...musings of the self-proclaimed spajunkie...

Langkawi, Malaysia Part 2

The hotel had a mini fleet of these available to rent...we didn't actually have to rent one but we did get to drive one for a day to see the island.  It was a cool....little girl car (hahaha, Mindy & Elod!)  Sorry, inside joke... 

Here are the boys learning all the bells and whistles.

(Isn't Mr. Ken's sun hat cute!  He is not to get any sun so while not sure of the fashion statement he was making...it did the trick.)

I'm ready for my tour!

Some views from around the drive:

Really cool rock underpass.  They say the rock in this area dates to 450 million years ago! 

Here you can see the cable cars going to the highest peak of Langkawi, it has a vertical rise of 2,300+ feet!

We stopped for lunch at the Andaman Resort Hotel.  It is supposedly the "luxury" hotel on the island.  We all agreed we liked the Westin better.  Mr. Ken and Elod:

The view - just not as breathtaking as ours.

Mindy, Elod and Mr. Ken

And, here a sign...Mr. Ken quipped "no broken legs allowed." 

We were back in time for naps or massages and then more amazing views.

One of my favorites.

10 Vices

I couldn't help but blog this..."10 Vices Actually Good For You".  This article spoke to me!  It really did.  So, here you go guys, in order:

1.  Sleep.  I can't imagine this is a vice...maybe if you get a lot of it.  I don't particularly.  In fact, I find sleep elusive.  Nonetheless, moving on...
2.  Playing Hooky.  Yep!  Go ahead, take a mental health day...see how that goes down with your boss.  I used to encourage days like this...as long as it wasn't during turnaround season that is.
3.  Sex.  No comments - please!  This is a PG-13 rated site!  I'm just reporting the facts.
4.  Chocolate, daily.  Seriously.  Daily.  Seriously.  Daily.  Okay, read the instruction manual because it doesn't say a box of Godiva a day but still!  Daily.  Seriously.
5.  Girls Night Out!  Yep, visiting with friends is apparently a very good vice to have.  Thank goodness!  All this time I just thought I was super needy.
6.  Full fat dressing.  I will take full fat anywhere I can get it!  But, read the instructions - it isn't all fat, or all wonderful...have to be careful with the rest of your diet too!  
7.  Coffee.  The one thing on the list I don't subscribe to.  Don't drink coffee regularly, in fact, left to my own devices...you guys already know it...Iced Tea for me please.
8.  Massages.  I mean was the article almost written for my life or what?  Massages regularly.  Okay, sign me up!!  Oh, I already am, Thai Village 10 massage package.  Eight left!  (But, I do share with Mr. Ken whenever possible.)
9.  Basking in the Sun.  Oh my.  You had me at chocolate.  I can't believe this was included but I completely agree (okay, yes, with sunscreen).  Sunshine takes away the gloom, it can erase depression, it puts a smile on your face people!  Just go outside and try it for 15 minutes. Your body, mind and soul will thank you.
10.  Wine.  Okay, back to you had me at chocolate!  Really?  This is the best list ever, ever, ever in the history of lists.

It's Nirvana!  I never knew having vices was a GOOD thing.  Now that I DO know I shall definitely take advantage of that.  Isn't it so nice to have permission?

On the advice of my attorney, accountant, mother, husband, best friend and the DES I will include the link to the article so you can read the parameters of the vices, just so, you know, you can't blame me!  http://health.msn.com/healthy-living/10-vices-that-are-actually-good-for-you?imageindex=11

Meanwhile, I've been playing hooky basically since February.  And, now, I shall have a glass of wine with an After Eight Chocolate Mint, while I bask in the sun,  schedule a massage and a girls night out!

Enjoy your life!  It is the only one you get! (unless you are a Buddhist but that's another blog in and of itself.)

Love, spajunkie.  (even the blog name incorporates a vice!). 

