I spent Friday night at Machinenhaus, one of the buildings that make up the KulturBrauerei in Prenzlauer Berg. It's a large complex of former factories and warehouses that form a neat little area, with clubs and bars on each side of the courtyard. The venue itself was quite small, the top part of a larger club. Brazilian Girls came on the stage right on time around 10 and proceeded to rock it out with some of my personal favorites, "P****" (aka Pussy, Pussy, Marijuana) and "Lazy Lover" - my all time favorite though "Don't Stop" was played fully with lots of mixing up and the waify, visibly drunk lead singer wailing her little arms all over the stage - balancing a cigarette, glass of red wine and microphone like a pro made for a great scene. Great mixes of drum n' bass, rock and electro all flowing seamlessly and keeping the crowd moving. Singing in English, German, French and I believe Spanish or Portuguese it made for a really interesting set. Only complaint though was their attempt to get the crowd to sing a long to songs off their second album - on the first song they played. Second album only came out recently, and I admit I have yet to pick it up. Must have been the wine.
I slowly developed a headache towards the end of the show (common theme this past week) and despite my dull headache, we decided to go hit up Kaffee Burger thinking it was the Borat film opening party. I could have swore I saw the flyer in the bathroom at Machinenhaus - but I was sadly mistaken when after a long walk we realized we had stumbled upon "60's Music Night" Both of us having to go to the bathroom, and the need for another drink threw us into the strange crowd "twisting and turning baby". We left after 20 minutes. Headed to Berghain to see what it was like on a Friday, and after denying multiple times that the group of couples behind us were NOT with us - we were finally grudgingly let into the club. At this point, my head is pounding and somehow my minor beer buzz is telling me that somehow loud underwater sounding techno and another drink are going to cure my woes? I was sadly mistaken and after an Afri Cola and bottle of water I gave up and headed home in an expensive but well worth it cab ride. Did I mention that the driver was a turkish personal trainer and nutritionist? He said that he could help to get rid of my headaches with a wink, and handed me his card which is now in the trash.
Saturday morning woke up with an even worse headache that was not hangover related, I decided to take a different route than laying in bed and popping my body full of ibuprofen. I have a small supply, and I hate going to the pharmacist here because I get the 10th degree every time I do. I go online and find this place. My head was hurting so bad, I didn't even look to see what kind of massage they did, just called and made an appointment for that day. I hop in the shower and head over in a cab, not able to comprehend public transportation at this point. I arrive and after my complimentary cup of tea, an older Sri Lankan man comes to get me and leads me upstairs to the massage room. As an American, I couldn't help put gasp a tiny bit when I look to my left into the sauna and see a set of breasts and also a penis sitting in the sauna in the main room. That's all I saw, their faces were blocked. Hmm, I think to myself - these Europeans really don"t mind putting it all out there. Little did I know I would be in the same category very soon.
We get into the massage room, and expecting him to leave while I undress and get on the table with a towel to cover me (that was no where to be found), I started to get confused when I realize he's not going anywhere, and is expecting me to just take it all off right there. I sit down (still clothed) and he does a preliminary screening asking me questions like, "What color are your eyes?" and " Do you dream a lot?" and "Do your feet get cold easily?" There is then a full and detailed inspection of my hands, arms and scrutinizing my face. I admit, I'm not really that shy when it comes to my body - or being naked for the most part. People are people, and bodies are bodies - but given that I hadn't been naked in front of anyone for quite some time, it was a little nerve wracking for me. All I could really think about was how bad my head was pounding and I just wanted it all to go away.
So, I take it off, with him standing there - and actually it wasn't bad at all. I could tell that this man had no interest in what I looked like naked and I pretty much knew that from the beginning. So, there I am, naked, on the table and he starts pouring hot oil on my head and it was probably one of the most awesome feelings in the world. He goes through pressure points on my head and the whole hour long massage consisted of long strokes along my torso, arms, legs and back. Every 10 minutes or so, fresh hot oil is being poured on my stomach or my legs and I have never experienced anything like it in my life. No actual deep tissue massage which I was hoping for, but the hot oil that smelled like spring and the warmness of everything was really relaxing. I didn't even care I was naked anymore. There were certain points where he would "gather" at my belly button, and then push it up into the air say something in Sri Lankan while the bad stuff flew up into the air. Really surreal. I also got a stomach massage, which if you haven't had one before I highly recommend it. The last step was the Sri Lankan version of Tiger Balm on my head and more pressure points, I could feel the badness in my headache fight him at each moment wanting to stay. I am sad to report though, I still left with a minor headache - but I also was more relaxed and smelled like herbal oil which was a bonus. I did some research on what I actually did that day and it was this: Ayurveda Massage
Woke up the next day headache free until this evening, and definitely plan on going back - but only for a head massage.
