A Poolside Weekend

The weekend was entirely relaxing due to the fact that Meredith T. and I basically spent it poolside at Hyatt Seoul. Rockin'. Thursday night consisted of me FINALLY getting the eye-brow wax that I have been looking high and low for and then shopping for $25 corn tortillas and cheese to FINALLY get a quesadilla in this land.

A friend of ours who used to teach a spinning class we took at our local YMCA one summer came to Seoul with her husband, brother and sister-in-law after spending a week in Vietnam. Because Meredith T. and I had Friday off from teaching, Patrice was very kind as had us to her hotel for massages in the spa. Our appointment was at 1:30 p.m. and we arrived about 15 minutes early. After signing in, we were instructed to select the music we preferred during the massage and the flavor of tea for after. We opted for the "calm" selection and Meredith T. chose Ginseng tea and I chose Chamomile. After the deliberation and execution of those decisions, into the massage room we were escorted.

The decor consisted of tan, green and cream colors and it was very relaxing. There was a full bathroom through one door where we were to change into our robes and paper underwear (yes, paper... basically imagine the paper hair caps worn by lunch room ladies and then turn that into something with two leg holes). After I excitedly hopped into my paper panties and robe, I was ready for business. We went into the massage room (there were two tables and two masseuses, we're still not sure if they thought we were a couple because we share the same first name...?) and were told to ditch the robes. Although this was not public nakedness per se, Korea seems to run rampant with public shower/changing/bathing facilities. Now it was one thing to scamper around a hospital in a cotton candy pink robe and it's another to be hustling around in paper skivvies and not knowing half of the people in the room. Meredith T. says that I will get used to this lifestyle... I think not.

Patrice registered us to have a full body scrub and full body massage and it was delightful! The ladies were very strong and I think I walked out with a bruise or two. After the two hour treatment, in came our tea and a homemade fruit and granola snack, it was really delicious! After the massages, we changed and headed out to sit by the pool. A sudden thirst came over us and we had to order some champagne to wet the old whistles. After some time, Patrice came back to the hotel from her outing with their friends and we met by the pool. It was wonderful to see her and catch up! Then we went into the hotel to have some pre-dinner cocktails and met with Jill, Patrice's sister-in-law and Young, Patrice's friend who lives in Seoul. After drinks, we dined in the hotel restaurant which was upscale Korean cuisine. Our dinner included tofu, green peppers, beef sirloin, chicken, scallops, asparagus and mushrooms. It was all very good and I'm sure that my bran flakes and yogurt will just not taste as delicious anymore.

After dinner, Meredith T. and I headed back to our apartment building and called it a night. We're getting old! What early-twenty year old girls head in for the night on a Friday at ten or eleven!?! We had to do so because Patrice invited us to use the gym and pool at the Hyatt on Saturday while they were out seeing more of the city. We got an early start and had to stop by 7-11 to load up on pool necessities (see photo: bottles of water, etc.). Saturday was a full day of fun in the sun and European men thinking they were still 21 and prancing around in speedos and gold necklaces with their white chest hair fluttering freely in the Seoul sun.

After a beautiful and relaxing weekend, it's back to a five day work week (ahhh!) and of course with my favorite student, Huey. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I will post soon, promise :)