Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Something Fishy Going On….

Fish Spa and the internet

 

After several days in Chiang Mai I began to expect the unexpected sweet surprises.

Watermelon slushies,

Roasted watermelon seeds,

One hour massages for $7,

Corn on the Cob vendors,

Stacked to perfection strawberry hills,

Taxis that take you anywhere in the city limits for 50 cents,

Four people on a moped,

Spirit temples in shops for good fortune and thanksgiving,

People carrying umbrellas guarding themselves from sunshine,

Thai tea,

Monks chanting and using cell phones….

But never ever did I expect to see a Fish Spa Internet Shop.

1) Sit on a mat, and dangle your feet in the water below (The water is under the floor, so it is as if you are sitting on a bridge.)

2) While using the computer/internet your feet are being cared for. Garra Rufa fish gently nibble (O.M.G.) the dead skin on your feet leaving softer healthier skin to grow.

3) French Husband dared me… and that was one dared I couldn't do. Because if I did do it, I would imagine fish nibbling on my feet every time I went into the sea or river… and yuck I just couldn't… "...let fish nibble on my dead skin leaving healthier skin."

Would you do it?

Comments

44 responses to “Something Fishy Going On….”

  1. bramble

    How bizarre! Sounds like one step away from being electrocuted in the bathtub! No, don’t think I need fish nibbling on my feet before or after my demise!
    ps…not sure which Asian country it is that has bird poop facials but…ummmmmm,no to that too!

    Reply
  2. LaurieSF

    A twist on the sushi bar..
    Footshi

    Reply
  3. meredith

    No, I couldn’t. Like bramble, I’d be afraid of being electrocuted while surfing the web.
    I hope you are having a most excellent trip Corey!

    Reply
  4. LaurieSF

    Tall, slender, no makeup and wearing nothing but my husband’s button down shirt that I ironed.
    Next to me my husband of fourteen years.
    Going to sleep with only one thought tonight..
    Thank God I’m not married to someone like you, John Rambo. Just a last thought..keep your name, it suits you.

    Reply
  5. Zosia

    Hope they don’t have any piranha there… :-). Does it tickle when the fish nibble?

    Reply
  6. jend’isère

    Spas in France have been offering this fishy service, without the Internet feature. Wonder how your blog post would read during such multitasking. Hope no sushi bar is part of the this venture, as who knows where those fish have been!

    Reply
  7. Marie-Noëlle

    At first, I thought “I could do it – easy”
    Then I let my mind wander and I came to this: “Imagine a new shoal of fish poured into the pool was not checked properly and that one or two piranas managed their way in…”.
    Finallly, I could wait with you for a moped ride with our husbands to a massage by chanting monks in the strawberry fields !?!
    Hope your list will be ticked through.

    Reply
  8. Paula

    No way, plus I have read that these “fish spas” spread disease. Imajine the number of feet that have been in the water, is it cleaned after each session? Ugh, no I don’t think so.

    Reply
  9. Jenna

    Yes, sounds like fun! Continue to enjoy yourselves.

    Reply
  10. jackie

    I’ve heard of this and yes! I’d try it in a trice! Wish they had it here in the usa.
    jackie
    bliss farm antiques

    Reply
  11. Penny

    Not I, said the fly . . .

    Reply
  12. Kathleen

    Most certainly not! Just could not bear to even imagine what it would be like……yuck! I remember on a visit to Versailles being amused at the oh so pale faced japanese tourists always walking around with umbrellas to protect themselves from the hot sun,no wonder they have skin like porcelain!Enjoying the posts of your trip …..imagine full body massage for 7$!

    Reply
  13. Cheryl ~ Casual Cottage Chic

    Absolutely!! What an experience….would probably tickle and I would be laughing so hard it would scare the fish!!

    Reply
  14. Julie Ann

    Difficult to get your head around that one, faintly revolting but the prize beautiful feet. Not sure, I saw it on TV once, someone brought them to a dinner party to nibble guests feet ! Jx

    Reply
  15. Carol

    OH…I would of done it faster than you could say “He’s paying for this”. I have talked to several people that treat themselves to this and they say your feet come out as soft as a newborns.

    Reply
  16. Denise Moulun-Pasek

    I don’t know about that one Corey. But winning a dare with FH might be a powerful enough motivator to let the tiny fish feast on my dead skin cells.
    Why not try it? Just do it and laugh all the time they are nibbling. Let yourself feel joy at being tickled instead of fear.
    Myself, I am looking forward to swimming with dolphins at the end of the month…

    Reply
  17. Marie-Noëlle

    The USA have it !!
    I’ve just browsed the net about “fish spa” and I got a list of those round the world.
    There’s one in NYC, one in Texas, one in Illinois… (follow the link)
    http://www.spavelous.com/listen/tag/illinois-spa/

    Reply
  18. Marie-Noëlle

    Hi Paula, I browsed the net to know more about this kind of spas and I found this article :
    http://www.spavelous.com/listen/category/spa-treatments/dr-fish/
    The “pool” is said to be drained, cleaned and re-filled…
    Have a good day !

    Reply
  19. Marie

    It sounds grody but the internet part is good!

    Reply
  20. Ellen

    Corey, I saw that on the beach at Scheveningen, Netherlands last year and the two girls with their feet in the tank were enjoying it! It was certainly an unusual thing to see. The girls were giggling so I am guessing it must have tickled a bit!

