Sun had a nose operation just the day before to hopefully get rid of her chronic sinus problem but we could hardly refuse Clarisse’s invitation to their party at the Grand Hyatt (Oriental Plaza) on Saturday 16 December. Sun showed all her courage and determination, took loads of medicine and we ended up both happy to join the party for the DLA staff, family and friends who all had much fun in the stylish setting – performing on stage and making the kids happy with Santa Claus (and the gifts). Good example on how to motivate Chinese staff and make them feel part of the company.

The dessert was exceptionally nice and a real threat (my benchmark for desserts is set very high…). The staff had some stylish girls too (and were too late in avoiding my camera).

We found some old friends back and made new ones.

Interesting to watch week by week how the ads for massage in English magazines (some printed by the Beijing Municipality) start “explaining” better the different variations in their menu. Some of the ads also refer to websites, obviously being a serious researcher I have to check it all out. Most sites come in Japanese, Chinese and some English. The real interesting juicy (?) details are not explained. Some of the available treatments like Japanese massage (see pic) are certainly for the brave. The royal treatment by two girls look all very serious but I am so curious to know what really happens. And how.

Some also have message boards. On one an angry customer wrote “Stay away from this place! The girls pictured here don’t work here! They are pics from actresses!”. Well, we guessed that already anyway.
Updated choices for the consumer as from recent ads, in Beijing only as Shanghai is remaining more discreet:
– prostate care & ED adjustment massage (hoho! adjustment!)
– royal massage by two people
– two person Swedish oil massage
– prostate maintenance (or care) (not new but now more featured – not in Shanghai however)
– imperial massage or masseuse royal massage
Prices: around 300 to 500 RMB for something like 60 or 90 minutes, just to give an idea.
In one of the larger spas (“Your Poetry Paradise”…) I got hold of the two pages of health treatments. Anything is possible: if you have problems related to: neck, shoulder, waist, leg, headache, insomnia, stomach & intestines function disorder, special care of prostate, Galactophore hyperplasia (??? have to Google that!), menses pain, climacteric syndrome (climate problem or hard to climax?), diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood fat, obesity syndrome, costipation (sic – I think what this means AND I think I know what they do – *), computer syndrome (that must be for me?) – NO PROBLEM. Massage at hand! Also available for: kidney, spleen, lung, liver and hart. And of course all the variations of foot massage.
*: must be what they call somewhere else in the menu “Intestine Hydropathy”: “Quickly cure constipation, piles, clear out the toxin accumulated in body, improve whelk, freckle, halitosis, intestine discomfortable, constringe belly and lose weight.” If you ask me, sounds scary.
And if all the above did not help, there is still “Adjust Subhealthy State” at 400 RMB for 60 min.
You see, all is possible in Beijing. Not to wonder that tours to those establishments are now available in the tourist circuit. Or for special pals who need guidance.
Oh, sorry! A couple of years ago Beijing ruled massage could only be given by the same sex. So, guys, no girls. No worry, no panic. I think they lost the regulation somewhere and everybody forgot all about it.