Nite Cap

Let's get this party started... we are off to McCawley's and then to a club for dancing... Seems everyone in the pub is from the Gaelic games.. nothing but
customed revellers... an awful lot of the devils are here...and there's no shortage of beer..We get a booth...








Gary is fiddling with his fake moustache...there are loud voices...why is Regina tellig the guy at the next table to mind his business? h...he is not part of the crew either? This is serious..i think there's about to be a fight... What the heck is going on? Ahhhh..... evidently one of the 3 guys sitting at the next table, ups and tells Gary to take off the moustache...LOL... Is he for real? What a loser! He is Jewish...his family was wiped out...and he thinks they are making fun of his jewish heritage!! ..LOL..LOL.. You have got to be kidding me??? What are the chances of total strangers, strangers no doubt in costumes, that would for no reason out of the blue, decide to mock his culture....what the dickens is this idiot smoking???? And he's got to be really out of his mind to be taking on an entire bar of drunk Irish people...Can somebody please split his head open and put some senses in it? Now Gary is splitting his moustache into pieces, and giving us each a piece to wear, to incense this idiot even more...LOL...














They argue back and forth....the bar manager, and some of our more sober people, try to forcibly stop our group from further confrontation... everytime i think it's over, it start again... i think someone has now either thrown a bottle at him, or something. Now he is not talking about Chris's wife. What man picks a fight with a woman? Hell, he deserves an ass whopping now.... 2 hours later..he's apologizing and shaking hands...lol...lol....

Who needs to go clubbing for good dance music... they are playing it right here... touching every genre... oh, yes...even reggae.... did i mention, we are all still in costumes? these wings seem to be bumping into everything, but we are dancing nonetheless...the guys are even trading wings...wigs...halos...pretty comical sight.. i think i got some of this on film...Tom in an halo...lol...blackmail material....















Everyone (but me) is beyond wasted... we dance to whatever...even got a soul train line going...The Chinese guy on our team, after dancing with me, says i should live here for 30 yrs...think i just got an invite to move here...There's an older Irish guy with silver gray hair, who thinks he's found a dance teacher....I think the bar is going to be wrecked before we leave... the devils are now standing on the tables and dancing....

The workers are now leaving for the night..and we are still here... Regina is going home to change her shoes as she is going dancing with the guys... i am tired... i think i need to go to bed... We get to the hotel room, and i change my mind...and my shoes....back out we go.... The Chinese guys here are really friendly...they are all smiling at us as we pass on the street... they are even saying 'Ni how' and 'hello'.... There are a few really nice clubs on the way from the hotel to the pub... outdoor seating areas..nice music... all western stuff... not surprising as this area is all foreigners.... We get back to the pub and everyone is gone except for like 5 people..including these two boys that seemed to have joined our party... looking mighty 'sweet' too...We turn left and left...there is no club... we don't even hear music... where the heck are we? We see the signs for Club Viva..but no club... Linda calls her husband who is there, and insists we make a left and a left...then again, he is drunk and has no idea where he is... i say we go to one of the clubs that we passed on the way, as i am not about to venture down this alleyway in a strange city.... Our new sweet friends try asking for directions...but noone knows.... so i am about to go bak to the hotel, as this is crazy...we make a right and a right..about to head into one of the clubs on the front, and what do you know? in the back..it says Club Viva!!

Nothing but foreigners...tons of Americans/Europeans with chinese women....chinese women dressed like they are in America...i can see they are in heaven...Is that our wings i see those men taking turns to take pics with? where did they get them from? The music is ok... here we go with that house music again...this is nuts...people are stepping on my toes, like it's the ground they are walking on... i know this is not going to last.... Gary's wings are knocking over bottles...now i have to be careful so i don't get cut... the cleaning crew have now cleaned up all the broken bottles...and u've guessed it... he knocked over some more glasses off another table... You know what..it's time i went home...The hotel is only like 5 mins away, so i make my exit.....

Culmination of China Gaelic Games 2010

So i am getting ready for dinner, and trying to decide on outfits... jeans and top or black pants and top? Ah...i think i will go for the black pants with top...my roommate is back from the pool late, so i decide to head on out without her....Oh yeah...my wings....where's Audrey with my wings? No answer to her hotel room, so i head on downstairs..i am sure she will bring it to the restaurant.... I thought we were meeting at 8, but there's noone in the lobby.... not for long...here comes a guy dressed as the devil... OMG..he went all out... this is too funny... black tights, red briefs over the tights and i am sure stuffing in the front....face painted red...cape.. glowing horns...i am dying...







here's another one..and another one... the poor hotel staff must be wondering what the heck is going on.... I sure didn't realize all the teams were going to be dressed up... I thought it was just us deciding to be angels...Now there are cops coming down... cop uniforms complete with hats, guns, holsters, handcuffs...tsomehow i don't remember seeing lady officers in mini skirts....man, they went all out.... there's no way i am walking to the restaurant by myself without custome.... I take a few pics, and then i head back upstairs to wait on my roommate....

We are on our way to the restaurant... with blue, black, and white wings...some are wearing halos.... we see some cowgirls/boys...and indians... these customes are so authentic.... man, these Irish people sure do go all out..... It's a little walk to the restaurant and you guessed it, everyone is looking at us like what the heck is going on... i am sure this is not a signt they see often.... We get to restaurant, and apparently we rented out the entire restaurant.... some of our group is sitting on the balcony, so we head on upstairs....Let the food begin as we are starving....
Oh yeah, and we need beer...Irish can't do anything without beer....Where's Stephen, Vincent and others? Ahhh...they are already at McCawley's.... geting an early start on the drinking....

The restaurant is bustling with activity, as the rest of the customed guests arrive... we have tables of cowgirls, cowboys, cops, indians, angels and devils..These are all the teams that participated in the Gaelic games...all teams from parts of China...Didn't know until tonight there are so many Irish folks in China...also found out, that tons of Chinese people also did stints living in Ireland...i think someone mentioned different countries in Europe giving visas to the Chinese to come to their country...Some of the members of our football teams are actually in China teaching English..some fresh out of college...others are grownups still trying to figure out what they want to do in life.... The food starts coming, and must say, most of it is good... the lazy susan in the middle of the table keeps spinning as we dive into each plate that we are served...

We had a great time...eating, drinking (not me), taking pics... Looking downstairs, i spotted a cowboy..is that a mini skirt he is wearing..with a tie front shirt? Oh no, he can't be that brave... damn... i sure need a pic of this...
















I am talking to someone, and two workers came up, each grabbing an arm, and when i looked up, the third had a camera.... no escape for the freak...picture with the freak...lol...Too bad i didn't have my camera handy to get a pic of them....

Belly full now... heaps of food left on the tables...it's time to head to McCawley's for the after party...

China Gaelic Games Shenzhen 2010

Our flight is leaving at 16:40 so we need to be at the airport an hr before departure... our driver is racing to get us there in time, as we were off to a late start... and yes, this is like jamaica...the check in counter will be closed if you are 1 minute late... we make a phone call and find out it's 30 mins...we can relax..we will make it...

Who would have ever thought that there would be so many Irish soccer teams in China? I had no idea how big soccer was here... Thanks to the companies doing business in China, there are are tons of American and European expats here, and they bring their culture with them...
I came along with the football team, as from Shenzhen, it's 1 1/2 hr train ride to Hong Kong.. I was so looking forward to Shenzhen, and packed all shorts and summer attire, as finally, i was going to be warm....Shenzhen is in South China, and the weather report showed temperatures of high 70's....a great improvement over Dalian's low 50's....Apparently, all the other teams arrived at the same thing, as we ran into them checking into the Marco Polo hotel last night. The hotel was fully booked. Even though they had games the next day, the Irish stayed true to their culture, and headed out to McCawley's Irish Pub, for some pregame festivities. The pub was a short walk from the hotel. I marvelled at the city, as it was like any other big American city, filled with skyscrapers. The city is really modernized, and the total opposite of Dalian, which i now realize is an older suburban city...Everyone here speaks way more English, so communication is a breeze... We sat outdoor at the pub...soaking up the warm weather..... We ordered hamburgers, wings, and nachos....and beer of course...you know how the Irish are..... I planned on leaving soon, even if the others weren't ready, as i was tired, and needed to hit the sack.... But then Stephen said to wait for company, as it wasn't safe to be walking alone... I guess they were all tired too, as i didn't have long to wait before they were ready to go....

