![\"Mango](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_4090-e1528940198434.jpg\")
<\/a>Mango with Sticky Rice. (I love that the rice is sort-of in the shape of a heart. Or a matzoh ball!!!) Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n
Then, a week after my recent garage sale, and at the end of a particularly stressful few days, I knew I needed a massage. And since I was craving Emporium\u2019s mango with sticky rice, anyway, I decided to try out their Thai massage first.<\/p>\n
What an incredible double-treat this turned-out to be! (And now you<\/em> can do a version of it, too, which I\u2019m proud to say I helped come up with, actually! It\u2019s an excellent deal for busy, stressed, and hungry Westsiders. And for all<\/em> visitors to the area, as well. Details will be at the end of this article.)<\/p>\n My massage at Aqua Thai Spa was so incredible that I have to share the experience with you. First of all, when I arrived, I got to choose from a whole menu of types of massages, which are all very affordable. But what had been recommended to me, and what really caught my eye, anyway, was the Thai-Swedish combo.<\/p>\n The full-size massage table. For all<\/em> of the services, you lie on a really big table, not one of those little skinny jobbies. I found-out as we went along why that is. It\u2019s because the masseuses often get right on the table to work on your back more strenuously, which I sorely needed. (Get it? Sorely<\/em>?) In some of the massages, they may even walk on your back! (But tell them if that\u2019s not for you. I would have welcomed that<\/em> bit of creativity, if not for the trio of fractures in my back.)<\/p>\n My masseuse\u2019s name is Didi, and even though she is a little tiny female, she is one of the strongest people I\u2019ve ever met! Wow. But her pressure was perfect; just the right amount. Not too strong, not too light. And she often checked-in with me to make sure that the pressure was just right for me.<\/p>\n The relaxing begins in this pretty hallway. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n In my Thai-Swedish massage, I can\u2019t even really tell you which is which because they blended so beautifully. I know that the stretches<\/em> are part of a Thai massage, but these weren\u2019t ones that made me work hard, as I\u2019ve done in previous Asian massages. And even though Didi doesn\u2019t speak a lot of English, (but she does know the word \u201ctight,\u201d which she exclaimed the second she touched my shoulders!,) she totally understood me when I told her which parts of my poor aching bod needed the most work, and which parts, like two scars I have, are too sensitive to be touched. It all went just perfectly. And<\/em>, I felt sooo much better, in general, for the next several days!<\/p>\n I was thrilled to discover that Aqua Thai Spa\u2019s \u201csixty minutes\u201d is, indeed, sixty minutes! It\u2019s not the fifty or fifty-five that they give you at other massage places! Believe me, those five to ten minutes really make a difference! (And I think that Didi even went a little over<\/em> for me, because she could tell I needed the extra work. Trust me\u2014that\u2019s never happened anyplace else in my life!)<\/p>\n The reception area, which is just peaceful, and not a retail space! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Another aspect of Aqua Thai Spa that I appreciated is that they aren\u2019t trying to sell<\/em> you anything. There are no creams or potions in the waiting area, as there are in other spas. I hate it when those places try to make you purchase items on your way out of their establishment. I\u2019m not there to shop for overpriced products–I\u2019m there to relax and improve my health, not their pocketbooks!<\/p>\n Speaking of pocketbooks, I think you\u2019ll be very pleased with Aqua\u2019s reasonable prices.\u00a0 I never give you actual<\/em> figures in this e-zine, because they can always change over time, but if you go to Aqua Thai Spa\u2019s website, (the link to which I give you below,) I\u2019m sure that you\u2019ll be very impressed with the affordability of the whole experience.<\/p>\n The beautiful new menu cover, featuring Emporium’s signature saying. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n I was in such a good mood when I left that I decided to stop next door and pick-up a healthful lunch for Mr. X, which I did. (He loved his Grilled Salmon with Chili and Coconut Sauce, by the way. And he\u2019s not even a fan of Thai food, in general!) But when I got into Emporium, I was so relaxed, and heard the lovely peaceful music they had on in there, that I decided to sit down and have a couple of dishes for myself first.<\/p>\n I love their beautiful new red menu covers, which they got to commemorate their eighteenth anniversary. (I think owner John Sungkamee and company will be celebrating all year!) I have no idea what that material is, but I could not stop feeling mine; it felt even better than it looked! I just hope that I didn\u2019t get any oil from my massage all over it, but Didi really took care of getting me de-greased before I left, so I think I was good.<\/p>\n I enjoyed a quick meal of their delicious healthful Royal Veggie Thai Fried Rice made with brown<\/em> rice, (which is only\u00a0lightly fried with olive oil, and features less rice and double vegetables,) followed by my favorite dish there\u2014Mango with Sticky Rice! OMG! I love that dessert! And guess what? I was full for the rest of the day and night. And relaxed<\/em>, as well, because of the massage, which is the reason I was there in the first place!!!<\/p>\n Emporium, looking out towards Westwood Blvd. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Which brings me back to, as promised, the deets of their new fabulous deal, so you guys can experience what I just did. It\u2019s called the Executive Express Massage (EEM) (which I<\/em> helped name, because John told me his new concept while I was eating that lunch, so maybe I even inspired that whole idea!,) and includes a half hour\u00a0massage at Aqua Thai Spa followed by a two-course prix fixe lunch at Emporium Thai right next door. You pre-order the lunch, so it will be ready for you, with no waiting! And the price of the whole shebang includes tax and gratuity! Gratuity, for the lunch portion. (But please don\u2019t forget to tip your masseuse<\/em>\u2014the included tip is for the restaurant server only.) You\u2019ll need a reservation for this deal, so that they\u2019ll be all ready for you, and you won\u2019t have to wait even one second! How fun is that<\/em>?!<\/p>\n Emporium Thai is also participating in Dinela next month, so look for that on their website, too.<\/p>\n Now please excuse me while I plan my next Aqua Thai Spa massage with Didi!<\/p>\n Aqua Thai Spa\u00a0 1279 Westwood Blvd. \u00a0310-478-6680 \u00a0www.aquathaispa.com<\/a><\/strong> AQUA THAI SPA\/EMPORIUM THAI The last time I had dinner at delicious Emporium Thai restaurant in Westwood, I noticed that there was a Thai spa right next-door. And it\u2019s owned by the same pleasant family as Emporium is! Then, a week after my recent garage sale, and at the end of a particularly stressful few<\/p>\n<\/a>
Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
\n Emporium Thai \u00a01275 Westwood Blvd. \u00a0310-478-2838 \u00a0www.ethaicuisine.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"