The Rubdown

Review: Windsor Spa in North Point (Fortress Hill)

Please Note: Fans of this blog, please see our new site at www.therubdown.hk. Here you can see our reviews, and you'll be able to search for spas and massage parlors too! We welcome collaborators, suggestions, questions and comments. Email us at therubdownhk@gmail.com!  Now on with the show...

No time to go to Shenzhen this weekend, so decided to try Windsor Spa in North Point/Fortress Hill. Here's the rubdown!

Windsor Spa is small, and certainly not as cheap as the mega Shenzhen spas like Queen Spa. But the atmosphere is decent and the service and cleanliness are first-rate. And, if you don't like smoking, this place is pretty smoke-free (especially compared to the spas on the mainland). Good English assistance, especially for first timers! You must spend 500 HKD here on massage services and/or food to avoid being charged for the sauna facilities (hot tub, sauna, steam room) -- or buy one of the mini packages (see below). There's a 10% service charge on everything, and a minimum 50 HKD tip per hour of massage. So things can add up rather quickly.

If you're coming by MTR, get off at Fortress Hill. When you come out of the station (either exit), turn right and walk along King's Road until you pass the Park N' Shop. Turn into Fortress Tower and take the elevator to the 3rd Floor. When you get off the lift, there's a small lobby and the front desk. The men's entrance is to the right of the counter, and the women's entrance is to the left. TIP: Look at the end of the counter nearest the men's changing room entrance. There are coupons there! These coupons will give you 200 HKD off 800 HKD of beauty services, half off their "dark eye circle removal treatment" and more. The coupons are only in Chinese, so ask for help if you can't read them.

The sauna/changing room is super clean, well-lit and well-equipped. As soon as you enter through the gold curtain,you are given a locker to put your things in, and a bracelet that locks your locker and has a code on it; this will be used to charge your account. Put your clothes inside, and your shoes in the shoe drawer. Put on the rubber flip-flops provided. The attendants will give you a towel, and lead you to the private showers, where you can rinse off. After you shower, you can use the steam room, sauna and jacuzzi, or you can move right on to massage or food if you want. If you stay in the sauna area, there are drinks, fresh fruit and even ice cream available. The sauna area is spic-n-span. The hot tub is set to 40 degrees C and there's a big screen TV above it. They will provide you with a "disposable" bra and undies for the hot tub.

When you are ready to exit the changing room/sauna area, you will be given pajama tops and bottoms, a fluffy white robe and a set of undies (at least for the ladies, not sure what the guys get). Don't be offended if they give you ones marked XL -- they are not XL. You can change in the private rooms near the lockers or just out in the open. Then you can go out into the co-ed "rest area" where you can sit in your own giant lounge chair with your friends and watch your own personal TV, get a food rub or a pedicure or an ear-cleaning. You can also book your massages, and there's a snack counter too. The decor is sort of tropical, with lots of fake plants and dark woods. There are about 30 seats.

I opted for the basic 45-minute ladies massage, which was normally 308 HKD. However, since it was a "holiday weekend," they charged me 347 HKD. They told me in advance, but still, this is rather annoying, considering they weren't busy at all! Plus 50 HKD for a tip. Not exactly a bargain. But it was a good massage and the staff made sure to inquire about my preferences regarding pressure (light, medium, strong) before the massage began. I got about 15 minutes of solid shoulder work sans oil, then 30 minutes of oil massage on the back, arms and legs. The massage room itself was clean and comfortable, dark, and utterly quiet. There was no music or anything. I did appreciate that like many Hong Kong massage parlors, the masseuse did not answer her mobile phone during my treatment!

After my massage I returned to the lounge area and got a 130 HKD "toe massage and scraping." An older gentleman came and, using blades, shaped my toenails. But he utterly failed to remove the dead skin from the bottom of my feet, and there was no toe massage. Then he basically badgered me to give him a 50 HKD tip. Disappointing.

