Some of the best drama is Olympic figure skating drama. I really haven’t watched much of these Olympics. I was able to see Nathan Chen’s gold medal skate online, but as for the ladies Olympic figure skating drama, I’ll have to watch it later. Last night, I celebrated the first week of my new job by indulging in a homemade steak dinner with mashed potatoes, and a couple of glasses of wine. I topped it off by watching House of Gucci, but from the sound of things, I was watching the wrong drama this Friday night.
I’m Here, but Not
I had moved to Beijing a few months ago so I could be in the same city as the Winter Olympics. It was my dream to see an Olympics in person, but realized it wasn’t going to happen. I have never paid for cable television here in China. I have a television, but I’ve not watched anything on it. YouTube is my main source of entertainment. I don’t even bother with streaming services, because I don’t live in the U.S. and the only streaming service (if you can call it that) that I can rely on is Google Play. So while I’m in the same country as the Olympics, I could be literally anyplace else. I don’t feel a connection with the games like I used to, and I totally forgot the ladies free skate was Thursday. When I got on YouTube Saturday, I realized what I had missed and regretted watching House of Gucci. I picked the wrong drama.
On fire at the Rostelecom Cup.
Say No to Drugs
Russian skater Kamila Valieva was the favorite to win in China. She had a stunning program set to “Bolero” which I saw from her Rostelecom Cup performance on YouTube. Definitely a force to be reckoned with. She had athleticism plus the artistry. But she was involved in a doping scandal in Beijing. She was taking tremetazidine, which according to an Associated Press article, increases blood flow and boosts endurance. Athletes certainly want that. I don’t associate figure skating with doping, for some reason. But skating IS exhausting. The few times I’ve wobbled around a rink made me realize that.
Steroids CAN Be Awesome …
When I went partially blind in my left eye several years ago, I had an MRI done because my doctor wanted to check some things out. It showed I didn’t have Multiple Sclerosis. But why the blindness happened was a mystery to me. She was confident the vision would return, so I went on a steroid regimen for about six weeks. Huge, IV doses at first, around the clock for three days, then pills to gradually wean myself off. I had energy those six weeks. Mad energy. It was great except for the fact the energy just wouldn’t turn off at night. I was also uncharacteristically upbeat. When I went back to my usual self, I asked my family doctor if I could stay on a small dose, but he said no. I get why athletes and body builders like steroids. Who WOULDN’T want to feel like you can conquer the world 24/7? Before you throw a fit, the steroids I took were legal. Prednizone. I’d been on it as a young girl to help with my arthritis, but I don’t remember feeling so great.
Mother Russia Must Win
Back in the days of the USSR, sports were super important. I’m not surprised that Russia had a doping scandal. However, it shows how athletes are used as pawns in a “We’re so much better than you” game that countries play at the Olympics. Yeah, our human rights record may be spotty, but damn, no one can hit pucks, slide down ice, ski, snowboard or figure skate like we can, so WE RULE! Those not familiar with Russian figure skating should know that they have dominated pairs for like, ever. The rules for figure skating changed after another Olympic figure skating drama at the 2002 Winter Olympics where Canadians Sale and Pelltier won silver, while Russian pairs Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze won gold, with what looked like a flawed program. Turns out there was fixing, which is something common to figure skating for decades. Judges will collude and say, if you place our ice dancers first, we’ll give you the men’s singles gold, or something like that. The 2002 scandal was why the scoring system was changed in 2004.
I’m a huge fan of Sex and the City. No, I haven’t seen And Just Like That. Since I don’t live in the U.S., I have to wait until things are available on Google Play. I just checked, and AJLT isn’t on there, although it’s been added to my wishlist. Oh yeah, one other thing: Justice for Steve.
Spoiler Alert!
However, I’ve been able to read a lot online what people think about it, and it doesn’t look good. There is a ton of criticism about all sorts of aspects of the show, such as the amount of “wokeness” on the show, the inserting of every new trendy thing into 10 episodes, Big’s death by Peloton, Carrie as a podcaster, Miranda giving up her career as a partner in a law firm, Carrie not calling 911 when she found Big experiencing a heart attack, the lack of sex (except for Brady, Steve and Miranda’s son) and probably the biggest deal of all, Miranda asking Steve for a divorce.
