Riyuegu Hot Springs

We had a great mini-vacation at the Riyuegu Hot Springs Resort.  It was very relaxing -- so much so that I've had a hard time getting back into our regular routine at home.

The living room in our suite.  A basket of fresh fruit awaited us.

Hotel bedroom.

We booked a suite and it was quite lovely and spacious.  I told Chris that a suite is really the only way to travel now -- otherwise we have to go to bed at 8pm with Dag. He said I shouldn't get used to it.  Riyuegu is definitely the fanciest hotel I've ever stayed at.  We had a huge living room (with a half bath), equally large bedroom with a desk and computer, separate vanity area and a large bathroom.  Each room has its own hot spring tub (this picture doesn't really give you a sense of how deep the tub is).  Dag had fun in the evenings taking a bath.  Chris and I enjoyed playing backgammon and reading in the living room after he went to sleep.

The white streaks that you see on the tub are natural discoloration from minerals in the hot spring water.

Most pools in China require swim caps; these ended up being our souvenirs.

The hotel had three pools, including a shallow one for kids and one hot spring.  A golf-cart shuttle brings you across the highway to their hot spring resort (we didn't bring our camera there).  This was just as fancy and nice as the hotel.  You walk around the beautiful trails to the various stone pools.  There are hooks to hang your towels and robes at each pool.  You can get new towels at certain stations as well as hot and iced tea.  They have dozens of different pools -- each with different things added to them (like various kinds of tea, flowers, etc.).  One hot spring has little fish that nibble on your feet (no thanks!).  I thought it would be crowded because it was a Chinese holiday but we practically had the hotel and resort to ourselves.  It was surprisingly kid friendly (but also great for couples).  I definitely encourage anyone who plans on visiting us to pencil in a couple days to stay here.  It was incredibly peaceful and a much-needed holiday from our new city life. We took a private car to the resort -- $15 for the thirty minute ride.  There is a shuttle from one of the shopping malls but with a big bag and a small boy, it seemed like too much work. We did take the shuttle home without any problems.

Pouring water in the hot spring at the hotel

Yesterday I got to work on the Tee for Two pattern by Pattern's by Figgy's.  It's a hot mess.  I think it's the fabric I used -- a thin knit jersey I got on a remnant table at the fabric market here.  I had a lot of difficulty cutting it (the cut pieces didn't end up the same size as the pattern pieces).  It does come together quickly -- I finished all but the neck yesterday.  Dagim loved it -- it's very soft and comfortable and I couldn't stop squeezing him (especially since he was also wearing his new Oliver + S Nature Walk pants, which are equally comfortable).  He wore it out to dinner last night and spilled food all over it (hence no pictures).  I tried to put the neckband on today but it didn't work out -- the band is too short (and trust me, I stretched that puppy as much as it would go).  So, in the end, I think this is a muslin.  Or a nightshirt.  I think I'll just cut the too-short neckband off and call it a day.