Thursday - April 11

Thus trip so far has been an eye opener, to me at least. I cannot help but think how my concept of China was so far wrong. Mind you it is only our fourth day her and only in the capital city. I suppose all countries make a point of having their capital as attractive as possible.

The traffic flows well, I am amazed at how so many of the vehicles are luxury cars. However at the same time there are some people on bikes and scooters overloaded with wares.

I have never experienced such polite and gentle people in regards to serving and wait staff etc. Although there are hordes of people they are soft spoken and not overly pushy unless in a crowd situation. The folks we bump into are remarkably well dressed. Being in the capital I imagine there are many government employees her and large firms. They appear to be paid a reasonable amount.

Gasoline is about $1.30 a litre. The streets are immaculate and there is a great attempt to keep the place spotless. There are few beggars.

I am amazed at the fashion- conciseness of the people, even elderly people are smartly dressed in what look like good quality clothing. Maybe only the poor quality stuff gets exported but more likely it is the importer who drives the quality down to maximize their profit.

Counterfeit goods abound. I bought a his and hers Rolex yesterday for 15.00 each. There are upmarket stores that sell the real thing, there is an Apple Store just down the street. Yet yesterday I could have bought what looks like an Apple for a fraction of the cost. Buyer beware.

It was the best day weather wise so far, clear and no wind, about 15 C. Unfortunately I had a bit of an upset tummy after we started the journey to the Wall. It was rather unpleasant in the car on the freeway, not knowing if I was going to bring up my breakfast. All turned out fine although I was a bit queasy most of the day.

We also visited the cloisonné workshop on the way there. We are always interested to see craftsman at work and I have always been amazed at the method used in producing that stuff.

We got caught in a traffic jam on the way home which was frustrating, but interesting. The skill of the divers switching lanes was amazing but not a fender bender.

Tomorrow noon we fly to Xian for two days, a travel day unfortunately. We will see what China Air is like!!!

Cloisonné workshop showing the stages

Finished product

The Wall

Another view of the Wall

I need a good soak tonight, there are some very big steps up there!

The wall is amazing from a view of 'How on earth did they build it?

Resting actually

Our day at the wall was very tiring, but exciting

Peking Duck

Wednesday, April 10

Last night it was Peking Duck at an over the top restaurant, unbelievable.

Today, Wednesday we visited the Temple of Heaven and then a bit of leisure to shop a for an hour. That was about all I needed, then lunch by the hotel then back out and to The Summer Palace. After that dinner at a Period Restaurant, the Period was the days of the Emperor.

I was blown away by the elaborate costumes and sophistication and scale of the place. We have been to some fancy places in our days but this was the ultimate. I am sorry that the internet does not allow me to fully show this evenings dinner.

I am struggling to get a few, or less, pictures to Craig who is trying to put the blog together under trying circumstances.

Beijing - Day 3

Here we go...

China is taking on a new meaning to me. It is a terrible place to govern and it needs a strong and forceful leadership to control so many people of various ethnic backgrounds and classes of people. Structure and status seems to be so important to people and they seem to know where they are in the highly stratified system.

Our guide is about 30, single and believes strongly in the government. I really believe that China does not have aspirations to expand geographically. They are not a warrior nation. The people do not hate the US, or the west. The guide, and that is all that I can use as an example of my opinions, just wants to live her/their life and certainly not hope to have her country turn into a military nation,

Saving face, or status is a big thing. The inequity between the common people and the powerful, be they in government or just in favour at the moment is simply awful. Fancy cars and shops for the ultra rich abound. The contrast between the ordinary and government officials is disgusting. They closed off parts of the Forbidden City yesterday so some visiting big-shot could stroll it in private. Roads are often blocked so some official can just drive at 60 miles and hour. VIP stands for Very Important Pig, according to our guide. Yet she loves and adores Mao.

The people serving the people are very sub-serviant, almost shy and extremely polite. We are Foreigners and are looked upon with curiosity. The common country people, and you can tell them by their behaviour and maybe physical features, will just stand and stare at us as our Chinese guide explains in English some fact.

We are on the go all day. We have very good sleeps when we get to bed, but we are drained. So far the food has not disagreed with us. I am often tempted by some street vendors and their foods they sell but dare not. Our tummies have not built up resistance to such things.

One thing that I don't understand or like is the sharing of a communal food bowl and them taking bits out with their chop sticks and eating it. We ask for forks and I scoop food and put it on my plate. Not too cool, but I feel better. Eating here can be rather messy and not too nice to look at experience. Except in Western Environments.

On the other hand, cleanliness, in some things is taken to extremes. The streets are spotless, yet spitting is common, ugh! Toilets in public are interesting, yet I have seen worse in western countries,

So far I am delighted with the situation, the only thing is the internet but that is my issue. Most people come to China, enjoy the experience and couldn't care less about sharing the experience with folks at home. I am aware of that but choose to share and the price I pay is some frustration. I think it is worth it.

Sent from my iPad

Beijing - Day 2

Tuesday, April 9. Cool, windy.

