Leaving my roots to meet my Seoul-mates!

Saturday Sept.30th....It was raining this day. Got up insanely early (5 am.) to get ready to go to the airport. Said goodbye to my bed.

Poor Eway was so tired! She had done a great job translating for the whole week. I could tell she was starting to tire the last couple of days. She was starting to speak to me in chinese and speak to other people in english. Another sure sign of her fatigue was in the car. I was asking her to thank her parents for their hospitality in allowing me to stay in their home, for their graciousness, for their generosity, and spending time with me. Her translation was...."Rachel says, thanks!". I said, wasn't that a little short? She just said, "I'm tired! Ohhh, all right!". Then she translated everything. It was very funny!

We got to the airport and Eway saw me to the check in counter. Then I said goodbye to her and her parents. I had some breakfast at McD's in the airport.

I was getting anxious when I was on the plane. We waited over an hour to take off! I thought I was going to burst. I was worried about arriving late and for those who were waiting to pick me up. When we finally land and it takes me forever to get through immigration. I must have picked the slowest line up. It takes a long long long time for me to get through.

The frustration was incredible after I made it through immigration. I couldn't figure out what baggage carousel I was supposed to go to. Some really nice Korean girl helped me out. She escorted me to the luggage claim area and waited with me until I got all my stuff. She was supposed to be going to another baggage area. She was another angel sent to help me.

I was probably the last last laaaaast person to get my luggage. I was ready to burst with excitement to see friends and I was ready to burst with anxiety from being so late! I think God was definitely teaching me patience and self control throughout this whole travel thing between China and Korea. I was hoping that Jay was still waiting and not too worried!

I finally make it through the doors and Cho Long is there to greet me!!!!! She is taller than I remember and looks great! Jay had gone to check her email to see if I left her a message. Cho Long calls her on the cell phone to tell her that I've arrived and she eventually shows up. We drop everything for a long overdue hug! I couldn't help but cry. It had been 3 years since we last saw each other. It was so good to see her. She looked fantastic with her new hairstyle and such. Then I met up with Ben (Cho Long's boyfriend). I was really glad to meet him. He's really nice. I like him. Cho Long has my approval!!!! (Not that she asked for my approval)

We had a lunch in a Korean restaurant in the airport. You could tell I just came from China (it's also part of my Canadian blood!). We put my luggage to the side, but it was around the corner where we couldn't see it. I didn't like not having it within eyesight because someone could take it!!!! But, things I see are different in Korea. And you know what? They were right. Nothing happened. My luggage was fine.

Ben had an SUV and we put my luggage into the back and headed to Seoul! It was so good to see everyone. Ben and Cho Long drop Jay and I off at Jay's place. I really appreciated Ben's help with my stuff. Jay's place was small and cozy, very comfortable and clean. It was good to finally arrive and relax after all of that anxiousness.

Jay made dinner while I rested and got settled. She made Korean food and it was delicious! I have been waiting to have her cooking these last 3 years. It was still really really Ma She Saw Yo! We talked and crashed for the night!

The Shanghai attitude kicks in!

Friday Sept.2th......We started out shopping early today. This time I was primed, ready, and determined to buy something before I left Shanghai. Monday and Tuesday got me really mad. Especially when a few sales ladies were giving Eway a hard time.

It's weird first thing in the morning when the mall opens. The sales people all stand outside the boundaries of their stores to wait for the morning greeting announcements. It was really spooky walking through with them all watching and staring quietly! Very unnerving!

I thought it was interesting to find a black mannequin (I don't think I spelled that correctly) in a Chinese department store. Now that I'm writing this. I don't think I saw an Asian one! Oh well!

This day was a different shopping experience. I was on fire. I actually enjoyed shopping. I liked this game of bargaining with the sales people. It was kind of a dance. We approach with a price, they act insulted and ticked off at the offer. Then they offer a price, I come up a little in price, flash them a smile, nudge the elbow a bit. I didn't go as far as to wink at the sales people though. I was actually joking around with these people. I was so uptight and offended at the beginning of the week and now I was loving it! Go figure! I started to adjust and then I have to leave the next day. I liked it sooo much that I started hugging people after the transaction was over. There was lots of laughing!

I bought some purses, shoes, and ipod accessories. Lots of fun. No clothes though! I'm a big girl in Asia. However, I felt very successful.

