Our stay with the monks at the Buddhist monastery reminded me a bit of Thailand and the hilltribe stays: very rustic and showers with spiders and who knows what are common. Unfortunately we had a curfew and no alcohol was allowed (remember Leslie how that helped with those bathrooms>!?!!? haha)
I absolutely loved the hiking to the monastery which was located at the top of a mountain and we saw tons of monkeys there and on the way! They monkeys here have red faces and are about the size of a 4 year old who eats too many snacks since they are fed tons of garbage food by the tourists. They are actually a little threatning and you can't have water showing or drinks showing when you walk through monkey areas! Crazy! Our hike guide had an orange juice on the outside of his backpack and a monkey sneaked up and grabbed it. He chased after it for a little while while waving his walking stick and screaming a few choice words in Mandarin. He didn't catch the mono but it did unscrew the cap of the bottle and drink it in front of his face!!! Haha. It was funny. On the hike we enjoyed great views, rivers, many trees, cicadias, and ate a yummy dinner at this older couples house (very rustic...bathroom is bascially the side of the mountain and the bedroom may be the only enclosed room) and they were so cute and sweet! They named their restaurant the "Hard Wok" restaurant which gave all of us a chuckle and they also provided us with some yummy crepe-like banana chocolate pancakes for breakfast. Mmmmm.
We also visited a nunnery and met some of the cutest kids there. They were quite good at English and were taking a drawing class in the mountains with the beautiful scenery. Their drawings were amazing - I took pictures. Two little girls gave Deepa and me some dates and so we shared some Cheerios with them. It was so funny to watch them eat them - it's extrememly western and I think it was their first encounter with them.
On completely different note, it's been funny to be in China while it is so quickly developing. It means there are constant juxtopositions of old and new. For example, while hiking in the mountains we walked past a house with chickens running around outside, thatched-type roof, falling apart walls, and it had a HUGE satellite dish on it! Haha. It also means things like the roads will be amazing (the infastructure here is quite good), but little kids don't wear diapers - just assless pants - and they poo anywhere. Middle of a town square, sidewalk, etc. It's just fascinating.
Moving on: we cruised along the Yangtze River the past 3 days and really enjoyed that as well. In the year 2009 the dam that they are building will change the landscape of the 3 gorges area a ton - we feel very lucky to have seen them before they are resolved to nothingness. They are raising the river another 150 meters within the year, I believe. There are huge signs all over with 150M on them - everything below them will be gone. A lot of the farming people are going to be displaced and the dam is very controversial, but it will be a source of tons of energy and it will control flooding.
Crazy to hear about the weird bombing things in London and just got a warning about Al Quaeda in India. Keeping my fingers crossed....Thankfully there was a cease fire in Lebanon-Israel conflict, right? News here isn't so great.
Miss you - take care! We're off to a train for the next 15 hours and then onto some small towns...not sure when you will here from me. No worries, though, we're not where the typhoon is going on.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Vegetarian Feast...MMMMMM/.
Eating in China has been not so fantastic...I think Deepa and I have managed to lose a few pounds because to us, rice gruel isn't exactly a good brekkie. Also, other dishes are not balanced (as in all noodles, or all meat, or all cooked lettuce) so we haven't really felt satiated yet. That is until we were informed of a vegetarian FEAST (as we all did...) at a goregous buddhist temple. 12 courses, none of which I have a clue of it's name, were all fantastic! There were little fake shrimps, potato based chicken, etc. It was fantastic.
Also did traditional hot pot (minus my vege roomie, tear) where you have boiling broth - we had pork and Szechuan chili, to dip in veges and thin pieces of meat. Pork, steak, lettuce, CHinese swamp spinach, etc. I TRIED the Szechuan chili broth and nearly went to the fire department since my whole body went up in flames. My lips felt larger than Angelina Jolie's! A good precursor for some of the spicy food we'll be eating in Northern India I suppose (and a fantastic remidner NOT to get a lip job...if my lips were as big as they felt, I wouldn't fit through a door).
Hot pot was a ton of fun and people who are around MI, we'll have to do it when I get back!
Went to a traditional tea house here in Chengdu and enjoyed very strong and bitter (we steeped too long...) tea on a beautiful river where local fams were renting boats. We were sitting by the willow tree a few families managed to get caught in! It reminded me of when a friend and I tried canoeing at MSU and totally needed to get evacuated from the tree we landed in! There were also the cutest kids by us whose parents had gotten them bubbles and they had an absolute ball blowing them all over. Managed to get some cute pictures :)
Saw pandas as well - very cute - and met the Olympic panda - Xing Xing. They really love them here - it's the national animal.
