Munnar, and the Kerala region in general, is known for a type of massage called ayurveda. These massages are part of a broader part of traditional/alternative medicine in India. Raj, the driver, suggested that I go to a therapy center away from the hotels (for cost considerations). Not one to argue in strange places, we ended up at the Swatic Ayur Care Centre.
Upon arrival, the proprietor asked what type of massage I'd like. Hmm, I thought to self... one that does not involve happy endings. Out loud, I said, the one Raj recommended. At 800 Rs ($16), I figured I might as well go with the deluxe version. After a few minutes, a small woman walked out and told me to follow her, she stepped inside a room and I followed her, and she bolts the door at the top and bottom. She says something to me.
-- "Excuse me," I respond.
-- "Please take off your clothes," she repeats.
I disrobe down to my undies. I've started to second guess my decision. Ever since my surgery I've been extremely self-conscious about my mid-section. And yet, here's this woman I hardly know telling me to take off my clothes, and isn't even offering me a drink before doing so! I sigh.
-- "Do I really have to take off all of my clothes?"
-- "Yes." I sighed, and took off my top. At this point, I was REALLY uncomfortable. I couldn't figure out why it was necessary to completely disrob. Why couldn't I just do like in the states and get under a towel and not have to deal with this.
-- "I'm really uncomfortable." I giggled nervously. I take a breath in, and took off my bottoms. As I turned around she handed me what looked like a paper towel, sumo wrestler bottom wrap. One eyebrow went up on my face.
-- "Put this on." I looked at the paper diaper and shrugged.
-- "How?" She helped me put on the this piece of paper. I can't help but think it would have been much easier to just keep on what I was wearing and take the chance of the oil ruining the clothes, rather than this paper fiasco. She then instructed me to take off my glasses. That's when the world went fuzzy.
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