Aug 2008

It was Barbara's Birthday on the 13 July.

Now I'm a great believer in celebrating the opening of an envelope so there was no way Barbara was getting away with no Birthday. Her Birthday turned into a weekend event.

Saturday night we went to the potato restaurant for dinner. A restaurant that we love. Then we wanted to go to a club. Barbara and I tried to tell a taxi driver where we wanted to go to. We saw parts of Tai'an we have never seen. We eventually found the address. But we never did find the club.

We walked the streets and found a bar called the 'Blue Fox'. They had a live band and not many patrons. We had a rendition of 'Hotel California', a drink and came home.

Sunday (Barbara's actual birthday) it was off for the facial and massage. It is a woman's right to have pampering on her birthday. We went to the spa that we always go to for a facial and asked for a facial and massage. They put us into two separate rooms.

I was told to take my clothes of and wash. I couldn't work out where I was to wash as there was no water. Eventually through body language we worked out I was to get undressed, put the bath robe on and follow the therapist to another room where I would shower.

I showered and was then led to what looked like a cupboard. I thought they were going to lock me in a cupboard for the remainder of my life, but no, this was actually a two person sauna. Sauna's are not necessary in China. Every day is a sauna.

So here I am in this Sauna sweating like a pig. The door has a little door inside it to which they keep handing me water. Eventually the big door opens and her is Barbara. She has the same thoughts as me. We sit in the sauna for another ten minutes.

Then we are taken to our rooms where they start the massage and facial. It was a great experience. Barbara thinks it might have been the best she has had here. I'm not so sure.

That night we go to the Ramada for Barbara's Birthday dinner.

Happy Birthday Barbara.