After a fun filled day yesterday we decided to just take it easy today. We used the local laundry service across from the Hotel, way better than a Laundromat, you drop it off, they clean it, fold it and you pick it up 24 hours later for about $5. Amazing service.
I met a fellow in the lobby of the hotel this morning who was an acupuncturist from Austria. He was in Chiang Mai taking a month long course on Thai massage. I asked him where the best place to get a massage from and he recommended a spa just around the corner from the ITM school. Bill and I decided to splurge and book a spa massage.
I must say there is quite a variance in massage techniques depending on which area of Thailand you are in and what type of facility you are using. So far we have had 4 different massages. The first one was in Bangkok and it was very painful (however we had just travelled 30 hours so we might have been a little stiff). This massage concentrated on our back and shoulder area and was in a small massage parlor next to our hotel. The cost of 300 baht for an hour. The next one was at our hotel in Chiang Mai. It was much gentler and worked mainly on our calves and thighs. Both of these were Thai massages, this one was a whole 250 baht [$6]. Next we decided on a small spa in Chiang Mai, but opted for an oil massage this time. It was very relaxing and the oil felt wonderful all over your body. This one was 400 baht. The last one was at the spa the Austrian recommended. The front of the spa was deceiving and did not look like much, but when we entered we were pleasantly surprised. It was wonderful. They gave us a herbal tea to drink and soaked our feet in basins of cool water cleaning our feet with herbs and spices, such as turmeric, galangan, lime, as well as a salt scrub. She then sprayed our feet with a galangan spray which was suppose to relax your feet. The Thai massage was quite gentle but firm and they did a number of stretching techniques involving upper body twists and leg stretches. I don't think Bill's calf's will be the same. But you do feel wonderful afterwards. At the end of this treatment we were seated downstairs and given a snack of passion fruit and another herbal drink. It was a wonderful experience and well worth the 660 baht for the hour and half.
Since this day we have also had a Thai massage on the beach at Poseidon in Khao Lak. I must say Bill and I both preferred being pampered in the spa the best. However each massage has left us feeling very relaxed and rejuvenated. The Thai people certainly know how to take care of themselves.
Later that night we went for a walk and tried spring rolls from one of the vendors. They were very tasty. We then had a wonderful meal in the restaurant around the corner trying new dishes and each time loving all of them. Bill was on the hunt for deep fried bananas for desert, but the street vendors were not cooking them. He would have to wait.
Chiang Mia was a wonderful city, however the pollution was terrible due to the number of motor bikes and red cabs. All in all we had a great time making our way around seeing the sights, shopping and talking to people.
Next stop is Khao Lak and our snorkel boat.
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