Monday, July 23, 2012
Home Sweet Home
Three of the seven flights of our trip were on Monday, July 16. First, Xi'an to Hong Kong, my new favorite airport. We had time to go through immigration twice (once for arriving from the mainland, and once for departing for home) and enjoy the lovely airport before leaving for Vancouver, BC. On the flight from Vancouver to Portland we flew right by Mount Ranier and Mt. St. Helens. Looked for Mount Hood, but we weren't close enough. We walked onto the tarmac a little after 9 pm to a beautiful Portland sunset. Clean air, water you can drink from the tap, soft beds. Ahhh, it is great to be home.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Monday, July 16,2012 Xi'an to Hong Kong
We headed out early to see the tomb of Emperor Jingdi. Today is a weekday, which means fewer tourists. We got to the site before they opened, so took a little walk in this rural area. There are two man-made hills, one the tomb of the Emporer and one the tomb of the empress. Actually, there are many royal tombs in this area because there were many (72?) emperors who ruled from Xi'an, and the location is doubly favorable according to fung shui.
The tomb we visited is partially excavated and has been open to the public since 2007. It is not yet well known. It is the only museum in China with glass floor panels that allow one to look directly down at the excavation tunnels. This emperor was well prepared for the afterlife with 10 separate tunnels for the kitchen, textile weavers, etc. The site seems to be very well protected and preserved.
At the Xi'an airport we ran into a dragon boater and her father from Ottawa. They had planned to go to Tibet, but it is closed. They were re-routed by their travel agency to some alternative sites, including small villages where the people prepared hot pot for them. It was heartening to hear that they had some wonderful food. They enjoyed talking with others who spoke the same language!
Flight to HK on China Eastern was fine, and again included a meal. My chicken with noodle was edible. Vanessa got the classic beef with rice and gravy. She ate a roll.
Have I mentioned how much I like the Hong Kong airport? Cosmopolitan, with a good variety of restaurants and shops, and free wifi. Sweet!
We are about to board Air Canada for the flight to Vancouver.
The tomb we visited is partially excavated and has been open to the public since 2007. It is not yet well known. It is the only museum in China with glass floor panels that allow one to look directly down at the excavation tunnels. This emperor was well prepared for the afterlife with 10 separate tunnels for the kitchen, textile weavers, etc. The site seems to be very well protected and preserved.
At the Xi'an airport we ran into a dragon boater and her father from Ottawa. They had planned to go to Tibet, but it is closed. They were re-routed by their travel agency to some alternative sites, including small villages where the people prepared hot pot for them. It was heartening to hear that they had some wonderful food. They enjoyed talking with others who spoke the same language!
Flight to HK on China Eastern was fine, and again included a meal. My chicken with noodle was edible. Vanessa got the classic beef with rice and gravy. She ate a roll.
Have I mentioned how much I like the Hong Kong airport? Cosmopolitan, with a good variety of restaurants and shops, and free wifi. Sweet!
We are about to board Air Canada for the flight to Vancouver.
Sunday, July 15 Terra Cotta Army and Other Sights
The Qing dynasty lasted only 15 years, but it is very important because it was the first to unify China. During this period common methods of writing, weights and measures, etc. were established that are still in use today.
Today we started out at the terra cotta warriors, who guard the tomb of this emperor. This is a world heritage site. It's the largest museum in China built at the site of discovery. It's about an hour from town. The site is as excellent as you might imagine. We were able to take pictures because the archeologists are away at this time. I particularly enjoy the fact that the site is a work in progress. The discovery continues, and it lends an air of excitement.
We headed back into town and visited the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which is one of China's best examples of a Tang-style pagoda (squarish). It was built to house the Buddhist sutras brought back from India by a monk who studied there for 17 years. Upon his return he was offered a governor position, but declined. He spent the last 19 years of his life translating scriptures with a crack team of linguist monks. The word pagoda come from an Indian term togoba. During the troubles in recent history, religious places were closed or destroyed unless they were actively used. Most monks were forced out. One persevered at this location, in the face of great trials. He is interred here as a hero, and he is the reason an active monastery is located here now.
We had lunch at a local restaurant. The kungpao chicken had a vinegary, perfumey sauce, with peppercorns as well as red peppers. The broccoli and tofu came with a salty gravy, mostly on the tofu.
We next visited the Little Goose Pagoda and the city museum. The top of this pagoda was shaken off in the middle of the 16th century, but it still has 15 progressively smaller tiers. There is a garden area filled with authentic old stone posts which were originally located ouside houses and used for tying horses.
The city museum was a find. The have some wonderful treasures in the permanent exhibit: ceramics, figurines (many still painted), Ming-dynasty seals and jade artifacts. I have never seen so many high quality pieces of this type together. Of course, as Vanessa pointed, out, we are in China. :-) There is a large scale model of Xi'an when it was in its prime. Each large block had a wall around it. Everyone must be inside their living place each night. The authorities knew exactly where each household was located. They used this information for conscription to service, such as for the military and tomb-building. Upstairs was another exhibit of gold and jade objects.
Our last stop was the Great Mosque. It is one of the largest mosques in China, and reflects both Arabic and Chinese features. It is said to have been founded in the 8th century.
One gets to the mosque by walking thru a pretty-well organized market.
Our guide informed us that over 90% of the people in China are Han, and they are subject to the one child policy. There are also 55 minorities. the Chinese Muslims may have 2 children. Some minorities, such as the Turkish-speaking Chinese and the Tibetans may have as many children as they wish.
The jewel today could not be anything other than the terra cotta warriors, but I also very much enjoyed the city museum. Tomorrow we are going to squeeze in a visit to the tomb of Emporer Jingdi before our departing flight at 11 am. Tomorrow will be our longest day as we travel home thru 4 countries on 3 flights (and cross the date line again).
Today we started out at the terra cotta warriors, who guard the tomb of this emperor. This is a world heritage site. It's the largest museum in China built at the site of discovery. It's about an hour from town. The site is as excellent as you might imagine. We were able to take pictures because the archeologists are away at this time. I particularly enjoy the fact that the site is a work in progress. The discovery continues, and it lends an air of excitement.
We headed back into town and visited the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which is one of China's best examples of a Tang-style pagoda (squarish). It was built to house the Buddhist sutras brought back from India by a monk who studied there for 17 years. Upon his return he was offered a governor position, but declined. He spent the last 19 years of his life translating scriptures with a crack team of linguist monks. The word pagoda come from an Indian term togoba. During the troubles in recent history, religious places were closed or destroyed unless they were actively used. Most monks were forced out. One persevered at this location, in the face of great trials. He is interred here as a hero, and he is the reason an active monastery is located here now.
We had lunch at a local restaurant. The kungpao chicken had a vinegary, perfumey sauce, with peppercorns as well as red peppers. The broccoli and tofu came with a salty gravy, mostly on the tofu.
We next visited the Little Goose Pagoda and the city museum. The top of this pagoda was shaken off in the middle of the 16th century, but it still has 15 progressively smaller tiers. There is a garden area filled with authentic old stone posts which were originally located ouside houses and used for tying horses.
The city museum was a find. The have some wonderful treasures in the permanent exhibit: ceramics, figurines (many still painted), Ming-dynasty seals and jade artifacts. I have never seen so many high quality pieces of this type together. Of course, as Vanessa pointed, out, we are in China. :-) There is a large scale model of Xi'an when it was in its prime. Each large block had a wall around it. Everyone must be inside their living place each night. The authorities knew exactly where each household was located. They used this information for conscription to service, such as for the military and tomb-building. Upstairs was another exhibit of gold and jade objects.
Our last stop was the Great Mosque. It is one of the largest mosques in China, and reflects both Arabic and Chinese features. It is said to have been founded in the 8th century.
One gets to the mosque by walking thru a pretty-well organized market.
Our guide informed us that over 90% of the people in China are Han, and they are subject to the one child policy. There are also 55 minorities. the Chinese Muslims may have 2 children. Some minorities, such as the Turkish-speaking Chinese and the Tibetans may have as many children as they wish.
The jewel today could not be anything other than the terra cotta warriors, but I also very much enjoyed the city museum. Tomorrow we are going to squeeze in a visit to the tomb of Emporer Jingdi before our departing flight at 11 am. Tomorrow will be our longest day as we travel home thru 4 countries on 3 flights (and cross the date line again).
