Saturday, December 6, on the buses again! The nine buses with police escort are on the move again! We are going outside Ashun City to a small village. We will visit the school there. The bus ride is two hours and we stop at a gas station for a rest stop. We see a lot of the countryside and learn about how the farmers live.
When we arrive outside the village we have to leave the buses behind. The road is too small for the buses and the village is not a big as nine buses. The scene is beautiful. We see a small stream with people fishing and lots of ducks. As we walk down the road, we hear music. The whole surrounding area turns out for our welcome. There are drummers, dancers, and people costumed from the local opera lining the road. It is amazing!!! We make our way through the village. It is a very poor village. The houses are very old and chickens are everywhere. The path leads to a very small school. All of the students greet us there in their best clothes. The students do a small performance for us. So, do the local women with a scarf dance, the drummers with a drum dance and the local Chinese Opera. It is amazing!! It brings tears to our eyes. We take a very brief tour of the school. The school is very small with only a few rooms. It is a two story school with rough benches for the students and small desk.
The whole visit ends with the American delegation teaching the Chinese students the “Hokey Pokey”. It is so much fun and magical. Village people watch from over the walls of the school and enjoy the scene.
We walk back to the buses and go to Anshun City for lunch. Again a turn at the lazy susan and lots of new food to try for lunch. I still haven’t adjusted to fish with faces, chickens and ducks with heads and feet on the tables for lunch.
We load the buses and head for Yunfeng Tunpu (Forest Village). It is a fort built in the 14th century by Emperor Zhu Yanzhang. It reminds you a little of St. Augustine. The fort is built of stone and is on a small stream. The fortress is very old and the Han ethnic group lives here. These families have lived here since the 1300’s. The women still wear traditional clothes, there is an old Buddhist temple and fortress still holds ancient arms.
Again to the bus, for a long trip back to Guiyang. The bus drivers are almost like amusement ride drivers. We never know how close we will be to another car, bus or motor bike. It is the ultimate thrill ride!
We will have another dinner with the lazy susan. This is Farwell Dinner of the formal part of trip. We all say good- bye and share experiences of the conference. I have been lucky to make many new friends. Tomorrow we are going many different ways. Some of the delegates will head back to the USA and others to tour to Xi’an or Shang Hi. I will head with the group to Xi’an to see the Terra Cotta soldiers. I am sooooooo excited!!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Pizza and a walk on the streets
We end the day, Friday December 5 at the Howard Johnson in Guiyang. We are responsible for our own dinner plans. My room is very cold and the heater isn’t working. The view outside is nice but the air is very polluted here. The apartments have water catchers on the roofs and I can see them form my 10th floor window. I decide to join friends for dinner at the hotel. The staff here speaks very little English and makes ordering a challenge. Many people are ordering western food and the cooks are trying to keep up with the demand. One of my friends orders pizza. We are surprised when the pizza is about 3 inches think. The pizza is stuffed with vegetables! Yes, vegetables under the cheese! I tried for dumplings. The waitress said they were out so I ordered noodles. So, I end up with noodles and dumplings!! We had fun!
After dinner we walked the street outside and created a stir. People are stopping and staring at us. We are very different to the citizens here. One short redhead, a short African American, and a tall blond, not the normal Guiyang group of people to see on the street here and we laugh about our stares from people. The people in the south of China are short and the taller people are in the north of China. We return to the hotel to prepare for a great trip tomorrow.
After dinner we walked the street outside and created a stir. People are stopping and staring at us. We are very different to the citizens here. One short redhead, a short African American, and a tall blond, not the normal Guiyang group of people to see on the street here and we laugh about our stares from people. The people in the south of China are short and the taller people are in the north of China. We return to the hotel to prepare for a great trip tomorrow.
Shang Yi Primary School
We move on to the next school. It is Shang Yi Primary School. We go there after a lunch at a local restaurant. Since there are 180 people in our delegation anywhere we go is like an invasion. At the restaurant, we learn to be careful turning out lazy Susan and not spilling drinks as the wheel turns. This lunch we only lose three drinks as casualties of dishes on the lazy Susan.
