Hello from Beijing.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
all guests from now on will be forced to do this
The joy of having your younger brother visit is that you can make him do things like dress up in goofy Chinese costumes and traipse in front of Mao's waxy body (my second dead Socialist leader this month, after Uncle Ho down in Hanoi) and stuff like that. He's a good sport, you know.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
One of my favorite pictures from Tad's weddding: Esteban's tie equals yum!
I am trying to be good and post one picture per day, like other, more diligent photobloggers I know. Of course, that didn't happen this week, mainly because I was in a working whirlwind that has proven to be ultra-stressful and not really worth the hassle. It's days like this that I truly think I need to give up the writing thing for something more fun, like playing with babies. Preferably Chinese babies. Does anyone want to hire me to play with babies? Because I'm free.
In the meantime (or, really, until the babies job comes through), I've updated my professional website a bit. (Well, a tiny bit. Scanning is boring!) See. Read. Hire.
My other favorite picture: Who knew boys liked to play with each other's hair at a bachelor party?
Sunday, May 15, 2005
Fun gums of China: Flavono, anyone?
In my defense, I've pretty much been working nonstop since mid-March (in fact, this was my first weekend at home in Beijing since then. It was busy, but it was great to be home.) Out of guilt, I give you this: random gums of China, and indoor sledding in Singapore. What's not to love?
Monday, April 11, 2005
Okay, we have some news. As some of you may recall, we have been working on where we want to go next for a while. A very loooong while. (I've been afraid to say much for fear of jinxing the outcome.) It started with us submitting twenty places we'd be willing to relocate, in order of preference. That went something like this (recounted to best of my ability):
Casablanca, Morocco
Singapore
Singapore (on twice for two different jobs)
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Harare, Zimbabwe
Dakar, Senegal
Canberra, Australia
Accra, Ghana
Capetown, South Africa
Jerusalem, Israel
Manama, Bahrain
Suva, Fiji
Paris
Taipei, Taiwan
And then some others that I can't remember right now. No matter, it's moot. We got our assignment today: Start buying bathing suits, we're headed to... Singapore! Arrival time: early next year. (For those of you who require maps or additional location info, go here. For those of you who are too lazy, Singapore is an island city-state on the tip of Malaysia. It is very warm and pretty.)
Frankly, we are just kind of psyched because this totally justifies our need for surfboards, which will definitely be purchased at the first possible opportunity. Mike's job is fairly awesome also, and I can continue to roam about Asia doing my writing. (I also now have carte blanche to buy all these adorable sundresses that I keep seeing in the U.S. But the vintage coat collection will have to go to storage for awhile.)
More to come later. And, ahem, no one has an excuse not to visit us now. There's the world's best airline (and an airport with a pool!), and we will be a hop, skip, and a jump from Thailand, Vietnam, Bali, and all kinds of beautiful beachy places. I expect my guest room to be full, people.
Monday, April 4, 2005
drooly babies!
By the time you read this, I will most likely be somewhere well over the North Pole, en route back home. Hard to believe it's been six months since I last did this, huh? (Especially when I realized I've been to six countries since then.) This will be a short trip, involving Tad's upcoming nuptials, stocking up on shampoo, and (God willing) a little Broadway action. I will also be enjoying some quality time with my old friends Goodwill and the Salvation Army. I hope they haven't been too picked over since last time. I need more vintage!
The joy of flying back to the U.S. is that you leave at noon on Tuesday, and you get in at 8pm on Tuesday. If only it was that quick in reality. Alas, this trip will involve about 18 hours in the air and another five in layovers. All one can hope for at this point is a large amount of entertaining Hilary Duff movies to keep distracted.
I spent this past weekend in the middle-of-nowhere province of Henan, which is -- in a word -- underwhelming. (It's home to a horrible AIDS crisis, which I didn't see, and also the Shaolin Temple, which I did.) Henan does not get a lot of foreigners. Everyone gawked and stared wherever we went, and made us pose with their babies. Lucky for them, I enjoy posing with babies.
I left Mike in Henan this morning to come back, run errands, and pack. So far, packing has consisted of trying on clothes while dancing to Hindi pop songs. The suitcase is completely empty. But at least the suitcase is out of the storage room and in proper packing position. That's a start, right?
the nicely reconstructed shaolin temple
please do not ask me the cultural significance. let's just enjoy the pretty colors.
One of the craziest sights: Hundreds of students, out for a group run.
fun with trashcans, vol. 4: Protect CircumStance begin with me
The city of Kaifeng, totally hopping.
Monks, hanging out, tending to incense.
Mike and Mashawna gamely indulge some photo-wanters.
Then we indulge some more.
Little Buddhists, rocking the prayer beads.
I was trying to get a picture of this kid's split pants. I know how it makes you giggle. Unfortunately, while generally gaping and showing lots of baby butt, these stayed shut right as I snapped.
Okay, fine, here you go. Giggle away.
Bye!
Tuesday, March 29, 2003
Oh my God, India. It is amazing. I had to be dragged back to China. What's not to love? (Er, other than the obvious -- like poverty and pollution?) Great food, excellent shopping, terrific sights, fun work, incredible hosts... (Seriously, if I were about 23 years younger, I think I would beg Vinay and Ritu to adopt me and let me live in their guest room and play with their dogs and eat banana bread all day.) I unloaded all my (highly affordable) loot last night, and it was like Christmas. There is too much to even recap today, so let's look at pictures, shall we?
In Mumbai (nee Bombay). I actually spent most of my time in Delhi, but I was too busy shopping to take many pictures there. Ooops.
Where I stayed in Mumbai: The Taj in Colaba.
Note: you are not supposed to take pictures by the pool. Just out of this picture is the pool man coming to lecture me.
by my room.
A palace.
okay, i was slightly obsessed with the Taj. Despite a few disputes there, it was really an incredible hotel.
india gate in mumbai
you all always say there are not enough pictures of me, so here you go: me with elephant!
lodi gardens in delhi. and dogs, which are everywhere.
last minute sightseeing: humayan's tomb, delhi
If I had to pick a highlight of the trip (but really, who can choose between children?), it would have to be the Hindu holiday of Holi, a Mardi Gras-meets-Woodstock sort of experience where people throw colored powder all over each other. So. Much. Fun. Read more about it here.
These wacky guys are guarding the bhang, a milk drink made with a certain "herb". (Don't worry mom, I stayed away.)
I mostly had to keep my camera in hiding (lest it be covered in color), but I made these randoms stop for a picture.
And then I was instructed to dance Indian-style, which -- against better judgement -- I did.
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