Just saw this and got a good laugh from it. It takes a little long to load though.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Introducing...the Apple iRack
Just saw this and got a good laugh from it. It takes a little long to load though.
Enjoy!
Snorting up the white
My goodness time has gotten away from me. Nothing really exciting going on around here, just the same old teaching and the same old recording.
So the highlights since I last wrote in March(!):
I have been sick for the last week or so. I thought that my sicken state would give me a little break from the recording, but as it turned out my scratchy voice recorded even better, so I had a lot of work while I was hacking up phlegm in the mike (yum!)
I was walking to the studio a couple of days ago and was enjoying breathing through my nose as it was the first time I had been able to in a little while. But things are starting to blossom here, including all of the cottonwood trees. So there is a ton of white fuzz floating around in the air. I wound up snorting in a huge piece up one nostril and hacking it up a little later, covered in snot through my mouth where it flew out onto the ground (double yum!)
I am actually enjoying my Yan Qing classes this semester. My second class is really sweet. Not all of them show up every single time, which I like as I can get to know some of the other students better. We went outside for class, plopped down in the middle of the soccer field, and had a great time talking about relationships while other students played soccer around us.
I had an April Fool post all ready to go, but didn't get around to posting it and now it is just too late, so too bad for all of you! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Got a couple of fab packages from Jerry and Gfarb. Rock on you two! They are helping my cheese need.
I was recording some more material for English learning and was reading some poetry passages and inspirational whatnot (i.e. crap). One of the sections wanted me to sing, "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)" a capella. The man who was recording with me convinced the people (after much argument) that although I am very talented, that unless I am a sassy black woman, that the song just wouldn't be quite right. So we did it all spoken word, Kerouac like. The result was probably just as stupid sounding.
So yes, this was me:
Out of the ruins
Out from the wreckage
Can't make the same mistake this time
We are the children
the last generation
We are the ones they left behind
And I wonder when we are ever gonna change it
Living under the fear till nothing else remains
We don't need another hero
We don't need to know the way home
All we want is life beyond the thunderdome
Looking for something we can rely on
There's got to be something better out there
Love and compassion, their day is coming
All else are castles built in the air
And I wonder when we are ever gonna change it
Living under the fear till nothing else remains
All the children say
We don't need another hero
We don't need to know the way home
All we want is life beyond the thunderdome
So, what do we do with our lives
We leave only a mark
Will our story shine like a light
Or end in the dark
Give it all or nothing
*snap, snap, snap* (beatnik style)
I know I have made some promises, that I have not fulfilled, but I have just been a little overworked at the moment, but I still have more pictures to put up (I know at least one reader/viewer who is very sick of the peeing boy picture up on my flickr site, cheers, Mom) and I still intend to put up some more about my travels as I haven't even written about Laos yet.
Anyhow, I'm still trying to get better, but I will try to update more often.
So the highlights since I last wrote in March(!):
I have been sick for the last week or so. I thought that my sicken state would give me a little break from the recording, but as it turned out my scratchy voice recorded even better, so I had a lot of work while I was hacking up phlegm in the mike (yum!)
I was walking to the studio a couple of days ago and was enjoying breathing through my nose as it was the first time I had been able to in a little while. But things are starting to blossom here, including all of the cottonwood trees. So there is a ton of white fuzz floating around in the air. I wound up snorting in a huge piece up one nostril and hacking it up a little later, covered in snot through my mouth where it flew out onto the ground (double yum!)
I am actually enjoying my Yan Qing classes this semester. My second class is really sweet. Not all of them show up every single time, which I like as I can get to know some of the other students better. We went outside for class, plopped down in the middle of the soccer field, and had a great time talking about relationships while other students played soccer around us.
I had an April Fool post all ready to go, but didn't get around to posting it and now it is just too late, so too bad for all of you! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Got a couple of fab packages from Jerry and Gfarb. Rock on you two! They are helping my cheese need.
I was recording some more material for English learning and was reading some poetry passages and inspirational whatnot (i.e. crap). One of the sections wanted me to sing, "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)" a capella. The man who was recording with me convinced the people (after much argument) that although I am very talented, that unless I am a sassy black woman, that the song just wouldn't be quite right. So we did it all spoken word, Kerouac like. The result was probably just as stupid sounding.
So yes, this was me:
Out of the ruins
Out from the wreckage
Can't make the same mistake this time
We are the children
the last generation
We are the ones they left behind
And I wonder when we are ever gonna change it
Living under the fear till nothing else remains
We don't need another hero
We don't need to know the way home
All we want is life beyond the thunderdome
Looking for something we can rely on
There's got to be something better out there
Love and compassion, their day is coming
All else are castles built in the air
And I wonder when we are ever gonna change it
Living under the fear till nothing else remains
All the children say
We don't need another hero
We don't need to know the way home
All we want is life beyond the thunderdome
So, what do we do with our lives
We leave only a mark
Will our story shine like a light
Or end in the dark
Give it all or nothing
*snap, snap, snap* (beatnik style)
I know I have made some promises, that I have not fulfilled, but I have just been a little overworked at the moment, but I still have more pictures to put up (I know at least one reader/viewer who is very sick of the peeing boy picture up on my flickr site, cheers, Mom) and I still intend to put up some more about my travels as I haven't even written about Laos yet.
Anyhow, I'm still trying to get better, but I will try to update more often.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Hopeless
So, Beijing is like the land of plenty when it comes to imported food. Now, mind you we can't get EVERYTHING, so we still love the care packages, but compared to what we were able to get in Guyuan, we're rolling in food wealth!
The local shop really close by is called, My Shop. They have a nice variety of food, that is keeping me well stocked with Dr. Pepper and granola bars. A little while back they started carrying a very exciting new item, Queso Dip. Not just any queso dip but a name brand cheese dip (name brand meaning that I recognize it).
I have found that my relationship with this particular food product almost borders on obsession. One time, I bought 6 jars of it at the same time just because if they sold out, I wanted to have my little stock, safe at home. But the problem is that I don't want to eat it right away. Because what if I crack open the jar, consume and then can't buy more? But at the same time the cheesy draw is just such that I can't quite keep away from it. So it is always on the brain. I think about during class. I think about it while walking around. I think about it when I am eating other food - "stupid, sweet and sour pork! You could be tangy, creamy cheese dip right now!"
So, the hoarding is a little pack rat-ish and the mental obsession is a little bit Smeagol-ish, but one of the worst things is that one the safety button is popped, there is no hope for the contents of the jar lasting the week in our household. It's like you just start to eat it and can't and don't want to stop. It's just too good! One time when I was eating some with Matt we just both couldn't control ourselves - granted this was the first jar opened post-discovery and I wound up eating it a little too far past the point of the cheese sicks. In the rare event that we are able to hold off full consumption, it goes in the fridge. Then I speaks to us. "Moooooly!!! Moooooooly!!! How about just a little taste? A little taste won't hurt you. Don't you like me anymore? Just take a peak, just to make sure Matt didn't gobble me up in the middle of the night...." NOOOOOOO cheese dip, NOOOOOOO!!! You will not trick me again this time!
They might as well just rename it cheese crack. Once all of the zesty goodness is on tortilla chip, I am just so focused on getting it in my mouth the rest of the world just drips away. And when the jar is gone, I feel a little sad and wired and I can't help but think about getting my next dose.