The buses were leaving at 8 am, so we had to be down at breakfast by 7:30..on a a Saturday morning.... no chance of sleeping in....We made it to breakfast ontime...don't ask me how.... The food is really Westernized...not a lot of Chinese stuff....and the staff speaks tons more English... I spot this braided bread and decide to put a piece in the toaster...not thinking the slice was too thick...i am trying to dislodge it with a knife, while stephen says don't put the knife in there...now it's stuff and the toaster is smoking... great, i have set the toaster on fire.... the worker is trying to stop the toaster... great going Paulette.... Hopefully stephen won't tell anyone... no such luck...but i enjoy my eggs, bacon, hasbrown and bread and now i am ready to get on the bus....

It's weird that we enter the bus from the middle...the door opens like underground, so you kinda walk under the bus to get in.... We are off to the tournament.... Thtere are like 8 teams there and 4 fields...games are going to play on all 4 fields at the same time.. .hopefully, our teams will play one at a time or we might have to split up to watch them... the girls are first...and first in many ways...this is their first game as well... They are awesome...they won like 4 (a goal and a point) to 1.... We are off to a great start.... The guys lose their first game...but that's ok...we have tons more games to play...

I venture to the Port a potty.... same like anywhere else... disgusting..... but i did think it was funny that even the port a potties are stand up toilets... a guess China will be China....

Fruits, water and gatorade are provided for the players.... McCauley's has a stand where they are grilling hamburgers, sausages, steaks, and making fried rice with vegetables... i sample the fried rice and it is good.... the teams are getting tired now...injuries after injuries, but they are still pressing on... Hong Kong women's are a tough team...we are no match for them...there's a black player, we've nicknamed Gazelle...no ball passes her...even if she is on the other end of the field...we don't even stand a chance.... A few games later, our goalkeeper is carted off on a stretcher... she went down catching a ball, and her knee snapped out and in pretty quickly....she is out for the rest of the day....hope she can walk tomorrow, as she is going to Hong Kong with us... They need an extra player and want me to fill in..... i have no sneakers, no training.... i wouldn't know what the first thing to do.....maybe next time......




The girls are playing against Bejing...and i swear, it's nothiing but Sumo wrestlers on the team.... i hear this is their 5th year in the tournament, and they are good.... our girls are advised to save their energy for the next game, which is the finals....wher we will play for the bowl.... we definitely saved our best for last.... we scored 2 goals and like 3 points... against maybe their 2 points.... awesome finish girls!!! Way to go team Dalian!!!





The men are out the tournament.... All in all, it was a great day..... The buses aren't leaving until 6pm, and a few of us want to go home and relax..so we make it to the main road to catch a cab... a few cabs we stop say no... i wonder why they don't want to go? is it too far? The 3rd cab says yes, even though we got the impression he wasn't too eager...15 mins later, we are back at the hotel.....aahhhhh....time to chill and get ready for hanging out later...Irish style.....We are going as hell's angels so we are wearing wings...too bad my outfit is all black...i guess i can be a devil's angel......

Pizza Hut

To my surprise, i have gained 7lbs...Did i just say surprise? Who am i kidding? I have not made any attempts to eat healthy since i have gotten here... In all honesty, eating healthy here, is a challenge... I can't read Mandarin, so forget about analyzing the nutrition content...Everything is deep fried or cooked in a gallon of oil, and/or battered in flour or some sweet sauce... If rice is served with the meal, it's also fried, and the sauce is poured on the rice to turn it into a soup dish.. Salad isn't a concept that is comprehended here... On the other hand vegetables is, but half the vegetables i don't recognize, and then they are big on mushrooms...all 5000 different kinds...and i am not a mushroom lover.... I am od'ed on the western style food my coworkers and all the expats seem to live for... I am soo over pizza, onions rings, french fries, wings, mexican food....enough is enough....

I ate the last of my pineapples today, so i need to head to Trust Mart for some more fruits....and maybe along the way, i can find something light for dinner... Plus, I could do with some more physical activity, so I am looking forward to the walk. I forgot about this Pizza hut next to Trust Mart...maybe they might have a salad... It's been years since i have been in Pizza hut, so i assumed Pizza was still their main dish...nmaybe it's different as it's China, but there's shrimp, scallops, fish, pasta, waffles, french fries, salads, smoothies, all kinds of desert items, such as cake, icecream, ...Ok... let me run and get my fruits and grab a dish to go.

I changed my mind and decided to dine in instead. The waitress ushered me to a table by the window... i get to people watch while i dine alone... I am ready to order, but she hasn't come back. I think their custom is to give you ample time to decide, so you don't have to ask for more time. I finally signal to her, as i am starving now. I order a mango smoothie and a chicken peach salad and then i added the herb crusted shrimp (not too healthy, but i couldn't resist the urge).

While i wait, i watch two men change the light bulbs in the restaurant..did i mention they were changing the bulbs over a table where customers were sitting? And they were on top of a ladder? The concept of cleaning, fixing, renovating with customers present in a dining establishment, is quite the norm. I have been in restaurants where they are mopping floors, sweeping, actually asking you to move your chair, while they do all this...LOL....

My salad arrives...delivered by another server... I should learn to read Mandarin...this way i would have known this was just a side salad...or perhaps this is their normal serving size... There's two leaves of lettuce, some tiny pieces of chicken and some peaches...small albeit, it is delicious.... Halfway through the salad, the smoothie arrives, delivered by yet another server....3 mins later, the shrimp arrives by server #3. Evidently the concept of a dedicated server to a table isn't comprehended, which i guess works well in a society where tipping is unacceptable...

I thoroughly enjoyed my meal, as i was full, and without the heavy feeling i have been getting lately...

Custom Made

Today's adventure is finding the building with the seamstresses...custom made dresses was one of the must do things on my list.... Word has it, they are on the top floor of the building next to MacDonald's.....But i need some help with asking for what i want...the girls in the restaurant in the hotel are nice, so i make my way there and explain that i want to get dresses made.. i need them to write some sentences in Mandarin for me:
Can you help me get dress made?
When can i pick it up?
Do you have curtain fabric?
Armed with sentences... i run into the hotel manager and we start chit chatting... I left her card upstairs, so she gave me her # again..if i need help, just call her...

The traffic is gridlock, and there's throngs of people everywhere... I know there's a marathon today and some streets are closed..is that why the streets are so crowded? Somehow i don't think the two are related, as these people are just going about their business....now i remember my coworker saying don't go to the supermarket on Sunday.... Sunday seems to be the day everybody gets out to run errands etc....










Crossing the street...need mad jaywalking skills...getting the cars to stop is a task in itself... I navigate my way through the crowds, parked cars, cars and bikes driving on the sidewalk, and arrive at the New Mart building...

Upstairs i go...not for long, as i divert off course to browse the jewelry and hair accessories...i could be here for days..there's vendors everywhere, crammed together, merchandise galore... i spot an index finger ring...cute....and rhinestone hair pin.... she says 80RMB total, i say 40RMB...my rule is to cut the price in 1/2 right off the bat...she agrees to the price... i give her 100RMB, get my change back...move onto the next stall...find more hair pins i like...bargain down to 35RMB... I give her the 50RMB i just got, and she looks at it, and shows mi a flaw, and gives it back... i point to the girl who just gave it to me...now realizing she gave me a bad bill...they exchange words and i think the girl is telling her it's ok... she shows it to a couple of other people and they say no... Hell, i am not taking it back...and the girl who just passed it to me, better trade it or i am about to go off! I am not even saying a word...i just point to her again...so now she's been busted big time...she goes in her stash and throws 5 10RMB on the table...The lady takes her money, gives me my change... I guess the girl didn't expect i would try to spend the fake money right next to her! God always works in mysterious ways....

Ok..back on track now... up more steps...i land on the 4th floor, show them my paper with sentence and they say 6th floor...all i see is the food court...must be wrong floor... down to 5th floor...furniture...uummmmh.... back down to 4th....6th floor? only food...darn it, they are not understanding.... so i head back to the 6th floor.... i decide to go through the food court.... ah....a doorway.... i see fabrics..... i have arrived.....

