Dear FFF:
Sorry I haven't updated in so long, but I am havings too much fun!!
Got back from China November 1 and drove directly to Columbus, OH to spend time with daughter Michele and her family. Granddaughter Abbey, who is a senior in high school, is active with the drama department and Show Choir. The teacher needed some help in making costumes and doing alterations so I jumped on board. Spent a couple of weeks there and then headed to Nashville, TN.
Daughter Sue and family have been living there for three years and I needed to get down and see all the improvements they have made on their house and to watch grandsons Ryan and Ross bowl! They are both very good bowlers and in tournaments almost every weekend. They both did very well and I enjoyed watching! After we all served Thanksgiving dinner at the Salvation Army, we came home and fixed our own. It is always nice to share that time with family. I am so blessed to have such loving kids!
After a week there, I drove over to Knoxville to visit my dear frineds Lin and Doug Carlson, then on up to Jonesville, MI. I am currently staying with Mary Houchen and meeting friends for lunch and dinner almost every day......................what a life. This being a gypsy is agreeing with me!
I will be off to son John's house in Kalida, OH for the holidays (where the other kids will join us) and then to Ann Arbor for the month of January. I am having some major dental work done at the U. of M. dental school, and when they get my pearlies all fixed I will head to North Carolina for the rest of the winter.
You can always email or call me and we can visit.
Love to all..........................GG
Friday, December 9, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Off to Beijing
Dear FFF:
Getting brave in my old age! Flew from Shanghai to Beijing on China Air (no English speaking here) but, thanks to my daughter in law Kelly, she booked me a four day flight/hotel package. Dave's driver, Jin Rong drove me to the airport and said he would pick me up on Thursday when I came back to Shanghai. When I got back that day, he was not there! I waited for half an hour before calling Dave (which was a challenge because there were no pay phones at the airport) I approached a guy and asked to use his phone. He didn't understand me so I got some money out...........he took and handed me his phone! I called Kelly at the house, but she wasn't there so Ayi answered phone and since she only speaks Chinese I didn't get anywhere. I then called Dave at work and he tells me I am at the wrong airport which is across town but that Jen Rong is on his way to get me which will take an hour because with 22 million people in one city traffic is rather heavy! I was booked for the Pudong airport but apparently if they don't have a full plane going to both airports they put eveyone on one plane and where you end up is your problem! The Chinese they were saying over the speaker on the plane was probably telling me that, but, of course I couldn't understand a word!
While in Beijing I took an English speaking tour to the Great Wall. One of the highlights of my trip! On that same tour we went to the Ming Toumbs, a jade factory, a clouisine factory, and to the Tea Doctor where we learned all about using certain teas for different ailments................very interesting!
Also while in that city I went to see the Chinese Acrobats.................absolutely one of the greatest shows I have ever been to! BUT, encountered a small problem there. I had taken a taxi for a 30 minute ride to the theater, but when the show was over and I tried to flag down a taxi, they refused to take me to my hotel (I would hand them the hotel card which had the address written in Chinese) I tried 4 times and got 4 refusals. Had no idea why, but now I was in a dark parking lot at 9:30 pm and had no idea what to do next! Saw a nicely dressed man in a suit headed to his BMW so went and asked if he spoke English. " Little" was his answer. I tried to explain my problem..............he understood taxi word and tried to hail one. The driver and he had a conversation which suited man repeated to me, which of course I couldn't understand! He finally took my arm and led me to his car and said "I take you" . I had been showing him the hotel on the map I had. I really didn't have any options so I got in the car! My reasoning was: very low crime rate in China because there are no guns there, so he couldn't shoot me. And I was about twice his size so figured I could defend myself if I had to. But didn't need to..............he drove the 30 minutes to my hotel and gave me his card. Turns out he was the manager of the three theaters in the city. I thanked him profusely and went into the hotel bar and had a stiff drink! After talking to the hotel manager I found out that some taxies won't take a long trip because they need to get back to there side of town and may not be able to get a fare.
Never a dull moment!!!
I decided it was time to go home when while out on a shopping venture with Dave's driver Jin Rong, he hit a pedestrian woman (it was really more of a bump) There are SO many people wallking, motor scooters, buses, cars and bicycles, that drive down any street is an adventure! And Jin Rong is a very good driver and so careful. Anyhow, the lady got right up obviously not hurt but her husband starts pounding on the hood of the car and a small mob starts to form. Poor Jin Rong, it was evident that he was shook up, but he called the police and told me to stay in the car. The crowd kept getting bigger with everyone staring in the car at me. She wanted money (very common happening there) but Jin Rong waited for police. When he got there, more shouting and pointing and I just stayed in car not knowing what was what. Jin Rong finally got back in car and said policeman told him to pay her 150 Yuan (about $23.00) and get rid of her! Jin Rong didn't get a ticket, which is what I was so worrried about because it might have meant his job! Whole thing took 90 minutes but we got on our way no less for the wear. Now I KNEW it was time to go home!
