PENANG -- area code (60-4)

• Bamboo Bless
  1/F 98-01-43 Prima Tanjung, Jln Fettes (opposite Island Plaza), 899-6010, email. Facing the 4-story Prima Tanjung shopping complex, with Island Plaza at your back, Bamboo Bless is located on 1/F in the terminal left side of the U-shaped front block (well towards the back of the complex). Masseurs offer a range of services for men including traditional massage, full body massage with body scrub, foot treatment, slimming therapy and their "Ultimate Bliss" package. Rooms have showers. Utopia Member Discount

  Comments from Utopians:

  "I'm already fed up with Bamboo Bless. It's the third time that I went there and was greeted with a sleepy guy, saying 'no masseur'...so why open if there is no masseur?" -- jerry5385, Feb 17, 2008

  "Rang the door bell and woke up the only massuer. Dirty and untidy environment upon stepping in. Stuffy air with smokey smell." -- sg_man, Oct 29, 2007

  "From the outside this place looked closed with the usual heavily curtained windows and door(dirty) which seem to be a uniform feature of gay massage and sauna joints in Penang. The business signs had fallen down and were just lying against the wall. You have to ring the bell to be let in and when this eventually this happened the two masseurs seemed totally amazed to have customers. The reception room, lit only by a TV, was dark, dirty and reeking of cigarette smoke. The masseurs appeared to be living/sleeping in the massage rooms. We left. Give this place a miss." -- only010, May 22, 2007

  "Bamboo Bless was a very unforgettable experience. The moment I walked in, there were two great looking guys who greeted me. My massage was so sensual, I can't wait to go back." -- leo09, Jan 3, 2007

• Body & Soul
  2/F Midlands Park (formerly called, and still known as, One Stop), Blk 488D-02-15 (next door to Hugo Massage), 012-562-7610, 229-8837, email. Eight masseurs and five rooms. Clean and fresh looking place. Traditional and body massage. Open daily from 1pm-1am. Call for an appointment if you come early or late.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Body & Soul can be recommended for its clean environment. Lots of massuers, mostly Chinese. Disadvantages are that the rooms are without washrooms, not spacious, not sound proofed as they are separated only by board partitions." -- sg_man, Oct 29, 2007

  "Of the gay massage places we went to in Penang this was the best, but only just. The reception area is quite bright, clean and smart, the manager charming and possessed some degree of customer focus. They do not have a printed massage menu and only offer a 'traditional' or body to body massage (they seemed unsure how to explain what traditional meant, but after some discussion we deduced it was a mixture of Thai/Malay/Chinese techniques). The massage was good enough for us to go back several times. The Malay body to body massage is quite a thrill and fun, though we doubt it has any therapeutic/health benefits beyond relaxation. The general massage skill level varied considerably. The massage rooms were just OK - music too loud and repetitive, everything was cheap, no effort on creating an environment. There was rolled up bedding on a shelf and personal clothes in the room. When I asked if they change the sheets between customers the masseur said only if there was a lot of oil on the sheets. They do change the towels. The masseurs (Malay, Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Thai) were polite and chatty, though one masseur took three mobile calls during the massage. The shower/toilets are basic. Give their offer of a body scrub/shower with the masseur a miss (they are out of their comfort zone and just don’t know how to do it, plus the scrub solution was low grade)." -- only010, May 22, 2007

• JF Beauty & Academy
  2/F Midlands Park, Blk 488D-2-14 Jln Burma, Midlands One-Stop Complex, appointments: 227-7636, 019-481-0021. Facial treatments and body slimming courses, Shiatsu and European style massage and massage classes, make-up services, manicure, pedicure, make-up. Closed Mon.
• Long Yang
  4/F Midlands Park (next to Leo Sauna), Jln Burma Midlands Park.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Long Yang is terrible now compared to a few years back. Dirty rooms, with people smoking at reception, sitting on the sofa with legs resting on the other sofa. My massuer was not professional at all and pressured me for money." -- sg_man, Oct 3, 2007

  "We just did not go past the dark, airless, stinking, stale cigarette smell-filled reception room (and I smoke) with a large butt-filled ash tray as a decorative centre piece. The staff - while they remained seated - were perfectly polite and informative, but we could not envisage a relaxing, clean, professional, uplifting massage here, so gave it a miss." -- only010, May 22, 2007

  "Great space, very private, air-con, en suite showers, beautifully decorated suites and, more importantly, stunning masseurs. They're very friendly and unassuming. My friends and I are of the opinion that the experience there was better than that of Bangkok. More cost-effective and certainly not intimidating." -- ZAR, Jan 6, 2007

• Long Wan
  1/F 98-1-27 Prima Tanjung (opposite Island Plaza), Jln Fettes, 016-476-6149, 899-4821, email. Upstairs at the curving section of the complex just above the 7-11. Completely redecorated in 2007 with stylish new interior, massage rooms with soft lighting and two in-room baths. Foot reflexology, traditional and body massage. Relax in comfort. Open daily from 2pm-2am. Outcall also available.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Long Wan is now cleaner and has more massuers" -- jerry5385, Oct 4, 2007

  "The outside of Long Wan looks like the entrance to a bar or disco. Dark, gloomy reception, staff who seemed surprised to have customers and don’t quite know what to do with you, other non-massage spa activities going on in the reception area, a rush to find someone who can help you, no massage menu so only a vague idea of what is on offer. Sorry, with such a poor first impression in reception we did not feel inclined to stay." -- only010, May 22, 2007

  "The staff are friendly and good looking, ambience is great and I had a pleasant massage. The new owner is such a down to earth guy and he sure knows which massuer to introduce you to." -- blackmen, Jan 23, 2007

  Comments from Utopians:

  "I visited a new massage centre located at 11-3-1 New Bob Centre, Jln Gottieb (previously known as Tora Tora Centre). The rooms were clean. Give a try." -- austin, Jul 19, 2007