Home dec....lots of nice cottons hanging...and each with pics of exact fabric from magazine depicting bedspreads, comforters, pillows.... tons of nice stuff...some home dec.... i see one i like...measurement is in meters....convert meters to yards? how much do i remember from class? absolutely nothing.... i call Stephen and ask him to get online and find conversion.... 1 meter is 39.4/10 inches... now we are in business..... Can't decide... so let me look at dress fabrics and come back.....

All kinds of chinese fabrics...silks, velvets.... style books to choose from... so many choices...what to do? .... i decide on a traditional chinese dress..short... now for the fabric.... since red is their traditional color, i go for red.... she takes me over to a different stall, where they have tons of reds...brand new.... I can't decide between the two.... I ask them which they like...it's split... All this time i am trying to decide on fabric, they are going on about my hair... can i get u to focus please?...now it's time to bargain....I say 'tekwilla'..too expensive and they laugh...no i am serious, i am not laughing... i type what i want to pay on the calculator..we laugh some more...they say how 'hot' the fabric is... i am not budging....so then they agree...I am laughing now....I really like them... a group of older women... they get busy and start taken my measurement.... I ask one to take my picture.... Drawing on all their english, one ask how long it took to do my hair...i say 5 hours and 2 braiders.... now the other one wants to know if i can come back and do her hair and when...LOL...Do these people realize i have a job and braiding isn't it?? Measurements all done... they bring me a calendar to show me when it will be ready... i say no...and pick another date, as i will be in Hong Kong... all set.... back to home dec....














I look around at all the home decs and still can't make up my mind...seamstresses are hard at work, sewing what looks like sheets, etc... tailors are all around too... suits on display.....the suits are so well tailored.... i spot an orange wool, but not ur reg wool...can't put a name on the fabric... short jacket... too cute... she has me try on a big size, and the sleeves are a little short.... she offers to make bigger for 360RMB... tekwila.... i really like it though... i flip through her pattern books...looks like she specializes in jackets... not seeing other fabrics i like, but i would love to have a suit made though.... the navy blue jacket next door is nice...but different seamstres... i wander over...bargain for a while...seems that the cheaper fabric is what they are willing to bargin on....naw..don't want the cheaper fabric.... flip through more books.... wander around some more...other seamstresses inviting me into their stalls.... now i am back at the orange jacket again... i think i am getting it,as i really like it.... i get the price down to 300RMB...notice the seamstresses don't bargain alot... a guess the price they give u is cheap enough to begin with...but bargaining is my blood...measurements all done....she wants 200 now...why can't i pay 150? i call Candy, the hotel manager...please explain that i only want to pay 150 now.... they talk and i get the phone back.... 200 now, as that's the cost of the fabric....ahhhhh.... so it's costing me $10US to have it custom made?? The labor is that cheap? Who am i to complain.... i pay the 200... i get a receipt..she has my phone number....i will definitely be back before the pick up date...need to put in more orders....

I think i was in there like 4 hours... time to go home now... i pass through the pharmacy again, which is on the street level... all the pharmacy workers are dressed like nurses.....








I need to check out MacDonald's...see if the beef taste like beef.... this is different...chicken drumsticks...chicken platters..... I get to the register, and the workers hands me a picture menu...so i can point to what i want... how did she know i speak no Mandarin?.... I ordered a double cheeseburger, fries and drink... taste like beef to me.....










Heading home... this white lady says to me, u work at Intel? i say yes, and we start talking and walking...she arrived today..not her first trip.... she is asking about massage, so i tell her where to go....and i tell her about some other things she can do too.... i ended up taking her to the massage parlour to get a business card...i even hooked her up with the hotel manager..... imagine that... me showing someone around...

The Meeting Bar

Friendship Adventure

Had to get there at any cost.... missed Stephen by like 10 mins, as i didn't realize the number i was calling, was the number to the cell i had...LOL... No worries, Stephen is sending his driver back to get me, but I am on my own to get back....

The drive takes like forever...and then the driver is starting to fidget, sure signs that he is about to fall asleep... check...seatbelt buckled....

Friendship Mall.... let's get busy.... I walk in to cosmetics and perfume on the first floor....Don't think there is anything here I want, so let me head on upstairs... 1st Floor...Men's....keep going...2nd floor, more men....3rd floor women...but looks like old women stuff...ultra conservative...keep going...4th fl...same thing.... The clientelle is upscale, and snooty, at least i think...and so are the sales people, as not a soul running to say 'Ni how'....5th floor...shoes... i barely recognize any of these names, and the style defintely no ready.... I am surveying the scene and stumble on boots.... let's see if there is a slight chance they might have a 10.... I am a pro now, so i take out my IPhone to use the calculator and show her the size i want.. of course the size on the boots are like 192, 255, so size 10 sure ongle a confuse her..lol.... She uses her hands to depict length and i say bigger..more, more....i think she gets it now...she runs off....this one fits, but it's a close fit....bigger.....this one is too big, but might can work....nothing fancy, just brown flat ankle boots... i am considering getting it but at about $83US, i don't think so....she returns with another salesperson who speaks English and i explain i will go look around and then come back....

I find Guess shoes..or the sign that says Guess, but the label on the shoes are different... all stillettos'...super stilletto's...price double what it cost in the US....so no interest there.....

7th floor...some jeans and mostly sportwear... Nike, Addidas, Columbia, Fila, Timberland...all expensive outa dis world....Now i am back on the 6th floor to Esprit..where about 5 sales girl greet me in unison... 'Ni how'....welcome to Esprit'...of course it was like bout 10 seconds later, for mi understand that it was Esprit dem was saying... Nothing here either.... I look at some more designers, all overly expensive, and nothing that i have to have....

What's on the top fl? housewares...but what's this? SALE...ummmh... i have reached the bargain penthouse..... there are racks of clothes, bins of clothes, and people are rummaging through, trying on, and overly excited.... so i dive in...starting with pantyhouse... why? i have no idea...but i get two... I did notice that girls here wear shorts alot, short shorts and short skirts, but with tights, as it is still very much winter time... Some girl motions to me and hands me a jacket..why is this customer giving me stuff to try on? Does she like me? what is going on? i tell her it's small...mins later she is back with another one... i try it, but don't like it...but i inquire about the price...the more i say i don't like it, the lower the price gets....I told her to keep it and i will look around some more.... I rifle through jackets and slacks, but anything i like is too small...Even saw Anne Klein jackets... i think i have this one in blue, but here it is in black... one size bigger, and it would be mine....

Doesn't look like i am finding anything but the stockings.... skirts? i guess i can take a look.... These are flared skirts and looks like they will fit, so i pick up a few styles, colors...and head to the fitting room... the fitting room checker takes them off the hanger, and for the brown one, she looks at me, shakes her head and puts it down.....why did i think i could get into it?...none of the ones i tried on fits, as getting past the belly was a no no...So now i am looking at sweaters, sweater dresses.... not feeling any..... back to the front bin with the other sweaters... i try one on and ask how much... she say 200RMB...the price on the bin says 100RMB...when i confront her, she says ok...100RMB...what a licckle thief? she nuh realize mi can't read mandarin, but mi nuh have no problems reading numbers, which is universal....the sweater itch, so no need to even bada with it......
i pay for my stockings and head out....

Michael's driver is already in DDA (where i live), so my real adventure is about to start... i need to find my way home..... Walk to a 5 star hotel, and ask them to get u a cab...or catch the train...it is way too cold to be fiddling with the train..and i hear there is no heat on the train.... cab it will be.... The concierge at the ShangriLa takes my hotel card, and goes outside to find me a cab....the driver says it's going to be extra as i am going to a different city.... no problem...i will be reimbursed so i don't care..... The concierge gives me her business card, so if anything is left in the car, i can call her and they can get it to me....got to love the customer service here....and to think mi not even a stay ina dem hotel.......
The driver keeps looking at the hotel card... dear Jesus, please tell me he knows how to get there.... some of the streets look familiar so i think he is on the right track.... he looks like a cha-cha bwoy...definitely into himself is the image i get...so i wonda why im driving taxi?.... 1/2 hour later, i am at the Inn Fine.....He points to the meter and starts explaining that it's more....but we already established that with the concierge, so i type on the calculator what i am giving him....he is happy...transaction complete..... Home sweet home!

