The owner of “The Manor”, a large real estate development in Daxing (close to the offices of Tom.com, near the BDA Zone) is a good friend and invited us over on 7 January for a private lunch at his Clubhouse (now also his office). The compound is huge and counts many facilities such as swimming pool, health club. etc. Many of the apartments are already decorated in various styles, Spanish, Italian, American and who knows what. Always an interesting visit. Valerie had to try out the see-through shower in one of the super master suites. In another real “special” apartment “for bachelor” I could not stop myself commenting that it would be ideal for parties with lots of girls. Looked a bit like a space ship – and with varied open and comfortable spaces to get romantic and close to the other sex. Choice of tatamis and other.

However the surprise was not only the blue sky… we were welcomed by the mounted security guards. They seem to take it very seriously and are closely watched by staff who clean up when the horses do the stuff they often do. “So, what’s your job at the Manor?” “I am a horse poop collector”.

My trip to the USA was great – a post only about it is due for later.
Oh well, so many things are due. New Year resolutions? Maybe I made some in my post “December: a time to look back at 2006”. Not so sure about them actually.
But 13 hours time difference, a 26 hours trip back from Chantilly-VA, too much food & booze, an extra 2.5 Kg body weight and a mountain of newspapers, mail and e-mails (sorry if I did not reply to YOU yet), files spread all over my office, lists of “TO DO” and stuff to put well are not exactly conveying a feeling of inner well-being. I guess you might know what I mean if you are right now getting back to work.
I stare out of my window in the early morning, right into the darkness with some patches of white snow. I start the year simply feeling I don’t know much about China. Call it a mid-life China crisis. I was reading the latest China Economic review and it added to my feelings of ignorance (the magazine is too damned good). People ask me to give seminars, lectures, write articles. I face writer’s block. I reckon I should slow down, continue to improve my Chinese (hey! at least I started doing it!), become as much as possible “unavailable” and deeply inhale China. OK, that’s a stupid expression, now that Beijing is officially the worst polluted city in Asia with an index of 142 – according to a study of the Asian Development Bank. Beijing politicians must not be too happy with that news but neither am I. The WHO recommended limit is 20. Even Bangkok (40.6) fares better (and is such a fun place, oh boy). If you think your city is bad, relax: New York (27), London (24), Paris (22). I tried to buy some new face masks but the store was out of stock. I wonder why.
Today I went to the Powerhouse Gym. I measured temperature and humidity: 25C and under 30%, thanks to the aircon blasting furnace heath on us. Saving energy is not for this decade I guess. So I limited myself to a slow 4K run to avoid ending up with a sore throat. The first run since 2 weeks. Gosh, January feels really hard.

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.