dogster

Well, that was really, really fun. You must go on more of these jaunts - the unplanned journey is one of my specialities too. Without exception the best adventures happen when I haven't the faintest idea where I am.

I'll think of you in the amazing Shanghai Mansions. I've stayed there lots - but it was 'Shanghai Inn' then. Obviously it's become grand.

Thanks again. Great stuff. Great style. Great writing. Do more.

offwego

Andy, in Siem Reap a mouse is MUCH easier to find than a fresh pack of M&Ms. I count 5 or 6 on any given day.

And yes, Mr. Dog, I do believe the Shanghai has matured nicely under the tutelage of the ladyboys running the front desk.

That's it for now; photos to follow.

Thanks for coming along.

rhkkmk

here is the plan....dogster goes to SR and meets up with lori....they decide on an unplanned holiday to some god forsaken place and they do a daily blog which keeps us all entertained for months...

dogster comes home with a crew cut, lori's mother is happy, and lori returns with dogster tales to delight us all...sounds like a plan..

Kathie

I loved following along with your trip. Lori and I look forward to the next adventure!

JohnH

This is one of the most memorable things I've read on here in a long time! You brought me right back to Borobudor and Yogjakarta. Thank you Lori, and best of luck in Siem Reap.

moremiles

I promise to bring back Costco size M & M's if I come back to SR. Funny report!

simpsonc510

Great report, Lori!! I found myself with some spare time here in my office, and this was the perfect way to spend it!

Thanks so much for sharing your adventures. "Seat of the pants" travel is what my DH and I often do, but we do it in Europe, so it's not quite the same... One of these days, we'll have to venture out to parts unknown (to us) in S.E.Asia!

A really great read. Thanks!

Carol

offwego

One addendum

While wasting time before going to the airport, walking around chinatown, I decided to have my face threaded. It took two hours, cost 100 baht and I can't tell you how smooth and soft my face is!

It's called mang ming or maybe ming mang. Or ding dang; something like that. If you go, look for the oldest woman you can find. I think experience working the threads means they get pulled, not broken off.

She tut tutted me a lot. My skin must have looked bad. Or hairy. Or something. Afterward she tried to sell me some skin whitening cream. Hello. I'm working on my tan.

Off I go to Siem Reap with my super soft face. Highly recommended.

thursdaysd

Interesting addendum, lori! I get my hair hennaed at a salon run by a Pakistani woman (in our local Little India - or Little South Asia) and a lot of people seem to go there to get threaded. It hadn't occurred to me to try it, but after your post maybe I will.

offwego

thurs I can't recommend it highly enough. They first put this white paste on you that smelled faintly of tea tree oil (some sort of antiseptic). I found it strangely relaxing and the process is truly an art form.

I was surprised how many men were there getting it done. They said it keeps them from having to shave for a few weeks.

I have spent hundreds of dollars on facials and never had my skin this transformed. I'm going to have to find someone here locally that can do it. I'm hooked.

simpsonc510

offwego
Was the face threading done in BKK? I'll be there for two weeks in April, so may have to try it! I don't do facials as they leave my skin very red and irritated. Do you think face threading would also do this? What exactly do they do? You've really got me curious now.
Carol

thursdaysd

"They first put this white paste on you that smelled faintly of tea tree oil (some sort of antiseptic)." - not in the salon I go to, they don't! They just do the threading - mostly on eyebrows, I think, although also chins.

offwego

Hi Carol

Yes I had it done in Bangkok, in Chinatown. There was a line of ladies about 1/2 block long doing it in stalls. Just ask around. In fact there may be some practitioners at more upscale places, (you know, like a proper spa)

If it's the chemicals in facial products that makes you irritated, then maybe threading would be a good alternative. It says in this article however, that people with sensitive skin might have a problem.
http://www.newsgd.com/culture/special/200305140001.htm

I had no ill effects and my skin is fairly sensitive.

If you're concerned, maybe you could just have them do your eyebrows and see how it goes...

Thursday I wonder if the asian and eastern practitioners do it differently....she did focus on my upper lip and eyebrows, but then ran it across my whole face, removing that little bit of down on the forehead, etc. The action of the threads caused a huge increase in circulation in my face which has to be good.

offwego

here's a better article:
http://www.shobhathreading.com/mysho...threading.html

dogster

Hmmmm - threading.

Now there's an idea. I'm not quite sure what it is, but I want it. I'm in BKK in 5 days...

'Where you going tonight, Mista...? say the lady-boys on the corner.

'I'm off to be threaded.'

That should shut them up.

offwego

Anyone who can get their ears done can do the threading....and actually, the ladyboys are going to know where the best practitioners are I'm sure.

Bella_Bluebell

great report lori - happy travels back to SR! the massage story had me in fits

offwego

Hi Lucy

I've been following your report as well. I'm so sorry we missed each other in BKK; would have been fun to catch up.

Please try to keep everyone well the rest of your trip!

offwego

photos of the thaipusam procession in Singapore

http://tinyurl.com/thaipusam

Kristina

OMG. They certainly like their citrus, don't they?