All in all, things are great. We are busy all the time. Too much to write about. Today we're on the way to the mountains to hike and stay at a monestary. Sadly no gambling for us there and a 9oclock curfew awaits for us.
Last note: the only western toilets are in our hotel rooms. Makes life interesting. I have assembled a "toilet perparedness kit" which includes toilet paper, dove wipes, hand sanitizer, and a rosary so I can say a great deal of prayers in an effort to avoid the many horrendous things that can happen to you in there. Next item to include: a gas mask.
We're off! Miss you! And Mrs. P - the monastery has tons of vegetarian food (actually that's all they have) so your little one will be well fed!
P.S. I think while in China I can't access any people's blogs. IN fact, I am sure of it since I have tried sooo many times, so please email me updates!
ox
cb
Also did traditional hot pot (minus my vege roomie, tear) where you have boiling broth - we had pork and Szechuan chili, to dip in veges and thin pieces of meat. Pork, steak, lettuce, CHinese swamp spinach, etc. I TRIED the Szechuan chili broth and nearly went to the fire department since my whole body went up in flames. My lips felt larger than Angelina Jolie's! A good precursor for some of the spicy food we'll be eating in Northern India I suppose (and a fantastic remidner NOT to get a lip job...if my lips were as big as they felt, I wouldn't fit through a door).
Hot pot was a ton of fun and people who are around MI, we'll have to do it when I get back!
Went to a traditional tea house here in Chengdu and enjoyed very strong and bitter (we steeped too long...) tea on a beautiful river where local fams were renting boats. We were sitting by the willow tree a few families managed to get caught in! It reminded me of when a friend and I tried canoeing at MSU and totally needed to get evacuated from the tree we landed in! There were also the cutest kids by us whose parents had gotten them bubbles and they had an absolute ball blowing them all over. Managed to get some cute pictures :)
Saw pandas as well - very cute - and met the Olympic panda - Xing Xing. They really love them here - it's the national animal.
All in all, things are great. We are busy all the time. Too much to write about. Today we're on the way to the mountains to hike and stay at a monestary. Sadly no gambling for us there and a 9oclock curfew awaits for us.
Last note: the only western toilets are in our hotel rooms. Makes life interesting. I have assembled a "toilet perparedness kit" which includes toilet paper, dove wipes, hand sanitizer, and a rosary so I can say a great deal of prayers in an effort to avoid the many horrendous things that can happen to you in there. Next item to include: a gas mask.
We're off! Miss you! And Mrs. P - the monastery has tons of vegetarian food (actually that's all they have) so your little one will be well fed!
P.S. I think while in China I can't access any people's blogs. IN fact, I am sure of it since I have tried sooo many times, so please email me updates!
ox
cb
Friday, August 04, 2006
Terra Cotta Warriors
Did you know that the Terra Cotta Warriors are all airheads? (They are hollow!!!)
Quite an amazing sight to see....each face of the thousands is different. Some are cute, most are not. They were built to protect a king in his death chamber as he was placed in there with all of his expensive belongings.
Sidenotes: Tianamen Square is HUGE and everyone sells Chairman Mao watches with his arm moving around. Sorry, all, I didn't buy any for you.
--Tomorrow we're going to do Tai Chi in the am with locals.
--Here in the massive internet cafe filled with many gamers, DVD watchers, and online chatters, there is a man yelling "Shai Mai Shee Ai Yaaaa" which I think means he's selling green tea.
----It's rarely quite in China so far and the following things don't exist:
-crosswalks that are safe
-lines of any sort
-unpushy people
-peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (however, we can get them in India!!)
:) Won't hear from me for a few as we have a 17 hour train ride tomorrow as we officially leave dumpling land!
Quite an amazing sight to see....each face of the thousands is different. Some are cute, most are not. They were built to protect a king in his death chamber as he was placed in there with all of his expensive belongings.
Sidenotes: Tianamen Square is HUGE and everyone sells Chairman Mao watches with his arm moving around. Sorry, all, I didn't buy any for you.
--Tomorrow we're going to do Tai Chi in the am with locals.
--Here in the massive internet cafe filled with many gamers, DVD watchers, and online chatters, there is a man yelling "Shai Mai Shee Ai Yaaaa" which I think means he's selling green tea.
----It's rarely quite in China so far and the following things don't exist:
-crosswalks that are safe
-lines of any sort
-unpushy people
-peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (however, we can get them in India!!)
:) Won't hear from me for a few as we have a 17 hour train ride tomorrow as we officially leave dumpling land!
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Concubines
Did you know that the Emperor of China had an entire wing of the Forbidden City dedicated to house his 3,000 concubines? (and they wonder why there are so many peopele here!) Also, if you are a concubine and you try to kill the king while you are concubining, he will have his people rip off your flesh over the course of three days then tie you up to 5 horses and pull you in all directions? One thing I learned: If you are a Chinese concubine, you best just do your basic duty and not pull any fast ones.
