Hot Hot Hot Hot-springs!!!! : ))))

What??????

Well, these days we are bombarded with a slew of Chinesey cultural bits that you can call, "Strange" maybe???? but enjoyable...

Lets start with the hot springs...  Last week, my DHH (dear husband Harry) was 'forced' , aha ahum, to attend a meeting at 'Oceans Spring Luxury Spa and Resort' in Zhuhai. That would be about 1 hour drive from our home. The meeting was to last a mere  3 days aha ahum..... ( I think I'm coming up with something, I seem to have a cat in my throat : )))
DHH was kind enough to invite me along, and I was smart enough to say yes... I had to cancel a few lunches, but, the sacrifice you make .....teeheehee....
So we hopped in the car, on Tuesday night and away we went...
The first night was uneventful. Mind you, our suite alone had 2, yes I said 2 bathrooms... a beautiful balcony with a swing overlooking the ocean and all the luxuries a place like this one can offer. Can you imagine the size????  So, that was an event of it's own...

 The next morning, DHH was off to his negotiations, and I "HAD" to find something to do at this 4 square mile resort ( On the edge of the ocean, with 80 different kinds of hot springs, an amusement park, full spa, etc) "SIGH""""""  I had to keep busy.. I wouldn't want to get tooooo bored... : ) So I decided to go directly to the Hot springs.
After about 45 mins of walking and searching, I finally found them, ( they were right next to the hotel) dumb ass!!! Well, you have to understand the language barrier and nothing is simple in China.. but that is another blog...
So I entered this Humongous building, and I was escorted to the ladies dressing room, given a locker, told that I was to shower, and then led to "THE SPRINGS"!!!!
There were pool type springs everywhere you looked, inside and out, with attendants ready to help you in every way, change your towel, place your flipflops in a position that would be convenient when you got out of the pools, give you water, follow you with an umbrella, so the big bad sun won't ruin your skin. Always someone to direct you to a new pool... I am sure they would have given a complete explanation of health benefits for every pool, had I spoken the language with ease...
Just to name a few, there was chrysanthemum, ginger, milk, coffee, Ore, Red wine, different flowers that I had no idea what they were, Turkish, Japanese, etc...
The oddest ones were, Hot and Cold Mandarin Peking Duck , WT!@#$%^&*()!!!!!!!!,
100 drugs, I Know!!!!! Weeeird!!!! and just too many more to remember... BUT!!!! The weirdest and most fun of all, was, Are you ready for this one? """The turkish fish spring"""!!!! That was, the cat's ass!!!!!
So, these fish springs were large, 2 to 3 foot deep pools,the size of a large in-ground pool, heated anywhere from 30 to 42 degrees celsius, with hundreds of turkish fish in them. You lower yourself into the pool, and they start nibbling. OMG!!!!!! At first, when I lowered myself into the pool, I was the only person there. When they started nibbling, I lost it!!! I laughed soooo much!!!  People walking by, just looked at me as if I belonged in the looney bin!!!! But, I couldn't help myself!!! Imagine??? Hundreds of fishy's, nibbling at you, as if you were a big juicy steak!!! They loved my dry skin...Eventually, I calmed down, and began to enjoy it thoroughly... Yes I did! And it became, mesmerizing....It's almost unexplainable, but it was hard to get out... It was almost a nurturing feeling... How bizarre is that? I would have never thunk!!!!
So, all nice and done, I couldn't help think that DHH would have a conniption if he tried this one..but I knew he would... His feet are soooo ticklish, he can't even touch them himself... I couldn't wait to coax him and have a field day... Heeheeeheeeeee...
Eventually, after about 45 minutes of feeding the fish ( good one Pauline! ), I removed myself from the pool of pyranas, raisin skin and all. At this point, I had been at the hotsprings for over 5 hours, and I needed a nap. There were areas at the hot springs, that looked like huge round roman alters. This my dears, was where you indulged in a bit of massage... The floor was heated marble, so when you lowered yourself to the ground, the heated marble would engulf your senses, and immediately put you in a state of even deeper relaxation... I decided to indulge in a shoulder a foot massage. The my friends, is not like in the west. If you choose 2 types of massages, you get 2 people, meaning 4 hands... It was bliss... Just for the heck of it, a massage like this one was $15 u.s, and this WAS expensive... : )))
After the massage, it was really time for a bit of quiet time so, I went back to our suite, and opened a bottle of vino... : ) Yummy!!! I had dinner, after a movie..
Harry was still doing the work thing.. He had a celebration, chinese dinner, with all the toasting and boozing that the chinese do with Bai Jiu ( turpentine type wine ). For the record, Harry bring his own tequila. It's much easier for him...
After this dinner, he invited me to join him and a few of his colleagues for a drink...
to finish off the evening...The negotiations had finished early, so the next day was his to enjoy the springs...

