a day in china
 

能我們有這為客房服務請

 

油煎的米細麵條用乾胡椒和牛肉

 

If I remember correctly, these phrases are: “Black pepper Chicken with Singapore style fried rice noodle”, and “Singapore Style fried rice noodle with seafood and NO PORK.”  I could be wrong.  The writing above is a result of the only downside or our stay in Hainan resort.  The Service and Service Staff were absolutely excellent. There was a language barrier at times and the food from Room Service was wrong once or twice, so I’d looked up a translator online and gave the info to a bellhop and the food came as ordered.  I’ve been reading a book “Noble House” and it speaks about the Traditional Chinese Service model. These guys are very close to that. Every time we leave the room, they clean it. No, we aren’t that messy, but the teacups would be cleaned and the stock replaced, the robes would be replaced and the turn down service would leave a flower on the pillow and a pair of slippers on a towel on either side of the bed. When I made mention of any issues, I was assured that it would be handled before I could ask.

 

Crown Plaza Spa Resort Hainan is an excellent place to stay.  Purportedly the world’s largest hot spring or natural spring spa, it was the best spa experience I have ever had. Our stay was for one week, from Friday to Friday. Our second day there my Wife Carol opted for one of their three day spa packages. Each day, we had unlimited access to the Natural Spring pool, the Fish pool, the Jacuzzi, the Plunge pool, Steam room, Sauna and Gym. Each day we also received a massage and a wrap or rub. The entire experience was decadent. Once we entered the spa, we were greeted and offered tea, by the ladies at the front desk, while they went over our therapy scheduled for the day. We’d go to the gym, and we’d both hit the tread mill. After that, Carol would find another aerobic machine, like the stair stepper or skier and I would go off to the rowing machine and hip abductor and adductor and we’d both do lat pull downs.  There was a full gym, but no one really goes there for a work out. The desk at the entrance to the gym was not even manned. 

 

Once we finished the gym, the ladies greeted us again and still others would escort us to the Lady’s or Men’s Areas. The guy who escorted me would walk me into the fully stocked locker room. We walked through a spacious area where six men could dry their hair, clip nails, put on lotion, shave, and use after shave etc. I’d call it a beauty mirror but I don’t want to offend anyone. I was shown how to use the electronic lock and a fresh towel was place on the bench and sandals were placed beside it. The guy made a big show of looking away as I programmed the number. I opened the locker to find sandals a towel a plush robe-the robe actually fit me-and some empty hangers. I undressed and put the robe on. I was lead to the shower. There were at least six separate showers recessed into the wall. The showers stalls were tiled with a large beige stone tile and extended the 15 feet from the floor to the ceiling.  In front of the showers was a low wall and behind it were 5 or 6 more showers where one could sit on a ceramic stool and use a hand held shower. I closed the curtain and showered. (While I was discreet about undressing and showering, I got the distinct impression that none of the staff would behave any differently if I walked around naked. Carol later said she felt the same way.)  If I took less than 3 minutes, the guy waited and would lead me past the area with the indoor Jacuzzi and beyond the path to an outdoor Jacuzzi that was surrounded by trees and bushes. We also passed the Sauna and Steam room.

 

When we reached the Natural Spring Room, the room opened up to the third floor and was solely lit by the skylight. My Escort disappeared at this point. He may have spoken, but I was over taken with awe of the place. The spring was a slightly elongated and tiled circle and about 40 feet across and broken into 5 sections. The perimeter had small plunge pools at either end and one side had a shallow, long pool filled with fish the other side had its match but no fish and in the very center was a deeper pool one could walk or float in.

