An Israeli health and beauty spa is now offering a new service for its customers - a snake massage. The treatment comprises of six non-venomous serpents massaging the client's aching muscles and stiff joints for $70. Located in northern Israel, Ada Barak's spa makes use California and Florida king snakes, corn snakes and milk snakes for the massage. Barak believes that physical contact with the reptiles can be a soothing experience.

Some actresses said yesterday that their schedules are so crammed they can get a little lax with their personal grooming. A few of the most successful women in Hollywood confessed they are too busy to shave their armpits for weeks. This comes as surprising news, especially from people who thrive on glamour and beauty. The stars made the confession Tuesday at a celebrity breakfast hosted by the Hollywood Reporter in conjunction with the publication of its 15th annual Women In Entertainment Power 100 list.

Holland is experiencing an increase in incoming tourism from the US -- a market that decreased after 9/11. This year will be the first since before 2001 that the country will welcome it's one-millionth visitor from the US. Conrad van Tiggelen, Director, NBTC North America said, "Despite the exchange rate concerns, with the dollar in a renewed slide against the Euro, visitors from the USA are back to the levels of 2000. "

Men in Shanghai spend an average of 17. 1 minutes looking at themselves in the mirror every day, according to a survey published Tuesday. Although men in Beijing don't gaze at their reflections for quite as long as Shanghai men do, they spend more money on cosmetics - an average of $10 dollars a month, with 46 percent of Beijing respondents saying they spend $15. According to experts, in the past it was only Chinese women who invested in cosmetics and beauty treatments. They believe Chinese men are becoming more appearance-conscious due to economic and social development.

A German painter has taken to decorating coffins with flowers and other symbols of nature on the belief that plain coffins failed to address the emotional needs of society. He stumbled on the idea while working for a funeral home. Alfred Opiolka, 46, says that dealing with death is much more bearable for the bereaved when you remember the beauty of life in a person's final resting place.