Saturday, July 14 Beijing to Xi'an and the City Wall
Today we packed for the flight and set out to find some porridge for breakfast. No luck, so we took a walk. Found hutongs in our neighborhood, as well as a hospital. We wandered to a park and watched people. Saw a couple of very cute wicker strollers, as well as a high tech pram.
It took an hour to get to the airport. Cost about twice as much to go there as it did to come in, as our hotel attendant had explained the night before that 'it should'. I guess it's customary.
We checked in for our domestic flight and were given good seats, no problem. The sky was blue - were appreciating that. There has been some blue sky the last 3 days. Then, we were surprised to see a meal served on our 2 hour flight, but, really all the food is tasting the same. Meat or seafood in a very salty gravy served with rice or noodles. Ugh.
We landed in Xi'an and were greeted by our guide. It's the first time we've had one of those people holding signs waiting for us, so it was fun. The terminal we used is large and new, open for one month. There is smog here too, from the coal plants and industry. The driving style here is the same as Beijing, but not as much honking. Our guide seemed to enjoy my comment about conversatnal honking in Beijing. He told us that it is said that the second language in China is honking! Do you know what the national bird is? The construction crane. :-)
BTW, we aked how many taxis in Xi'an. Weve been keeping track. 10K in HK, 300K in Beijing, and 15K in Xi'an. They are even cheaper here.
Our guide was not surprised to here that we were struggling with the salty and greasy food. He explained that this food style is common to north China because of the limited food sources that were available to people in the past. He will help us to find some more agreeable food. We also learned that porridge here means congee. Not what we were thinking of.
Xi'an is steeped in history and was the center of power until the 10th century. We visited the city wall, which is one of the few that remain in China. Ramparts are located 120 meters apart, because arrows could be shot 60 meters. We saw a performance of drums and soldiers.
We are staying in central Xi'an, inside the wall. 35 years ago there were only fields outside the wall, but now everyone wants to come to the cities, and the outside is all built up. The Muslim quarter is near our hotel, on the other side of the drum tower. The Chinese muslims have been here for hundreds of years. There is a lively street scene here. We had dinner at one of the restaurants and were happy to have a more palatable meal. We had two dishes. One was a cold spinach and rice noodle dish, with vinegar and a little bite, like horseradish. The second was a shrimp, cashew and veg stir fry with a light sauce. Ah, what a relief. Vanessa tried to order some bread because the picture in the menu looked interesting. We found out you can order that only if you're getting a stew. :-)
One thing I especially appreciate about traveling with Vanessa is that she has a good sense of direction and space. It is most valuable in finding our way around and back again. She is also good at figuring out mechanical and electronic things. Although I'm better at getting Internet access. :-)
Right now there are not many western tourists, but many Chinese people are visiting with their children because school is out. We'll head out early tomorrow to beat the crowds to the terra cotta warriors!
It took an hour to get to the airport. Cost about twice as much to go there as it did to come in, as our hotel attendant had explained the night before that 'it should'. I guess it's customary.
We checked in for our domestic flight and were given good seats, no problem. The sky was blue - were appreciating that. There has been some blue sky the last 3 days. Then, we were surprised to see a meal served on our 2 hour flight, but, really all the food is tasting the same. Meat or seafood in a very salty gravy served with rice or noodles. Ugh.
We landed in Xi'an and were greeted by our guide. It's the first time we've had one of those people holding signs waiting for us, so it was fun. The terminal we used is large and new, open for one month. There is smog here too, from the coal plants and industry. The driving style here is the same as Beijing, but not as much honking. Our guide seemed to enjoy my comment about conversatnal honking in Beijing. He told us that it is said that the second language in China is honking! Do you know what the national bird is? The construction crane. :-)
BTW, we aked how many taxis in Xi'an. Weve been keeping track. 10K in HK, 300K in Beijing, and 15K in Xi'an. They are even cheaper here.
Our guide was not surprised to here that we were struggling with the salty and greasy food. He explained that this food style is common to north China because of the limited food sources that were available to people in the past. He will help us to find some more agreeable food. We also learned that porridge here means congee. Not what we were thinking of.
Xi'an is steeped in history and was the center of power until the 10th century. We visited the city wall, which is one of the few that remain in China. Ramparts are located 120 meters apart, because arrows could be shot 60 meters. We saw a performance of drums and soldiers.
We are staying in central Xi'an, inside the wall. 35 years ago there were only fields outside the wall, but now everyone wants to come to the cities, and the outside is all built up. The Muslim quarter is near our hotel, on the other side of the drum tower. The Chinese muslims have been here for hundreds of years. There is a lively street scene here. We had dinner at one of the restaurants and were happy to have a more palatable meal. We had two dishes. One was a cold spinach and rice noodle dish, with vinegar and a little bite, like horseradish. The second was a shrimp, cashew and veg stir fry with a light sauce. Ah, what a relief. Vanessa tried to order some bread because the picture in the menu looked interesting. We found out you can order that only if you're getting a stew. :-)
One thing I especially appreciate about traveling with Vanessa is that she has a good sense of direction and space. It is most valuable in finding our way around and back again. She is also good at figuring out mechanical and electronic things. Although I'm better at getting Internet access. :-)
Right now there are not many western tourists, but many Chinese people are visiting with their children because school is out. We'll head out early tomorrow to beat the crowds to the terra cotta warriors!
Friday July 13 Pandas and Acrobats
Today we saw giant pandas, lesser pandas and Asian elephants. Saw a toddler wearing split pants with his little buns showing. (This allows an adult to hold him over a garbage can to pee.) One of our taxi drivers sang with the radio. We visited the memorial of one of China's most famous writers, Lao She Jinianguin. We also saw a performance of a national acrobatic group. Acrobats are like fireworks - fabulous!
We got a taxi right away and credit Vanessa's black and white striped shirt. We think the language problem works in our favor. We pile in the taxi and then hand the driver the card for our hotel. He doesn't have a good chance to tell us he doesn't want to go there.
We've had some blue sky for the last 3 days - nice. Tomorrow we travel to Xi'an (say she-an). We are ready to leave Beijing.
Today is Friday the 13th - just noticed that.
We got a taxi right away and credit Vanessa's black and white striped shirt. We think the language problem works in our favor. We pile in the taxi and then hand the driver the card for our hotel. He doesn't have a good chance to tell us he doesn't want to go there.
We've had some blue sky for the last 3 days - nice. Tomorrow we travel to Xi'an (say she-an). We are ready to leave Beijing.
Today is Friday the 13th - just noticed that.
Thursday, July 12 300,000 taxis in Beijing but you can't always get one
We headed out Thursday morning, to Tian'an Men square, which is the largest square in the world. Maybe 5 times as many Chinese people go to T square as go to the Great Wall. We saw some people carrying suitcases. They dream of coming to the capital once in their lives and may be able to afford to stay only one night. About 50,000 people a day visit T square.
We are in a central part of the city. Went by the national security administration building. You wont find it on google maps; it's blocked.
We wandered thru a park where retired men bring their birds for play dates every day. A bird can cost ¥500 - 1,000.
There are more western companies here than I expected. Apparently KFC was one of the first. The guide book says they serve some local food, and we tried them today. There was really nothing very good. I tried a local choice that is supposed to be Mexican. It is a strip of breaded, fried chicken with two cooked stalks of a green vegetable in a sweet spicy sauce in a wrap.
After visiting the Forbidden City we couldn't get a taxi, so we took a bus and subway to the Summer Palace. Once reserved for the emperor, it is now open to all and they do come. The palace took 50 years and 3 emperors to build. The emperor travelled a lot and built replicas of other places here. The scholar stones are stunning. There are over 100 bridges and none of them are the same. There are over 200 lions on the Marco Polo bridge and none of them are the same. We visited royal buildings and saw a grand corridor covered with many original paintings. The stone paths are beautiful. We took a motorized tourist dragon boat across the man- made lake, and visited the dragon temple where people went to pray.
Again, it wasn't easy to get a taxi. Over 3 million people a day take taxis, so no wonder they are busy. Our taxi was bumped from the back in transit. There are two ways to resolve such situations: car insurance or payment on the spot. This incident was resolved on the spot.