I am back and enjoying the conveniences we have here! It was a GREAT TRIP thanks to Dave and Kelly or I never would have been able to do the things I did. AND, the best part was spending so much quality time with my little munchkins, Murphy and Duncan!!
I am in Columbus for a couple of weeks, then to Tennessee for the end of November. Will be back in Hillsdale/Jonesville in December.
Love GG
Getting brave in my old age! Flew from Shanghai to Beijing on China Air (no English speaking here) but, thanks to my daughter in law Kelly, she booked me a four day flight/hotel package. Dave's driver, Jin Rong drove me to the airport and said he would pick me up on Thursday when I came back to Shanghai. When I got back that day, he was not there! I waited for half an hour before calling Dave (which was a challenge because there were no pay phones at the airport) I approached a guy and asked to use his phone. He didn't understand me so I got some money out...........he took and handed me his phone! I called Kelly at the house, but she wasn't there so Ayi answered phone and since she only speaks Chinese I didn't get anywhere. I then called Dave at work and he tells me I am at the wrong airport which is across town but that Jen Rong is on his way to get me which will take an hour because with 22 million people in one city traffic is rather heavy! I was booked for the Pudong airport but apparently if they don't have a full plane going to both airports they put eveyone on one plane and where you end up is your problem! The Chinese they were saying over the speaker on the plane was probably telling me that, but, of course I couldn't understand a word!
While in Beijing I took an English speaking tour to the Great Wall. One of the highlights of my trip! On that same tour we went to the Ming Toumbs, a jade factory, a clouisine factory, and to the Tea Doctor where we learned all about using certain teas for different ailments................very interesting!
Also while in that city I went to see the Chinese Acrobats.................absolutely one of the greatest shows I have ever been to! BUT, encountered a small problem there. I had taken a taxi for a 30 minute ride to the theater, but when the show was over and I tried to flag down a taxi, they refused to take me to my hotel (I would hand them the hotel card which had the address written in Chinese) I tried 4 times and got 4 refusals. Had no idea why, but now I was in a dark parking lot at 9:30 pm and had no idea what to do next! Saw a nicely dressed man in a suit headed to his BMW so went and asked if he spoke English. " Little" was his answer. I tried to explain my problem..............he understood taxi word and tried to hail one. The driver and he had a conversation which suited man repeated to me, which of course I couldn't understand! He finally took my arm and led me to his car and said "I take you" . I had been showing him the hotel on the map I had. I really didn't have any options so I got in the car! My reasoning was: very low crime rate in China because there are no guns there, so he couldn't shoot me. And I was about twice his size so figured I could defend myself if I had to. But didn't need to..............he drove the 30 minutes to my hotel and gave me his card. Turns out he was the manager of the three theaters in the city. I thanked him profusely and went into the hotel bar and had a stiff drink! After talking to the hotel manager I found out that some taxies won't take a long trip because they need to get back to there side of town and may not be able to get a fare.
Never a dull moment!!!
I decided it was time to go home when while out on a shopping venture with Dave's driver Jin Rong, he hit a pedestrian woman (it was really more of a bump) There are SO many people wallking, motor scooters, buses, cars and bicycles, that drive down any street is an adventure! And Jin Rong is a very good driver and so careful. Anyhow, the lady got right up obviously not hurt but her husband starts pounding on the hood of the car and a small mob starts to form. Poor Jin Rong, it was evident that he was shook up, but he called the police and told me to stay in the car. The crowd kept getting bigger with everyone staring in the car at me. She wanted money (very common happening there) but Jin Rong waited for police. When he got there, more shouting and pointing and I just stayed in car not knowing what was what. Jin Rong finally got back in car and said policeman told him to pay her 150 Yuan (about $23.00) and get rid of her! Jin Rong didn't get a ticket, which is what I was so worrried about because it might have meant his job! Whole thing took 90 minutes but we got on our way no less for the wear. Now I KNEW it was time to go home!
I am back and enjoying the conveniences we have here! It was a GREAT TRIP thanks to Dave and Kelly or I never would have been able to do the things I did. AND, the best part was spending so much quality time with my little munchkins, Murphy and Duncan!!
I am in Columbus for a couple of weeks, then to Tennessee for the end of November. Will be back in Hillsdale/Jonesville in December.
Love GG
Saturday, October 22, 2011
still trucking
Dear FFF:
This is the most amazing city!! Ancient and modern all mixed together and alive from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm everywhere you go.
