Dr. Fish Massage
By Thomas on February 15, 2010 | No Comments »
Siem Reap, the town outside of Angkor Wat, is well prepared to pamper tired, temple-hopping tourists. Fish massage centers seem to be springing up on every corner offering a very different kind of pedicure. Clippers, scissors and files have been replaced by sucking fish lips eager to work on crusty feet.
Walking around town, you can hear the giggling and squeaking first-timers as they are sitting around inflated pools enjoying the new-found sensation. But the best thing is that fish massage parlors have even made it to Angkor Wat. Here, the fish are hungry and the tourist’s feet are callused from all the walking. And what better place to have fish nibble dead skin off of your feet than in direct view of the famous temple.
It certainly makes for a great memory – as long as you have the right pair of feet. Don’t think everyone gets the same amount of attention. Some feet are highly sought after, others are more of an afterthought. Every time Tony dipped his feet into the pool, the fish turned their backs on me. Go figure! I would have predicted the odds on my side, sausage toes and all.
Although a fish massage is plenty of fun, it is also controversial. While the business of smoothing one’s heels is rapidly expanding in Southeast Asia, many states in the U.S. have banned this exotic procedure blaming the cute little fish for spreading nasty diseases.
But pedicurists are on the warpath. In a legal battle that’s going on in Arizona, legal experts are deciding whether a fish can be called a tool. The Arizona State Board of Cosmetology states that tools used for pedicures must be stored in a dry place and disinfected after use, both of which are highly questionable when it comes to fish.
Sure, a fish massage is a calculated risk. The fish could go piranha on you, or worse, you might end up with Athlete’s Foot – but that’s probably about it. The real dangers while traveling in Asia are the exposed wires next to the shower head or putting your life into a crazy bus driver’s hands.
What can be the harm in having a bunch of fish “release your exhaustion and feel confused matter of you” (as the ad claims)?
Topics: Cambodia | No Comments »
