If you are a spa aficiaonado, you would have heard of fish spa, the latest treatment to wash up on our shores! It's not new - it's been in Malaysia since last year and it is something I'd wanted to try for sometime and finally, today.
I was given a voucher by Kenko Fish Spa to enjoy a trial of their signature Fish Spa treatment at half the price (normal rate : RM38). But I paid RM38 for John & myself.
After registering ourselves, we were ushered to the washing area to clean our feet before entering the Spa. As we settled down and submerged our legs gently into the tank, a large school of greyish brown fishes called Garra Rufa moved at the speed of light and swarmed our legs! The next thing we know; those little 'biters' were charging all around our feet and attacking all the dead skin cells. For a moment, I felt a slight discomfort as mental visions of piranhas in a feeding frenzy caught on. The feeling was like a hundred pins and needles vibrating and prickling at your feet! Then I began to seriously wonder how would I entertain this 30mins of anxiety?!
Not long after, I soon started to get the hang of these little nibblers and began to feel more relax. This incredibly ticklish and squeamish feeling made John and I giggle a lot. As there were about 5 tanks, we were encouraged to try out all of it, so John and I decided to switch to the tank with the larger fishes. Within seconds after placing our legs down, the feast began...the repeated pecking of the larger Garra Rufas obviously applied more pressure to the skin and it felt more intense and stimulating!
While enjoying the 'massage', I read up some of the information provided on the Fish Spa. Apparently, Garra Rufas are found in the hot springs in the Eastern Europe eg. Turkey, Syria, Jordan etc. The locals there actually discovered the unique habit of these fishes to nibble away the dead skins of bathers in the hot springs. These fishes only feed on dead skin without destroying healthy skin in the process. They are natural exfoliant and by biting of the dead skin, they make room for new skin to surface and flourish. Other than promoting the healing of skin diseases, these fishes can also help increase blood circulation due to their 'micro-massage' capabilities. They also help lighten small scars and smoothen skin, allowing easier absorption of moisture. And the ticklish sensation that caused perpetual laughter help release stress and tension.
Our 30mins was over too soon but it was an experience filled with squeals of laughter and controlled giggles not just for John and I, but also amongst others who shared the same tank with us.
The verdict? We could see that our feet instantly feel squeaky clean, smoother and lighter. Hey, for RM38 this is certainly a new kind of skin-renewal therapy with definite results!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Before we complain...
I read this from CPWaterman's and was so touched by it that I thought I would like share it here as well:
There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I would marry you.' One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.He asked her, 'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him. Her boyfriend left her.
In tears and days later he had a note written to her saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.'
This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.
***************
Before you say an unkind word -
Think of someone who can't speak.
**************
Before you complain about the taste of your food -
Think of someone who has nothing to eat.
***************
Before you complain about your husband or wife -
Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.
***************
Today before you complain about life -
Think of someone who died too soon.
***************
Before you complain about your children -
Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.
***************
Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.
***************
Before whining about the distance you drive -
Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.
***************
And when you are tired and complain about your job -
Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.
***************
Before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another -
Remember that not one of us is without sin and we all answer to one MAKER.
***************
And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down -
Put a smile on your face and thank GOD you're alive and still around.
***************
The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
They just make the best of everything they have!
There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I would marry you.' One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.He asked her, 'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him. Her boyfriend left her.
In tears and days later he had a note written to her saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.'
This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.
***************
Before you say an unkind word -
Think of someone who can't speak.
**************
Before you complain about the taste of your food -
Think of someone who has nothing to eat.
***************
Before you complain about your husband or wife -
Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.
***************
Today before you complain about life -
Think of someone who died too soon.
***************
Before you complain about your children -
Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.
***************
Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.
***************
Before whining about the distance you drive -
Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.
***************
And when you are tired and complain about your job -
Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.
***************
Before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another -
Remember that not one of us is without sin and we all answer to one MAKER.
***************
And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down -
Put a smile on your face and thank GOD you're alive and still around.
***************
The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
They just make the best of everything they have!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Silence is rest - Rest is silence
This morning, I lay pinned to the bed listening to the rhythm of the heavy rain outside. I peered at the clock - 4.10am. In a little over 2 hours, I was supposed to meet my running mates at Bukit Aman for our usual Sunday morning run. What prospect could be more edifying?
Realistically, I knew we'll probably gonna miss the run as the downpour looked like it's never gonna stop...and this notion always filled me with guilt and self-loathing. Don't ask me why.
But perhaps, nature itself is trying to tell me that I need to rest. Yes, tell me about it..I have been resting for the last couple of days. I had been bitten by the flu bug that left me sneezing non-stop every morning without fail for 2 weeks! Antihistamines made me drowsy, swollen eyes and ultimately did not seem to work anymore. I resorted to herbs and after the first dosage, I lost my voice! Ha. It was then I realized that silence is rest - rest is silence. My cell-phone was put into silent mode too as I was not able to answer calls. Knowing that I was speechless, my naughty husband took every opportunity to tease me but it made me happy! Happy because I suddenly felt like a child again; I couldn't talk - I don't need to talk - I just watched and observed.
I continued with the chinese herbs, got better and regained my voice after 2 days. I stop sneezing in the mornings but I began sneezing in the evenings now. My God! My body system and immunity have gone so low (just as stated by my physician). Even a brief trip to Pasar Malam last night left me with another round of running nose, watery eyes and itchy ears...what else? sigh!
Bad weather matters little to me but would I dare to go out and drench myself in the rain today? Later, Gary texted me suggesting that I go back to bed as the rain ain't gonna stop. I did for awhile, then being awakened by Francis who has cancelled his trekking trip to Gunung Nuang. As his wife is away in Singapore, John and I invited him to join us for breakfast.
The rest of the day was rather uneventful as John is also suffering from a slight fracture on his rib. We cried over a meaningful Korean movie at home in the afternoon.
We rested.
Realistically, I knew we'll probably gonna miss the run as the downpour looked like it's never gonna stop...and this notion always filled me with guilt and self-loathing. Don't ask me why.
But perhaps, nature itself is trying to tell me that I need to rest. Yes, tell me about it..I have been resting for the last couple of days. I had been bitten by the flu bug that left me sneezing non-stop every morning without fail for 2 weeks! Antihistamines made me drowsy, swollen eyes and ultimately did not seem to work anymore. I resorted to herbs and after the first dosage, I lost my voice! Ha. It was then I realized that silence is rest - rest is silence. My cell-phone was put into silent mode too as I was not able to answer calls. Knowing that I was speechless, my naughty husband took every opportunity to tease me but it made me happy! Happy because I suddenly felt like a child again; I couldn't talk - I don't need to talk - I just watched and observed.
I continued with the chinese herbs, got better and regained my voice after 2 days. I stop sneezing in the mornings but I began sneezing in the evenings now. My God! My body system and immunity have gone so low (just as stated by my physician). Even a brief trip to Pasar Malam last night left me with another round of running nose, watery eyes and itchy ears...what else? sigh!
Bad weather matters little to me but would I dare to go out and drench myself in the rain today? Later, Gary texted me suggesting that I go back to bed as the rain ain't gonna stop. I did for awhile, then being awakened by Francis who has cancelled his trekking trip to Gunung Nuang. As his wife is away in Singapore, John and I invited him to join us for breakfast.
The rest of the day was rather uneventful as John is also suffering from a slight fracture on his rib. We cried over a meaningful Korean movie at home in the afternoon.
We rested.
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