The buses are escorted by the police everywhere and all the traffic is stopped in each intersection as we pass through. We look very impressive as we travel the roads in Guiyang. Our buses divide up into twos as we move to the next school.
Shang Yi Primary School is 2.5 acres big with 2,200 students and 112 teachers. There are as many as 60 students in a class. The school was built in 1058 and redone in 1998. The school color is yellow and the students have on yellow warm up suits as school uniforms. It is not heated, so the students have sweaters on under their jackets.
When we drive up to the school, there are many students out front in colorful dresses and outfits. We are greeted in English. The boy who greets me is in sixth grade and has spoken English for three years. He speaks very well and we have a polite conversation of “hello, how are you?” and then he adds several times he can’t believe I am so tall. He is also tall with glasses and looks like many of my students in the past.
We are lead to a room upstairs to meet the principal and see a power point of the school. The pictures show children like children at home, playing basketball, jump rope and bound ball. Each teacher only teaches one subject. So, the students have several teachers all through grades 1-6.
We are then lead to a large classroom with a class in session. The children are sixth graders studying ethnic culture of Guiyang. The students are studying masks to ward off evil spirits. The teacher is giving examples and showing scary masks. The students are using spoons to create small examples of masks. The spoons are large and look like large soup ladles. The children all greet us in English and smile. But one child speaks out saying “meet you glad” and the class laughs. The teacher continues class with a mike on. We sit on small stools in the back of the room watching the lesson. Some spoons are already painted and line the window sill. The teacher asks us to join the students with their painting. The four students I sit with teach me how to use their paints. We do all of this with out speaking. We are having the best time laughing and painting. While we are painting, the local TV station talks to me about my visit to Guiyang. We are all having a great time. The students decide I show take my spoon with a mask and show it to the teacher. The teacher shows my mask to the rest of the class and says I am doing a good job. We all giggle! The students give me their spoons as gifts after class and I have my picture taken with them. It is so much fun.
After the students are gone, we stay and have a discussion with the teachers. There is one student who doesn’t want to leave. He hangs outside the door until his teachers run him off! He is very cute! After the discussion we leave the schools with children waving everywhere.
The buses are escorted by the police everywhere and all the traffic is stopped in each intersection as we pass through. We look very impressive as we travel the roads in Guiyang. Our buses divide up into twos as we move to the next school.
Shang Yi Primary School is 2.5 acres big with 2,200 students and 112 teachers. There are as many as 60 students in a class. The school was built in 1058 and redone in 1998. The school color is yellow and the students have on yellow warm up suits as school uniforms. It is not heated, so the students have sweaters on under their jackets.
When we drive up to the school, there are many students out front in colorful dresses and outfits. We are greeted in English. The boy who greets me is in sixth grade and has spoken English for three years. He speaks very well and we have a polite conversation of “hello, how are you?” and then he adds several times he can’t believe I am so tall. He is also tall with glasses and looks like many of my students in the past.
We are lead to a room upstairs to meet the principal and see a power point of the school. The pictures show children like children at home, playing basketball, jump rope and bound ball. Each teacher only teaches one subject. So, the students have several teachers all through grades 1-6.
We are then lead to a large classroom with a class in session. The children are sixth graders studying ethnic culture of Guiyang. The students are studying masks to ward off evil spirits. The teacher is giving examples and showing scary masks. The students are using spoons to create small examples of masks. The spoons are large and look like large soup ladles. The children all greet us in English and smile. But one child speaks out saying “meet you glad” and the class laughs. The teacher continues class with a mike on. We sit on small stools in the back of the room watching the lesson. Some spoons are already painted and line the window sill. The teacher asks us to join the students with their painting. The four students I sit with teach me how to use their paints. We do all of this with out speaking. We are having the best time laughing and painting. While we are painting, the local TV station talks to me about my visit to Guiyang. We are all having a great time. The students decide I show take my spoon with a mask and show it to the teacher. The teacher shows my mask to the rest of the class and says I am doing a good job. We all giggle! The students give me their spoons as gifts after class and I have my picture taken with them. It is so much fun.
