Are we there yet?

When I made that sudden move to change my career from hotelier to a normal office worker, I never expected to 'feel' myself changing as well.

Hospitality industry has always been my sandbox since I left high school. It's in my DNA. I had doubts in myself, wondered if I could survive outside my comfort zone. Adjustments in working schedule, list of duties, colleagues, office cultures and not forgetting, new friends! I have never had so many non-hospitality related friends in this country and within 3 months I have new strings of friends.

Honestly, my first three months was depressing. Doing the same routine and felt that I have not achieved anything, except the good night sleep, cooking more and of course more time with my son. Well, reading back what I typed, I did achieve what I meant to do after all. I just want to break the cycle with much more life.

As my husband pointed out, I need to reinvent myself. Be happy. Therefore, in the next coming months I look forward to reinventing 'me'.

Nope, we are not there yet.

Spa review - Gossip Day Spa / Salon, Abu Dhabi

I am not a a usual spa-goer but last December I saw a good deal on Groupon for a facial, face threading, hair mask treatment and blowdry for AED199.00 so I bought it.

Gossip Day Spa is located in Sas Al Nakhl Village, near to the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The Village has a few entrances, so to find this spa you have to find the gate next to a small mosque. When you are at the gate (the security guard will stop and ask your purpose to enter) you will already see the spa signage in front of you, next to a pharmacy and Spinneys Supermarket. I have a trusted taxi driver who knows where the Village is so I am blessed.

I booked the treatment for 5pm on a Thursday (March 2012). When I entered the spa was empty, three ladies huddling at the reception counter looking at something behind the counter. I told them I was their 5 o'clock appointment and one of them quickly addressed me by my first name. Only one of them knew I was holding a voucher so she was the one pointing me where to go, where to put my stuff (I came straight from the office so I had my big sling bag and my black coat on the other arm). Did I feel welcomed? Not really. I felt rushed.

In the treatment room I was informed that I will have the face threading first. This is only my second time doing this method and the first time it was gentle and was done slowly (different salon). I still have tears streaming even though I was given this special treatment. This second time, the lady seem to ignore the fact that I was not used to this threading method. I can feel her thread was the thick type and boy, I was gripping the edge of the bed. At this point I was already sensing that this will not be an enjoyable spa experience.

The second treatment was the facial massage, done by the same staff who did my eyebrow. I told her I have my contact lenses and she said she will do gentle massage on my eyelids. The lotion or liquid she was using to massage my face was going into my nostrils and this was not comfortable at all. The massage was just okay as you can feel it was  rushed and rough.

The third treatment was the hair mask treatment. A different lady attended this treatment and she had very limited English vocabulary. She first washed my hair. Water was above warm level and for my sensitive skin it felt hot. I had to tell her twice to get the correct temperature. After washing she massaged in the hair treatment, wrapped my head with a shower cap and a towel.

The whole experience took about 2 hours and 15 mins.

Location - 4/10
Staff friendliness - 2/10
Price - 2/10
Overall experience - 2/10
Will I recommend this spa to anyone - No
Will I come back - No