---

This Is What It's Like to Get a Massage in A Thai Prison

CHIANG MAI, Thailand - For a brief moment, the soothing music and gentle touch of the trained masseuse catapulted me to a luxury resort. Then I opened my eyes and saw the corrections guard.

Wearing a light brown uniform, she sauntered over to one of the masseuses milling about and whispered in her ear. I was instantly jolted back to reality and remembered where I was.

While the relaxing massage and calm atmosphere was reminiscent of any comfortable spa experience, the trained masseuses wearing crisp pink uniforms were not: they were female inmates convicted of various crimes. Located right in the heart of the old city, the Chiang Mai Women Correctional Institution Vocational Training Center helps women inmates develop skills that will help them better reintegrate into society. In Chiang Mai - a city of 150,000 in northern Thailand known for its rich culture and historic temples - that includes learning the techniques of Thai massage.
http://www.nbcnew...on-n348986