After the students are gone, we stay and have a discussion with the teachers. There is one student who doesn’t want to leave. He hangs outside the door until his teachers run him off! He is very cute! After the discussion we leave the schools with children waving everywhere.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
First school in Guiyang/experimental school
Today we are up and out early. After a great breakfast, we climbed on the buses and headed for two schools. The first school was the Experiment Middle School. Middle School here means 9-12 grades. The school I was at accepted the highest scores on testing for high school. In China, you have to past a test to be able to go on to grades 9-12. The school is new and built in 2004. It is a boarding school. It is a public school and most of the students go home for the weekend. They had 10 minutes between classes and no lockers. The school also doesn’t have heating.
When the bus pulls up to the school, the students are waving out the windows to greet us. It was so exciting to see. Once we load off the bus we took a tour of the school. We walked to the sixth floor first to see an exhibit of student projects. It was great to all kinds of science, technology and electrical projects. The students also have game rooms. They have a puzzle room, Mah Jung and Chinese chess room and study room. The school is really nice.
The students can to see us during their break. We were able to talk to a lot of the students. They start learning English in the third grade. The students spoke very well. One student played piano for us. He was amazing! He sounded like a concert pianist. We were astounded.
Next, we went to a History class. The teacher was great. He used music and pictures and a power point. The teacher had a great voice with lots of inflection. The students sit at desk for two with all of their books, reference books, globes and water bottles. They stay in the same desk in the same room all day except for the 10 minute breaks every hour. The student I sat by explained the lesson to me and showed me his books. The students answer some questions in unison and others by raising their hand. The harder questions are answered by raising your hand. The students are supposed to read the entire lesson before they even come in the room.
The lesson ended with eye exercises and the students moved out doors to do a series of exercises. It was amazing 2000 students in unison and no one playing or being asked to follow directions. All of the students here wear red and white warm up suits as school uniforms. They quietly file back to the room. A few if the girls stop to talk to me. They wanted to practice their English. They were so cute! One of the girls wants to be a doctor and none of them minded being at a boarding school.
Following this we went to talk to the teachers. The teachers have standards and use the same methods we use in the US. We found out teachers at the school had to take a test and apply to be at this school. The teachers come from all over China to teach at this school. The teachers were really great! I liked them very much. The teachers work hard, do extra duties, mentor students just like US teachers. They are given more respect. Teacher as a job here is a government job. The teachers here are very proud of their school.
Yeah!! On to lunch!
When the bus pulls up to the school, the students are waving out the windows to greet us. It was so exciting to see. Once we load off the bus we took a tour of the school. We walked to the sixth floor first to see an exhibit of student projects. It was great to all kinds of science, technology and electrical projects. The students also have game rooms. They have a puzzle room, Mah Jung and Chinese chess room and study room. The school is really nice.
The students can to see us during their break. We were able to talk to a lot of the students. They start learning English in the third grade. The students spoke very well. One student played piano for us. He was amazing! He sounded like a concert pianist. We were astounded.
Next, we went to a History class. The teacher was great. He used music and pictures and a power point. The teacher had a great voice with lots of inflection. The students sit at desk for two with all of their books, reference books, globes and water bottles. They stay in the same desk in the same room all day except for the 10 minute breaks every hour. The student I sat by explained the lesson to me and showed me his books. The students answer some questions in unison and others by raising their hand. The harder questions are answered by raising your hand. The students are supposed to read the entire lesson before they even come in the room.
The lesson ended with eye exercises and the students moved out doors to do a series of exercises. It was amazing 2000 students in unison and no one playing or being asked to follow directions. All of the students here wear red and white warm up suits as school uniforms. They quietly file back to the room. A few if the girls stop to talk to me. They wanted to practice their English. They were so cute! One of the girls wants to be a doctor and none of them minded being at a boarding school.