The Forbidden City was okay...felt like once you saw one beautiful building, you saw them all. There was, however, a Starbucks smack dab in the middle of it! Nearly everyone in the group treated themselves to the only cold thing in the house: Frappuccinos! It's sad how much chains (KFC, McDo, Starbucks, etc.) have broken the market here. Our guide told us that the young kids prefer the fast food to the local food. Which brings me to the next point: Local food...very meaty, which is surprising since this is a country with many Buddhists. Dumplings (dim sum) are everywhere! Breakfast is awful - rice porridge or something like that (haven't tried it...), and there are plenty of dried animal looking bits around if you are interested in a snack. Johanna they have ha flakes by the bushelful! Haha.
We're out of Beijing which is nice (very, very busy) and are in Xi'an. We've eaten in the Muslim Quarter (who would have known?!?) which means no pork, but plenty of lamb and special bread. We are doing a bike ride soon around the old city wall (they are all about the city walls here!!) and plan on getting foot massages in a few. Tonight we're onto a dumpling party - I have heard you can't get dumplings in the south of China and I hope not because I am sick of them! All is well. Looking forward to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Mmmmm.
The Forbidden City was okay...felt like once you saw one beautiful building, you saw them all. There was, however, a Starbucks smack dab in the middle of it! Nearly everyone in the group treated themselves to the only cold thing in the house: Frappuccinos! It's sad how much chains (KFC, McDo, Starbucks, etc.) have broken the market here. Our guide told us that the young kids prefer the fast food to the local food. Which brings me to the next point: Local food...very meaty, which is surprising since this is a country with many Buddhists. Dumplings (dim sum) are everywhere! Breakfast is awful - rice porridge or something like that (haven't tried it...), and there are plenty of dried animal looking bits around if you are interested in a snack. Johanna they have ha flakes by the bushelful! Haha.
We're out of Beijing which is nice (very, very busy) and are in Xi'an. We've eaten in the Muslim Quarter (who would have known?!?) which means no pork, but plenty of lamb and special bread. We are doing a bike ride soon around the old city wall (they are all about the city walls here!!) and plan on getting foot massages in a few. Tonight we're onto a dumpling party - I have heard you can't get dumplings in the south of China and I hope not because I am sick of them! All is well. Looking forward to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Mmmmm.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Ne Hao Ma
The Great Wall is just that. Great. Absolutely goregous. However, we all nearly died on the Great Wall because it poured on us for about half of our trek, but trust me, it was a blessing. You see, the rain got rid of the annoying "friends" we had that tried to sell us tons of stuff! The people will follow you for a 5 hour hike just to sell a tshirt! The person who pegged Deeps and me was an old lady (90 years old, 80 pounds) who wanted to pull me up a steep part. Nice, but no thanks! I can just see the headlines "US citizen kills innocent old lady on Great Wall." Aside from tshirts, you can also buy beer. They have to cater to the Aussie and British population somehow!
On a more serious note, we are loving China. The GW was absolutely breath taking and amazing. We hiked through 30 towers - some from the Ming dymasty and some from another dynasty. Some parts are finished, and some are not - I would have never been able to run the unfinished parts like the soldiers had to!
I think it's the only man made structure you can see from the moon and I believe it because we didn't get too far in 5 hours of diifficult hiking. It's simply massive.
Beijing is interesting...there are a lot of large skyscrapers with the traditional Chinese roofs, the people are surprisingly nice, and the language barrier is enormous. Traffic rivals the Bay Area. We went to the Temple of Heaven and were amazed at how well perserved some of the extremely old buildings are, and very bright - much red, yellow, green, blue and gold. We've also had the traditional Peking Duck dinner, not a fan, and have gone grocery shopping to find that the boxes of Cheerios here have each serving in individual bags. Love it!
The subway here is clean, people not pushy, and everything is written in English as well. They are prepping heavily for the Olympics which come here in 2008 - TONS of building, renovation, etc. Beijing is also very clean...people sweep the streets, subway, etc. constantly. Pollution is awful, awful, awful (LA times 10) BUT today we have a blue sky day (VERY VERY unusual). We'll enjoy our tour of the Forbidden City with the sun on our backs :)
Watched an acrobatics show yesterday eve. The kids were doing the most amazing things - three tiered human pyramids with 3 back tucks off of the top, running up poles and doing flips off, etc. Quite amazing!
All is well...probably won't hear from me for a few days as we are taking a train tomorrow to some village or something. Take care!!!!