I'm thinking about it right now.
I can't stop.
Mmmmmmmmm...cheese dip.
*drool*
The local shop really close by is called, My Shop. They have a nice variety of food, that is keeping me well stocked with Dr. Pepper and granola bars. A little while back they started carrying a very exciting new item, Queso Dip. Not just any queso dip but a name brand cheese dip (name brand meaning that I recognize it).
I have found that my relationship with this particular food product almost borders on obsession. One time, I bought 6 jars of it at the same time just because if they sold out, I wanted to have my little stock, safe at home. But the problem is that I don't want to eat it right away. Because what if I crack open the jar, consume and then can't buy more? But at the same time the cheesy draw is just such that I can't quite keep away from it. So it is always on the brain. I think about during class. I think about it while walking around. I think about it when I am eating other food - "stupid, sweet and sour pork! You could be tangy, creamy cheese dip right now!"
So, the hoarding is a little pack rat-ish and the mental obsession is a little bit Smeagol-ish, but one of the worst things is that one the safety button is popped, there is no hope for the contents of the jar lasting the week in our household. It's like you just start to eat it and can't and don't want to stop. It's just too good! One time when I was eating some with Matt we just both couldn't control ourselves - granted this was the first jar opened post-discovery and I wound up eating it a little too far past the point of the cheese sicks. In the rare event that we are able to hold off full consumption, it goes in the fridge. Then I speaks to us. "Moooooly!!! Moooooooly!!! How about just a little taste? A little taste won't hurt you. Don't you like me anymore? Just take a peak, just to make sure Matt didn't gobble me up in the middle of the night...." NOOOOOOO cheese dip, NOOOOOOO!!! You will not trick me again this time!
They might as well just rename it cheese crack. Once all of the zesty goodness is on tortilla chip, I am just so focused on getting it in my mouth the rest of the world just drips away. And when the jar is gone, I feel a little sad and wired and I can't help but think about getting my next dose.
I'm thinking about it right now.
I can't stop.
Mmmmmmmmm...cheese dip.
*drool*
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Say what?
So another blog check-in. Nothing really special going on for my classes. Just trying how to best talk to a fairly good student about an attitude problem and come up with a lesson plan for Yan Qing. I have been trying to wrap my head around what I would like to do, but am having trouble starting. But not a whole lot other than that.
Today Matt and I went out to a Mexican restaurant with Naree and Alby! We had a great time with some good food and topped it off with a Black Forest chocolate cake. Yum!
Uh, I have been spending some more time down in the studio and have another little recording tidbit for you from yesterday.
"Oh good! The blacks are going back to their own country! I'm so happy!"
Uhhhhhhh....
Uhhhhhhh....
Uhhhhhhh....
Well, I assume and hope that they meant "The Blacks" as in a family name like "The Browns" or "The Greens" as there were other color themed surnames on the page. But this was the only one where the color was not capitalized.
So, I'll leave you with that.
Today Matt and I went out to a Mexican restaurant with Naree and Alby! We had a great time with some good food and topped it off with a Black Forest chocolate cake. Yum!
Uh, I have been spending some more time down in the studio and have another little recording tidbit for you from yesterday.
"Oh good! The blacks are going back to their own country! I'm so happy!"
Uhhhhhhh....
Uhhhhhhh....
Uhhhhhhh....
Well, I assume and hope that they meant "The Blacks" as in a family name like "The Browns" or "The Greens" as there were other color themed surnames on the page. But this was the only one where the color was not capitalized.
So, I'll leave you with that.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Lines. It All Comes Down to Lines.
It looks as if they seem to know that the current system leaves much to be desired and now that the world will be watching soon, they have decided to try to change hundreds of years of rudeness.
Don't worry. Nect month I will be getting some photographic evidence of this occurance (maybe even a video if you are lucky!)
Beijingers Urged to Queue on Monthly "Queuing Day" - Xinhua
The girl carefully pasted the card with her signature on an exhibiting board. On the card, the four-year-old Liang Miaozhu vowed to queue in the public and respect order.
Liang, accompanied by her mom, is among hundreds of Beijing citizens who participated on Sunday in activities in Beijing's busy Wangfujing Street to promote the city's first "queuing day".
The 11th day of every month is chosen as the promotion day for queuing up as part of a drive to improve the city's image before next year's Olympics, according to Zhang Huiguang, director of Beijing's Capital Ethic Development Office earlier this month.
The number 11 resembles two queuing persons, according to Zhang. "That means that even if there are only two people, they should wait in line," she said.
People expressed their support for the move. "The Beijing Olympic Games is drawing near, but bad behaviors still exist in the city," said 63-year-old Liu Chun'e," we should display to our foreign guests the courtesy of Chinese people."
Although netizens voiced their doubt on the Internet and large numbers of bus passengers made it difficult to keep order, Zhang noted that it was important to create an environment where the wrongdoing was a shame. "
The Chinese people don't like to lose face," she said.
Before the Olympics, the city is also determined to eradicate bad habits like spitting in the public and littering.
Don't worry. Nect month I will be getting some photographic evidence of this occurance (maybe even a video if you are lucky!)
Beijingers Urged to Queue on Monthly "Queuing Day" - Xinhua
The girl carefully pasted the card with her signature on an exhibiting board. On the card, the four-year-old Liang Miaozhu vowed to queue in the public and respect order.
Liang, accompanied by her mom, is among hundreds of Beijing citizens who participated on Sunday in activities in Beijing's busy Wangfujing Street to promote the city's first "queuing day".
The 11th day of every month is chosen as the promotion day for queuing up as part of a drive to improve the city's image before next year's Olympics, according to Zhang Huiguang, director of Beijing's Capital Ethic Development Office earlier this month.
The number 11 resembles two queuing persons, according to Zhang. "That means that even if there are only two people, they should wait in line," she said.
People expressed their support for the move. "The Beijing Olympic Games is drawing near, but bad behaviors still exist in the city," said 63-year-old Liu Chun'e," we should display to our foreign guests the courtesy of Chinese people."
Although netizens voiced their doubt on the Internet and large numbers of bus passengers made it difficult to keep order, Zhang noted that it was important to create an environment where the wrongdoing was a shame. "
The Chinese people don't like to lose face," she said.
Before the Olympics, the city is also determined to eradicate bad habits like spitting in the public and littering.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Tying up loose ends
Just letting you all know that I have been going through my archives and finishing up some posts that I had started but never finished. I still have a couple to finish up from my vacation (I know, I know, get it done already) and I still have some pictures to get up (can't spoil y'all too much).
I just finished up a post way back from Jan. 1st. So if you want to hear about our New Year's day, check it out! It's real easy - just look to the right and click on my archives for January 2007.
Enjoy!
I just finished up a post way back from Jan. 1st. So if you want to hear about our New Year's day, check it out! It's real easy - just look to the right and click on my archives for January 2007.
Enjoy!
Back off BSB!!!
No, I didn't have a typo incident mistaking PSB for what I wrote. I really do mean back off BSB! What is BSB might you ask? Why, it is a 5 member group that has had an international presence for the past 10 years in Asia. It is responsible for making my auditory enjoyment of my surroundings a little more unpleasant than it would normally be if I didn't have them around.