Here's a rundown of Windsor Spa's services and prices:

• Massage (45 mins) 308 HKD (add 120 for another 45 minutes). So why do you get charged an extra 10 HKD (438 HKD) if you opt for a 90 minute massage at the outset? No idea...
• Massage (45 mins) and sauna 408 HKD
• Massage (90 mins) and sauna 538 HKD
• Thai massage (90 mins) 538 HKD, extra 45 minutes is 150 HKD
• Lymphatic massage (120 mins) 638 HKD, extra 45 mins is 200 HKD
• Sauna and foot massage 328 HKD
• Foot massage (45 mins) 130 HKD
• Pedicure 130 HKD
• Toe massage/scraping 130 HKD (advertised at 45 mins, but mine took less than 30)
• Head massage (30 mins) 100 HKD
• Hand massage (30 mins) 80 HKD
• Ear cleaning 100 HKD
• Manicure 100 HKD

They also have a special list of spa treatments for men, plus facials, chinese herbal massage, dead sea mud, vichy showers, stone massage, bust firming treatments, skin whitening, eyebrow shaping, paraffin hand dips, and seaweed exfoliation. Email us if you are interested in more details on prices.

For use of sauna facilities, plus a 45 minute massage and the foot treatment, my total bill came to 625 HKD. They did give me a coupon for 100 HKD off my next visit in the next 30 days. Credit cards are accepted.

Final thoughts: Clean facilities and a welcoming staff. Avoid the Shanghai pedicure, and take time to use all the sauna facilities so you'll feel like you are getting your money's worth.

Windsor Spa. 3/F Fortress Tower, 250 King's Road, North Point, Hong Kong. Map. Phone 3698 0000

News & Deals: Massage and pampering for a good cause at YWCA

Please Note: Fans of this blog, please see our new site at www.therubdown.hk. Here you can see our reviews, and you'll be able to search for spas and massage parlors too! We welcome collaborators, suggestions, questions and comments. Email us at therubdownhk@gmail.com!  Now on with the show...

I was over at the YWCA this week on Macdonnell Road for their spring bazaar, and found out the YWCA has a new program called the Serenity Wellness and Massage Center. This is a "social enterprise," meaning it's a venture set up to train people to work and create jobs for them. Trained masseuses from the center were on hand to give demos of their skills. I got a 20-minute shoulder and head massage for $50, and am eager to go back for a full session. There is something doubly good about getting a rub down and knowing that you're helping people get back into the working world. According to the staff member I spoke with, right now they have four employees working at the center, though there are more graduates of the program who can be called in to help at busy hours.

The center is located on the 2nd floor of the YWCA building at 38C Bonham Road. Map. The website, though, wasn't working when I last checked. They're open from noon until 9 p.m. Phone is 2915 5622. They are having some opening specials through June 30th: 30 minute head and shoulder massage ($78), 45-minute aromatherapy food massage ($108), and 45-minute acupressure body massage ($158) -- good prices for that neighborhood. I haven't yet seen the center, so if you go and check it out, let us know what you think!

The center is part of a wider effort at vocational training by the Hong Kong government and nonprofit groups. If Bonham Road is too far for you to go for a rub down, try this list of other social venture massage and hair dressing parlors. And if you've been to any of them and can recommend some, let us know!

http://www.social-enterprises.gov.hk/file_manager/pdf/directory/SE%20Directory_Eng_Graphic_05.pdf

Review: Thai Retreat, Sai Ying Pun

Please Note: Fans of this blog, please see our new site at www.therubdown.hk. Here you can see our reviews, and you'll be able to search for spas and massage parlors too! We welcome collaborators, suggestions, questions and comments. Email us at therubdownhk@gmail.com!  Now on with the show...

The boy and I have good things to say about a new massage place in Sai Ying Pun: Thai Retreat on Queens Road West. At first, I was a little hesitant, because it's not on the ground floor so you can't get a good look at the joint before you go in. But have no fear, Thai Retreat isn't scary like The Forest, and it's nearly as cheap.

Thai Retreat is run by Su, a Thai woman who says she used to work at ET Brilliant. It's on the first floor, up one flight of stairs. The place is basic but clean and tastefully decorated, with low lighting -- no blaring Canto TV or fluorescent lighting. The reception area can accommodate four foot massage customers, and there are 3 private rooms for body massage. We called ahead and booked two body massages for 9 p.m. on a Thursday. They offer Swedish, hot stone, lymphatic and Thai body massage (all $188 for 50 minutes) plus acupressure ($168 for 50 minutes). You can also get a facial ($238), foot reflexology ($118) and a combo head massage + ear candling ($138).

