Always looking to find a local experience while on the road I hopped in the car with Isa, a likeable individual who has opened his home for me to stay during my time in Almaty. He is an ex military man who is now a boxing trainer. He definitely has the build and look of a boxer. During the ride over the theme song from the Titanic movie came on the radio and he started singing along.
Almaty is a huge town – spread out for some distance. There is plenty of wealth in parts of this city as evidenced by all the Land Rovers, Mercedes and other fancy vehicles – not to mention some premier name brand shops and a tall Ritz Carlton. Finally we arrived at the Arasan Baths.
The Arasan Baths contain a Russian steam bath, Finnish Sauna and Turkish Bath. I entered the Russian Sauna and almost melted from the severe heat – I had to stay low and next to the door otherwise the heat nearly burned. Another domed room holds a refreshingly cold pool which makes for a great dip after time spent in one of the aforementioned hot sauna rooms.
There is also a room with big semi nude men standing over fully naked men lying on marble stone slabs. These large men are giving massages. I ordered one of these massages – it turned out to be a full body soapy massage – and was rather uncomfortable for a skinny person like myself with no padding on the marble slab other than small pieces of some sort of Styrofoam given to put under your knees and head.
very well written post….thanks