    Reply
  21. Ed in Willows

    I’ve heard of this here in the U.S. and yes, they say it does tickle. It’s also very expensive here. It’s one of those Asian things that they have been doing for years. I would have done it in a heart beat.

    Reply
  22. Theresa

    Just imagining that gives me the creeps! Don’t think I could stick my feet in with the fish.

    Reply
  23. Tamara

    Hmm, I think I should be relieved that Rambo’s comment was deleted.
    Now, re the fish pedicure, YES! I would do it despite having ticklish feet. Would you believe, Corey, that there are spas in the US that have these fish? It’s a new trendy thing to do. I’d like to see what all the fuss is about!!

    Reply
  24. FrenchBlue

    No Way! I’m with you!!
    xxx’s

    Reply
  25. Kathie B

    Definitely not. I wonder if the infection risk has to do with the fish probably not wearing teeny-tiny fish-diapers.
    “UK investigates fish spa pedicures on health issues”:
    http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110301/od_nm/us_fish_pedicures_odd
    – Tue Mar 1, 12:52 pm ET
    LONDON (Reuters) – Fish spa pedicures have become a popular alternative to exfoliation in recent years but health officials say they are now investigating the pampering treatment on concerns it may spread infection.
    The procedure involves customers placing their feet into a water tank filled with toothless Garra rufa fish — also called doctor fish — which suck the dead tissue off their feet to leave them feeling softer.
    Officials at Britain’s Health Protection Agency (HPA) said they were launching an investigation into possible infection risks associated with the exfoliation treatment after receiving enquiries from local environmental health officers.
    The HPA said it would assess all of the latest evidence on risks before issuing guidelines for the spa treatment.
    “The HPA and Health Protection Scotland is currently unaware of any cases of infection associated with the use of the fish spas pedicures in the UK,” a spokesman said.
    Fish spa pedicures have already been banned in some U.S. states for health and safety reasons.

    Reply
  26. Denise Solsrud

    yes,as they would have a feast on my feet and i would come away with soft feet without having to work on them myself. i have just a little laziness in me. Bestest,Denise

    Reply
  27. Bev

    Yes, I would!

    Reply
  28. Alan

    I used to work in hospital pharmacies here in Florida. I was shocked the first time a pharmacy techncian showed me the maggots and leeches they had(Maggots clean up dead tissue, I’m not sure why the leeches). Why not fish?

    Reply
  29. Laura

    Nope. I’m on your side of the bridge (top side!) on this one! I’ve heard about it before and there are some questionable aspects … but that’s not the reason. I already have a hard time swimming in water where I cannot see my feet – I don’t need another reason to add to the fear!

    Reply
  30. Kathleen in Oregon

    If the water was clean, I’d try it. Reminds me of snorkeling and sometimes the fish get a little to excited looking for food, but mostly it just tickles.

    Reply
  31. Karen C

    Would I use it? Don’t know, but I would certainly not let a diabetic or someone with a circulation problem use it.
    Did someone see a carcass in the water getting this treatment and think “Hey . . . “??
    Once something weird becomes a financial investment, my skepticism antenna start twitching. Sad but true.

    Reply
  32. Carolyn

    My feet would be too ticklish and everyone would think I had gone insane, but, if the dare came with a certain amount of cash to spend back at the brocante in France…

    Reply
  33. Brenda, Kindred Hearts Antiques, Walker, LA

    No! (I LIKE and appreciate what Kathie B said!)
    😉

    Reply
  34. Brenda

    A further horrible thought>>>>>Fish nibble not only your feet, but others feet, then poop in water that your soaking in? No thanks! lol

    Reply
  35. Liz

    Yep, I’do it – they are such cute little ticklish fish! We’ve top spa in hotel here in Malta with two fish foot spa tanks. I’ve not paid for it, but my son and I put or hands in the tank and it nice! Go for it next time you pass by – it’ll be all the rage in France soon and you’ll have been the first to try it!

    Reply
  36. Alison Murray Whittington

    I would try it if I weren’t so very very ticklish.

    Reply
  37. Stacey

    Yes!

    Reply
  38. Judi

    I have a picture of my nephew and his classmates in Japan, all together in a spa with their feet in the water. I must say, they are all either smiling broadly, laughing, or peering very intently into the water at their feet 🙂 I do not think I could do it.

    Reply
  39. Marilyn

    I would think it would tickle too! So fun to read all the fascinating things you are seeing. I will be watching for them too.

    Reply
  40. Ariane C

    No, I’m with you – I’d have that image in my head every time I swam in a lake, ocean or river. It would freak me out too much. Plus seeing the note by someone else about the risk of infection – no way!

    Reply
  41. Sara Barroso

    I love pedicures but even I would have to say no to this one.

    Reply
  42. andrea

    Aw, think of all the little fishies that didn’t get their dinner because you didn’t put your feet in! LOL!
    Just kidding.
    No, I’m pretty sure I couldn’t manage that one either!

    Reply
  43. Han

    My other half and I were invited to afish therapy spa when we were last back in Singapore and he was dancing around the fish tub for 30 minutes before he finally dipped his foot in!

    Reply
  44. Hotel in Brugge

    Interesting this post and cool your idea i like it

    Reply

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