Yes, yes. I am talking about the Backstreet Boys.
Seriously, I can't seem to escape them. Their musical stylings have followed me throughout Asia. I'm not kidding. Don't laugh. They sorta creep up on me when I least expect it. I'm savoring the spicy pepperoni in my American Classic pizza from Pizza Hut and all of a sudden, BAM! It hits me. "Backstreet's back, alright! BAMP-BAM-BAMP-BAMP-BAMP!" I'm listening to the Backstreet Boys, again. And then I promptly start to pound my head on the table, eventually in perfect rhythm with the annoyingly catchy pop back beat.
I go to a DVD shop and am flipping through all of the brand new, still in theaters titles and then I will hear something strangely familiar in the background. This eventually gets louder and louder until it is resonating in my head - "I'll never break your heart. I'll never make you cry...." ARGH! Inevitably I wind up stopping my DVD bin flipping on a movie title like, White Chicks or Strangeheart or, gasp, Crash or some other stupid shitty movie. At that moment I absently mindedly pick up the movie and put it into my stack, so yes, we own these movies. The Backstreet Boys actually deaden all of my senses at the same time so I have absolutely no discretion or taste from the first recognized lyric to the very last note. Or, in the case they are on a loop, until I temporarily regain some shred of composure and flee the store.
The last example I can bear to tell you was when I was in the middle of freaking nowhere. There was a large speaker in a field for the call to prayer. When it wasn't being used to gather the devout, guess what it was used for? Yup. Unfortunately. Sigh, "I don't care who you are, where you're from, don't care what you do as long as you love me." I am sorry to say that I don't really have an Indo memory divorced from that tune. It was one of the first things I heard when I came to from my surgery!
KEEEEE-RIST (christ, but drawn out in that exasperated way)!
After I came back home from Indonesia they just released their "As Long As You Love Me" single, so I got to hear it at home incessantly as well. Also mirrored was one question asked by Indo-gals on both sides of the Pacific, "which Backstreet Boy do you pretend you pillow is at night?" This was the question that I have been asked most frequently by Indonesian girls from the ages 12 to 24.
So far I have encountered their lovesick pining in Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Thailand, China, Tibet (hee, hee - that one IS for the PSB), Mongolia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. So, like, everywhere I have been in Asia. I can't shake them. I know all of the words to the songs and not because I want to. I am being stalked by new releases (which are only released overseas) and greatest hits albums.
If I ever were to meet AJ, Brian, Kevin, Howie and Nick (yes, I know their names), I don't even know what I would say. I would probably just start crying. Not out of reverence and/or girlish glee but for their constant and irritating infiltration of my Asia experiences.
And then I would slap them.
Yes, yes. I am talking about the Backstreet Boys.
Seriously, I can't seem to escape them. Their musical stylings have followed me throughout Asia. I'm not kidding. Don't laugh. They sorta creep up on me when I least expect it. I'm savoring the spicy pepperoni in my American Classic pizza from Pizza Hut and all of a sudden, BAM! It hits me. "Backstreet's back, alright! BAMP-BAM-BAMP-BAMP-BAMP!" I'm listening to the Backstreet Boys, again. And then I promptly start to pound my head on the table, eventually in perfect rhythm with the annoyingly catchy pop back beat.
I go to a DVD shop and am flipping through all of the brand new, still in theaters titles and then I will hear something strangely familiar in the background. This eventually gets louder and louder until it is resonating in my head - "I'll never break your heart. I'll never make you cry...." ARGH! Inevitably I wind up stopping my DVD bin flipping on a movie title like, White Chicks or Strangeheart or, gasp, Crash or some other stupid shitty movie. At that moment I absently mindedly pick up the movie and put it into my stack, so yes, we own these movies. The Backstreet Boys actually deaden all of my senses at the same time so I have absolutely no discretion or taste from the first recognized lyric to the very last note. Or, in the case they are on a loop, until I temporarily regain some shred of composure and flee the store.
The last example I can bear to tell you was when I was in the middle of freaking nowhere. There was a large speaker in a field for the call to prayer. When it wasn't being used to gather the devout, guess what it was used for? Yup. Unfortunately. Sigh, "I don't care who you are, where you're from, don't care what you do as long as you love me." I am sorry to say that I don't really have an Indo memory divorced from that tune. It was one of the first things I heard when I came to from my surgery!
KEEEEE-RIST (christ, but drawn out in that exasperated way)!
After I came back home from Indonesia they just released their "As Long As You Love Me" single, so I got to hear it at home incessantly as well. Also mirrored was one question asked by Indo-gals on both sides of the Pacific, "which Backstreet Boy do you pretend you pillow is at night?" This was the question that I have been asked most frequently by Indonesian girls from the ages 12 to 24.
So far I have encountered their lovesick pining in Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Thailand, China, Tibet (hee, hee - that one IS for the PSB), Mongolia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. So, like, everywhere I have been in Asia. I can't shake them. I know all of the words to the songs and not because I want to. I am being stalked by new releases (which are only released overseas) and greatest hits albums.
If I ever were to meet AJ, Brian, Kevin, Howie and Nick (yes, I know their names), I don't even know what I would say. I would probably just start crying. Not out of reverence and/or girlish glee but for their constant and irritating infiltration of my Asia experiences.
And then I would slap them.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Speaking to you from the future and past!
I haven't felt like blogging a whole lot, but I just added a post earlier in March, so there will be some posts to scroll down for. Sorry to make you all work, but I want to try to keep things and thoughs in order. But I will also add new posts from the top when I feel like it.
So, not much else to report on right now. About my last post, thanks for everyone for being so supportive. I'm sure that once I remove myself from the situation and when I refelct on my time here, I will be able to look through a nice, fashionable pair of rose tinted glasses rather than the muck colored ones as of late. And as far as my posts are concerned, I'm sure I will be back to toilet humor in no time, not to worry. (see my latest March 4th post).
Really, no need to be concerned, I really wanted my weblog to be an honest assesment of how I view and interpret things, because nothing is rosy all of the time and I realize that. I want to honest to myself and not just write about a bunch of happy bullshit all of the time to keep up appearances. Some times things just suck. If something kicks ass, I will make sure to tell you all. Just as if something makes me want to kick ass, rest assured that my comments will reflect that as well.
But, thank you to all of my readers who have kept up with all of the ups and downs of this journey. I appreciate it!
So, not much else to report on right now. About my last post, thanks for everyone for being so supportive. I'm sure that once I remove myself from the situation and when I refelct on my time here, I will be able to look through a nice, fashionable pair of rose tinted glasses rather than the muck colored ones as of late. And as far as my posts are concerned, I'm sure I will be back to toilet humor in no time, not to worry. (see my latest March 4th post).
Really, no need to be concerned, I really wanted my weblog to be an honest assesment of how I view and interpret things, because nothing is rosy all of the time and I realize that. I want to honest to myself and not just write about a bunch of happy bullshit all of the time to keep up appearances. Some times things just suck. If something kicks ass, I will make sure to tell you all. Just as if something makes me want to kick ass, rest assured that my comments will reflect that as well.
But, thank you to all of my readers who have kept up with all of the ups and downs of this journey. I appreciate it!