When we showed up, Su and a second staffer were there, but we had to wait for another masseuse to arrive before we could get started. Meanwhile we had tea, plus some Thai coconut beverage that was rather tasty. After 15 minutes the other masseuse arrived and we were on our way. My boy, who prefers a lighter touch, opted for the Swedish with Mina, while I went for the lymphatic with Su. There's no funny business here; a sign on the back of the door in each private room says, rather sincerely: "Sorry! NO SEX SERVICE." You can read my boy's funny review on his site, Hong Kong Hitch.

Generally, lymphatic massage is on the gentle side. It is intended to promote the removal of bodily  toxins and waste. Read more about the lymph system here. Lymphatic massage is useful for people with edema or those of you who feel like you are retaining a lot of fluid. It's also said to help improve the metabolism. You can read more about the benefits here.

Su's version of lymphatic massage is the firmest I've ever experienced, and unlike most other lymphatic massages I've had, she used oil. Su is about 1.5 meters tall, with no discernible biceps and a total body weight of less than 50 kg for sure, but the gal is strong! I tend to like a lot of pressure in my rubdowns, and Su delivered, but if you prefer a lighter touch, be sure to ask -- her English is passable and she seemed eager for feedback. The massage ended up being pretty much a Thai style workover, with a lot of focus on the lymphatic areas like armpits and upper thighs. There was even stretching and the typical contortionist moves toward the end. A nice touch was a large, hot, citrus-scented towel over the back at the finale -- no going home oily. 

Final thoughts: Best combo of atmosphere and price we've found in the area.

Thai Retreat, 291 Queens Road West, 1/F, Sai Ying Pun. Map.

Phone 2882 2396 or 5126 5797.

Hours 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., although later appointments seem to be available upon request.

Review: The Forest Foot Spa & Beauty, Sai Ying Pun

Please Note: Fans of this blog, please see our new site at www.therubdown.hk. Here you can see our reviews, and you'll be able to search for spas and massage parlors too! We welcome collaborators, suggestions, questions and comments. Email us at therubdownhk@gmail.com!  Now on with the show...

Last weekend, my boyfriend and I were in dire need of a quick massage near our flat. We remembered seeing a small massage parlor in a tiny alley just off Des Voeux Road in Sai Ying Pun and decided to give it a shot. The place, called The Forest Foot Spa & Beauty, was modest, but we were greeted by a very friendly woman who sat us down in the standard giant orange foot massage chairs to decide what we wanted.  My boyfriend opted for a $178, 50-minute, Aromatherapy body massage. He left me to get my $198 foot massage and neck-and-shoulder rub condo in the outer room. In the next few graphs, he describes his experience:

"I was directed to the bathroom and that's when the doubt set in. It was dark, dank, gray and had a nasty-looking shower stall housing mops, buckets and other junk. Then I was led into a tiny, brightly lit room that barely could fit the two massage tables that were inside. "Hoooooly craaaap" was what popped into my head. The walls were mildewy, a random Chinese musical instrument in one corner and a mop in the other corner. (Lots of mops for a place that didn't seem to use them that often!) Have you seen any of the "Hostel" movies?  Okay, it was not that bad, but I have spent a good deal of my adult life in CBGB and The Village Idiot in New York. I am not overly fancy pants.  But this gave me real pause.  Dingy is the word that came to mind. "When were these sheets washed?" also ran through my brain. Lying on the table was a pair of the standard massage shorts that I was expected to put on after I disrobed.  Nope.  That was not happenin'. Undies were staying put."

"So, in walks my masseuse, and damn if it wasn't Bea Arthur's long-lost Chinese sister.  Actually, the lady was very nice, but spoke not a word of English.  Luckily, I have mastered "Ting hao de" and "Ow!" which is really all you need during a massage.  The massage itself was actually pretty good and she did a lot of work with her fists, which I liked.  Unfortunately, my feet were jammed against the wall and there was no place to move, so not ideal.  When it was all said and done, I left, feeling better, and also proud of myself for not running away like a little girl.  I can't recommend it, even though it's dirt cheap."

Meanwhile, back in the main room, oblivious to the horrors my boyfriend was enduring, I was brought a tub, lined with a plastic bag, for my foot soak. After about 10 minutes the 50-minute massage began. It was pretty standard. While I was getting rubbed, a man who seemed to be a friend of the owner's watched soccer on TV. Two giant fish tanks sat in the corner. There was nothing special about the massage, though it did end with some nice hot towels wrapped around my calves and feet.