WHAAAAT?
Yeah, exactly. The couple that seemed to make the most sense and perhaps the best chance at survival are breaking up. It does make me wonder if that saying is true: nice guys finish last. Men are fond of saying that women genuinely go for the assholes, and the nice guys get nothing. It’s a familiar trope that plays out in entertainment as well as real life. And even though I haven’t watched any of AJLT, save for snippets of scenes online, I have to agree with what people are saying: Justice for Steve.Doomed from the Start?
The couple first meet when Miranda, having just been blown off by Carrie so she can eat veal with Big, asks Steve, a bartender for another glass of wine. He irks her by adding, “please” on the end of it. Eventually they get together, but before the inevitable wedding, Miranda, the group’s eternal pessimist and Queen of Sarcasm, analyzes why Steve isn’t right for her. He’s a bartender, for God’s sake. It’s probably not the kind of profession she expected her dream man to have. They get into an argument when Miranda asks Steve to a law function, but realizes he doesn’t have anything to wear. She buys him a suit he cannot afford. He feels inadequate and they break up. I notice that it’s super romantic when the guy is rich and helps out a broke damsel in distress, but if the woman has bucks, it always causes problems.
I Feel Bad for You, so I’ll have Sex with You
But after a pity fuck during a testicular cancer scare, Miranda winds up pregnant. She keeps the baby and Brady Hobbes enters the world. Steve and Miranda co-parent separately, but confess at Brady’s first birthday their love for each other even as their current SigOts are waiting in the other room for the cake candles to be lit. Miranda’s current squeeze is the doctor for the New York Knicks, while Steve’s lover is a woman named Debbie.
So they get married, despite Miranda squashing Steve’s dreams of winning the free-throw contest at the Knicks game, their conflicting schedules, and his relax and smell the flowers demeanor. One of the more poignant scenes of the original series is when Steve asks Miranda to look out the window at the moon. Miranda does. Steve is genuinely a nice guy, perhaps too nice for someone like Miranda. Steve opens a bar and becomes a business owner, and one feels like he was goaded into it by Miranda to prove that he too, is worthy. They move to Brooklyn into a house that’s big enough for Steve’s ma, who has Alzheimer’s, to live with them.
Get you a man who looks at you like Steve looks at Miranda
The first movie continues Miranda’s brittle, “I’m on a schedule here,” demeanor when she tells Steve, in the middle of lovemaking to “just get it over with.” I have bad luck with men, but even I know not to say something like this. Prior to that encounter, they hadn’t has sex in six months. Yikes.
So super nice guy Steve does what no one saw coming: he had a one-night stand. Miranda’s storyline throughout the first movie is how devastated she is about what Steve did, going on and on about how terrible it was to do that, how she yells at him during Carrie and Big’s rehearsal dinner that “you broke us.”
But in And Just Like That …
Steve and Miranda eventually get back together, with a memorable scene on the Brooklyn bridge and another one of them having sex. You get the sense the universe is all right, with all four storylines ending neatly. The second movie, a total disaster, shows Miranda quitting her job because she feels unappreciated. In AJLT, she quits again because she’s woke. And also a lesbian. This seems like a betrayal on a couple of levels. In the series, Miranda kissed a woman in SATC to see if she felt anything, and she didn’t.
He Said He was Sorry …
She was devastated at Steve’s infidelity, yet asked for a divorce and didn’t think anything of it. Staying home with Steve eating ice cream and watching Netflix is not enough. Steve asks Miranda what she thinks is out there, and I guess it’s Che, played by Sara Ramirez and almost universally hated by fans watching AJLT. It would have been bad enough if she left Steve for another guy, maybe an attorney or hedge fund manager, taller and handsomer and not hearing-impaired, but no. She leaves him for Che, who looks like she could beat poor Steve to a pulp.
