Saturday 31 March 2007
Monday 26 March 2007
Monday at Uni
Well I am not getting to add as much to this blog as I would like. My original plan for adding lots of thoughts, perspectives and outlooks is far from coming to fruition. None the less a few entries must be added.
Bao zi for breakfast, with milk in the class except then I realised I had the wrong book. Doh. Monday mornings. All in all I think something must be soaking in to my thick skull as I seem to recognise and more importantly know what they are.
Zang laoshi took Mike and I for lunch which was sweet. Good to see where the teachers eat.
Had a chat with my web guru and he is settled into his new abode. Hopefully we can get this wonderful IE7 issue sorted out and I get Wan Ling Tea House v3 online. The beta of the galleries is up though there are no links to it from the main site. If you want a sneak preview you go to: http://www.wanlingteahouse.com/galleries/niligris/index.htm
Bao zi for breakfast, with milk in the class except then I realised I had the wrong book. Doh. Monday mornings. All in all I think something must be soaking in to my thick skull as I seem to recognise and more importantly know what they are.
Zang laoshi took Mike and I for lunch which was sweet. Good to see where the teachers eat.
Had a chat with my web guru and he is settled into his new abode. Hopefully we can get this wonderful IE7 issue sorted out and I get Wan Ling Tea House v3 online. The beta of the galleries is up though there are no links to it from the main site. If you want a sneak preview you go to: http://www.wanlingteahouse.com/galleries/niligris/index.htm
Saturday 24 March 2007
Xiamen - Dong Zhai Shan (东宅山)
Didn't get out as early as I wanted but was up on the hill after a late breakfast/early lunch by 12. The development there is as busy as ever. More building. Still seems strange to develop quite such a large road across what must have been a pretty inaccessible hill. Good to see many people out walking though. I took the first small path off the road as I could. It had already started to rain a little so people were looking at me even more oddly than normal - crazy lao wai with no umbrella. The path climbed up quickly and as with my previous walk to Dong Ping Shan (东坪山) it was neatly laid using granite slaps. Not good for wheelchairs but made walking pretty quick, who needs steps classes. There must be a good several km of paths here. I took the loop back round toward the uni and where I knew the road headed.
Taking a small path I found a beautiful plateau formed from solid rock that looked out over LongHu Shan Road. It wonderful but also a shame to see how close the buildings are too the hill. Just think 5 years ago you probably couldn't have seen anything. The path way has been planted with lots of new trees & climbers so in 2-3 years it should become much more enclosed which will be more to my liking, none the less it is a very tranquil area with a good mix of plants and animals/birds.
The path took me passed a triffid tree that had almost completely encased a giant rock. Beautiful.
Back on the road managed to get a good soaking, then was told I needed to buy a ticket to go any further, so I decided to take a little path I had just seen only to find this took me to the top of the hill anyway. Yet another case of the Chinese trying to charge for parkland that is not enclosed. The rain by now was full on so I holed up in an old army bunker for 1/2 hour and then took the first opportunity to get back to HQ.
Back at HQ it was nose to the grind stone. More characters. I will succeed one (I hope).
Tuesday 13 March 2007
I think my brain is melting (+ 东坪山)
Didn't know you could really over heat your head by studying but I feel like I running a temperature but apart from fuzzy eyes I am fine. I think there are some new paths being created in my brain.
Time to run to the hills.
Fortunately they are not far and for me unexplored.
Following the road up the hill I met some of the old boys from one of the tea houses. After a quick chat they directed me over the wall and down into what I am guessing in the summer is a restaurant, leisure park! I was not alone however there were some kids making out but they stopped to shout hello and point out I was a lao wai (never knew this).
Clambering up the hill I realised that this wasn't the best way so made way along the 'valley' to the dam. Nicely over grown it reminded me of being a kid in the hedges and woods of Dorset. I even found a rather impressive swing which I mucked around on for a while. It was soon evident that this area was quite enclosed so I made my way back to the road by the hardest route possible.
Following the road round I was confronted by a huge golf course. I am guessing this is probably co-sponsored by the government and some dubious loans from banks and will see very few golfers for the next 10 years but hey that is pure heresay. Heading up the hill itself I was impressed by the landscaping, though I had hoped for a little more natural surroundings. The number of flowers certainty took my mind of the seemingly endless han-zi. Given 3-5 years this spot will be very idillict, now it just feels just a little too much like someone has driven a buldozer through it and has tried to fill it in afterwards.