After the 50-minute foot massage, I was led into a small room off the main room for my 30-minute head, shoulder and neck massage. The room was very dark so I couldn't tell how clean the sheets were, but the walls definitely needed a new coat of paint. My masseuse worked on my entire body, not just head, shoulder and neck. But she saved her most intense attention for my neck, using some very strong pressure. I briefly wondered if she were capable of paralyzing me. But it oddly felt good and took my mind off the dilapidated environs.

The prices here are pretty low: 50-minute foot massage, $118; 50-minute Chinese acupressure body massage, $148; 30-minute shoulder and neck massage, $88 (or $80 between noon and 3 p.m.). 50-minute body massages will run from $168 for Thai to $198 for lymphatic slimming. Ear candling is $128 for 25 minutes, manicures are $78 and pedicures are $98. They have packages that will save you a few bucks.

Final thought: The staff is friendly; too bad they don't put more effort into the appearance of the place. Best for cheapskates who are not put off by grime.

The Forest. Shop B, Sung Hing House, 2 Sung Hing Lane, just west of Kwai Heung Street off Des Voeux Road West. 2548 1017. map.

Review: ET Brilliant, Sai Ying Pun (Western District)

Please Note: Fans of this blog, please see our new site at www.therubdown.hk. Here you can see our reviews, and you'll be able to search for spas and massage parlors too! We welcome collaborators, suggestions, questions and comments. Email us at therubdownhk@gmail.com!  Now on with the show...

The boy and I checked out ET Brilliant one night after work last week, in search of a cheap massage to get some kinks out of our backs. Between Sheung Wan and Kennedy Town, there aren't that many places to choose from, particularly at 10 p.m., so ET Brilliant was it.

I have no idea what is up with the bizarre name, but ET Brilliant has good curb appeal and is located in the same building as kush serviced apartments at 255 Des Voeux Road West. The ground floor has a reception area (bonus: free chocolates) and a nicely outfitted foot-massage zone with hardwood floors and about 8 to 10 chairs. The place seemed clean, the lighting is low and there's no Chinese TV playing loudly. Tea is served to customers upon arrival.

Among the services on offer: foot reflexology ($148), acupressure ($188), Swedish oil body massage ($268), hot stone body massage ($268), lymphatic body massage ($268), Thai body massage ($268), facials ($238-288), ear or navel candle plus neck and shoulder massage ($198) cupping ($148) scraping ($148). (All those prices are for 50-minute sessions). They also offer waxing (legs, $280; bikini, $280; underarm, $100). There are package deals; pay for 10 sessions and get three free.

The boy went for Swedish massage, while I opted for hot stone. The last hot stone massage I had was in Sedona, Arizona, at L'Auberge d'Sedona, and it was awesome. It was also roughly eight times as expensive as this one. So, I adjusted my expectations downward. We were led up to the upper floor, which if you are over 6 feet tall you will find claustrophobic. There are about four private massage cubicles, each very tiny. They are not completely walled off near the ceiling, and they are not very soundproof. It seems highly improbably that there would be any happy endings in this place, because it's almost impossible not to hear what's going on in the next cubicle. They also had a sign posted stating that they only offer "regular" massage services.

In case you are faced with the to-underwear-or-not-to-underwear question: My masseuse brought me a disposable thong. The boy reports that he was offered no disposable undergarments and kept his boxers on for his massage.

While my stones were heating, my masseuse gave me a basic warm-up. After about 10 minutes she fetched the stones. I was lying face down, so I'm not sure exactly what the problem was, but she seemed to have no place to put them in the massage cubicle, so just dropped them on the floor. Repeatedly.

The stones were the proper temperature, not too hot or too cold. She did a decent job with them and focused on the shoulder blade that was killing me, though she didn't seem to understand any English so other than pointing it was not possible to communicate specific concerns. About 35 minutes into the massage, her cell phone rang, and she answered it! She talked for like 2 minutes and then went back to the rubbing. Sorry, but cell phones should not be ringing during my massage and they certainly shouldn't be answered.

The boy reported that his masseuse also took a call on her mobile during his massage.

The verdict: for the price, the massages are not half bad, but not super skillful. Expect a basic rubdown without a lot of technique, and an atmosphere that's a cut above your hole-in-the-wall Chinese place but a notch below the nicer joints in Central. My kink was not 100% worked out by the end of the massage, but I did have some improvement.

ET Brilliant. 255 Des Voeux Road West, Sai Ying Pun. map. 

Hours: 11 a.m. to midnight daily

Phone: 2858-8689.

