Massage in Bangkok

If you have been to Thailand, but not experienced a Thai massage, then you are considered not visited Thailand!

That was what I was told, when I first visited Thailand many years ago.

I am not a person fond of body massage because I dislike strangers touching my naked body. And I don't like the typical Thai massage, as I have fear of breaking my bones when they twist my limbs. :P

So, I settled for foot massage, and I trully love it. Thai's foot massage is different from the Chinese, though they both refer to it as Foot Reflexology.

As my job now requires me to travel a lot, everytime when I go to Bangkok, I never missed it. However, year on year, I feel a drop in the quality. I got disappointed on many occassions. My colleagued even stopped doing massage completely.

But then, my friend who works in Bangkok now, brought me to two very good ones in my last visit. If you are looking for good Thai massage, you should visit them. They are not too pricey and the massuers are very well-trained.

They are both very good, and we would use them depends on vicinity and availability.

Asia Herb Association is near to the hotel that I always stay, very convenient for me. It is located on Sukhumvit Soi 24, just walking distance from Phrom Phong BTS and Davis Hotel.

In my last visit, I paid BHT 450 for 90 mins Foot/Head & Shoulder Massage (BHT 350 for 60 mins). It was really, really, good. I didn't know how tired my feet was, until the massuer gave them a good touch. It was sooooooo GOOD that I fell asleep. If I had stayed longer, I would have visited them more. :D

I missed it the first night because they were fully booked. So it is important to make advanced booking. Their number is: 02261 7401, 02260 8864. It is very popular amongst tourists, and particularly the Japanese. For more info, visit their website: Asia Herb Assiciation.

Another recommended one is Health Land, this is very popular amongst the locals. I tried it once, on full body aromatherapy massage. It was very good as well, but as I generally dislike full body massages, and the outlet is located quite far from the hotel, I didn't visit it again - not if my friend drives! :P

Whatever it is, I have a strong believe if the locals go there, it must be good and reasonably priced. True enough, compared to other outlets, it is a lot cheaper. Foot reflexology is only BHT 250 for 60 min.

For more info you can hop over to their website: Health Lang Spa.

Pratunam Market

In my last visit to Bangkok, I had a very busy schedule. Meeting was from 8am to 5pm everyday. On the second day evening, right afte I dropped my stuff back to the hotel, I took a cab to the Pratunam market.

I was deterined tha I must do some shopping. I have been grounded for more than 3 months and havn't got the chance to buy any CNY clothes for the children and even myself!

I went to the Pratunam wholesale market, despite knowing it was probably too late. When I arrived 80% of the shops were closed, and the rest were in the process of closing. I managed to catch one shop before they closed the shutter. It is a shop for children's clothing.

As I was in a hurry (can't believe that my bladder was full at this critical hour!), I didn't have the energy and time to negotiate, but I was pretty happy with the price despite knowing I probably paid higher than I would if I have time.

Here are the pants and shirts bought in that shop. All shirts are priced at THB100 (RM10), pants at THB150 (RM15), and jeans at THB200 (RM20). Ya, some of the sizes are too big - remember I was in a HURRY?


I then quickly went to the toilet in a mall nearby (nearby? 10 min walk!!). After than, when I returned, all shops were closed INSIDE the main block of the Pratunam market. What were left, only those outlets along the main road.

Still not too bad. I found a shop selling very little choices of children's clothes, but VERY CHEAP! Look, the Cheongsam for Isabel are only THB250 (RM25) for all the 4 pieces!


You can't even get this in Beijing, not to mention KL. I checked at Isetan KL a week later, similar dress (not same of course) costs RM89.90!!! Well, of course the ones at Isetan is a branded one - 'China Town'. But come one, 'China Town'? I don't really recognize that brand. LOL! Furthermore, for kids, I won't spend that much just for a dress that would probably last for 6 months only.

I then went to Carrefour and shopped at the stalls nearby. Wasn't keen to go to the SuanLum night bazaar as my aim is really clothes only. At Carrefour stalls, I only found black and white coloured clothes. Then, remembered it was the mourning period for the demised prince, which the citizens would mourn for 150 days.

Though they are all B&W clothes, their design is quite interesting. I found many nice B&W clothes but didn't really want too many of those. Hey, my aim was for CNY, how can I wear mourning clothes for New Year celebration? I will be killed by all the elders. LOL!

Interesting Travel Blog

I've stumbled across an interesting travel blog. Unlike other blogs, it covers travel stories in Asia.

One recent entry was about How To Overcome Con Artists in Asia. In this entry, the blogger reveals that a lot of 'trainee' tourguides actually spend very little time bringing tourists to the interesting spots. Instead, they were brought to factories to buy things, which the 'trainee' tourguides earn fat commissions.

Well, I don't think they always pose themselves as 'trainee'. The same scam is included in big and major ground tour agencies. Most of the ground tours end up in some kind of factories. This happens the most in China, even under the so called 'government owned outlets'.

There are other con stories in the same post, which I'm not going to repeat here. One is about Bangkok's disguised 'international police'. Worth checking this site for the detail.

Another interesting entry is about a story in Bangkok as well. We all know Thailand has a lot of Ah Gua ('lady boys'). This is an article about Top 5 Ways to Spot Lady Boys in Thailand. Don't be surprised that a lady that you're interested in, turn out to be a man! So, check this out to be for sure. ;)