We had Peking duck tonight, complete with a personalized lesson in how to eat it - I'm sure Vanessa will write about it. (she was fed by a server in Beijing and I was fed by a server in Berlin! Hey, gotta learn somehow.) You really get a whole duck! Another item checked off on the bucket list. The entire meal cost ¥200, or $32. It was fun to have Peking duck in a good restaurant that isn't too fancy.
We walked past the Supreme Court on the way to the restaurant. I have more pictures of lions than you can shake a stick at.
Tomorrow is a free day - yay!
We are in a central part of the city. Went by the national security administration building. You wont find it on google maps; it's blocked.
We wandered thru a park where retired men bring their birds for play dates every day. A bird can cost ¥500 - 1,000.
There are more western companies here than I expected. Apparently KFC was one of the first. The guide book says they serve some local food, and we tried them today. There was really nothing very good. I tried a local choice that is supposed to be Mexican. It is a strip of breaded, fried chicken with two cooked stalks of a green vegetable in a sweet spicy sauce in a wrap.
After visiting the Forbidden City we couldn't get a taxi, so we took a bus and subway to the Summer Palace. Once reserved for the emperor, it is now open to all and they do come. The palace took 50 years and 3 emperors to build. The emperor travelled a lot and built replicas of other places here. The scholar stones are stunning. There are over 100 bridges and none of them are the same. There are over 200 lions on the Marco Polo bridge and none of them are the same. We visited royal buildings and saw a grand corridor covered with many original paintings. The stone paths are beautiful. We took a motorized tourist dragon boat across the man- made lake, and visited the dragon temple where people went to pray.
Again, it wasn't easy to get a taxi. Over 3 million people a day take taxis, so no wonder they are busy. Our taxi was bumped from the back in transit. There are two ways to resolve such situations: car insurance or payment on the spot. This incident was resolved on the spot.
We had Peking duck tonight, complete with a personalized lesson in how to eat it - I'm sure Vanessa will write about it. (she was fed by a server in Beijing and I was fed by a server in Berlin! Hey, gotta learn somehow.) You really get a whole duck! Another item checked off on the bucket list. The entire meal cost ¥200, or $32. It was fun to have Peking duck in a good restaurant that isn't too fancy.
We walked past the Supreme Court on the way to the restaurant. I have more pictures of lions than you can shake a stick at.
Tomorrow is a free day - yay!
Wednesday, July 11 The Great Wall
Today we visited the site of the Olympics and the Great Wall. This was the coolest temperature day we've had this trip.
The Great Wall is the most awesome sight we've visited. It is massive, and marches relentlessly across the mountains. Watch towers were used by soldiers to spend a night or two, store weapons, and, of course, to keep watch for enemies. The stone steps on the wall range from relatively flat, to shallow, to Paul Bunyan size. Hiking the wall is good exercise!
The views are spectacular. Nut and cherry trees grow right around it. In Asian times, no one wanted to live near the wall because it was dangerous. Now farmers raise crops in the area.
It was hot today on the wall, but cool in the watchtowers. We were glad to have our UV protection umbrellas with us. We each got bit by large insects with wings like moths. They drew blood and left fang marks about a third of an inch apart.
The wall is stupendous, but the vendors we had to walk thru as we left were like mosquitos. Even if we'd been inclined to buy something, their aggressiveness meant we plowed right thru them. There is a Subway shop at the base where I gather that a lot of westerners eat. Our guide took us to a nearby nice Chinese restaurant, where we had a yummy meal with vegetables for a total of about $12.
The part of the wall we went to is about 90 minutes out of Beijing. We enjoyed seeing the rural area and a blue sky with a few clouds. Our driver had some tassels with Chairman Mao's picture attached hanging from the rear view mirror for protection. Our guide said 30 - 40% of the people consider Chairman Mao a god. Afterwards we headed back to the smog that envelopes Beijing.
I cannot fathom siting an athletic event here due to the pollution, but it happened. We saw the birds nest and water cube today, a circle and a square. People can pay to go in and look at the birds nest, but there is nothing in there. It is so expensive to use that it's idle. There are 3 pools in the water cube and it is used every day. The plaza itself is large and used by people for various activities. Today we saw a club roller skating for fun.
Twenty years ago Beijing was the bicyle kingdom. Now the streets are clogged with cars. The traffic here is chaotic, flowing like water, with conversational honking. Cars, buses, pushcarts, electric bikes, pedicabs and pedestrians share whatever road there is. Pedestrians are the lowest on the totem pole. Somehow it all works, but mostly is is best not to watch when you are in a taxi.
Tonight I returned to last night's restaurant. I know, rule #128, but I wanted the hot and sour soup I didn't get with last night's dinner. This time I had a view of the kitchen when the door opened. It is busy and loud in there, and beautiful dishes come out. My soup cost ¥15, or just over $2. It turned out to be delicious. Many of the staff were eating their dinner when I left and they bid me goodbye.
Vanessa and I agree that the food here does not seem to be better than what we get in Portland. The main seasonings seem to be salt, oil, MSG.
It is hard to resist eating fresh food because we miss it a lot. The peaches and plums are in season and look beautiful. The guidance is simple, however. If it isn't cooked, boiled or you peel it yourself, forget it. I did weaken and get a cold wrap at Starbucks. Have remembered to brush my teeth with bottled water - until tonight when I rinsed my mouth with tap water. Rinsed again right away with bottled water. I slept with a buckwheat husk pillow last night. I like it.
Tomorrow the forbidden city, Tianamen square and the summer palace.
The Great Wall is the most awesome sight we've visited. It is massive, and marches relentlessly across the mountains. Watch towers were used by soldiers to spend a night or two, store weapons, and, of course, to keep watch for enemies. The stone steps on the wall range from relatively flat, to shallow, to Paul Bunyan size. Hiking the wall is good exercise!
The views are spectacular. Nut and cherry trees grow right around it. In Asian times, no one wanted to live near the wall because it was dangerous. Now farmers raise crops in the area.
It was hot today on the wall, but cool in the watchtowers. We were glad to have our UV protection umbrellas with us. We each got bit by large insects with wings like moths. They drew blood and left fang marks about a third of an inch apart.
The wall is stupendous, but the vendors we had to walk thru as we left were like mosquitos. Even if we'd been inclined to buy something, their aggressiveness meant we plowed right thru them. There is a Subway shop at the base where I gather that a lot of westerners eat. Our guide took us to a nearby nice Chinese restaurant, where we had a yummy meal with vegetables for a total of about $12.
The part of the wall we went to is about 90 minutes out of Beijing. We enjoyed seeing the rural area and a blue sky with a few clouds. Our driver had some tassels with Chairman Mao's picture attached hanging from the rear view mirror for protection. Our guide said 30 - 40% of the people consider Chairman Mao a god. Afterwards we headed back to the smog that envelopes Beijing.
I cannot fathom siting an athletic event here due to the pollution, but it happened. We saw the birds nest and water cube today, a circle and a square. People can pay to go in and look at the birds nest, but there is nothing in there. It is so expensive to use that it's idle. There are 3 pools in the water cube and it is used every day. The plaza itself is large and used by people for various activities. Today we saw a club roller skating for fun.
Twenty years ago Beijing was the bicyle kingdom. Now the streets are clogged with cars. The traffic here is chaotic, flowing like water, with conversational honking. Cars, buses, pushcarts, electric bikes, pedicabs and pedestrians share whatever road there is. Pedestrians are the lowest on the totem pole. Somehow it all works, but mostly is is best not to watch when you are in a taxi.
Tonight I returned to last night's restaurant. I know, rule #128, but I wanted the hot and sour soup I didn't get with last night's dinner. This time I had a view of the kitchen when the door opened. It is busy and loud in there, and beautiful dishes come out. My soup cost ¥15, or just over $2. It turned out to be delicious. Many of the staff were eating their dinner when I left and they bid me goodbye.
Vanessa and I agree that the food here does not seem to be better than what we get in Portland. The main seasonings seem to be salt, oil, MSG.
It is hard to resist eating fresh food because we miss it a lot. The peaches and plums are in season and look beautiful. The guidance is simple, however. If it isn't cooked, boiled or you peel it yourself, forget it. I did weaken and get a cold wrap at Starbucks. Have remembered to brush my teeth with bottled water - until tonight when I rinsed my mouth with tap water. Rinsed again right away with bottled water. I slept with a buckwheat husk pillow last night. I like it.
Tomorrow the forbidden city, Tianamen square and the summer palace.
