Recently a few friends and I decided to venture out to Queens (brownie points for the borough) to try Spa Castle, and it was as ridiculous as it sounds. Run by Koreans, it's 4 floors of heavenly madness.
Bad news first:
-It's a little pricy on the weekend ($45) so I'll skip out of work and try a weekday next time.
-For a $45 entrance fee, you don't get towels, but hey, you can rent basically everything else including old lady bathing suits with skirts. Or buy. Still regretting not getting the $5 Princess Leia bun head towel, such a bargain!
-There are kids running around everywhere. We were so relaxed we didn't care too much except in the saunas where the little monsters kept coming in and out and letting out all my heat.
Good news second:
-It's super relaxing and kind of kitsch, in a good way. You can spend the whole day here without feeling bored, rotating between massages, facials, pools, relaxing rooms, saunas, food and hey, you can even sleep right on the hardwood floor in the "sleep section" next to the cafeteria. SO comfy.
-THE WATCHES! As animals that just stepped out of the jungle we've apparently been deprived of fancy technology. When you check in they give you a watch with a number and don't tell you at all what to do with it, except pay $50 if you lose it. Not only does it get you into your separate shoe and clothing lockers, but it also buys everything you want- food, apparel, massages without really seeing a price or anything in English at all. Perk after getting the massage, no money/tip handling and it makes the whole experience feel less awkward and more free. (Just wait for the sticker shock @ check out time.)
-It's super clean. No footwear of any kind anywhere or you are outta there buddy.
-Pool bar and upstairs bar with lounging couches. 'Nuff said.
Somewhere in between:
-We were not prepared for the cult-like atmosphere due to the uniforms. When you go into your appropriate locker room, you see a bunch of naked women (or men) and then are handed a uniform and a toothbrush (kinda like prison I guess). Ladies in orange tops and pick bottoms like a creamsicle, and gents in blue bottoms and grayish tops. The hellions wear all yellow for easy identification. Amusing and liberating to look crappy like everyone else (o hai communism) but a little unnerving and semi-cultish (this is AMERIKA I will sue for my individuality!!!!!).
-Couples massages are fun, especially when it's with your friend and the massueses think you're together/too dumb to take your shirt on/off yourself. So sometimes they giggle and dress you. Not always bad things. Depending on your definition of "bases," you may feel like you've hit a home run with the way they get on top of you. But damn my back felt good after.
-Facials are also great and leave your skin looking fresh and new. However, don't you DARE get the 30 minute facial or the facialist will ridicule you because only teenagers get that one and tell you your skin is so bad you better come back as soon as possible for the 1 hour serious woman facial. She will also keep reiterating both of those things for that short time of 30 minutes and tell you what clogged pores and how many blackheads you have. How dare you inconvenience her. Then she will sell you $63 facial products and you will leave scared/happy/confused at what just happened.
So, keep a sense of humor about a lot of things, grab some friends/lovers and go out there during the week. (I think there's a shuttle but just make your friend/lover drive you.) I promise it will be some kind of experience.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment