One more 老Joe post.

Whenever a guest comes into town they're always good for a few quick posts - and the return of 老Joe is no different.

We had a fun Saturday of drinking at Me & You 2 and The Key followed by an easy going Sunday tour of Gu Lang Yu and fishing for our dinner at the shrimp restaurant. Monday night we had agreed that we would meet him in the evening over at the Millennium Hotel for drinks up at the bar.

The Millennium used to be the Crown Plaza, back where we first stayed when we move here, so we still know a few of the people that are staying in the hotel (they've been there for years) and a few of the workers. So we sat around and caught up with Roy, Jasmine, and Joe for a while and then Joe mentioned that he had purchased a discount foot massage card from the hotel and since he still had several more free ones available would we like to join them for a relaxing massage.
The last time I had a foot massage I found it a tad painful, but Roy and Tina explained that the massages at the hotel are much more like a spa in the states then the rough clinical massage that Tina and Edlin dragged me too last time. This, and there was some name calling, convinced me to try it again and down to the massage parlor we went.
They were right, this massage is nice and easy, very relaxing - the occasional point the is a little sore but nothing compare to my first foray in letting someone massage my feet. All is good, maybe I'll try this again some day.

Return of the Guest Blogger...

We are back from Guilin and what a beautiful countryside. I'll let you know about this area later. We've finished our sightseeing in Beijing and now we are onto our next destination. Xiamen. Here we will stay at Wichmann Bed and Breakfast, hold off on the breakfast. Actually, we had to bring our own from Canada. Accommodations are pleasant, extra space was converted into a bedroom. I have the luxury of a portable bed (better known as an air mattress) with an extra feature of an instant wake up call. Basically, once I hit the floor I have to get up. Its not all bad, I can look forward to breakfast?????

Today is a relaxing day according to our hostess, I thought maybe we would just hang around. Nope. Actually, we had to look for a bank. Banks are a little different over here, instead of waiting in line for a teller, you have to take a number and wait. And wait. And wait. Luckily, you have nice seats to wait on.
Tina mentioned a foot massage today. I was looking forward to this as this will be a real treat for me. My concern was dad. According to him, it is a waste of money and time. If you knew DOD (dear ol' dad) he tells it like it is and doesn't stop until you are convinced. He was pretty much convinced that a massage was pretty much a useless endeavor. He thinks that a massage is an extravagance. He really had no say at time. His arguing and bitchin' would prove to be waste of energy on his part. We are now finished with the bank and on our way to lunch. We met up with Siew (Mark and Tina's friend) and enjoyed nice lunch at a crocodile farm.
Now it is time for the massage. Yep, he's still yapping. If you knew Tina, she basically said "enough already sit down and enjoy." We all sat and waited. First, large vessels with water to wash our feet. We're still hearing DOD's "2 cents" . Once our feet were washed the conversations were becoming less animated and more relaxing. Now the fun part, the massage. First, the back. I could say that is was really relaxing and exhilarating, but I won't. It was painful. I didn't realize how tense the muscles were. I did hear a lot of 'ughh' , 'oh, my God, this hurts', 'wow they've got strong fingers' and that was just from Tina. Actually, everyone felt the pain. Next came the feet, this was really painful. Again, all of painful comments. Again, they came from Tina. The real funny part was not a PEEP from DOD!!!! He was just enjoying himself. He was really getting into the message.
After an hour we were done. We really did feel rejuvenated and wonderful. We then parted from Sue and took a cab back to our Wichmann B&B. The first question out of my dear Dad's mouth was 'when are we going to have our next foot message??? Go figure. So far I heard this question a least once a day. So we'll see.

Migration Begins

Well, it's that time when the next wave of expats are coming while others are heading back home. The next to leave Xiamen, will be Jose and Edlin. They will be departing back to the U.S, in about 3 weeks. Like the Crazy Mexican they were one of the first group of expats that we met, and we will miss them.

So for the next few weeks there is a list of things that need to be accomplished. Oh yes, of course packing and all that boring stuff, but more importantly Edlin has enough time, to get a couple of foot massages, facials, pedicures, manicures and most importantly getting her clothing needs met.

Hey, during these times, you need the support of your friends and who am I to refuse a good ol' foot massage. We have the next three weeks planned so that she can use her last few weeks wisely and get the most out of Xiamen.

Calm before the Storm

Mark and I were just told that not only is the Mexican and family leaving Xiamen very soon, so are Edlin and Jose. They will be departing China to go back to the U.S in September.

The move will be stressful for Laura, the Mexican's wife, as she, along with her three children, will be leaving one month before her husband, Renee, and will not only look for a new home, but. also a new school for her children. She is leaving in two weeks.

