It's Our 3 Year Anniversary!

As we celebrate in style (Full-body massage, lunch included), and dinner at 'Annies' for some good ol' italian dishes...you can sit back and enjoy our photo-show-n-tell from the weekend we just had...

So starting from last Friday night...

Meet my Chinese class as we farewelled our teacher, eating out in style in the Houhai area looking out onto a lake.

(From the left: Nana our teacher, Dora - from Hungary, Alexandra - from Portugal, and Me!)
Also, Nana's husband David joined us, along with Alexandra's boyfriend who turned up later and missed out on this grand photo op. Michelle wasn't going to miss out on the fun either!
After dinner, we ventured out onto the lake, hiring a paddleboat for an hour, kickin back, chatting, drinking, icecream-eating and taking in the sights n' sounds of the Houhai nightlife.

Tranquility, with Techno included... depending on which bar/club you happened to paddle past.
Then on Sat this little piggy went to market...the 'DIRT (Cheap) MARKET' that is! From trinkets to antique treasures, Mao caps to Ming pottery, whatever your heart desires from any part of the Middle Kingdom - village handicrafts, Yinxing teapots, Tibetan trunks - will likely be found at Panjiayuan, Beijing's infamous dirt market. And one of the best in China.

Upon entering the market we were given the customary greeting for any visiting Austalian delegates in these parts. And as it turned out - by the late Chairman Mao himself:

Here's a sample of the rows and rows of stalls we passed by...

It was HOT at the market. 38degrees! It's amusing the affect heat has on fashion sense...

...and work ethic...

But inspired by the art and relics we pressed on...

Till we took to the streets and passed by sidewalk temptations... "Care for some BBQ'd corn? Watermelon on the go? Toasted whatevers?"

Well that was a day at the Dirt Markets. And it was done mostly without actually buying anything! Sat night we spent having a home cooked Aussie meal (hamburgers) at one of Michelle's workmate's apartment. She made us feel right at home with Cheezels and Cadbury chocolate (Crunchie!).

On Sun we spent the afternoon at the Summer Palace with Alexandra (from my Chinese class) and her boyfriend Nuno. It's a huge park, the majority of which is taken up by a lake, and it is also the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China. Here's a taste of the place..

Here's some more photos for good measure...

Just above you can see the 'Marble Boat' which isn't exactly floating or even really a boat. It's just a structure connected to the land that looks like a boat. Maybe the Emperor used to be prone to seasickness and this kinda killed two birds with one stone.

Well, stay in touch. I (P-J) will be back in Adelaide for 1 week (June 18th-25th) for my gr8-mate Mark and Fi's wedding - so hopefully I'll see one or two of you then!

Don't forget to check out the sidebar which is constantly being updated for your entertainment.

THE ADVENTURES OF OUR WINDOWSILL PIGEON

Waiting for an update...?

Hi!
If you're logging on and hoping for something new to read...

I'll put you out of your misery.

Since our last posting I (P-J) caught the flu...or perhaps it was pollution sickness (symptoms include smoggy head, short-sightedness ["The building over...where?"], colour-blindness ["The sky's not really blue is it?"], nasal traffic congestion or blocked nose and a felt need to stay indoors).

But thankfully I recovered in time - to report right here for all of you that Michelle now has the same thing. Can't keep a good thing to yourself right?!

So instead of lots to report...there's not. No weekend get-away or trips to forbidden cities...

...just coughs, sneezes, runny noses and tissues full of...

Sorry, there's not any need to elaborate is there.

But we've somehow mangaged to keep working/studying/going to interviews (all that good stuff!) with only one offical sick day taken between us. Michelle gets the credit for that one.

Just about any job I go for is an easy walk-in, but one aluded me last week which I was really hoping to get. Apparently they're looking for someone older and wiser. How I don't fit that description beats me.


Well I've changed my tactics. I've started going for positions at Kindergartens - teaching English to pre-schoolers! One interview is today (Fri), the last was Monday. Michelle thinks I'd be a natural. Don't know if that's a compliment or a sign that my balloon-modelling skills are better used somewhere other than in the hallway to keep away intruders.