Review: Sunny Paradise Sauna and Spa, Wanchai

Please Note: Fans of this blog, please see our new site at www.therubdown.hk. Here you can see our reviews, and you'll be able to search for spas and massage parlors too! We welcome collaborators, suggestions, questions and comments. Email us at therubdownhk@gmail.com!  Now on with the show...

Much like the sign outside, which has long since faded from its original gaudy gold color to a more tolerable bronze, Sunny Paradise shows its age. However, some things indeed get better with time. 

The lobby is a melee of carp pond, Buddhist statues and incense. Only one lone hostess stands guard amid this chaos, ready to usher patrons into the elevator. Upstairs there are two floors. The first is the men’s area and cashier, the second, the women’s area. 

Sunny Paradise is a homey spa where the friendly attendees seem more like aunties. Upon existing the elevator, patrons are guided into the changing area, where belongings and street clothes can be stored. A plastic wristband, provided for every visitor, acts as both key and your tab.

The changing room leads directly into the shower/steam room/sauna area (98HKD without massage services). Albeit slightly worn, the facilities are clean and in good working condition.  Once squeaky clean, guests can relax in the rest area.

The rest area, roughly 25’ by 25’, consists of armchair and ottoman sets with an all-you-can-eat snack menu, which is dangerous since this menu includes delectables such as grilled ham and cheese sandwiches. Lounge services are also offered in the common area, these include manicure, pedicure, foot massage, and of course the unforgettable ear cleaning (all about 88HKD).

While you are relaxing with a nice bowl of ramen from the all-you-can-eat menu, order up a 90 min Hong Kong, Chinese, or Thai style massage (~385HKD). The attendees will wait until you seem fully sated before leading you to the massage room. No rush services here.

 The massage is by far the best part of this place. The masseuses are no spring chickens, but the technique is noticeably perfected. They will knead and stretch until every kink is worked out.  Note for those who are sensitive to pain: the Chinese and Hong Kongese don’t mind slightly painful massages, as they believe that this will result in a feeling of relaxation later. However, if one were of a Western sensibility, it would be wise to make clear that a soft touch is needed. 

Overall, not the newest nor cheapest place, but still worth it if one is in search of a place to relax and fill up an empty stomach.

Sunny Paradise, 341 Lockhard Road, Wanchai. Phone: 2831-0123

Freebie Alert! Aromatherapy Academy Open House

Please Note: Fans of this blog, please see our new site at www.therubdown.hk. Here you can see our reviews, and you'll be able to search for spas and massage parlors too! We welcome collaborators, suggestions, questions and comments. Email us at therubdownhk@gmail.com!  Now on with the show...

We all like to get something for nothing, especially if it involves massage! This weekend, Asia-Pacific Aromatherapy in North Point is having an open house. The lovely ladies at APA will be offering free Indian head massages and hand massages, and giving introductory lessons about essential oils and other topics. They'll also have a bevy of natural products on sale.

What is APA? It's a small school offering a variety of classes on massage, aromatherapy, traditional Chinese medicine and more. It was started back in the 1990s, then went on hiatus for about a year and has recently been reestablished. They offer short courses and workshops for the casual learner, or if you really want to get serious, a 369-hour regimen leading to a diploma. They teach in English and Cantonese.

Here's a sample of their upcoming offerings:

• Aromatherapy Introductory Course (5 hours over 2 days) $600
• Essential Oils and the Meridians (4 hours) $900
• Acupressure for Self-Care and Client Care (4 hours) $900
• Aromatics for Pets (4 hours) $900

Their spring diploma course kicks off in March, so if you're thinking about delving into a new line of work, the open house might be a good time to check out the offerings, talk to the teachers, and see if it's for you.

APA's Open House is this Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 30 and 31, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

APA, Java Commercial Centre, 10th Floor, Room 1001, 128 Java Road, North Point. Map. (If you are taking the MTR, use exit A1, turn right). 2882 2444. info@apagroup.com.hk

www.aromatherapyapa.com

Review: Mee Panda Beauty -- Cheapest Massage in Central?

Please Note: Fans of this blog, please see our new site at www.therubdown.hk. Here you can see our reviews, and you'll be able to search for spas and massage parlors too! We welcome collaborators, suggestions, questions and comments. Email us at therubdownhk@gmail.com!  Now on with the show...

