be sarcastic. I think I speak enough English sufficiently well to understand that you were attempting to demonstrate some form of wit. Kudos for your brave effort. We all have to start somewhere.

 

However, you seem to have missed another point in my posts. As I also said, I only kill to eat. I don't traumatize helpless animals for a few cheap thrills. Those I get from guys I off.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

I don't traumatize helpless animals for a few cheap thrills. Those I get from guys I off.

 

So it is not OK to traumatize fish, but it OK to traumatize the guys you off. How interesting!!!