Wednesday, February 27, 2013
February 26th
Got in late Tuesday two hours late. Went right to the hospital as our daughter is there. Convergence of two conditions caused high fever and things.As of today she is better and hopefully will be home on Friday. I will post final pictures and stuff in the next couple of days.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
February 21st
Another new experience in China
We are in Nanjing after another great ride on the fast train. When Li Bei booked our hotel she asked if they would accept foreigners and was told yes. Apparently any hotel ranked below two stars cannot accept foreigners. The rationalization is that below two stars is sub-standard and they don't want foreigners seeing sub-standard hotels. Apparently the police spot check these hotels and if foreigners are staying there the hotels can receive a fine. When we got to the hotel to check in the clerk said that we could not stay there. After a lengthy and loud negotiation in which the clerk said that we would have to go to the police station to register the clerk took us to the police station where Li Bei registered us. Took about forty-five minutes. We are now technically residents of Nanjing for three days.
The hotel is sub-standard. Of course you should not expect much for 88 rmb which is the equivalent of about $15.00. That's right $15 for a hotel room. Tomorrow, Friday, the rate is 108 rmb which is about $18.00.
What a deal!!!
We are in Nanjing after another great ride on the fast train. When Li Bei booked our hotel she asked if they would accept foreigners and was told yes. Apparently any hotel ranked below two stars cannot accept foreigners. The rationalization is that below two stars is sub-standard and they don't want foreigners seeing sub-standard hotels. Apparently the police spot check these hotels and if foreigners are staying there the hotels can receive a fine. When we got to the hotel to check in the clerk said that we could not stay there. After a lengthy and loud negotiation in which the clerk said that we would have to go to the police station to register the clerk took us to the police station where Li Bei registered us. Took about forty-five minutes. We are now technically residents of Nanjing for three days.
The hotel is sub-standard. Of course you should not expect much for 88 rmb which is the equivalent of about $15.00. That's right $15 for a hotel room. Tomorrow, Friday, the rate is 108 rmb which is about $18.00.
What a deal!!!
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
February 20th
Didn't realize that it has been six days since my last post. Nothing much happening. We are just hanging out enjoying Maxwell, going to the mall, going out to eat.
Yesterday we ate dinner in, a chicken dish. Li Bei bought a half chicken, cut up for dinner. There is truth in labeling and their is TRUTH in labeling. In the package was one wing, one,leg, one thigh, one breast, one foot, and one half of a head. Truly one half of a chicken. For our benefit she did not cook the foot or the half head. Thank you Li Bei.
Tomorrow we are heading for Nanjing, the former capital of the southern half of China. We will be there for three days. There are a number of very good museums there particularly one about the Japanese and Chinese in World War II. Looking forward to that.
Monday we are going to Shanghai to spend the night as we have to be at the airport by 9:00 am for our flight home. Where has the time gone. Looking forward to getting home but very, very sad to leave.
Yesterday we ate dinner in, a chicken dish. Li Bei bought a half chicken, cut up for dinner. There is truth in labeling and their is TRUTH in labeling. In the package was one wing, one,leg, one thigh, one breast, one foot, and one half of a head. Truly one half of a chicken. For our benefit she did not cook the foot or the half head. Thank you Li Bei.
Tomorrow we are heading for Nanjing, the former capital of the southern half of China. We will be there for three days. There are a number of very good museums there particularly one about the Japanese and Chinese in World War II. Looking forward to that.
Monday we are going to Shanghai to spend the night as we have to be at the airport by 9:00 am for our flight home. Where has the time gone. Looking forward to getting home but very, very sad to leave.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
February 14th
Happy Valentines Day everyone.
Haven't been able to download the blog for some reason the past few days.
Under the heading of "It's a small world".
We went to Greg's Ultimate Frisbee practice on Wednesday to watch him play. Some players from Beijing, friends of Greg's teammate, were in town and also came to play. They were American. We exchanged the 'where are you froms' and to our surprise one of the girls was from Cheshire and her boyfriend was from Hartford. As I said, small world.
Weather has turned cold and rainy so we are kind of hunkering down until we go to Nanjing. Twelve days left. Time flies when you are having fun.
Haven't been able to download the blog for some reason the past few days.
Under the heading of "It's a small world".
We went to Greg's Ultimate Frisbee practice on Wednesday to watch him play. Some players from Beijing, friends of Greg's teammate, were in town and also came to play. They were American. We exchanged the 'where are you froms' and to our surprise one of the girls was from Cheshire and her boyfriend was from Hartford. As I said, small world.