Following this we went to talk to the teachers. The teachers have standards and use the same methods we use in the US. We found out teachers at the school had to take a test and apply to be at this school. The teachers come from all over China to teach at this school. The teachers were really great! I liked them very much. The teachers work hard, do extra duties, mentor students just like US teachers. They are given more respect. Teacher as a job here is a government job. The teachers here are very proud of their school.
Yeah!! On to lunch!
Friday, December 5, 2008
What an amazing welcome!!
Wow!! I can't even describe what happen today! I will try to attach some pictures to help you understand.
We had a breakfast buffet at the hotel. It had western and chinese food. You have to cross a small bridge to get to the resturant from the elevator. Under the bridge is about a four foot long salamander. I have never seen a salamander this big!
After breakfast we loaded the 9 buses to get us to Guizhou Normal University. We were all excited about the event. But I didn't know how big this event really was!
As we got off the bus we were told to head towards a street. We could hear music as we came upon the street. There was the beat of chinese drums and an instrument called a lusheng. Students lined the street on both sides in various local traditional dress. There were hundreds of them. The students were all smiling and dancing. It was unbelievable! Yes, I cried! We cut a red ribbon and begin the march to the Concert Hall. Before we could cross the ribbon, we had to drink from a horn as a welcome. We were lead to a red carpet and up the stairs to the Concert Hall. Flowers, students, people, music and so many sights to see, one can't describe it all. Again, it was the "Rock Star" treatment. We were given a welcome package and small tranmitters for translations. Students are still everywhere in their traditional dress. I did enjoy the fact the students had on their regular shoes with most of the costumes. The shoes like converse high tops looked funny sticking out under dresses and pants.
The Sino- US Education Formum had begun. There were many speakers. All speeches were translated on our earphones. I felt like I was at the United Nations. I did enjoy all of the officals had on white socks with their suits. It made me think of my husband,he does the samething. The event was so impressive. The Speakers all talked about how it took 30 years for this event to happen.
We left the Concert Hall for the campus cantine for lunch. Yes, we had to make a bathroom stop. The bathrooms on campus are not western. It was a different experience.
Next, was a discussion with Chinese teachers. We all discussed our subjects, teaching styles and school requirements. It is amazing how much our skills and standards are alike. Their books are not as interesting as our books, they are only black and white with a few pictures. There are no colors or graphs. They are also not as thick as our books.
The day was amazing. We returned to the Concert Hall for a closing Speech. It was an amazing day. I know I keep repeating amazing but it is hard to describe this experience in words. We soon loaded our buses and headed for the Hotel were we change for a Formal Reception. The food was great again and the entertainment super!
But I was glad to retreat to my room and go to sleep!
We had a breakfast buffet at the hotel. It had western and chinese food. You have to cross a small bridge to get to the resturant from the elevator. Under the bridge is about a four foot long salamander. I have never seen a salamander this big!
After breakfast we loaded the 9 buses to get us to Guizhou Normal University. We were all excited about the event. But I didn't know how big this event really was!
As we got off the bus we were told to head towards a street. We could hear music as we came upon the street. There was the beat of chinese drums and an instrument called a lusheng. Students lined the street on both sides in various local traditional dress. There were hundreds of them. The students were all smiling and dancing. It was unbelievable! Yes, I cried! We cut a red ribbon and begin the march to the Concert Hall. Before we could cross the ribbon, we had to drink from a horn as a welcome. We were lead to a red carpet and up the stairs to the Concert Hall. Flowers, students, people, music and so many sights to see, one can't describe it all. Again, it was the "Rock Star" treatment. We were given a welcome package and small tranmitters for translations. Students are still everywhere in their traditional dress. I did enjoy the fact the students had on their regular shoes with most of the costumes. The shoes like converse high tops looked funny sticking out under dresses and pants.
The Sino- US Education Formum had begun. There were many speakers. All speeches were translated on our earphones. I felt like I was at the United Nations. I did enjoy all of the officals had on white socks with their suits. It made me think of my husband,he does the samething. The event was so impressive. The Speakers all talked about how it took 30 years for this event to happen.
