Khmer Massage

At the beginning of August I was working and visiting one of my friends in Siem Reap (we both work for the same organization). I found out she had a local place she goes for a massage. Now something you should know about my friend is I think secretly she is Dutch...she just doesn't know it. This girl knows how to find a deal, get a deal, and not spend money better then most people I know. I watch her bargain for Tuk Tuk rides and get the price she wants, usually lower then what most will pay. So it came as no surprise that she would find this Khmer massage place and request to be a VIP member so instead of paying $6 she would only have to pay $3 (which is also valid for one guest...guess who that got to be :))

I had not yet experienced this type of massage as I have stuck with the usual Western style massages when I have gone to help my aching body (have I mentioned there is NOTHING comfortable to sit on in this country! I will take the floor with a pillow over some of the furniture here). Needless to say, for the first few months here my body would ache at the end of the day. One of the nice things about living here is that getting a massage is much cheaper then getting one back home. So as I was staying with her and had heard about her being a VIP member we went for a massage one evening.

To start the experience we sat and drank tea. As we were chatting a guy came up and sat down and by the way the girls were acting we could tell he was someone important. His English was excellent and he dressed very well, but informed us he was a Tuk Tuk driver....yeah, right. I have never met a Tuk Tuk driver that well spoken or dressed. Neither of us believed him and I was getting the "sleazy guy" vibe from him. Sadly with our line of work we know what else can happen at these massage places and had a hunch this guy owned and ran this particular one. Next we were taken to nice chairs (that were actually comfortable) and they washed our feet and gave us clean flip flops to wear.

After climbing some stairs to reach the massage room we were given "pajama's" to change into. They were very comfortable fisherman pants, as they are called here, that are huge and would fit anyone. You tie the pants to fit you, which is nice. And then a button up shirt finished the ensemble. So my friend and I laid down on mattresses on the floor next to each other and waited for our massage to begin. The girls came in and began. I can't say it was a relaxing massage...but it was very interesting. Think of going to a Chiropractor, with some massage, and someone helping you do Yoga. Also the massage is one of the hardest massages I have ever had...I think my friend Netty needs to come and get one. So while I was laying there being twisted, cracked, and bent I was intrigued.  I'm not sure I felt the same relaxed feeling as my Western massage but you still aren't sure about moving when you are done...but for different reasons. The massage was kind of a work out for your body and I'm not sure if I want to get another one. But  I am glad I now know what a Khmer massage is all about, especially if I need something cracked in the future :)