Should I or shouldn’t I have a last massage?

I read a message on Facebook where I have noted my two-day bonus thanks to the flight fuck-up. “Hope you’re making the most of it,” Marianne writes. Well yes. And yes: let’s go see about that massage.

Out of the many in the little resort village — or more aptly, settlement — one has drawn me, for some inexplicable reason, each time I have walked past it. So that’s where I head.

The place next door is empty. The women are sitting outside.

But A & M Massage — “my” place — is full. The curtains inside make little cubicles; the curtainless foot massage chairs nearer the door are all occupied.

I walk on and scan the other places. Hear the high-pitched nasal “massage madame?” chorus that becomes familiar in some of these small towns. Their little parlors — more like simple little shops — are along the beachfront road and into the great big area filled with pubs and tables that I am sure gets super-noisy and lively sometimes.

It’s after 9:30pm. The salons are meant to be shutting. They’re open and all pretty empty. Bet when in the full swing of season, they’re all doing a roaring trade.

After my massage of yesterday in Phuket City, at Kim’s, I am wary. Would rather not have one than risk another bad massage.

I head back to A&M.

“Mam” comes out and we chat. Ask her why she’s so busy when the others are empty. “I’ve been here a long time,” she says. She’s refined. Warm. Probably 50. I tell her I want a good strong Thai massage and had a bad one yesterday. She goes inside. Chats to someone.

Comes back out. Says if I wait 30 minutes I can have one. Don’t I want to try others and then hers another time?

I explain I am leaving in the morning. And right now, can wait.

And it’s a decent one. Not as good as the Popeye massage. Was that because it was the first that it set in my mind? Will only know if I go back there one day.

This one is not painful like some of the good ones I’ve had or painful like the bad one of yesterday that was the first that left me feeling uncomfortable. The woman, not so young, knows what she’s doing and does it well. Am happy enough.

And I laugh when I leave as three large Thai men have come in and three girls have jumped upon them, lying there fully clad on their stomachs not curtained off, and the girls are giggling and pummeling and it’s about 10:30 at night by now or later.

And I walk off with Mam’s card because it seemed worthwhile asking for. If you’re there A&M Massage, Nai Yang Beach. Mam: 081-970-2625.

© Wanda Hennig 2016, story and photos.

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