On a more serious note, we are loving China. The GW was absolutely breath taking and amazing. We hiked through 30 towers - some from the Ming dymasty and some from another dynasty. Some parts are finished, and some are not - I would have never been able to run the unfinished parts like the soldiers had to!
I think it's the only man made structure you can see from the moon and I believe it because we didn't get too far in 5 hours of diifficult hiking. It's simply massive.
Beijing is interesting...there are a lot of large skyscrapers with the traditional Chinese roofs, the people are surprisingly nice, and the language barrier is enormous. Traffic rivals the Bay Area. We went to the Temple of Heaven and were amazed at how well perserved some of the extremely old buildings are, and very bright - much red, yellow, green, blue and gold. We've also had the traditional Peking Duck dinner, not a fan, and have gone grocery shopping to find that the boxes of Cheerios here have each serving in individual bags. Love it!
The subway here is clean, people not pushy, and everything is written in English as well. They are prepping heavily for the Olympics which come here in 2008 - TONS of building, renovation, etc. Beijing is also very clean...people sweep the streets, subway, etc. constantly. Pollution is awful, awful, awful (LA times 10) BUT today we have a blue sky day (VERY VERY unusual). We'll enjoy our tour of the Forbidden City with the sun on our backs :)
Watched an acrobatics show yesterday eve. The kids were doing the most amazing things - three tiered human pyramids with 3 back tucks off of the top, running up poles and doing flips off, etc. Quite amazing!
All is well...probably won't hear from me for a few days as we are taking a train tomorrow to some village or something. Take care!!!!
Friday, July 14, 2006
Baby steps
There are a number of things I have to do now that I am back in the Midwest:
- use at least 10 products in my hair to attempt undermining humidity's GRAND effects
- wear bug spray at night or itch for hours
- wear as little clothing as possible since it's, oh, 92 and up
- pretend I remember people from HS when they spot me and insist on talking
- watch lightning bugs flutter and spark
- drive an SUV (anything beats the slow Saturn)
- drive at least 80mph on the express way
- cry and complain about Detroit's recent losses: Redwings - Steve Yzerman and
Shanihan and Pistons: Ben Wallace
I find myself baby hunting as there are 3 newbies around here that I must visit: cousin, quasi-niece, and friend's baby. Makenna, my quasi-niece (I am referred to as Aunt Catie!), is so cute and we are best friends. Pictures will be up asap.
Other than baby hunting, I have been making jewelry and reading a lot. Exciting things happening here in the great mitten state :)
- use at least 10 products in my hair to attempt undermining humidity's GRAND effects
- wear bug spray at night or itch for hours
- wear as little clothing as possible since it's, oh, 92 and up
- pretend I remember people from HS when they spot me and insist on talking
- watch lightning bugs flutter and spark
- drive an SUV (anything beats the slow Saturn)
- drive at least 80mph on the express way
- cry and complain about Detroit's recent losses: Redwings - Steve Yzerman and
Shanihan and Pistons: Ben Wallace
I find myself baby hunting as there are 3 newbies around here that I must visit: cousin, quasi-niece, and friend's baby. Makenna, my quasi-niece (I am referred to as Aunt Catie!), is so cute and we are best friends. Pictures will be up asap.
Other than baby hunting, I have been making jewelry and reading a lot. Exciting things happening here in the great mitten state :)
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Grand Mesa Fe
Santa Fe is surprisingly cute and extremely artsy. Last night we went out for a Tex-Mexy meal and I had really tasty Mole Chicken and green rice. What's the deal with that? Do they grow green rice, put food coloring in it, cook it with spinach?
Mesa Verde was also wonderful - it's very well preserved ruins from a group of Puebloan People. Apparently Anasazi is not PC anymore and I almost fell over when this very astute 10 year old asked the tour guide:
"Why did the Indians, I mean Native Americans, I mean Anasazis, oh, I mean Puebloan Poeple, trade sand stone for other rocks? Who would have wanted their rock since it's so soft?"
Haha. I like to be PC and all, but it is getting harder and harder in my old age to keep up with all of this. I hope today at the Santa Fe Farmer's Market I don't misspeak and end up smacked across the head :)
The Grand Canyon is very appropriately named...hiked for a while until the thunderstorm came and kicked everyone and their moms (me included) onto one of the very few Grand Canyon busses (can't drive in most parts there). If you think public restrooms smell, try a bus full of drenched hikers. Most from Europe. It's true: many Europeans do wear deodorant, but many don't. However, that didn't ruin the spectacular views and wonder the Canyon holds. Pictures can't capture it, but I am trying here....
(Wild Animal Park - San Diego - Amazing place!)
Saturday, July 01, 2006
And it goes like this:
Shake your groove thing, shake your keys, clap three times, kick you left leg out, kick your right leg out, be ready to run at any time, scream when compelled...
I call this the "The walkway to my house sometimes has rattlesnakes. Make some noise" dance.
Times Johanna and I have done it: 6.
I call this the "The walkway to my house sometimes has rattlesnakes. Make some noise" dance.
Times Johanna and I have done it: 6.
Friday, June 30, 2006
SeaTac and Malibu
Currently relaxing after a day at the beach in Malibu with Johanna. We managed to see a movie shoot of some kind and kept our eyes peeled for Jessica Simpson and Reese Witherspoon. No dice. We also went to a lovely diner for lunch and promptly walked out when the vege sandwiches were, oh, $15.00. We're so not So Cal!
Seattle area was great fun...my mom met up with my grandma's cousin and me wearing the brightest outfit I have ever seen (seriously...flourscent green top and printed Hawaiian jungle pants...apparently designer marked down to $9.00. And she wonders why.). After we sorted out that the outfit needed to go, we managed to eat some yummy seafood, I learned to knit and pearl, and we chatted with some of our cousin's friends who have the most interesting histories. For example, Joy moved to Oklahoma in the 1950's from NY and the KKK on her yard telling her, the Yankee, to go home. Dodie's husband worked on the first monkey to go into outerspace and their family lived in Cairo! I learned the my grandma's cousin directed the first play in Detroit of mixed races in the 1950's as well. The mixture: African American and Polish immigrants.
Tomorrow is Alex and Leyla's reception, the entire reason we're down here. CHeck out pictures of their civil ceremony in SF www.inthemachine.blogspot.com
Then Sunday, off to San Diego to kind-of start the drive back east...after we go to every park, museum, and beach we can! I will keep you posted as I can.
Seattle area was great fun...my mom met up with my grandma's cousin and me wearing the brightest outfit I have ever seen (seriously...flourscent green top and printed Hawaiian jungle pants...apparently designer marked down to $9.00. And she wonders why.). After we sorted out that the outfit needed to go, we managed to eat some yummy seafood, I learned to knit and pearl, and we chatted with some of our cousin's friends who have the most interesting histories. For example, Joy moved to Oklahoma in the 1950's from NY and the KKK on her yard telling her, the Yankee, to go home. Dodie's husband worked on the first monkey to go into outerspace and their family lived in Cairo! I learned the my grandma's cousin directed the first play in Detroit of mixed races in the 1950's as well. The mixture: African American and Polish immigrants.
Tomorrow is Alex and Leyla's reception, the entire reason we're down here. CHeck out pictures of their civil ceremony in SF www.inthemachine.blogspot.com
Then Sunday, off to San Diego to kind-of start the drive back east...after we go to every park, museum, and beach we can! I will keep you posted as I can.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Endings and Beginnings
The last day of school came and passed anti-climactically and I have officially left the Bay Area to begin my soul-finding journey for a few months. Currently I find myself in my great friend Bobby's new place with my sister and his partner in the posh Pearl District in Portland.
Yesterday, we went to the fantastic Rose Garden, pretty appropriate for the City of Roses, and watched as Bobby nearly ate the roses as he smelled them with his whole face inside the floweres. Then we moseyed onto the river front and admired how Mount Hood looks over the city like an overprotective father: always present and endearing in it's own special way. In the evening, we went out for tapas and enjoyed octopus, Pisco Sours, quinoa, ceviche, and mint-salsa. Mmmmm. Today we're headed to the PO (Pacific Ocean) to avoid the oh-so-fricken-hot temps. On the agenda: frisbee, making sand castles, and throwing Vicky into the ocean when she is least expecting it. Tomorrow I am taking the Amtrack up to Seattle area and will join my cousin and mom for some more Pac Northwest Fun.
Yesterday, we went to the fantastic Rose Garden, pretty appropriate for the City of Roses, and watched as Bobby nearly ate the roses as he smelled them with his whole face inside the floweres. Then we moseyed onto the river front and admired how Mount Hood looks over the city like an overprotective father: always present and endearing in it's own special way. In the evening, we went out for tapas and enjoyed octopus, Pisco Sours, quinoa, ceviche, and mint-salsa. Mmmmm. Today we're headed to the PO (Pacific Ocean) to avoid the oh-so-fricken-hot temps. On the agenda: frisbee, making sand castles, and throwing Vicky into the ocean when she is least expecting it. Tomorrow I am taking the Amtrack up to Seattle area and will join my cousin and mom for some more Pac Northwest Fun.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Summer Love
Anyone who knows me is hyperaware that the end of the school year is the best thing that could happen to me right now, and it's almost here! Yeah! Deeps and I are planning our travels, and have decided on China and India after Africa was totally overwhelming and expensive. It's going to be amazing and here are some of the things we are doing in China:
Half-day bicycle excursion and lunch- Yangshuo
Boat trip through the Three Gorges
Yangzte river tributary excursion
Three Gorges Dam Tour - Yichang
Lingyin Si Temple and city tour - Hangzhou
Countryside village tour - Tunxi
Huangshan
Shanghai Museum - Shanghai
Zhouzhuang town
Humble Administrators Garden - Suzhou
Master of the Nets Cultural Show - Suzhou (seasonal);
Terracotta Warriors tour - Xi'an
Ancient houses and city wall - Pingyao
Hanging Monestary
Yungang Grottoes - Datong;
Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City guided tour - Beijing
Great Wall tour and entrance fee - Beijing
Huiling and Rickshaw Tour - Beijing
Deepa has been working hard to plan India and it appears that she is doing wonderful things with that. Her parents have friends and relatives there who are going to help us out and she's making sure we see and do all the wonderful country has to offer.
In other news, the wedding shower for Leyla was a success and it was wonderful to spend the evening with lovely ladies. I love that 2 people got her raw foods books and veges wrapped up :) So cute. Weddings are excuses to get things that you normally deem excessive, like a paella pan, and cook books.
Oh and being homeless with Alex and Leyla is fun and has been really relaxing. Yeah for not having a home. Thanks!
Half-day bicycle excursion and lunch- Yangshuo
Boat trip through the Three Gorges
Yangzte river tributary excursion
Three Gorges Dam Tour - Yichang
Lingyin Si Temple and city tour - Hangzhou
Countryside village tour - Tunxi
Huangshan
Shanghai Museum - Shanghai
Zhouzhuang town
Humble Administrators Garden - Suzhou
Master of the Nets Cultural Show - Suzhou (seasonal);
Terracotta Warriors tour - Xi'an
Ancient houses and city wall - Pingyao
Hanging Monestary
Yungang Grottoes - Datong;
Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City guided tour - Beijing
Great Wall tour and entrance fee - Beijing
Huiling and Rickshaw Tour - Beijing
Deepa has been working hard to plan India and it appears that she is doing wonderful things with that. Her parents have friends and relatives there who are going to help us out and she's making sure we see and do all the wonderful country has to offer.
In other news, the wedding shower for Leyla was a success and it was wonderful to spend the evening with lovely ladies. I love that 2 people got her raw foods books and veges wrapped up :) So cute. Weddings are excuses to get things that you normally deem excessive, like a paella pan, and cook books.
Oh and being homeless with Alex and Leyla is fun and has been really relaxing. Yeah for not having a home. Thanks!
Friday, May 19, 2006
Poo + shoe + me + Paris =
My poo experience was not nearly as funny to Vicks and me as when our dad stepped in poo in Puerto Rico, but giggles were had nonetheless. I will always remember PR as my dad scraping his shoe about 10 yards behind the fam in nearly everything he could find...tree branches, grass, gravel, lava rocks, brown dirt, asphalt, bums, (kidding about that one...)
Monday, April 17, 2006
Mona Lisa...
...DOES FOLLOW YOU AROUND THE ROOM! That was discovered at the Louvre.
Giverney...IS goregous and explains why Monet had so much inspiration
Versailles...IS a fantastic castle and has plenty of bling for all
The Louvre...IS enormous and has enough artwork to give everyone in the world their own piece.
France was a great trip - met up with Mom and Liz in Paris. We ran around, checked out the art, Sacre Couer, French food in all of its goodness (YUM for crossaints, chocolate filled bread, escargot, dark chocolate and oeufs).
Best part: The Eiffel Tower SPARKLES for 10 minutes every hour from 9pm until midnight.
It's so special.
And the cutest little girl who didn't come to France: Makenna!!!
Giverney...IS goregous and explains why Monet had so much inspiration
Versailles...IS a fantastic castle and has plenty of bling for all
The Louvre...IS enormous and has enough artwork to give everyone in the world their own piece.
France was a great trip - met up with Mom and Liz in Paris. We ran around, checked out the art, Sacre Couer, French food in all of its goodness (YUM for crossaints, chocolate filled bread, escargot, dark chocolate and oeufs).
Best part: The Eiffel Tower SPARKLES for 10 minutes every hour from 9pm until midnight.
It's so special.
And the cutest little girl who didn't come to France: Makenna!!!
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Good Things and Bad Things
Good things about France:
-The Parisian Metro is amazing, you don't really have to walk outside if you don't want to
-The bread is to die for and cheap
-The coffee is super strong
-The men wear tight pants
-Goregous churches everywhere
-Lots of good seafood and pastries
-To be cool, you just need a scarf and no tennis shoes
-They call McDonalds McDo
-They sell beer at McDo
-Anyone can drink anywhere
-Good wine is cheap.
