Spa World (Korean Bath House)

This past Thursday I checked out this place called Spa World. Apparently the DC metro area has the 3rd largest Korean population in the U.S., and a popular thing to do in Korea is to go these "bath houses". I've been to something similar in Japan - public bath houses where everyone gets naked (no swimsuits allowed) to wash up and soak in very hot tubs. The similarity ends there tho. The Koreans seem to focus more on saunas and spa treatments. I've heard that their body scrubs take off every dead skin cell off of ya. I didn't go for it this time around, but it's something I'd like to try at some point. In Spa World, you enter sex segrated changing areas and washing areas where you can enjoy several different types of tubs (cold, warm, hot, very hot), as well as dry and wet saunas. There is also a coed section where you can go in wearing uniforms (shirt & shorts) provided to you. Here you can lounge around watching Korean TV and enjoy a snack bar and a little restaurant. There are also like 7 different sauna rooms with different healing properties. Or so they say. I particularly liked the one with red clay balls that you could lie on. Felt really good for the back. Otherwise, most of the saunas all pretty much feel the same (hot), but with different decors. I think I half expected something more along the lines of Tokyo's Oedo Onsen Monogatari, where you get many types of good restaurants, shops, shows, in a traditional village like atmosphere in addition to the baths. Spa World isn't as touristy tho, so I wouldn't say it is as fun, but instead it focuses more on the actual services I think. Definitely worth checking out for a unique experience. Just make sure you're prepared to strut your stuff in front of strangers. I've grown up accustomed to such Asian cultures, but might be a bit uncomfortable for those who are not.

An Annapolis Wedding

I went to a wedding on Saturday, which for me was a big deal because I didn't care for the institution of marriage or weddings. I've met too many guys in recent years that were being unfaithful to their wives and also heard so many horrific divorce stories. It would take someone really really special to get me to marry. Even then, I have no plans to hold any kind of "dream" wedding. I really don't understand why people spend their life savings or go into debt to do one. I suppose everyone have their priorities in life. Mine of course is in travel units so I think, "Well, if I don't spend that $10k on a wedding, I can go on a really sweet honeymoon." Or, "For $20k, I can spend a year backpacking around S. America!" Yeah, ok, it doesn't mean I shouldn't go to other people's weddings, but you gotta admit, it can be a hassle, and even costly. In this particular case though, the wedding was local so I thought I'd attend one for a change. Plus, it was a military wedding and they are cool. In the end, I was really glad I went because I had a great time.

The wedding was that of my friend, Mo, whom I knew from NAPS (yikes - so many years ago!). The ceremony was held at the Naval Academy Chapel so I got there a bit early so I could show my boyfriend around campus. It was fun going through the visitors center and seeing the exhibit on the Academy and Midshipmen. It reminded me of the similar thing I went through at the Coast Guard Academy. The wedding itself was very Christian, but very nice. The military escorts and ushers, and the sword arch that the couple goes under as they leave the chapel add a unique touch to the event. The best part of it all was Mo's happy smiley face as he walked down that aisle with Celine at the end of the ceremony. Put a big smile on my face, too. Perhaps sharing your special occasion with family & friends is not such a bad thing after all.

Mo & Celine held their reception at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Crofton, MD. It was very nicely done without being extravagant in any way or sacrificing class. A very reasonable arrangement in my opinion. The speech that the best man and maid of honor gave were very nice I thought - they were funny and touching. The food was good and the cake cutting with the sword was pretty cool. Also got to catch up with another NAPS friend, which was a bonus. The music selection for dancing could've been a bit better, but I still had a blast. My boyfriend, Brad, pulled out his crazy moves and I thought to myself... "Yep, worthy of being the Dancing Nomad's partner in crime."

Legwarmers Concert - Reliving the 80's!

Funny how things work sometime. There's this girl I went to school with in the 6th grade who found me on Facebook. So I was flipping through her pictures from the 80's and saw a name I recognized along with a face that looked familiar. I gave the guy a shout asking if he was related to a certain someone I knew, and lo 'n' behold, he was the brother of a guy who taught karate when I was in high school. We had a good streak of chat in which the topic of 80's came up & he mentioned the Legwarmers. I had never heard of the Legwarmers before this but apparently it's a pretty popular concert to go see around here. It sounded like a lot of fun so I started asking people if they wanted to go. Turns out a lot of people have already been and said it was a great time.

To be honest, I was not big into the 80's when it was the 80's. For whatever reason, I tend to be behind on all the latest fads. (I think I lived in a box as a kid.) It was only after I'd gone on to college that I started listening to 80's music. A friend of mine is all over the 80's thing tho, so once she was on board to go, I had my tickets. I managed to round up several other people to go also, and it turned out to be a really great time - as expected :)

Entertainment began as soon as we walked into the theatre. Everywhere everyone was dressed like the 80's. It was quite fun to see people dressed up in headbands, pony tails, tennis player outfits, leotards, as Michael Jackson, George Micheal, Guns 'N' Roses, etc. I almost felt out of place not dressed to the decade. Clearly, dressing up is the thing to do & I wished I had. Oh well. Next time. The fun turned up a notch with the band's opening song - Eye of the Tiger. One of my favorites :) From 9:30 to 1 am, the band belted out hit after hit from the 80's - Livin' on a Prayer, Like a Virgin, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Total Eclipse of the Heart, Glory Days, Summer of 69, Karma Chameleon, Sweet Child 'O Mine, Jack and Diane, 99 Luftballoons, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, It's the End of the World, Jesse's Girl, We Built This City on Rock & Roll, Jenny (867-5309), Hey Mickey, and more. Closers (encore) were Fight For Your Right and Pour Some Sugar on Me. Particularly fitting for me since these were songs I actually listened to in the 80's and not of the many I came to enjoy after the fact.

A whole evening of entertainment for $17. You can't beat it really. Definitely a must do if you've lived in the 80's or like 80's songs. Just be prepared for the massive crowds.