We left the Concert Hall for the campus cantine for lunch. Yes, we had to make a bathroom stop. The bathrooms on campus are not western. It was a different experience.
Next, was a discussion with Chinese teachers. We all discussed our subjects, teaching styles and school requirements. It is amazing how much our skills and standards are alike. Their books are not as interesting as our books, they are only black and white with a few pictures. There are no colors or graphs. They are also not as thick as our books.
The day was amazing. We returned to the Concert Hall for a closing Speech. It was an amazing day. I know I keep repeating amazing but it is hard to describe this experience in words. We soon loaded our buses and headed for the Hotel were we change for a Formal Reception. The food was great again and the entertainment super!
But I was glad to retreat to my room and go to sleep!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Hi Again!
The flight to Guiyang was interesting! There were many large Americans and the seat belts didn't fit for some of us. The airline gave out seat belt extentions and still had two people left. The airline moved them to first class but still no luck. The flight was held up for an hour. I was so glad I didn't need an extention!! The airline finally moved the two ladies to another flight. The People to People delegation is large and there are 180 people in the delegation. The American teachers here are amazing! I feel honorered to be among them.
Landing here was uneventful and we collected our luggage heading for the bus.
Things change once we were in the bus. Beijing was very modern and new. Much of Beijing was torn down and redone for the Olympics. In Guiyang, you see a different China, you see the real China. The city here has a mix of old buildings and new. Its not as clean as Beijing, with smoggy brown air. Guiyang is in the middle of a large mountain range. The air gets caught in the valley and can't move. Buses of people move by us and the students here wear warm ups for their school uniform.
We went to the city square ( people's square) to see the Mao statue. It was huge!! The people in the square were not used to westerners. It was an experience! As soon as we got off the bus they started to follow us around. Crowds of people stopped their Mah-Jong games, card games and chinese chess to follow us. We looked like the Pied Piper and company. They wanted to touch us and say Ne Hou. The faces were great. They were very worn and weathered. The people here are not Han majority but Bui. It was like being a rock star! We finally climbed back on the bus and headed for the Howard Johnson. Everyone on the street waved at us. Even the other city buses waved and waved as we passed by them. We were met at the hotel by Minnie, Micky and Kung Fu Panda.It was amazing!
We loaded the buses back up to go to a Chinese resturant. The resturant had a big neon sign in front welcoming "People to People" delegation. The dinner was very good and the food better than the last resturant. The food dishes are served on a big lazy susan, so you can just turn the lazy susan to get to the dish you would like. We are becoming very good with chop sticks. Nothing really strange on the menu like bugs!
The arrival in Guiyang has been overwhelming, but nothing like what will happen tomorrow!!
The flight to Guiyang was interesting! There were many large Americans and the seat belts didn't fit for some of us. The airline gave out seat belt extentions and still had two people left. The airline moved them to first class but still no luck. The flight was held up for an hour. I was so glad I didn't need an extention!! The airline finally moved the two ladies to another flight. The People to People delegation is large and there are 180 people in the delegation. The American teachers here are amazing! I feel honorered to be among them.
Landing here was uneventful and we collected our luggage heading for the bus.
Things change once we were in the bus. Beijing was very modern and new. Much of Beijing was torn down and redone for the Olympics. In Guiyang, you see a different China, you see the real China. The city here has a mix of old buildings and new. Its not as clean as Beijing, with smoggy brown air. Guiyang is in the middle of a large mountain range. The air gets caught in the valley and can't move. Buses of people move by us and the students here wear warm ups for their school uniform.
We went to the city square ( people's square) to see the Mao statue. It was huge!! The people in the square were not used to westerners. It was an experience! As soon as we got off the bus they started to follow us around. Crowds of people stopped their Mah-Jong games, card games and chinese chess to follow us. We looked like the Pied Piper and company. They wanted to touch us and say Ne Hou. The faces were great. They were very worn and weathered. The people here are not Han majority but Bui. It was like being a rock star! We finally climbed back on the bus and headed for the Howard Johnson. Everyone on the street waved at us. Even the other city buses waved and waved as we passed by them. We were met at the hotel by Minnie, Micky and Kung Fu Panda.It was amazing!
