January 18. day 8.

Today was a day to chill out and do what I wanted. Kristine and I walked around and found a cute little sushi bar and had the BEST sushi I've ever had in my life. (We went back the next day because it was so good)

I have to tell a really hilarious story that makes me wonder some things about Chinese society. So, Kristine and I were walking around and decided to get a massage. We went into this place and said we wanted to get a traditional Chinese massage, so they took us into a room and gave Kristine something ridiculous to wear. I started unpacking the same thing that was sitting next to my bed, but the lady came over, shook her head, and handed me a pair of swimming trunks. At this point Kristine and I were looking at each other horrified. I was trying to explain to the woman (through various pointing and gestures since she didn't speak English) that Kristine and I were getting the same massage, but she still insisted that I put on the swimming trunks. Now, I have to speculations as to why this happened. My first thought is that she thought I was a guy. :-P My second, and more serious thought, is that they may have something against larger people. This is my thought on this...

I'm not going to deny that I'm not small, and compared to most of the locals I'm pretty large. So did she automatically assume that I wouldn't fit into what she was giving Kristine? I only say this because I had another experience at Night Market. I was at a booth that sold mandarin dresses and knew that they might be too small on me, but asked the vendor anyway if there was a size that would fit me. He took one look at me and said "no, you can't get one." OK, that kind of stung but whatever. What got me thought was that he proceeded to talk to the other vendor in Cantonese and they kept looking and pointing to me as though I could even THINK that I could fit into one of their dresses. So I have to wonder. Maybe it was just a really awkward misunderstanding with the swimming trunks and is certainly an experience to laugh at, but I still don't know why she was trying to get me to put them on! We ended up not getting the body massage, but rather a foot massage and a head and neck massage. AMAZING!!!