38 Days in…Hair, More Hair and Hiking

First – The Hair

So this week I decided it was seriously time to get my hair cut and highlighted. Although most of us do this without thinking…I’m now in another country! Let’s also keep in mind that blond, white girls aren’t part of the indigenous population. I did what most newcomers to any area would do, I asked around. I got everything from something closely resembling Super Cuts (cheap but --no offense to anyone who goes there--no thanks) to something that sounded like it would cost me a month’s rent (again, no thanks). I took my new friend Kate’s (by the way, she and her husband will now be known as John & Kate – you get the reference!!) advice and went to her place. Her guy wasn’t available on the one day this week I could do it – yes, quite ironic considering I don’t have an actual job to go to everyday – so I tried my luck with the guy they gave me – Paul.

After racing to get there – they sat me down and gave me some magazines. I was REALLY hoping for the new People because I SO miss my trash fix! No such luck, I was reading Maire Claire. Paul came in cheery enough, although at closer glance, I thought he might have just rolled out of bed after a long night at the pub (he’s English) and forgot to brush his teeth…they reeked of cigarettes. Now, back in the day, no worries – we’ve all been there. However, now I’m 40!! Can I please not have to smell that at 10am??

Once I started breathing only through my mouth, the experience got a lot betterJ He seemed to know what he was doing so I was willing to keep breathing through my mouth for the remainder of my visit. After he put on the foils (for those of you who are highlighting virgins, google this), he pulled over this very high tech, funky looking drying machine that did not make a sound. Back in Jersey, I’m used to the big ball thing over my head making so much noise I usually don’t notice the headache or the fact that I’ve sweat my ass off onto the chair until the machine is shut off. This thing though, not one single vibration, quiet as a mouse. Paul came over after a bit – not really sure, I was IM’ing with Jay (my brother) and directed the hair helper (sort of like a salon assistant but I don’t think the hair helpers are learning in the process) on how to take out the foils and wash my hair (should I be nervous that she needed instruction on how to wash my hair??) The only thing I remember next is lying down on this super comfy chair and having THE BEST HEAD MASSAGE EVER! Nothing like my previous massage experience, that for sure!! Apparently , the whole head massage thing is big here – when I met with the culture consultant (next week’s blog) she made it a point to tell me which salons in town gave the best head massages. All I know is that it was so relaxing, I passed out for a bit – it had been a tough day so far!

I have to tell you about the chairs…you know how when you get shampooed at a US salon you have to sit in that chair with your head stretching way back? Not here my friends…you lay ever so comfortably in this ergonomically designed chair with your head on some sort of plank (I think it’s like a plank but I never got the chance to actually see) while the hair helper washes your hair and lifts your head for you. Did I mention the head massage?? I was headed back to this place just for that alone!

After that, Paul could have told me he was going to shave my head and I would have agreed! He didn’t though!! But he did suggest a cut that would make it healthier, blah, blah, blah, and “be much more fashionable.” Yes, that was the quote! So he put 3 different colors in it (to give it depth) cut about 4 inches off it (to give it a style), and blew it out. When all was said and done, it looked great . I know you might be tempted to say I’m biased, but even the kids noticed and like it. Benjamin actually told me I looked younger! I told him that since I got my hair cut, I was only 31 again. YEAH! Success at the hair salon!!!!!! That goes in the win column!

Next – The Threading

If you have traveled or lived in this part of the world, you might find this next part mundane. For those of you who haven’t, listen to this! Again, my friend Kate mentioned threading to me one day while we were in the cab talking about girl grooming stuff (you know waxing, hair, nails, etc.). I had vaguely heard of it before but didn’t really know the details. In a nutshell, rather than using wax to get rid of excess hair and shape your eyebrows, a very skilled technician does magic with a piece of dental floss! Okay, it’s not exactly dental floss but I opened my eyes and she had one end in her mouth and the thread between her 2 hands in this very flossing sort of way. It felt like she was using the floss like a razor on my eyebrows. Keep in mind, I had my eyes closed! I was beginning to become afraid when it didn’t seem to be stopping in a timely manner. You know, when you wax, it’s one rip and your good to go. Either she was really good at this, my eyebrows were bushes, or I was going to need to stop on the way home and get an eyebrow pencil. A few minutes later, after I was sure I still had eyebrows (you know what some of those people with the pencil eyebrows look like) I had her do my lip too. I figured since I was there and she already had the dental floss in her mouth, let’s go for it. Plus, when I asked her she exclaimed, “Oh yes!” After she finished and gave me the mirror, I was totally amazed…no redness! Again, you know after a wax, you look like you could work for Barnum and Bailey…not with threading! You could actually go out after! If you are considering this, please know that you are an active participant in this treatment – I had to pull my skin on either side to make it tight. For your lip, you use your tongue to push your lip way out while she does her dental floss trick – I had to take a break midway through…my tongue hurt!! Really….Try it, it’s not as easy as it sounds! All in all though, I’m now a big fan of the threadJ

