Yesterday was the Muromi
Lantern Festival. This event was cancelled last year due to a typhoon in the
area. I headed out on my bike around 6:15 PM. The sun was setting and there was
a beautiful pink sunset.
It only took me about 15
minutes on my bike to reach the festival. I was surprised at how quickly it got
dark. There were a lot of people who were going to the festival. Had I not of
known where it was I could have just followed the crown heading south.
The view was spectacular. The river was lined
with lanterns in all different designs. There were smaller designs and
then others that were so large it made it almost impossible to capture the
entire design in one photo.
One thing that was a nice surprise was that I
had not used the camera on my iphone since I updated to ios 7. Wow! The update
made my phone camera be able to take better photos of the lanterns that my
Coolpix camera. It even now allows me to take panoramic shots. I was so happy
about this.
I ran into some of the teachers at my school.
Many went together, but I decided just to go and then see if I ran into anyone.
There was a large area where they were selling food and drinks.
It was a nice night and the weather was pleasant
enough. It was still humid out, but each day it getting a little better.
OK, now to tell you the story about my first
facial in Japan. This was an interesting experience. I live across the street
from the Meinohama station. There are many shops and services offered in the
station. I get my massages there as well as get my haircut there. I finally
decided that I would try to get a facial. I made the appointment two weeks ago,
which was an adventure in itself. My appointment was scheduled for 4:00. I
arrived on time and was taken to a little two-seat consultation area.
Obviously, I could not understand Japanese and the woman only knew a little
English. I filled out a few basic areas of information on the form. After that,
she was asking me questions using my itranslate app on my phone. She must have
decided this was too much work because she finally just said, “Oh, never mind.
Let’s start.”
She took me back to the changing room and had me
slip on something in place of my shirt. The reclining chair she had me sit in
is a massage chairs. That was relaxing.
She cleaned my face with some very foamy potion.
Then she put a bunch of some type of cream and gave me a face, neck and upper
back massage. This was incredible. I would go back just for that.
After the massage she cleaned my face again, applied
moisturizer and then said, “OK, you are all done.” Well, it was just about 60
minutes from when I walked in, did the consultation and then had the “mini,
partial facial”.
I had no idea how much the facial would be
because their “menu” had so many different things listed. She gave me the bill
and it was only 2,500 yen. I asked her several times if that was correct because
that is so inexpensive for anything in Japan. She took my money and was showing
me out.
I asked her if I could just call to schedule
another appointment, and she basically made it feel like I couldn’t. I asked
for more clarification and she said that they do not do just one facial. That
normally the sell “courses of 10, 20 or 30” facials. I asked about the 10
courses and she told me that you have to pay up front and that it would be
52,000 yen. That is around $520. That is crazy!!!!
I told her to write it down in Japanese so I
could have a friend explain it to me. I had to do this so it would look like I
was interested, but there is NO WAY that I am paying that all up front. Crazy!!
Now my mission is to see where I can go to have
just one facial every couple of months.
Do you want the funniest part of the story? I am
sure I should not even say because you will probably feel as embarrassed for me
as I was feeling. OK, here goes….
They have a changing area that they keep the
door closed, but you change in one area. I had remembered that my shirt was
inside out when I went to hang it on a hanger. Well, when I went to get dressed
I threw my shirt on quickly because I do not like getting dressed around other
people.
So, I had talked with the lady for a good 10
minutes before heading across the street to go home. Luckily, I walked on the
outside of the shops and not through the building because when I got into the
elevator I realized my shirt was inside out!!! I almost died of laughter. I
thought that she must have thought I was some crazy gaijiin. So, there you have
it. Don’t laugh too hard.
OK, that is all for now. I know I have a lot of
back logging to do since I have not posted anything about my summer or the
beginning of school. I will try to do that in the next couple of weeks.
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