Tuesday July 10 First day in Beijing
The weather is warm and humid here, but not as much as HK. I went out with our guide to see the Temple of heaven, lama temple, bell and drum towers, hutong. This is the summer season, so plenty of Chinese people are on vacation with their kids.
In Asian times, the emperor had to go to the temple of heaven 3 times a year to pray. Only the emperor and his peeps could go there, commoners could not. Now the commoners are the emperor, and they can all go there.
The outer park area is free. Saw lots of people there dancing for exercise. In the past, everyone had to work. Now, the older people get pensions and can have some leisure. After taking their grandchildren to school, ladies may come to the park and participate in the group dance exercise, which is led by a man. Anyone is welcome to join in, even visitors. For the first few days you will be new. After that, you will be an old friend. (Vanessa says boat is like that, too.)After exercise, the ladies may go to the market to get food for lunch. I also saw people doing ballroom dance and playing badminton. The birdie may fall every serve; no matter, they just keep at it. If you do not wish to exercise, you can play mah Jong, or sing, or knit. there were also men painting Chinese characters in water with a big brush on the pavement. The characters evaporate in a short time. Visitors are also welcome to try their hand at this. Alas, I have not a clue how to draw these characters.
The temple property is bounded by a square wall. Inside is a round wall. The number 9 was reserved for the emperor. The first level has 9 steps and has a cloud theme. The second level has 18 and has the Phoenix. The third level has 27 and has the dragon. These symbols are repeated thru out.
The temple of heaven building is used widely to represent Beijing. It houses a tablet which is brought out once a year for praying. There are side buildings for the moon and the sun, but they must defer to heaven.
Our next stop was the lama temple. In the Forbidden City, boys had to leave when they were 13. This site was originally the prince's palace. After he became emperor, he made it into a buddhist temple. It is conserved to be good luck, because the price became the emperor. There are several buildings, each with 3 Buddhas inside. One, for example, had the Buddhas of the past, present and future. Each building has a tall threshold. It is meant to slow you down. The crowning jewel of this temple is a tall Buddha made of a single tree from Nepal. It is said to have been a thousand years old. I have never seen such a large tree. Apparently it was transported by river, installed, and a building constructed around it. It is a wonder.
At one point we paused to get drinks. The guide found me waiting on some steps. He suggested we step inside a Chinese restaurant. We cooled off there and sipped our drinks. He offered to get me some food, but all they had was beef and rice, and I've had as much of that as I can take, thank you. After we left, I told him I would never think of stepping inside a restaurant and using their table without buying anything. He says this is all right, it is ok to do this in china. It is also ok to bring your bottled water in with you. Everyone drinks lots of it here.
The bell and drum towers were built 600 years ago. The bell is rung on special occasions, like Chinese new year. drum performances are held several times a day, however, for tourists. The stairs in the drum tower are very steep and narrow. From the top there is a view of the city, including the tallest building. The drum performance is like the Taiko we have in Portland, but without the vocalizations. The steps out are again very steep and narrow!
We walked the adjacent hutong, or alley with one story living spaces. This is the 'real' Beijing. Each family lives in about 20 square meters. (our hotel room is twice that size.) young people tend to move to apartments, where they have private bathrooms. Showers and toilets are shared in the hutongs. the are also small markets in the hutong so it is not necessary to leave for supplies. International students like to live in the hutongs because they can speak the language with many people. Many of the hutongs have been removed to make room for roads, shopping plazas and hotels like ours.
We went past the supreme court, whilst returning home on the bus. It is not far from our hotel.
This evening we went across the street to a Chinese restaurant for dinner. The menuwas a picture book with Chinese and English labels. We found chicken noodle soup and also vegetables. Someone asked if 2 'foreigners' could share our table, so we were joined by two women. One was at a monthlong legal study abroad put on by Willamette University in Shanghai. She is from Florida. The other is a dragonboater from Ottawa.
Tonight was the first time in years I've been in a restaurant where someone was smoking. This in spite of the No Smoking sign, of course. It was only one table, so not terrible.
We were sitting near the door. Suddenly there came excitement. It had been raining hard and two restaurant employees were sweeping water away when the wake of passing cars came. The water was up to the hub of the pedicabs. It covered the street and sidewalk. The sweeping went on for quite a while. All of us who could see, and the people and kids at the door, were laughing. Some people tied plastic bags over their shoes, but really, there was no way that was going to do the job! We made ourselves comfortable and just waited for the water to subside.
When we left we got a light show. Lots of lightening, lighting up the gray sky. We are hoping that the rain will clear some of the smog.
Tomorrow is the great wall. Our dinner companions told us it is hot there. We are planning to head out early.
In Asian times, the emperor had to go to the temple of heaven 3 times a year to pray. Only the emperor and his peeps could go there, commoners could not. Now the commoners are the emperor, and they can all go there.
The outer park area is free. Saw lots of people there dancing for exercise. In the past, everyone had to work. Now, the older people get pensions and can have some leisure. After taking their grandchildren to school, ladies may come to the park and participate in the group dance exercise, which is led by a man. Anyone is welcome to join in, even visitors. For the first few days you will be new. After that, you will be an old friend. (Vanessa says boat is like that, too.)After exercise, the ladies may go to the market to get food for lunch. I also saw people doing ballroom dance and playing badminton. The birdie may fall every serve; no matter, they just keep at it. If you do not wish to exercise, you can play mah Jong, or sing, or knit. there were also men painting Chinese characters in water with a big brush on the pavement. The characters evaporate in a short time. Visitors are also welcome to try their hand at this. Alas, I have not a clue how to draw these characters.
The temple property is bounded by a square wall. Inside is a round wall. The number 9 was reserved for the emperor. The first level has 9 steps and has a cloud theme. The second level has 18 and has the Phoenix. The third level has 27 and has the dragon. These symbols are repeated thru out.
The temple of heaven building is used widely to represent Beijing. It houses a tablet which is brought out once a year for praying. There are side buildings for the moon and the sun, but they must defer to heaven.
Our next stop was the lama temple. In the Forbidden City, boys had to leave when they were 13. This site was originally the prince's palace. After he became emperor, he made it into a buddhist temple. It is conserved to be good luck, because the price became the emperor. There are several buildings, each with 3 Buddhas inside. One, for example, had the Buddhas of the past, present and future. Each building has a tall threshold. It is meant to slow you down. The crowning jewel of this temple is a tall Buddha made of a single tree from Nepal. It is said to have been a thousand years old. I have never seen such a large tree. Apparently it was transported by river, installed, and a building constructed around it. It is a wonder.
At one point we paused to get drinks. The guide found me waiting on some steps. He suggested we step inside a Chinese restaurant. We cooled off there and sipped our drinks. He offered to get me some food, but all they had was beef and rice, and I've had as much of that as I can take, thank you. After we left, I told him I would never think of stepping inside a restaurant and using their table without buying anything. He says this is all right, it is ok to do this in china. It is also ok to bring your bottled water in with you. Everyone drinks lots of it here.
The bell and drum towers were built 600 years ago. The bell is rung on special occasions, like Chinese new year. drum performances are held several times a day, however, for tourists. The stairs in the drum tower are very steep and narrow. From the top there is a view of the city, including the tallest building. The drum performance is like the Taiko we have in Portland, but without the vocalizations. The steps out are again very steep and narrow!
We walked the adjacent hutong, or alley with one story living spaces. This is the 'real' Beijing. Each family lives in about 20 square meters. (our hotel room is twice that size.) young people tend to move to apartments, where they have private bathrooms. Showers and toilets are shared in the hutongs. the are also small markets in the hutong so it is not necessary to leave for supplies. International students like to live in the hutongs because they can speak the language with many people. Many of the hutongs have been removed to make room for roads, shopping plazas and hotels like ours.
We went past the supreme court, whilst returning home on the bus. It is not far from our hotel.
This evening we went across the street to a Chinese restaurant for dinner. The menuwas a picture book with Chinese and English labels. We found chicken noodle soup and also vegetables. Someone asked if 2 'foreigners' could share our table, so we were joined by two women. One was at a monthlong legal study abroad put on by Willamette University in Shanghai. She is from Florida. The other is a dragonboater from Ottawa.
Tonight was the first time in years I've been in a restaurant where someone was smoking. This in spite of the No Smoking sign, of course. It was only one table, so not terrible.
