Hello from Beijing.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Hello there. We are back from our whirlwind American adventure (or as I like to call it, The Fried Seafood Tour of New England). There was lobster, and there was Target, and there was some thrifting, and there was a tiny little island off the coast of Portland, Maine (favoritest new city ever), and there was a fabulous, fun wedding which was entirely worth the trip (and the ensuing jet lag. Seriously, it's bad: I have been up since 2am and have eaten about 4 full meals in the past seven hours.) There was lots of fun people, and lots of fun times, and even though I did not buy any cute shoes, I declare the trip a total success.
I also spontaneously planned to enter the Peaks Island Calendar photo competition, and so took tons of pictures of the island (but none of the Christmas tree that sat, fully decorated, in the middle of the cottage where we stayed). I missed the deadline due to excessive wedding celebrating, but you can enjoy them anyway.
first, we celebrated the 30th birthday of this young man, the infamous matthew
stu was there.
so was cat.
so was i, looking like i might have horns, apparently. and then, we were off!
i am pretty obsessed with the signage of new england.
and the pirates: aaarrrrr. (very hard to "arrrr" while laughing, btw)
while carousing in provincetown, we came across this bat lair.
it is very pretty in provincetown. and they serve up a mean lobster roll.
on to the island of peaks!
the scenery is nice, but this is why we're really here
luckily, amy thought to bring enough tissues to share.
there's the happy couple...
aren't they pretty?
after-party at the legion, aka the slea-gion
i think this pretty much sums up the weekend for vito
just a flashback
goodbye, america!
Friday, August 12, 2005
enjoying a rainy Real Madrid-Beijing soccer match (no Beckham, however -- he was sidelined with an injury)
Sorry for the absence. I've been writing up a storm lately -- and, okay, being *slightly* stressed about all the deadlines -- and so haven't had much of a chance to do much else. (Or when I do, it's devoted to completing season three of Gilmore Girls on DVD. That show is ridiculously addictive.)
But really, many of you will see us soon, as we are departing for the U.S. in the morning to hit up NYC (24 hours of city fun), the beach, and the imminent nuptials of Nate and Holly. I am, of course, packing tons of tissues and my most dancingest shoes. In the meantime, some random pics from the past few weeks:
we did say goodbye to the very-missed duncan, who went back to the u.s. to do something "adult" and "practical." in preparation for this transformation, he was forced to dress up in a velvet tablecloth at his going away party. naturally.
hey, a man's gotta nap *somewhere*
more from the match: totally fun and extremely damp
sounds totally dirty, doesn't it?
pictures like this are fun just to freak mike out a bit. hee. actually, this is from the orphanage where i volunteer. it is a win-win situation: i get to play with Chinese babies, and the kids occasionally learn things like how to count to ten in english. for more pics of the totally adorable orphs, click here.
Monday, July 18, 2005
napping, napping everywhere
Amy and Matthew have toured and shopped their way through three cities and they're getting ready to head home this week. Highlights include: China's first Hooters, which recently opened in Shanghai; an amazing grotto full of Buddhist carvings in Hangzhou; ladies night at Zapata's; the electrician's market in Shanghai (where Matthew picked up a laser temperature gun); and lots of good walking around old Beijing neighborhoods. It was quite a diverse range of sightseeing.
Also, I got food poisoning this weekend. I blame McDonalds, or perhaps the fact that I was recently boasting about how I have an iron stomach and have never gotten food poisioning. Or a combination of both. Regardless: It is not fun stuff.
First: Beijing!
Then: Shanghai! Infinitely rainier, colder, and more happening.
I think this is pretty self-explanatory.
We did take in some culture, like this modern art installation.
Then: Hangzhou! Pretty little city on a big ole lake.
See, parents in China are just as embarrassing to their kids.
The grottoes were truly incredible. And, in true Chinese form, you could check out every tiny, dark nook and cranny that you wanted, no matter how unsafe it seemed.
Nothing says traditional Buddhist offering like plastic candles.
Friday, July 8, 2005
Excitement has been mounting here in our little household. We have guests! (We love guests!) Matthew arrived yesterday, and I immediately introduced him to Beijing culture by taking him to a Thai fashion show at the Great Hall of the People. Amy arrives Sunday. She will immediately be fed dumplings and noodles. Yippee!
The past few weeks have otherwise been a blur. There was an African ball (pictures will not be published to protect the innocent and the very drunk). Then I went to Shanghai for awhile for some work, which was fun (as always). And then down to Hong Kong, quite possibly my most favorite city in the world, and not just because they are currently holding something called a "shopping festival." Amazing food, amazing friends, amazing Prada outlet... who can argue with that?
we drove to a ceramics factory outside of town, which provided for fun pictures
they are tearing down a lot of the old hutong houses, so i've been taking a lot of photos of my old favorite neighborhoods
rubble, rubble everywhere
some people are still living in it...
