Sexy Back

No, I don't have the world's worst case of bacne.

These are the side effects of having your chi warmed up with a traditional cupping therapy.

Last weekend, I went with Jess and Jess to Dragon hill spa, a huge public bath house with seven floors of facilities. Once you get into your pajamas you are free to use the internet cafe, swimming pool, saunas, karaoke rooms, arcade games, restaurants, snack bars, beauticians and massage parlours. You swipe your wrist band if you have to buy a service, and then pay as you leave. Families, couples and groups of friends often spend the whole day there together as there is so much to do.

Jess and I in the large family room.

If you want to use the baths you go to the female only area, strip down and scrub yourself fiercely before dipping in. In the outdoor courtyard you can choose from the ginseng bath, the kids rainbow bath, a bath made of a special wood, and a salt water bath. Indoor there are more baths of different temperatures, some with salt water. There is also a steam room and sauna. Obviously, there didn't take any pictures of this area, but you can see some here.

I went to one of the massage areas, and decided to get the cupping with a meridian massage - deciding against "face reduction management". The massage therapist seemed to magically straighten out my body, by twisting my arms and legs. Then, she got a torch and a lot of small ceramic cups. She put the flame into the cups and this caused a vacuum so they could be stuck along my meridian lines. It was more uncomfortable than painful, with the places with more muscle being the most painful. When they were removed I had shocking red swollen circle on my back, but very little pain.

Cups on my back

A second round on my back

On my stomach. It felt like my organ were being sucked in.

Since then I will occasionally be reminded of the experience when my back hits the back of a chair with a slight shock of pain. It is probably the most extreme form of massage I've had (which is saying something - I was once covered in chocolate mud). Maybe next time I'll gather the courage to get my face reduced.

Not a nail-phile

I'm a nailphobe. I always keep them short. I was unfortunaly born with abnormally large knuckels and my hands seem to have aged prematurely. So when I grow them long I look like I should be giving poisoned apples to royal runaways. Or, even worse, like Madonna.

It's so bad that I actually HATE having long nails. It makes me feel nauseous. But today, for you, my dear reader, I faced my fears and braved a nail shop.

Everything in Korea happens fast. Dinner is served in seconds, fads come and go in the blink of an eye, and skyscrapers go up in minutes. 'Bali Bali' (quickly quickly) is a way of life here. Except for with nails. My lovely manicurist filed, pinched, scraped and rubbed my nails until they transformed from splinted talons (I'd been growing them for a couple of weeks) to perfectly pruned fingers. It took so long I got to see a whole episode of an amazing Korean drama (Our handsome hero is hooked on painkillers and so is treating all the women in his life so badly they cry a single beautiful tear while looking out of a window).

Due to budgetary cuts, I was unable to get one of the more outrageous designs, such as cats, paw prints, the chanel logo, or a christmas tree complete with tinstle. So I opted for the low key option of a dark blue base with white flowers with a jewel in the middle. As I look down at my typing hands as I can't help but chuckle.

And shudder.