-Good chocolate abounds for cheap prices
Bad things about France:
-Dog poo everywhere (police don't ticket for leaving it around as they deem that below them...yes, I did step in it.)
-Lacidasical about everything
-Everything is closed on Monday
-It's ALWAYS windy
-Massive PDA's are the norm. I think I saw babies being conceived in front of Notre Dame, and it was so far from immaculate conception.
-Banks are closed Sunday, Monday and don't deal with cash on Wednesdays. There are crazy rules like this all over. I don't know how Vicks deals.
All in all, great trip :) We're going to Monet's house today to go biking around it. Saw Paris for the first time yesterday and will return tomorrow to meet up with Mom and Liz. Adieux. Bisous!
-The Parisian Metro is amazing, you don't really have to walk outside if you don't want to
-The bread is to die for and cheap
-The coffee is super strong
-The men wear tight pants
-Goregous churches everywhere
-Lots of good seafood and pastries
-To be cool, you just need a scarf and no tennis shoes
-They call McDonalds McDo
-They sell beer at McDo
-Anyone can drink anywhere
-Good wine is cheap.
-Good chocolate abounds for cheap prices
Bad things about France:
-Dog poo everywhere (police don't ticket for leaving it around as they deem that below them...yes, I did step in it.)
-Lacidasical about everything
-Everything is closed on Monday
-It's ALWAYS windy
-Massive PDA's are the norm. I think I saw babies being conceived in front of Notre Dame, and it was so far from immaculate conception.
-Banks are closed Sunday, Monday and don't deal with cash on Wednesdays. There are crazy rules like this all over. I don't know how Vicks deals.
All in all, great trip :) We're going to Monet's house today to go biking around it. Saw Paris for the first time yesterday and will return tomorrow to meet up with Mom and Liz. Adieux. Bisous!
Monday, April 10, 2006
Bonjour!
Aside from almost dying on the way to Mt. St. Michel, everything has been fantastic here in France! Vicky picked me up from the airport donning French-cheese-filled sandwiches and red wine, we meet up with her friends and proceeded to the French countryside. It was absolutely lovely – very green, lots of cows, and old, provincial houses. Her crazy French friend Oliviet organized a 25 person trip to Mt. St. Michel and the beaches around that area of this country. Everything was great - the trip to Mt. St. Michel was a wee bit treacherous – we walked for 2 hours in the freezing cold across where the ocean was coming into (at high tide parts of the day, it is completely surrounded by water). The guide almost sunk into the quicksand, then Oli was pulled out of it by 3 men when it tried to eat him, and when we had to fjord the quickly rushing water, we all almost died. BUT we made it and it was really quite pretty. The chapel at the top overlooks the water and has been maintained itself very well (it’s at least 700 years old;…).
The next day, we went to the beach and it was absolutely wonderful. In Europe, the sky gets so blue…I remember the same pretty skies in Spain 9 years ago. We walked around the little town, ate some bread (it’s the cool thing to do…), and did some shopping. The French are so laid back and seem very relaxed about nearly everything they do. EXCEPT if you are trying to use a bathroom where you shouldn’t…then they are overly aware of your presence and tell you where you can pay to pee.
Today, we went to the Musee de Arte in downtown Rouen, where Vicks lives, and she bought a “pain de chocolat” which means a crossaint filled with chocolate. It’s really, really good. I want one now, in fact. We’re going out for dinner tonight – yeah – and tomorrow head for GIverney.
SIdenote: Lots of French toilet paper is scented. AND it’s rare to find white TP – mostly pink. A far cry from my organic, recycled Berkeley tp!
The next day, we went to the beach and it was absolutely wonderful. In Europe, the sky gets so blue…I remember the same pretty skies in Spain 9 years ago. We walked around the little town, ate some bread (it’s the cool thing to do…), and did some shopping. The French are so laid back and seem very relaxed about nearly everything they do. EXCEPT if you are trying to use a bathroom where you shouldn’t…then they are overly aware of your presence and tell you where you can pay to pee.
Today, we went to the Musee de Arte in downtown Rouen, where Vicks lives, and she bought a “pain de chocolat” which means a crossaint filled with chocolate. It’s really, really good. I want one now, in fact. We’re going out for dinner tonight – yeah – and tomorrow head for GIverney.
SIdenote: Lots of French toilet paper is scented. AND it’s rare to find white TP – mostly pink. A far cry from my organic, recycled Berkeley tp!
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Ready to go...
Thanks to Tina, I am all set in the French language category.