 

As I approached the Fish Pool, I was greeted by the lovely sound of my Wife’s mild squeaks and giggles. Carol was already in the fish pool.  The small silver fish scattered as I climbed down the ladder and settled myself. Once I stopped moving abruptly, the fish would approach in small numbers and start nibbling on my toes, legs, chest and belly. There were even two or three nibbling at my n-n-n-n-n-navel. They weren’t really nibbling; they were doing that ‘pucker’ thing that fish do. I have to admit that while pleasant, it was often VERY ticklish. While watching and talking to Carol, I’d notice that the fish would flee every time she flinched or laughed aloud. So, going in, I knew that I was going to have to be quiet and still. We talked for a while and than I settled in and sought a meditative place. After a few minutes of forcefully controlling my breathing, I was at least calm and quiet. Then I could really relax and find that quiet place. I’d found an edge I could sit on and leaned back, stretched my hands out and let them float 3 or 4 inches below the surface; I separated my legs and let my heels rest about an inch off the bottom of the pool.  Only then could I close my eyes and meditate.

 

I opened my eyes 20 minutes later and  I could hear fish puckering all around me and could see scores if not hundreds of fish ‘nibbling’ all over me. There had to have been 60 fish on each foot and there were 20+ on each hand. My calves were covered in them and they were some on my thighs, chest and back.  I looked over at Carol and she was still giggling -I LOVE my Wife.-and still flinching every so often. I told her that I was doing Reiki to keep myself calm and suggested that she do the same. After a few more minutes, I said:” Do your ‘White Light’, Honey.” I looked over a few minutes later, and she was in her quiet place and the fish were on her in droves. I looked around and we had the lion’s share to ourselves. There were maybe a few dozen fish on the elderly Chinese couple at the other end of the pool.  Carol now says that it’s a healing place; she read that people come there for many types of maladies.  I noticed the same man from the day before walking the perimeter of the inner pool.  I wasn’t watching per se, but I was facing the inner pool and every so often my eyes would open. Eventually I realized that he was intently walking around perimeter of the inner pool. I thought maybe it was a walking meditation or rehab and thought nothing more of it. Later, I saw him get out of the far end of the Fish Pool and climb into a wheel chair. I closed my eyes to hide my astonishment. I motioned cheerfully and nodded respectfully as he was wheeled by me on the way to the steam room. It was at that point I decided that I’d really needed to write my Uncle Walter a note of thanks, since he’d given us the week as a wedding present.

 

One of the ladies informed us that we need to prepare for the next stage our treatment. Carol and I split up again. She went into the Lady’s area and I went into the Steam room. It was turned off, so I went towards the sauna. I noticed the button for the steam room. I pressed it a few times and eventually noticed a red light going on and off. (Basically, I fiddled with it until I figured it out and went into the sauna while it filled up. ) The Sauna was a little dry, after 20 seconds, I flipped over the timer and added a ladle of water. It didn’t get steamy enough for me so I added four more. Any one else would know to wait after the first or second scoop, but I didn’t know better. So, after the intense increase of hot moisture, I held out for about 2 minutes and went to slump in the Steam room. I sat in the steam room for about 5 minutes and spent maybe 5 more in the sauna. It was then that my escort reclaimed me. He handed me a towel and walked me to a shower. I took a quick shower and dried off and wrung out my swimming trunks. I opened the curtain and we were off again. I followed him back to the locker room.  I should say there aren’t and actual doors from one are to the other, there are just gigantic doorways and a change in the floor. At the edge of the shower area the floor changes from stone to wood. Right in the entrance the floor has a funny waterproof kinda carpeting and there was a towel there to wipe my feet and I could take off my sandals and weight myself and then turn and go into the locker room. On my way to the locker, the escort handed me a small cloth thing wrapped and sealed in plastic. I opened it to find disposable shorts. I did eventually get them on.  (They were a tad bit small.) I turned and took two steps before he handed me a big pair golden silk short pants and a short robe to match. My escort—I really wish I'd gotten his name— took me to the front desk, where I was then handed over to another lady and she took me back towards the Men’s Area, but we turned through a doorway I’d noticed before and went outside and down some steps through a very lovely secreted garden. Even though Hainan was hot, the air was fresh  and pleasant; it was filled with the light hum of chirruping and whistles of the nearby animals and insects.  We went through two little gardens and were brought to the door of a bungalow.