We loaded the buses back up to go to a Chinese resturant. The resturant had a big neon sign in front welcoming "People to People" delegation. The dinner was very good and the food better than the last resturant. The food dishes are served on a big lazy susan, so you can just turn the lazy susan to get to the dish you would like. We are becoming very good with chop sticks. Nothing really strange on the menu like bugs!
The arrival in Guiyang has been overwhelming, but nothing like what will happen tomorrow!!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
CISV information
Hi everyone!I am forwarding a memo from our CISV president notifying of an upcoming informational meeting on Saturday morning. We are currently recruiting for all sorts of wonderful program opportunities all over the world! Come and learn more about CISV this Saturday morning at 9:30 at the home of Val Chritton. If you do not have a child between the ages of 11 and up (really there is no age limit, as one can be a leader as an adult!) but perhaps know about another nice family who does, you could pass on the information or give them my number or email. (373-6100/alixestam@yahoo.com).Thanks in advance for looking into this wonderful organization that is all about global peacebuilding and friendship making!Alixe StamatogiannakisPlease come learn more about CISV programs:Where: The home of Val and Kirby Chritton 913 Saratoga Drive Jacksonville, FL 32207When: Saturday, December 6, 2008 9:30 to 11 amCISV is an organization whose mission is peace through understanding, cross-cultural exchange and the development of children into peace leaders. Both my children (now 19 and 22 years old) have participated in CISV Villages (one in Brazil and one in Sweden) and CISV Interchanges and served as adult and junior leaders for CISV programs. In fact, Kirby Chritton attended a CISV Village in Guatemala when he was 11."Village" is CISV's flagship program. It is a 4 week camp for 11 year olds. Participants have to be 11 sometime during the period June 1 and August 31 of the summer they participate. CISV Jacksonville sends delegations of four 11 year olds, two boys and two girls, with an adult leader to Villages all over the world. In 2009, we will send delegations to Villages in Dallas, Texas, Newcastle, England, and to our local Faces of Jacksonville Village. The Jacksonville Chapter of CISV is currently recruiting youth ages 11 thru 18 and adults 21 and older for Villages, Summer Camps and Interchanges during the summer and winter of 2009.If you are interested, there is a lot of information on our website (www.jax.cisvusa.org), including recent newsletters and an informational video. There are also national and international websites (www.cisvusa.org and www.cisv.org, respectively).There are only 22 chapters of CISV in the United States and we are lucky enough to have one of them in Jacksonville. The application deadline for next summer's programs is December 31, 2008.Please call (398-5749) or email me (valerie.chritton@hklaw.com) if you have any questions about CISV.This is truly a unique opportunity for your child and your family. Please let Val Chritton know if you know someone who will be able to attend this Saturday.Feel free to use this email to encourage people to attend.In CISV,Tom
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Beijing, China and the Great Wall
Today was very busy! We had a breifing on China in general and Guiyang where the conference will be held. There are 200 hundred American Educators here for the conference. It is amazing!
After the briefing, we were on the bus for lunch at a Friendship Government Shopping area. On the way we saw the Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium, the Tennis venue and for my swimmers the Swimming Cube, Phelp's land!!
We moved on to the Great Wall! Wow!!!! What a climb! The staires are very uneven and hard to climb. Just ask Mrs. Sargent-Wells. She has been there! I never knew it would be such a climb. I did survive getting to the top and back down! I had Bambi legs after my climb! It was easier than climbing Ayer's Rock( Ularue) in Australia.
Back on the bus to Dinner and Tian'anmen Square! wow! The Square and Forbidden Palace were amazing.
Dinner was fun it was peking duck with scorpions. Yes, I tried the scorpions. They are very crispy and don't have much flavor! I write in more deteil later. We leave tomorrow for Guiyang. The city is very small and is excited we are coming there. They have all kinds of gifts , dancing, programs and students waiting to see us. This is an area has had very few Weaterners as visitors.
