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BAGHDAD -- The latest luxury spa in Iraq's capital offers anothersmall sign of life creeping closer to normalcy – if yourdefinition of "normal" includes having tiny fish nibble on yourfeet. Billed as Baghdad's first fish pedicure salon, the enterprise aimsto bring in Iraqi customers who have recently begun to venture outagain as the violence that engulfed the country after the 2003U.S.-led invasion ebbs. Bombings and shootings are still common,but daily life has improved for most people in recent years. Dozensof beauty salons, cosmetic surgery centers and other enterpriseshave sprung up to cash in on war-weary Iraqis looking forpampering. Doctor's Fish Spa opened this year in western Baghdad's upscaleMansour area. Owner Musbah Saleh, 37, was looking for a uniqueservice to offer customers when he hit on trendy fish pedicures, inwhich small carp in a tank eat dead skin to make feet extra smooth. The practice of using the toothless garra rufa fish as a treatmentfor skin diseases became popular in Asia in 2006. But Saleh foundin his research that it originated decades ago in Iraq's neighbor,Turkey. He traveled there earlier this year and imported 600 of thefish at a cost of about $10,000. Now, dozens of his scaly, hungry employees dart around in a tankattached to a pedicure chair, waiting for a new pair of feet tomunch on. The pink-walled reception area is decorated with floralstencils and an elaborate aquarium filled with plastic fish. Saleh says he's confident of success for his piscine pamperingproject despite minor logistical hurdles, such as the city'sfrequent power cuts that force him to run a noisy generator. "Chinese massage centers, beauty salons are all thriving. So thiskind of business has a promising future," Saleh said. "The Iraqipeople need these things because they couldn't have them before." Violence in Baghdad has dropped sharply in recent years, after awave of sectarian attacks that pushed the country to the brink ofcivil war. However, bombings and shootings are still common. The wealthy Mansour neighborhood near Saleh's spa saw some of theworst of the sectarian carnage. These days, the area is quieter,but the local market still has blast walls surrounding it. On Sunday, the fish were going hungry. There were no customers inthe spa, just a lone man using the gym upstairs. Still, Saleh is relentlessly optimistic. Just down the street from Doctor's Fish Spa, there is a policecheckpoint – one of dozens across Baghdad – withconcrete barriers, rolls of barbed wire and armed police. Far fromscaring customers off, the checkpoint was part of the location'sappeal, Saleh says. "The main reason I chose this place is because of the security," hesays. "And the good parking." Also on HuffPost:. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as China Elm Obd Interface , Bmw Diagnostic Interface, and more. For more , please visit Vag Diagnostic Equipment today!
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