Friday, March 09, 2007
Getting back to it
So, I have my first week of teaching out of the way. I can't say that is it exactly good to be back, but it is nice to set the pack down for a little while. I was reading some of the other blogs and emails that others have sent out post vacation. Many of them said that they are glad to be home and it feels good to get back to their respective nooks in China. I don't and have never felt this way about China.
China doesn't make me feel good. Don't get me wrong, I am actually happy that I have had this experience, and I don't regret it for a single moment, but I can honestly say that I don't really like the person that China turns me into (note: I have not used, "has turned me into" as I fully expect my Chinese funky state to be completely reversible). It's not culture shock, but something different, more deeply rooted and undefined.
I honestly feel really bad about some of the feelings I have about this place. I feel bad that I don't smile and coo over the Chinese babies. Instead, the first thought that pops through my head is more like, "Christ, another one of these people?" My tolerance is basically shot to shit. I really don't care about your "face" or mine for that matter and I really won't go to great lengths to preserve either. I am just to the point where I just don't care. That worries me. I have made attempts to care, but I was just kidding myself. I mean, I was forcing myself to care, thus, I knew I was pretending to care and therefore I was fully aware of this truly manufactured "caring" act that just emphasized even more that this was fake, and an untrue emotion. Ugh.
I just feel pretty hollowed out slowly being filled with tar and bile. After I got elbowed in the face at the train station, again, I just about lost it. After we tried to load our bags on the bus, only to have a dozen Chinese people shove their way in and push us out of the way I kind of did. It's ugly. I feel really weighted down.
China doesn't make me feel good. Don't get me wrong, I am actually happy that I have had this experience, and I don't regret it for a single moment, but I can honestly say that I don't really like the person that China turns me into (note: I have not used, "has turned me into" as I fully expect my Chinese funky state to be completely reversible). It's not culture shock, but something different, more deeply rooted and undefined.
I honestly feel really bad about some of the feelings I have about this place. I feel bad that I don't smile and coo over the Chinese babies. Instead, the first thought that pops through my head is more like, "Christ, another one of these people?" My tolerance is basically shot to shit. I really don't care about your "face" or mine for that matter and I really won't go to great lengths to preserve either. I am just to the point where I just don't care. That worries me. I have made attempts to care, but I was just kidding myself. I mean, I was forcing myself to care, thus, I knew I was pretending to care and therefore I was fully aware of this truly manufactured "caring" act that just emphasized even more that this was fake, and an untrue emotion. Ugh.
I just feel pretty hollowed out slowly being filled with tar and bile. After I got elbowed in the face at the train station, again, I just about lost it. After we tried to load our bags on the bus, only to have a dozen Chinese people shove their way in and push us out of the way I kind of did. It's ugly. I feel really weighted down.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Going back in time
Hello! Just wanted to let all of you know that I have loaded some of the pictures from Laos and China. It will be a little bit longer for the Vietnam and Cambodia pictures because I have to wait to get my guidebooks back so I can group them appropriately.
Also, I have been adding to my blog, but I have been adding entries in the February section on my blog. So, keep scrolling down or click on 'February' on the right had side of my blog.
But just to be even more haphazard, I will also be posting current entries as they come to me.
Anyhow, I hope you are well!
Happy year of the golden pig!
Also, I have been adding to my blog, but I have been adding entries in the February section on my blog. So, keep scrolling down or click on 'February' on the right had side of my blog.
But just to be even more haphazard, I will also be posting current entries as they come to me.
Anyhow, I hope you are well!
Happy year of the golden pig!
Sunday, March 04, 2007
The Trench
On one of the multiple bus trips that we took to get back up to Beijing we stopped off at a rest stop to grab a bite to eat and to go to the bathroom. Now, since being in China I have been exposed to many kinds of toilets. The one at this particular stop was the trench style. There is a trough running down the center and a stream of water that flows down the trench to clear out the waste. There are also little half partitions up on the platform to give the illusion of privacy. You squat over the trench and let loose.
One of the 'good' things about China is that I am no longer pee shy. I can pee with or without an audience, although I still prefer without (imagine that). So I was waiting in the pseudo-line and finally it was my turn. I got up on the platform - luckily my spot along the trench was near the head of the line so I didn't have other people's waste passing below me. I assumed the position and noticed that there was a little toddler watching me.
So, I have been watched before, more as a form of entertainment than anything else, but this little girl was quite transfixed on my squat. When she stopped staring, she decided to climb up on the platform with me and squatted down behind me over the trench. So I was concentrating not to miss and squirt the kid and she reached out and put both hands on my bare bottom and started to squeeze and play with her hands while she and I went to the bathroom. This all was of course a riotously funny to the mother, and even more so when she found out that I was a foreigner. But apparently, this was the first time that she had done this kind of activity on her own so mama was proud and happy and I got goosed by her daughter.
Good times!
One of the 'good' things about China is that I am no longer pee shy. I can pee with or without an audience, although I still prefer without (imagine that). So I was waiting in the pseudo-line and finally it was my turn. I got up on the platform - luckily my spot along the trench was near the head of the line so I didn't have other people's waste passing below me. I assumed the position and noticed that there was a little toddler watching me.
So, I have been watched before, more as a form of entertainment than anything else, but this little girl was quite transfixed on my squat. When she stopped staring, she decided to climb up on the platform with me and squatted down behind me over the trench. So I was concentrating not to miss and squirt the kid and she reached out and put both hands on my bare bottom and started to squeeze and play with her hands while she and I went to the bathroom. This all was of course a riotously funny to the mother, and even more so when she found out that I was a foreigner. But apparently, this was the first time that she had done this kind of activity on her own so mama was proud and happy and I got goosed by her daughter.
Good times!
Thursday, March 01, 2007
ARRRRGH!!!
I know that I have promised all of you some travel reports and random thoughts, but China has yet again locked me out of my blogger account. So I have to post via email, and I can't get to all of the posts that I have started. SUCKS!
So, be patient and you will be rewarded with more than you could possible want!
But to pass the time, I will have some pretty pictures up soon and this time I will try to caption them!
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Back to my BLT
So, um. We're back in Kunming. I kinda wish that I would have pushed to have conference a little closer to this area as we had to do a major back track to get back to where we just were. Oh well. Kunming is a pretty cool city to kick it for a while.
What did we do? Not a whole hell of a lot. We arranged out flight out to Laos - Vientiane. and then hung out at the Prague Cafe to suck down some of their delectable BLT sandwiches. Don't underestimate the power of a good sandwich.
On Valentine's Day we decided to make it a cafe Valentine's Day and went to the French Cafe, the City Cafe and the Prague Cafe and gobbled down our favorite treats from all of these places. At the French Cafe they even had special strawberry tarts in the shape of a heart, served complete with two forks and a rose. Awwwww!
We also made it out to the Provincial Museum and (dum-da-da-dum!!! - the sound of triumphant trumpets) it was open. One of the first provincial museums we have visited to be so. Last year, the museum was closed for renovations when we tried to go. We got there about 20 minutes or so before it was to close. Did that stop us? NO! We cruised that museum like a [insert clever simile here]. The museum was really nice looking and modern. They did a great job updating the look and feel of the place as a lot of Chinese museums suffer from 'book on the wall' syndrome.