After the briefing, we were on the bus for lunch at a Friendship Government Shopping area. On the way we saw the Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium, the Tennis venue and for my swimmers the Swimming Cube, Phelp's land!!
We moved on to the Great Wall! Wow!!!! What a climb! The staires are very uneven and hard to climb. Just ask Mrs. Sargent-Wells. She has been there! I never knew it would be such a climb. I did survive getting to the top and back down! I had Bambi legs after my climb! It was easier than climbing Ayer's Rock( Ularue) in Australia.
Back on the bus to Dinner and Tian'anmen Square! wow! The Square and Forbidden Palace were amazing.
Dinner was fun it was peking duck with scorpions. Yes, I tried the scorpions. They are very crispy and don't have much flavor! I write in more deteil later. We leave tomorrow for Guiyang. The city is very small and is excited we are coming there. They have all kinds of gifts , dancing, programs and students waiting to see us. This is an area has had very few Weaterners as visitors.
Plane trip to China
I got to the airport early in case of a problem. I was there too early. I had to wait for the check in desk to open. I got a coffee and waited and waited and waited. Finally, the desk was open and I could check in. I was still very early to wait for the plane. I read a bit of my book and ate a small pizza. The plane check in was very efficient for so many people. The plane is a 747B. I was in the fourth from the last row with two other ladies from "People to People". One was from Mississippi and the other Denver. We worked well together for the whole flight of 14 hours. As you all know, I can't sit for 10 minutes. Can you imagine 14 hours!! We were served a dinner as the flight began. We flew up towards Alaska over to Japan and finally Hong Kong! I did get up and wander around the plane, but my seat was very sore! I did eat conge chicken for breakfast. Conge was very much like water down chicken grits. The flight was uneventful until, the lady from Mississippi threw up, she did well to confine it to her area. However, when the stewardess cleaned up, she spilled it on my seat! Yuck!! So, I continued the trip with many blankets on my seat! We landed in Hong Kong and found our next flight to Beijing. People followed me thinking I knew what I was doing. At least ,I lead them in the right direction.We only had an hour between flights and were soon on our way to Beijing. Another three hour flight!! I did watch many movies on both trips and was very glad to arrive in Beijing. Customs was very easy, bags were collected and we were soon on our way to the Hotel. I couldn't wait to take a shower! I did leave at 12:00am on Nov.30 and landed on December 2! What happened for me to lose a day?
Monday, December 1, 2008
More of San Francisco Day
I was sitting at an outside cafe'( Fisherman's Grotto #9) on the wharf in San ,when I took these notes to help you see the wharf area better. I got here by taking a cable car. It was really fun! The car was pack with people hanging off the sides. The driver was very funny and was telling silly jokes. We did stop at Lombard Street, I didn't get off to take pictures. This will prove to be a big mistake later!!
As I sit here eating crab legs, people roll by on a segway tour, a man in a van with a huge Afro singing out his windows and a Museum called "Musee' Mecinque" keeps sending creepy
clown laughter out it's doors. There are many fake cable cars rolling by full of tourist and one car only has one older lady all by herself, sitting very proudly! The sea gulls are as big as chickens and everywhere!! Suddenly everyone starts screaming. I couldn't see why they were screaming!! Then, I realize one of the birds ,I was watching was under the tire of an SUV. The traffic is very busy, so I guess this bird was a test for Darwin's theory. The bird didn't try to get away from the car. One man in the crowd, has the driver of the SUV roll his car back to see if the bird can be saved. It is too late and everyone avoids the spot until the garbage truck comes by and scoops up the bird. Everyone continues on tour the area. You can hear a jazz sax in the distance. Little three wheel yellow Go-Cars drive by and many people on rented bikes to see the Wharf. Well lunch is done and time to move on.