The Wedding

On my way to breakfast, I remembered to get off the elevator at the second floor.....and oh what scenery...looks like there's goign to be another wedding this weekend.... The red carpet is laid off, and the hallway is lined with red roses floral arrangements, on top of pedestals..each pedestal joined by red and orange crepe paper.... As i squeeze by in the tiny space left i guess for people getting of the elevator, i make a mental note to come back and take pictures... The stairway that leads to the restaurant from the 1st floor is also decorated with orange and red tulle...with the orange tulle tied in huge bows, attached to the banister.... Can i stay for the wedding?

I have breakfast, and head back to my room to grab my stuff and then head to the spa.. All of a sudden i hear fire crackers going off... i look out window and see a heart shaped string of firecrackers going off...and the stretch limosine, flanked by all these black cars, waiting to come in... The bride has arrived.... I decided that running downstairs and trying to bumb rush the bride to get a pic, was not appropriate... so I finished up my email, giving them enough time to clear the hallway....

I am off to take pics of the scenery.. .hope noone says i can't..I feel uneasy doing it, so i asked one of the waitresses at the restaurant and she says ok... I snap the banister and brave my way to the hallway. The gentleman there speaks English and says it's fine to take pics... As a matter of fact, he even offers to take my picture as well... I sure wish i could have stayed for the wedding..but somehow i think i uninvited, not appropriately dressed American, would definitely have stood out!

Team Builder

We meet in the lobby at work for 11...now i am realizing we aren't going to lunch... i should have eaten lunch earlier... guess i didn't get that email.... i should be fine though... We pile into cars and head to Cosa del Sol...one of my coworkers live here....We find out what groups we are in...and we need to choose a name... my team is Red Dragon.....My boss forgot his hat, so he makes a head wrap out of a tshirt... soooo hood!...












Event 1
We are doing an egg hunt on the grounds... we must find a minimum of 10 red eggs or for each egg under 10, we get a penalty egg..Clues are endangered species, where plants are cultivated, statue, elephant....I am looking in bushes like crazy...and no eggs...We find something wrapped in foil...maybe a fruit? i find a bubble bath in foil...i guess those will have to do....we have 2 eggs so far...a late comer is assigned to our team...he has no clue... we make our way to get our ribbon and penalty eggs, but lucky for us, the late comer has 6 eggs...don't ask....we get our ribbon and realize we are the last group... we took too long, so everyone is gone on ahead... Now we have a map telling us where to go for the next event....and we have a rope with 5 ends...we all need to be tied together....We set out on the road and up the hill...everyone on the road is looking at us, like what the heck is going on??? At the top of the hill, we see the parking lot where we need to be...

Event 2
We have water and juice.... we form two rows...one row has one of our team mates holding a water bottle. the other row about 3 yrds in front of that teammate, is where the rest of us are... there's a bucket in the middle between the two rows. We have to use bottle caps to dip in the bucket, and then fill our water bottle...the 3 bottles with the highest amount of water, gets rewarded... Ok...so there are 5 teams, one water bucket, and we are all diving in the bucket at the same time? This is going to be crazy...and we are off...mad dash for the bucket..i think most of the water in my cap fell out before i got to our bottle...we take turns and we are runnign like crazy, bumping into people, hysterical laughter.... Finally someone has an idea...drink some water, hold it in your mouth and then empty your mouth into the bottle....our bottle is almost full...We are all cheating, so they are trying to determine who played by most of the rules...lol....Come to find out, the winner gets the easy route up the moutain...and that sure wasn't fi mi team....









Event 3
Off we go, tied up again, up to the top of Tongniuling also known as UFO moutain..
. THis can't be that bad...Wait, you mean it's like a never ending staircase, and it's all uphill? Yes, Lawd...mi heart jumping out mi chest...mi team leader, Mr Fit, decide say we need to pick up the pace, so him pulling us...Urggggh...mi can't breathe....I need to rest....nope...no rest till u get to the top...dear fada..mi knees about to fall off, not to mention mi can't catch mi breath...We find the red ribbon, and mi can't believe instead of reaching for it in the trees, the giant stand up and make the other team just take it, right from under him..Argh#^$&*...so we need to go further to get another one....Got it...so keep going to the top....my team is about 2 staircase length ahead of me, as the leader pulled till the rope burst...the staircase is wider now, and the other team not letting my team pass... The top, sweet Jesus.... All the managers and drivers are there... of course, the managers get taxied from one point to the next... We get to rest...drink juice, eat chips....Please tell me it's over now....















Event4
The next event takes place right here.. Sweet, i can deal... There's hop scotch boxes drawn on the concrete, and each team gets to lay out all the eggs they found in event 1. Team members are blinded folded and directed to find the eggs by their team member (two at most)....Each member gets a minute to find eggs. If after a minute, more eggs are left, the next team member takes over... The team who does it in the shortest time gets a prize... This is hysterical...to your left, your left, the other left..LOL...the Chinese ones gives direction in chinese to their counterpart..no fair....everyone is screaming false directions...they don't stand a chance...Craccckkk! there goes an egg..... Loud mouth me is designated as the direction giver for my team. I pick the ones i am sure will be able to follow directions... 3, 2, 1 and we are off.... to the left, keep coming, straight, bend down, pick up an egg...1 down...7 more to go....4 in the first try...we are on a winning streak now... Team mate # 2...who switched? OMG...he starts off chest on the ground and he is swimming!!! I am fuming, everyone is laughing and i can't get him to get up off the ground...he totally blows it for us...i am horse from screaming... he is sweeping the floor with this hands and body..even going through the broken eggs....what a mess... he finds 1...I am sooo going to kill him.... Our next team mate finds the remaining eggs...



Event 5
Now it's time for the final stretch... we head downhill to the the parking lot... This is super easy as it is so step going downhill, that your feet don't even have time to stay grounded...you have to keep moving so you don't roll down the mountain.... Our team is hell bent on winning this event, so we are hustling...we are even taking short cuts through the woods... What a sumting if we get lost?...We don't care, we think we can make out a path, so we forge ahead.... Good...we not lost...and no other team in site.... level ground...finally... parking lot.... ahhhh..sweet victory....not....we are the second group... oh well, we tried.....

Event 6
It's late afternoon now, and the temperature has dropped..it is freezing.... are we going to dinner now? The managers have these Ikea shopping bags... a wonder how they got out of the store with them? aren't they for shopping while you are in the store?.... they are taking out portable stoves out the bags, knives, cutting boards... i see mayonnaise... ...what? is this the lunch they promised us? We have to make our own food? In the parking lot? I can't believe this..... oooohhh...it's a challenge..which team can make the best omelette... So the eggs from even one, are still alive and kicking... We get busy....one person lights the stove...the pan is on the stove with some butter... someone is whipping up the eggs, and i am cutting up the vegetables...we have no onions...but we can trade with antoher group....the tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, ham...all cut up... we have to use all the ingredients we found on the hunt.... My one teammate is pretty good at making omelette....he's got skills.... he flips the omelette over.... the sharks are ready to eat, but it can't be eaten until its judged...man, these people are cracking me up...they are ready to chow down..... ah....we have to name the omelette too? Island Omelette sounds good to me.... now for the finishing touches.... TAAAADAAAA.....





The bagettes are here, and we get to eat...this is hysterical...people are making more omelettes....the bread is goign like crazy.... and they think chinese people don't eat..... After all our hard work, our egg didn't even win...the all irish team won, as they served their omelette with beer to the judge.... we will be sure to remember that next time.....

Finally...we are off to dinner at Bashu...Hot Pots....i swear..i can't imagine what is it with these people and boiled meats..... We have like 4 tables upstairs in the restaurant... The chinese manager orders the basics, and the pots are going...i don't see anyting that i want...so i am ordering off the menue... shrimp, pork and fried rice....There's one guy sitting at my table (yeah, my teammate that was fast asleep while we did the blind folded egg hunt...had to be my teammate), who's taken on the role of chef...now i see why...so he can be the first to eat.... my dishes come and his eyes light up...by the time he passes the plate around...i barely get a piece of pork... great... same thing with the next plate... this guy is brutual...has no qualms.... except he don't care for rice, so that i get to eat... He is eating hot, cold, spicy...he is sweating...and he doesn't even take a break..his head doesn't come up from the bowl....Wasn't that the coke i ordered? Would i like some? I am sorry, I thought I ordered it.... ok...i can't watch any more...so i go to another table.... no he didn't just go to the next table and get some of their meat to put in the pot on his table...OMG, now he comes with his bowl and chopsticks to the table where i am sitting, and he is helping himself to the pot... lol..lol.... does he have food at home? i wish i had videoed this, as this is unbelievable....