Let me tell you, Harry did enjoy the springs, and oddly enough he too was mesmerized by the fishy' s...
Harry and I also indulged in Mud baths... and mud masks... This was a big jacuzzi type bath where they ran fresh mud and you just soak in it til you've had enough.. So much fun to do with DHH>>> : )
So we left the place that day, One day earlier... to return home, where our heart is... where your bed and your pillow and the sense of belonging is priceless... No matter how beautiful your surroundings, it's always good to go home... with DHH, naturally...

Your Chinese word  today is:

Wo Men  de Jia, pronounced: Wo- men- duh- gia.    Which means  " Our Home"

Til the next time... Tai tien... Pauline : )

P.S Thank You Harry for sharing this with me... Xoxoxo

Weird!!! but factual....

I thought I would give you a few factoids about the "People of China" , as they can have some pretty bizarre behavior. especially if your thoughts reside in the western world...

Here we go....

Did you know that:

- Chinese women use pieces of bamboo tooth picks  and the ends of plucked duck feathers instead of earrings as a means to let their ears rest from wearing earrings...( I did ask my Ayi if she used the same ones for her teeth after dinner, we had a good laugh : ))) )
- Most babies do not wear diapers regularly, but split pants, which enables  the parents to fold the child in half every so often, which enables the children to relieve themselves over bushes or whatever is available...
- That most chinese families have soup for dinner every night...
- That you can eat lunch for easily 22 cents U.S...or less... : ) and its goooo--oood...
- There are no stop signs in China...
- That the biggest vehicle has the right of way...(we need an SUV)
- That pregnant Chinese women wear a anti-radiation lead apron if they work at a computer ... WHAT!!!!! ( Proof, at Harry's work.. )
- You Bargain EVERYWHERE and EVERYTHING!!!
- That many Chinese apartments still don't have running water...or heat...even if it goes below zero...
- Throw their bones (food) out the window into the bushes after dinner.. weird!!!
- Live in multi-family apartments...
- Most people bike, walk or bus to work for at least an hour each way for as little salary as 100 dollars per month.... ( do you feel fortunate now... )
- 90% OF WOMEN HAVE CESARIANS, AND THEIR DOCS ENCOURAGE THIS!!!
- And they believe that c-sections make you have smaller butts!!! hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!
-Most Chinese like in Mexico have nap time between 12pm and 2pm...even at work... smart!!!
- Most men who do not have labor intensive work, will let their pinky nail grow to show their non-peasant status. ( ALL my nails are VERY long )   : )
- If a Chinese couple end up in divorce, the man automatically has custody of  THE child... Have you noticed I said 'the child" referring to the one-child policy of China....
- That Chinese often have grasshoppers as pets!!! Do they fetch????
- In the far far country side, Chinese people think that black people have green blood... " MY GOD" are you kidding me????
- It can costs less than less than $50.00 u.s.. to have a suit tailored to perfection.. "Nice suits Harry!"
- Anyone in China will exercise ANYWHERE and anytime no matter what age you are... SMART!
- Most married couples live with a set of parents, usually the womens, and the grandparents take care of the children and the household  while the the adult children work... REALLY smart....
-You can get an haircut under the bridge... they stick a mirror to a bridge pillar, set up a chair, et VOILA!!!! Cheap rent and, No clean-up : )))))
So, stay tuned for more factazoids from the great land of China!!!!

