Anyone who has ever travelled to Thailand is quickly acquainted with their massage culture. Whether it’s in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket or Pai, a massage parlour is never too far away. Getting a massage is cheap and a must do in Thailand. In Montreal I get a massage every month (thanks to my insurance plan) so there was no question that I was going to get as many as I could in Thailand. On average a massage for an hour costs between 5$ and 10$ CAD. The difference in price comes down to the ambiance and quality of massage therapist. If you pick a 5$ massage, you risk your therapist on her cellphone while you try to relax. Yes, it’s happened to me.

Now, this blog post isn’t just about getting a massage in Thailand. It’s about experiencing a massage like never before. Had I not lived this experience, I likely would not have an opinion on this matter. However having experienced the difference, I would recommend ladies and even men to try it out!

It was a warm evening in Pai. David and I had spent 3 days on a motorbike and our bodies were totally exhausted from navigating the curvy Thai roads and crazy drivers. We decided to reward ourselves with a massage and we walked into a parlour not too far away from our hotel. As we opened the sliding door, we were greeted by two ladies. They handed us a massage menu which had over 50 choices of massage. If you can think of it, they had it. From ear lobe rubs to ankle massages, the options were endless. Before getting overwhelmed by the plethora of options, I opted for a full body Thai Massage. David opted for the same option and we were escorted into a changing room. As we were walking towards the changing room, David asked if I noticed anything different about one of the ladies. I hadn’t really paid much attention at this point but found her to be taller than normal for a Thai woman and she had a deep voice.

We changed into the PJ’s they gave us and got ready for our massage. I continued to observe as the tall lady approached me and asked me to lie down on my back. As she started to massage me, she had a firm grip, yet a gentle caress. The pressure was perfect and the weight was equally distributed. She would press her fingers against my pressure points and work it like magic. It was the most painful, yet most relaxing massage I have ever had. She would giggle when I yelped in pain and make firm requests to get me to relax and breathe. After almost an hour of thorough massaging, she sat me up and cracked my back like a champion. I felt renewed and relaxed. By the end of the hour, I figured out what the person who was massaging me was a ladyboy.

For those that are unfamiliar with what a ladyboy is, it’s literally as the word describes  a boy who is now a lady. Some go through extensive surgeries to transform themselves entirely into women, while others may simply change their upper body to be more feminine. They are widely accepted in Thailand, unlike other countries in the world. One can usually tell based on their bone structure and mannerism but other times it’s almost impossible to tell the difference. Some of them have transformed into gorgeous women. A lot of them work in the sex trade industry mainly catering to men. So to experience such a close encounter with one as a women, in my opinion is rare. Unless of course you seek it out.

Now the argument can be made that it had nothing to do with the fact that it was a ladyboy and simply her skills. This is possible however there was something special about experiencing both the male and female energy emanating from her. The massage left me not only feeling relaxed but very curious about the transformation they must experience from male to female.

In conclusion, I know there are many massage parlours in Thailand with ladyboys however I am not suggesting those. As they mainly cater to men and provide a different kind of massage. Instead, I suggest you seek out a legitimate massage parlour, and if you spot a ladyboy – definitely try it! 🙂