One of the disappointments in Kunming was that we were unable to locate Wei's pizza and not from the lack of trying. Looked up and down both sides of the street and down the alleys too. Remember that happy picture of Matt with a gigantic pizza. Well, never again will we be able to see that face. Because as far as I can tell it is gone. Sigh, sniffle, sniffle.
Other than that we didn't really do too much. We went for a couple more BLT sandwiches - we got a breakfast BLT and then got s couple more to go to eat for lunch on the plane.
So, next, Laos! I can't wait!
What did we do? Not a whole hell of a lot. We arranged out flight out to Laos - Vientiane. and then hung out at the Prague Cafe to suck down some of their delectable BLT sandwiches. Don't underestimate the power of a good sandwich.
On Valentine's Day we decided to make it a cafe Valentine's Day and went to the French Cafe, the City Cafe and the Prague Cafe and gobbled down our favorite treats from all of these places. At the French Cafe they even had special strawberry tarts in the shape of a heart, served complete with two forks and a rose. Awwwww!
We also made it out to the Provincial Museum and (dum-da-da-dum!!! - the sound of triumphant trumpets) it was open. One of the first provincial museums we have visited to be so. Last year, the museum was closed for renovations when we tried to go. We got there about 20 minutes or so before it was to close. Did that stop us? NO! We cruised that museum like a [insert clever simile here]. The museum was really nice looking and modern. They did a great job updating the look and feel of the place as a lot of Chinese museums suffer from 'book on the wall' syndrome.
One of the disappointments in Kunming was that we were unable to locate Wei's pizza and not from the lack of trying. Looked up and down both sides of the street and down the alleys too. Remember that happy picture of Matt with a gigantic pizza. Well, never again will we be able to see that face. Because as far as I can tell it is gone. Sigh, sniffle, sniffle.
Other than that we didn't really do too much. We went for a couple more BLT sandwiches - we got a breakfast BLT and then got s couple more to go to eat for lunch on the plane.
So, next, Laos! I can't wait!
Who would have thought...
that we would be in Hong Kong without internet!?! :) So, no posts for you!
So, conference. Wasn't too into it this time around. Not that it wasn't good to see everyone again and some for perhaps the last time. Our VIA pow-wow was out in the New Territories area of Hong Kong. It was really quite beautiful out there, quite removed from the high rises, crowds and cars.
So, what did we do at conference. Well, we talked and talked and well, talked. About um, China (duh). Here is the over-simplified re-cap(not in any particular order):
Vols arriving to conference late - BOO!
M & M being "uncharacteristically" late - a little to worried to boo right away, but eventually - boo!
Post reports - yea!/2 Nanjing boos!
Brainstorming about stuff - yea! Putting it (hopefully) in action - YEA! (hopefully)
VIA home office updates - Yea! Hopefully will put PD in a better "yea" position in the coming years.
Lesson idea exchange - Mu's lesson - YEA! Fellow vols as students - boo! Also, special mention of Naree's - boo-hoo (inside joke, yes. Will explain, no.)
BBQ - Yea! Baijiu soaked marshmallows - a big, bad, BOO!
The last supper - Yea - good food! Boo - 'cuz it's the last supper.
So, I missed some stuff, but that's at least how the recap pretty much played out in my mind.
After we said our goodbye we all split off to head out on our post-conference travels. Matt and I got a chance to hang out with the new(er) vols in Kowloon for the night before we split off for different SE Asian travels.
Hong Kong is different from "China" - I mean, no jay walking, none. Just patiently waiting for the light to turn - no pushing to get that 4 inches of better curb position for when it is clear enough to Frogger across the street. I did not see a snot rocket. A lot less phlegm clearing. I wonder if they have nicknames for the crass mainlanders? I liked the way the city moved, crowded, but smooth. Someone stepped on my foot and genuinely apologized. Immediately. I didn't even have to shoot a dirty look!
So, sorry I don't have much of a commentary on the city. I didn't have too much time to explore, but was happy to see a little bit of a place that I wasn't planning on going. Hong Kong was expensive. But good to see. I'm glad that we were able to go (even if it did through a wrench in the SE Asia travel).
I'll go see the inspiration crib for my fav designer, Vivienne Tam, another time.
So, conference. Wasn't too into it this time around. Not that it wasn't good to see everyone again and some for perhaps the last time. Our VIA pow-wow was out in the New Territories area of Hong Kong. It was really quite beautiful out there, quite removed from the high rises, crowds and cars.
So, what did we do at conference. Well, we talked and talked and well, talked. About um, China (duh). Here is the over-simplified re-cap(not in any particular order):
Vols arriving to conference late - BOO!
M & M being "uncharacteristically" late - a little to worried to boo right away, but eventually - boo!
Post reports - yea!/2 Nanjing boos!
Brainstorming about stuff - yea! Putting it (hopefully) in action - YEA! (hopefully)
VIA home office updates - Yea! Hopefully will put PD in a better "yea" position in the coming years.
Lesson idea exchange - Mu's lesson - YEA! Fellow vols as students - boo! Also, special mention of Naree's - boo-hoo (inside joke, yes. Will explain, no.)
BBQ - Yea! Baijiu soaked marshmallows - a big, bad, BOO!
The last supper - Yea - good food! Boo - 'cuz it's the last supper.
So, I missed some stuff, but that's at least how the recap pretty much played out in my mind.
After we said our goodbye we all split off to head out on our post-conference travels. Matt and I got a chance to hang out with the new(er) vols in Kowloon for the night before we split off for different SE Asian travels.
Hong Kong is different from "China" - I mean, no jay walking, none. Just patiently waiting for the light to turn - no pushing to get that 4 inches of better curb position for when it is clear enough to Frogger across the street. I did not see a snot rocket. A lot less phlegm clearing. I wonder if they have nicknames for the crass mainlanders? I liked the way the city moved, crowded, but smooth. Someone stepped on my foot and genuinely apologized. Immediately. I didn't even have to shoot a dirty look!
So, sorry I don't have much of a commentary on the city. I didn't have too much time to explore, but was happy to see a little bit of a place that I wasn't planning on going. Hong Kong was expensive. But good to see. I'm glad that we were able to go (even if it did through a wrench in the SE Asia travel).
I'll go see the inspiration crib for my fav designer, Vivienne Tam, another time.
Oops! We're in Macao...
After our wonderful time in Cambodia and Vietnam, we headed off to conference. We boarded a train to Nanning to try to make it to our VIA-China conference in Hong Kong without being too late. The problem was that the conference was hitting us right in the middle of our break and really wound up costing us a lot to get there. So, I was a little pissed about all of that. Granted I should have been more vocal about the timing of conference and less accommodating, but I wasn't but, I still felt like I wanted to be a little late just to be a twerp.
So, well, um, we took a little side trip to Macao. We arrived in the evening and right away set out to find a nice guesthouse. The first problem was getting a cab. None of the cab drivers were very helpful. We even found some people to try to help us, but they didn't have much luck with the cabbies either.
Eventually we just flagged one down, loaded all of our stuff in the cab and then told him where we wanted to go. This was more successful - didn't give him a chance to say "no" and drive off. Eventually we found the guesthouse we wanted him to take us to. I went out to scope out the rooms only to find that they were positively the dingiest little cells that I had encountered on the trip thus far! Horrible! So those little rat-traps were a big N-O. So off to try to find the mysterious Villa Universal.
