Paging Dr. Fish

05-14-2010
Day 70 of 365: Looking at the pics here, you're probably wondering why a Texas boy is laid back wearing a Dodgers jersey, ankles deep in a tank with a foot-fistful of fish? The jersey part is simple: I like pissing off Angels fans. Just kidding. Actually Major League Baseball is very popular in South Korea, as is MLB apparel. This works for me because I happen to be a collector of MLB ball caps, with a few other items to go along with them; LA "gear" included. As for the foot fish clan, I'd like to take this moment to refer you to Dr. Fish. No appointments necessary; walk-ins accepted.

Dr. Fish is a form of skin treatment where the body is submerged under water so that flesh eating fish can have their dinner. In this case it's a form of pedicure. Sounds awesome, right? Actually you've most likely got the image of Piranhas swimming through your head now, but let me assure you that these guys aren't man-eaters. For one thing, the fish don't have teeth, so there's no need to worry about losing a toe. They only eat dead skin, so they hang out on the bottom of your feet for the most part. Knowing this, it's no surprise that given a choice, they prefer men's feet over women's. Also, everyone washes their feet before and after the treatment, so people with certain phobias can be at ease. There are 2 species of "nibbler" fish that are used in this treatment: Garra rufa and Cyprinion macrostomus. I advise first-timers to start with the Garras because they are smaller and less shocking to the system. As is, it still takes most people several minutes, sometimes longer, to feel comfortable with dozens of tiny mouths going to town on the bottom of your feet. Once you feel that you're ready, you can move over to the considerably larger Cyprinions, where you will get that uncomfortable, why-did-I-pay-money-for-this feeling all over again. Where the tiny Garras feel like bubbles or water jets shooting on the bottom of you feet and through your toes, it's actually possible for your mind to conceive the large Cyprinion's mouths sucking on you, which is very unnerving...until it isn't. At some point you stop being so tense and are able to just relax and enjoy it. It's honestly one of the most unique experiences I've ever had.

This type of treatment was actually started in the US according to an article I read online, but they eventually closed down. It has since spread to many countries in Europe and Asia. In Seoul, the business itself is not a clinic, but actually a tea and coffee shop. It has a nice atmosphere, lots of space and a good selection of drinks and other items. The way it works is that each person purchases a drink plus 2,000 Won extra (roughly 2 dollars) if you want to add Dr. Fish. Sessions range from 15-25 minutes depending on how busy it is. I've gone twice so far, and we didn't have to wait long either time. Another cool thing about some coffee shops in Korea, this one included, is that they have free bread and rolls out on the center table that you can toast with butter and jam if you so wish. Just be sure to finish what you take or they charge you extra. It's a pretty sweet deal for the price, which puts Dr. Fish at the top of my list for anyone coming to visit South Korea.