I slowly developed a headache towards the end of the show (common theme this past week) and despite my dull headache, we decided to go hit up Kaffee Burger thinking it was the Borat film opening party. I could have swore I saw the flyer in the bathroom at Machinenhaus - but I was sadly mistaken when after a long walk we realized we had stumbled upon "60's Music Night" Both of us having to go to the bathroom, and the need for another drink threw us into the strange crowd "twisting and turning baby". We left after 20 minutes. Headed to Berghain to see what it was like on a Friday, and after denying multiple times that the group of couples behind us were NOT with us - we were finally grudgingly let into the club. At this point, my head is pounding and somehow my minor beer buzz is telling me that somehow loud underwater sounding techno and another drink are going to cure my woes? I was sadly mistaken and after an Afri Cola and bottle of water I gave up and headed home in an expensive but well worth it cab ride. Did I mention that the driver was a turkish personal trainer and nutritionist? He said that he could help to get rid of my headaches with a wink, and handed me his card which is now in the trash.
Saturday morning woke up with an even worse headache that was not hangover related, I decided to take a different route than laying in bed and popping my body full of ibuprofen. I have a small supply, and I hate going to the pharmacist here because I get the 10th degree every time I do. I go online and find this place. My head was hurting so bad, I didn't even look to see what kind of massage they did, just called and made an appointment for that day. I hop in the shower and head over in a cab, not able to comprehend public transportation at this point. I arrive and after my complimentary cup of tea, an older Sri Lankan man comes to get me and leads me upstairs to the massage room. As an American, I couldn't help put gasp a tiny bit when I look to my left into the sauna and see a set of breasts and also a penis sitting in the sauna in the main room. That's all I saw, their faces were blocked. Hmm, I think to myself - these Europeans really don"t mind putting it all out there. Little did I know I would be in the same category very soon.
We get into the massage room, and expecting him to leave while I undress and get on the table with a towel to cover me (that was no where to be found), I started to get confused when I realize he's not going anywhere, and is expecting me to just take it all off right there. I sit down (still clothed) and he does a preliminary screening asking me questions like, "What color are your eyes?" and " Do you dream a lot?" and "Do your feet get cold easily?" There is then a full and detailed inspection of my hands, arms and scrutinizing my face. I admit, I'm not really that shy when it comes to my body - or being naked for the most part. People are people, and bodies are bodies - but given that I hadn't been naked in front of anyone for quite some time, it was a little nerve wracking for me. All I could really think about was how bad my head was pounding and I just wanted it all to go away.
So, I take it off, with him standing there - and actually it wasn't bad at all. I could tell that this man had no interest in what I looked like naked and I pretty much knew that from the beginning. So, there I am, naked, on the table and he starts pouring hot oil on my head and it was probably one of the most awesome feelings in the world. He goes through pressure points on my head and the whole hour long massage consisted of long strokes along my torso, arms, legs and back. Every 10 minutes or so, fresh hot oil is being poured on my stomach or my legs and I have never experienced anything like it in my life. No actual deep tissue massage which I was hoping for, but the hot oil that smelled like spring and the warmness of everything was really relaxing. I didn't even care I was naked anymore. There were certain points where he would "gather" at my belly button, and then push it up into the air say something in Sri Lankan while the bad stuff flew up into the air. Really surreal. I also got a stomach massage, which if you haven't had one before I highly recommend it. The last step was the Sri Lankan version of Tiger Balm on my head and more pressure points, I could feel the badness in my headache fight him at each moment wanting to stay. I am sad to report though, I still left with a minor headache - but I also was more relaxed and smelled like herbal oil which was a bonus. I did some research on what I actually did that day and it was this: Ayurveda Massage
Woke up the next day headache free until this evening, and definitely plan on going back - but only for a head massage.
***
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