Gena and Cherie are sisters. Cherie is a rock star expat living here in Shenzhen and her sister Gena is a rock star living in AZ. I was lucky enough to spend time with BOTH of them during Gena's visit and in reading Gena's Facebook updates about her trip, I realized, that as much as I've been a wee bit better at updating my blog since I moved here, there hasn't been a whole lot of detail on typical events or sights from our every day lives. Pondering this absence and acknowledging how easily I forget so many, many things, here is a small effort to remedy that situation. AND, since the purpose of this blog is really to write about and post pictures of things I don't want to forget, here is a glimpse into our China shenanigans...photo cred is all yours Gena :) And...I always have thoughts to pontificate on, so those will be in the next post. :) Until then, enjoy!
This is Luohu Commercial Center. This is where you bring your water, snacks, hardcore bargaining skills, cash, and if you plan to be here most of the day, Advil to prevent any potential headache hinderances. I find that I am most successful when I come here with ideas in mind...otherwise it is a bit overwhelming. However, I've been here with people with no plan and they've faired beautifully. You can find anything here...watches, purses, sunglasses, shoes, clothes, jewelry, traditional Chinese decor, scarves, unique art, toys, and um....LOADS more. See below:
Just a TINY glimpse into the MASSIVE fabric store. Lots of my friends go on Pinterest, find a dress, skirt, or outfit they love, bring a picture with them, pick out fabric, give it to the tailor and BAM...custom clothes for extremely reasonable prices. Multiply these fabric pictures by thousands and that is how big....if any of you have been to the Just Between Friends Sale in Portland...it's THAT big...but packed...I have to turn sideways to get passed the small Chinese women standing in the isles. All my sewing friends...YOU WOULD LOVE IT. I thought of Tara Nakae, Sue Quackenbush and Sarah Betts IMMEDIATELY. :) PS. You know you ALL want those colorful furry creatures around your neck...a custom jacket with a pet around your neck? So soothing...;)
The picture on the left is just one of dozens of shoe stores. You go in, pick your favorites and tell them your size. They have someone up in the attic that just throws boxes down this shoot. That someone must be a very tiny person because that opening is just liiitttle.
This is the Mormon Temple in Hong Kong. Such a beautiful place for serenity, peace and inspiration in the midst of the busy hustle and bustle surrounding it. This little fountain on the left is directly behind the wall facing the street. They make fabulous use of such little space here!
Hong Kong from Victoria Peak. The air quality up here reminded me of Oregon. Smelling the fresh dirt, trees and plants on the mountain made me so grateful for what fresh air does for the soul! Seriously. I couldn't stop taking giant deep breaths. I kept saying, "It smells like Oregon up here!!" Note: That is not really fog you see in the picture...it's pollution.
The back side of Victoria Peak. Beautiful.
Just because I thought this tree was awesome.
Well this picture of mine was an epic fail, but THIS is a waterfall. It WAS actually beautiful in person. This picture makes me laugh. Beautiful is relative I suppose.
Just in case you get lost, you can always find your way to Disney Hong Kong by looking for Mickey on all the signs! :)
I could take hundreds of pictures like this. Employees train outside ALL THE TIME. Sometimes they are doing exercises together, sometimes they are singing, shouting, repeating scripts. (Actually that last statement was such a lie. I have no idea what they are doing...)
Just doing a little landscaping.
Gena took a picture of the program at church when she was here. I just copied and pasted her post below (she gave me permission to plagiarize, don't worry:)). I'd never considered it, but from a foreigner's standpoint, this is interesting to those who wonder how we worship here.
"In order to have the government's permission to meet together, our church agreed to not attempt to spread Christianity to the natives. That's hard for Mormon folks, but we believe in upholding the law of whatever country we are in.
In the USA our worship service program contains the service outline notes and announcements. Look at what is in the program here! No church building for us, we meet in a house. It's a wonderful experience.
Read the "Conduct of Members in China." The members here take it seriously so as not to jeopardize the agreement and the ability to meet for services. Today a man shared that he had a friend who wanted so much to know about his beliefs and what made him different. He said, "I can't share that with you, sorry. But if we are ever in Hong Kong at the same time, I will." Then he told about that time it happened and how the woman basked in and enjoyed what she heard and felt.
