Ying Kou...should we go?

A week before our Ying Kou trip, that was my question everyday.  Should we go to Ying Kou?  For some reason, I was really apprehensive about this trip.  Maybe it was because of past experiences.  Or because I couldn't find one person who knew anything about this place.  I talked to people who have been to the beaches and to the town, but not the Hot Springs Resort.  I mean, yeah, just the name sounds awesome... but that doesn't always mean awesomeness is awaiting.  I've also heard Hot Springs stories... of dead skin floating everywhere, and naked bodies in the pools, and well... enough said.

So... I was a little apprehensive.  And cautious.  And unsure.

But, we went!  I really wanted to spend time with Linda and Joy, and though Linda didn't know much about it, she was confident in her source who suggested this place, so I decided to go with it.  And I'm so glad that we did!  It was such an inexpensive, fun trip!  

A picture's worth 1,000 words, so I'll let the pictures tell the rest!

Linda on the train ride there

Me and the Girls on the train

First view of the hotel.  Linda's first words,
"So far, so good!"
She's so cute. :)

The view from our window...haha

Our comfy beds!

Super cute bathtub!

The bathroom was bigger than my kitchen!

A separate shower!

And a separate toilet!  Without a shower head over it...
often a luxury in China. :)

The "colder" pool for swimming laps

Linda in the pool with the fish that eat dead skin...

Me and Linda
I'm trying really hard to pretend I'm not freaked out by the little fish swarmed around me!

Emily taking my place because I couldn't handle it for more than 5 minutes!

Loved this shower thing!

Water slides and warm water!!  Perfect combination.
Plus, a hot tub for Mom to relax in right beside it!

They had so much fun!

There were several hot tubs set at different temps.

Linda in the "massage chairs"...in the water.  Loved these!

Another shower sprayer thingy...  sounds like the perfect name to me.

It's been a year since I had seen palm trees!  Loved these. :)

These arc-shaped "stalls" had really strong bubble jets that
massaged your back and neck.  This was by far my favorite!
*Check out the guy with the circles all over his back.  Reminds
me of the time my acupuncture appointment turned into a cupping appointment...
Ouch!

Emily and Joy in their cute resting outfits...
ready for a FREE snack!

The snack lounge

Free lounge chairs and TV!
I got a foot massage and watched the news in ENGLISH!

Emily just woke up... can you tell?

Hot Springs OUTSIDE... in FEBRUARY!

Just an ice river next to the Hot Springs...
it's not THAT cold! ;)

Emily and Linda

Joy and Emily in the "cold pool" outside... crazy girls!

Coffee bags in the hot tub... supposed to be good for your joints.

Emily is swimming under the water like a little fish for the first time!
She's so proud of herself. ;)

In a Korean style sauna to warm up!

Another super cute sauna.  There were sooo many!

Cute girl, cute chairs, cute wall!

Time to eat!

Baby birds anyone?

How about turtle soup?

Or rabbit?

Reminded me of a mix between the Botanical Gardens and Rainforest Cafe!

We had our own private room, private  bathroom, and private waitress!
The girls are entertaining our waitress by dancing Gangnam Style...
when all else fails, right!?

Breakfast in the hotel the next morning.  Loved the fancy booths!

View from the bottom of the hotel.

Imitating the statue. :)

Ying Kou... you should go!!

puppy party

 This post is a couple of weeks overdue, but this party was too cute not to post about!

     Emily went to a birthday party that was "puppy" themed.

Emily adopted a puppy!

Each kid got to choose a stuffed puppy and "adopt" it.  Then they filled out the puppy's birth certificate and signed away that they would be good caretakers.  They took their puppies to the salon to get all "dolled up", then off to the Animal Clinic they went.

Emily with her puppy at the "clinic"

Going for a "check-up"

They wore puppy ears and had their faces painted as puppies.  They even had cupcakes shaped like paw prints and the handmade invitations were adorable little puppies, too!

Walking their dogs...

I don't have pictures of all of it, but these pictures will give you a pretty clear picture and maybe inspiration for your next birthday party!

Proud Puppy Owners!

when strawberry is tomato and chocolate is red bean...

Emily has developed this just awfully, horrid look of disgust when it comes to tasting foods that don't taste like what she expects.  Or just simply looking at an unknown food brings out her "there's no hiding it, my kid is just plain rude" face.  Nope, my kid is not the one who moved overseas and has learned to eat new foods, becomes less picky, or at least "tries it because she might like it".  Nope, not even a simple "thank you" or "no, thank you" will suffice.  Lately, it's been an over dramatic shiver, an outburst of "bleck", "yuck", or "eww", and just plain rudeness.  My sweet Emily has developed this natural reaction that often embarrasses this mother who has spent the past 6 years instilling "thank you" or "no, thank you" into this child.

