|
Almost every visitor to Bangkok takes in the Wat Phra Kaeo temple next to the Grand Palace and the trek around Phra Kaeo (location of the Emerald Buddha) can be as tiring as it is awe-inspiring. If you can manage to squeeze a bit more energy to walk about 10 minutes to Wat Pho, just south of the palace, you'll be well rewarded. Wat Pho is home to Reclining Buddha, also mentioned in guide books, and the crowds that enter to see the famous statue can be daunting.
But the goal here is not to line up yet again for a tiring walk, but to enter the stunning temple grounds past the crowds and seek out the massage school. Various areas of the temple have been transformed into educational facilities and two buildings on the eastern side house the school for Thai Traditional Medical Science and Body Massage. The buildings are dorm-style facilities where people can basically walk in (first come, first served) for body or foot massages
.
This may be one of the best, and definitely the most reasonable, massages you'll get in your life.
Prices start at 180 baht ($4.50 US) for a half-hour massage and go up to 800 baht ($20 US) for a 1.5-hour massage done outside. Also offered are 45-minute foot reflexology sessions for 300 baht ($7.50 US).
A few words of warning, though. The massages are very strong so if you have any tender spots or sore joints, let them know beforehand. Also, since the massages are given in dorm-style, large rooms, with beds put close to one another, clothing is kept on, so wear loose, comfortable clothes; long pants or shorts and a short-sleeved top or even a tank top is OK, but a skirt would be awkward. And there is no privacy, so if you're a bit shy about getting massaged in public, ask for directions to the private rooms in a building a short walk away.
It's also a good idea to spring the extra 20 baht for fresh linen. More inf can be found on their web site here!
|
