A casual massage adventure in Bangkok
When you think of Bangkok, one of the first things that comes to mind is a good massage. After a long day of exploring the city, I decided to treat myself.
While wandering around Silom, I was approached by a man in a bright yellow T-shirt waving me over. The price was cheap, the vibe seemed casual, and without giving it much thought, I stepped inside.
— Looking back, I probably should have been more cautious.
Something felt… off from the start
The staff led me down a dimly lit hallway into a small private room.
My massage therapist was a solidly built man with thick arms. At first, I felt oddly reassured — he looked strong, and maybe he could work out the knots in my back.
But as soon as the massage started, something felt… different.
His hands moved more gently than I expected. There was a strange softness to the way he touched me.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I realized: he was shirtless.
(Wait… when did he take off his shirt?!)
I tried to convince myself it was just the heat — it’s Bangkok, after all. But a small voice in my head started whispering: this is not a normal massage.
Things escalated quickly
As the session continued, the touches grew slower, more deliberate. The oil was flowing — a lot of it.
And then, out of nowhere, he leaned in and whispered in my ear:
“Special service… you want?”
My brain went completely blank.
I froze up, heart pounding, face burning.
Did he really just offer that? Here? Now?
I scrambled to give a polite smile and shook my head awkwardly to say no.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure if he was disappointed or relieved.
Escaping with my dignity (barely)
The atmosphere stayed awkward after that. He continued the massage, but now we both seemed hyper-aware of what had almost happened.
When he finally finished, I checked my watch — it felt shorter than the time I paid for. Probably because my heart had been racing the whole time.
Feeling half-guilty and half-embarrassed, I left a generous tip and made a quick exit.
As soon as I stepped outside into the Bangkok heat, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
What I learned: Always research before you go
The lesson?
Never judge a massage parlor in Bangkok by its storefront.
Especially in areas like Silom, many places “look” like normal massage shops but offer… extra services if you know how to ask — or even if you don’t.
If you’re looking for a genuine, no-surprises massage experience, it’s definitely worth doing a bit of research beforehand.
Still, now that the shock has worn off, I have to admit:
it’s a story I’ll probably laugh about for years to come.
Maybe next time, I’ll pay a little more attention to the small signs — or maybe, just maybe, I’ll walk in again and see what happens.
After all, it’s Bangkok.