At the end of the day, it was a great team builder, and i had a blast!

Shopping for a sweat suit

Our instructions are to dress warm, dress comfortably, preferably no jeans...and we will be doing outdoor activity... Rumor has it that we will be hiking... I need to get a sweat suit then, as my workout gear isn't warm enough... Stephen has driver drop me to the strip of sporting stores....Nike, Addidas...and some Chinese brands...

I wander into Nike....way too expensive... I don't even buy Nike workout clothes at home, let alone here.... Plan B...check out the sidewalk vendors... This reminds me of 52nd street in Philly..the vendors on the sidewalk are selling most of the same merchandise, as the store in which they are selling in front of... I wander into some more stores...jeans, tops...maybe i can find something to wear somewhere else? no such luck, as nothing but small sizes.... Some vendors are selling sweats, but obviously nothing larger than a size 2... Forget sweat suit...maybe i will get lucky and find something worthwile buying.. watches, fragrances, sneakers, baby clothes, socks, jeans, fabric, pillows, trinkets...u name it...it's there, but all 'made in china'...and wont' even survive past one wear or one washing.....

THis is not working out, and i must find a sweat suit, cause i can't freeze tomorrow.... so i head off to An Sheng...to the 4th floor... I wander around, checking out each room, looking for sweats and anything else i might like... Now would be a good time to focus, Paulette...you came with a purpose in mind....There are pink sweats, purple sweats, all kiddie looking styles...and too bright colors.... Finally, black pants and in a XL...wow...the chinese women must be getting bigger.... The salesperson is jabbering away in Mandarin, and it's my turn to smile, as i have no clue what she is saying... I manage to signal to her that i want to try it on, and she leads me to a 2 by 4 room...I come out to look in the mirror and she hands me a pair of sandals..they have sandals in the fitting room, so when u take ur shoes off, you put those on... The pants is too big, but it will work... I walk back to see if there's any more and this is my lucky day, i find it in a L....cool...

Now to pay...I point to the 30 sign i saw on the rack, and she jabbers on again....she fills out the receipt, and we go off on a journey...We go to the service desk on the second floor, and i see people completing a form... They show me a pink card, and i think oh, credit card... i show her mine and she says No... I show her my license and she says Yes... Now i am confused, as i bought something else here before and didn't have to do all this... I take out cash and she says no...This is great...i can't pay with card or cash, and i am not leaving the pants....We traips off to the 1st floor now....thank de Lord, this one speaks some English... but still can't explain why i need to fill out the form, but offers to help me... I complete my name, phone # and license number...and she gives me a pink card... and says when i pay, i get 40....Ahhhh.... a discount card..I am earnign money while i shop...LOl. I still haven't paid for the pants... The saleslady and i go back up to the 4th floor, where she takes me to a cashier...i pay the full price, she swipes the card... Of course, it should have been 30, but hey....maybe they just like me.....

Darnit...it's been one hour and i only bought 1/2 of the suit.... I am now looking at sneakers... don't know the word for size, and i need a bigger one... the calculator...great invention... i type the size i want and she smiles...now we are communicating... I noticed these sales people don't walk, they run to help you.... too funny.... I feel bad, as she made an effort to find my size, but i sure don't feel like paying $25 for Playgirl...who the heck still wears those?...lol....

I am in the men's department now, as no tops worthwhile or warm enough in girls.... I think i hit the jackpot now...she gives me one fresh out the plastic to try on... now i am set...Wait, i have a discount card to use.... now i am really smiling... The cashier is having problems swiping the card...does that mean i can't use it on the day it was issued? I hope not...her and the salesperson exchange a few words...it works this time...and i am a happy camper.... total spent on the top..$7US...I am so true to my name, Ms. Bargain Shopper!!

Dining Japanese Style

I actually have a coworker who is more finicky than me when it comes to food. He absolutely hates Chinese food...He will only eat Japanese and Korean... so today, we were off to Japanese again. The others convinced him to try someplace else, that they swore by. We pulled up into 5 Color City (the alleyway of bars and restaurants, and made our way to the restaurant. The one table downstairs is full, so they ushered us upstairs. Ahhh... looks like we will be dining japanese style today. The tables are low....with bench for the seats...but the bench is within the floor..almost like an attic effect..we take our shoes off, and i put on the sandals provided...evidently i was the only one to put them on.... we climbed on the bench/floor..then walked over to our place in the place, put your foot under the table and then sat down... Picture a coffin being lowered in the ground... the coffin is the table and the top level of the ground is where u sit.....
The waitress brings the menus....much to our surprise, there are no pictures, and the menu is in japanese... ummmmhhh...how the heck are we going to order?....So we hoisted ourselves from the table, and was off again, in search of another restaurant...This one has menus in English, but they are not open the owner says... Off we go again....round the corner...Oh, we have English menues....

We are led upstairs again, but to normal tables this time. The rooms with the lowered tables are visible, but i guess it's not open for dinning. We ordered guided by the pictures, and the few words some of my coworkers knew...

A group of 4 men wearing the same jacket comes and sits across from us.... and the smoking begins... i don't know they smoked that many cigarettes in about an hour....Etiquette is obviously not in chinese vocabulary... Don't talk about slurping as they invented the word.... i think people on the street could hear them slurping the piping hot soup.... when they eat with chopsticks, they bite everything...food hanging out mouth...and they just keep going like the food is running away... like my mom used to say 'like hog a nyam hot food'... just like the cafeteria at work.... no Chinese husband for me...lol

Then the food start coming... It's weird how they serve food here... the portion sizes are really small, but yet they bring it out for the whole table... No wonder they aren't fat... We had 2 fried rice, 2 (yes only 2) prawns on a stick, tempura shrimp and vegetables, beef with vegetables, fried chicken and potatoe/rice balls.. The rice balls were really great, i think even shrimp was in there. My one coworker is fuming, as he is still starving...lol...He vows never to come back....

The restaurant has no forks...and i can't use chopsticks.... so i am figuring out how to use the chopstick as a knife to cut the food, and then as a spear, to pick it up... the rice is a different story... Maybe i should practice on the packs of chopstick i bought for souvernirs....

Designer Paradise

Soo..... finally saw the other side of China....

At the start of the projects, on trips here, my coworkers stayed in the ShangriLa, a 5 star hotel downtown, which is right in the heart of the upscale shopping..Soo... i think it's high time I made my appearance... My coworker (male), is very much into fashion, so I had the perfect escort...

Of course this is the day i decided to wear my sandals, as i am sooo tired of wearing my batta sneakers..not to mention they don't match with all my outfits i want to wear... Just like a spite, the temperature drops in the evening, so i am freezing my butt and toes off... Which might explain why everyone kept staring at me... black girl, white guy, dreadlocks hair, sandals...ummmmmhhhh.... definite freak....LOL....

Our shopping excursion starts with Starbucks... I swear i've got to say no to their invites.... We head off to Zara... A Spanish label in Ireland frequented by Mr. GQ....The clothes are much like in H&M, and way affordable... My arms are full as i still can't believe the prices, and the fact that they might actually fit... My coworker is trying to convince me not to go crazy, as i can always come back to shop some more... We go upstairs to look at the active wear, but it's all teenager stuff...and petite at that... tried on a few sweat pants, but couldn't get them past my calves... An hour later, armed with a full bag.. we were off again....

Louis Vuitton... not finding the bag i was looking for...not that it matters, as i was only price checking...lol.... Fendi, MaxMara, Gucci, Hermes, D&G, Christian Dior...tons of other names that i wasn't too familiar with.... Stores in high rise buildings on either side of the street... ahh.... why couldn't i be staying downtown? Oh, yes....the traffic is a killer, and would turn my 10 min commute into 1+..... But i could always come back on the weekend....

We stopped in the ShangriLa...i guess to use the restrooms... Man i am in heaven....there is a fragrance throughout the hotel that is to die for... this is sweeeetttt!... If for one minute i thought there was no luxury cars in Dalian, that's been dispelled, as they are all right here... Do we have to leave now?