Random Actions

I’ve been trying to get the Australia Swan River photos uploaded and it has just been one thing after another…right now we are in the “no phone, no internet” portion of the week.  Which means, of course, yet  another customer service call in my future.  Can I just say how much I dread this?  I’d rather have a root canal.  Seriously.   It will be another one of the frustrating, irritating, and darn it, waste of my time, phone calls in my life here in Delaysia.  I am sure you will be the first to know, after me, how it goes and if it takes almost three months to get repaired like having an additional cable box did.

Since Ken left for Houston last Wednesday we’ve done an immense, IMMENSE, amount of cleaning.  The storage closets, the office, the books, CD’s and videos all clean and reorganized.  I’m happy to say the only things we now have in storage are:  lamps (wrong voltage), books (not enough room and they are leather bound but now in super nice plastic containers with lids), Christmas decorations, photographs (not enough wall space), and luggage.  It is thrilling to finally not have all that hanging over my head.  For those of you who aren’t aware the beautiful Lauren moved in with us in April.  We bribed her with half of a new computer for cleaning everything out…but the purchaser of the other half of the computer decided NOT to participate and we feel like we have to go ahead and get it since her computer is totally fried.  She definitely earned her half of a computer!  And, I guess as a bonus she gets the other half since they don’t really sell them half way…

And, about her…While we are SO happy to have her here with us; I am frequently amazed by the amount of talking that is required by an 18 year old girl.  I could, quite happily I admit, go for days without talking much to anyone.  I’m not sure when that happened, somewhere between you are retired and YOU ARE RETIRED.  I guess I got to the point where having my days to myself and my nights with Ken suited me...no arguments about billing or payroll or clients; no midnight phone calls to “fix” something, no real angst involved in anything…just make dinner and be nice all evening, oh, and play WWF.  I can, happily, while away an entire day doing nothing.  Enter the beautiful Lauren.  She is prone to popping in and saying …oh, I was thinking…(insert, you could buy me this; we could vacation here; how do I look; is my hair straight, pretty, perfect; am I fat; could you buy me this; can you help me with Economics, Literature, Child Development, Speech; can you buy me this; I shouldn’t eat anything else; do we have any ice cream; well, you get the drift…whatever, whenever it pops into her mind. While I LOVE the spontaneity of all of it, I finally told her yesterday I desperately need a ME day!  To her credit  she recognized my irritable unfriendliness as something a SPA day was sure to cure.

So, today, I had a SPA day…at long last (really, its’ been a couple months!).  The self-proclaimed Spajunkie had an out and out SPA day.  I went to my favorite SPA (read the SPA that I have packages pre-purchased so today was free (sort of, at least I didn’t pay anything today)) and I had an hour and half facial and hour and half massage.  And, I had approximately four anxiety and/or claustrophobic moments in all.  Yep, me, who has never ever had that happen in the proximity of relaxation, choked.  WTH?   I cannot for the life of me understand where the heck that came from…but there I was, almost in my birthday suit (except for the DP’s) gasping for air, having hot flashes, generally freaking out.  Like, GET THIS MASK OFF MY FACE NOW!   Like, I’m getting up and I’m sort of naked…Like, hello, I need air, I need water, I need something…well, my girls were aghast, I tell you, simply aghast!  This woman who seemingly loves to have any treatment possible is FREAKING OUT.  They kept saying “Madam would like to have the ionization face treatment including in package?”  “NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOO.”  Madam would like to get up and get the heck out of here!  After I finally calmed down and the face mask was, thankfully, removed, I then got cold.  So cold.  Freezing cold.  At some point I just had to say, I’M FREEZING HERE!  Well, they were indeed glad to see me leave!  I tried with all my might to leave with some shred of dignity intact but alas I believe my flaying around virtually naked and screaming got the best of all of us…would madam like some hot water now?  NO, madam is hot enough, except for when I was freezing cold.  Now I am just beside myself to understand what happened and am worried will that be what I do from now on??  Will I just choke and freak out at the only activity outside of being at home that I truly love to do?  The mind reels.   Really, I’m having a hot flash just thinking about it. 