OK folks, listen up! You want a good cheap massage in Central? I defy you to do better than the deal I got today at Mee Panda Beauty. Almost 90 minutes, $99. Yes, that's Hong Kong dollars! 

Let's be clear about one thing: You're not going to Mee Panda for the atmosphere. You're going for the all-business Thai rubdown from Jo, the proprietress, who learned her technique from her Thai mother-in-law, who's got 35 years of experience.

Jo, as it turns out, also speaks good English and will chat your ear off hairdresser-style with stories of old Hong Kong, Thai ghost tales, health advice (Coke is bad for you bones, drink milk) and how she became a mother for the second time at age 39. But if you want to zone out, doze off or watch TV (she's got HBO in the house), she'll zip it and just work you over.

Mee Panda is a basic shop with blue carpet, 2 massage chairs, and a room for body massage. You want decorations? Four stuffed pandas will have to suffice. When I got there, Jo's two-year-old was playing in front of the TV; a caregiver hustled her off to a back room while I settled in for my 50-minute foot + shoulder massage.

Jo brought me a footbath, let me soak for about 10 minutes, and served jasmine tea and some crackers. Then she set to work on my feet and shins. She sterilized her hands with alcohol first, then rubbed me with some vitamin E cream. Her technique is largely knuckle work, verging on the painful at times, but she'll back off if you tell her to. She also uses a small wooden stick to administer pressure on specific points, such as on your arch and between your toes. To enhance the relaxation, she also slathered on a mentholatum-like Thai warming balm (which she washed off later, so I didn't leave smelling like my  grandpa). She spent half an hour on each of my legs, and that was after the 10-minute footbath. At the end she cleaned my feet again, and finished it all off with some foot powder.

But wait, there's more! Once my feet were done, I got another 15 minutes or so of neck, shoulder and arm massage. 

Jo says she's busiest during weekdays because most of her clients are office workers in Central. So don't expect any overtime Monday-Friday. But drop in on a weekend, like I did, and if no one else is waiting you may get some bonus minutes. I walked in at 1:30 and walked out at 3 p.m. and spent $99. (That's not including tip, which I did actually add on because of the great and friendly service). Given that under the escalators near Hollywood Road I see several shops asking $130 for a 30-minute foot massage, Mee Panda is a bargain and it's right in the heart of it all.

Have you been to Mee Panda?  Drop us a comment about your experience!

Mee Panda Beauty Co., 13 Queen Victoria Street, First Floor, Central. Map.

Daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

2521 8252 (reservations accepted).

Review: Darha Spa, Central

Please Note: Fans of this blog, please see our new site at www.therubdown.hk. Here you can see our reviews, and you'll be able to search for spas and massage parlors too! We welcome collaborators, suggestions, questions and comments. Email us at therubdownhk@gmail.com!  Now on with the show...

There's a new spa in town -- Darha Spa in Central -- so I popped over this weekend to check it out. Tucked away on the ninth floor of an office building on Queen's Road Central near H&M, it's a sister branch to the original Darha Spa in Khon Kaen in northeastern Thailand.

Since Darha Spa bills itself as a place that will "bring you the true Thai spa experience," I booked (what else?) a 60-minute Thai massage. When I arrived at 7 p.m. on Sunday, the place was empty, but the staff was exceptionally friendly without being obsequious. It's obvious that the proprietors put some effort into the decor, outfitting the reception area with dark-wood furniture, live orchids and Thai art. The receptionist offered me tea or water, and brought my drink on a rattan tray along with a cool towel to refresh my face. She requested that I fill out a short questionnaire inquiring about my health, allergies, and preferences during the massage (light, medium or hard pressure).

For my treatment I was led into a dimly lit private room decorated with Thai textiles and artwork; soothing music at low volume set a relaxing mood. After I changed into a set of loose pajamas, my masseuse guided my bare tootsies into a large dark wooden bowl of warm water, added flower petals, slices of lime and salt to the bath and gave my feet a quick cleaning. It was a nice touch. Then it was on to the massage.

Traditional Thai massage does not use oil, and rather than rubbing or long strokes, the technique is more about pressing and stretching. After a hard workout at the gym the day before, my muscles were quite sore, and the masseuse seemed to home in on my aching shins and quads. Methodically, she worked up and down my spine, paying particular attention to my shoulder blades, as I had noted on the questionnaire when I arrived. After 35 minutes, she flipped me over, and attended to the front of my legs, stretching them into various positions. Then back up to my arms, shoulders, neck and back, pressing deep into the tissue. Clambering over me to pull my limbs into various stretches, I think she got as much of a workout massaging me as I had gotten the day before at the gym!

