Monday, May 17, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Tai Dan
...about 3 hours of walking.... about 11km...and i can barely stand up straight.... Aviv sugguested a massage at Tai Dan...why didn't i think of that? On returning to the hotel, i asked the attendant manning the hotel door, and he smiles and says yes, I know Tai Dan. He also says i can call someone to my room for a massage. I am sure that's going to be an arm and a leg...at the 5 Star Shangri La in Downtown Dalian.... So Tai Dan it will be... I come up stairs to rest for a bit before heading out for my massage... Found out the concierge's desk has a binder with places of interest, so they write down the information for me. It's right across the street, to the right. Of course, i am trying to compare Chinese characters, and think i spot it down this side street... Nope...wrong street....Not like my instructions didn't say across the street and to the right...why did i turn left off the main? I showed the car attendant the name of the place in Chinese, and he points in the direction. He took it one step further, signalling to his coworker to cover him, and he proceeds to escort me... These are the moments i live for in China...custome servcie.... but they are few and far between, so i enjoy them when they roll around... We walk for a bit, and then i see the sign and i smile and point... He smiles too and nods his head....I thank him and i am off....
Inside Tai Dan.... Awesome ambience.... dark wooden structures....furniture pieces.... water screen running... i am ready for my massage.... they bring me a list of the services and slippers to change into.... Chinese massage or oil aromatherapy massage? what's the difference? English...barely.... so I speak, she speaks...and neither one of us has a clue what the other said.... Chinese and foot massage bundled in a package... let's try that.... Boy or girl? Boy.... I am lead to a room and told to change.... I think i better find out from Steve which one to get... Turns out chinese massage is with the shirt on and no direct skin contact....i think i want the oil aromatherapy... I wait for the guy to return to tell him....Oh....1 hour of each? Yup.... I am lead to another room, and given a bucket of hot water to place my feet in... Rest rooms? bathroom? He hasn't a clue....light bulb goes off and he says...Toilet...Yes... Which reminds me, everywhere u go, the signs says Toilet....so krass...I get back to the room, put feet in welcomed warm water....Ummmmmhh? when do i change? WHile my feet soaks, he massages my upper shoulders...actually...tries to remove the inner layers of my muscles... hurt? Gentle...anyone???.... That torture is over....he leaves....and i am told to change and lay face down on the bed.... ah.... about time....
English really is golden.... which he speaks a tad bit... he returns and the massage is underway.... He reaches for the button in th back...only thing is, i am wearing the buttons in the front...lol....That was not part of the instructions... Had a good laugh to myself.... I wish i would have asked for a girl, cause i think he is on a mission to remove my skin....so i keep wincing and he keeps apologizing...finally, i think he gets it now....At one point he is straddling me on the table... Strange massage manoever....but nothing inappropriate, so i relax.... My feet really needs it, and i am getting one hr for body and one hour for feet....Either my feet are still sore from the walk, or he's renewed his mission to take the layers off, as this hurts....I manage to dose on and off..2 hrs later...i am somwehat relaxed...somewhat enjoyed the experience, despite the torture at times... Funny thing is, for a full body massage, my arms weren't touched.... Everyone swears by this place....so maybe it's just me today...
I drink my orange juice I opted for, and am escorted to the front....where i pay...and get him to write down Archie Square in Chinese... That's key to getting directions... Some people will speak a few works of English, but i'd be darned if they can read it...Archie square is about 15 mins down the street.... i mentioned taxi and he laughs and says 2 mins....i guess i can walk....something i have been doing a lot of in China...of course i talk myself into it, as it's a form of exercise...got to do something to balance my food intake...
Inside Tai Dan.... Awesome ambience.... dark wooden structures....furniture pieces.... water screen running... i am ready for my massage.... they bring me a list of the services and slippers to change into.... Chinese massage or oil aromatherapy massage? what's the difference? English...barely.... so I speak, she speaks...and neither one of us has a clue what the other said.... Chinese and foot massage bundled in a package... let's try that.... Boy or girl? Boy.... I am lead to a room and told to change.... I think i better find out from Steve which one to get... Turns out chinese massage is with the shirt on and no direct skin contact....i think i want the oil aromatherapy... I wait for the guy to return to tell him....Oh....1 hour of each? Yup.... I am lead to another room, and given a bucket of hot water to place my feet in... Rest rooms? bathroom? He hasn't a clue....light bulb goes off and he says...Toilet...Yes... Which reminds me, everywhere u go, the signs says Toilet....so krass...I get back to the room, put feet in welcomed warm water....Ummmmmhh? when do i change? WHile my feet soaks, he massages my upper shoulders...actually...tries to remove the inner layers of my muscles... hurt? Gentle...anyone???.... That torture is over....he leaves....and i am told to change and lay face down on the bed.... ah.... about time....
English really is golden.... which he speaks a tad bit... he returns and the massage is underway.... He reaches for the button in th back...only thing is, i am wearing the buttons in the front...lol....That was not part of the instructions... Had a good laugh to myself.... I wish i would have asked for a girl, cause i think he is on a mission to remove my skin....so i keep wincing and he keeps apologizing...finally, i think he gets it now....At one point he is straddling me on the table... Strange massage manoever....but nothing inappropriate, so i relax.... My feet really needs it, and i am getting one hr for body and one hour for feet....Either my feet are still sore from the walk, or he's renewed his mission to take the layers off, as this hurts....I manage to dose on and off..2 hrs later...i am somwehat relaxed...somewhat enjoyed the experience, despite the torture at times... Funny thing is, for a full body massage, my arms weren't touched.... Everyone swears by this place....so maybe it's just me today...
I drink my orange juice I opted for, and am escorted to the front....where i pay...and get him to write down Archie Square in Chinese... That's key to getting directions... Some people will speak a few works of English, but i'd be darned if they can read it...Archie square is about 15 mins down the street.... i mentioned taxi and he laughs and says 2 mins....i guess i can walk....something i have been doing a lot of in China...of course i talk myself into it, as it's a form of exercise...got to do something to balance my food intake...
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