Morino Kaze Fish Spa, Kuala Lumpur
Morino Kaze Fish Spa: Fish Spa RM 24 (30 min)
December 2008 – Piccolo Galleria, Bukit Bintang
Morino Kaze entrance
A month ago, staying at the fashionable heart of Bukit Bintang’s Park Royal Hotel, I have made a rather interesting discovery. Morina Kaze Fish Spa, a stone throw from the hotel offered a different sort of foot reflexology experience – getting fishes to do the massage for you! Yes, I have typed that right – FISHES!
The scientists in Japan discovered a particular type of fish naturally occurring at river beds in Turkey and they have a special ability. They have noticed that these fishes eats away the dead skin cells and leaves the skin smooth and supple. Research have also indicated that sufferers of skin infections and allergies have shown improved skin appearance and less sensitivity. Apparently, these fishes only eat away dead and infected skin cells and do not have sharp teeth at all – in fact they use their smooth fish mouths to graze away the dead skin cells. Rest assured that you will not feel any pain at all.
Dr. Fish treating skin ailments
After being on my feet the entire day and walking while lugging the heavy shopping bags in both arms, I came across this fish spa at the Piccolo Galleria. I thought wouldn’t it be just the perfect thing to do after all the shopping and walking around in Kuala Lumpur and get my tired feet a good unique massage – give my soles the boost that it needs. Plus I thought it would be a whole entirely new massage experience.
Coming up the escalator to the 2nd floor of the gallery, I do not know what to expect from the fish foot reflexology – I know that this fishes do not have teeth, which the spa have assured and it will not hurt. What if, the fish spa forgotten to give the fishes a meal and have gotten hungry that they just decided to swarm and eat both of my feet away. God, I am such a cynic these days. Anyway, the walls of the spa was adorned with polaroid pictures of tourists from all corners of the world – most of them laughing and squirmy faces.
The fish spa experience began with a foot soak to wash away any dirt and debris from both of the feet and then the therapist lead me towards the fish aquariums – its designed in such a way that the aquariums comes together in a circular shape. I have the choice of choosing baby fishes and medium size fishes – which I thought are pretty fat and big, much much more scary and intimidating with their big mouth. Apparently, the big fishes are much better and good at getting all the dead skin cells away according to the therapists. No thank you, I am fine with just the baby fishes, so do not want to get any of my toes missing!
The fishes are gentle - feels like nipping on your toes
Since it was already quite late – we were the only ones at the spa and get the fish tank to ourselves. Just as I expected, the moment I placed my feet down the tank, the fishes were very hungry and came swarming towards “food” my feet. The sensation: Getting bitten by hundreds of fishes without the pain and with their mouth suckling on my skin – it was so ticklish! The first 10 minutes was such a weird experience, it was ticklish and I cannot stop laughing. My concious was partly to blame, I cannot get over the thought that hundreds of fishes are currently feasting and fighting for my feet. It’s not foot reflexology that’s for sure.
We didn’t finish the 30 minute treatment, although its not painful, I suppose the fishes were more like a gimmick and a fad to the curiosity of visitors and tourists alike. It was such a weird sensation and I just cannot get over with the thought of hundreds of fishes munching the skin of my feet. But nonetheless, its definitely one of those things you have to do it once when you’re in Kuala Lumpur.
Photos courtesy of Google images
30 minutes of Fish Reflexology costs RM 24, Morino Kaze Fish spa is located at the 2nd floor of the Piccolo Galleria (next to Lot 10) at Jalan Bukit Bintang.
