Maybe this blogging thing is getting addicting... or maybe I just have a lot of spare time on my hands while Rex "works on his paper". Yes, that's in quotes for a reason... and he can tell you why.
The construction is coming along on the two huge buildings directly in our line of view from our balcony window... check out this guy, just bouncing around on the bamboo scaffolding as if he was on solid ground. Instead, he is definitely about 25 stories up.
The construction is coming along on the two huge buildings directly in our line of view from our balcony window... check out this guy, just bouncing around on the bamboo scaffolding as if he was on solid ground. Instead, he is definitely about 25 stories up.
Crazy construction worker, as viewed from our balcony.
We did make it out of the house for a little while today! Our intention was to walk around the park by the harbor... only it was SO HOT once we got out there and realized that the shade didn't follow us everywhere!
Favorite "China life" picture of the day... people fishing by the harbor.
I guess it could if we were just a bit more like Chinese people who carry umbrellas with them everywhere. It's China's favorite accessory. Rex had to dodge a lady riding her bicycle with her umbrella up earlier today. Nobody wants to get tan here but sunscreen is still about 5 times more expensive than back in the states. I'm really confused about that, by the way.
Yes, we walked around the park but didn't stay for long. The strip of bars along the water were not open at 3pm... probably more of an evening thing.
Yes, we walked around the park but didn't stay for long. The strip of bars along the water were not open at 3pm... probably more of an evening thing.
JJ's Texas Barbecue, located by the harbor (a 5 minute walk from our house)
So we made our way back towards the lake and main business area of town.
Part of Xiamen business district across the lake.
We made a brief stop in the import store to buy salsa, guacamole, and Dr. Pepper. Ah, the necessities! I've been meaning to make my own salsa... but my first attempt totally failed when I put in way too much onion and blended it up. Rex won't touch it. The guacamole I bought today was horrible with chips! I was so disappointed. I read the label and it says it was imported from New Zealand, and apparently they don't know how to make real guacamole in NZ. The avocados I found a few weeks ago at Metro (a store where you buy in bulk, like Sam's) were imported from NZ as well, and I noticed that they were relatively flavorless. Nothing like good old Mexican avocados, I guess.
We strolled down to the English-speaking travel agent and had her plug in our dates for the flight to the Philippines. She smiled and kindly said that the discount flights were all booked up. Well thanks a lot for nothing!
Walking home we noticed that there were a lot more colorful flowerbeds than there were yesterday... probably getting ready for the huge trade fair in Xiamen that is supposed to start tomorrow. We actually have NO SCHOOL until Thursday of this week! Apparently the trade fair brings in so many people that they have to restrict the number of cars on the road. They have an even/odd license plate system in effect for those 3 days, which means that our buses cannot all run... giving us days off school!!! It's not a total break because we still have inservice, but I don't have to teach!
Rumor has it that there's a HUGE fireworks display on Tuesday night, one of the three big ones they do here over the lake each year. I've heard that the fireworks last anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hrs! I will be so over fireworks by the time they reach the 30 minute mark, but it still sounds awesome.
We DID finally get our flights booked!! There were many factors to consider when choosing the flight, but we decided to "go cheap" and take the longer route with the layover in Hong Kong. We only have the initial flight into Manila set in stone, but are hoping to go to the island of Palawan and Coron for 10 days in October!! This includes my birthday and our 2 year anniversary =) We figured it was worth the splurge... and even more so since Rex is now getting a paycheck and we weren't originally expecting that.
We strolled down to the English-speaking travel agent and had her plug in our dates for the flight to the Philippines. She smiled and kindly said that the discount flights were all booked up. Well thanks a lot for nothing!
Walking home we noticed that there were a lot more colorful flowerbeds than there were yesterday... probably getting ready for the huge trade fair in Xiamen that is supposed to start tomorrow. We actually have NO SCHOOL until Thursday of this week! Apparently the trade fair brings in so many people that they have to restrict the number of cars on the road. They have an even/odd license plate system in effect for those 3 days, which means that our buses cannot all run... giving us days off school!!! It's not a total break because we still have inservice, but I don't have to teach!
Rumor has it that there's a HUGE fireworks display on Tuesday night, one of the three big ones they do here over the lake each year. I've heard that the fireworks last anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hrs! I will be so over fireworks by the time they reach the 30 minute mark, but it still sounds awesome.
We DID finally get our flights booked!! There were many factors to consider when choosing the flight, but we decided to "go cheap" and take the longer route with the layover in Hong Kong. We only have the initial flight into Manila set in stone, but are hoping to go to the island of Palawan and Coron for 10 days in October!! This includes my birthday and our 2 year anniversary =) We figured it was worth the splurge... and even more so since Rex is now getting a paycheck and we weren't originally expecting that.
Part of Palawan island we hope to visit.
Tomorrow all of the teachers are going to do "team building" at some ropes course just outside of town. We were told to dress comfortably in running shoes and to bring sunscreen... hmmm... after our walk in the park today, I don't know about being outside in this heat for 8 hours! I'm so glad that Rex is a teacher now, too, and will be there with me. I told him that my only competitive incentive tomorrow will be to beat his team. He didn't seem to like the sound of that.
Tacos for dinner redeemed my guacamole a little bit... they were a great, creamy substitute for the sour cream we can never find =)
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