So, People of ALL faiths in the USA, let us not be shy in sharing our faiths and why we believe them. We are so busy worried about offending others, instead of appreciating the freedom to share with our friends and acquaintances at will.
Splendid day visiting with LDS people here. There are so few members, they are organized into what our church calls a "branch." At home, we attend a "ward" consisting of 350-500 people. Branches are far fewer numbers. Today there were less than 30. Lovely people from all over the world."
This is typical all over. YUM. Not. (Notice the KFC knock off in the background...CFU...hahaha)
Squid on a stick anyone?
The metro!
This is my favorite place to grab quick groceries. It's called "The New One". So if people ask me where I got something, it can get a bit confusing when the response is, "The New One."
Them, "Where'd you find that?" Me, "The New One." Them, "The new what?" Me, "No. The New One Supermarket...that's the name."
This happens everywhere. Except, there aren't really enough people on this bike. I saw a mom with a 4 month old in a seat on her handlebars, another child in front of her, then one on the back. A BIKE people...AMAZING. I did give my friend Jaclyn a ride to pick up her bike one day and she sort of sat in Cole's seat...we asked a girl to take a picture, but she refused...it did look pretty ridiculous! :)
You rarely see helmets here. Children are usually on the front or back of bikes and scooters and despite the lack of protection, I've not witnessed any accidents yet. I've also not yet seen carseats anywhere...except Cole's in our car. Dallas is a stellar driver normally...but the fact that he can maneuver in this Chinese traffic...he deserves a medal.
This is Sea World. Very popular at night and on the weekends. Great array of diverse restaurants and fun place to saunter and stroll.
An old ship is in the center of Sea World. I've not been inside yet, but will keep you posted on the story behind it!
Ahhh...I love Nanshan Mountain. I usually hike this on Mondays with several ladies from SWIC. (Shenzhen Women's International Club is a group of a few hundred expat women that "provides a focus for social and cultural activities for members and is of particular value to newcomers by providing a means to meet other expats, find resources, and to learn about what activities are available in the city. Our members come from all parts of the world, many different nationalities, young and ‘older’, with and without children.")
It's about 1200 steps to the first pagoda, and perhaps the same distance, but less steps to the "Spaceship" at the end (SO worth the extra hike. The view is FABULOUS on clear days...and when it's not clear, we are just grateful for the company and extra calories burned!)
Gena taking a moment to pose when she and Cherie went. This mountain really makes me want to bring all my friends that love yoga and meditation up here. YOU WOULD LOVE IT.
Sometimes on our hikes, there are Chinese men yelling like Tarzan, giant spiders spanning larger than my hand, and sometimes there are monks. All are welcomed new and fun adventures. :)
Gena, props for getting this picture. I've never been able to see this far from the mountain!
These "sweepers" (sorry, I have no knowledge of their actual titles) are all over China. I remember seeing them in Guangzhou too back in 2005. Fall here didn't really feel like fall because the yellows and oranges are more like pinks and purples. Even when the leaves fall, they are swept up almost instantaneously by these faithful workers. And I can usually get them to smile at me if I stare at them and smile long enough! :)
My view riding my bike home every day from who knows where. Coastal Rose Garden 3 is the complex on the right and Peninsula 1 (our complex is on the left). I DO love the palm trees. A lot.
I've still not yet discovered the meaning behind a giant lobster statue welcoming our guests to our complex, but perhaps it is because there is a huge seafood port next to us? Everybody needs a lobster, right? :)
Just strolling through Peninsula. It's about a 5 minute walk from our house to the stores and taxis.
This is the wet market in Old Shekou. I get my produce here about 50% of the time. We've discovered that Sam's Club DELIVERS...and so does EVERYWHERE ELSE (practically). So, if Dallas is around to order, or I am brave enough to practice my Chinese, people will bring our groceries to our door for free. Novel concept.
Mmmm...I do love fresh fruits and veggies from the market. Although my juicer is huge...having my Vitamix and my juicer have been awesome!