Actually it hasn't been all coughs and sneezes come to think of it. Last Sat we did manage to go out for lunch at an out-of-town place called 'The Orchard' to celebrate one of Michelle's workmates' birthday. Let me just say that the food was Mmmmmmmx2! This is how the reviews described the full dining experience...(by the way, I had snapper!)...READ AT RISK OF COVETING...

'Far away from the chaos of Beijing and set among a small orchard, this classy European/California inspired venue is apparently an expat institution in Beijing. With an organic menu and many ingredients grown on site, the food at The Orchard is beyond healthy. The settings are magnificently tranquil making use of recycled wood and intricate wrought ironwork. With a small pond, lawn and large patio, its serene and well manicured settings, it's easy to overlook The Orchard's menu. Don't. Perfect for escaping Beijing in style. “Its gorgeous and peaceful surroundings on a summer evening are the loveliest in Beijing,” particularly as the flowers bloom, and the “beautiful and tranquil gardens” come into their own. Its “isolated” location can make for a “very pleasant drive out of town,”.
Equally attractive is the “indoor space, which allows you to feel as if you are dining outdoors even if you are not.” The mellow light can be a perfect accompaniment to a Sunday morning brunch. Whether you’re “sitting at one of the big windows” and contemplating the lake, or going for a “refreshing” “walk in the gardens after a meal,” The Orchard is tops at providing a “calming” and “peaceful” dining experience in the fresh air.'

Note those last two words. I'm there already!

Now just let me brag. About my wife.
She is getting glowing reports about her work and is doing a mighty fine job across the road (that's where she works) after just 5 weeks in the position. Can I just say - I reckon she's a natural and made for it. I'm a lucky man I am. Yes siree. By the way, next week it's 3 YEARS! (29th). Time flies when you're having fun!

Enough said.

Tonight we're going for dinner with my classmates (all two of them) and their partners and our teacher and her husband. A little tangent: We were all going along so well as a class that we booked in another months worth of lessons, when today our teacher gave us a shock announcement that she's leaving to go in search of another job - something to do with Marketing and the Olympics. She was the best Mandarin teacher we ever had!... Tears all round. Well today we'll be meeting her replacement and we're crossing our fingers for someone just as wonderful. I'm enjoying learning Chinese and hope to use it one day. Hehe.

Anything I left out?
Sunday - went to church @ the cafe.
Tues - Spiderman 3. $10 between us at 5star cinema. Crazy.
Wed - I spat on the footpath. I'm crossing off that list! (see below).

Hope to post more pictures next time. If you're anything like me, the more pics the better!
Check out the sidebar for more extras... Check out videos featuring shopping in Beijing, Markets in Beijing and what people get up to in Parks around Beijing!),

IT'S WARMING UP!

Hi everyone!

It's been great to keep in touch with you all via the world wide web and recieve your emails, SMS's, comments, SKYPE calls, MSN chats and more! It's a small world after all, when you think about it. When you don't think about it, it's a tad bigger than small. When you really switch off, it's kinda huge. Then if you happen to think about it for just an instance (not too long to cater in modern day technology, transport etc) it's mindblowingly enormous! And that's not even considering the whole universe...think of all those stars up there...the whole four of them I managed to see on a clear night the other day!

Mmmm.

Anyway - not too much has happened since the last time I wrote. But here goes...
You might like to know that I've been to two interviews for English teaching jobs - both successful (THEY wanted me)...but I didn't want them. Basically what they were offering me was... well... let's just say there's better deals out there for go-getters like me! But it was nice being called up at least 6 times last weekend by the English School Principle of the 2nd interview I had, who tried to convince me to start a contract with them. I'm in demand baby, yeah!
For that particular interview I had to do a 15min 'demo class' in front of 5 of their staff. The thought of it freaked me out since I've never taught English before, but armed with some tips from the internet, I somehow pulled it off with flying colours...which led to the 6 phone calls! One exercise they particularly enjoyed involved holding tissues in front of their mouths to assist in their pronunciation of the letter 'B' and 'P' - just see what I mean in this YouTube clip - because that's pretty much what I led them thru towards the end of the demo. Fun, Simple, Effective. Hey, I rather enjoyed being an English teacher for that 15min. I think that's a good sign. And just so you know, I've potentially got an interview this Sat for a job which would be quite a catch so wish me luck!

