It's inexpensive to treat yourself right in China. Last Sunday we took a trip to the hair salon and foot massage parlor, which absorbed pretty much our whole afternoon. At the hair salon you begin with a frothy in-chair shampoo and head massage which lasts about 15 minutes but seems much longer. The bubbly shampoo froth continues to pile higher and higher and just when the mountain of suds are about to topple over, they walk you over to the sink for a hose down. Then comes the 20 minute head, shoulder, arm, and lower back massage, which sounds nice, but is actually very painful.
Like tag team wrestling pros, the massage and shampoo duo trade places with a hair cutting duo. The hair cutting duo consists of a stylist and their personal sergeon assitant who hands the stylist various hair cutting implements such as serated and straight scissors, blow dryers, and electric shavers.
Some of you know that Liz has been working on growing her hair out for almost a year now. She took a major setback last Sunday, when despite repeating the words 'just a little' 'Yi dian dian', the hair dresser clipped off most of her locks then used a hair dryer to poof up what remained into a style fit for the 60's.
After the hair salon, we made our way over to the foot massage parlor. Unlike tranquil upscale joints in the US, foot massages here are a blue collar affair. An old TV played period piece dramas on CCTV while the masseurs worked on our feet and gossiped away. (We won't talk about how bad CCTV is. Use your imagination.)
We think the masseurs were shocked and saddend by the sorry state of our American feet. Foot maintence is a huge priorty here. We have four foot massage parlors on our block alone and every joe shmoe here ducks in for their weekly foot massage fix.
Our masseurs decided that soaking and massaging were not enough for our feet. So they brought in the big guns and took a straight edge razor to our toes and heels. We closed our eyes and tried not to move as they deftly scraped away excess toe nails, dry skin, and bits of old lint. We walked out without a scratch, our feet as soft as a baby's belly.
Tomorrow we head off to Huang Shan. Legend has it, once you climb this peak you'll never want to climb another mountain in your life. Expect some great pictures of our journey.
Labels: blogsherpa, China, Shanghai
your blog starts off with "Sunday we took a trip". TRIP? There are 8 massage parlors just outside your apartment! You can't swing a cat & not hit one. BTW, we did not see 1 cat while we were in Shanghai.
Liz, I know Mom's shouldn't laugh at their kids, but that haircut photo...LOL
mom
arleen said...
July 29, 2009 at 8:44 PM
Dear Aunt Liz and Uncle Seth,
How did you turn on the water for your haircut? How did they give you the foot massage? What did they rub your feet with?
I didn't like when you did only one picture. I like lots of pictures. :-(
Love,
elana
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Elana said...
July 30, 2009 at 4:44 AM
Liz that is definitely the haircut I remember on teens when I was 12. But so cute! I'm looking forward to your mountain story. Why will you never want another mountain? So intriguing. We are heading out this weekend for our 30-somethink Bethany Beach vacation. I know the number is the same as Seth's age, but what is it? I have discovered that my age-of-child computing stops at 30. Hugs to you both.
Sherry and Ed said...
August 1, 2009 at 3:24 AM
Liz, that hair bubble blowout is so retro it's almost cute! Get more cheap massages while you can.
Can't believe you are not going for the record while there.
Beth said...
August 2, 2009 at 5:33 PM
everyone in China gets a weekly foot massage? Seriously? I'm booking my ticket right now.
Liz- so sorry about your lost locks! I know it takes curly-haired people longer to achieve length than those of us with straight hair. Sad that all that time and effort can be undone in a single moment of language barrier. Of course, I think you look super cute with short hair.
Leslie Aiuvalasit said...
August 3, 2009 at 12:31 AM
Did you see any pandas playing basketball? What was the quality of play? I assume that after the long hike up the mountain that you had the opportunity to take a long hike down as well. The mist looks very eerie.
Andy said...
August 5, 2009 at 3:47 AM
Dear Liz & Seth,
We have loved watching and reading thru all your adventures this summer.
However, the hair salon was almost spooky.....
I have a picture of your mom that you could pass for her double.
Waiting for your next installment.
Love Aunt Sheri & Uncle Peter
Aunt Sheri & Uncle Peter said...
August 5, 2009 at 9:45 PM
Uh-oh! NEVER trust a hair salon to only cut a little!!!! Those *^*&^*&()(*&^*&... Alas you will have to begin the growing out process again. Love the foot story Richard needs a foot story like that! Wish we could get some kind of Massage stories like that here...
You look cute with your hair cut!
xxoo
Rene said...
August 6, 2009 at 6:19 AM
I have to be honest... I only just saw the blow out!?! Seriously? That was real? I can't stop laughing I'm sorry it's really funny. sorry;0)
Rene said...
August 6, 2009 at 7:48 AM