We were sitting near the door. Suddenly there came excitement. It had been raining hard and two restaurant employees were sweeping water away when the wake of passing cars came. The water was up to the hub of the pedicabs. It covered the street and sidewalk. The sweeping went on for quite a while. All of us who could see, and the people and kids at the door, were laughing. Some people tied plastic bags over their shoes, but really, there was no way that was going to do the job! We made ourselves comfortable and just waited for the water to subside.
When we left we got a light show. Lots of lightening, lighting up the gray sky. We are hoping that the rain will clear some of the smog.
Tomorrow is the great wall. Our dinner companions told us it is hot there. We are planning to head out early.
Monday, July 9 From Hong Kong to Beijing
HK airport is lovely. Light and airy, free wifi and even some internet stations, and lots of restaurants and shops.
China Southern airline was also impressive. First, it was the first time either of us has been on a double decker plane. Then, I get in my seat and my feet each the floor! Plus there is an adjustable footrest. We were pleasantly surprised to be served a tasty meal on a darling petite purple and white tray set. We landed in a big gray fog that is not a cloud at all. The smog here is terrible.
We passed thru the most beautiful toll gate on the way into town. It is a very wide chinese gate mounted over the length of the toll booths.
Our hotel room is nice, with a modern style, and the attendant is very friendly. He has a cousin living in Portland, so he knows where Oregon is. Free wifi in the room - yay! But we cannot get to the blog or Facebook; they are blocked. We watched a little TV. It looked like China's Got Talent and Funniest Home Videos.
It's nice to arrive in a world city and not be jet lagged.
China Southern airline was also impressive. First, it was the first time either of us has been on a double decker plane. Then, I get in my seat and my feet each the floor! Plus there is an adjustable footrest. We were pleasantly surprised to be served a tasty meal on a darling petite purple and white tray set. We landed in a big gray fog that is not a cloud at all. The smog here is terrible.
We passed thru the most beautiful toll gate on the way into town. It is a very wide chinese gate mounted over the length of the toll booths.
Our hotel room is nice, with a modern style, and the attendant is very friendly. He has a cousin living in Portland, so he knows where Oregon is. Free wifi in the room - yay! But we cannot get to the blog or Facebook; they are blocked. We watched a little TV. It looked like China's Got Talent and Funniest Home Videos.
It's nice to arrive in a world city and not be jet lagged.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Out of touch
Vanessa and Lisa are in Beijing. Apparently blogs & Facebook are blocked from mainland China. There may be new blogs if they have time between their return to Hong Kong and when their plane takes off. Otherwise expect an update on the 16th or 17th when they return home.
Jim
Jim
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Crew Club World Championships
This was the first world championship race for some team Huge members, a new level of competition, and they did really well. The coach said she hopes it whets their appetite for the future. The veteran Wasabi women are saying this is the best team they've seen in a while.
I am so glad to have been able to share this experience with these awesome women. And, of course, I am proud of Vanessa! Last night was the celebration.
Today we travel to Beijing.
I am so glad to have been able to share this experience with these awesome women. And, of course, I am proud of Vanessa! Last night was the celebration.
Today we travel to Beijing.
500s Were Today
I am beat! We made the Minor Final! We placed fifth! My teammate said that if you count the eight teams in the Major Final, we are 13th in the whole wide world. Is that true? I'd like to think so.
Wow, I feel so much. I feel physically very drained, and emotionally, I don't know what it is. It's big though. I'm on the verge of tears. I'm so proud of us. We came to this race where we're competing against subsidized athletes, and we hung in there. And also, it's friggen hot. It's stiflingly humid. We're eating weird food and just finally over the jet lag and the super-hard beds don't hurt so much. And it's done.
It was such a big day at the end of a big week. Scratch that: it was such a HUGE day at the end of such a HUGE week. It was really cool to be a part of it.
I will post more details later. Must beer garden!
Wow, I feel so much. I feel physically very drained, and emotionally, I don't know what it is. It's big though. I'm on the verge of tears. I'm so proud of us. We came to this race where we're competing against subsidized athletes, and we hung in there. And also, it's friggen hot. It's stiflingly humid. We're eating weird food and just finally over the jet lag and the super-hard beds don't hurt so much. And it's done.
It was such a big day at the end of a big week. Scratch that: it was such a HUGE day at the end of such a HUGE week. It was really cool to be a part of it.
I will post more details later. Must beer garden!
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Second heat
Next heat is 312 at 13:40 or 313 at 13:50. This would be 10:40 or 10:50 pm Pacific. They are working hard to run on time.
Sunday race times
500 meter races will be held tomorrow. Race times may run late. There are lots of challenges with the current.
Huge may be in 4 heats. First heat is number 292 at 10:55, which is 7:55 pm Pacific on Sat. It will be a toughie.
Possible following heats are at 13:40 or 13:50; then 15:10 or 15:20.
Minor final is scheduled for 16:25.
Major final is scheduled for 16:30.
I will try to post specifics after the first race if I can.
Huge may be in 4 heats. First heat is number 292 at 10:55, which is 7:55 pm Pacific on Sat. It will be a toughie.
Possible following heats are at 13:40 or 13:50; then 15:10 or 15:20.
Minor final is scheduled for 16:25.
Major final is scheduled for 16:30.
I will try to post specifics after the first race if I can.
Saturday, July 7
Today we watched races, visited the jade market and a temple (Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin), and did a little shopping. And we found a laundry to wash our clothes, same day service, yay!
Friday, July 6, 2012
My race day July 6, 2012
The premier women division, which Huge is in, had 24 teams competing in the 200 meter races Friday. Race times today were determined by how the team placed in the first set of heats. There are 8 boats per heat, so it takes 3 heats to get initial times for each team.
The team warmed up in the beer garden for their second heat at 12:30. I think they should have danced to warm up for the heat!
Huge raced 4 times today. The last 3 heats were close together. No time for breaks of any kind, which meant limited water and no rest rooms for about 5 hours. If a team member is not present when it's time to go, the boat goes without them. The team put in a huge(!) effort in a short time. They made the minor final and finished in the middle of the field.
The major final ran right after that. One boat ran into two others in that race, meaning that 3 of them did not finish that race.
A few notes from the day:
Tonight we went out to dinner at a splurge meal on the promenade on Victoria Harbor at Wooloomooloo Steakhouse.
Tomorrow is a free day, our last such in HK. Huge will race again on Sunday for 500 meters, which their usual race distance.
The team warmed up in the beer garden for their second heat at 12:30. I think they should have danced to warm up for the heat!
Huge raced 4 times today. The last 3 heats were close together. No time for breaks of any kind, which meant limited water and no rest rooms for about 5 hours. If a team member is not present when it's time to go, the boat goes without them. The team put in a huge(!) effort in a short time. They made the minor final and finished in the middle of the field.
The major final ran right after that. One boat ran into two others in that race, meaning that 3 of them did not finish that race.
A few notes from the day:
Saw a boat run over another this afternoon. Took both teams by surprise and capsized one boat. There were plenty of chase boats to pull the spilled team out of the harbor. Another boat hooked on the capsized dragon boat and pulled it in.
The regulation on these races is tight and they run close to schedule. When they run late there is good reason for it and they work to get back on schedule.
Some of the competitors are very muscular. Well, they're all muscular, but some teams are over the top. I watched one German guy rapidly windmilling his forearm at the elbow. I've never seen that before. It's OK, I dodged him and, as far as I know, everyone else did too.
There are fans set up along the viewing area, connected with tubs of water to spray droplets on the spectators. Fans good. Light rain better.
Tonight we went out to dinner at a splurge meal on the promenade on Victoria Harbor at Wooloomooloo Steakhouse.
Tomorrow is a free day, our last such in HK. Huge will race again on Sunday for 500 meters, which their usual race distance.
Shorts
I met an Australian woman Thursday night who is a member of the grand masters mixed 10-man team that won gold. She was so jazzed! Her team comes from a small town. It isn't easy for them to field a team, and to earn gold here in their division is really something. They were thrilled, yet couldn't get on the Internet to tell the folks back home what they've earned.
We have a new favorite breakfast spot. Wifi that actually works. Rule 128 doesn't apply to breakfast. :-)
What I love about most dragon boat people is their positive affirming energy. Fun people to be around!
The competition seems to bring out the best and worst in people.