Lastly – Hiking HK Style!

For the record, I’m not a hiker – not what I think of a hiker anyway. When I think of a hiker, I think of a crunchy (no offense to my good friend Krista!), tree-hugging, love the dirt and all the animals that live in the dirt sort of person. My definition of camping (most of you have heard this) is staying in a Holiday Inn. So, no thanks on the hiking.

I do however like to walk. I’ll walk outside in all kinds of weather – cold, you just wear more layers, warm , you wear the basic minimum not to get arrested. In all of the places we have lived, I’ve always had walking buddies (miss you all!!!!). Sidenote…Let’s be honest, an exercise buddy is just free therapist. They have to listen to you because they are trapped in some sort of fashion! That’s the beauty of a buddy!

Back to the hiking…I’ve heard a lot of talk about hiking in Hong Kong. There are hiking groups, hiking races, random people talking about hiking – I was curious about it. I called this other mom on a whim and asked if she wanted to go for a walk (secretly hoping she could be my next walking buddy). We started talking about this whole hiking thing as we were walking along. The place that we are temporarily staying in is like a big brick fortress in the sky – it’s way up on a mountain and thus there are many hiking trails around. We decided to try one.


So we looked at a map and tried to follow it. The first thing we saw was about 350 concrete steps – GOING STRAIGHT UP! No side rails, nothing of the sort, just little concrete steps (like the tiniest steps you have ever seen!). So – we started climbing. When we got to the top (what we thought was the top), we looked back – Holy Shit! All I could think of what how the #$#^&%$$ we were going to get down. I was pretty sure there was no elevator here! But, we kept going. I thought for sure we had been going for at least 40 minutes…nope, only 10! We walked on a little path for a bit and then more stairs…and more stairs…and more stairs! I was finally getting the whole hiking thing….you just climb stairs! This isn’t hiking, it’s just an outdoor stairmaster! Going down was just as interesting as my size 12 running shoes didn’t fit on the steps – I had to make sure my feet were angled sideways as not to fall down all those steps and break my ^%*&$*$ back! I'll definitely have to keep this up if I want to buy some skinny jeans!

Oh well, I’m done for this week! More to come….

New friends, a Tiger Masseuse and a trip to Disco Bay…Kung Hei Fat Choy!

So our first couple date went really well!  Ya gotta love another couple who can do shots of Patron and not flinch (guys, not girls).   You know you’ve met good friends when you don’t realize the time, are the loudest people (stop laughing – it wasn’t just me!) in the restaurant and are almost the last ones to leave!  Quite a good time was had by all!  We’ll call them Nate and Kate (pseudonyms of course) – they both grew up on the east coast and just moved here from London back in July.   They laughed hysterically when I told them they’d make the blog! 

So my new friend Kate and I went for coffee early in the week and after watching me try to walk, she suggested I try out the masseuse at Parkview (remember, the brick fortress in the sky we are currently living in!).  After a week of not being able to move, I finally called and got in on Wednesday.  I’m not even sure how to begin to describe this massage.  Kate did warn me by saying, “you really can’t be a prude, b/c she has no boundaries.”  I was fine not being a prude – I mean I don’t wear underwear for a massage, certainly I’m not a prude! I consider myself a massage connoisseur…there is nothing better than laying your ass on a table and having someone rub you for an hour, right?  NOTHING could have prepared me for what I was about to experience!  It started off okay, although it was a bit different to only have 2 really thin towels covering you (when you are used a nice thick warm blanket).  There was no conversation, but I did tell her that my lower back and neck were bothering me.  She began firmly on my back, through a towel (a bit different), but I was all set to relax.  I closed my eyes and started breathing to get myself in my Zen place.  Ahhhhh, you know the feeling….all set for 90 minutes (yep, cause I’m worth it!) all about me! 