When I got home Lauren met me at the door with a glass of wine for me, told me to relax, and that dinner would be at 7:30.  How fabulous is that?  And, now, I’m just hanging on our patio, by myself…writing my blog.  Yep, maybe I should have stayed at home all day, random questions and all!  It beats hot flashes and claustrophobic face masks!  Dinner is in a few, so… 

Love, (the self proclaimed but now unsure of her title) Spajunkie

What is is that ties us to things....

What is it that ties us to things.... Like phone numbers?  I've had my cell phone number for the entire 13 years I've been married to mr. Ken.  Even when I called AT&T they talked me down.  They said you are such a  good, lifelong,  customer, PLEAZE keep your number.  I said ok, tell me how.   And she did. For those of you that have my cell number, it's still my number, but it will not work if you call it.   It will go to a recording which I understand says "this number is temporarily unavailable.".   Because like me,we are temporarily unavailable!    This was a day of reckoning for  me.  It was a day of what do I give up?   But I finally decided the cost didn't weigh with the outcome.   So I've let go of another little thing that was me.. Another thing that tied me to Houston,another thing that tied me with being me. And, another $500 to the positive every month.  I'm down for it. In fact, I'm up for it!  I told Mr. Ken shortly after I changed all of the phone plans, this is me, SAVING YOU MONEY.  Because I didn't just take this job as a spajunkie lightly...I really bought into it! If I save $500 in phone bills that is at the very LEAST 1500MYR I get to spend at my leisure. The mind reels, it really does,  I see SPAS in my future.  How bout you? Love, spajunkie Sent from my iPad

Melaka, Malaysia

Last week Lauren and I set off for the very historical town of Melaka.  It is only an hour and a half drive from Kuala Lumpur...that's IF you can get out of KL!  However, after several wrong turns and a few snap decisions of which way to go (NOT with the printed directions), we were off and found our way straight to the town and the hotel.

We stayed at the Renaissance, a Marriott property, because the rooms were free with points.  I'm glad they were free because truth be told I wouldn't have paid for them...next trip there will definitely be at the Holiday Inn, it was far, far nicer and right on the Straits of Melaka.

Nonetheless, on Saturday evening we went out to see some of the nightlife, which was interesting.  We met some local people and danced.  While it was super easy to get a cab to - it was next to impossible to get  a cab from...so we did the next best thing and paid twice as much to have someone take us back to the hotel.  Win some, lose some! 

On Mother's Day we decided on a SPA day at the Holiday Inn.  They had a really nice SPA, beautiful pool and view of the Straits.

 

 
On Sunday evening we went to Jonker Street, famous for its night market (Thursday thru Sunday every week).  It was teeming with people and well, junk!  We stopped at a little cafe called the Geographer Cafe which will come up with any search for dining in Melaka.  We had a really beautiful dish of Chicken with Green Thai Mango sauce.  We met some of the local talent...specifically a guy named Bob, who can sing exactly like, and looks oddly like, Chuck Berry.  Of course when he found out we were from the US he had to perform! 

 
 
 
We did some sightseeing the next day...and likely would have done more but it was HOT.  And, when I say HOT, I mean like, Houston at the end of July when there hasn't been any rain in a month, HOT.  I had thought it would be cooler that close to the coast but it turns out it was far hotter than KL plus it doesn't rain as often there.  Anyway, the town was originally founded by the Dutch and the Portuguese so their influence can be seen in the architecture of the churchs, windmill (although this had my perplexed since you couldn't BUY a breeze), and other structures.

 
 
We went and toured the Melaka Sultanate's Palace built in the traditional "long house" style you see in many Asian countries.  The wood architecture was magnificent.

 
Here is some of the local transportation (and as it turns out Chuck Berry's double, Bob, actually does this for his day job!)

 
While we were walking these two cuties came up and wanted to "interview" us for a school project.  I said "of course!"  They asked where we were from, where we were originally from (and believe me they did NOT expect TEXAS to be the answer and were quite pleased with themselves having found us), how we liked Malaysia, how we liked Melaka...they were super sweet and polite.  We took their picture and they took ours!