Finish times are measured in thousands of seconds.
We've tried a variety of snacks: Hot and spicy chips, which are like our BBQ chips but not as sweet, mini Pringles and cookies from Japan, a candy bar from Australia called Picnic, and lemon Ritz. Yum.
This is the biggest IDBF Club Crew race event to date.
We have a new favorite breakfast spot. Wifi that actually works. Rule 128 doesn't apply to breakfast. :-)
What I love about most dragon boat people is their positive affirming energy. Fun people to be around!
The competition seems to bring out the best and worst in people.
Finish times are measured in thousands of seconds.
We've tried a variety of snacks: Hot and spicy chips, which are like our BBQ chips but not as sweet, mini Pringles and cookies from Japan, a candy bar from Australia called Picnic, and lemon Ritz. Yum.
This is the biggest IDBF Club Crew race event to date.
200 meter races
200 meter races were today. It's a blur, but after four heats, we placed sixth in the Minor Final. :)
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Tai chi
I love sunscreen - not! Wednesday morning, I decided to try my new sun protection shirt. It's long sleeved, 70% cotton, 30% bamboo something.
Whoa, big mistake! I stepped outside in the early morning. It was blue sky, hot and humid. Let the 'glowing' begin. Lesson learned, a little late. Nothing but short to sleeveless shirts for HK!
Many of the Huge team members attended a public tai chi class, off the promenade near the art museum. The class went demo, instruction, practice. We learned how tai chi can be used if you have to defend yourself from 'rascals', and watched a cool fan set. The teacher said we were all beautiful and young and very good. Carry on!
I may be hooked, actually.
Whoa, big mistake! I stepped outside in the early morning. It was blue sky, hot and humid. Let the 'glowing' begin. Lesson learned, a little late. Nothing but short to sleeveless shirts for HK!
Many of the Huge team members attended a public tai chi class, off the promenade near the art museum. The class went demo, instruction, practice. We learned how tai chi can be used if you have to defend yourself from 'rascals', and watched a cool fan set. The teacher said we were all beautiful and young and very good. Carry on!
I may be hooked, actually.
200 meter races!!
They're tomorrow! Power Surge's first heat is at 8:10 local; HUGE is at 10:30. Ish.
Big Buddha and Two Firsts
We have adjusted to the very firm mattresses in Hong Kong! No more stiffness in the morning. In fact, that bed is feeling pretty good to me. This morning when we stepped out of the hotel my glasses immediately fogged up. It had been raining and it took a few minutes to adjust to the humidity. There were a few downpours while we had breakfast, so we retuned to the hotel for umbrellas before heading out with two companions, Suzi and Mona.
Po Lin Monastery is on a nearby island, which can be reached by subway. When we got there the cable car system was closed due to the weather. So, we took a bus, which was pretty cool because we got to see a bit of the local area. Biggest surprise was seeing cattle along the road. One was ambling down the sidewalk. We were dropped off at a quiet entrance to the monastery complex, the Bodhi path.
My sun visor turned out to be a pretty good rain visor too. The weather kept some people away, so our visit was uncrowded.
The focus of the monastery is worship of a bone relic. The 26 meter tall Buddha, which sits in steep hills, is the world's largest seated bronze Buddha statue. It's impressive and lovely. We then enjoyed a wonderful vegetarian meal at the monestery.
My first first of the day came when I needed to use the toilet. You guessed it -- it was the squat-over-a-hole style. Suzi and i decided to go for it! Worked just fine and I lived to tell about it.
The cable car system was back in service, so we took a car with a glass floor back down the mountain. There were only the 4 of us in a car that can hold ten. The views were breathtaking. Leaving the monastery via the cable system was an altogether different experience from our arrival. We had to endure the full press of typical tourist retail. No matter. We had a wonderful visit, and we're glad that we had both the bus and cable car experiences.
Vanessa and I have been eager to get a fishy pedicure and our companions were interested in coming along. With no more information than the name of the boutique and knowing it is on HK island, we took the subway to a H K stop. We found an Internet spot, got the address, and voila! It was meant to be. We were very close and easily walked to the spa.
My second first of the day was being eaten alive! Little fishes nibbled at our feet, removing the dead skin. It feels kind of tingly, kind of mildly vibrating, kind of tickley when they nibble in certain areas. Our feet were soft and clean when our time was up.
We then headed home on the subway, satisfied with a good day.
Po Lin Monastery is on a nearby island, which can be reached by subway. When we got there the cable car system was closed due to the weather. So, we took a bus, which was pretty cool because we got to see a bit of the local area. Biggest surprise was seeing cattle along the road. One was ambling down the sidewalk. We were dropped off at a quiet entrance to the monastery complex, the Bodhi path.
My sun visor turned out to be a pretty good rain visor too. The weather kept some people away, so our visit was uncrowded.
The focus of the monastery is worship of a bone relic. The 26 meter tall Buddha, which sits in steep hills, is the world's largest seated bronze Buddha statue. It's impressive and lovely. We then enjoyed a wonderful vegetarian meal at the monestery.
My first first of the day came when I needed to use the toilet. You guessed it -- it was the squat-over-a-hole style. Suzi and i decided to go for it! Worked just fine and I lived to tell about it.
The cable car system was back in service, so we took a car with a glass floor back down the mountain. There were only the 4 of us in a car that can hold ten. The views were breathtaking. Leaving the monastery via the cable system was an altogether different experience from our arrival. We had to endure the full press of typical tourist retail. No matter. We had a wonderful visit, and we're glad that we had both the bus and cable car experiences.
Vanessa and I have been eager to get a fishy pedicure and our companions were interested in coming along. With no more information than the name of the boutique and knowing it is on HK island, we took the subway to a H K stop. We found an Internet spot, got the address, and voila! It was meant to be. We were very close and easily walked to the spa.
My second first of the day was being eaten alive! Little fishes nibbled at our feet, removing the dead skin. It feels kind of tingly, kind of mildly vibrating, kind of tickley when they nibble in certain areas. Our feet were soft and clean when our time was up.
We then headed home on the subway, satisfied with a good day.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Proud of our team this Independance Day
Wasabi is not the only team from the USA in this competition, but we can be proud of their performance today. They did very well against some professional teams.
No fireworks for us this Fourth of July, but we did get a lion dance, which we love, followed by a street dance. More races on Friday.
No fireworks for us this Fourth of July, but we did get a lion dance, which we love, followed by a street dance. More races on Friday.
I am an official athletic supporter!
Yes, it's true and i can prove it! I have an official badge and everything. It allows me to accompany the team in all areas. So, I did official support things like fetching water and holding items for the people who are racing.
While it is hot today, there is a good breeze and it is pleasant in the shade. I joined the team for their warm up, except for the jogging part, which I would never volunteer for. During the race itself I sat in a lovely covered spectator stand at the finish line, right behind the coach for the Power Surge team and some other Wasabi people, which was great for me to get a clue about what actually happened during the race.
Opening ceremonies were held this evening. They consisted of introduction of the officials, a lion dance, and then a street party. Ostensibly, participants got one free beer from the beer sponsor but later they came thru with more free coupons, and food was provided too. Did the electric slide for the first time in maybe 5 years. The party ended at 9 pm, which is a blessing too. Gives us time to send you the news!
Tomorrow we are going to see the big Buddha on an outlying island. Hopefully, I will have a chance to write about this morning and tai chi soon.
While it is hot today, there is a good breeze and it is pleasant in the shade. I joined the team for their warm up, except for the jogging part, which I would never volunteer for. During the race itself I sat in a lovely covered spectator stand at the finish line, right behind the coach for the Power Surge team and some other Wasabi people, which was great for me to get a clue about what actually happened during the race.
Opening ceremonies were held this evening. They consisted of introduction of the officials, a lion dance, and then a street party. Ostensibly, participants got one free beer from the beer sponsor but later they came thru with more free coupons, and food was provided too. Did the electric slide for the first time in maybe 5 years. The party ended at 9 pm, which is a blessing too. Gives us time to send you the news!
Tomorrow we are going to see the big Buddha on an outlying island. Hopefully, I will have a chance to write about this morning and tai chi soon.
Short, White, Hairy Stock
Today were the 2000 meter races. It was the most combative Guts and Glory I've ever had the pleasure to paddle.
