There is always something you do when you travel, a tradition you look forward to where ever you go. For some it may be long beach walks, for others it may be a special dish or drink, for me, it’s a foot massage. Depending on the country, it’s a mix of pampering, new experiences and fun. In Istanbul I went for a Turkish Bath, in Richmond, BC it was reflexology and in Prague, a Thai Massage.

The little Thai spa on the Old Square looks a little shady is in colours of lime green and red. Giant fish tanks in the display windows are to sit and dip your feet so they can nibble at them. Look inside and there is a giant, gold statue of Buddha and outside there is a man walking around with a 7-foot stuffed elephant’s costume attracting attention to the spa – just my kind of place.

Of course I’m wearing Jeggings so I’m given a pair of red bloomers and walked to a room where I can change. The bloomers are so large a giant sumo wrestler would have trouble fitting into them. There was a faux drawstring in the front that wouldn’t draw so the bloomers wouldn’t wrap around my waist so I wrapped the drawstrings around me and tied them tightly. I walked out of the dressing room to the laughter of the Thai girls. I hadn’t noticed the back of the pants were drooped well below my buttocks.

Nand sat me next to a giant golden Buddha for luck and poured me a cup of hot green tea. I sank back into the comfortable recliner and she began to caress my feet with warm, oily hands. All of it of course leading me into a false sense of dreamy security for within minutes her fingers begin to dig deep into the bottoms of my feet causing excruciating pain. She poked at really painful points, loosened sore muscles that weren’t that willing to relax and ran knots out of the bottom of my feet that I didn’t know I had. She cracked the knuckles of my toes, pounded my legs with mallet-like hands, pinched my calves all the way up to my thighs and twisted my legs every which way except over the back of my neck. Another few of these contortions and I could join the circus. Nand was good, I was thoroughly beat up.

I look around and I’m the only non-oriental in the room, the only one in pain and the only one in these embarrassing red bloomers. She poured me more tea and walked around behind me. She began to dig deep into my neck and shoulders with her fingers of steel, running knots across my shoulders like tapioca balls being sucked up a straw. Then to my temples. She rubbed in circular motions firmly but gently in the G-spot of my brain and my foot started thumping like a happy dog (ok, not really but in my mind).

I love a good physical experience and Prague doesn’t disappoint. I’m totally into another time and space, I think it’s called a Thai Paradise. Nand was finished, my legs were buzzing, my head is dreamy, Prague looks ultimately better through fully relaxed eyes. Going for a glass of wine by the square and to think I only paid 400 czech krunas or $22 CDN. You should try it too.