Election Day in Koooorea

Tuesday was election day in Korea. They voted for individuals at various levels of government and we all got the day off. Pretty, pretty awesome. Beautiful girl called me up and informed me that she'd found The Foot Shop, a massage place in Beomgye that specializes in feet, but also has a sports massage: exactly what I'd been looking for.

As soon as we met in the afternoon, she mentioned we had to pick up a discount card from her dentist friend. It meant the price was to be reduced by about $10 from a measly $40 (for a one-hour rub down! I love this place sometimes). While we were there, she asked, did I want him to give me a complimentary check up? Strange as this would have seemed to me eleven months ago, I have grown to accept that Koreans just give what they have. It's one of the cultural attributes I will genuinely miss about Asia.

To make a long story short, the dentist not only examined me, but took a picture (not an x-ray...is this new Asian technology?), and filled the cavity on the side of my tooth that had been causing me some sensitivity. For free. Naturally, he told me that a service like this costs about $70, probably because he wanted me to know the value of what he was giving away. The best part?

"If you have any other pain or problems, or just want a teeth cleaning before you go home, please come by whenever you want."

Nice-uh.

Next, we wandered over to the massage parlour where we were led into a room containing three beds. Strange-uh. Unfortunately, a sports massage in Korea (as opposed to an aromatherapy one) has the client fully dressed in Korean style pajamas the whole time. The rug burn all over my back hurt almost as much as when he annailiated my disgustingly sore leg.

Nevertheless, when all was said and done, my leg felt much better. I could walk straight again.

Out in the main waiting area of this teeny place, there was a bench located atop a platform. Sitting on the bench, we plunged our feet into the little pools made pretty much for soaking one's feet before a foot massage. It was pretty nice. There were doctor fish there too...these little minnow-shaped guys who nibble at the dead skin on our feet. Well, on HER feet. I'm not a huge fan of fish (as you may recall from my nightmarish snorkeling incident in Thailand), so I didn't partake in the plunge.

Don't you adore the leopard print on the wall behind me?

I adore, even more, the fine specimen of a man my massage therapist was. When he walked in the room, both Beautiful Girl and I were giggling like school girls. Too bad he hurt me so. Within one hour, I had offered him a marriage proposal and then totally renounced our relationship. It was pretty painful. But my, what a nice looking fella, non? If you like that arms-the-size-of-thighs sort of thing.

To top it all off, Beautiful Girl paid for the whole thing. It was a pretty good day :)

Oh, today I had to call in sick because I couldn't walk.
Time to see a real doctor.