After a slow morning without electricity, I walked home for lunch and my mom sprung some hot spring tickets on us. Dad was just lamenting last night on how long it'd since we last went, and coincidentally my mom's office hands out some tickets. I'd been looking forward to cuddling up in bed with the new season of revenge (Jack seriously are you insane) and was reluctant to go, but they convinced me. Honestly they didn't have to do that much persuading... So nice. And only 5 minutes away from our house! Chongqing (where we live) is known for hotpot and hot springs. If you think about it it makes sense...hotpot is for food, hot springs are for people...it's better not to think about it too much. Traditionally people go in cool weather, to take full advantage of the steaming hot, therapeutic, mineral-rich water. Hot springs are reputed to cleanse, rejuvenate, and dissolve stress. The last one we went to was about 50 minutes away in the south of the city in a park location, so I was surprised to find a newly-opened one (Ronghui hot springs at Radisson Blu) so close to home. Obviously the entrance wasn't as grand but the environment inside was clean, tranquil, and serene. There were both indoor and outdoor springs. The indoor one was huge, with massage chairs and showers. The outdoor pools ranged in temperatures from 36-43C and different water "flavors" including lavender, milk, coffee, eucalyptus, tea, licorice, rose, red wine, grapefruit, and a bunch with traditional Chinese medicine herbs.Each pool was secluded, with its own private path and surrounded by lush greenery. A fish pond! Oh God it was unbearable. I lasted about 2 bites. But consider another item on my bucket list crossed off! Making progress. The fish hated me for screaming and making tsunamis (question: can fish drown?) every time they came near so this photo is of my dad's feet. We baked in the sauna, laid out on hot stones, and soaked until our legs felt like rubber before calling it a night and heading to the locker rooms. I could've taken an hour long shower, the hot water felt so gooooooddd. Cleaned up and walked over to the next door restaurant. Dinner was my treat! Just received my paycheck for the month and I wanted to do something nice for my parents. I ordered kimchi fried rice topped with a runny egg for my main. Gloriously buttery and rich. The broken yolk complemented the savory rice so well. Definitely a must-make recipe I will attempt to recreate! Plus a cup of corn chowder on the side. It tasted like popcorn! There was a seafood buffet (no bueno) and a lounge that offered fresh fruit, juices and pastries on the second floor, and spa services on the third. Next time mom and I are heading straight for the spa while my dad takes his time turning into a wrinkled fish. It was such a relaxing night. Squeezed in some quality family time! I'm thinking it's a good staycation destination. My mom is already planning our next local trip. Time to explore the city we live in!
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