 

The very nice lady stopped at the step in front of the bungalow, turned and said that this is where we would receive our treatments while she gestured with her hand for me to enter. I stepped over the threshold entered into a surprisingly spacious room. The ceiling was 10-12 feet high with a recessed fan. There was a really large and comfy bed in the middle of the room. There was a Jacuzzi beyond that. On the right was a shower with a latticework door a basin and another shower on the far left there was another basin. On either side of the Jacuzzi, there was a massage table. The entire room was very soothing. The floor was a raw stone, that was smooth enough not to need polish. All of the furniture was made in a “ye olde style” with a woodsy red varnish.  We stepped down into the room and were sat in chairs with earthy deep red towels in front of them. The ladies removed our sandals and placed our feet on the cloth. She presented a small dish with two folded and rolled up wash cloths. I took one and dabbed my hands and face with. It was soaked in cold lavender scented water so I covered my face with it and leaned back to relax with my feet in the warm tub. One of the ladies then poured tea for both of us and took a step back while we drank. The other lady went to a basin and filled a wide low flat earthenware tub with water.  The woman serving us  tea would refill the cup every time I sat it down empty. After the third time, I took a sip and gently placed it on the table. She placed one in front of Carol and then did the same for me. The woman that guided me there placed my feet in a clay bowl filled with warm water and strewn with flower petals.  She reached over to the table with the small tea pot and cups and pulled out a small jar of tea tree oil from one of its lower shelves and put a few drops in the water. She then caressed each my feet while covering them with water.  She left me sitting with my feet in the water for a few minutes. At some point, I realized that she was the Therapist. I never got her name because she never really looked me in the eye and seemed to glance away when I stared at her trying to make out her name tag. My Therapist then kneeled, draping a towel over her knee. She gently lifted and set my left foot on her knee and patted it dry. She then did the same for my right foot. She then bid me to stand and led me to one of the massage tables. She helped me remove my robe and offered me another pair of the disposable shorts. I assured her I had a pair on and she told me to take off the golden shorts that matched the robe.  I sat on the massage table and she told me to lie on my back. I stretched out and she laid a towel over me. She rubbed an oil mixture on my feet and lower legs and then she did reflexology on my left foot and a bit of Swedish massage just past my knee. Her touch was strong and assured without being forceful. She spent so much time on my left foot that I didn’t think she’d have enough time to do my right foot justice. My left foot felt very, very good. She covered my left foot with the towel and uncovered my right. She gave the right foot and lower leg all the attention they needed. My feet were floating on clouds of bliss. She left me to relax and after a few moments she returned and asked me to turn over. She gave me a good Swedish massage while rubbing a seaweed wrap into my pores. She had me turn over and finished the Swedish massage while rubbing the wrap into the front of my body. When she finished, the Therapist crossed my arms upon my chest and covered me with a sheet that I was laying on. She tucked my in and checked my head rest, and left the room for some time. Shortly after I woke up she returned to my side and Peeled the sheet off of me and lead me to one of the lattice work wooden doors and there were a few glass shelves stocked with a few towels, slippers, more disposable shorts and a fluffy robe set into the wall just beyond the door. The floor of the shower was an “L” shaped stone path, and the walls were of a rough hewn stone, so it felt like entering a cave. When I turned the corner I could see the warm water pouring out of a shoot that made me feel like there was a rope I could pull to stop the water gushing out.  There were shelves carved into the wall on either side of the shower where there was soap, bath gel, shampoo and conditioner. I had a nice warm shower and ten minutes later, I dressed and retook my seat in the chair next to Carol’s.  The lights were a bit dimmer. The ladies let us just rest and soak it in for a few minutes and thanked us for letting them attend us.

