Watch for VERDE SPA

Been under a lot of stress and pressure lately, what with all the work backlogging because of the typhoons, with all the (tiring but fun) relief operations, and with both my reports for Grad School falling on the same week.

I finally finished my oral report on "Philippine-American Relations" and its 10-page written counterpart yesterday, for Foreign Policy Class. After the 2&1/2 hour ordeal (an hour report, the rest was defense/discussion), I told myself I needed a massage (I hadn't had one for weeks, anyway). I didn't get it last night though, because I was too tired, so I got one tonight.

I had originally considered SPADA, where I had gone the past few times, but I remembered one of the attendants there saying that there would be a new spa opening next door. When I asked her then why she was telling me this, she said she had been recruited by the said place and it would be bigger than SPADA. Remembering her advice, I decided to see if it was already open.

As I turned right going towards Adventist Hospital from Taft, I spotted it. It is literally next door to SPADA on the same building, as she said. This new place is called VERDE SPA, and it has just begun to operate. When I entered the place, I could already see that the place was bigger than the other. The counter and couch areas did not feel too cramped, and there was even space for a wash area behind the counter.

VERDE has a designated locker room area, I believe one for males and one for females, while SPADA lets their guests change in the bedroom (something I found not too spa-like). VERDE also supplies towels and "massage clothes" (i.e. robe and shorts) with slippers, while SPADA only has robes and slippers.

Intrigued by the melon scrub that the counter attendant told me they had, I requested for a body wash prior to my massage. I also wanted to compare this area to that of the other spa. As of now, this area is still a bit empty,having no matting for the concrete floor. The scrub/wash bed is a big block of concrete lined with a cushion-layer for comfort. I'd have to say that SPADA's scrub bed is still more comfortable than this, as that was a real massage bed designated for wash, but VERDE's bed provides better neck comfort as they have the facehole in the concrete bed (SPADA's bed did not). Also, I noticed that VERDE's scrub/wash room was a bit dark,but I was told that there were lights for the area, they just havent been switched on (normally done by request).

As I finished my body wash, I went up to the massage area. On the way, I spotted a little wooden sauna room, though this was not yet operational. Immediately, I thought this is going to make a huge difference with SPADA. Another this I noticed was more showers and bathrooms (SPADA has one communal little, err, people's room). When I got upstairs, I could see the size difference again with SPADA as VERDE's upstairs space looked like a large hallway with 9 bed areas. I'm not exactly sure about SPADA's upstairs because I haven't counted, or gone beyond their wash area (which is upstairs), but it still looked very much cramped compared to VERDE's area).

One vital improvement I noticed with VERDE compared to SPADA was that the beds were elevated. This "feature" makes it easier for the masseur/masseuse to focus on the massage, as the client is much closer to the hands and arms of the masseur/masseuse without the latter having to bend down or kneel. The beds of VERDE also have the faceholes on them, which are very vital to the customer's relaxation and breathing.

After my massage, I got to talk to VICTOR, the proprietor of the place, as he was manning the counter. Apparently (for those who want to try), they are having their GRAND OPENING on Saturday, Oct. 17, where their services are 50% off! When asked what other differences VERDE had from SPADA, he answered that VERDE has a Sauna Room (which I had already spotted) and a mini coffeeshop, where customers could order some snacks and drinks while waiting for their massage or waiting to go home.

So, here's a new place to go to : VERDE SPA, located on the same building as SPADA. Their price is the same, but the place is bigger, and soon to look better.

Manila Ocean Park

This was my second time to go to Manila Ocean Park since the place opened its doors to the public. Last time, though, I wasn't able to bring any camera except my phone, which couldn't take decent photos. Last time I went, I was with Maiks, but this time I went for a family bonding time with my dad and my brother. We had a good lunch at Barrio Fiesta along UN Avenue before heading off to the Quirino Grandstand Area. This was to be a day for something different for us. A day where we would break the monotonic routine of our weekend outings. To keep this post from stretching too much space, i've decided to put the bulk of my photos in my facebook page, but I'll post a few here because, in my opinion, these fish stood out from the rest. This is the RAZORFISH. It isn't sharp like Gilette's tools (or at least I don't think it is), but it has a unique way of swimming. Its body orientation is similar to a normal fish, but it seemsto hover in the water vertically, with its head closer to the ground, er..seabed. Though I have not heard any mooing from it, this is the COWFISH. Horny little bugger. Well, it has horns, so...yeah. Also, if you look at it closely, it looks like a box. So square. This little fishy is fishy indeed. It looks like seaweed, but it's actually a type of EEL. I forgot what it's called but in any case this kind of reminds me of those mutated weeds from The Little Mermaid care of Evil Seawitch Ursula. I wanted to show you the FLASHLIGHT FISH but it was too dark to take a photo without flash (Flash Photography is prohibited, but of course, this rule was ignored by 95% of the visitors)

The Fish Spa

This time around, I wanted to try out the famous Fish Foot Spa. There has been talk about it being tickly or unhygienic or whatnot. But seeing as this was still there, and that they call the fish the DOCTOR FISH, I decided to try it out.
For just PHP120, you get twenty minutes with the fish. Now, ask yourself, have you ever been tickled by someone stroking their finger up and down the sole of your foot? or by the slow smooth scratch of a fingernail? Imagine a hundred of them all together, hitting the bullseye-nerve that sets all the laugh in your body free. Imagine TWENTY MINUTES of that. Haha. Well after about 5 minutes, you get used to them, and you just laugh about how cute they look nibbling away at your lower limbs. You get a free souvenir when you're done --- The plain white towel you use to wipe your feet. But believe me, you get the same feeling of cleanliness and foot rejuvenation that you get after a regular foot spa...at less cost!

Sunset

As if to cap off the lovely afternoon, we were entertained by the lovely sunset like an usher at the end of a lovely movie. Though most of my sunsets shots will be posted in my Facebook, I want to share a few of the prize ones in this blogpost. Enjoy.