ENGLISH MANIA

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TUESDAY, MAY 26th - YA SHOW MARKET AND THEN HOME!!!

Last meal in China at airport


Last beer in China

Homeward bound

In English

Today gave a whole new meaning to the word "shopping". We got up around 8:00 a.m. and at breakfast, Astri and Lenny decided we had enough time for a quick trip to the Ya Show Market. She wanted to get a few more things to bring for her kids and Lenny just wanted to go for the fun of it! I almost let them go without me but caved in at the last second. After a half hour cab ride, we arrived at the market at around 10:00 a.m. and within one hour we had purchased an "I climbed the Great Wall" teeshirt for Len, a silk shirt for me to go with my new rust colored pants, 2 silk Chinese dresses for our daughters-in-law and Chinese shirts for our sons. With Astri's help and Lenny's new bargaining skills we got amazing prices. Len was told more than once that he was a tough bargainer. It's a big game between the customer and the seller. The game starts off by the seller saying "you my first customer, I give special price just for you" for example 850 yuan which is about $120.00 US. The customer must say, "no, much too expensive" and the seller then may say - "ok,ok, just for yhou 600 yuan" . Then the customer says "40 yuan" and hte seller says "you crazy, just for you "250 yuan" and so on until the customer walks away. If they don't follow you, you know your price is too low, if they give in easily right away, you know you have paid too mcuh. If you walk away and they say "80 yuan" and you originally offered 40 yuan and you settle on 50 or 60 or 70 yuan, you have made a good deal - everyone is smiling and each person feel that they have won! Some tourists certainly pay the $120.00 US but most bargain and get a little off. If you have a sister-in-law who lives in Beijing, she can say - "no no no 850 is way too much, I live in Beijing, I know what this should cost" and the seller says, "ok, what is your best price?" and when told the 40 yuan, there is a little hassle but the bargaining is over sooner and the result is terrific - from about $120.US down to about $7.00 US.

Since the cab was coming to the apartment for us at 12:30, we knew we had to be on our way back by 11:30 and we were in the cab by 11:40, back at the apartment by noon and down in the parking garage just in time.

Here is how the taxi works by their apartment. There are the black cabs which are independent and you bargain with them for a set price for your destination. Phil and Astri deal with Joe who owns 4 cars with drivers. He is very reliable. They always use the black cars when they go to the airport because they will come exactly on time to the garage area below their building so it is easy to take suitcases. They also use them when they are not sure where they are going because they will never leave them until they are in the right place. They are a little more expensive but not much. They try to take regular cabs wehn they know where they are going but sometimes it is difficult to pass by Joe and get into another cab - they want to stay on his good side.

I also want to describe the young security guards in their complex. On the path to and from their apartment there are four to five young guards dressed in formal uniforms who salute you with a crisp heel click - they are quite serious and formal and they stand their for many hours at the same post each day. One youn man, however, is always smiling. Hil and Astri stop and talk to him all the time and in this way he has learned a little English. He became our friend too - "good morning, you fine, I fine, have a good day" - salute and heel click and a big smile!

One other interesting story: A few nights ago, we went to bed with the a/c on and woke up sweating. In the morning we found out that they had lost their power because they hadn't added enough to their power account. Astri had to go to the office to give them cash to extend their service. They are basically living in a cash society. They have smart cards for their services such as gas, water and electricity. If they have a problem, they usually have to get Phil's secretary to call for them as their Chinese is not yet good enough to explain their situation. They also have swipe cards for busses, subways and taxis - almost no credit cards at all though they can use debit cards for certain things. I must say that we have been totally impressed with how well both Astri and Phil have done in learning the language. They are both amazing.