After shopping, we met with Tiana and Gas for dinner. Gas is a DJ they met at a nightclub. Dinner was great and I enjoyed meeting with Gas. I think we hit it off ok! His english was good and I liked teasing him. We went to Hagen Daz for ice cream and headed home. I needed to pack bad!

I packed until super late and had a hard time sleeping because I was really excited knowing I was going to be in Korea the next day!!!!!!

Getting Back to my Roots!

Thursday, Sept. 28th... We got up fairly early this day. Eway had to get up earlier because she had a driving lesson. It's crazy! Her instructor has her driving in traffic and he yells, screams, swears, and curses at her while she's driving. That's definitely driving under stress. I guess it's all preparation for driving in Shanghai! Another part of her training is to be able to drive a car between 2 laser beams with 2 inches of clearance on either side of the car. If she touches them, then she fails. Poor Eway she was so tired when she got home. She needed a shower and a nap after her lesson.

Eway and her parents take me to Zhu Jia Jiao. It's a very old place along the water. Eway's father's painting teacher lived here. We went to his place to visit.

It was built in the Ching dynasty over one hundred years ago.

One particular place reminded me of grandpa (Gung Gung) and grandma (Poa Poa). I couldn't hold back my tears.

The place reminded me of dad and what Gung gung and Poa poa had to go through as foreigners in a country that was unhospitable. Canada was not that friendly to my family not that long ago. Eway's parents were laughing at my crying. They understood the connection to my heritage hitting my heart.

Eway's dad arranged a boat ride for us to go down the river. It was really nice and again made me feel my heritage.

There were a lot of neat places to buy souveniers. While shopping, Eway's mom gave me a Chinese popsicle. It was frozen sugar cane juice with green beans in it. Interesting.

It was interesting to see the market place. How the people live. Little bit of cards.

And.... a little bit of Mah Jong. Those are Mah Jong tables.

Then Eway's parents dropped us off at an outlet mall. Very American. I was tired and we didn't buy anything.

We returned home to dinner and fresh crabs. Very tastey, but lots of hard work to get meat out. It took me forever to eat my crabs. We had two each. It was so good. We washed it down with plum wine. It was a very nice family day.

A Little Japanese in Shanghai!

Wednesday Sept.27th....Slept in again.

We took off to shop and that proved to be unsuccessful. I'm a big girl in Asia.

We met with Tiana for dinner. Miwa also joined us. She was in Shanghai for a tea conference. We all went to Papa Jon's for pizza and greasy food.

We took photos in one of the Japanese booths. Lots of fun.

Then it was massage time again. This time we had essential oil massages. We were two to a room. Tiana and I in one and Eway and Miwa in the other. We did it that way for translation purposes.

We had to shower first, so there was a shower stall in the rooms. Then we got onto the tables. They gave us tea and slices of watermelon. It was the best massage yet. I was a little sore from the massage from the night before, but this was by far the best. No beating. It was great!

The rooms were dimly lit and there was music playing. Then the Backstreet Boys came on. Tiana and I started singing louder and louder. "Tell me why! Ohhhhh! Tell me why! 'Cause I want it that way!". We were all laughing. Miwa and Eway could hear us singing from their room and we could hear them laughing too and echoing the singing. Fun!

I liked the massage so much that I offered my masseuse a short massage. All 8 of us were in the room watching me. It felt like I was teaching a class. My masseuse really liked it and learned a couple of new techniques from me.

It was a great evening. We dropped Miwa off at her hotel and went home very happy.

Interesting pampered life in Shanghai!

Tuesday Sept.26th.... We slept in again really late. Had lunch at home. Eway's parents were getting me to drink this interesting vegetable/fruit drink to start the day. I think it had bitter melon, carrots, and apple in it. Eway didn't like it, but I didn't mind it. She started giving me her's to drink. We then took off to downtown to check out the other side of the river. The Pink Pearl Tower side of town. We just did some window shopping and then met Ken for dinner.

Ken is an old old friend of Rebecca, Voy, and Wes'. I think he's known them since I was 6 years old. That's what I mean by old old friend. But, he's still youthful! I thought I should add that in for Rebecca.

Anyways, Ken takes us to this crazy "all you can eat" place. It's huge and yummy!!!!!! I definitely needed maternitiy pants to eat here. The counter holding all the food is enormous and is not just one counter. The counter winds around and around. It's a lot of walking, but that's good to walk so much because you are just eating so much. If there wasn't so much variety of food, I would have eaten raw oysters all night!

