Monday, Dec. 14, 2009

Snake Massage

Ada Barak's Carnivorous Plant Farm, Talmey El'Azar, Israel

Get rid of migraines with a simple squeeze — as long as you don't mind snakes. A massage at Ada Barak's Northern Israel spa is not for the faint of heart. Visitors are draped with a variety of nonvenomous serpents. Larger ones, like the corn and king snakes, provide a deep, kneading massage, while smaller milk snakes flicker over the skin for a soothing, fluttering sensation. (If you're the sort of person who calls dozens of snakes crawling on your body soothing.) Barak herself stands by in case some attempt to slither away. Contrary to what you may have heard, snake scales aren't slimy; they actually feel dry and smooth. Regulars say the $70 massage also eases aches and pains.