So, at precisely 12:30, we shlepped our 4 check-in bags (two new one) and 2 carry-ons down to the garage and there was our black cab waiting for us. we had negotiated our price of $15.00 US to go to the airport. In the car, we discussed the need to go to the Interantional terminal as we were going back to the USA and the driver nodded and we were off. After driving about 15 minutes, we ended up at the US Embassy - not the airport! Nothing we said could make the driver understand so he called Joe, got it straightened out and we were finally off to the right place. As soon as we pulled up, someone came to the car, loaded our bags on a trolly and accompanied us to check-in. We were well within the wieght limit for United, even with our extra two bags. With almost 3 hours to spare, we had a bite to eat and then headed to the gate. We passed through the temperature area - they are still obviously concerned about the flu. All employees are wearing masks. Got through security without a problem, played some cards and before we knew it they were calling our flight. I must say when we saw those American flight attendants speaking real English, it felt pretty good. O ordered a cup of tea and could actually get a piece of lemon and a diet sweetner for the first time in about 6.5 weeks! No matter whre we have traveled outside the US, no matter how much fun we have had, we are always so happy to come home. We never take our precious US citizenship for granted. This was a once in a lifetime trip and we have tales to tell for sure. We are glad to be coming home.

Beijing to Chicago - United (flight # 18)
Chicago to Tampa - United (flight #19)
Arrival time - 12:10 a.m. - May 27th!

It is totally amazing, that on all 19 flights, our luggage was always there waiting for us and there it was in Chicago and then again in Tampa. We loaded up our luggage cart and headed for the long term parking garage where Lynn Bornstein had parked our car for us two days earlier. We followed her flawless directions, found the car so easily and headed for home.

So, we are home! We don't know yet if it is day or night but we are so glad to be back in Lakewood Ranch - home sweet home! Lynn had stocked our fridge with milk, fruit, cottage cheese, cream cheese, grapes, strawberries. There was a welcome home note and a USA balloon on the counter. What more can one ask for. We are so grateful to have made such good friends here.

Now we will unpack, take a week to recoup and then we will go to meet our new grandson, Caleb and to see Hannah and Mariah and Michael and Kimberley. We will also go to Maryland to babysit for Noah and Eliana for a few days since their Nanny will be away and Matthew and Sara need some daytime help. Once we get home, we hope to stay put in Florida for the rest of the summer.

MONDAY, MAY 25TH - OUR LAST FULL DAY IN BEIJING

Guard at Phil's condo


Children at Phil's condo

Pearl Market

Pearl Market and Hutong

Great lunch

More beer

I liked it

Ceramic shop

Beijing street

Modern market

Modern market

Modern market

Last dinner with Phil and Astri

Our new friend

MONDAY, MAY 25TH - OUR LAST FULL DAY IN BEIJING!