Your word of the day... Xi Huan... Pronounced " She-hoo-on"  Which means, "Like" !

Ta ta for now... Po xo

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When I open my eyes....

6 months in China already, and you would think that because we are implanted in such a foreign culture that our senses would never quite accustom to this diverse and alien society... Well think again..
In our lives, no matter where we exist, we enter a simplistic  pattern of habitual living which in turn forms our everyday routine, and the same goes for Harry and I. Immersed little by little in this foreign land which, if one was not accustomed, would blow the roof off ones senses. But after 6 months, I personally need to reiterate to   myself, that I need to keep my eyes fully open. I must not let my senses go numb to the everyday hustle and bustle, to let what is becoming familiar, shadow my vision, dim my auditory perception, or yet impede my emotional elation. I am careful not to let the honeymoon stage of this unique experience continue as long as our contract keeps us here. That is why everyday when I step outside, I consciously blink my eyes and turn on my perceptions to "life as it is".. in China....
I have discovered that I have yet to discover Zhuhai!!! Everywhere you turn, there is a national geographic moment... Every nook and cranny  is filled with wonders, which picks my curiosity, and makes me want to see more and more...
I love the street peddlers with their carts filled with goods, some desirable and some not so desirable... the vendors who borrow a piece of sidewalk, set down a piece of cardboard to sell anything from toys to shoelaces, pants to loofas for the body, DVD's to watches, purses to mangoes... think about it, and you'll probably find it on the streets of Zhuhai... Some are literally ON the streets!!! Passing from car to car, selling goods, I've seen them peddling garden hoses to puppies to articles that make your head tilt in a " what the heck it that ' position " : ))))
All this to tell you that my blog has suffered in the last month or so, partly because I have let myself grow accustomed to my surroundings and partly because my social circle has grown beyond my control, hence, time flies because I'm sooo darn busy...
But to catch you up on things: Harry has passed his drivers license!!!  Woot!! Woot!! for Harry.. Even the Chinese people can't believe it, that a foreigner would pass it all by himself!!! I bailed out : ((((  But I always knew Harry would do it... He wanted it sooo bad!!!! : )))
2 months ago, harry and I went on a little trip to Singapore, then flew to Australia where we did a little sailing... Not That!!!! Was  "The Cat's Ass" ! Wow it was amazing....
I've started playing Mah Jong, which is a ancient tile game very popular  here in China, I am just learning but I think I will like it...
I am also quilting for an orphanage... Things can be a little drab and colorless when poverty is in question, so I have decided to give lots of color and warmth to these little kids who have so little...
Harry is very busy at work... learning the chinese way of doing business... it often involves dinners and Bai- Jiu for toasting successful dealings and negotiations...
he sure misses golf.. But on week-ends we go for bike rides in the streets of Zhuhai, so he gets a bit of exercise that way... Me I try not to procrastinate and go to the gym... I'm not always successful... Sandy, our daughter, is my inspiration right now... She has been going to the gym everyday, and losing weight and getting in shape.. Go Girl.. : )
So that's about it for now... Todays word of the day is... Bai Jiu , Pronounced " BYE- GEE-O.. Which means White wine....

Bye for now.... Po xo

Sound of Silence??? NOT!!!!!!

When I first arrived in China, I was amazed at the hustle and bustle of this country. But one thing that boggled my mind was the noise. The population is quite dense as you can imagine, so, the noises are something you cannot ignore. 