We awoke at 2:30 after about four or five hours sleep. We tried to sleep but got up, showered, had coffee and reorganized ourselves for the heavy day ahead. Before breakfast we had a lengthy walk and were at the buffet at 6:30 opening. I have never seen such a sumptuous spread, everything from full cooked breakfast to noodles, boiled veggies to your taste, French toast, oatmeal etc., etc.

Our guide and driver met us at 9:30 and the adventure began. We visited The Drum Tower, The Forbidden City, Tienamen Square, and a whole more mess of things that I do not have time to list. I took over 200 photos today, some great. Unfortunately I am having trouble getting them uploaded. The internet is blocked for some websites and mine is one of them. Hopefully with Craig's help I can muddle through.

We ate at a local restaurant at noon today, that was an experience I must say.

We got back to the hotel at 4:00 for a bit of a rest before we go out for Peking Duck dinner tonight with our capable guide Crystal.

This city is unbelievable, somewhere between 2013 and 1911 in regards to many things. Modern yet Ancient China is everywhere. There are an average of 80,000 people a day go through the Forbidden City that is enormous in every respect.

That is all I have time for folks, I have to fight the internet now to get some pictures to Craig, wish me luck.

Bewildered in Beijing...

Monday, April 8. Cool and windy.

A very easy flight, some sleep, good service.

We were met at the airport around three PM, [a 12 hour flight], by a English speaking guide called Crystal. We were whisked outside to a waiting car that looked like mine except it was Chinese made and called Red Star. A very nice car and smart driver. She confirmed that we are indeed a group of two.

We were at the hotel in 1/2 hour and soon checked in. The Beijing Hilton, pretty darn nice. We had a one hour lay down and went for a walk, a biting wind was blowing. It was more like the Las Vegas strip than the capital of China. Very, very, clean, neat, orderly and modern.

We went into a few of the shops and were bewildered by the products for sale, most of which we could not identify, Packaging and colour seem to be very important.

We needed a wee bite to eat and had an adventure with the menu, the chopsticks, the three foot noodles and the waiter. All good. A short walk to the hotel, do the blog and go to bed: a very nice big fluffy bed. It has been a very long and interesting day but that bed sure looks good from here!

The pictures are self evident, taken on our walk, except Fellette finishing the noodles from the communal soup bowl!

Noon flight to Peking...

Sunday, April 7 Cloudy and sprinkles in Vancouver. Peking?

I think that Peking sounds more romantic than Beijing. I noticed that the symbol for my flight tracker was PEK. Same as Indians: the native indians call themselves indians but we are supposed to say First Nations.

Peking stirs up in me images of the Boxer Rebellion and pig-tailed Chinese battling european forces with knifes and swords etc., very bloody and scary. Such was the stereotyped images when I was a youngster. It takes generations to change such prejudices

Now, our travel day: Up at 5:35, tea and coffee, on the computer to do a little real estate business and out to the workshop to adjust the lawnmower heights and a few such things that one normally does at 5:45 AM.

Then over to lot 11 to seed some bare spots with grass seed that I forgot about. Back for breakfast and a chat with Angela, trying to determine the source of a buzzer she heard at 3:15 AM last night. That threw me off schedule somewhat. I don't like buzzers, I don't like such indicators when leaving the house for some time.

Fellette and I quickly finished sorting out what travel-related papers to take or leave. Leaving one such piece at home can cause enormous problems. Got that sorted. Then I packed my camera and related bag, the pieces for which I have had laid out for a few days.

A shave and dress and ready to go, Fellette had the suitcases in the car and the engine going when I discovered that my wallet was missing. Needless to say divorce procedure alternatives briefly flashed through her mind, but not for long as I discovered it in my iPad case where I tucked it last night. I is bulging with Chinese and American one dollar bills in spite of me removing many cards not needed on the trip. Back to our schedule and we said goodbye to Angela and left only 10 minutes later than our scheduled 8:30 leaving.

The trip to the airport was swift, check in and security was nothing and we were sitting in the lounge by 10:00. Connected to the internet at 10:02 and all is right with the world.

You may have guessed by now that we booked business class. Fellette and I decided quite some time ago that on flights over five hours, if we cannot afford business class we should not be going. I remember trips to Africa with two 9 or 10 hour night flights back to back and me pacing the aisles like a caged lion. Fellette just curls up with a book or a movie and that is it. Sitting upright for 11 hours is not an option, for me at least.

I decided to do this one last communication from North America because I do not know when I may next connect. Also to say goodbye in case a North Korean MIG shoots us down. [Joke!]

Photo:

In the lounge

The view on a rainy day at YVR

Last night in Canada...

Saturday, April 6. Cool, some rain.

Easy day, all our 'must do's' are done. I had about 6,000,000 little things to do. I seemed to be able to keep my nose to the grindstone in spite of many sidetracks and interruptions, like finding time to eat. I was successful in getting most of them done, and the ones I missed are unimportant, I hope.

Angela came around 11 and was soon settled in by Fellette and things were soon sorted by the two of them.