We certainly didn't want to miss out on one last outing before leaving for home tomorrow. We got up early and tried our clothes on for the tailor one last time and they were all perfect! Then we started out for a few hours on our own. We were armed with Lenny's translator, Astri's taxi book which contains many of the markets and tourist sites that people frequent, and their extra cellphone in case we got lost or needed some assistance. We got a taxi right outside of the apartment complex, showed the driver the PEARL MARKET (Hongqiao Market Chong Wen District) and with a nod of his head, we were off. Nothing is close by in this city and it took us about 30 minutes to get to the market. We knew exactly where to go this time and easily found the Pandora store where we had gotten a necklace for myself and Hannah and then had ordered several initial beads for Mariah and Eliana which we will put away for them until they are a little bigger. As soon as we arrived at Fenny on the 3rd floor stall #96 (email: HKQF@yahoo.com.cn cell phone: 13552565244), we were greeted very warmly, given bottles of water and shown the beads that we had ordered. I think that Lenny is more excited about this purchase than I am as he has designed the necklaces for all of us. The ladies in the stand have really gotten a kick out of him. One of our main missions this morning was also to purchase an extra suitcase to bring back all of our little treasures which we have purchased over the course of the last 6+ weeks and we were directed to a stall on the second floor. Lenny, once again, made an excellent negotiation for not one but two nesting duffles on rollers made of a very strong material that would have easily cost us in the States five times what we paid today. We actually were able to find the restaurant that Phil and Astri took us the very first day we were with them several weeks ago and despite being the only westerners in the busy restaurant, we managed to order just what we wanted. Once again, I was able to manage the use of the squat toilet but I am going to be so happy to get back to the western style facilities. I will have tales to tell about my experiences but I dont think that I can really put them in writing.Now we had the task of catching a taxi to meet Astri at a wonderful modern ceramics store that she took us too, also on the first day that we visited. She needed to get a wedding gift for the wedding they are going to in the States in June and Lenny and I wanted to buy a little something to take home as a remembrance of our time in Beijing. We settled on a set of two contemporary small white vases and we bought a set of three of them for Phil and Astri. We were turned down by the first three taxis that we approached once they saw the card with the address of the store SPIN. It is located not far from Astri and Phil's apartment at: 6 Fangyuan W.. Rd. Chaoyang, Beijing. +86 21 6279 2545. We decided to be persistent and the 4th taxi driver read the card and agreed to take us. Addresses in Beijing are very difficult and mostly, people tell how to get somewhere by describing the area and the crossroads and then they try to be a little more specific when you get closer to the destination. When we got to the area, he was unable to find the address and since he didn't speak a word of English, we all sat there trying to figure out what to do. We really wanted to accomplish this day without any help but we couldn't do it. We tried to have the driver call the shop for help but we couldn't reach them and Astri couldn't help because her Chinese is not good enough yet and she would not have understood where we were, so we ended up calling Phil's secretary, Melissa. She looked up the store on-line and then spoke to the driver for about two minutes giving him what sounded to us like very complicated directions. We laughed when he turned the corner and there was the store right in front of us. We can't figure out how it took two full minutes to describe that we were just a half a block away! Astri arrived shortly after we did on her bike and we both made our purchases. Now we are waiting to hear when Phil will be home. We think that we will also spend the evening with our cousins, Ted and Roberta if Roberta can get away early enough. This evening, we will pack and get ready to head home. I don't think we realize how really tired we are going to be. We have been on the move, practicallly nonstop since April 11th when we flew from Tampa to Bangkok. Lenny wanted to visit a huge farmer's market with Astri this afternoon but he is sound asleep and we both decided not to wake him.Hope all is well with everyone at home. See you soon.Love,Geri and Lenny