I go on a trip around the Bay. They have earphones so you can hear a narration. It is very windy on the front of the boat so I have my coat and gloves on. We go by the famous candy maker, military bases, cemeteries, and even a special pet cemetery for military pets. The Marina district, place of the most damage from the 1989 earthquake and finally the Golden Gate Bridge. It is beautiful. It was built on the bay entrance called Golden Gate. The Spanish gave this entrance to bay this name, so this is where the name Golden Gate came from. The Spanish sailed by on the Ocean for a long time before they found it was an entrance to the bay.We have now gone by an island called the "Ellis Island of the West". We are going by Alcatraz the famous prison. It is very huge and on a big rock. I have a friend who grew up there. He was the warrant's son. They would take the boat from Alcatraz to San Francisco every day to go to school. I would like that better then a school bus! The trip is over so I head to Pier 39. This is where the Sea Lions have taken over the marina docks. There must be hundreds, barking and playing in the water, pushing each other off the dock. The seem to be having lots of fun!
Time to leave and the line for the cable cars is really long. I learn Lombard street" the crookest street in the world" in only a few blocks away. I decide to skip the wait in line and walk to Lombard Street. Remember I told you I made a big mistake earlier. I start the walk to Lombard Street it is straight up!!!!!!!!! Not one of my better ideas. I didn't think I would make it!! I did get to see great views of the Bay as I rested between blocks! I finally made it and took many pictures of the cars slowly driving down the street.
Finally back to a cable car and the hotel. I reclaim by bags and head for the BART. It is a subway system. I take it to the airport. I did meet a danish couple on the BART and we helped each other get to the airport. Time to leave for China!!
As I sit here eating crab legs, people roll by on a segway tour, a man in a van with a huge Afro singing out his windows and a Museum called "Musee' Mecinque" keeps sending creepy
clown laughter out it's doors. There are many fake cable cars rolling by full of tourist and one car only has one older lady all by herself, sitting very proudly! The sea gulls are as big as chickens and everywhere!! Suddenly everyone starts screaming. I couldn't see why they were screaming!! Then, I realize one of the birds ,I was watching was under the tire of an SUV. The traffic is very busy, so I guess this bird was a test for Darwin's theory. The bird didn't try to get away from the car. One man in the crowd, has the driver of the SUV roll his car back to see if the bird can be saved. It is too late and everyone avoids the spot until the garbage truck comes by and scoops up the bird. Everyone continues on tour the area. You can hear a jazz sax in the distance. Little three wheel yellow Go-Cars drive by and many people on rented bikes to see the Wharf. Well lunch is done and time to move on.I go on a trip around the Bay. They have earphones so you can hear a narration. It is very windy on the front of the boat so I have my coat and gloves on. We go by the famous candy maker, military bases, cemeteries, and even a special pet cemetery for military pets. The Marina district, place of the most damage from the 1989 earthquake and finally the Golden Gate Bridge. It is beautiful. It was built on the bay entrance called Golden Gate. The Spanish gave this entrance to bay this name, so this is where the name Golden Gate came from. The Spanish sailed by on the Ocean for a long time before they found it was an entrance to the bay.We have now gone by an island called the "Ellis Island of the West". We are going by Alcatraz the famous prison. It is very huge and on a big rock. I have a friend who grew up there. He was the warrant's son. They would take the boat from Alcatraz to San Francisco every day to go to school. I would like that better then a school bus! The trip is over so I head to Pier 39. This is where the Sea Lions have taken over the marina docks. There must be hundreds, barking and playing in the water, pushing each other off the dock. The seem to be having lots of fun!
Time to leave and the line for the cable cars is really long. I learn Lombard street" the crookest street in the world" in only a few blocks away. I decide to skip the wait in line and walk to Lombard Street. Remember I told you I made a big mistake earlier. I start the walk to Lombard Street it is straight up!!!!!!!!! Not one of my better ideas. I didn't think I would make it!! I did get to see great views of the Bay as I rested between blocks! I finally made it and took many pictures of the cars slowly driving down the street.
Finally back to a cable car and the hotel. I reclaim by bags and head for the BART. It is a subway system. I take it to the airport. I did meet a danish couple on the BART and we helped each other get to the airport. Time to leave for China!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)