The complexity of massages in far off climes.....

It has been suggested to me that the topic of massages requires a blog all of its own.

It would be fair to say that we have used all opportunities to avail ourselves of a range of massages and here are the outstanding experiences:

• The unexpected nature of the massages commenced with a few of our number booking in for a session with blind masseurs and the full essential oils on skin experience. In fact they were deaf and dumb masseurs and our colleagues were fully clothed whilst they were massaged. Somebody had their wires crossed!
•  Several forms of massage were outstanding until the unexpected moment when the masseurs actually crawled up our backs applying pressure through their forearms and shins. It felt great but the concept of someone balancing and crawling and pressing all at the same time was quite a surprise.
• There was also some disregard for private parts: it would be fair to say that everyone had a moment when they just thought...really?!
• Ursula enjoyed the experience of her caesarean scar being massaged, although that almost verged on the realms of too much detail!
• Kim risked life and limb when, in the depths of heat exhaustion, she wandered into a massage place on the street (after persistent nagging by the masseur and chatting to her dog),  and reluctantly agreed to a foot massage only. Her comment is that " A foot massage is not always a foot massage."  She was a little suspicious when her face was covered with a towel and the massage moved from her feet northwards to her hips. Eventually she decided she'd had enough and left. I think the overzealous masseur was going to give her a complete massage in the hope that seven of her friends  would book in too.
• Yesterday, a couple of us went for a peppermint foot reflexology massage, which, whilst fabulous , involved no peppermint and no reflexology. Interesting...!?
• When themasseurs ask you to go and have a shower after you have been exfoliated make sure you spend some time in there scrubbing yourself, otherwise you will be ordered back and/or you will have an assistant helping you shower properly!
• Our skins have never felt as smooth and silky as they did after the Thanaka massages: we may have all looked slightly yellow, because of the fine layer of thanaka powder left on our skin, but we kept stroking our skin enjoying the feeling of it being as smooth as a baby's bum!

The Thanaka seller at the market in Heho: the pieces of the lemonade tree are ground on a stone and mixed with water making a fine smooth paste that is a cream/pale yellow colour. The Burmese just rub it on their faces for sunscreen but sometimes apply it in careful patterns to make them more beautiful. We had leaf designs painted on our cheeks but on our pale skin it was difficult to see.

On the whole we highly recommend trying out all available forms of massage as the outcome is that you feel cool, relaxed and chilled out: although sometimes a bit bemused!