There's more store to peruse... Esprit? People still wear Esprit? It's big here? what? and expensive? definitely behind times on that.....So mi trying on this sneakers as mi tiyad fi mi toes freeze.... great... it nuh go past size 39...please tell me where the big foot chinese people dem get shoes fi buy?

Ah...too bad it's time to go home now....but i will definitely go back this weekend.....

Hot Pot

This is atually a style of cooking and not the name of the restaurant as i thought...Makes sense to me now, as i understand what was the purpose of the corded cabling looking sructure and the silver stove like thing in the middle of the table i saw when i went to Bashu the first time... You actually cook your own food at the stove in your table... Pretty cool, huh? It's ok..... if you like boiled food....

You order from the picture menu...vegetables, meat and tofu, if you wish... Then they bring the food out on separae plates, meat on one, vegetables on another and tofu.... all the meats look like bacon, and they are rolled like they would be on a lunchmeat platter..Don't think that the meat is seasoned, or that the fat is trimmed off either.. My coworker loves it...so he orders... lamb, beef and shrimp for me.... The pot is divided into the hot/spicy side, and then the mild side... so depending on the flavor u are looking for, decides which side you drop the food into the pot...

You also get to mix your own sauce...they start u off by bringing a sample they mix..and then u can spice it up as u wish... i tried mine, and at first it was ok...but then the peanut taste was getting to me...so at the fixing table i made a brand new concoction.... minus the peanut sauce... nuff garlic, escalion, peppers, and two different brown sauce...don't ask as i have no idea what they were...

The food was ok... at least the shrimp... mi and then boiled fatty fatty meat wasn't seeing eye to eye...mi did have to ask the coworker where is the rice...it look like the rice is not really a given... him ate just the meat and the vegetables...mi needed rice as mi can't eat so so meat and call that dinner....

Will i go back and do Hot Pot? You know me better than that... however, the ready cooked food dishes i will definitely partake of....

Club Hopping

The pool tournament starts at 7:30 not 7 like we thought, so now we can stop rushing to get there.... When asked if he knows where he is going, the driver issues his standard 'maybe'... My coworker gets so annoyed when he says that and retorts... it's either yes or no... not maybe... He calls the organizer who happens to be fluent in Mandarin as well, and hands the phone to the driver, so he can get directions.... We arrive at what looks like a night market area...the street is closed to traffic, and vendors line both sides of the street with their wares... ranging from cooked foods to clothes to household items... we make our way to the pool hall, with me being the center of attention again...got to get rid of this damn hair.....
















There are pool tables everywhere...some chinese locals are playing in the front half of the room...evidently not part of our tournament.... we make our way to the back.... Noone has brought their wives, so i am again the only female in a sea of about 20 men..... ah.... my life.....about 15 mins later everyone is here...the teams are formed, and the tournament begins....I walk around for a bit taking pics...









then spent the rest of the time sitting on a stool watching.....





Few of my coworkers are out..having lost all their games...so we make our way to Brooklyn...The owner is Chinese but born and raised in Chicago...this is definitely the hang out spot of expats as it's all about American food....authentic food... pizza, buffalo wings.... even diet coke.....ahh.... heaven.... we dig in....There's an Irish guy there with a bagpipe...did he bring it with him or it is always in the bar? We get a rendition of the French national anthem..... The rest of the crew has arrived and swarm in on the pizza..... yeah...let's get 2 more...and more wings.....
What's the party plan? Alice's..then Suzie Wong.....

I can't tell the difference between an American party city and China right now, as they are all the same.... there is no cover charge...There's two high tables at each end of the club, each with a pole dancer.... doesn't look hard what they are doing...maybe i should take a try at the pole.... We are on the dance floor now..rather the stage...it's all hip hop and club music...and these chinese people can't dance to save their lives...rhythm? i don't think they know what that is..... This brave likkle chiny man makes his way ova to me and start dancing... poor thing trying to follow mi steps but when mi go to the right him going to the left. i think him trying to get me to slow dung and wait fi him... Now im whispa in mi ears.. 'Tippy Toe'... i guess im on his tippy toes to try and equalize the height difference...DWL...The 'hype' crew...a guy and a girl are on the stage with mikes....chanting over the rythm....put your hands in the air...or whatever they think is the happening phrase....Everyone wants to be american..... Now there's actually more hype people on stage...one plays a fake guitar...and the others are actually singing....definitely different..... Wait deh... Sean Paul? Gimme way.... mek me show dem how fi dance....Mi and mi Irish coworker tek ova de dance floor....Dat's it? one reggae?.... alright...we leaving to the next spot...One Irish guy stop me to say hello...uummmmh.... Outside while we wait fi the driva fi come round, another guy comes up to me, poses with me, so him friend can take him picture... He might be french..not sure...as the English was a challenge....

Suzie Wong.... nice..... nuff foreigners...actually, bout 90% foreigners...more chinese women then men... some might be 'working girls'.... And yes, finally buck some Africans...are they ever not anywhere? Seems to be a lot of little kids too... wealthy Arabian kids...i guess there to experience the culture.... Russian folks as well... i think this club is expat heaven....Music is good... nuff hip hop...some reggae....not really brand new...eg...Beenie man..'Rory..and him whoring sista Naomi'..nuff mixing...and mi just realize...nothing chinese playing.... To get a booth, we need to buy a case of beer...hot nonethelesss..... mi Irish coworkers couldn't care less.... so we have our booth....

One of the Arabian kids mek im way ova to me, and start dance... deodarant evidently not in his repertoire.... 5 mins later, mi still a try get way from him...im manage to whispa to me...'you have any weed'?... still trying to understnad whey dem came from..... One of de Africans tap me on mi shoulder...where u from? Mi tell him Jamaica..and him tell me which part a Africa him from...like mi care.... And im tell mi him name...ask mi if mi memba.... One Sean Paul looking one complete with the braids a rope in a chiny girl pon the couch...now he is approaching me.... do you speak French? Thinking he needs a translator to close his deal, i was about to get my Irish coworker, but then he continues in English, asking if i can braid his hair? and if i can't, do i know anyone who can? Tells me he is from Madagascar...so why the hell u come wid u hair braided if you nuh know how you goign to keep it up? And wha mek im think mi interested ina de job???

At the bar, this expat finally land a chinese working girl fi de night... She a try hook up her friend with his friend, but the friend, very plain looking in jeans and tshirt..not having any of it... the guy a play wid her hair...next thing she and her friend went away and came back...hair all pinned up...DWL...dude, u might as well stap try, cause u nah get none tonight....dwl...

Some a wi crew gone, and mi a drop asleep now...when is the rest going to be ready? Finally... man...can someone lift me up and take me to the car?...the club is in a hotel, so on mi way out mi prips Max Mara.. HEEELLLOO... i have got to come back to shop....Turns out, we were in the Dalian New World Tower Shopping Center....

This has got to be the longest ride home ever... mi tiyad so till mi can't even move....but man, i had a great time!....

Starbucks

After grocery shopping, we decided to chill at Starbucks, which is at the bottom level of the An Sheng shopping center. Much to my surprise, the place was full...filled with teenagers with laptops, notebooks, bookbags, IPOD's..power chords running all across the floor...doing homework or just hanging out...can't beat the free wireles..... it's funny as i hear they are there all day....evidently it doesn't matter if they are patronizing Starbucks or not...i saw a couple girls returning with their subway sandwiches.....
We get skinny lattees and some kinda chicken sandwich with melted cheese..... if memory serves me right...this is like my 3rd time in Starbucks...the second time in China..... need to quit this habit before it starts....
The conversation turns to movies, and DVD's we can get for $2....and they are right here in An Sheng....so we head off to the spot... i am amazed....the spot is at the bottom of the elevator, and a man sits right in the store, copying the movies on the computer....then they get put in the authentic movie cover cases...complete with the plastic cover....just like the real thing.... old release, new release, prerelease, you name it, it's there...and if not, you can order it...LOL.... I pick out 5...Alice in Wonderland...New York's Finest, and some other older ones... one with Steven Segal and one with Richard Gere.... my two main men...doesn't matter what they star in...i could watch them all day... all night..... 75RMB (almost $10)... i am set for now... Caveat... they will only play in DVD's in China..or my laptop...no problem... i can hook the laptop up to my tv...problem solved.....