We wound up asking some kids on the corner for some directions and they tried to help us. One of the problems we found was that all of the information in the guidebook about Macao was in Portuguese and did not list the Chinese for the places so sometimes getting around with the LP was challenging. Eventually, a older lady flagged us down and waved some business cards at us. Low and behold, Villa Universal! Thank goodness she was working the corner (to strum us hotel business) or we would probably not have found it.
The rooms were pretty nice and they were clean! Also had hot water and private bathroom for a fairly reasonable price. So, we crashed there for the night. I was feeling pretty grimy and didn't want to go out, but Matt went out to find something to eat. When he got back he brought with him some fantastic cookies! Kind of like fortune cookies, but filled with crushed almond and sugar. Delicious!
The next day we set out to see a few of the sights. We went to one of the old cathedral ruins sites and then went to the old fort which has since been built to house a museum. I can't even begin to tell you how cool the museum was! They had lots of interactive sections as well as different kinds of media (could choose from 4 different languages) throughout the entire museum. It was really spectacular!
After, we went for some lunch - a Portuguese lunch. Matt really enjoyed his shrimp and coconut curry, I was less certain about my pork and tamarind, but it filled us up and got us ready for the Maritime museum! Another spectacular museum! Had a lot of fun there and even got to play pretend captain for a little while to boot!
Oh, I almost forgot!
...Ummm, my internet timed out right after I wrote that and I have since forgotten. Shit. I hate when that happens. But if I think of the missing tidbit, I will be sure to record it in a completely random post (not to worry).
We also got to look at the outside of a few of the casinos. They had dress codes and a couple of scummy lookin' backpackers weren't going to make the velvet rope cut, so we just peaked around the frosted glass as much as we could and saw chandeliers, but that was about it. BUT we did get to walk around the maze of hallways of expensive stuff (small box of Ricola - $20 Pataca!) to keep you in the realm and got to see some prostitutes tailing some old men who were guests at the $1000+ USD a night hotel/casino/fun palace.
I thoroughly enjoyed my 20 or so hours in the former Portuguese colony. But we had a conference to get to so we set out on the jetboat to the old British colony. Yup. Jet. Boat. Jetboat. Looks like a jet when you enter, but, surprise! Boat. It was a quick trip, but I still managed to get motion sickness, but not enough to use my "air" discomfort bag. Instead, I was distracted by a taped collection of favorite moments from an odd but cool Japanese game show.
The Japanese do have a certain way about their game shows, don't they? This game show involved people creating scenes with bodies. Like a rhythmic gymnast doing a routine, but instead of a ball, it is some dude's head playing the role of the ball. Some of the shorts/scenes were just downright wacky. But a good distraction from said sickness. At least I didn't fall into a toilet.
Pataca. That is one of the coolest currency names.
Macao/Macau. Too short on time, but gald we dropped by for a quick visit!
So, well, um, we took a little side trip to Macao. We arrived in the evening and right away set out to find a nice guesthouse. The first problem was getting a cab. None of the cab drivers were very helpful. We even found some people to try to help us, but they didn't have much luck with the cabbies either.
Eventually we just flagged one down, loaded all of our stuff in the cab and then told him where we wanted to go. This was more successful - didn't give him a chance to say "no" and drive off. Eventually we found the guesthouse we wanted him to take us to. I went out to scope out the rooms only to find that they were positively the dingiest little cells that I had encountered on the trip thus far! Horrible! So those little rat-traps were a big N-O. So off to try to find the mysterious Villa Universal.
We wound up asking some kids on the corner for some directions and they tried to help us. One of the problems we found was that all of the information in the guidebook about Macao was in Portuguese and did not list the Chinese for the places so sometimes getting around with the LP was challenging. Eventually, a older lady flagged us down and waved some business cards at us. Low and behold, Villa Universal! Thank goodness she was working the corner (to strum us hotel business) or we would probably not have found it.
The rooms were pretty nice and they were clean! Also had hot water and private bathroom for a fairly reasonable price. So, we crashed there for the night. I was feeling pretty grimy and didn't want to go out, but Matt went out to find something to eat. When he got back he brought with him some fantastic cookies! Kind of like fortune cookies, but filled with crushed almond and sugar. Delicious!
The next day we set out to see a few of the sights. We went to one of the old cathedral ruins sites and then went to the old fort which has since been built to house a museum. I can't even begin to tell you how cool the museum was! They had lots of interactive sections as well as different kinds of media (could choose from 4 different languages) throughout the entire museum. It was really spectacular!
After, we went for some lunch - a Portuguese lunch. Matt really enjoyed his shrimp and coconut curry, I was less certain about my pork and tamarind, but it filled us up and got us ready for the Maritime museum! Another spectacular museum! Had a lot of fun there and even got to play pretend captain for a little while to boot!
Oh, I almost forgot!
...Ummm, my internet timed out right after I wrote that and I have since forgotten. Shit. I hate when that happens. But if I think of the missing tidbit, I will be sure to record it in a completely random post (not to worry).
We also got to look at the outside of a few of the casinos. They had dress codes and a couple of scummy lookin' backpackers weren't going to make the velvet rope cut, so we just peaked around the frosted glass as much as we could and saw chandeliers, but that was about it. BUT we did get to walk around the maze of hallways of expensive stuff (small box of Ricola - $20 Pataca!) to keep you in the realm and got to see some prostitutes tailing some old men who were guests at the $1000+ USD a night hotel/casino/fun palace.
I thoroughly enjoyed my 20 or so hours in the former Portuguese colony. But we had a conference to get to so we set out on the jetboat to the old British colony. Yup. Jet. Boat. Jetboat. Looks like a jet when you enter, but, surprise! Boat. It was a quick trip, but I still managed to get motion sickness, but not enough to use my "air" discomfort bag. Instead, I was distracted by a taped collection of favorite moments from an odd but cool Japanese game show.
The Japanese do have a certain way about their game shows, don't they? This game show involved people creating scenes with bodies. Like a rhythmic gymnast doing a routine, but instead of a ball, it is some dude's head playing the role of the ball. Some of the shorts/scenes were just downright wacky. But a good distraction from said sickness. At least I didn't fall into a toilet.
Pataca. That is one of the coolest currency names.
Macao/Macau. Too short on time, but gald we dropped by for a quick visit!
Staring...Why are you looking at me?
So, if you look different, people are going to stare at you, right? Matt has been stared at throughout Asia as well as some of the other volunteers. I was not expecting to be stared at in Vietnam, I mean, I blend.
Now, so I might not look Vietnamese, although I was mistaken, but I do look a little more native than the white guy I travel around with. Sometimes I like to walk behind Matt to watch the people's expressions/gestures after he walks past. In Vietnam though I started to notice that, sure Matt was getting his fair share of stares, but so was I. I was perhaps getting even more.
This whole staring business is fairly new to me, as I have mostly traveled in Asia, so it was a little weird to me. Why are you looking at me? Do I have something on my face (check face, try to be discrete), do I have something in my hair? (check hair, try to be more discrete), do I have something on my butt? (check butt, try to be uber-discrete). Once I have determined that I don't have anything stuck on me, I still am left with the same question I started out with, "why are you staring at me"?