Weather has turned cold and rainy so we are kind of hunkering down until we go to Nanjing. Twelve days left. Time flies when you are having fun.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
February 10th
The fireworks started about 6:00pm yesterday and went off continuously until after mid night. Think the best fireworks display you have ever seen on the 4th of July and multiply by any large number you can think of. If I could have gotten above the building next door I would have had a 360 degree view of fireworks as Hangzhou celebrated the new year. Just the ones we could see from our porch were spectacular. It sounded like a war zone as fireworks were going off all over the place. I took some video just so you could hear the noise but for some reason it didn't save.
Today we participated in the tradition of making and eating jiao zi -jow za- (think ravioli) We did pork, leek, mushroom filling. Boiled them and ate them. Yummy!
Today we participated in the tradition of making and eating jiao zi -jow za- (think ravioli) We did pork, leek, mushroom filling. Boiled them and ate them. Yummy!
Saturday, February 9, 2013
February 9th
Tomorrow is Chinese New Year making tonight new year's eve. Fireworks are a larger part of the celebration. However, municipalities do not put on fireworks displays. They are private or corporate.
Went to Pizza Hut today for lunch with Li Bei after shopping but there was a waiting list. We went to KFC instead. Pizza Hut here is a moderately upscale restaurant. The menu is very large and includes non-traditional PH items like mochas, cappuchinos, ice cream. Every time I have been by there it has been crowded.
Snowed yesterday and last night. We have about five inches on the ground and it is in the high twenties.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Random Photos
February 8th
Went to a hibachi style restaurant a couple of nights ago. Had my first squid. Very tasty and not chewy.
It has been snowing for the past seven hours. Little tiny snow flakes. Should look very nice with a fresh coat of snow in the morning.
Made a trip to the grocery store to stock up on food prior to Chinese New Year on Sunday. The stores are getting very crowded as everyone is doing the same thing. A lot of the little shops are already closed as people are headed home to be with their families. Traveling around the country is very difficult at this time because so many people are traveling so we are hunkering down until after the new year before heading for Nanjing.
It is 2:20 am and fireworks are going off. We have been awakened by fireworks at 5:00 am a couple of times. The Chinese use fireworks to celebrate many things and not just the new year so fireworks can go off at any time, night or day.
Heading for the grocery store, 34 degrees and raining.
It has been snowing for the past seven hours. Little tiny snow flakes. Should look very nice with a fresh coat of snow in the morning.
Made a trip to the grocery store to stock up on food prior to Chinese New Year on Sunday. The stores are getting very crowded as everyone is doing the same thing. A lot of the little shops are already closed as people are headed home to be with their families. Traveling around the country is very difficult at this time because so many people are traveling so we are hunkering down until after the new year before heading for Nanjing.
It is 2:20 am and fireworks are going off. We have been awakened by fireworks at 5:00 am a couple of times. The Chinese use fireworks to celebrate many things and not just the new year so fireworks can go off at any time, night or day.
Monday, February 4, 2013
February 5th
The weather has turned and has been colder, cloudy, and misty. I am just finishing cold 1C, the cold that goes on for ever.
I have come to the conclusion that riding in a cab here is comparable to riding a mule into the grand canyon. Initial excitement, then fear, then making the decision to put your faith in the cab driver/mule and enjoying the ride. The rules of the road are quite different here. Pedestrians do not have the right of way despite what the law says. You really have to experience it. One difference I have noticed - when we were in Paris a few years ago I started to notice that cars had little dents, broken headlights, etc. The result of small fender benders. Here the cars are remarkably intact despite what appears to be free for all rules of the road. We have seen or come upon only three accidents since we have been here, all very small fender benders. Gotta go, the cab is here.
I have come to the conclusion that riding in a cab here is comparable to riding a mule into the grand canyon. Initial excitement, then fear, then making the decision to put your faith in the cab driver/mule and enjoying the ride. The rules of the road are quite different here. Pedestrians do not have the right of way despite what the law says. You really have to experience it. One difference I have noticed - when we were in Paris a few years ago I started to notice that cars had little dents, broken headlights, etc. The result of small fender benders. Here the cars are remarkably intact despite what appears to be free for all rules of the road. We have seen or come upon only three accidents since we have been here, all very small fender benders. Gotta go, the cab is here.
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