Over 2 million, and still that small-town feel!
 From Baotou | Jan 9, 2006 09:01

Baotou
 From Baotou | Oct 9, 2005 00:10

Beware the massage parlour! | Baotou | Jan 9, 2006 09:38
Ok, normally I'm pretty astute when it comes to sniffing out tourist traps, but I just got suckered tonight. A new spa/massage place just opened in Baotou, so my 2 friends and I decided Friday night was as good a time as any to try it out, right? So we went inside and had our interpreter on the phone just in case we had any difficulties. We did have to use her to iron out the details. We arrived at this price: Full-Body Chinese Massage, 50 Yuan for 45 minutes-1 hour. It was a bit pricey, but it's a new place, and everything is sparkling new and beautiful, so we decided to do it.
They took us 3 girls up to a room with 3 beds, we changed into the "pajamas" that they gave us, and awaited the masseuse. The massage was teriffic. After it was done, we changed again and went downstairs to pay. They told us it would be an extra 60 yuan each for the use of the massage room!!!!! What?? That was completely ridiculous, as they never mentioned this at all at the beginning. After a while of talking again, we got them to remove the room use charge, and we paid our money and left!
I don't think this is a normal charge when getting a massage. Of course you must be in a room. You cannot do it in the lobby! Why would they try to make you pay extra for the room??? We will never go there again!!

Baotou | August 16, 2005 - January 16, 2006
I have lived here for 5 months now, and I love it! I'm getting ready to leave Baotou today before the Spring Festival. I get the opportunity to travel back to America for a while, so I can restock supplies!

Things I miss: oregano, nutmeg, cocoa powder, size 10 women's shoes, and velveeta!