SUNDAY, MAY 24th - BEIJING

Geri in adult park


Guard at Phil's condo

Lunch with Phil's nurse and her husband

Lunch with Phil's nurse and her husband

Lunch with Phil's nurse and her husband

Lunch with Phil's nurse and her husband

Lunch with Phil's nurse and her husband

Lunch with Phil's nurse and her husband

In the park

Also in the park

In the park

Kungfu Show

Kungfu Show

Dirt market

Dirt market

Dirt market

Dirt market

Dirt market

Dirt market

Dirt market my tea pot

SUNDAY, MAY 24th - BEIJING

Today, we had a very wonderful fun day with Phil and Astri. We first went to what the local ex-pats call the "DIRT MARKET" which is really a huge flea market with everything from art gallery stores, pottery shops, outdoor places that sell huge garden statuary and pots, places that sell high quality furniture and then an outdoor area with people who set up their shops for the day with old stuff just like our flea markets. Lenny once again had his chance to use his finely honed bargaining skills. Since seeing how tea was grown and then carefully brewed, he decided that he was going to become a tea drinker and that he should buy a tea pot from China. He haggled quite well and now we are carrying home a pottery tea pot. I am going to make sure that he uses it at home.We then caught a cab to a restaurant where we had been invited for lunch by Phil's nurse, Guangjun and her husband, Xiao Zhen Dong. Guangjun said that he goes by the English name of Jack but he doesn't look like a Jack at all. He is a urology cancer surgeon at a large Chinese hospital but he practices in the western style. He doesn't speak but a few words of English. The restaurant was in the embassy of the Yun Nan province and we were taken to a secluded private table in an area that made it look like we were in an outside garden. It was really very beautiful. As soon as we arrived, we realized that Guangjun and Xiao had already ordered for us. Xiao poured us rice wine from a long interesting wooden decanter that looked like a horn and then the food just kept coming. They knew that Lenny is a vegetarian who eats fish and seafood so most of the dishes were ordered with him in mind. For us, it was one of the most unusual meals we have had this trip and the meal began with a chicken soup and ended with a huge bowl of noodles in broth with vegetables. We were so full we could hardly move from the table. After the meal, Guangjun and Xiao presented Astri and Phil and Lenny and I with a series of gifts including a very pretty apron and a bottle of wine. Guangjun said that Phil had already changed her life by having her as his oncology nurse. I know that Phil thinks that she is very special and that he is grateful that she is working for him. After lunch, we went to Long Tan Park where we watched people exercise on the most amazing exercise equipment, kids fishing in a blow up pond with real goldfish, people sitting and just talking with each other in groups, families picnicking and just having fun. We also found a table and sat and played some cards. As usual the guys are beating the girls. We then went to see the Legend of KungFu and this was a very beautiful show which told how a young child was selected to become a Monk who would be groomed to be a chief warrior and eventually the head spiritual leader. He meets a beautiful woman and goes astray but then realizes that he has to make amends and come back to his true mission in life. He has to make many sacrifices and prove himself in order to be accepted back as the valued Monk Warrier. The play ends when the old leader dies and the warrior becomes the leader. The last scene shows him beginning the training of a young boy who will some day take his place. The acrobatics and kungfu moves were awesome and so was the staging. We all enjoyed it.We finished the evening back at the apartment and had a lovely Nicoise Salad which Astri made. It was the first western type salad we had in about 6.5 weeks and it was deliciious.

SATURDAY, MAY 23rd - BEIJING

Beijing street food


Jing Bau Beijing street food

Jing Bau Beijing street food

Jing Bau Beijing street food

Cards in park

Dinner with Roberta, Ted, Phil, Astri, Geri and Lenny

Dinner with Roberta, Ted, Phil, Astri, Geri and Lenny

Hot Chili's

Phil and Ted

Geri and Astri

Food shopping

More Chinglish

SATURDAY, MAY 23rd - BEIJING

This morning we went to the Ex-Pat Exhibition with Phil and Astri. We have encouraged them to do the things that they would normally do so we can experience a little slice of their lives here. The exhibition was much like a vendor fair in the US with companies showing off their expresso machines, wine tastings, tea tastings, Chinese Language Schools, etc. From their, we were introduced to some Beijing street food called Jing Bau. It is a pancake about 14 inches in diameter made on a very hot round grill plate. Then they spread an egg over it, some chili sauce, green onions, a sweet soy sauce of some kind and peanuts. On top of this they put some kind of crunchy cracker. Then the whole thing is folder over into an envelope shaped package, slipped into a plastic bag and handed over to you to eat. The whole concoction cost about $1.50 US and was plenty for two to share it. It was so yummy. We will have to have another one before we head for home. We then walked to a beautiful park where we played cards for about an hour and enjoyed the outdoors. The parks here are used by all ages and there is always a lot of activity. We took a walk through what is called the Silk Market, another one of the giant "lady lady" places, where vendors call "lady lady" and try to get you to buy whatever they are selling. It is truly a Chinese happening.. We seemed to have walked forever today, just enjoying eachother. We also took a bus and a subway and then a cab to get home. Beijing is a very big city.In the evening, we were picked up by our cousins, Roberta Lipson and Ted Plafker. They have a big van and they were able to fit all of us so we could go together to the restaurant. It was called The Middle - 8th Restaurant ( www.middle8th.com) and serves typical Yun Nan cuisine. It was quite upscale and lovely and we had a wonderful evening talking and eating and drinking together. Here we are in Beijing, China with Phil and Astri and Ted and Roberta, eating out in a terrific restaurant - we had to pinch ourselves! What fun!