Justice for Steve
So fans are commenting on YouTube with their own storyline suggestions, dreading/craving the second season of AJLT (some want the story continued just so they can hate watch) and coming up with some decent revenge storylines. Yeah, he cheated in the first movie, but was so genuinely remorseful about his one night stand that it hurt to watch. The girls listen to Miranda go on and on about his indiscretion, and even Samantha says, “anyone can have a slip.” Even I would have forgiven Steve in this situation. But the fantasy storylines dreamed up by YouTube commenters envision Miranda getting dumped and Steve not taking her back, or Debbie reenters the picture. They even suggest Carrie, newly widowed, might hook up with Steve. Regardless of storylines, the prevailing attitude is “Justice for Steve.”
Nice Guys Finish Last?
It will be interesting to see how the Steve storyline plays out. I think there will be a second season of AJLT, though I’m not sure. How will Steve end up? He claims he won’t ever take off his wedding ring, because he believes in “’til death do us part. If Steve truly does end up alone, it’s a disturbing message for all the nice guys out there. But for overachiever Miranda, Steve wasn’t enough. I have a feeling though that Che’s rules aren’t going to be something Miranda can understand, much less live with. If Miranda freaked out about Steve’s one night stand, how will she cope with Che? She (they? them?) seems more sexually liberated than Miranda. Something tells me Che is just fine with multiple partners and Miranda won’t want to deal.
Why Get Married if it’s So Boring?
It’s also an interesting commentary on marriage in general. People spend their youth looking for “the one”, and get divorced anyway. The girls were afraid of getting older and being alone. Then, when married, they bitch about how bored they are or how their kids aren’t turning out as planned.
I hope I can eventually watch the series and join the general feeling of “what the fuck happened?” that the loyal fan base is feeling. Yeah, I know the ladies are in their 50s, but so far, it’s painting a very gloomy picture of aging. I’m not alone in saying this. After the last couple of years, what we don’t need to know we’re all going to die someday. Sex and the City wasn’t realistic, yeah, we know. But it was sort of something we could aspire to: being successful on our own terms, having fun, having great friends. AJLT is too much a reflection of our current society. Middle aged women should be on TV, but shit, the Golden Girls had more fun.
But I’m rooting for Steve. He’s the nicest one, the least pretentious, the most genuine. And even more heartbreaking, he wants Miranda to be happy. Bring Back Debbie. Get her and Steve together. Because nice guys deserve happy endings too. Justice for Steve.
Video editing is really time consuming. I made another video, but it was frustrating. I have an okay program, not expensive, but I think something’s wonky with my mousepad and little clicker buttons. Also, I edit so infrequently, that I usually forget how to use whatever video tool I need. This time, it was the splitter. I wanted to drop in a Spongebob reference (how old am I again?) and it took way too long to do it.
Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa
With all the Youtube I’ve been watching, you’d think I’d be getting better at editing. There’s some content out there that is really great, and you’d think by watching it I’d pick up some pointers. Not yet, folks. Maybe someday. But I impulsively put together a video on how to ride the subway in China. I finally got brave enough to do it in Beijing. I’d ridden the subway once in Guangzhou. But it really helped in Beijing because it’s so huge. If you take a Didi (Chinese Uber) you end up spending time sitting in traffic, unless it’s past 10:30 p.m.
Island Living is only a Half Hour Away
I moved back to Xiamen but now I live in Jimei. A quiet area with a few malls, and lots of apartment complexes. I actually turned down the chance to live in a mall, of all places. I couldn’t believe it. My teenage self would have loved it, but my place in Beijing spoiled me. The mall apartment with a lousy view of an abandoned flip-flop was just too small for me.
It was a cute apartment, but with this view? NO.
So where was I again? Oh yeah, the video. I figured after riding the subway in Beijing with 18 lines to choose from, Xiamen should be super-easy, with maybe four lines? Six? Whatever. Line 1 will get me where I need to be; near Zhongshan Road and Tacos. So here it is, a not-so-quick video on how to ride the subway in China. Relax, it’s in English. And so is the subway.
I haven’t been eating much lately, but what I am eating is so good. Decided to try F Bistro in Xiamen. French food in China? Wine not? (See what I did there?)
Seriously though, if you love beef and cheese and wine, you need to go. I was in the mood for mashed potatoes, of all things. I could have saved some money if I’d just gone to the store and picked up some Idaho Russets (or similar) and put them in my “juicer” at home. It’s not really a juicer. It’s one of those things that is a generic magic bullet. There’s nowhere for the pulp to go. It’s what I used to make mashed (more like pureed) potatoes since I didn’t have a hand mixer or one of those potato smasher things. I was in the mood for some kick-ass beef and F Bistro did not disappoint.