...and some babies are still playing in it
sometimes, you are driving around in a cab, and then a couple on a 4-wheeler and their dog drives on by.
the man on the right has a case of what we call "beijing belly". once the hot weather starts, shirts roll up, beer bellies pop out.
in shanghai, i rode the maglev train to the airport for the first time. it goes waaaaay fast.
oh hong kong. how i love thee.
all your pretty buildings.
even your airport (the best in the world) is pretty.
matthew and i went and walked around some of the hutongs and temples today. we founds some great signs.
tee hee
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
another year older, another year where I force people to dance to Britney
So, another birthday has come and gone. We plied our guests with mojitos and then forced them to dance to pop dance hits, which I will never, ever be too old for. Now, it was no scavenger hunt, but it was pretty great all the same. Thanks to all who sent happy thoughts.
Friday, June 17, 2005
The aforementioned hilarity: Stu comes to China
Here are the two things that have happened lately. First, the weather is wacky. Major thunderstorms crop up at all hours, the sky suddenly becomes black, and boom -- downpour, usually accompanied by hail. Hail! I've never seen hail before in my life, and now I've seen it about four times in the past week. Totally ridiculous.
Second: After years of hemming and hawing, young Stu finally made it to the Mainland. Of course, we had to take him to all of the local establishments of ill repute, just because. As a result, ridiculously funny pictures.
Finally, you should check these out:
Revenge of the Sith: The English subtitles to a DVD bought on the streets of China
The Onion: Chinese Factory Worker Can't Believe Shit He Makes for Americans
And now, the pictures:
Stu's Saturday night in China started off innocently enough
We took him to Maggie's, which is not the kind of bar that you would ever want to take your mother to.
But they do have good music, and the world's most amazing hot dog stand outside. Seriously great hot dogs.
Then we went to the Den, which was not much better, but which did have this guy totally passed out at the bar
How could we resist a little posing? I mean, the place was otherwise dead.
Maybe a little more posing...
...and a little bit more.
Group shot! (Also: You'll be happy to know the man woke up about 30 seconds later and even tried his hand at dancing.)
And then later in the week, we reminisced over Xinjiang food
The Willson brothers, reunited at last. Awwww.
Monday, June 6, 2005
huggable apples in Guangzhou
Much catching up is in order. Last month saw a trip to Vietnam (with a unscheduled day-long stopover in Guangzhou in Southern China, no thanks to extreme incompetence on the part of China Southern Airlines). Then back to Beijing, briefly. Then Shanghai. Then Beijing, to await the arrival of brother Andy, followed by the slightly delayed arrival of Ritu and Vinay, who finally managed to get their visas in order. And then we all went to Shanghai and stuffed and shopped ourselves silly. And then Andy and I went on to Lijiang, in Southwest China, where one of us (due to altitude sickness, or food poisoning, or other) was forced to spend some quality time with the toilet. Eh. But now I am back in Beijing and back to work (or, namely, back to procrastinating from work). Good, fun, delicious times.
In Guangzhou, which is near Hong Kong but not nearly as cool: people will nap anywhere
On to Hanoi, Vietnam -- a very good place if you like scooters and/or shopping
In Vietnam, people really do wear those little straw pointy sunhats
it seems people will also nap anywhere in Vietnam
You know how I love photographing the pools: In Danang
And then, back to China. There was a brief interlude in which I met Miuccia Prada (!!!!... more of that later). And then, my brother arrived. Yay!
Apparently, excessive bugle-blowing is a problem in many Beijing neighborhoods
we did not take any pedicabs, but not for lack of offers
one for the parents: on the great wall
And now, a short photo essay entitled: "My brother and works of Chinese modern art."
And now, Lijiang: a formerly remote city in southwest China that now has an airport so the tourism is fairly nuts.
Lijiang is the home of the Naxi, one of China's minority groups. The Naxi women still get together in the village square and dance with, naturally, their boom box.
Those too old or too cool to dance just hang out.
The Lijiang skyline is dominated to the North by the Jade Dragon Icy Snowy Mountain of Fun (or something like that).
A little closer up, during our bike ride through the villages.
You can ride around on a horse, if you so choose.
My new favorite Chinese brand: Carrieri Pigeoni.
Home again, home again, jiggedy jog -- to Stu, who is visiting this week. Hilarious pictures to follow shortly.
|