Some useful phrases for you... France baby, yeah! :)
English: I like you
French: Je vous aime
English: You are goodlooking
French: Vous goodlookiez
English: Will you buy me a drink?
French: Vous fera m'achete une boisson?
English: Will you move to California with me and have five children with me?
French: Fera vous transfere a California avec moi et a cinq enfants avec moi?
This just might be more interesting than I thought...
Some useful phrases for you... France baby, yeah! :)
English: I like you
French: Je vous aime
English: You are goodlooking
French: Vous goodlookiez
English: Will you buy me a drink?
French: Vous fera m'achete une boisson?
English: Will you move to California with me and have five children with me?
French: Fera vous transfere a California avec moi et a cinq enfants avec moi?
This just might be more interesting than I thought...
Monday, April 03, 2006
haha
News just in from my Parisian sister regarding what I should bring...
"Umm if you want to be comfy around Paris wear tennis shoes,
but it is a dead give away that you are either American or Canadian."
"Umm if you want to be comfy around Paris wear tennis shoes,
but it is a dead give away that you are either American or Canadian."
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Pepe Le Pew
Currently, I am super excited about going to France in a few short days.
Here's my itinerary ... any other ideas world traveling friends?
Friday and Saturday - Mt. St. Michael
Sun- St. Malo and drive back to Rouen
Mon- University Tour - Rouen (let's hope for strikes....haha)
Tues- Fly by the seat of our pants...
Wed- Meander to Dieppe (northern coast) and check out the
DDay Memorial
Thurs- Ride bikes through Monet's gardens in Giverney
Night: train it to Paris and meet up with Mom and Lizard
Friday- Versaille in the afternoon with the lovely ladies and Le Louvre at night b/c
on Fridays is it open an extra 2 hours later (until 10:00)
Sat- All the stuff you can cram into one day in Paris!
Here's my list...
1 - arc de triomphe
2 - basilique du sacre-couer
3 - centre georges polpidou
4 - hotel des invalides/napolean's tomb
5 - musee de cluny
6 - musee d'orsay
7 - musee picasso
8 - notre dame
9 - you guessed right..that silly tower
OOhh I am so excited! France. Paris. Vicky, Mom, Lizzy, crepes, chocolate, beautiful buildings, art, listening to the French language, cafes, no work. Just lovely.
In other news, CONGRATS to LESLIE and BRYAN!!! So fantastic! www.puddledog.blogspot.com
Here's my itinerary ... any other ideas world traveling friends?
Friday and Saturday - Mt. St. Michael
Sun- St. Malo and drive back to Rouen
Mon- University Tour - Rouen (let's hope for strikes....haha)
Tues- Fly by the seat of our pants...
Wed- Meander to Dieppe (northern coast) and check out the
DDay Memorial
Thurs- Ride bikes through Monet's gardens in Giverney
Night: train it to Paris and meet up with Mom and Lizard
Friday- Versaille in the afternoon with the lovely ladies and Le Louvre at night b/c
on Fridays is it open an extra 2 hours later (until 10:00)
Sat- All the stuff you can cram into one day in Paris!
Here's my list...
1 - arc de triomphe
2 - basilique du sacre-couer
3 - centre georges polpidou
4 - hotel des invalides/napolean's tomb
5 - musee de cluny
6 - musee d'orsay
7 - musee picasso
8 - notre dame
9 - you guessed right..that silly tower
OOhh I am so excited! France. Paris. Vicky, Mom, Lizzy, crepes, chocolate, beautiful buildings, art, listening to the French language, cafes, no work. Just lovely.
In other news, CONGRATS to LESLIE and BRYAN!!! So fantastic! www.puddledog.blogspot.com
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Yo Yo Yosemite
Two men (one very tall man...), three women, 5 pairs of snowshoes, and a Saturn = a very interesting trip to Yosemite.
Highlights:
-walking around until midnight along a river with the huge rocks surrounding us and the moonlight helping us trip less than normal
-playing "snowshoe" rather than "bullshit" because the lodge had a lot of kids
-getting ambushed by Jess, Liam and Jaye's snowball stockpile as Owen and I tardily approached the falls thanks to my forgetfulness
-falling and thus sliding down a steep icy hill
-biting it on snowshoes and geriactrically getting up 10 minutes later
-learning about how Jessica loves crows
-using show chains - kudos to those things
-mountain men
-hot chocolate, game of spoons, and a fire-warmed lodge
-if book of questions. "if you had to _____________ (insert random question here), what would you do?"
-eating the wonderful muffins Chef Jessica made (millet-raisin-something or other). YUM!
All in all, a great time was had and it is suggested you go to Yosemite in the winter. The waterfalls are still going and there are lots less people around than in the summer.
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