French Onion Soup to Start
One thing Americans don’t really realize is how big entree portions are. In other countries, the entrees are reasonably sized, so you can actually order an appetizer and a main meal and not feel like you are stuffed to the gills. At Bistro F in Xiamen, I had French onion soup.
With a big hunk of cheese toast in the middle. In the upper right hand corner is a bowl of bread and some butter.A better shot of the bread, which had a nice chewy crust.
The soup and the cheese toast went down so well, I wondered if maybe I’d ordered too much. Like I said, I haven’t been eating much lately, which is somewhat alarming, but not really when you consider I still should lose another 20 pounds. But my Australian beef with mashed potatoes arrived, and my mouth is watering now. It’s 1:05 a.m. and no, I can’t go and order this meal because the place is closed. I’d also have to put on pants.
OH. MY. GOD.
The beef arrived, cooked medium and it was melt in your mouth tender. Seriously. I would have appreciated more mashed potatoes, but what can I say? I’m an American. I might have to grab some potatoes this weekend and mash them up at home. I have steak, too, but probably isn’t as good as F Bistro in Xiamen.
Cozy Elegance, but not Pretentious
Attentive wait staff kept my water glass filled, and suggested a substitute for my beloved Coca-Cola. They offered sugar-free sparkling tea, which was a nice choice since I rarely drink.
The tea and another bread shot.A helpful chart. They had this the last time I was here.
I am a sparkling Moscato kind of gal, but I wasn’t in the mood for wine this night. I should have taken a picture, but I remember one of the times I was here when I first lived in Xiamen looking at the prices for wine. There was one bottle that cost what I then made in an entire month. I don’t like wine THAT much, but this is a great place to go. I went on a weeknight, so I am not sure what the crowd is like on the weekends, but it’s probably more populated. F Bistro in Xiamen is in the expat side of town, although I saw some locals dining too.
They also have cheese plates to choose from too. You can go whole hog and order a meal costing thousands, or you can have what I had (soup 60 Yuan, steak 290 Yuan, about $49 USD) and save a little. $49 might sound pricey for steak, but in Beijing, I paid even more for fish and chips, and chips and guacamole at The Cheesecake Factory. It you really care about quality food, especially beef, F Bistro is the place to go. I intend to get over to Jacky Angela’s too, which is another superior dining experience in Xiamen. In case you are wondering, this isn’t the first time I’ve written about this place. Read more here.
So today I planned to eventually head out to Metro, which is sort of like a Sam’s Club. They don’t have clothes, but they have food in large quantities, appliances, bedding, beauty aid stuff and an okay selection of office supplies.
But I got sidetracked. I hadn’t been to Tacos in a few weeks, so I decided to go. Check out my post here, published just days after it opened. This is what I had this evening: a burrito, chips with salsa, chips with cheese and a couple of Cokes.
Yes, I played three games of pool with a guy out for a Sunday evening meal with his family He won two, I won one.
This hit the spot!This was good too.
It wasn’t my intention when I got up today to head to Tacos, but I hadn’t really eaten anything all day, so I said, “why not?” I love this place. I feel at home here.
Friendly Staff!
Cheque was here tonight and it was nice to say hello. He has three branches of Tacos; one is in Shanghai. Can’t remember where the other one was. Weiwei served me tonight. I screwed up by saying “dos kele,” when I actually meant to say “er kele.” Two Cokes. That’s what you run into when you try to learn two foreign languages at the same time. After I practice Chinese, I practice a little Spanish. It’s the first foreign language I’m familiar with, and it seems downright easy after Chinese, which is so totally different from what I’m used to. The ambiance of this place is just right, too. The decor is nice and having a pool table upstairs is wonderful. Tables aren’t placed too close together, and the restaurant just seems solid.
I’m glad I made a last-minute decision to venture to Tacos.
Metro
As I said earlier, Metro is sort of like a Sam’s Club. One of the more challenging aspects of living in China is that you will probably have to go to more than one grocery store to get what you want…and probably order off Taobao or Baopals (Taobao in English) to get some of the more westernized food items. There are six different kinds of ketchup available at your average store, but good luck finding cocktail sauce for shrimp. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stood in front of a shelf of ketchup, trying to will a lousy bottle of Heinz 57 Cocktail to materialize. And Tasty Life, the expat-friendly grocery store is no more. So I check out all the grocery stores to see who has what. I discovered a new one, Bravo, just last night. I’ll write about that soon. Because you never know when a five pound bag of unpopped popcorn kernels will materialize. (This was at Metro).
It took me forever, but I am now on Instagram. Hoping to share more frequently on this platform, although the internet will have to cooperate.
I’m Chinagrrrl7. A nod to my ‘zine days, my favorite number and the country I’m in.
Why?
What compelled me to get on Instagram? Not sure. Maybe a way to get the word out about the blog. Maybe to share a little bit about Chinese culture and how it looks to an expat who only moved out of her parents’ house nearly three years ago, FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Or maybe it’s a way to keep an eye one some of my favorite trash television stars who are Instagram 90 Day Fiance “famous” and its many spin-offs. Yes, I know it’s hot garbage, but I find it empowering. I didn’t move overseas for a guy, I did it for a job.
Which is almost as scary, honestly.
Talkin’ to YOU Liz!
And my self-esteem is lifted knowing no matter what my hang-ups are, I’m not like these people.
It’s Chinese New Year, and one of the great things about it is having three weeks off. Yes, three weeks off. Just starting the second week off, and it’s been quite relaxing. Working a bit on stuff for school, and feeling very happy I am back in Xiamen. I’ve listened to the fireworks going off, despite it being a rainy day, and now a rainy evening.
However, I have been anxious recently. Hoping that being in a familiar city will help stop the anxiety. I combat it by facing my fears, using a new outlook on things, relaxing, and watching lots of stuff to distract me. I have to stop my all-or-nothing thinking, as it’s quite damaging.
Home Sweet Home
The apartment I chose here isn’t very cute. But it has the things I wanted: a two-burner gas stove, a kitchen, a family-sized refrigerator, a nicely-sized bathroom and a south facing balcony. The place is a bit chilly. I don’t like that aspect of it, but hoping when the weather gets warmer, the apartment will stay cool.
I stay home a lot. It’s funny; I never really was a homebody, but it saves money. I have plenty of food in the house, and it’s very luxurious to cozy up in my bed. The air conditioner also has a heating element, and that’s a good thing. There’s no central heating in China. In the south, air conditioners are the norm. In the north, heaters are the norm. But I got lucky this time with a combo unit in each bedroom. I was so thankful the first night I figured it out. As a result, I’ve spent a lot of time in my bedroom. I have a space heater in the living room, but it doesn’t seem to help much. My bedroom is a pleasant cocoon.
I Sorta Went Home Again
Yesterday, I went to one of my favorite restaurants, and was happy to have the place to myself. From there, I walked on the beach and then went to the street where I used to live. I didn’t want to bother walking into my old apartment complex. Don’t live there anymore, and you need a key fob to open the gate. Didn’t want to bother explaining it to the gate guard, either. But I’m sort of filled at a sense of wonder being in a familiar place again. I sort of feel more secure, like I know what I’m doing. Chinese New Year is a time when people usually go home. And businesses, especially the family run places, close down. I rode by a place where I got photocopies and some photos enlarged, and noticed it was closed.
Every Little Thing, Gonna Be All Right…
I need to stop worrying so much. Because things get resolved. The setback I had in October, was just that–a setback. Am I drunk? No. It’s just one of those rare moments that I feel happy, and content. Happy Chinese New Year.
So, I’m back in Xiamen. I am happy to be here. I made great memories here, and the city is just right–small by Chinese standards, but big enough for me (its population is about the size of Chicago.) The people are friendly, the whole city is like a garden, and businesses are convenient. Everywhere I’ve lived in Xiamen has been close by to things, businesses and services I need. I have been feeling very tense lately. Someone suggested I get a massage, so I went online and saw the Riyuegu Hotsprings Resort a was a five-star place, so I decided to try it out. It’s totally worth it. I’m so glad I came.