 
Lauren and I both agreed we simply loved the town of Melaca and would go back anytime.  It's convenient, its lovely, its full of  history and things to do, its small and laid back. 

I will have a complete album of pictures from Melaka on my FB profile if you wish to see them.

Coming soon - and then they became three, four, nope, actually five!  Or, what happens when an 18 year old moves in....

Till then, take care.  Love, spajunkie

 

Colico, Italy

We left Salice Terme and headed to Colico in the late afternoon, a rather long drive through Milan rush hour, not arriving at our hotel La Fiorda until after seven in the evening. 

The countryside was stunning, La Fiorda was a beautiful "farmhouse" with much attention to the detail of architecture and decor...this certainly helped make up for what they lacked in customer service and friendliness.  A couple of shots of the interior:

 
 

Because of its location, and well, Ken was there to work after all!  I spent most of the two days hanging around the hotel itself.  Here are some pictures of the outside, surrounding vistas and the cows!  La Fiorda is a working farm, they make their own cheese, grow vegetables, and I believe actually produce meat as well but the less I know about that the better!

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

Funny little story about the hotel, upon checking in we were given one room key.  I asked for a second key since Ken was working, etc. only to be told I could not have one.  Really?  It was just a plastic card key, not a real key or anything...I simply couldn't understand the problem with two keys.  So, that started the mini war I had with the front desk clerk who I felt wouldn't have known customer service if it would have slapped her in the face, which, actually, came close to happening!  The real issue was minus a second key the only way we could charge phones, computers, IPads, etc. was to stay in the room because the key controlled the electricity, no key, no electric.  And, again, Ken was working here and we used the IPad on the trip for GPS...anyway, we needed to charge some stuff!  The second issue with HER was I tried to make an appointment at the SPA.  You know, like spending money...even though the brochure clearly stated to make appointment at the front desk, she basically said to me go to our website and book your own appointment and in an Italian accented snotty tone of voice to boot.  This might not have made me so mad except for....I had NO electricity as long as we weren't in our room to charge anything and the IPad was done from the trip...and, there was NO internet in the room, only in the common areas.  I was pretty frustrated with this whole scenario.

I did, finally, get a SPA appointment because 1) I'm just determined like that, and 2) there wasn't a whole lot else to do out there.  The SPA itself was beautiful, but they wouldn't allow me to take pictures.  ??  It was with all of the wood you see throughout...I didn't think all that much of the massage I had but especially lovely was the "wine bath" that I booked.  I don't think it really was wine but it was certainly a beautiful merlot color and the water was silky smooth.  They served this along with two glasses of red wine and cheese, made, of course, in-house (did you see those happy cows?).  It was very, very nice even if a complete hassle to book.

One evening we went out to dinner with some clients.  We went to this place, which had stunning views of Lake Como:

 
 
 
 
What's crazy about the beauty of this is the other side of the lake is even more spectacular!  That is in a couple days, after St. Moritz, Switzerland.  For the complete album of Colico, Italy you can go to my Facebook page, photos, albums, Colico, Italy.  Enjoy!  Love, spajunkie