I decided that Laura needs a bit of a break. Consider it the calm before the storm. Laura and her daughter Alejandra, as well as Edlin, Giovanna, and myself planned an afternoon of indulgence.

First we met up for lunch, followed by a very nice, long, foot massage. Alejandra enjoyed it, considering the first time she had a foot massage, it was a little too intense. She got to watch some T.V show, while the rest of us enjoyed a glass of wine. We talked about the first time they landed in Xiamen and their reaction to China, and how life has changed so much for everyone. We discussed, what they will miss, what they wished they could have done or seen, and the memories that they will have of China.

Edllin, myself, Laura, and daughter Alejandra

It seems very strange, that both Edlin and Laura's families, were to be in China longer and now within two weeks, due to circumstances beyond their control, they both will be leaving within the next 8 weeks. They have become good friends and we will truly miss them.

We wish them the best!

Siew's first Foot Massage

Last week, my dear friend Siew treated me to a pedicure and manicure one afternoon and as one good deed deserves another, I told her that I would take her for her first foot massage. Yes, Siew, who has been living in Xiamen for the past two years has never had a foot massage. One of the best things here in China, and the women has never experienced such pleasure, though if you ask my husband he will give you a totally different opinion.

Part of the issue was due to Mark, recounting his story of his painful experience of getting a foot massage. After I explained, that it wasn't as bad as Mark made it out to be, she agreed.

So today was the day to have her massage. Ben, her eldest came along for the ride as well. I tried to talk him into getting one, but, being 7 years of age, didn't want anything to do with it.Ben preferring to read than getting a foot massage.

We had lunch and then headed to one of my favorite places. Here, they place a bucket of hot herbal water in front of you, where you place your feet and sit on an ottoman. They first massage your back, arms, and head. After 30 minutes of the upper body, you sit back in the big reclining chairs, remove your feet from the bucket, where they will begin the foot massage. They massage every part of your foot, from your toes, to your heel, inside as well as outside of your foot. The massage also extends to your legs as well. After 30 or 40 minutes, they bring hot stones wrapped in a towel and massage your calves and feet. It's quite lovely, and Siew enjoyed it very much and for the price of 50 RMB or about 7USD, it's one of the best deals in China.

Siew is still smiling, so it can't be that bad, Mark.

In fact, Siew loved it so much, when she returns from Malaysia in August, we vowed that this will become a biweekly treat.

Now, if I can only get Mark to enjoy it as much!

Foot Massage

Massages are relatively inexpensive here and apparently one of those things that you just have to experience when you are over here, especially the foot massages. That said, you've read Tina telling stories about how much she enjoys her massages, and how Edlin and her had recently found a great new place for massages.

So, although I've been fairly certain that I wouldn't enjoy a massage, I went with Tina, Edlin, and Jose a few weeks back. I did my standard grumbling but decided that I could at least try and have an open mind and see how good it felt.

The place was nice, in a clean hospital sort of way, and we took our shoes and socks off and I settled into a big comfy chair next to Tina. Nope out of the chair, we are directed and we sit on the ottoman facing the chair. Then then bring a bucket of boiling tea water for you to soak your feet in while they massage your back. This is where I become a baby, this is scalding hot water, and send my girl out to get some cold water to cool the bucket down, even then it takes a good ten minutes before I could immerse my feet in the water.

From the foot soak and back massage we then get to use the comfy chairs and they get to work on our feet. Tina has a man and I have a tiny woman at my feet, apparently you always get the opposite sex for these things. I don't know how many of you read Tina telling of the pain involved, but instead of being quiet like Tina and Edlin did last time, I yelped. Several times, pulling my foot away each time, it hurts a lot. Every time I did so Tina and Edlin laughed and my masseuse just grabbed my foot back and started back in on the same spot. Wow.

Eventually it starts to just feel numb, and they finish up by washing your feet again in boiling water and then liberally applying lotion to your feet. That wasn't too bad, they felt all soft and brand new. This is what people are talking about then, the pain isn't worth it but this soft toes thing isn't all that bad. Still, I pretty much decided that this is something Tina can do on her own next time....

The next day we take our fresh feet out for a walk, nothing crazy maybe about 2 hours of walking around. My feet did not like this, to the point where I blistered up. I haven't had blisters on my feet since the last time I ran more then 20 miles. Baby feet I am not supposed to have, that masseuse took away all my hard earned calluses and I paid for it. That just cemented it into my mind that this is not something I will try again.

And, to finish the story, it's been over two weeks now and the balls of my one foot still hurts. I think she bruised them.