why this felt like vacation

[planktondreamsquietly]

- i haven't shaved in too long and am quite hairy
- i have that peaceful/blissful feeling from being busy, the world feels like it is vibrating against my skin
- i drank a lot of alcohol and caffeine and feel quite dehydrated and a little dizzy

this vacation was different from any other one i've taken. usually the point of traveling is to spend as little time as possible in the hotel and as much time sucking up what around. however, when your hotel has a great restaurant, jacuzzi tubs, and a sauna, i think it's ok to absorb the indoors. we spent lots of time soaking and sweating and eating yummy sweet peanuty things. this was just what both of us wanted and needed, and i consider myself very lucky to have someone who constantly makes me happy and giddy and sappy and smiley and lots of other silly adjectives...

however, the only downside to the trip was the spa. i decided to get the swedish massage. the only other massage i've ever received was a "cinnamon and clove hot stone massage", which wasn't *quite* transcendent but still a fun, unique, and relaxing experience. my masseuse was a cute 20-something girl, who helped put me at ease and made the experience friendly and fun. i figured i would have someone similar this time too - jae's is quite image conscious, and image is so important to the spa experience. mr jae seems to have missed this crucial point - my massuese was a middle aged, overweight, and generally unpleasant. grr.

(no offense to the middle aged, overweight, and generally unpleasant - but that's just not the type of stranger i want squishing various parts of my body)

so anyways, i'm receiving my massage which was ok but not necessarily better than anything i've received from friends in the past. a little more thorough and assured, but my body isn't entering that special happy place that you expect when paying by the hour (please don't read into that statement, ok?). she started with my back, then my legs and finally worked her way back up to my neck, shoulders and head. when she reached this point i found out something else. she's a heavy smoker. so she's breathing in my face and it's yucky and stale. and i start hearing her breath - heavily. she wheezes, and it gets worse and worse. the more she kneeds the louder it gets. eventually she gets a hacking cough and has to stop for 10 seconds. eek eek eek! i'd laugh if it wasn't me. soon after she finishes and tells me to take my time and enjoy the moment. sadly, there's no moment to enjoy, just a moment to escape and purge.

my advice - stay at jae's, enjoy the food, drink lots of sake, sit in the sauna and the tub with someone you love, but avoid the massages.

Comments

[debbie.livejournal.com]

Reminds me of the first and last yoga program I signed up for. The try-it-out-free teacher was fit, young, and chipper. Turns out she was a front for a greying, rolling blob who though incredibly flexible, was not what I was looking for in a teacher. They wouldn't give me my money back.

[plankton.livejournal.com]

hmmm, i'm not sure which is worse. at least i was able to close my eyes and try and forget who was hovering above me. however, once the wheezing kicked in, the tenuous illusion was lost. :(