Where It’s At
First off, the actual spa, complete with two huge swimming pools, several smaller pools, five different sauna experiences, a restaurant, a place to get drinks, and massage area is across the highway from the actual hotel. But worry not–the hotel provides a shuttle service that will get you across the road in style–a freakin’ Mercedes bus, no less.
The resort is kid-friendly and provides things like robes, towels, and plenty of shampoo, conditioner and body wash. The well-maintained large shower stalls with plenty of hot water and good pressure are a great way to start and end your day at the Riyuegu Hotsprings Resort.
Hey man, nice spa!
So when you first enter the resort, there is a front desk with signs in both Chinese and English detailing spa packages you can purchase. Don’t worry–if you aren’t sure what to get, I’d suggest the 498 Yuan ($70 USD) package. You’ll get to sample pretty much everything there is to offer, and they will throw in an hour-long massage. I was very happy with this package. It turns out it also included a meal at the Moon Pavilion.
What did I order? See below!It looked like this, close up …The bite came from me. I was so hungry, I forgot to get a picture when this was served to me.
Bilingual!
Signs are in Chinese and English. I suggest getting a robe before going out into the spa park. They give you a elasticized bracelet that also serves as your locker key. The bathrobe attendant will scan your bracelet, and poof, you get a robe. As you open your locker, there is a fresh towel and slippers inside.
See???
You should bring your own suit, but if you didn’t, there is a gift shop available to purchase one. You can also buy swim caps. I suggest you bring your own. What’s nice about this place is if you bought a limited package, but see an attraction you want to try, you can always pay at the attraction.
This place really is like an amusement park for your body. I stayed six hours, but still didn’t hit up everything. Did they have a swimming pool? I love swimming, and my plan was to swim a few laps, then enjoy everything else. Turns out they have two huge swimming pools, and I had the deep pool all to myself!
If you think 70 degrees is “warm” water, I’ve got news for you.
Totally Chill
It’s winter here in Xiamen, but it doesn’t get too cold. I guestimated the temperature of the water was around 70 degrees F or so. I couldn’t tell until I found a temperature gauge at the side of the pool. Riyuegu Hotsprings Resort lists temperatures for every one of their therapeutic offerings–you’ll know exactly how hot or cold it is by looking at the numbers. Turns out I guessed right–the 21 C gauge is right around 69.8 degrees F. Everything is in Celsius though. If it helps you Americans, 30 C is 86 degrees F. Anything north of south of that will be either hotter or colder.
Honestly, I eased myself into the pool. Good thing too, talk about brisk! I managed 12 laps before getting out and seeing what else the park had to offer.
A handy aerial view. There are maps like this throughout Riyuegu Hotsprings Resort.
Feeling the Heat
I decided I would warm up a bit, so I went to the little circular pavilion just to the lower right of the bigger circular building in the upper left hand corner. It was full of hot water, and just the ticket to warm up. At different stations, they have free tea and hot water available. They list the health benefits from the tea so you can make a wise decision.
I decided to keep walking. Lotus Island is a attractive pool filled with all sorts of hydro massage gadgets. It reminded me of the swim club I was a member of here in Xiamen, near my first ever apartment. The Riyuegu Hotsprings Resort had a pulse pool, which was certainly different. You know how you feel when you’re getting shocked? Those weird electrical pulses? That’s what this was. Touching the area with my hand was rather uncomfortable, but placing my back near one of the plates was okay. I felt it, and it was much different from just getting pounded by water.
Lotus Island
Get Your Freak On
However, the freakiest, most entertaining station was the Fish Spa. At first glance, it looks harmless:
Nothing to see here folks…heh, heh, heh…
Just a shallow pool, about seven feet by 15 feet or so…except when you sit on the edge and soak your feet. Within seconds, hundreds of fish start dining on your flesh.
Jaws, indeed!And eating…And eating…
This helps to exfoliate your extremities. How does it feel? Glad you asked. Hate being tickled? You’ll hate it. Like being tickled? You’ll probably still hate it. I could only put up with a few seconds of being nibbled before twitching, shrieking, and raising my legs out of the water.