Like an Old Comfortable Shoe

Here we are once again at the Sheraton Towers in Singapore for one night (last night) before we catch our plane to Milan. Travel in and of itself is exciting, fun and certainly our favorite thing to do. But, travel on the very frequent number of times we do it, and especially Mr. Ken for business purposes, can be very draining. It is nice to know that when we ( or he) checks into the Sheraton, we are always greeted by familiar faces who know us. Additionally, the aforementioned gazillion SPG points allows that we normally are upgraded to a suite. Today's suite is the "Venice" which could only be more appropriate if it were called the "Milan". The staff here is ever so courteous, always remembers our name(s)...Mr. And Mrs. Ken that is, and for me, the icing on the cake is they make darn good iced tea without me explaining how to make it! Or, when we go down to the bar they will always inquire "Chardonnay?". I equate this to being like an old comfortable shoe, while not as prestigious an address as say the St. Regis or a shoe as nice as say a Jimmy Choo, this beautifully appointed hotel certainly gets a big thumbs up from this spajunkie on customer service. It is beyond good...in fact we get to check out at 7 p.m. today with no charge and this week while we are in Milan they are letting us park the car here, free, until we return next Tuesday. They don't have to do that. It is just another of the perks that makes this hotel a home away from home, and let's me rest easy when Mr. Ken travels here without me that he is well taken care of. So if ever you are in Singapore look no further than the Sheraton Towers! Love, spajunkie. P.S. This was not a paid for advertisement and for inquiring minds they do have a pretty nice SPA as well though Singapore dollars don't get you near what Malaysian Ringott do!

Top 7 Hotel Experiences - #3 St. Regis Singapore

Okay, picking up where we left off so long ago...

I'm glad I actually paused on these as the St. Regis, revisited just a couple weeks ago, fell in my ratings standard.  As you will see the rooms are very nice, and we were upgraded to a suite based on Mr. Ken's gazillion points with SPG (Starwood Preferred Guest) but...I found a lot of things lacking that truly annoyed me and if I hadn't already gotten to #3, it might very well have ended up at #6 or so.  Anyway, you can access it via internet at:  http://www.starwoodhotels.com/stregis/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1533&EM=VTY_ST_singapore_1533_overview

One of the best things about the hotel is the art collection, its really wonderful and there are art pieces throughout the hotel.

 
 
 
 
Here is the bar (and Mr. Ken) along with a few shots of the Picasso series that runs all through the bar area.

 
 
 
Our room featured a great view, sitting area, large bath, walk in closet, dressing area and bedroom.  As you can tell the room was really nice.

 
 
 
 
 
The Remede Spa is the second best thing at this St. Regis and is definitely a spajunkie retreat...it is simply beautiful.  This time we only had a 90 minute massage, which was heavenly,  but last time I was there I had:

The St. Regis Signature Warm Vichy Shower Massage

"Enjoy a deep tissue massage with rich botanical oil as you recline on a heated marble bed under the downpour of a warm Vichy Shower. This treatment begins with an invigorating dry brushing and relaxing facial massage and features essential oils for relieving stress and tension. The soothing massage strokes and warm water is profoundly rejuvenating."  This was a once in a lifetime experience not to be missed!  I still remember it some year and a half later!  I do warn, however, if you are particularly modest or body conscious this is not the spa experience for you!!  

Anyway, while I know I am completely spoiled, bear in mind the main reason we stayed here on this trip was they had the best rates...Singapore is a very expensive city and sometimes our normal hotel, the Sheraton, is so booked the room rates just increase ridiculously even though we have a corporate rate.  While completely luxurious in surroundings, I was annoyed by a couple of things.  One - the butler came every morning to ask me what time I'd like the room cleaned.  And, so I would tell him, generally it was I'm going out now, now would be great.  And then I'd come back around two and the room would not be clean.  For me either don't ask or do it when I asked!!  Plus I was sick so they were cleaning when I wanted to be napping!  Two - the first morning I arrived from London all I wanted was a glass of iced tea.  They brought me super, super, super weak tea first of all, second of all it was Earl Grey.  I'm a BIG fan of Earl Grey tea, hot (and strong), not cold and weak.  This glass of tea cost S$16.00!!!!!!  And as far as I was concerned, not drinkable.   To add more insult to this the tea, IF HOT, was included with breakfast which was included with the cost of the room.  On the second morning I ordered hot english breakfast tea and a large glass of ice!!!!  This worked on all levels as I could steep it as long as I wanted, ice it, and it was included with breakfast.  The other item of annoyance was for lunch one day I ordered grilled prawns which came out and were not DONE.  I expected more from what is considered a 5 * hotel chef and restaurant.

