Shisha Bar

Boy did I pay for that massage on Saturday morning. I woke up completely stiff and sore on Saturday morning which was completely easy to predict when I think back on what she actually did to me. I was able to run most of the pain out that night but I spoke to Bruno - one of the exchange students who went to the massage parlour quite frequently when he was in China - and he said that it finally starts to feel good after the third time you go. "You'll actually be able to relax and really enjoy it by then." I will continue to go for as long as it takes because the price is right and the technique is unmatched.

To unwind after a full day of class on Saturday a group of us met up at Ximen station to have a few drinks. The boys were actually the ones who discovered this part of town and after they discovered that it's the gay district in the city they called us girls over to keep them company. (If you pronounce the station name "Ximen" properly in Chinese, it makes you wonder why the guys didn't realize what they were getting into a bit sooner).

Luckily they happened to stumble across a really funky (straight) hookah bar on the second floor of a belly dancing club. The atmosphere was really chilled out with big comfy couches, dark lighting, disco balls, and ornate paper stars hanging from the ceiling.


When we arrived they had already ordered an apple flavoured hookah. We all ordered a cocktail or beer and then started passed the hookah around the circle. I haven't smoked one of these since the bars in Switzerland where they were everywhere.


It was actually so bad - in Switzerland they would have these at dance clubs and everyone would be falling all over the place, drunken stumbling and knock the hookahs over. They aren't easy to clean up because the bottom glass shatters and the ash falls everywhere and burns clothes and the floor. The atmosphere at this place was a lot more suitable for this kind of activity.


You can see the windows just behind Michael and Kaja - there was a cute little balcony that looked out onto a cobblestone alleyway that was busy with people shopping and restaurant hopping. It was a very cool area.


Pim, Leslie and Rob - Rob is also from Ivey, although funnily enough we had never met until we arrived here in Taiwan. Rob has been studying Mandarin for five years now and is quite good. I'm jealous.


Notice Felix's green pants? I am trying to get everyone together to celebrate St. Patty's Day here is Taipei which we all know is a major holiday for university students back in Canada but for some reason they do not celebrate it in Europe or Asia. I am trying to promote the green beer and pancake breakfast, and Felix's pants would make the perfect outfit, but we'll see. No one seems too excited yet.


For those who have never tried a hookah, the smoke isn't very strong and it tastes good because of the flavouring. It doesn't really have any effects, but it relaxes you for a few seconds after smoking.


At around midnight we decided to head home as some of us had a full day of Confucianism and Leadership class the next day.