I have had a really busy week with my friend Pam (the gal I met in the airport) We have been to the antique market....street after street of old men selling wares of every imaginable thing......I bought an old opium pipe. The fabric market where you can have anything you want made to order. Want a cashmere coat? pick out a picture and your fabric (or bring an old coat and they will copy) and they will have make in three days........$60 - $70. Suits, dresses, blouses, absolutely anything.
Pearl market anyone? Silk market? I've seen em all and having a ball. We also went to Fuxing Park. What a morning........people singing, dancing, playing music, doing TaiChi, and just being happy. So fun to watch a bunch of Chinese doing the Texas Two Step! Older men and women walking backwards through the park (Cleans the mind) and men of all ages sitting and playing MahJong and drinking their tea!
Next Monday, I fly to Beijing and stay til Thursday. I have the name of my hotel written in Chinese so I can get a taxi to get me there from the airport. Everywhere you go, you have to have things written in Chinese characters because I haven't met a tai driver yet that speaks English. I am staying at a major hotel in Beijing so should be able to get on some English speaking tours.......want to go to The Great Wall and hopefully The Forbidden City. I could stay here a year and not see all there is to see!
Look forward to talking to everyone in November.
Love, GG
This is the most amazing city!! Ancient and modern all mixed together and alive from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm everywhere you go.
I have had a really busy week with my friend Pam (the gal I met in the airport) We have been to the antique market....street after street of old men selling wares of every imaginable thing......I bought an old opium pipe. The fabric market where you can have anything you want made to order. Want a cashmere coat? pick out a picture and your fabric (or bring an old coat and they will copy) and they will have make in three days........$60 - $70. Suits, dresses, blouses, absolutely anything.
Pearl market anyone? Silk market? I've seen em all and having a ball. We also went to Fuxing Park. What a morning........people singing, dancing, playing music, doing TaiChi, and just being happy. So fun to watch a bunch of Chinese doing the Texas Two Step! Older men and women walking backwards through the park (Cleans the mind) and men of all ages sitting and playing MahJong and drinking their tea!
Next Monday, I fly to Beijing and stay til Thursday. I have the name of my hotel written in Chinese so I can get a taxi to get me there from the airport. Everywhere you go, you have to have things written in Chinese characters because I haven't met a tai driver yet that speaks English. I am staying at a major hotel in Beijing so should be able to get on some English speaking tours.......want to go to The Great Wall and hopefully The Forbidden City. I could stay here a year and not see all there is to see!
Look forward to talking to everyone in November.
Love, GG
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Zhu Jia Jiao
Took a tour today to this ancient city located on the water canals of western Shanghai. Took an hour and a half on bus, and we were still in Shanghai......over 23 million in this city!
The village was incredible!!! Our tour guide spoke very good English and there was so much history in this area. Things dating back to BC. We toured temple, gardens, and then took a ride down the can on a gondola. Lunch in a local restaurant was excellent, but I have no idea what I ate. I did, however, drink soda out of the can.....no ice. Water here much like Mexico. Public restrooms are a hoot. A stall, sort of, with a ceramic circle over some primitive plumbing. You must squat (tough with my knees, but did it) there is a basket of small tissues that you wipe with then throw in another basket, so as not to clog up ducting. I now know to drink very little when I am out in public.
Today a friend (I met in the Detroit airport also coming over here) picked me up (she has a driver) and we met with 4 of her friends for coffee then out to lunch. We were suppose to go to the pearl market but it started to rain so we just did some local shopping. So many different sights and sounds.......smells too, but I haven't yet gotten use to them. Raw fish, poultry, frogs and eels.........ugh.
More adventures everyday....loving every minute of it.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
getting around
FFF:
Been staying pretty close within "the compound" but starting to venture out a little. We all took a trip to another corner of Shanghai to a Chinese Antique Furniture Store. It was located in a back alley within the city (driver Jin Rong took us there) some really cool stuff, but I don't need any furniture. Dave & Kelly found a cool chest which they are going to use as a coffee table.
Kelly and I took the bikes and rode out of the compound to a store (had an American section...very small) but we bought a lot of local stuff, filled the basket on my bike, and peddled home. There are millions of people walking, riding bikes, and scooters just hurrying are scurrying.......like a bunch of ants. It's not Kansas Toto!!!!
Went to the Science center one day and accepted a lot of stares! People are fascinated by Murphy's light skin and blonde hair; especially the older women. It's quite common for people to ask to take their picture with her. She is quite willing, and stands in there with a bit smile
The following picture are of Dave and Kelly's house and inside the compound. Once around is a mile and beautiful so get lots of good walks in. The waterfall is within the compound. The sky line is what we see from the park within.
Oops, Dave's computer is not compatible with my camera's memory stick, so after we find a solution, I will post pictures. Miss you all, but having a great time........love, Joyce
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