Do you ever forget your first trip overseas? Eight years ago Herman and I (we were boyfriend and girlfriend at that time!) went to Thailand, and I remember it like it was yesterday. It was my first trip outside Australia and I remember everything vividly. The tropical, slightly sickly scent as I emerged from the airport. The taste of my first Thai meal in Thailand. The craziness of Patong Beach at Phuket. Massages every day! I found everything fascinating. The chemists, the supermarkets, the fruit markets, the food, the clothes, the music, the traditional culture. Bangkok and everything about it. I loved it, and someday I’d love to go back.
Herman and I in the back of a tuk tuk, Thailand 2008 (obviously big diamond stud earrings were in fashion!)
Last Saturday I was invited to experience a traditional Thai massage at Thai Touch Massage and Day Spa and I had a lot of thoughts.
I’m not going to lie, mostly this was because I was sans both children for a couple of hours, and secondly I was also without household chores, social media and other distractions, too. It was total ‘me’ time. I’m not going to lie, it was bliss.
Thai herbal tea served after the massage
Oh, and have I mentioned how great the massage was yet? Someone said to me the traditional way of Thai massage is almost akin to doing a yoga class, and although I could probably Google that and check the accuracy, I’m going to hazard a guess and say IT’S TRUE. I hurt for a full day afterwards. Not in that ‘OMG I cannot sit on the toilet my legs are killing me’ style pain you get when you do a gym class for the first time in years; but that ‘wow I can actually move my neck and my muscles feel like they’re in the right place’ type of pain.
My first thought when walking in to Thai Touch was how beautifully set up it was – it’s obviously a brand new fit out, everything is beautifully clean and welcoming, The second thought was “…” – absolutely NOTHING as I switched off and enjoyed a foot soak and foot scrub in their gorgeous sitting room. Seriously, my experience could have finished there and I would have been 1000% more relaxed than I was when I arrived. But I still had the signature oil massage to come…yipeeeee!
The signature oil massage was a full body, muscle relieving massage. My massage therapist Nid was amazingly strong and as I always think when getting a massage – how do they not cramp up? Who massages the masseuse? Do they book in for massages on the weekends to relax? So many questions.
Part way through, Nid asked “How long since you have had a massage?” she asks. “Err about a year.” I lied. Truth is I couldn’t remember the last time. It must be a few years, though. I felt all of the knots loosening, and I stopped stressing about what child needed this, or what load of washing I was up to. As we’re told time and time again (and we know to be true) it’s so important to have time away, and take time out for ‘me’; yet sometimes you need to book something in, such as a massage, to get that time away.
During the massage, when all you have to think about is the massage and the relaxation music (pan pipes are always involved, aren’t they?!) I started thinking about our Thailand trip and how much fun we had. Herman and I had traditional massages almost every day whilst there and at the time it felt so indulgent. I haven’t had one of the Thai style massages since then, and it was so nice to be talen back in time, a time when overseas trips booked only weeks in advance were doable. After the massage, I was greeted by Nid again who offered me a glass of water and a delicious traditional Thai herbal tea and I honestly could have gone to sleep then and there – at 10.30 on a Saturday morning. It was beautifully relaxing and my whole body and mind felt refreshed.
I can’t recommend it more.
Thank you to the team at Thai Touch for inviting me to have a massage. I had the Thai Touch signature oil massage, which for 60 minutes is $99. They also offer an oil free massage, body and facial treatments and spa treatments; and there is three couples rooms, two of which include a ridiculously amazing looking spa bath and shower room. (Herman if you’re considering any anniversary, birthday or Christmas gifts…hint hint!) Check it all out here.
My massage was gifted, however this post was not sponsored.