In the beginning the sounds of constant beeping car horns were a little aggravating and en-nerving, and the loud, loud Chinese speak/screaming at each other on their cell phones... AGH!!!! I always thought that they were angry.. but no!!! I guess they just don't trust technology to transfer the sound correctly... : ) But once you realize that this is the case, it's quite funny... Imagine being in a grocery store, and all you here is a foreigner ( Chinese ) with a high pitched voice, SCREAMING into their phone, but laughing and having a good old time... weird!!!! But the real funny thing is, is that they all, or most, finish their phone calls with, "uh, uh, uh... Bye bye ". These are 3 BIG UH UH UH's ... WHAT?????  So, so bizarre.... but amusing..... : )

Then you have the beeping and honking of the horns... especially the taxi's.. and they are EVERYWHERE!!!! And they beep at everybody and everything.... They are honk happy!!!!! You can imagine with the dense population here, that there are pedestrians and mopeds and bicycles and cars til the eye can see. So there is always something to beep at, and if you are a new ex-pat here, it can grit on your nerves and be a bit scary... You always think that you are in the way, so you want to move, but really, they are just warning you that they are coming through, BEWARE!!!!! But, you know what? You become accustomed and a bit numb to these absurd noises....

So these are some sounds that you would here in public places, but I live in a nice quite community, a complex of skyscraper apartments where the sound bounces off the buildings and creates a daily pattern of purring melodies... At first you fail to identify them, as you know not the habits of this mysterious  culture... But once you enter a routine, you start individualizing the tones and notes of the daily grind... 

One of the particular sounds is a" toc toc toc toc toc toc toc toc toc ...." and it is coming from everywhere , always at the same time of the day.. Late morning and late afternoon. At first it boggles your mind and you just cannot put you finger on what this pounding is????? And then it hits you... They are chopping their food!!!! They use only a cleaver and board and they go at it with gusto!!!! So now this sound is a culture difference for me and is music to my ears...

Another sound which is quite peculiar in a residence area like ours , is a rooster crowing every morning... til one day, you don't hear him anymore... I bet dinner was good that night, then oops!!! another rooster appears.... He'll be someones dinner soon again.... : )

So there... a bit of my ears I've shared with you... 

Your word of the day..." shengyin" pronounced - sheng-yin- which means : melody

Cheers... Pauline : )

Reality Check.....

It's been 4 months now... Reality check time....
Feb 23, 2010. And we're in China.. Harry has a job, I'm jobless, again...
I'm sitting in my dining room, having dinner alone on the other side of the world, away from all my family (except Harry), and most of my friends... Harry is at a business dinner and I am having a glass of wine and eating the dinner that Alan, our Ayi, has cooked for us... staring outside at red Chinese symbols on the multiple buildings just outside of our apartment, and reality hits.. DAMN! I'm really far away from my homeland...and a hint of loneliness  washes over me. For the last 2 hrs, I have been trying to communicate and have an inkling of a conversation with Alan, with no avail.. I am so far from integration, today it is scary and a bit lonely..
I also found out today that the first girlfriend I made in China is most likely to leave on the 1st of April for good, and another of my friends is having monetary and marital problems...  I am grateful and lucky to have my Harry who is so uncomplicated and loyal, and stable, but at the same time, I am still a bit lonely...I am simply human....
Harry and I just came back from a wonderful trip in Australia and Singapore. In Australia, we went on a sailing trip with 14 young people, the age of our children. I could not help but wish that it was my children that was on the boat with us..instead of a bunch of strange backpackers, who by the way were very nice... Then on arrival in China, a close YOUNG family member passed away. I guess with all those events and feelings, I am entitled to a bit lonesomeness...but again, I am grateful, A: for my health B: for a wonderful Husband and fantastic children C:
 for a Loving family who supports us in all our decisions and D: for the love of all our friends and family...
But still, today, I feel detached for the first time in this far away land that is China. These people, who understand very little of how we think, and who we are. Today I felt their stares sink into my skin, I felt their questions, even if they did not speak... "Who are you, where do you come from, what do you want??? " But I could not answer... I am stuck between a bit of sign language and a few words of mandarin as my only means of communication and as curious as I am, I 'crave' the comfort of a simple conversation with a perfect stranger...
Today is a small struggle, I am human after all.... today reality hits...
and tomorrow is another day...
your word of the day... "Tongxin"  pronounced - tong chin-  meaning 'communication'

Nihao for now...and I miss you my family, my friends... Pauline :. )