Last Friday night I went back to Australia for a quiz night...well technically anyway. It was at Michelle's work in their beer garden (gotta luv that), and our team was only one of two that won a prize! Coming last never felt so good!

Monday-Friday I'm still doing Chinese classes. It's challenging to say the least, but getting easier to say the more.

Michelle's enjoying work and getting to know her staff, workmates and the in's and out's of getting Chinese food delivered for lunch at around $1.80/meal.

Spiderman came out in the Cinemas here the same time as everywhere else in the world, and yet the day after its release it was on the shelves of our local DVD shop for $1.50... mmm... dodgy, but this is China. I have a gut feeling it's not an original copy....
But me being me, I just had to see this one on the big screen. And there's no bigger or better screen than IMAX, and its 5-star version here in Beijing. Well 2 trains rides and a taxi later, Michelle and I rocked up at 7pm to get a ticket for the 7:30pm viewing and were offered a seat...IN THE AISLE! Being booked out doesn't stop the Chinese from selling more tickets, but as for us - we were outta there...and left feeling like there really are too many people in China. So next week we'll book ahead!

Just on a totally different note...I've recently decided to become ONE WITH THE CHINESE.
I'm writing up a list of things I gotta do to really fit in here in Beijing. Here's a sample:

a) Ignore the bad smells, enjoy the good ones.
b) Don't wait for people to get off the train before attempting to get on.
c) If out for a walk and the urge to spit hits me...go for it there and then, and make sure I audibly gather up as much flem in my throat before doing so.
d) Cross the road at my own peril without thought to my own peril.
e) Wear my pajamas out n' about on Saturday mornings, even if going to buy some milk at the corner supermarket. (*Note: buy some pajamas!) f) Speak Chinese. (Obvious, but I'm prone to forget).

This is just the start of my list...it'll take some time to get these downpat, but it's all about blending in with my enviroment.

Jokes aside... I hope we'll have more interesting things to report again soon. Keep checking out our PICS, and on the right you'll find the current weather in Beijing, the time here, news in Beijing, photos by ME, videos of sights n' sounds around Beijing (from YouTube), and more. Enjoy!

It can't be a month already can it??!!

Putting Beijing in Persective...

The updates continue...

On Sat (5th April) we decided to get some fresh air (what a novelty!), and head out of Beijing for an afternoon out n' about. So we took a cab (gee I luv saying that!) to a park on the outskirts of Beijing (like the Adelaide Hills I suppose), called Ba Da Chu Park.

(Beijing Badachu Park ( The Eight Great Temples in the Western Hills ) is a Buddhism temple park with a long history and abundant historical relics. Hundreds of years, the landscape is famous for "Three Hills, Eight Temples, Twelve Scenes". The Park got its name from eight ancient temples which are well preserved in conditions.)

Once there we embarked on a 'stroll' up the mountain - about 460meters up - for a great view of Beijing. I was gullible enough to believe that 'hill hiking makes your boby feel as light as a feather'...

Well it turned out that my 'boby' ended up feeling as heavy as a ton o' bricks once we reached the top and I had to question how it is that heading up a hill is said to be a 'stroll', and heading down and around it is likened to a 'hike'!
It's all about the journey though, so they say, and the stroll up was interesting in itself yet overwhelmingly Buddist in nature. Temples...incense...statues...a nunnery...flying fox...cable cars...icecream...noodles... All in all, an afternoon well spent.
On Sun we visited yet another gathering of foreign Christians in Beijing called 'Next'.

It was held upstairs in a cafe, with about 80 people there, a lack of sitting space, but a great vibe. We scored a couch so 10/10 for comfort. 'Next' is a branch of BICF but we were made to feel much more at home in this smaller and more casual environment - although the smell of pizzas, hamburgers, fries, bakery items and such must have also had an effect on us...

We heard about a great work that's going on through some of the members there, providing shelter, work and job training for girls willing to come out of prostitution. Michelle got involved that afternoon with some of the volunteers making jewerly for the girls to later copy, make, and then hopefully sell.