Grocery Shopping

...Scanning throught the housewares sections, mi stumbled on chopsticks, and tupperware...what is it with me and tupperware? the chopsticks will make good souvenirs...
...For some reason, i wasn't comprehending reading Mandarin would be impportant in grocery shopping...I figured pictures would be all i need.... that is assuming pictures were involved...or the mandarin writing nah cova up the pictures... good thing a mi and Regina go, and she had a good 8 months to master grocery shopping...
Milk...i need to choose from 3 aisles? Milk in boxes, milk in pastic bags, milk in bottles...and they are all non pasteurized? A tomorrow morning before mi can figure dis out.... Regina recommends the one her sons drink....


















Yogurt...low fat, regular or non fat?..no way to tell...so pick something that looks like what u used to.... Ah...and it's so cheap.... like 20c for the 6 pack...likkle did i know that the price was for each single unit....

















Sea cucumbers...4750RMB ($678)..wha kind a delicacy is this????
















There's aisles and aisles of cookies and chocolate....and dem not fat.... dem need to share the secret..... Of course the candies are the only thing where dem keep the english labelling...making sure u don't miss it...


Nuff meat...cooked and uncooked... all chicken foot mi see...and sure could do with some curry chicken foot...but not up to the cooking...


Julie mango look alike? A wonder if dem sweet? mi will soon find out... We passed a station where them put the weight and price on the items that have to be weighed... the cashiers not ringing it without the price and them don't weigh it...so try get it weighed and price before u go check out....


The bakery has bresh baked cookies...not just big ones, but even cheese nips size, so you can buy them by the pound... also fresh baked bread....




Rice or any grains can also be bought by the pound..




Swiss miss hot chocolate... mi neva bring enough, so mi can stock up..wait..one box for $7US?...is alright... mi navel string no cut pon hot chocolate....

Finally, diet coke or coke zero and the 16 oz bottle is like .37c? a wonda how mi can get some a dese back to the US?

I need a special detergent to wash the fruits? something about the pesticides...is it even safe to eat them? Laundry detergent... definitely....so mi can wash mi own clothes...saving the company money....how thoughtful.. :-)

Now that mi know where it is, mi sure will be coming back...so nuh need to empty the supermarket today.... The cashier ask if we need a bag, and when we say yes, she proceed to scan the barcode on the plastic bag...mi figet fi ask her de price....

I see all the supermarket in pon the 'made in china' bags.....and the names or logos nuh important cause dem sure not on there....

Flaire

It's Friday and i am soo looking forward to Happy Hour...hanging out with the crew....So where are we going guys? ...What do you mean there is no Happy Hour? I even dressed for Happy Hour after work... Now I am really not in the mood to do much... Most people are pretty much just going home and then maybe going out to have dinner...and yeah, everyone is married and most with kids...Single...and hanging with the couples or familes....not up to it tonight.... I head back to the Inn Fine and decide to check out Flaire...

From the hotel, it's a short walk..turn left at the Eiffel tower and then right...and it's in that alley.... ok...so where am i now? i am passing other hotels, and all these alleys are parking lots.... Cross the street, i see all these bar looking buildings...maybe it's over there... Crossing the street needs skills, as noone stops for pedestrians... Then there's the 1 foot curbs... these sidewalk definitely are not wheelchair accessible... Now i am navigating through the bushes in the middle of the road, as i crossed at the wrong point.. I hope no one sees me coming out the bushes....This can't be the right alleyway, as all i see are construction workers...I think i should make a phone call, before i end up missing in this alleyway.... Oh... i need to make a left at the snail on the building? Lifesize brightly colored animals in sort of a playland...actually, it's a play area for kids... uummmmh.... a kids play area in an alley filled with bars.... ahhh...so your kids play while u go partying... me like...hehe....There's actually a name for this alleyway of establishments... 5 color city....

I am on the right path now, heading down the right alley...which i seem to be sharing with cars parked and driving on either side...and i definitely do not have the right of way....safety is definitely not a concern in China.... Have i passed Flaire, as all these names are in Mandarin...... spoke too early... Flaire... I have arrived.... A car pulls up right as i do, and 3 people emerge, and they are Flaire bound as well.... This is a really cool restaurant...wouldn't have expected such a nice place down this seedy alley....





Pizza, pasta dishes (referred to as sphagetti), onion fries (rings), some german dishes, huge wine selection displayed in case in middle of restaurant... The restaurant is small, with the seating area downstairs, and an upstairs kitchen...The wait staff is Chinese, but i am sure the owner isn't... I really do like this place.... Is the crab meat in a patty format or it is small chunks? Ah.... Lucy will come and explain... Lucy speaks almost fluent English.... it's chunks of crab in a red sauce... Not what i am looking for, so give me the salmon... and throw in some onion rings.... I love the presentation... the rose is actually tomatoe skin...



The onion is crusted with a coconut layer...after about 3 pieces, i had enough coconut.... The salmon and sphagetti is actually good.... yeah... the cream sauce is not weight watcher endorsed.... 76RMB..and i had a great dinner.....

Now that i know the way, i hustle through the alley, back to the main street, to the Inn Fine.. It's a rap for the night....

Culture Differences

...Where to begin? This will have ongoing updates....
....Why are there boxes of facial tissues in the kitchen and the cafeteria?.. That's a new concept... facial tissues instead of napkins..... is that even functional?
... No tipping....as a matter of fact, they will be insulted if you tip...even chase u down to return the money.... i get my bags carried to the elevator/room/car... personal escorts when i am lost..great massage, pedicure, excellent service... and no tipping.... A definite must adapt practice....
...you are greeted with a bow and with an open sweep of their right hand, they welcome u in...
...jaywalking.... quite the norm...
...face mask... most people wear them...and no is not to protect from diseases like mi did think...but from the wind...cause it windy here... memba say is up North the city deh...
.....uniforms...every worker at every establishment wears uniform... the same color, style, same fabric....not each interpretation of what the uniform should be...at work, the cleaning crew wears gray slacks, grey vests and white shirts... the drivers all have to be dressed professionally...blazers and dress slacks...
...no ice!!!... if the beverage not room temperature, it barely chill....
...drinking glasses the size of a baby's sippy cup...so i end up making a zillion trips to fill up....
...hot tea/water instead of beverage with your meal.... something about your body using less energy if the beverage is hot???
.... wearing the same clothes day in day out.... heard of one coworker who in 8 months has finally worn a different pants to work.... all week this week, i noticed one with a black jumper and a red long sleeve top...supposedly they don't have dryers, and the clothes take a long time to dry so they don't wash often...and some might not have a lot of clothes.... here's a novel concept... alternate the days u wear the outfit...
....energy efficiency.... the lights in my apartment doesn't come on until i put the room key in the holder next to the door...great for saving energy...but increases my chances of locking myself out the aprt....
....no such thing as a full elevator...there's always room for more....
... personal space??? doesn't exist...
....one child policy...each family is limited to one child as the government pays all expenses including schooling for that child... if you choose to have another one, you owe the government 40000RNB (payment for that child)..... if your parents had one child, and your wife's parent had one child, then you and your wife get to have 2 children.... why can't America adopt this policy?

Chinese Minibus Experience

... Japanese for lunch... who's driving? One coworker's spouse is using his driver for the day, and the other one has no idea where his driver is... maybe if he hadn't told his driver he was firing him... We head on out to the gate to catch a bus.... We are getting on this bus? This vehicle is still licensed to run on the road, much less a passenger vehicle? ...Mi neva realize China and Jamaica share so many things in common.... I grabbed an available seat, and the guys stood up... couple stops later, the ducta motioned for them to fill in the empty seats...need to make room for more passengers... Bout half a de bus had bags, boxes, u name it, it on the bus... and no doubt, us three American stood out like sore thumbs...more so me...but regular thing fi me now.... Few more stops, and the ducta, armed with his black clutch (yes woman's clutch), unda im arm, walk through the bus and collect we fares... it's 3RMB, not the 2 mi coworker thought, so we dig fi more money... Why isn't the bus moving from this stop? The light bulb finally goes off.... need more passengers fi justify the trip...every seat full, but nuff standing room lef... it look like we out fi spend the whole lunch hour a wait fi a full load... But wait, a ina lap dem ago start put the people dem, mi coworker a dead wid laugh..... Press on driver... bus full now... Of all the days not to walk wid mi camera....will have to settle fi the few mi coworker tek wid him phone...





