“A question, please,” said my classmate Olivia shyly. “In Brazil we don’t have this idea, but I hear that in America and Europe, Thai massage sometimes is, um… well… how you say…”
“Hoo boy! Which week do they teach you the happy ending?”According to a 2004 issue of The Nation (pictured, left), Thailand has an estimated 2,800,000 sex workers, comprising 4% of the population here. This is one out of every 24 people in Thailand involved in prostitution. That’s a lot!
Sometimes the sex trade here is blatant, as in the “ping pong shows” and other yonically acrobatic displays on Patpong Road, or such as the fact that tuk tuk drivers will persistantly ask single male travelers, “You want boom boom?”
Most often, however, the sex shop display sign is more subtle, and reads simply: “Massage”. How’s an innocent traveling pup to know which are the real Thai massage parlors, and which are those that provide those certain special services at the end?
“You always know real Thai massage. You know why? Because if clothes on, that’s Thai massage. If clothes off, not real Thai massage. Easy.”
He gave us a big wink and a smile, and everyone giggled. Prostitution is so prevalent here, everyone is always referring to it. For better or worse, these references are usually accompanied by chuckles and a sense of humor.
About seven times in class today, our instructors had to say, “Now very careful this move, because now we get near the Michael Jackson area!” (Yes, that’s right– I’m representing this concept with a photo of a cucumber street vendor, left.)
The stretching and twisting in Thai massage can be overly intense for some, and several tourists I’ve met have been injured by an untrained spine cracking move during a massage.“You don’t go high enough!” reprimanded the French woman I was partnered with today. “Point three is all the way up here by zee groin, not down by zee knee!”
“Oh right,” I stuttered, “I, um, forgot.”
I’ve spent so much of my life NOT putting my hands all over random strangers that it is an odd thing to start practicing it daily.
It is a tricky task communicating enough with my massage partners to make the whole endeavor respectful… and respectable! But it is endlessly fascinating, and I am thrilled to be in this course. Stay tuned for more!
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Jun Hao Wu says
At first I think this is a passage about Thailand massage and thinking its just like normal massage from other places. Until I saw this essay I didn’t notice most massage place in Thailand is involved with prostitution. And i didn’t know there was a Michael Jackson area. Did you try some massaging moves mentioned in the manual? Hope you did enjoy your massage in Thailand.
Alex says
Most massage places aren’t fronts for prostitution. A lot of the places tourists frequent do, but the normal places for Thais are usually just massage parlors. Thai massage is considered a medical and spiritual practice.
This is all you need to know to find a legitimate massage parlor. Don’t go to a place where people are calling you to come in and only has women massaging. The best place to go to is a Thai temple, which offers the best quality and cheapest massages.
Lillie says
Great advice!
Genesis Lumahan says
Now that I think of it, southeast Asia is in fact involved in a lot of prostitution. I was watching a documentary of a teenage girl from Cambodia named Minh, she was sex trafficked by her own parents to make extra money. It’s horrible.
Imported Blogger Comments says
Everything under the Sun said…
Thailand prostitution stats are scary, just check from your teacher how did the Thai massage evolve , i can read a link between the prostitution and Thai massage.
November 24, 2009 12:17 PM
nodebtworldtravel.com said…
“You want boom boom??”
Ah Thailand. Love that country.
If Thai massage has these moves in the books, it’s really easy to see how it could develop into “Happy Endings” for a little extra cash. Real easy.
November 26, 2009 1:37 AM
Dave said…
Congrats on passing Level 1 of “lazy bum yoga”!
November 27, 2009 11:59 PM