Just in case you'd like to pick out your own!
Mushrooms!
Eels, anyone?
Octopus....chicken....
Funny...someone got a hold of a paint can, and decided to misspell "Bagguette" in English on the wall? Apparently someone else was wondering why that was the word of choice and made it known as well. Haha.
Just in case you were wondering, you CAN hang your laundry in the trees at the park. Totally fine. I rode my bike home the other day and passed a huge park with giant bushes sprinkled throughout. Almost every single one had a blanket, sheet or some other form of bedding strewn across it. Fascinating. :)
The next set of pictures is from the Artist Village, Da Fen. This place is so amazing. Most of the artists are tucked into these little alley ways throughout with their canvases fastened to the walls in between buildings.
This specific artist is actually inside a building. Someone sent him a family photo and he is doing an oil painting for them. Um...AWESOME.
Loved the texture on this one!
Photo he used to paint from is in the bottom left....AMAZING!
Yes. This man is wearing a flesh colored tank top with a cat on the front. And his pants (yes, pants) look like shorts, then the fabric also blends into his skin until...wait for it...it reappears at his calves! I honestly wished I could speak Chinese in this moment. I wanted to talk to him about his shirt. Honest. I want to know what minds like his know!
Just in case any of the tourists want a Statue of Liberty in their homes.
This is where we at lunch. Super yummy. We don't pay attention to the sanitation issues most of the time...so far so good. Though, I do have some hand sanitizer with me usually. ;)
There was a bookstore tucked in the back of this village. Of all the things you can find in a bookstore, Dallas located THIS gem. Hahaha.
Art supplies
This is where the inventory to the convenience store is located. The store is barely pictured in the upper left here. Easy access. No need for a warehouse!
Ahh....I don't know whose picture he was duplicating, but I would have asked him if they lived in Oregon. This made me all gushy for Newberg.
The "art studios"
In case you aren't able to get your own original print. ;)
Hey Deb, are these the guys that bought your printer?!
Or how about them? :)
Incredible!
This was so humbling to me. This woman's right leg is clearly MUCH shorter than her left. She had an incredibly heavy and noticeable limp. I couldn't fit the entire length of what she was carrying in the picture, but I thought of what other burdens her shoulders have been required to carry in this life and how I couldn't fit those in the picture either. If anything has motivated me to learn to speak Chinese, it is to talk to people like this and learn their stories.
This is a picture at the "Stationary Mall". I don't know if that's the REAL name or just what we foreigners call it. This doesn't do anything justice, but it was the best I could do for now. Floors and floors of this. Sort of like Luohu, but more on the supply side. Crazy bargaining skills needed, it is WISEST NOT to bring your children, in case you were curious, and make sure you've eaten...or your brain might explode.
How did I NOT know that Santa plays Kenny G on the sax! Mom, I think he needs to be added to your santa collection....right outside the front door!
This picture is for Grandma Boyer. Purple is her COLOR. at 94, don't you think she should have whatever kind of Christmas Tree she wants? THIS IS IT!
Outside by the movie theater at Coastal City you can by bunnies....that is until the cops start approaching you....then you vanish more quickly than Cole does at the playground...that is FAST people.
Just wondering if you notice anything wrong with this. WE are in fact parked correctly.
Any guesses? Lovely reminder to all about the benefits of protection. ;)
I FOUND A LEAF ON THE GROUND! This is my documentation of fall. It actually made my heart happy to see this leaf.
Just another beautiful sign. Sadly, this kind request has gone unheard by most residents with pets and bathroom needs.
The sunrise while taking Lincoln to the bus stop. I love where we live. So many beautiful sunrises and sunsets!
Also, Limitless Laowai does awesome podcasts about life as an expat if any of you are interested in hearing various perspectives from people in various life seasons from all over the globe! My friend Cherie was interviewed by Ally a few weeks ago about her experience over the last 15 years.
Check out the interview at www.limitlesslaowai.com/cherieburton.
Well I'll update sometime in the next week or so (if this actually happens it will be setting a record FYI!) with pictures of the fam, our shenanigans over the holidays and my usual pontifications. Until next time! :)
