“I’m a dirty, dirty girl.”

I thought this to myself as I watched flecks of my own skin roll of my arms and legs.

I’m at Wi Spa, getting the ultimate Korean Spa treatment. Have you heard of it? Are you ready to hear about it?

‘Cause it can sound like a porno film. Or a cooking show… (weird, but you’ll get it later).

At this spa experience, pretty much all your shenanigans are done in the buff. You go to the jacuzzi pools in the buff, you get a scrub in the buff, you get massaged in the buff.

I headed there on a rainy weekday, wide-eyed for what I will encounter for the afternoon. Continue Reading »

Don’t have any plans for the New Year weekend? Or just don’t know what’s even open?  You may be snowed in in the East Coast, but if you’re in the West Coast, you’re in luck.

Hatsu-Goma

When: Friday, January 1, 2010, 10am

Where: Koyasan Buddhist Temple, 342 E. First St., Los Angeles, CA 90012,  (213) 624-1267

What: Most Asian cultures consider the first day of the year to be very important and would go to a temple or shrine to offer a prayer.  In Japanese it is called “Hatsu-mode” or first offering.  Bishop Seicho Asahi will be officiating the the fire ritual by chanting mantras and throwing tiny sticks into a fire.  If you’ve never been to one before, this is definitely something to go check out and experience.  The temple will continue to be open from Jan 1-3 for visitors from 10am-5pm and will have fortune telling slips, good luck arrows, amulets, charms, and picture tablets.

Kotohajime: Hatsu Dayori “First Letters for the New Year”

When: Sunday, January 2, 2010, 1pm

Where: Little Tokyo, CA

Aratani/Japan America Theatre,  244 S. San Pedro Street, Suite 505, Los Angeles, CA 90012

What: Every year JACCC puts together a performance for the new year. This year’s theme is Hatsu Dayori, or First Letters for the New Year. There will be performances by the Los Angeles Kyudo Archery Group, Trudl Zipper Dance Institute of the Colburn School, and many more. This January for the year of the rabbit, Little Tokyo will become the center for celebrating the Japanese New Year for Southern California.

Tickets: $20 General Admission, $18 Seniors/Students/Groups, $15 JACCC members

Wi Spa

Where: Wi Spa  2700 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057  (213) 487-2700

What: It’s a rare time to finally get some vacation time, so most people just want to relax. And that is where I say “it is time to go to a spa!!” Wi Spa is open 24 hours and yes, open on new years day. They have jim jil bang as the common area for everyone to hang out and eat. They offer body treatments, massages, and saunas. Everything a girl could ever hope for when it comes to just taking a day off from the rest of the world.

Happiest Place on Earth

Where: Disneyland!!! & Downtown Disney  1313 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92802

What: 365 days a year … Disneyland is open to make every child’s dreams come true. If it’s been a while since you’ve been, definitely take a day out of your busy weekend to go to the happiest place on earth.

Hungry for Thai?

Where: Banana Bay  18230 Colima Rd, Rowland Heights, CA 91748

Golden Deli Vietnamese Restaurant  815 W Las Tunas Dr, San Gabriel, CA 91776

Open New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day

What: Just in case you don’t feel like cooking at home, and want to try someplace new for some good Thai or Vietnamese food.  If you go to Golden Deli, you have to try their fried egg rolls … they are to die for.