Our room cost was also to include drinks and canapes from 6 to 7 p.m.  We only saw the "canapes" if we asked for them and all of the drinks were on our bill at the end,  beginning a long process of which of them were "included" and which were not, during check out...kind of difficult after the fact.

So, while the amenities are indeed luxurious, and the hotel is a signature hotel particularly with the art and the Spa, I believe the service is just okay and not in keeping with the standard of a St. Regis. 

The things I go through for the sake of this blog....:)  Until next time.  Love, spajunkie

Why I DON'T Camp!

This morning Mr. Ken came down in some of his new clothes and he looked particularly nice, black slacks, black shirt, black loafers, black belt with silver buckle.  So, I said to him "you look nice!"  He said to me "yes, I'm in mourning."  I said "mourning?"  He said "yes, I'm mourning the money you spent to join a gym last week and you've yet to go." 

And who said Mr. Ken couldn't be funny!  A laugh a minute he is. 

So, later in the morning after not eating any breakfast I was starving...couldn't really find anything I wanted to eat so I settled on an avocado with lemon juice.  That not being nearly as fulfilling as I'd expected I then found myself at an honest to goodness low of low points.  And I mean like in my whole life!

I ate Velveeta Shells and Cheese standing up in the kitchen   Actually ate it from the pot I cooked it in with the spoon I'd stirred it with.  In my pajamas.  Standing up.

And, then it hit me!  I've GOT to get out of the house more.  So, instead of getting dressed and calling a cab, I searched frantically for friends online so I could discuss this new and altogether foreign low I was experiencing.

I found my dear friend, Cyndy (hey girl!), online...we chatted about this and that...then she asked me if I was in the girl scouts when I was  young (Cyndy is a remarkable person to have a conversation with because you just never know where it's going to take you, as you will see!).  I told her I was but that I hated, for real, hated, camping. 

One of the first times I recall camping was one of the first trips we took in girl scouts.  We were on some "wilderness" hike (hello, we were in Conroe - it's not really like the Outback or something).  Suddenly there came a storm.  A big storm.  Rain, lightening, you name it.  So we headed back to camp in the rain in our (stupid!) girl scout green raingear.  And, suddenly something or other was washed away and now, well, now we are just up to our kiesters in mud.  Hello?   I. Don't. Do. Mud. Ever.  Well, unless of course there is a spa involved and you are paying to have mud rubbed all over you...Anyway, I don't really remember the other how and why of it all but when we got back they let us call our parents to come get us.  My daddy, Clark, he was the first parent there.  I think our station wagon might of held 20 girls or something so bad did we all want to get home.  Daddy was like a knight in shining armor!  The good news is that we did receive our camping (or hiking) badges!

My second memorable camping experience was when I was much older and went somewhere in New Braunfels...like a cabin or something...no tents, so for me a step up, from camping.  Except that when I woke up the next morning and had this massive huge boil like thing right around where you leg meets your, umm, kiester (I will use that word again - it sounds much nicer), which once at the DR, turned out to be a brown recluse spider bite.  Nice.  No badge for that but I do still have a small chunk of flesh missing. 

My third memorable camping experience was when I was older still and a boyfriend told me I'd never camped with anyone who knew what they were doing and he would take me...oh, and by the way, we will fish while we are there too.  Being the ever resourceful girlfriend, I even borrowed Daddy's fishing pole and he gave me a few quick lessons out by the pool.  I was ready!  Boyfriend decided he needed to teach me how to fish himself and started out with a "simple" lesson in casting.  He cast his line back, the hook engaged with my finger, and then as he went around to actually send it out to the water he realized my hand was firmly attached to the line via my finger.  He removed the hook with beer as an antiseptic.  I guess he won that badge for first aid skills!

That's the very last time I ever went camping.

Thanks to Cyndy for making me laugh and laugh this afternoon and clearly remove myself from the funk that must have existed for me to actually stand in the kitchen eating Velveeta Shells and Cheese after Mr. Ken had been so witty in this comment on my lack of gym attendance. 

I think THAT deserves a badge, don't you? 