I mean, come on... who can really be upset when that strawberry fruit roll-up is actually tomato...  tomato is a fruit after all.

Tomato, tomotto...or strawberry would be nice... :)

And red bean isn't all that bad.... unless you're expecting it to be chocolate...  filled inside strawberries... not tomatoes.

Fruit Kabob-My favorite is the strawberry!
Emily and I got really excited when we found strawberry filled with chocolate...but quickly discovered the chocolate was red bean...

Okay, I admit, I want to shiver when I bite into a chocolate, I mean red bean, ice cream bar.  And tomato fruit roll-ups don't quite satisfy.

Red Bean Ice Cream

When I think of moving back to The States, it's funny to think about the simple things I am looking forward to.  Driving a car, throwing my wet laundry into the dryer, taking a long, hot shower, etc.

                                              


I will savor the moments when strawberry is strawberry, chocolate is chocolate, and green tea and seaweed are... mint chocolate chip ice cream. :)

Yum... :p

Until then, we are working on a simple "thank you" or "no, thank you" over here!

 

 



Valentine's... in December!?

When we went back to The States for Christmas, I was seriously shocked to see the Valentine's aisle at Wal-Mart pop up just a few short days after Christmas!  I mean, come on... really?

I was a little appalled to be honest...  and had no desire to walk down that aisle.

But a few days later, I made another Wal-Mart stop.  Different Wal-Mart, different town.  But same Valentine's aisle.  And I began to think ahead.  China makes you do that...  I had a hard time finding anything Valentine'sy for Emily last year...  so, I picked up a few things.

I really don't get it... Valentine's in December...  but I know a little girl who definitely appreciated the hearts in the midst of the snowflakes this morning.

 Our Valentine's tradition in The States has been to go to Build-A-Bear and create a new stuffed friend.  I've missed doing that the past 2 years!  But we made a new tradition today.  Ice Skating!  Emily had her first ice skating lesson... in Chinese!

She's not so sure about this...

A little more comfortable...

Emily and one of her best friends, Megan.

Emily and Megan getting ready to free skate after their lessons.

All on her own, woohoo!

Best friends!!  This will be a tough goodbye... :(

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Chun Jie Kuai Le!

Try pronouncing it this way:  (Choon Jia Kwye Luh)

It means... Happy Chinese New Year!

This picture doesn't do this event justice... not at all.  But it's the best I've gotten so far!

And man, I sit here, 5 days after it's started, and this is the biggest celebration I've heard so far!  Fireworks... sun up to sun down.  Non stop.  Right outside my window.  Yep, there goes one now!  No restrictions really.  Throw firecrackers out your window if you want.  I'm not really sure I can paint a picture for you.  Indescribable.  Loud.  Insanely absurd.   But oh so exciting!  Especially when I see Emily's eyes light up the way they do.  She keeps it exciting.  Not sure how.on.earth. she is sleeping through this right now.

Chinese New Year aftermath...
yes, you guessed it, firecracker debris!

I don't like that they sound like gun shots though.  I've had a couple of mini heart-attacks while walking...  definitely not a dull moment during this break!

We started the holiday by going to the Holiday Inn with friends and watching the kick off to the celebration from the 14th floor.  We played games, ate junk food, went swimming, and had a great time!

The Girls...

Watching the fireworks!

Chinese New Year dinner at Pizza Hut... all the Chinese restaurants
were closed.

An attempted shot at the fireworks.

Heading over to the Crowne Plaza for a swim.

A dip in the hot tub... my favorite!

This girl is a little fish in the water!

A city of 8 million... and it was Ghost Town
on Chinese New Year!

Splurging on snacks at the Import Store for break!

Beautiful Cherry Blossom and Kumkwait trees...
(at least that's what I think they are!)

It's the year of the Snake.

After braving her fear of fire, Emily has enjoyed playing with sparklers and watching friends set off fireworks!

My sister, Sarah, the burn nurse... would absolutely have a cow if she experienced this first hand.  I have no doubt they could put her to use here.  A hotel burned down a couple of years ago because of Chinese New Year... no big deal.

I've said it before, but 4th of July will never ever be the same.

Chun Jie Kuai Le!