You might want to sit down for this next part…THEN….she climbed up (I think, I was face down after all) on the table, took the towel off my a** and proceeded to “massage” (I’ll need to continue to use that word in quotes) my piriformis with such vigor, I almost came off the table!  For those of you unfamiliar with your piriformis, it’s your butt muscle…if you’ve ever been to PT for your back, you would know all about it!)  Tom (my PT in NJ) would have been really proud!  All I could think about what how funny this was!  It was like something in a movie – you know where you see the Asian massage therapist person jump up and start going at it on someone while they are face down –but that someone was ME!  I thought they only did that in movies for effect!

After what felt like the entire 90 minutes, she went on to my lower back (remember, this was what was sore) – again, I almost came off the table.  I began breathing as if I was in labor!  She went on to the right side of my neck and shoulders, again breathing like I am in labor.  At this point, I said…”yeah, that really hurts”…to which she responded, “yeah, yeah, yeah”…not in a sarcastic way like you’d see in the states, more like in agreement.  But HOLY SHIT…I’m on the table…if I say it hurts, shouldn’t she stop??  Correction…I came off the table!  Now, just so that we are clear – I have a HIGH tolerance for pain…I have dislocated my knee, fractured my femur, had a screw put in my tibia while I was WIDE awake, have given birth to 3 kids (2 sections and 1 in labor for 15 hours with no epidural) and I have 3 boys (they just ooze pain!).    But this was DIFFERENT…I paid for this!  Where was my relaxing, all about me, have some hot oil rubbed on me time??  When did I sign up for the Kung Fu massage??  When she finally moved on to my left neck and shoulder, I cursed myself for being so self indulgent and getting the 90 minutes…what the *#%*#(@) was I thinking??  Just when you think it is over, I had to flip. 

I thought, “thank god!”  The front cannot possibly hurt as much as the back….WRONG AGAIN!  I explained to her that I had arthritis in both knees and plantar fasciitis (I simply said my heel hurt) in my left heel (yes, I LOVE being 40!) so she needed to go easy on those areas. Just when I thought I was safe…OFF the table again!  Didn’t I just tell her my heel hurt?? 

Finally it was over…I was soooooooo relieved.  I didn’t think I could take any more.   Although I felt like I was just beaten up by someone probably less than half my weight, I could move!  I couldn’t believe it – I was actually walking upright!  The down side to that is, it’s Friday and no one can touch me yet - I’m bruised everywhere – even the front of my biceps…no joke!.   She commented numerous times on how tight I was…”lots of pain to feel better” – guess I’ll have to go backJ   I’ve heard of Tiger Moms but I think I just found my very own Tiger Masseuse! 

Kung Hei Fat Choy – Happy New Year!

Since it’s Chinese New Year, Brian had a couple of days off (the kids were off all week!).  Today we decided to take the ferry over to Discovery Bay.  DB, as the locals call it (it’s also called Disco Bay) seems like a very well planned community (not quite Wisteria Lane but clearly has the potential….)(http://www.discoverybay.com.hk/icms2/template?series=248) with a spectacular view.  It is part of Lantau Island (also home to Disneyland).  If you are looking at an aerial map of Hong Kong, Lantau is to the left…although I have NO idea what the hell the body of water we cross to get there is called!  The ferry ride was about 30 minutes (but this ferry had fancy seats, still rocked like the Andrea Gail though) and upon docking, you see this great beach with kids playing, folks hanging out and everyone truly enjoying a gorgeous day in DB.  As we walked down the path, to the right was the ocean and to the left was restaurant after restaurant with outdoor seating and a play area for kids!  Now this is brilliant!!!!  The US should do this – kids don’t want to sit and watch their parents eat and drink at a leisurely pace, they want to eat and play!  Parents don’t want to pay $100 to feel like they just scarfed down fast food!  It’s a win-win…BRILLIANT!  Funny enough – we ran into our new friends Nate and Kate who were in DB visiting friends of theirs…we made another dateJ

So that’s all for this week.  Jack and Benjamin are meeting with a “transitional specialist” for their Cross Cultural Orientation tomorrow morning – should be interesting.  Mine is next week!

A final note to parents…how do you get boys to not fight with their hands?  Any advice is welcome.

Again, thanks for tuning in!  Tune in next week for my rant about “hiking” in Hong Kong…it’s a doozy