In the true spirit of Christmas, we visited the biggest shopping mall in this part of Thailand, Central Plaza Khon Kaen, that just opened a few weeks ago. We were mostly there to buy Max a new booster seat for the car so Mina could inherit his old one, but we stumbled across a very recently opened foot spa featuring 15 minute doctor fish treatments for 99 baht. We’ve seen doctor fish spas on TV for the past ten years or so, and we always wanted to try them out… I mean, a stupid fish willing to gnaw on my stinky dogs? I had to try that!
The verdict: It’s kinda freaky at first. The fish are actually eating you, so it takes some getting used to, but it was worth it. Your skin comes out feeling very smooth.
Note: Max was totally freaked out and wouldn’t touch the water, even though he usually likes fish and aquariums.
Raising a family in Thailand // Documenting Issan food, culture, music, and people
Kinda gives new meaning to the question, “What’s eating you?”
Finally, you blogged something so weirdly interesting that your dad immediately Wikied the fish and was mesmerized, which I also find strange.
I read about this years ago and thought it was gross. Now that you’ve tried it, I am satisfied.
The video is hilarious! Thanks.
I have wanted to do this for a long time. They would have a field day with my 5E wide feet and crackling heels.
In Kanchanaburi in WW2, PoW had really poor medication. When they got injured from the forced labor making railway between Burma and Thailand. At that time, the PoW used to immerse themselves in the river to let fish eat maggots and clean their wounds. This is where the original ideas came from, I guess.
I visited Kanchanaburi musiam of war maybe 13 years ago, I found it with lots of pictures and explanations.
September last year in Bangkok when I visited, on the Khaosan road and Pratunam area, there were some Dr Fish kind of service around, I don’t remember how much it was. When ever you have the time, visit Kanchanaburi Erawan water fall park, everybody’s doing it simply soaking the feet in the water, and it is for free, and the fish there are much bigger!
I think you can do that in any water falls in Thailand.