 

This was absolutely the best spa experience I have ever had.  And we have two more days of this wonderful, treatment.

                                                                                                     

 

 

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If you could be another person for a day, who would it be and why?
First I though Jerry Spayer, so I could put some wealth aside for the fam and some loved ones.
Then, I thought better of it and decided that I would be Jesus for a day. I would swap 'the hope of remebering / finding / learning what being one with the Spirit is' with 'Knowing / Being in the Spirit and aware of it's Truth' all the tome

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sewing stuff
the skirt i made

notice the lovely model

This Carol and her good friend Magda.

Magda is getting married in late october.

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guess who saw prince perform yesterday
Not me.

Carol Went. The mailman for her job had a spare ticket.

He only played for about 90 minutes, but she loved it.

No. I'm not jealous.

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Dreams
PaperTigers called me weird earliier. Telling you about one of my more recent dreams may only strengthen her claim.





It was a regular summer day. I'm in a suit and tie, carrying a breifcase. I'd had a few meetings and  two different business lunches, I'd made a few conference calls and then I realized that I wasn't myself. I didn't really know any of the people I was dealing with, but each face brought up pertinent detaiols and background information. I was going around town doing everyday business activities, but I was going through someone else's daily grind . The dream continued and sometime in the afternoon, I went to my office-a different office. I changed clothes  and took off my disguise. I went home and reported all my findings. I went to sleep thinking:"Isn't this dream supposed to self-dest-."

_I woke up with a complete memory of the whole thing.

Tomorrow, I'll probably have forgotten everything and even this journal entry will be gone.

Ohh bother.

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Choir songs
Today is my brother Kevin's birthday. It just occured to me.

The wedding stuff is going well. We got the material for the last suit I wear as a bachelor.  Whoooo Hooooooooo!!!!!

All the invites are out, We've started getting RSVPs back. we've seen the last caterer and waiting for the quotes. I go to the tailor this weekend.

We've got about 30 things done and 300 to go.

Oh and we are taking a ferry to France for a wine run.

I was hoping that Papertigers and Gryfforin could help me with the program. I want some of the songs we used to sing, but for the life of me I cant remember the names of any of them. for some I remember a few lyrics and for others, just the feeling of singing them.  (hit on the head one too many times.) I'd appreciate any help. The hymn books over here suck and everything is sung in unison.

Take Care

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Less than two months
I'm still homesick. I miss you guys. I haven't actually stopped anybody on the street, but I have started seeing people here that look folks from home.

I also miss my stuff. I made the mistake of trusting Quiana to drive the already packed and sealed boxes to the warehouse so It can be shipped to the UK. She has delayed it twice and is very quiet about it when I ask her about it. I'm here with travel clothes basically . I only have one pair of shoes and they aren't even dress shoes. God, it's soo frustrating!!!

Anyway, Carol has had her second visit to the tailor and they started the first adjustments to the dress. She's calmed down abit about it now. We are very close to having a Caterer. We just came back from Ikea and got bunches of candles and other things for the tables.

We're sending out the last of the invites this weekend. Her mom is a bit bent. She actually went out and bought her own invites-so she could send invites to all her friends. (Her mom just storms off and buys what she wants when we disagree with her.We can usually get Mum back to earth, but it's always after she blows money on something that's not necessary.) It took a few months for her to figure out it's not one invite per person. She still hasn't seen how one invite might mean four people. And she had the nerve to say: "We wont count the children." Still working on that one.

So we are battling her mom regularly. Carol is on the phone now with Carol finally getting her to understand that we need a list of all the names.

I'm going out again this weekend looking for fabric for one of my outfits.
I have the material for everything but the main one.

I Miss you guys sorely. I cant wait to se those of you who can come to the wedding. If not then, I'll come back for Christmas.

Take Care

Current Mood: excited

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The Rumors were true
I got a PS3for my birthday!!!

I just beat Harry Potter. Dont get it.  It sucks. 

