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Spa Life, Giant Pandas, And Movie Night

Ping pong in pajamas

Chinese Spa

Around 1 am Charlie, Jody and I arrived at a 24-hour spa.

We spent the next four hours swimming around in four pools of varying sizes and temperatures, playing ping-pong in the provided pajamas (which gave us the distinct look we were in an insane asylum), and sweating out the toxins in steam and dry saunas.

Charlie models a free Chinese bathing suit

A few funny moments occurred. First, as we put our stuff in lockers, Charlie explained to me how Western-style bathing suits were often mistaken for shorts by the Chinese.

A moment after we walked into the pool area, an exchange occurred in Chinese.

Charlie told me they had asked whether we were going to change into bathing suits which cracked us up.

Secondly, before the sauna, Charlie got a cup of water and after a big gulp immediately spit it out, saying it tasted like pool water.

I tried it as well and thought it was more akin to sweat. Once we were in the dry sauna enough to work up a nice sweat, Jody left and went to get a cup of water.

I motioned to Charlie that she was about to drink the bad water as we watched through the glass, expecting her to spit it out too.

To our surprise, she gulped it down, and even refilled her cup!

When we emerged with quizzical looks, she explained the health benefits of drinking saltwater. I'll stick to lemon-lime Gatorade.

Giant Panda Research Base

Baby pandas chillin'

I had booked a half-day tour to the Giant Panda Research Base through Sim's, and since it left the guest house across town at 8:30 am, I didn't go to sleep after the spa.

The adult pandas were cute while eating their morning bamboo, while the baby pandas playing around were about as adorable as an animal can get.

Nepalese red panda

I paid $7 to hold a Nepalese Red Panda, though he was too busy eating his fruit to look at the camera. It was worth it to feel it's tiny heart beating.

Momma panda gives baby a boost

Movie Night

After being up 27 hours, and catching up on a little sleep during the afternoon, I ordered a Sichuan-style pizza from The Mutts Nutts, a fairly new Western-owned pizza place in the area.

It came with tons of peppers and ham, very good!

Charlie has a lot of movies, concerts, and shows on a server, so I picked out Chungking Express since it was set in Hong Kong.

I really enjoyed it, and only afterward found out how well regarded the 1994 movie is among critics.

Planning a trip? Go Backpacking recommends:

Spa Heater

Thursday 4th of February 2010

Good job Thank for information, I'm looking for it

Spa Heater

Thursday 4th of February 2010

Good job Thank for information, I'm looking for it

spa control systems

Tuesday 2nd of February 2010

Wow that's a pretty amazing spa Ive ever seen, because do you a have a panda,

Phil

Monday 31st of March 2008

Sweet blue spacesuit did you get to keep that :p

Dave

Friday 11th of April 2008

Negative ghostrider, we tried to snag the pajamas but it was a no-go.

Phil

Tuesday 1st of April 2008

Sweet blue spacesuit did you get to keep that :p

Dave

Saturday 12th of April 2008

Negative ghostrider, we tried to snag the pajamas but it was a no-go.

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