Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Prince Edward Island


This was the first time I had been to a maritime province and, of course, besides seafood, this island's most famous attraction is the Anne of Green Gables house. It was Thanksgiving weekend and the end of tourist season so many stores were closed. The house itself reminded me of one of the houses in Heritage Park in Calgary.
Anne parphernalia was everywhere in PEI - dolls, chocolates, books, movies, fridge magnets. Raspberry cordial and stuffed lobsters sat on every shelf.


It's really quiet here - quite a contrast to NYC as you can imagine. You don't even have to lock your door (in the suburbs of Charlottetown anyway.)






We visited an art gallery with a cafe and loads of sculptures from Bali. Kind of unexpected but a nice place. Also there are a lot of artisanal workshops here. I liked The Great Canadian Soap Co. You can feed oats to the goats in the yard!
















Best of all was the lovely red sand beaches. A really unique landscape. I loved the grass covered sand dunes and searching for moon-snail shells. All the beaches were almost deserted. You can walk for miles at the edge of the Atlantic and take in the fresh air. I wouldn't recommend swimming in October - the water temperature is rather bracing to say the least.

 

Monday, October 3, 2011

Spa Castle

I lived in Korea for six month in 2005 / 2006 and one of my favourite things about living there was the jimjilbang or Korean style spa. I was excited to discover that there is a fantastic jimjilbang in NY.

It's a bit of a trek to get there. You have to take the number 7 train to the very last station - Flushing, Queens and from there you catch a shuttle to the spa.

If you go on a week day it's only $35 to enter. It's $45 on a weekend.



At the check in counter you are given a wristband that you scan to buy things and to open your locker. You put your shoes inside a shoe locker in the women's or men's change room and get your uniform from the check in counter.

As you can see it's a hot look. Everyone is wearing the same outfit in the co-ed sections of the spa. I usually start in the women's section of the spa. This is the tricky part for some people - you have to be naked in the pool area. No swimsuits. Nothing.
Before going in the tubs you have to shower, scrub, and shampoo throughly. They even give you a toothbrush. All the soap, shampoo and toothpaste is provided. You can buy face-masks and lotion if you want.
There are several hot tubs with different temperatures some with jets. There is also a cool pool and a freezing cold plunge pool, steam room, and sauna. You can get a salt scrub from a woman in black bra and panties for an extra $50. I have no idea what goes on in the men's room but I imagine it's more or less the same...



After this I usually go upstairs to the snack area. There is a Korean restaurant on the top floor where you can get your bibimbap on or you can go with the traditional hard boiled egg snack (delicious!)
























After I digest my lunch I try out the different kiln saunas. Each sauna has a different health benefit. Inside you can sit or lay on straw mats and take the heat.

After that I go up to the roof top pool area where there are two large pools with jets and a wooden Japanese style hot tub.



There are other services here that I haven't used, There is a gym, a day spa with massages and manicures, a hand and foot only massage and a relaxation room with loungers and a personal tv at each.

It's really easy to while away a day here. I always come out feeling great and completely rested. The only downside is the journey home afterwards.


www.nyspacastle.com