I have come up with a couple of possible solutions:
1) They think that I am Vietnamese and wonder why I am with a white man.
2) They are trying to figure out where I am from.
3) They think that I am a Vietnamese woman and I married an expat.
4) They think I am a prostitute.
The stares eventually made me feel a little paranoid, "Do they think I'm a whore?" and then made me want to prove my non-whoreness by speaking English very, very loudly. Did that just make them think that I was a multilingual whore? I dunno.
Some seemed curious, and others seemed, well, accusatory. Of what? I don't know.
So, what one of the above do you think was the reason for the staring? Cast your votes now, or write in your idea!
Now, so I might not look Vietnamese, although I was mistaken, but I do look a little more native than the white guy I travel around with. Sometimes I like to walk behind Matt to watch the people's expressions/gestures after he walks past. In Vietnam though I started to notice that, sure Matt was getting his fair share of stares, but so was I. I was perhaps getting even more.
This whole staring business is fairly new to me, as I have mostly traveled in Asia, so it was a little weird to me. Why are you looking at me? Do I have something on my face (check face, try to be discrete), do I have something in my hair? (check hair, try to be more discrete), do I have something on my butt? (check butt, try to be uber-discrete). Once I have determined that I don't have anything stuck on me, I still am left with the same question I started out with, "why are you staring at me"?
I have come up with a couple of possible solutions:
1) They think that I am Vietnamese and wonder why I am with a white man.
2) They are trying to figure out where I am from.
3) They think that I am a Vietnamese woman and I married an expat.
4) They think I am a prostitute.
The stares eventually made me feel a little paranoid, "Do they think I'm a whore?" and then made me want to prove my non-whoreness by speaking English very, very loudly. Did that just make them think that I was a multilingual whore? I dunno.
Some seemed curious, and others seemed, well, accusatory. Of what? I don't know.
So, what one of the above do you think was the reason for the staring? Cast your votes now, or write in your idea!
Side Thought - Bringing Memories Home
While we were looking at the various curio stores and street side vendor stalls in Vietnam we would inevitably find some dog tags. It was really creepy. Because most likely they got the tags or copies of the tags off of dead US soldiers. I didn't feel right buying them so I didn't. Sifting through bowls and bowls of dog tags.
Now I wish that I had.
I wish that I had bought every single tag I could have laid my hands on just to honor the memory of a US soldier who served in Vietnam. I would have brought them back to the US and back to DC. To at least bring home the memory of someone who served the great nation (with all of its good points and bad) I call home.
I guess I have another reason to go back to Vietnam, anyone want to join me?
Now I wish that I had.
I wish that I had bought every single tag I could have laid my hands on just to honor the memory of a US soldier who served in Vietnam. I would have brought them back to the US and back to DC. To at least bring home the memory of someone who served the great nation (with all of its good points and bad) I call home.
I guess I have another reason to go back to Vietnam, anyone want to join me?
Saturday, February 03, 2007
GIBBONS!!!
Matt and I decided to take a trip out to Ninh Binh to see the gibbon and monkey rehab center. I don't know if it was totally worth the extra trip, but they sure were entertaining to watch!
We took a bus out to Ninh Binh and arrived bleary eyed at around 5 AM - still dark outside and we had no idea where we were. One of the guesthouse keepers was out to meet the bus and we eventually went out to his guesthouse. It wound up being a really nice place and we both felt really lucky to run into the man who we might have otherwise ignored.
After some needed sleep we decided to rent a couple of bicycles and bike around the city (it wasn't too big) and see some of the sights. We first set off to see the limestone peaks by boat and then cycled out to one of the small temples. The caretaker there spoke Vietnamese and French, so I had to try to bust out the truly rusty high school francais to understand what he was trying to say to me. I think I was able to get the gist of what he was saying, which is really better than I could have hoped for.
When we got back into town, we decided to take a look around and there really wasn't too much there at all. So we headed to the guesthouse for dinner. The only thing that they were serving that night was a Vietnamese BBQ - kind of Korean style. It was okay, but what topped it all off was the Ninh Binh water they shared with us after dinner. Um...I only dipped my lip and was coughing, much to the delight of one of the guesthouse caretakers. Matt said that it was at least better than baijiou, which isn't saying that much.
So early the next morning we set out with our driver to the gibbon center and other places within the national park. But the prime reason was to see some primates! The gibbons were amazing! They had some sweet little babies and were swinging all around their enclosures! They would do little mid-air twirls and turns. So much fun to watch! The monkeys that they had there were also very cool - they were really chill. They looked like little bearded men wearing red, black or grey pants. And, go figure, they were called the red pants monkey, black pants monkey and the grey pants monkey.
Besides the monkeys we went on a couple of walks through the forest - saw and hugged (just for Debz) a +1,000 year old tree, and explored a cave which was used for shelter and other things in prehistoric times. After that, our driver stopped by the edge of the road and helped us get on the right bus to Hanoi.
All in all, we made the most of our time there, I don't know if I would go back, but definitely good for a little stop to break up some of the bus riding fatigue.
I am way behind on my blogging, so keep checking back for more!
We took a bus out to Ninh Binh and arrived bleary eyed at around 5 AM - still dark outside and we had no idea where we were. One of the guesthouse keepers was out to meet the bus and we eventually went out to his guesthouse. It wound up being a really nice place and we both felt really lucky to run into the man who we might have otherwise ignored.
After some needed sleep we decided to rent a couple of bicycles and bike around the city (it wasn't too big) and see some of the sights. We first set off to see the limestone peaks by boat and then cycled out to one of the small temples. The caretaker there spoke Vietnamese and French, so I had to try to bust out the truly rusty high school francais to understand what he was trying to say to me. I think I was able to get the gist of what he was saying, which is really better than I could have hoped for.
When we got back into town, we decided to take a look around and there really wasn't too much there at all. So we headed to the guesthouse for dinner. The only thing that they were serving that night was a Vietnamese BBQ - kind of Korean style. It was okay, but what topped it all off was the Ninh Binh water they shared with us after dinner. Um...I only dipped my lip and was coughing, much to the delight of one of the guesthouse caretakers. Matt said that it was at least better than baijiou, which isn't saying that much.
So early the next morning we set out with our driver to the gibbon center and other places within the national park. But the prime reason was to see some primates! The gibbons were amazing! They had some sweet little babies and were swinging all around their enclosures! They would do little mid-air twirls and turns. So much fun to watch! The monkeys that they had there were also very cool - they were really chill. They looked like little bearded men wearing red, black or grey pants. And, go figure, they were called the red pants monkey, black pants monkey and the grey pants monkey.
Besides the monkeys we went on a couple of walks through the forest - saw and hugged (just for Debz) a +1,000 year old tree, and explored a cave which was used for shelter and other things in prehistoric times. After that, our driver stopped by the edge of the road and helped us get on the right bus to Hanoi.
All in all, we made the most of our time there, I don't know if I would go back, but definitely good for a little stop to break up some of the bus riding fatigue.
I am way behind on my blogging, so keep checking back for more!
Creepy Commies
Greetings from Hanoi!