I've Got Spiderman. It's graphics are better rthan average, but I think Ninja Gaiden will actually Give me something great to watch along with excellent gameplay.

Any suggestions on great PS3 games?

WoooooHoooooooo!!!

Current Mood: jubilant

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Happy birthday to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
We went camping yesterday! Got a couple of gifts around midnight. We were to have lunch, but I got delayed at the bank, so no lunch together, but, she has some stuff planned for the weekend.

Rumor has it there's a good chance of a PS3 in my near future.

I got a sewing machine a few weeks ago. I've made a pair of pants and a skirt. I really like the pants. They came out OK, even though I put the pockets on out of order.  I think I wore them for 3 days in a row.

The skirt doesn't really fit me, but that's OK, since Carol really likes it. 

I have enough fabric left to make a matching shirt for the pants. Once I finish that, I'll try my hand at sewing designs in the clothes.

end ramble here.

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This thing is crazy
This thing is absolutely scary





A little trade commission I recently found out about called Codex Alimentarius which threatens us with widespread malnourishment after the year 2009. It could be the greatest threat to your freedom to life ever devised. Here's a video by www.healthfreedomusa.org about Codex and what it means to YOU:

The petition
http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/index.php?page_id=184

Part 1: http://youtube.com/watch?v=VmrF9KjlGsc
Part 2: http://youtube.com/watch?v=uEqB41Ow0vU&mode=related&search=
Part 3: http://youtube.com/watch?v=fkAvFhTjU-M&mode=related&search=
Part 4: http://youtube.com/watch?v=LJgHXHCNPvI&mode=related&search=
Part 5: http://youtube.com/watch?v=GKLDRf1XdgA&mode=related&search=

http://www.wto.org/english/info_e/search_results_e.asp?SearchItem=codex%20alimentarius

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Hey Folks.
Went to Tower bridge and got the 5 pound tour. It was very interesting. It was an arctitechtural feat and each of the towers is a castle. And the view fromt he top is great. 

MY class was cancelled. I'm really frustrated abou5t that. I have to call today to see if there was enough enrollment, but when I went back on monday, the Registrar said it was cancelled for lack of interest and the dept secretary said that the first day was cancelled. I left my number in both places.

Wish me luck.

Current Mood: full

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Went to the gym on West End last weekend


Current Mood: energetic

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a pebble in the pond

Yeah. I'm across the pond an all that, but with this island's weather, it's like being dunked under water in slow motion. 

I'm here. Been here for about a month. I miss my friends terribly. (I was depressed on and off for a couple of weeks.) The going away party was nice I was really touched.

I have to say Carol's folks have taken me in a bit. It's really nice. While her mom is trying to fatten us up with yams plantains, rice and various meats with peppered stew,her Dad has put me to work in the office of his cab company (Olde Kent Cars).  The back office is in disarray, so I've done everything from electrical wiring to design leaflets for his advertising campaign. 

We didn't have the internet for a few weeks, so this is the first week I've been able to sit down and do more than check my balances. 

The wedding plans are going well. She got her dress a week ago, so that meant everybody else could get clothes. We bought the fabric for my attire and for our attire for 'the law and customs' ceremony that happens on the wednesday before the wedding. Still no caterer and no entertainment. And Carol hasn't worked out what the brides maids and groomsmen will wear, but it's all coming along well. 

Carol Says Hi.

Current Mood: bouncy

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i wrote this a few weeks ago. felt like sharing
A Gift for my Friend

I gave a gift to my friend. Like all my gifts, it was from the heart and had a piece of my soul in it.

We spoke and she told me: “I’m doing so well. My job is great! Bought my own house, car … Running my own business. I have a lot of friends. But I need a man to hold me.”

We spoke and she told me: “Yesterday’s man didn’t treat me right. I did everything I was supposed to and he just didn’t respect himself and wasn’t there for me when I needed him. So, he’s yesterday’s man.”