Love, spajunkie

 

 

Spa-licious!

Hi spajunkies!  I've been very remiss in posting.  I don't know what to say except nothing much has happened in the week Mr. Ken has been in South Korea.  (Well, that's not entirely truthful but I haven't decided if I'm going to post some of what has gone at Amarin Kiara - or "Crazy Amarin Kiara" as Rogielyn calls it...and I don't surmise in an altogether good way!)

I've been busy with "this and that".  "This" being a lot of books read, but the only ones worth mentioning are, of course, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, I couldn't say enough about how much I enjoyed it.  And, a surprising hit with me was Inside the Kingdom by Carmen Bin Laden.  I admit I do love to read about the Middle East though...she is the sister-in-law of the infamous, and not to actually be mentioned by name, devil himself.  It's a really good read if you are into those types of things.

And, "that" being playing games on my Ipad.  I'm currently playing Words With Friends and getting my butt kicked by two friends, over and over.  It's not that I particularly like losing it is just that it keeps me connected with friends!  That's okay though, words, nor puzzles, have ever been my strong suit, I'm a very black and white, linear person.  I'm learning though and having fun with it.  It's great you will be asleep and wake up and you've got like five moves in your court.   I also have, still, been doing crossword puzzles.  I'm getting quite good at those though I admit I'm still doing the easy ones, see above black and white and linear.  Crosswords and words themselves seem to blur up or something on me...kind of like can't see the forest for the trees and then find out the answer and go, "duh, should have had a V8"...oh, that was 8 down...

Anyway, other than that, one of the things I admittedly look for when going around town are new spa openings (really, you don't say???).  Whenever this happens the new spa runs all sorts of "promotional offers", so I happened upon one in Plaza Damas and decided to look into the promo.

I was able to buy a package of 10 - 90 minute massages for the equivalent of $280 USD.  That works out to $28 per massage for 90 minutes and they can be used by anyone I designate, meaning me or Ken in this case.  That's super cheap even for over here.  So, I had a massage and now I've got 9 left....it was a good massage but not particularly the best I ever had...but it was definitely the best $28 - 90 minute massage I ever had.  (and the only one!)

They were also promoting a facial and body scrub package for the equivalent of $100 USD, a three hour treatment with all natural products.  I booked myself for today.

Let's talk about body scrubs...you either like them or you don't...some people don't want to be virtually naked while someone scrubs their body with dead sea salt.  Me, I love it.  Your skin feels incredible when its done.  This one was a bit different in that once done they zipped me up into this warming sort of sleeping bag and left me for hours....well, it seemed like hours.  Anyway, here I am all pupae like in my little cocoon.  At first I fell asleep, then I started fidgeting around, I'm hot, I'm a little itchy...!  No arms, no feet...anyway, so I thought well I could just look at the timer under the table (which I had seen when I was previously face down) and be able to tell how long I've got left until I can shower this crap off...

So, I started to lean over the edge of the table and then...oops oh no, the feet are starting to go, opps no, I've got this, oops no, CRAP. 

I'm on the floor.  In my pupae cocoon like state.  Damn, I thought, what now?  I've no legs, no arms, I'm a mummy for goodness sake!  Not a very great predicament to be in, especially given that all I've got on under the mummy suit are my DP's (if you don't know what this is, well, you need to go WAY back in the blog!). 

I guess fortunately ???? my peals of laughter alerted my captives to my dilemma.  I was soon rescued by my torturer who was laughing almost as hard as I was. She said to me "were you feeling bad or?"  I said "well, a little claustrophobic, how LONG have I been in this thing?"  She said "fifteen minutes."  Oh. 

 Once I was righted and laid back down to be unzipped, I showered and then went for my facial.  At some part of the facial she had layered my face with a mask and kind of wrapped me up only to ask "you WILL be okay here until I get back?"  Yes, I promise I don't care what time is left...

And, that my friends, is why I am the spajunkie!  Love ya!  Spa-licious!!!!!!!!!!!