Here I am, minding my own business, walking in one of Orchard Rd's modern shopping plazas, looking at some electronic stores, camera shops, and the odd taylor. Funny how all of them want to meet me, introduce me to their wares, give me their best price for a suit with some free shirts thrown in . . . and even when I ignore them they want to give me ther business cards... So, her I am, wondering around these shops, when I turn a corner and see a couple of massage places next to each other. I am about to ingnore them and walk past, when one of the ladies approaches me and talks me into a massage. $50 for half an hour, but $70 for one hour. I figure that that is about $58 AUD, so I think, that's not bad, I might give this a go.
The massage shop is fairly plain, with two rooms side by side. I am shown the first room, asked to disrobe and lie down on the table. I'm cool. Been there, done that. I lie down, looking forward to a relaxing massage.
Knock, knock, I hear. Can I come in ? asks one of the ladies. She starts to gently massage my back, and adjusting the towels around my waist and legs. So far,so good. She was being very gentle for the first few minutes and I though, yeah , a nice soft massage ! Little did I know ! Not what I expected !
What extras would you like ? She asks. I say : no thanks, just a massage. She kept on going gently up and down my back and asked again : what extras would you like ? I say again, no thanks, just a normal, relaxing , massage. She started to get a little nervous, saying : but most of out customers ask for something extra. I say, I don't want anything extra. Just a normal massage. Her next response surprised me : I don't know what to do ! I don't know how to give a normal massage.
You don't know what to do ? But this is a massage shop, isn't it ? Her arms move gently up and down my back, and she kept on saying, I don't know how to give a massage ! And proceeded to explain that the $50 or $70 they charged went to the shop owner and any extras they provided was for tips and their income. And I thought : shit ! Where am I ? What have I done ?
The lady then said she'd go outside and ask her friend. I thought, great, perhaps her friend know how to give a massage. But I thought wrong. She came back saying that I had come to the wrong place, that if I wanted a normal massage that I should go next door, and that they would give me a refund (only $20 mind you), and that they would be happy to see me go !
I could not believe what I was hearing ! I was being kicked out of a massage parlour !
What do I do ? I'm disappointed, as I feel cheated out of a massage , but also realise that I better cut my losses and get out of there quick smart ! I get dressed, make sure I have all my bags, walk out, claim my $20 (I feel like asking for all of my money but dice against making a bigger scene). As I walk out, the lady says to me, for you, normal massage, go next door !
I walk out, back into the real world, amongst the taylor's and camera shops, and turn left. Immediately, another massage shop appears and the lady says : massage sir ?
I smile and say, no thanks, I think I have had enough for today , and move on. Not sure if I confused the lady, but boy, was I glad to get out of there !
ps- I found a reflexology (foot massage) place, making sure the chairs were visible and that there were other clients in the shop and get a foot massage instead. Not as good as a full body massage, but safe !
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