We spoke and she told me: “You remember that time when we were hanging out few months ago and that call I got. Out of the blue, that was him.”

We spoke and she told me.

“He called me again. He said he was sorry and has grown a lot since then.
He called me again. He has grown and was willing to prove himself to me.
That takes time.
He called me again and said that he needed to see me.
I said: No.
No, I’m fine not talking to you, not seeing you. You called me.
No.
No.
OK.
He called me again and said he needed to meet me. We met.
I was weak. I need help. Will you help me be strong?”

She named her gift.
I cleansed myself of all the negativity.
I washed away all the impurities.
I purged all the junk within myself.

Breathing deeply in the Spirit, I brought my hands close together.
I brought my hands close together. I build a ball.
I build a ball of Light.

Words welled up from within my Soul:
I know Love.
I Know Love and am worthy of it.
I know Love.
I Love myself and am filled with it.
I am worthy of Love and will demand it.
I am worthy of Love and will settle for nothing other than it.
…

Words welled up within my Soul.
I whispered them through my lips
They poured from my hands
They fill the ball of Light

It grew heavy then; a palpable thing with its own life to fend.
I am strong. I am ready. Let me to her now. Let me strengthen her from within.
I breathed the Love of God. I gave it even more to lend.
Beckoning her forth, I looked at her then.
“I move through my own might, not to the will of men.”
I laced them through again. Once more, I poured them in.

I had her attention now. “Are you ready? Don’t Pretend.”
With one hand on forehead and one on her chest,
I lost myself to the Light and let my Father’s Might do the rest.
(“I say Yee. Hey Pops I pray Thee:
Place a bevy of Angels. Surround me and my friend. “)

“Sweetie, breathe in the Light. Breathe in the Light.”

I gave a gift to my friend.
I gave a gift to my friend.

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For nigh unto a century, he lived life fully
then not
Lifeline powerful. potent cables pulsing
then not
Heartstrings flowing, secure, centered, safe
then knot
His personage surges through generations
still
Our compendium momentarily feels like a
vignette
Baba Iya, your presense continues,

but you left too soon

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My Album Cover
I ran across a post in another journal as to what my album cover would look like. And that's exactly the joke that I made about this picture that I took on the train in London. I think its a great shot, considering I took it myself.

Either gawk or laugh, but enjoy :-)






(I'm posting it here to refer to on the other site since I havent figured how to post pics there directly.)

Current Mood: creative

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My Swedish Massage Final is thursday
I practiced on Sunday with my friend Gail.

I did a full body massage, but it took 3 hours because I did a number of specialized massages.

She got a Head, Neck and Face massage, a Back massage, a Chest massage, a Hand massage and a Foot massage.

I will choreograph a massage for my instuctor on thursday and go over it 5 or 10 times mentally for me test on thursday.

I already started pathology for academic. and we start deep tissue after the final.


Wish Me Luck

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Anatomy Final.
I passed!!!!!

I had a 91 avg of the exams and I passed the final with an 81.


Now, it's on to Pathology.

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Work, work, work, Study, study, study
Have a comulative anatome and physiology final on Tuesday. Wish me luck

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Went To London
I had a fantastic trip!!!! I met CArol Face to FAce and She is everything I envisioned.
We went all over england. Londan, Stonhenge, ...

When We went to stonehenge, she arranged for us to get into the inner circle. (You usually pass it on a path about 20 feet away.)

I did her Reiki 1 attunement there. I also aligned/attuned myself to the benevolent energies there and It was fantastic!

I met her folks, ate their food,(Nigerians; spicy(hot!)chicken stew), and treated her dad.

She'll be here on the 16 of this month, so, local folks will get to meet her.


BTW
I broke my ankle Tuesday of last week. All your good thoughts, well-wishings, Reiki, spells et al for my improved health are welcome.

PEace too You and Yours,

Alaanu

Current Mood: cheerful

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