Matt and I are on the last leg of our trip in Vietnam. We just saw a very cool water puppet show at the City Water Puppet Theatre (duh). It was interesting to see the way the puppets glide across the water - the water is very much a part of the show too - not just a groovy stage.
We also went out to see Uncle Ho today. His mausoleum. His embalmed body. Total creepiness. What is up with saving the bodies of communist leaders? Lenin, Mao and Ho all kept in a eerie state of waxiness so people can shuffle through and view their bodies. Did North Korea embalm "The Great Leader"? Right around Ho's mausoleum is his former palace/greeting place, residence, museum, his cars, etc. The museum was actually one of the most interestingly laid out and put together museums I have ever been to.
Anyhow, as I have been traveling though this country, I haven't really felt like I have been in a communist country - like China. Vietnam just breathes differently - a nice and refreshing different. But right around the mausoleum it was something straight out of Commie handbook 101 - big open square - check, austere concrete buildings - check, green uniforms - check, LOTS of pictures/propaganda about leader - check. Didn't so much care for that sudden reminder of where I am after being lost in my head for the past weeks, and also having a sudden reminder on where I must return to after my vacation is over.
It was really strange to go into the chambers to view the body - the chamber is completely climate controlled, and dark, except for the lighting over the body. It looks a little misty-ish when you walk in and then there is a glow over the pallid corpse. It really is quite creepy. There are uniformed guards stationed around the room as well as in the pit surrounding the platform displaying the body. People shuffle in and some pay respects by bowing slightly when they get to the central point of the railing. It was strange and surreal. I had so many thoughts going through my head at this time. I didn't know what to think - I was confused. I was standing 10 feet away from a man who's political decisions caused/contributed to thousands of deaths in the name of so-called "liberation".
"Liberation".
He is celebrated for the "liberation" of South Vietnam and unifying the country. But what a cost this "liberation" had. Now as I try to explain what I was thinking it is all very muddy, it wasn't so clear at the time either. When I got to the center of the rail, my mind was just racing. I frowned and scowled. Not because I support or oppose one political ideology or another, but I just was having a lot of trouble coming to terms with the cost of his actions and this usage of "liberation". When I looked up, I met the eyes of a guard sitting in the pit. He was not very amused by my expression. He hardened his face, frowned at me and motioned me to leave the chamber. Not that I really could or planned on camping out, I just followed the crowd out a little more quickly than I had been moving.
Anyhow, this was both a sobering and creepy experience. We also went to the Hanoi Hilton museum. A former prison which was first built by the French to house the Vietnamese, then later, was used to house US soldiers. I read all about how horrible the conditions were for the Vietnamese and saw another guillotine. I also read about how well the US troops were cared for while there and even saw John McCain's photo and gear from when he was captured and imprisoned there. It has been interesting to read all about the war from a completely different perspective. Although I am getting rather tired reading the carefully scripted propaganda in the museums. Not that the propaganda in the US is necessarily better, it is just different in a very tiring way to me.
So, we are looking to cyclo through the city tomorrow and then head out to Ha Long Bay the day after. Then, sigh, back to China. Hong Kong. Hopefully we will have some time to roll the dice in Macao, but we'll have to see if we have time as my conference is creeping up at a really bad time in my vacation and is going to wind up costing me more money than I feel it is going to be worth (so just a little angry and resentful about that).
Okay, this is getting long and too rambly for my likes. I'll write more later about Ninh Binh (Gibbons!), but it will be post-dated, so look back for it.
So, I just have to make a date with Unky Mao when I get back to Zhong Guo and then head to Russia to complete my embalmed communist leader tour. Hmmm...maybe I'll just hop back on that trans-Siberian line and finish the ride!
Matt and I are on the last leg of our trip in Vietnam. We just saw a very cool water puppet show at the City Water Puppet Theatre (duh). It was interesting to see the way the puppets glide across the water - the water is very much a part of the show too - not just a groovy stage.
We also went out to see Uncle Ho today. His mausoleum. His embalmed body. Total creepiness. What is up with saving the bodies of communist leaders? Lenin, Mao and Ho all kept in a eerie state of waxiness so people can shuffle through and view their bodies. Did North Korea embalm "The Great Leader"? Right around Ho's mausoleum is his former palace/greeting place, residence, museum, his cars, etc. The museum was actually one of the most interestingly laid out and put together museums I have ever been to.
Anyhow, as I have been traveling though this country, I haven't really felt like I have been in a communist country - like China. Vietnam just breathes differently - a nice and refreshing different. But right around the mausoleum it was something straight out of Commie handbook 101 - big open square - check, austere concrete buildings - check, green uniforms - check, LOTS of pictures/propaganda about leader - check. Didn't so much care for that sudden reminder of where I am after being lost in my head for the past weeks, and also having a sudden reminder on where I must return to after my vacation is over.
It was really strange to go into the chambers to view the body - the chamber is completely climate controlled, and dark, except for the lighting over the body. It looks a little misty-ish when you walk in and then there is a glow over the pallid corpse. It really is quite creepy. There are uniformed guards stationed around the room as well as in the pit surrounding the platform displaying the body. People shuffle in and some pay respects by bowing slightly when they get to the central point of the railing. It was strange and surreal. I had so many thoughts going through my head at this time. I didn't know what to think - I was confused. I was standing 10 feet away from a man who's political decisions caused/contributed to thousands of deaths in the name of so-called "liberation".
"Liberation".
He is celebrated for the "liberation" of South Vietnam and unifying the country. But what a cost this "liberation" had. Now as I try to explain what I was thinking it is all very muddy, it wasn't so clear at the time either. When I got to the center of the rail, my mind was just racing. I frowned and scowled. Not because I support or oppose one political ideology or another, but I just was having a lot of trouble coming to terms with the cost of his actions and this usage of "liberation". When I looked up, I met the eyes of a guard sitting in the pit. He was not very amused by my expression. He hardened his face, frowned at me and motioned me to leave the chamber. Not that I really could or planned on camping out, I just followed the crowd out a little more quickly than I had been moving.
Anyhow, this was both a sobering and creepy experience. We also went to the Hanoi Hilton museum. A former prison which was first built by the French to house the Vietnamese, then later, was used to house US soldiers. I read all about how horrible the conditions were for the Vietnamese and saw another guillotine. I also read about how well the US troops were cared for while there and even saw John McCain's photo and gear from when he was captured and imprisoned there. It has been interesting to read all about the war from a completely different perspective. Although I am getting rather tired reading the carefully scripted propaganda in the museums. Not that the propaganda in the US is necessarily better, it is just different in a very tiring way to me.
So, we are looking to cyclo through the city tomorrow and then head out to Ha Long Bay the day after. Then, sigh, back to China. Hong Kong. Hopefully we will have some time to roll the dice in Macao, but we'll have to see if we have time as my conference is creeping up at a really bad time in my vacation and is going to wind up costing me more money than I feel it is going to be worth (so just a little angry and resentful about that).
Okay, this is getting long and too rambly for my likes. I'll write more later about Ninh Binh (Gibbons!), but it will be post-dated, so look back for it.
So, I just have to make a date with Unky Mao when I get back to Zhong Guo and then head to Russia to complete my embalmed communist leader tour. Hmmm...maybe I'll just hop back on that trans-Siberian line and finish the ride!
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