Orange County: Chinese Massage

When I lived in China I used to get an hour full body massage everyday for $5.00. I know what you're thinking; "stop bragging!"

Spa treatments in Asia are not occasional splurges, they are an integral part of maintaining your well-being and appearance like getting your hair cut or taking a shower. When I got back from studying abroad in Qing Dao (like the beer Tsing Tao), I was determined to find somewhere affordable to keep up my newly acquired habit. Not surprisingly, the place I ended up frequenting is in Little Saigon in Westminster. It's called Bali Foot Spa and for $20.00 you can get all the knots worked out from your neck down to your toes.

It's hidden in the corner of the Westminster Superstore shopping center which in and of itself is worth a trip down to the OC (ref: previous post). Don't be deceived by the name of the spa (a transparent attempt to use an exotic Indonesian getaway as a branding tool). This place is 100% Chinese from the ancient reflexology techniques to the staff who primarily speaks Mandarin.

While it might take a minute to get used to lying on a massage table next to the other clients, you'll be transported to another dimension in no time as the masseuse intuits where your stress is centered and pinpoints the exact area in need of pressure. Even though it's not quite as glamorous as a European style spa with a sauna and cushy white robes, you'll leave feeling equally if not more relaxed (especially cause you'll have plenty of money leftover to go get some pho next door when you're done).