from one new experience to another.

So, my head is always tilted to the left. You've probably noticed it. In America you probably saw a CR-V and knew it was me when you saw the silhouette of the driver's head tilted to the left as though lost in thought, or swooning over some romantic event.

I tilt my head because of a weak eye muscle - my head tilts to make it so I can see straight - or so the doctors told me long ago. I bet you feel bad now for laughing at my tilted head.

Well riding a horse for 3 hours (during the modeling trip) while you're head is tilted to the left is pretty hard on the neck. So, since Monday I have been having a lot of neck pain and stiff muscles. As soon as we got back home I decided to go to the Spa around the corner and get a massage to help relax my neck and shoulder muscles. Good idea. Then the lady at the spa recommended I pay just 20 kuai more for a massage that would be better focused on my neck and shoulders. Another good idea.

Mistake.

This is what happened:

I'm not sure if you're familiar with the ancient Chinese medicine treatment of cupping or 拔罐子 (ba guan zi) but it is a treatment where they put cups all over your back, suck the air out of them, sucking your skin into these cups.  They leave the cups on for about 15 minutes, then release them.  This supposedly pulls toxins from within your body and organs to the surface where they can be more easily released.  I had 13 cups put on my back.

I'll tell you what it does do - it hurts. And it bursts the capillaries in your back leaving black bruises all over your skin for what I read on the internet is anywhere from 3-10 days.

I didn't realize I was getting into this when I decided to pay $3 more for the more focused treatment on my neck and shoulders and I wasn't sure how to stop it once it started. After researching though, I have learned that some athletes used this traditional form of medicine during the 2008 Beijing Olympics and apparently so did Gwyneth Paltrow in 2004.

I will say this, it certainly does suck.