Team HUGE was in boat 1. We were the first out of the shute. Twelve seconds later, boat 2 was released. At the first turn, about 500 meters in, they started a pass on our left, on the inside of the turn. As they pulled to take the lead, we accidentally rammed them. It was really just a love tap, and the other boat missed the third buoy.
I'm not sure because I was busy racing, but I think the other boat pulled ahead of us. But, we were still in it! Just after the second turn, we were between that boat and another. I was paddling along, and all of a sudden, there was an oar lock where the water should have been. I tried to paddle through it, but couldn't get a good catch. At the same time, on the left side of the boat, Theresa was fending off another boat. T is pretty bad ass, and pushed the other boat away with her paddle.
Then Janet, our steers, created and delivered the most effective call ever: "Get me outta here!" Ha! We spread away as fast as we could.
We weren't able to break away from the rest of the boats though. At the last turn, there were three or four boats jockeying for position. We made it past the first two buoys, but then we were hit from behind. Our boat turned sharply left. We missed the last buoy!
We finished the race traveling down the center of the course. The other teams went around the outside of the course. Then I hit a buoy! My paddle twisted in my hands! I missed a couple strokes fixing it, but jumped back in.
I have no idea where we placed in our heat, but we placed 12th out of 24 teams. We had to wait forever for our results because there were protests to sort, but that was good for me because I come from short, white, hairy stock. I was not designed for this heat!
After the race, I felt hot and lightheaded and tingly in my arms. I had to give myself a pep talk walking back from marshaling. I have to say, it's nice to have your teammates offer you the support you need, but it sucks to be one of the people who needs taking care of.
Thankfully, everything cleared up, and I'm fine. I danced and congaed in the beer garden at opening ceremonies, and now it's time for bed.
Team HUGE was in boat 1. We were the first out of the shute. Twelve seconds later, boat 2 was released. At the first turn, about 500 meters in, they started a pass on our left, on the inside of the turn. As they pulled to take the lead, we accidentally rammed them. It was really just a love tap, and the other boat missed the third buoy.
I'm not sure because I was busy racing, but I think the other boat pulled ahead of us. But, we were still in it! Just after the second turn, we were between that boat and another. I was paddling along, and all of a sudden, there was an oar lock where the water should have been. I tried to paddle through it, but couldn't get a good catch. At the same time, on the left side of the boat, Theresa was fending off another boat. T is pretty bad ass, and pushed the other boat away with her paddle.
Then Janet, our steers, created and delivered the most effective call ever: "Get me outta here!" Ha! We spread away as fast as we could.
We weren't able to break away from the rest of the boats though. At the last turn, there were three or four boats jockeying for position. We made it past the first two buoys, but then we were hit from behind. Our boat turned sharply left. We missed the last buoy!
We finished the race traveling down the center of the course. The other teams went around the outside of the course. Then I hit a buoy! My paddle twisted in my hands! I missed a couple strokes fixing it, but jumped back in.
I have no idea where we placed in our heat, but we placed 12th out of 24 teams. We had to wait forever for our results because there were protests to sort, but that was good for me because I come from short, white, hairy stock. I was not designed for this heat!
After the race, I felt hot and lightheaded and tingly in my arms. I had to give myself a pep talk walking back from marshaling. I have to say, it's nice to have your teammates offer you the support you need, but it sucks to be one of the people who needs taking care of.
Thankfully, everything cleared up, and I'm fine. I danced and congaed in the beer garden at opening ceremonies, and now it's time for bed.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
2000 Meter Races Today!!
Today are the 2000 meter races. Power Surge is in Women's Senior A division. Their race is scheduled for 1:20 HK time (10:20 Portland), heat number 7A. They are called Portland Women 1.
HUGE is called Portland Women 2, and we are in heat 13B. We're scheduled to race at 3:45 (1245 AM Portland). We're in lane 1, so dont be late. our boat is first out of the shute. The live feed at the bottom of the page should be working.
Wish us luck!
HUGE is called Portland Women 2, and we are in heat 13B. We're scheduled to race at 3:45 (1245 AM Portland). We're in lane 1, so dont be late. our boat is first out of the shute. The live feed at the bottom of the page should be working.
Wish us luck!
Tuesday, July 3
Learned to take the subway today. Travelled from Kowloon, where we are staying, to Hong Kong island. It's quite a walk from the closest entrance to the train itself. The good thing is that walking underground avoids the traffic and is AIR CONDITIONED.
It was a short, steep walk to the Peak Tram, which gives a gravity-defying climb up the side of Victoria Peak. We were lucky and the weather was clear. The views are spectacular of both Victoria Harbour and the outlying islands. (yes, I am using British spelling. When in Rome, you know.)
Lunch was at a wonderfully refreshing Vietnamese cafe, at the peak. It was so good I was moved to submit my first review to Trip Advisor. Definitely worth passing up all the mass-market restaurants for. (Sidenote: we are really missing veggies. Not easy to come by here in the restaurants.)
We then took a taxi to Man Po temple, which is in a different neighbourhood of the island. Learned there are 10,000 taxis in the city. The traffic is tight and intense. The area is stuffed with countless small shops and multi-story housing buildings. We went to Man Po temple because it is a top pick in the guidebook. It is HK's most important temple. It's in an old building and not very large. Inside, it was hot and oppressive due to the many coils and sticks of incense burning. We didn't stay long.
We then walked thru the neighbourhood to the subway station. A combination of logic and intuition took us to our destination. The path included Ladder street, which is a concrete staircase. At the ticket machine, a boy no taller than my waist tried to slip my subway ticket. Pickpockets come in a variety of flavors, I guess. We made our way back home, cooled off, and then went out again for supplies, including two 6-liter jugs of water. We are going thru a LOT of water to stay hydrated.
We tried to get on the Internet this afternoon, but the hotel's router was down. Vanessa went off to a team practice and I visited with a woman who is a HK resident, currently working in Shanghai who has let her flat. Her name is Margaret, which is easy for me to remember because there are about 5 Margarets in my life! We ran into her and her husband later in the night.
Tonight we had a wonderful dinner at a Turkish restaurant. Nice clean food. I have a new favourite food, which is mint, used in salad, yogurt sauces and drinks. We had two good meals today. The best food day so far.
Tomorrow morning we're planning to go to a public tai chi class. It will be a race day, so the priority is clear.
It was a short, steep walk to the Peak Tram, which gives a gravity-defying climb up the side of Victoria Peak. We were lucky and the weather was clear. The views are spectacular of both Victoria Harbour and the outlying islands. (yes, I am using British spelling. When in Rome, you know.)
Lunch was at a wonderfully refreshing Vietnamese cafe, at the peak. It was so good I was moved to submit my first review to Trip Advisor. Definitely worth passing up all the mass-market restaurants for. (Sidenote: we are really missing veggies. Not easy to come by here in the restaurants.)
We then took a taxi to Man Po temple, which is in a different neighbourhood of the island. Learned there are 10,000 taxis in the city. The traffic is tight and intense. The area is stuffed with countless small shops and multi-story housing buildings. We went to Man Po temple because it is a top pick in the guidebook. It is HK's most important temple. It's in an old building and not very large. Inside, it was hot and oppressive due to the many coils and sticks of incense burning. We didn't stay long.
We then walked thru the neighbourhood to the subway station. A combination of logic and intuition took us to our destination. The path included Ladder street, which is a concrete staircase. At the ticket machine, a boy no taller than my waist tried to slip my subway ticket. Pickpockets come in a variety of flavors, I guess. We made our way back home, cooled off, and then went out again for supplies, including two 6-liter jugs of water. We are going thru a LOT of water to stay hydrated.
We tried to get on the Internet this afternoon, but the hotel's router was down. Vanessa went off to a team practice and I visited with a woman who is a HK resident, currently working in Shanghai who has let her flat. Her name is Margaret, which is easy for me to remember because there are about 5 Margarets in my life! We ran into her and her husband later in the night.
Tonight we had a wonderful dinner at a Turkish restaurant. Nice clean food. I have a new favourite food, which is mint, used in salad, yogurt sauces and drinks. We had two good meals today. The best food day so far.
Tomorrow morning we're planning to go to a public tai chi class. It will be a race day, so the priority is clear.
Rule #128: Never Eat at the Same Restaurant Twice While on Vacation
Rule #128 is a very, very important rule.