The bottom of the pool is basically pebbles in cement. The fish are light gray with dark gray stripes, and you literally can’t see them when they are swimming above the pebbles. It’s only when you sit at the edge and see the fish come into view inches above the step you rest your feet on that you realize dinner (you) is served. The fish are from Turkey, which normally hang out in hot springs. The pool was remarkably clean-looking, even though it’s basically a luxurious fish pond. If you didn’t pay up front for this, it will cost you 30 rmb or $4.20 to get nibbled on.
Beautiful Layout!
The resort itself is beautiful. Like an amusement park for your body. There are several water and tea stations everywhere, but I felt in the mood for a Sprite, which I bought from a vending machine at Lotus Island. Lotus Island has all sorts of hydro massage stations.
Obviously, not Sprite.
At the Tea Garden, you can literally soak in several different teas. I skipped the iced option. I got my feet wet, and I honestly couldn’t think of immersing any other part of my body in the water. At 11 C, I just couldn’t bear it. I got right back over to a pool that was 42 C, and laid right down in it.
Nom, Nom, Nom
It was then that I decided I’d try the restaurant. You’ve already seen those pictures, but I recommend getting the Japanese-style eel. There was a ton of food and I couldn’t finish it all.
By that time, my robe was soaked (idiot me had a towel, but didn’t use it to dry off after my watery adventures.) I warmed up a bit in one of five saunas, and headed for my massage.
Rub a Dub Dub
They have these giant tubes that are stacked on top of each other that I thought was the massage area, but wasn’t. However, an attendant took me to the actual spa area where I changed into disposable panties, and a loose-fitting top (think hospital scrub cut down the middle) and shorts. The massuese knocked on the door and I opened it. I was worked over for an hour (and it hurt at times) but I felt good at the end. Then I showered, dressed, and shuttled back to the hotel in the Mercedes bus, then ordered a Didi (Chinese Uber) to go home.
In Conclusion …
LOVED my spa day. Back in the states I would have probably forked over $75 for just a massage, You can bet I will be returning to Riyuegu Hotsprings Resort, as the people, facilities, and food were amazing. I go through life continually disappointed and nit-picking about everything, but not this time. Love swimming, hot tubs, saunas, good food and rub downs? Check. This. Out. Oh–you do NOT have to be staying at the hotel in order to go to the spa. If your Didi driver is like mine, he will point out the spa, and take you to the hotel. If you don’t want to wait on the shuttle, you could walk over the bridge that spans the highway, but why would you pass up a chance to ride in a Mercedes bus?
Duck doesn’t seem to be a common meat item in the United States. What I mean by that is you go into a grocery store and you can get an assortment of deli meats either in the self-serve section, or the counter. You’ll find plenty of ham, chicken, turkey and roast beef, but duck seems nonexistent. I associate it with higher-end restaurants. I don’t know if Jamison Meats has duck on hand–hold on–yes! they do! Go check them out if you are in Fort Wayne. I have never seen duck in your basic grocery store.
Not so here in China, because duck is common, and deli sections frequently have packages ready to go. I dared myself to try duck tongue, and liked it, so I went for the rest of it. It’s good. If you eat meat, it’s like very tender beef.
The Dadong Duck Stops Here
I had to try Peking Duck since I’m in Beijing. There’s no shortage of restaurants here that do Peking Duck; the trick was finding a restaurant I didn’t have to wait several hours in a line to enjoy. My pick was Dadong Duck. Surprisingly, I got in right away and was thrilled.
The view from my table. It was not crowded on this Saturday afternoon.
The opener was a dish of tiny oranges. I was entertained by the chef slicing the duck right at my table. I was shown by the wait staff how to make a little pocket sandwich with my duck, and also a little burrito.
The Chinese do like their fruit. Quick tip: eat fruit BEFORE ingesting protein. If you eat fruit for dessert, you might end up with terrible gas. I got this tip from Suzanne Somers, inventor of the ThighMaster, so she should know.My veggie starter of sprouts.Showtime! The chef is setting the pieces on a little platter heated with candles. Duck skin is crispy. If you like bacon, you’ll love this.
No Bones About It
One of the really good things about eating duck at a place like Dadong is the the bones will be removed. The thing about Chinese food, especially when it comes to any kind of meat, is that the bones will be in it. That includes the head, and it can be a bit off-putting if you are not expecting it.