What was booked as a 60-minute massage in fact lasted about 70 minutes, not including the footbath. Dressed and back in the reception area, I was greeted with a small goblet of fresh melon balls and a glass of water. The receptionist asked me to fill out a survey about the treatment and seemed sincerely concerned with my satisfaction.

Since Darha Spa is new, they're running a "grand opening" special -- 30% off all treatments. So my massage, priced on the menu at $450, was instead $315 -- a good value for a competent massage in a nice atmosphere with a friendly, English-speaking staff. The special is on at least through the end of the month, and in February they'll be offering a Valentine's Day deal: bring a friend/partner and get 50% off on two treatments.

The list of services at Darha is quite extensive: Besides Thai, they offer Swedish, Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, hot stone, shiatsu, Ayuvedic, and sports massages, as well as manicures, pedicures, hairstyling and makeup application. Their more elaborate treatments include body scrubs, facials, a "four hands" massage with two therapists, and even a "virginity" massage that promises to "reinvigorate your sexual awareness" and "make you feel like a virgin again" (45 minutes, $550). Hmm. Maybe something to think about for the Valentine's Day special...

Darha's normal prices are by no means cheap, but the 30-50% discounts on offer seem to be a good deal. If you check them out, write in with your experience and we'll let others know what you think -- we're dying to hear how the virginity massage goes!

Darha Spa, Parker House, 9th Floor, 72 Queen's Road Central, Central, Hong Kong. Map. 2140 6311

www.darhaspa.com/Hk/

darhaspa@gmail.com

Review: Power Foot, Sheung Wan

Please Note: Fans of this blog, please see our new site at www.therubdown.hk. Here you can see our reviews, and you'll be able to search for spas and massage parlors too! We welcome collaborators, suggestions, questions and comments. Email us at therubdownhk@gmail.com!  Now on with the show...

Looking for a no-frills but friendly foot rub in Sheung Wan? You could do worse than Power Foot.

Power Foot is situated just at the end of Hollywood Road. I've passed this place dozens of times but finally decided to pop in last weekend. The shop seems to be run by three middle age ladies in sweatpants, and there's a cat on a leash behind the counter. In short, no funny business here! Just a main room for foot massages with six comfy purple chairs, white tile floors, a TV on moderately low volume, and piles of trashy Chinese gossip magazines (as well as English copies of Time) to flip through. There are three tiny rooms situated just off the main room for full-body massages. Because the shop is close to the street, there is noise from traffic and pedestrians outside, so if you are looking for absolute silence, or even calming relaxing music, this is not the place for you. When I was there, most of the other customers were women, although there was one man getting a foot rub.

The menu of services here is limited: Foot massage ($148 for 50 mins), body massage ($198 for 50 mins), Ear candle ($148, 40 mins), manicure ($120) Shanghai-style trim pedicure (i.e., no polish, $198). The place seemed clean, if not brand-spanking new. The live plants and a fish tank lend a homey feel.

I opted for the foot rub, and my masseuse, who spoke very basic English, brought me a cup of tea. She fetched a cedar bucket (lined with plastic bag) filled with brownish warm water (it seemed to be an herbal concoction of some sort). After a 10 minute soak, she brought warm towels (bonus points for warm towels), dried my feet, applied foot creme to my feet and calves and began the massage. She began with light stretches of the foot and ankle and a bit of a shin rub. Then she homed in on the soles of my feet, working mainly with her knuckles. The pressure was good -- not to hard and not too soft. After about 10 minutes I really started to relax when she began rubbing between my toes. This is also when she started turning around to watch the TV, but I have to concede she did keep rubbing with the same vigor. Later a friend of hers popped into the shop for a chat, and she kept up the massage even as she talked for about five minutes. So if you require undivided attention from your foot masseuse, Power Foot may not fit your bill.

She rubbed for a full 55 minutes (and I was happy to see that the 10 minute soak was not included in the time). The massage finished with warm towels on my shins and feet, and a second cup of tea. With a $20 tip, my bill came to $168.

Final thought: Don't go out of your way for Power Foot, but if you are nearby and just need a quick rubdown, this place is fine.

Power Foot, 88 Queen's Road West, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. Map. 2915 2298. Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.