Lunch was a winner too. We ate with some of the people we had met there, at a Mexican resturant - I had a TEXAS WHOPPER! It was quite literally the best burger I've had in a long time. Big, tasty and maybe even good for me! Michelle had a great burrito too. I'm not eating for 2 days just to compensate...not!
Sun Arvo I went with James (I guy I had met at NEXT), to the Temple of Heaven. Well, it was grand, structually amazing for its age, and made for another good not-much-needed-stroll. Once again the signage was...well...ummm...

Just take note of the ends and beginnings of each line...

I don't think they were using microsoft WORD 2003... Anyway - it's worth checking out and admiring some amazing Chinese architechure.
Even if they can't makes any English sense...

What the...?!!!

Before I try and get my head around that one, I'll say over n' out for now and until next time, eat a pie for me!

Ps. Check out all our pics here.

Pss. In Beijing more than 50 people were fined over the past week for spitting in the streets of Beijing and refusing to correct the bad habit, Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.Beijing has outlawed spitting, queue-jumping, littering and other conduct likely to tarnish the city's image when it hosts next year's Olympics...Want to read more?

Golden Week

'Forbidden' city???!!! Hi ho!

It's Golden Week in China - which means a whole week off work - and that means about 1.6 billion travellers getting about all over China. Chaos could be one word to describe it. Forget about tranqility when visiting the Forbidden City (see above!). On Tuesday, more than a thousand people were reported "lost" on Beijing's expansive Tian'anmen Square! We walked past the square that day and believe me - it was packed. It was how one might imagine China - sooooo many people. It wasn't the height of pleasure to feel like a sardine - but it was an eye-opener into what happens when China takes a week long national holilday! Warning to all thinking about visiting us in China - don't come in the 1st weeek of May!

As Michelle works for the Aussies, the Chinese public holidays don't count, but in the spirit of a 'fair go' the staff were given Tues and Wed off so as not to miss out on the stampede. I've also got a week off from Chinese classes so it's nice to spend the majority of it with Michelle.

Here's a taste of what we've been up to in the past week...

SUNDAY... We went to Jingshan Park which is just a stone's throw north of the Forbidden City.

Just a nice walk in the park with the flowers in bloom, the sounds of people making music and singing in small or large groups (I especially loved the piano accordian...*Rick, you'll fit right in!), people sketching or painting, sitting and chatting, exercising or chewing gum.

TUES... We hired some bikes (AUD$5 each for the day!) and went for a ride in the 'Hutongs'.
(A 'hutong' is an ancient city alley or lane typical in Beijing)




It was the most beautiful day on our 3-week record. Blue skies and temp in mid-twenties. We had lunch by a lake and tea by a tree. (Actually only the lunch bit is true, it just sounded better that way). After riding through the hutongs we decided to go home via Tiannamen Square, only to discover that we would become sardines in the process! Oh well - it was interesting to say the least. We felt secure though - what with the SWAT teams there and all. And everyone knew their place...

And there was no shortage of busses to get them home...

WED... We met up with our friends Barry and Tina (and their little one Tiana!) for an afternoon at Chaoyang Park.
The most amusing part of the day in a nutshell, was Michelle in...a bubble! I almost guarantee that you've never seen anything like this...


I suppose this activity would have mega insurance costs written all over it in OZ, but this is China - and here anything goes. Come on!- it looks like heaps of fun and don't say you wouldn't do it if you had the chance! So why didn't I have a go? Hey - someone needed to take the photos!
...And then there was the sight of people going fishing for GOLD FISH! Whatever they could catch in 30min was theirs to take home! Cool ay...?

And that was all the amusement I could bear...


Well it was a nice day out but nothing could compare with finishing it off with tea at Annies.
Voted one of the best italian resturants in Beijing. The carbonara was fantastic and the pizza was Yummmmmmmmm! It was like being back home. Foreigners included.

I was so inspired I had to draw the scene for you all!


Well that's a taste of some of the things we've been up to here in smoggy Beijing. Michelle is back at work and soon I'll start Chinese classes again. I'm also looking for work here so wish me all the best in finding something just right.

Feel free to leave a comment by following the link below - let us know what you think of our site!
Check out the videos from YouTube to the right, see Beijing's weather, news and lots lots more!
Also - see all our pics here - they're easy to enlarge or do a slideshow with. Have fun!

Till next time,
ZaiJian! Peejing and Michanghai!