Well we're finally off out to enjoy our final day in Shanghai and indeed in China. I can't believe it's gone so quickly yet at the same time it feels like it's been a very long time since we were at home - I think we both miss everyone and there's a bit of us both that's hankering for a decent cup of tea :) We've both said that when we get home that's the first thing we'll want - to put the kettle on, get out the Tetley's and sit down and just have proper tea. LOL. We are such philistines aren't we? Although we have got quite partial to Jasmine tea if only for the smell alone. I shall be happy to offer anyone a cup of jasmine tea, who wants to try it, upon my return.
Sunday, 30 September 2007
Friday, 28 September 2007
Stinky things
Two things. Firstly we've noticed that most men, mainly the overweight ones, pull their shirts up and walk around like this rubbing their stomachs. Some younger lads do it but it's mainly the middle aged men. It's quite amusing to see but at the same time ... well it would be nicer if they didn't.
Secondly, we know we're good at bartering now because today we watched some Chinese people buying some of these stinky things. Remember the ones that we got 10 for ten, reduced at a good price for 5 for 10? Well she didn't do anywhere near as good as us - she got 3 for 10! I'm very pleased that I can barter better than a local! HA :)
Hutong, Beijing
Beijing is full of these hutongs. Basically hutong means alleyway and they are just interconnected little alleys that are just communities. Some of them have lots of little shops in, others are more where people live but they are all connected like a huge maze. A few years ago there were thousands but now there are less than 400 left as they are pulling them all down to build new things for the Olympics. Everywhere you go there are just huge fences of metal and behind that you can see what's left of the buildings that were there once.
Apparently different worldwide groups are trying to get China to slowdown in their building works and telling them not to destroy all their history but it seems to be falling on deaf ears. I've never seen so much building going on in a city at once. I'm sure it will all look lovely when it's finished but you have to wonder at what cost. And I can also bet that however lovely it will look there will still be men hawking up all over it. :)
No honking
I know this won't mean much to anyone reading this blog but after being over here for more than 3 weeks one of the things we won't miss is the constant honking of car horns. Oh my God. It never stops. The weird thing is though it's never done in aggression like it is at home. If a car is driving along and someone is riding a bike that they're going to overtake then they'll toot a very times just to let them know - thing is there are hundreds of cyclists and pedestrians and then you've got the cars that they just overtake so it's a constant cacophany of tooting car horns that basically no one pays any attention to because everyone does it all the time.
Obviously, I needn't add that this is the only sign we've seen like this and of course no one was paying it any attention whatsoever. I've yet to find any road laws that anyone seems to obey anyway so why they would heed a warning sign I don't know - a red light doesn't really mean stop over here so a sign with a line through it isn't really going to cut it :)
No lookie!
We've started to realise that while it's ok for Chinese blokes to stare and stare and stare at us if you turn round and stare back or, even better, get the camera and take a photo of them, they really don't like it at all. It's quite a good plan actually because you don't even need to take the photo half the time :)
Monday, 24 September 2007
It means good luck, love and longevity
Or so Wendy told us - I guess until we learn the language ourselves we'll just never know!
So this was at the fitting last night. Beth has got a skirt, a shirt, this jacket and a suit and we had to have them all tried on, altered and pinned before going out for dinner. We'll pick them up this afternoon.
This jacket is beautiful - there were loads of different silks to choose from but I liked this one most of all and I'm glad Beth chose it to have something made from - she's been after getting herself something Chinesified since we got here and I guess it can't be moreso than having something made especially :)
While trying my stuff on last night I managed to injure myself on all the pins that were pulling my trousers in and so I know have a huge scratch down my left thigh that is similar in length to the Great Wall of China. Nice.
Oh well - I got over the pain with a couple of beers in Hooters. All better now then.
Today we're off to visits Tian'anmen Square properly. We're not sure if we'll get in to see the frozen body of Chairman Mao and see if his ear really has fallen off or not - you're not allowed to take photos (I wonder why!) so I'll just have to let you know. Then we'll be going to visit some Hutongs (little alleyways with shops and foodplaces) and then we're going swimming before picking our clothes up. We may even take photos of us all dressed up with nowhere to go and post them on here later, just so you can see us in all of our tailor made finery! :)
See you all later my little lovelies
xxxx
Getting measured up
As part of our Big China Adventure we decided we'd get some clothes tailor made for ourselves. So with that in mind we visited the Yashow Market - up near the Worker's Stadium - in Beijing. From all the different guide books we'd read it seemed like this was one of the better ones and the fact that they do stuff in two days fitted in with our itinery too.
So along we went on Saturday night - chose our material, got measured up by Wendy and then paid our deposit. I'm getting a suit and two shirts and Beth is getting two suits and a shirt. In total it's costing us just under £200. Not bad really. The suits are about £48 each and the shirts £8. We had to go back the next day for a fitting and we'll pick them up today (Monday). Our next problem is going to be how exactly we will fit them into our suitcases. I'm wondering if they can make us one of those too.
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