This afternoon we had a Surprise Party that his Robert's mother threw for him and Jeanette. Lots of friends of the Parke's of course and his siblings as well. Wally, Katrina and Craig came as well as did the grandkids, so it was quite a crowd, all in Marian's 48 year old house that she has lived in for 40 years.

It is amazing how the sizes of homes have grown in the past decades. The house was similar to what we all lived in for most of our lives until the modern Mega-House came into being, one bathroom and three bedrooms, a good old-fashioned simple family home.

On the way home we dropped into Trattle which is moving along nicely. Next time I see it it will have walls and a roof, nearing lockup.

Back home and we chatted with Angela who had settled in nicely, a few chores and to bed.

I do not know when I will be able to next post a blog, but I do know that it will be in Beijing. It is a 12 hour flight and 15 hours ahead in time zones, and a day ahead.

STAY TUNED!

PICTURES:

Robert and Jeanette at the party celebrating Robert's 60th and Jeanette's 50th.

Trattle main floor joists mostly in position.

A test shot of Highway One on the way to the party taken at 60 KPH, Fellette driving.

Two more sleeps...

Friday, April 5. Light rain.

Another day of marking time. It appears that we did so much work earlier in the week that we are out of things that have to be done before we go.

The day got off to a good start with a visit by Sherman, our realtor. There was bit of final negotiating to do and in a matter of minutes the prospective buyer had agreed to the deal. So, hopefully later in the day we have a signed agreement and that is the end of selling side of Trattle. Now, lot 11...{This turned out to be true and Trattle is indeed, sold}.

Checking the temperatures in China and it appears that it may not be too bad: Beijing, 19, Shanghai, 13, Hong. Kong, 24. I cannot get any of the smaller towns but it appears to be somewhat warmer than at home.

We had tea with long time friend Angela today. She is between houses and is in a rather uncomfortable housing arrangement temporarily. We offered Angela the basement suite until she gets settled, maybe the end of May, and she accepted. So, it appears that there will be a house-sitter here while we are away. It was all rather spontaneous but, such is life.



Tomorrow will be a busy day for us as we have a birthday party to go to in the afternoon/evening and Angela to get settled in the morning. All good. Out of the house by 8:30 Sunday morning.

I see by the news reports we have a report of a new strain of bird flu in the shanghai area and the smog situation in Beijing and North Korea sabre rattling. Well, we are bashing on regardless but we are packing and dressing appropriately.

Pictures...

Angela at the dinner table.

Doug and Fellette ready to head off to China.

it would appear that I have some skills to acquire regarding thecropping of the pictures: they appear to get cut off in my iPad???

If you click on the photos they will show the whole photo, not the cutoff version displayed!! I hope.

Testing my iPad for blogging in China...

Wednesday, April 3. Lovely sunny day.

Well Fellette's video showing went well. Her exercise group started arriving around 10:30 and the show started around 11:00. It is amazing the amount of noise a dozen plus middle aged ladies can make. It sounded more like a teenage pyjama party!

We have four more days/nights before we leave for Beijing, Sunday at noon. We have been on such a long flight only once before, to New Zealand. Air New Zealand has an excellent reputation and it was indeed superb. We are on Air Canada on this trip. It must be fine but I will have lower expectations regardless. Hopefully we are pleasantly surprised.

I have never used the iPad for a blog before but hopefully it will do for this trip. I am taking the much smaller and lighter iPad because we have a few domestic flights on Air China I believe and I want to be as mobile and unrestricted as possible.

As I write this I have CNN news on and they are hyping up the North Korean threat. Hopefully It is hype and we are not in a hot spot. Hot spots add to the excitement but not this time please.

The problem with the iPad is that I cannot put captions under the pictures. I will have to resolve that as I am hopefully of some good pictures.

The pictures today were taken on my iPad. It is awkward but I just wanted to get used to this thing. I hope that I don't have 'computer withdrawals'.

Pictures...

Our dresser with the beginnings of the packing.

Fellette raising some plants that get wet feet in the Grotto. New soil placed there earlier today.

The Gurgler Garden, pretend it is a beautiful Chinese Reflection Pond.

The conservatory: back in full operation after winter. Pretend it is a beautiful spring garden in China.

Greetings from Beautiful British Columbia...

Sunday, February 28. Rain in Maui, clear in Vancouver.

We arrived home safely in Vancouver, touching down at 2.21 am after a record setting flight from Maui of 4 hours and 48 minutes.

As you may know, we had an extra day because of a Tsunami that never showed and a mechanical issue with an airplane. No long story this time, I am beyond that at this stage.

Needless to say we were not expecting daughter Jeanette and oldest granddaughter Annette to meet us at the gate at that time of the morning, but they did, bless them. They even had hot tea and scones in the van for us.

By 4.30 am Ian and Judy were in bed, and Fellette and I fussed about a bit before soon hitting the hay.

This may be close to the end of this adventure, thanks for joining us and I enjoyed your comments folks.

I will post the occasional picture of the house we are building on this site.

Adios Amigos!

Doug

Annette and Fellette at 3.00 am.

Jeanette and Fellette.