Are we getting any closer to our destination? Does this bus even have a defined route? Absolutely not... God help wi.... We decide to get off round the next bend.... we walked for a bit...good... here comes a cab.... Couple mins later, and we are at Ten-Kuu...fine dining Japanese restaurant....

The bartender welcomes my coworker...evidently a regular....He orders salads, rice, shrimp rolls, scallops patties...beef stew... I welcomed the hot tea...crap...hot water again... what the heck is wrong with these people? Mi need fi get the scope pon the hot water drinking.... The waitress comes back...no rice..no beef stew... How can a japanese restaurant have no rice? Ok...give us noodles... 2 mins later she returns...no noodles... This is crazy!... So we order another salad...and a different beef dish.... True to the recommendation, the food was great, despite the missing rice and noodles.. I am definitely coming back... but not on a thursday.. Friday is when dem go grocery shopping fi supplies..... The bartender gives us free coffee to compensate..... Mi come a china come turn coffee drinker.....

The trip back to the office was uneventful...we opted for a cab......

Karate

.... Karate class? it's only 50RNB per person....that's actually US$7! ...the class was fun...but it's been a while since i did kick boxing, so i kept watching the clock for the hour to end...and the hour came and went, and we were still doing our drills... how long is this hour? Ah....it's a 2 hour class....note to self... find out all the details before hand next time...

The class size was 5 total....3 expats spouses and 1 coworker.... The group delighted in talking about their kids, mostly toddlers through 2nd grade...their schools...chinese vs english schools... their teachers....their adjustment to china....who is getting pregnant next year.... whose stomach has no strength due to childbirth 6 months ago.....etc... One asked what about me, do you have any kids? Oh, no...i don't...actually, i guess i should have clarified that by stating that my one child is grown..and way past the stages they were discussing.... but then again...my interest wasn't in the conversation.... They even seemed surprised when they found out I actually WORKED!...lol....

The instructor is awefully young... but then again... all the chinese people look so young... and he is awfully cute...uummmmmhhh.... What, you want us to spin around backwards, jump on the front leg and drop kick with the back leg? Am I in a kung fu movie?...i wish i had a camera to capture our attempts....lol... jab, jab cross...hop, left kick... i remember these from kick boxing... i am ready to kick butts now.....

Karate is over, and they are going out for drinks...but i declined the invitation... i am really tired...and just want to go home...plus, i am od'ed on their conversation topics.... You can have orange juice, or a sandwich.... ah... maybe next time.....

My coworker and i stopped at the bread store...picked up two loaves of freshly baked bread and head home.... darned it.... no whole wheat or whole grain bread... i am sooo going to gain weight....

First Day of Work ...

Work started today, so the blogging isn't timely anymore.... Social networking is banned in China, so mi can only get to Facebook and the blog, via mi company's private network...

Michael picks me up like around 7:10 for work which starts at 7..lol...and of course when we get there, we need to have breakfast in the cafeteria.... You can view all that's offered on the counter in sample dishes, and you order by pointing to what u want. I think i ended up with fried egg, a short fat hotdog looking thing, fried dumpling with God only knows what's inside, and bread liking like Indian fried bread...or funnel cake.... Money isn't accepted in the cafeteria, so Michael pays by swiping his monthly allowance card... Ahhh... i need to get one ..... At the table, i sliced open the dumpling, and moved onto the next item, not liking what's inside...maybe it's like string vegetables?.... I tasted the hotdog...not sure i like the taste...so i settled for the fried egg...can't go wrong with that...and take a bite of the bread... sweetish and definitely fried...that might work... Michael returns with the hot water, and i open my hot chocolate packet... I think i only have like 4 more left.... We are late for a training class, so we grab the food and head upstairs...

Training is automation overview for the PE's... are they even understanding anything? ....Ah...well....the quiz at the end will tell.....

Lunchtime, the guys take me to a Korean restaurant...and they made sure to order 'safe' foods..having heard about my weekend experience.... so i enjoyed ribs, fried rice, pork and beef with vegetables.... I think i can actually start to like Korean food.... If only i can get them to start serving sodas/drinks, and skipping the lukewarm unsweetened tea....

Back in the office.. not much going on, as i need to get monitors, cables, request access.... so i am enjoying some more free time....
All of a sudden, i hear rustling and the office gets noisy... everyone is standing up...are we having a fire drill? Naahhh... the buses leaves at 4, so it's a mass exodus out the building....The workers are bused to the fab so it's time to go.....

Cycling starts at 5:30...and i don't want to be late.....but i don't know where the gym is... One of the receptionist escorts me down a long hallway to an older part of the hotel...and here were are at the basement of the gym... 5fls later...here we are.... CHristy and AL are already there.... here comes Hendrix... Melissa is opting out tonight as it's not the English instructor.... I think i will be brave.... Turns out class was ok.... We cycled to chinese reggae and hip hop... i just followed the instructor...wasn't hard to do, as there was only one move.... standing up cycling...rock to the left, then to the right...song, after song after song.... i guess he and his sidekick think they are in a hip hop video...lol.... 10 mins to go, and my legs are tired....so i spent about 5 mins doing some strenght training......

It's almost 8:30 and my dinner partner hasn't called... guess he is still stuck at work.... luckily Eddie's delivers... so i end up eating enchiladas for dinner... Who would have ever thought that I would actually eat and enjoy Mexican food for dinner? When the choice is the alien Chinese food in the Inn Fine hotel, Mexican sure was heaven!

China/North Korean Bridge

Whoever told me it was getting warmer in China, must not have any concept of what warmth is...I am wearing 3 tops, a jacket and a scarf, and i am still freezing...and being along the water front sure isn't helping matters any.... God, i wish i had long johns under my jeans.....

Finally made it to the China/North Korean bridge....











From the bridge, you could actually see the North Korean shore, and fishermen near the shoreline. You could also view the soldiers patrolling the borders through the telescopes...but i wasn't up to feeding the telescopes for the view... The actual demolition of the bridge, resulting in the separation of the two countries, was brought about by American fighter jets, back in 1950.

Our picture taking infront of the historical wall before proceeding to the bridge, was rudely interupted, by a chinese national not wanting to wait his turn to take pics of the wall... All i heard was the loud talking, followed by some rapid gestures and next thing i know, i was being pushed out the way...lol... My chinese coworker argued with the guy, i am assuming telling him we were almost done and then the wall was all his... All this while, i stood my ground, thinking to myself...how dare u push me out the way...dude, it is sooo on....lol....Ahhh...did it ever occur to me, that this man was 3 times my size, not to mention, who knows how well I was being received, as an American? .... I see the ole teggareg in me was coming out....










We did the bridge walk, took some pictures, clowned around a bit, and then we were off to the next stop on our journey. Now it's starting to rain... this weather sucks...Arghhhh... Supposedly, this stop is the original great wall... or part of.... The group decided against paying the $60 RNB per person just to go in and take pics, so we conducted our picture taking from outside the gate.... The extent of the area we were not allowed in, was just a parking lot...with debris, mostly bricks and broken down structures on both sides.... so i would think we did not miss out on a whole lot....

Onto our final stop..... Bing Yu Gou.... natural landscape beauty.... Raining, and freezing, i wasn't sure how this boat ride tour was going to go down... I wanted to go home, but the crew insisted on making the trek since we were almost there. There is not enough water, so no boat...great, I get to go home...to warmth.... What??? they want to hike it instead? Oh man.....Jaimey and i resigned ourselves to another 3 hour nap time in the car, as there is no way, i was going hiking in the rain, in below freezing temperatures.....

Sooo..... I had to resort to my jamaican background....as there was no way, i was using another standup bathroom.....Poor Jaimey...driving around to find a secluded spot....lol.....

3 hours later, and here comes the rest of the crew from their hike and picture taking...I hope they realize what a great team player i have been.... and if they dare open their mouth to request one more stop from the driver.... all hell about to pop loose.... Next stop, the Inn Fine...home sweet home!

Ahhh..... out the car, into the lobby....bellman in tow with the suitcases.....what a weekend!