Ready to eat!My burrito lesson. The food in the lower right-hand corner isn’t a couple of hamburger buns. They were some sort of hollowed-out bread, so I could make my sandwich.I loved the decor here.Lots of awards on display. This is a great experience, should you ever come to Beijing. Staff is amazing!
I really enjoy how when I go out for a walk, or just to explore, I discover stuff. I was a bit disappointed with the shopping district that I went to the other day. I was looking for a pedestrian shopping road like Zhongshan Road, which has become my photographic muse. Xidan shopping district had stores, but not exactly what I was looking for. I did however get some interesting pictures while in the area. But I also stumbled upon something that led me underground. It seemed to be a park, but with skylights. What is this, I thought. I asked a doorman who spoke English what it was. I thought it was an art museum. It was The New. That’s what the sign said.
The New keeps a literally low profile.
Maybe I never really grew up, but I like stuff aimed toward young people. I was not disappointed when I stepped inside this mall. This is art as commerce, commerce as art. Because I have never seen a mall that looked so much like an art museum.
The first of many exhibits in The New.
Quite a lot of wall space was devoted to this larger-than-life ballerina. I think part of the reason I loved this mall so much was because the stores weren’t crammed together. It was definitely the “less is more” approach. But there were other malls I visited that were like this too. And it made me realize this particular approach wouldn’t work in the United States, where malls are dying.
A floor to ceiling minimal face.
At one store, I saw a jacket I was tempted by. It wasn’t necessarily something I would normally wear, but it looked like fun. However, I’m moving to a much warmer climate, so buying a winter jacket right now is pointless.
This is what I am talking about when I mean use of space.
The stores reflected the demographic they were shooting for. And maybe it was because it was a weeknight, but the mall seemed subdued. Quiet. Like an art museum.
Makeup Mecca
I had never heard of Harmay, but it blew my mind. A store devoted to self-care. Makeup, lotion, soap, skin care, perfume, dental care, and yes, self-loving. Floor-to-ceiling makeup. I legit got so turned on in this store, as weird as it sounds. I want to say it’s like a combination of Sephora and Ulta, but it’s BETTER.
The mirrors in this place made catching my own reflection an unfortunate, but inevitable occurrence.As strip clubs are to guys, places like Harmay are to women (although there were guys here.)
This is what you see upon entering Harmay, which even had a rope like you see in front of clubs. The layout and design of this place was astonishing to me. Like a factory, but a luxurious factory. When I read an article online, the Beijing location was supposed to look more like an airport. I didn’t see it, but whatever. I dig Harmay CEO Damien Zhong’s retail philosophy.
A shot from the second level of The New.
It’s not a mall unless there’s something to eat.
It’s exactly what you think it is.See, it doesn’t even look like a mall!
I like lights, so sue me. So I gasped when I looked up and saw lights reflected in mirrors.
This was the section in Harmay housing all the skin care products they had. It looks like a perfect place to shoplift, but thanks to technology, there are cameras everywhere and those little anti-shoplifting stickers on everything.
Several stools in the mall were made to look like oversized computer keyboard keys.
A hanging sculpture near an escalator. See what I mean by art museum?
The bathrooms didn’t disappoint either.
Dyson faucet and hand dryer, all in one. I wish I could buy stock in this company. Their products are amazing.Another shot of that sculpture pictured earlier.The back of a store. I’ve never seen this type of wall before, or the kind of material used. I guess they don’t care about shoplifting in China, which means they can get creative with building.My sin, my soul.I almost didn’t walk into this tucked-away corner of Harmay, only to discover that there was a whole other area that had, among other things, vibrators. Bear in mind, this is a family-friendly store, any any kid could get into this area. But I’ve even seen vibrators at the check out counter of convenience stores too, which just adds to the mystery that is China. No strip clubs or pornography, but vibes are right out there in the open.
I would have to think if Andy Warhol, whose Popism I’ve been rereading, would absolutely adore The New. Commerce as Art, art as commerce. Never mind that there wasn’t really anything in The New that qualified as art. But if you are open-minded enough, I guess fruit sandwiches, and rhinestone-studded puffy jackets could qualify. Andy Warhol would approve.
No Way! Laowai! 
You must be logged in to post a comment.