I tried the Duck tongue. There's not much to eat and it reminds me of cartilage. Nothing to write home about, but just on this blog.

Tiana joins us late for dinner. Ken treats us all to dinner and then gives us his membership card to his spa. Woooo hooo! So, we plan on using his card for massages after dinner.

We get to the spa around 10pm. Huge place and really fancy! Interesting experience. I was glad to get to spend time with Eway and Tiana and to get to know them better on this trip, BUT, I wasn't expecting to get to know them this much better. We got to know each other well, it was definitely a bonding experience.

The stations at the spa went like this.... We went in and were instructed to remove all our clothes and put them into the lockers. We were then given toothbrushes and go to the showers to shower and brush our teeth.

The next station were the baths... there were 5 to choose from. One was a milk bath, there was a red (rose I think) bath, 2 green baths that were bubbly and 1 more green bath that was shallow and you were supposed to lie down in it. They all had various temperatures also.

Then we went into the steam room (there was also a sauna room). I didn't want to sit down without a towel. After that laid down on some table (like a massage table) and were scrubbed down. Totally exfoliated. Totally! I had sooooo much skin removed from me, I was a little raw. However, I felt quite clean after because we had another shower to remove all the dead skin that was taken off. It was like going through a car wash. Wash, soak, steam, scrub/buff (wax job), wash again! Then we were given disposable underwear, pajamas, and slippers and sent upstairs for our massages. (I'm sorry I don't have any pictures, but this is a family friendly blog!)

We passed by a restaurant/lounge area to get to the massage rooms. This massage was very interesting. This was probably my most least favourite massage experience I've ever had. We were escorted into a very large dimly lit room. There were many beds with matresses within this room. Each bed was surrounded by meshy, draped, white curtains. So you could see people getting massaged, but you couldn't recognize who is getting massaged. Now, that I'm thinking about it. We didn't get the beds with the curtains. We were wondering if we were in a "special room" because I know that Ken brought his wife and kids here for a massage also. It's supposed to be a family friendly place. We were wondering what they had experienced.

The masseuses were barely wearing clothes. They had these skimpy short dresses on. Tiana didn't want a massage because she didn't like what they were wearing. But, we continued on with the massages anyways, because the 3 of us were all next to each other. I have to admit it was quite uncomfortable. I was glad that Tiana and Eway were close by, not just for comfort, but for translating.

They massaged us over our clothes, but some of the positions that they put us and themselves in were far too intimate. I was the only one who was walked on. However, I am larger than Eway and Tiana. My masseuse was using her heels and toes to work on my back. There were bars in the ceiling for her to hang onto. This wasn't a massage. It was a beating. I was pummeled. I think Tiana, Eway, and myself were the only girls in the massage area. There were lots of men. I can see why they liked this place. If you are tired, they have rooms that you can sleep in there. It was open 24 hours/7 days a week.

It was a very interesting place. Apparently, there's a workout room and some live shows there. We didn't check it out. We just went downstairs, got changed, and left. The service was good in the place though. They greeted you when you arrived and said goodbye when you left. Got your slippers/towels for you when you needed. It's a little shocking though, because they shout at you when they greet you and when you leave. Really loud!

I think we got back home around 2 or 3 am. I crawled into bed with my poor bruised body from the "health spa" and crashed.

First Relaxed day in Shanghai!

Monday Sept 25th... Eway and I completely sleep in late. We had lunch at home. Eway has a Dog named Ivy.

She also has a bird, that speaks in Mandarin. The bird always is saying over and over..."you're so annoying, you're so annoying!". Very funny and annoying! It says it in Mandarin. It can also call her dad in her mom's voice. It has fooled him several times. Spooky and funny!

Her grandma lives with them and she does the laundry with their housemaid. The housemaid also cooks really well. I really enjoyed the dishes that were made.

We went into town to shop. Later, we meet with Tiana for dinner. It was soooo good. I had pig's tongue, sweet shrimp, Shao-lin Bow, and Hot pot.

We then leave to go for a foot massage. We soaked our feet and they massage over your clothes everywhere before concentrating on your feet. They gave us hot green tea while we are having our massages. The cost was about $8 Canadian for the hour! What a great day!!