Sanya and the $7 Massage

Sanya is known as the "Hawaii" of China. Though we haven't explored to our usual extent, the 17km of white sand beach lined with palm trees makes a pretty good approximation. We found a great hotel right across the street from the beach complete with hot tub and faux roses entwined in the bedroom lamp. After 4 months without water Li has turned into a fish again has been braving the waves and playing in the ocean. Yesterday she surprised us both by swimming under water and scooping up a handful of sand complete with a starfish. Her surprise and subsequent scream resulted in a lucky escape for the starfish.

Sanya is apparently a pilgrimage location for Russians trying to escape the frigid north. Restaurants and shops here offer menus in Russian and cater to Russian tastes including borsht and oxtail soup. Most of the Russians congregate in another part of the city so we are not surrounded by too many overweight Caucasians in small swimsuits.

Last night I followed the advice of our hotel proprietor and went to the Jade Massage Saloon for a 60 minute foot massage ("for your health" he said, who was I to argue?). My family left me wearing pink slippers heading upstairs into the unknown. After being shown into a private room with an overstuffed armchair and ottoman a young, admittedly quite handsome, and very muscular man came in with a tub of steaming water. I mistakenly assumed he was simply the labor to move the water tubs around, but no, he was indeed my masseuse. Thor is really the only name that does him justice. Step one was a 20 minute neck and back massage while sitting on the ottoman and soaking my feet in water mixed with Chinese brown herb. Step two was another 50 minutes of foot massage, lotion, more massage, etc. Don't get too excited about the etc., "Thor" did not speak nor make eye contact with me the entire time. At the end of my session he removed the dirty bucket of water and towels, and then returned promptly with a new bucket of steaming water. Thereupon he proceeded to wash my feet and lower legs with clean hot water. It's quite an image to be sitting with your feet in hot water and have a lovely young man wash them. Anyway, for $7 it's worth another go round! Good for my health.

We will be sad to leave the slow, relaxing pace of Sanya, but there are more adventures to be had.