It is also, unfortunately, a very forgettable rule. The other day Mom and I had a very lovely lunch at a Chinese place near the hotel. I had fried rice with pork, and Mom had bottom feeders and fungus with noodles. It tasted better than it sounds. The restaurant was very clever. Each table had its own drawer full of any utensils you might need. You could help yourself.
The we forgot about Rule #128, and went back for dinner the next day. This time, we were a party of seven. Half of us couldn't have our first choices because they were sold out. Then, a couple of folks couldn't have their second or even their third choices again because they were sold out. Food is delivered here as it's ready. Usually that's no problem, but it's distressing to watch your friend finish her meal before yours has been delivered to the table. Some of us also had to overcome a learning curve to eat our dinners. I'm sure I don't know how to peel a prawn.
So, happily, we've now remembered Rule #128. Today we had a wonderful lunch at a Vietnamese cafe. We had salad, veggie stir fry and summer rolls. Also, I had the most wonderful drink ever. It was called a mintcolada. It was like a non-alcoholic piña colada with mint. But we cannot go back. If you ever take the tram up Victoria Peak, try Pho Yummee.
We had another great meal for dinner. It was at a Turkish place near the hotel. I had falafel and salad. Mom had a lamb kabob. The restaurant will have their liquor license soon. You will be able to have a nice glass of wine with your meal. I suppose that if we ever return to HK, I can go back and have my choice of red OR white wine with my meal. But not this trip.
It's a tough but necessary rule, Rule #128. We've had several disappointing meals that could have been avoided if we'd only remembered this very important rule (Florence, London, and now HK).
It is also, unfortunately, a very forgettable rule. The other day Mom and I had a very lovely lunch at a Chinese place near the hotel. I had fried rice with pork, and Mom had bottom feeders and fungus with noodles. It tasted better than it sounds. The restaurant was very clever. Each table had its own drawer full of any utensils you might need. You could help yourself.
The we forgot about Rule #128, and went back for dinner the next day. This time, we were a party of seven. Half of us couldn't have our first choices because they were sold out. Then, a couple of folks couldn't have their second or even their third choices again because they were sold out. Food is delivered here as it's ready. Usually that's no problem, but it's distressing to watch your friend finish her meal before yours has been delivered to the table. Some of us also had to overcome a learning curve to eat our dinners. I'm sure I don't know how to peel a prawn.
So, happily, we've now remembered Rule #128. Today we had a wonderful lunch at a Vietnamese cafe. We had salad, veggie stir fry and summer rolls. Also, I had the most wonderful drink ever. It was called a mintcolada. It was like a non-alcoholic piña colada with mint. But we cannot go back. If you ever take the tram up Victoria Peak, try Pho Yummee.
We had another great meal for dinner. It was at a Turkish place near the hotel. I had falafel and salad. Mom had a lamb kabob. The restaurant will have their liquor license soon. You will be able to have a nice glass of wine with your meal. I suppose that if we ever return to HK, I can go back and have my choice of red OR white wine with my meal. But not this trip.
It's a tough but necessary rule, Rule #128. We've had several disappointing meals that could have been avoided if we'd only remembered this very important rule (Florence, London, and now HK).
First Heats in the Heat
Yesterday was our first chance to see how we perform in the heat.
My shoes were the first casualty. Wardrobe malfunction! My left flip flop broke just after we left our tent to heat to our first race. I hobbled along, but it's very difficult to walk in a shoe with only two of of its three attachments still attached.
My shoes made it through marshaling, but as I climbed into the boat, the middle attachment for my right shoe broke. I guess my cheap, made-in-China shoes weren't designed for use in China.
Whatever. I would rather paddle bare footed anyway.
The first day of races were festival races. There were local teams and quite a few of the visiting teams competing. My team's first heat was in the afternoon when I'm pretty sure the weather is the hottest. It was also the first time we got into a boat since leaving Portland. We thought we'd be able to warm up, but the races were running behind schedule, so our warm up was moving the boat from the loading dock to the starting line. It was about a 100 foot long warm up.
It was not our finest race. In fact, the start could be described as awful. However, we kept at it and taking benches, and we placed third! Ha!
That got us into the Grand Final, also to take pace in the hot, humid afternoon.
Power Surge, the other team from Wasabi at these races, also made the Final. HUGE was in lane two, and PS in three. It's very, very cool that we have such a strong club that we have two boats in a Grand Final in a city on the other side of the planet from home. We had a much better race this time. Our start was more efficient, and the whole boat was tighter. HUGE placed fourth in the Women's International Division in the festival race.
Our next races are tomorrow, 4 July, about 2 PM local. These will be 2000 meter races, and they should be broadcast live on the Internet. There's a live feed at the bottom of the blog. If you're up, cheer us on!
My shoes were the first casualty. Wardrobe malfunction! My left flip flop broke just after we left our tent to heat to our first race. I hobbled along, but it's very difficult to walk in a shoe with only two of of its three attachments still attached.
My shoes made it through marshaling, but as I climbed into the boat, the middle attachment for my right shoe broke. I guess my cheap, made-in-China shoes weren't designed for use in China.
Whatever. I would rather paddle bare footed anyway.
The first day of races were festival races. There were local teams and quite a few of the visiting teams competing. My team's first heat was in the afternoon when I'm pretty sure the weather is the hottest. It was also the first time we got into a boat since leaving Portland. We thought we'd be able to warm up, but the races were running behind schedule, so our warm up was moving the boat from the loading dock to the starting line. It was about a 100 foot long warm up.
It was not our finest race. In fact, the start could be described as awful. However, we kept at it and taking benches, and we placed third! Ha!
That got us into the Grand Final, also to take pace in the hot, humid afternoon.
Power Surge, the other team from Wasabi at these races, also made the Final. HUGE was in lane two, and PS in three. It's very, very cool that we have such a strong club that we have two boats in a Grand Final in a city on the other side of the planet from home. We had a much better race this time. Our start was more efficient, and the whole boat was tighter. HUGE placed fourth in the Women's International Division in the festival race.
Our next races are tomorrow, 4 July, about 2 PM local. These will be 2000 meter races, and they should be broadcast live on the Internet. There's a live feed at the bottom of the blog. If you're up, cheer us on!
Monday, July 2, 2012
Festival results
Team HUGE came in fourth in the finale, ahead of Power Surge. Video eval tomorrow. Good prep for Wed.
Unexpected delight
The most delightful surprise this afternoon was a marching band! They appeared marching across the pedestrian bridge in full costume near the marshaling area, playing a tune. Down the stairs they came and parted the crowd. They continued all the way down the promenade past the race finish line, and performed in the full sun. Then, they marched away via another pedestrian bridge. I could hear them playing later out in the beer garden at 6:30pm!
Festival race
Today is the festival race! The venue is impressive with barges lined up to define the race area. Thousands of spectators. Teams from all over the world.
The Wasabi teams entered the festival race to have a chance to practice before the international race, which starts on Wednesday. Everyone is acclimating to the heat and humidity.
Their first heats were held this afternoon, with 8 boats in each heat. Huge (Vanessa's team)came in 3rd in their heat and Power Surge came in 2nd in theirs! So, they will compete together in today's grand finale very shortly.
Fireworks!
Massive fireworks last night to mark the 15th anniversary of the return of HKG to China. Streets were closed around 6p, fireworks started at 8p. We had an invitation to watch from the roof of our hotel. There were not more than more than 100 people, so no braving the crowds for us. Nibbles and drinks included, and the weather cooperated. Altogether a fabulous evening!
We were told the fireworks cost a few million dollars. Funded by mainland China as a sign of how important the return of HKG is. (Same day 60,000 protested the installation of the new Chinese chief executive to run HKG, but we didn't know about that until today.)
One of the staff people told us that the weather has been getting warmer and they are seeing 27-30 typhoons during the 3 month season.
Portland people who traveled one day later than we did experienced an 8 hr delay due to the typhoon here. Weather has been ok last couple of days.
We were told the fireworks cost a few million dollars. Funded by mainland China as a sign of how important the return of HKG is. (Same day 60,000 protested the installation of the new Chinese chief executive to run HKG, but we didn't know about that until today.)
One of the staff people told us that the weather has been getting warmer and they are seeing 27-30 typhoons during the 3 month season.
Portland people who traveled one day later than we did experienced an 8 hr delay due to the typhoon here. Weather has been ok last couple of days.
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