Breaking from the path, I headed East a long a well used track (that turned out to be a military road - ooops) until I was confronted by 2 large dogs. Ummm. Fortunately I guess the bearded lao wai was too much for them and they turned and ran. Shortly afterwards their less scared but amused owners appeared. One of which was rather pretty if I do say so myself. We walked to the peak together nattering. It was difficult to tell if the girl was the man's daughter, wife or 'girlfriend'.
Overall I lovely walk and one that is recomended if you are in Xiamen. FYI the 'shan' is: 东坪山 （dongping shan)。
Time to run to the hills.
Fortunately they are not far and for me unexplored.
Following the road up the hill I met some of the old boys from one of the tea houses. After a quick chat they directed me over the wall and down into what I am guessing in the summer is a restaurant, leisure park! I was not alone however there were some kids making out but they stopped to shout hello and point out I was a lao wai (never knew this).
Clambering up the hill I realised that this wasn't the best way so made way along the 'valley' to the dam. Nicely over grown it reminded me of being a kid in the hedges and woods of Dorset. I even found a rather impressive swing which I mucked around on for a while. It was soon evident that this area was quite enclosed so I made my way back to the road by the hardest route possible.
Following the road round I was confronted by a huge golf course. I am guessing this is probably co-sponsored by the government and some dubious loans from banks and will see very few golfers for the next 10 years but hey that is pure heresay. Heading up the hill itself I was impressed by the landscaping, though I had hoped for a little more natural surroundings. The number of flowers certainty took my mind of the seemingly endless han-zi. Given 3-5 years this spot will be very idillict, now it just feels just a little too much like someone has driven a buldozer through it and has tried to fill it in afterwards.
Breaking from the path, I headed East a long a well used track (that turned out to be a military road - ooops) until I was confronted by 2 large dogs. Ummm. Fortunately I guess the bearded lao wai was too much for them and they turned and ran. Shortly afterwards their less scared but amused owners appeared. One of which was rather pretty if I do say so myself. We walked to the peak together nattering. It was difficult to tell if the girl was the man's daughter, wife or 'girlfriend'.
Overall I lovely walk and one that is recomended if you are in Xiamen. FYI the 'shan' is: 东坪山 （dongping shan)。
Wednesday 7 March 2007
Xiamen Uni Test
Up bright and early. Wash, brush and the usual morning tea. Using up some rather nice Tie Guan Yin that Wan Ling wanted to throw away as it was last springs!
More farcisical mucking around at uni as when I arrived the lady that had said she would help then redirected me to another building, which in turn said that I should immediately go to the 'openning ceramony'. Still not registered, so more time to dwell on whether I am in the right place. After the 'ceramony', I tried again to register but was told that I should go directly for the test. Caught up with Matra & another girl that I met previously. In the test room we were 20+ to 2 teachers so was sloooow but got chatting to An Ya from Slovakia. Interestingly it was easier to speak Chinese than English. Could be the way of the future?
The Japanese girl before me was impressive. Both her spoken Chinese and reading was very much up to scratch. When I finally stepped up, as no one else was, I chatted with the teacher for sometime before she asked to read the sheet in front on me. Well let's say that bit was over quickly! Based on the fact that I know less than a hundred characters, probably not even that now, and the uni's lesson are all in Han Zi (Chinese Characters) I am in the beginners classes for everything. Bug*er.
That set my mood. Not such a happy bunny. Returning to registeration, I finally received my ID card - whooopieeee, but then had to queue again to hand in the papers concerning why I wasn't living at the uni who then told me that I needed extra copies of everything. You would think that this could easily be put in a single welcome pack. Organised is not a word I would say is too common here. Any way I survived.
To get back in a positive mood I decided to go for a walk. Headed round the park next to Nan Pu tuo temple. Very relaxing. Thought about going into the temple but after the previous weeks trips I was templed out. Decided to explore the back of the uni. Heading up hill I found some small paths leading up past what I assume are the teachers residents. I noticed in one of the hedges some pathways so ducked into the hedge and climbed up. Very peaceful, lovely little single person paths that cut through the trees. Coming to a clearing by a pylon I had a wondeful view of the capus and the surrounding hills. Damp hung in the air around, the air was fresh and clean - ahhhh. Following the path further up, I came across what I assuming was a stage or a temporary card table. Seemed like the locals like this spot too. My little path joined a purpose laid track which lead to a tea house! Asking way they were there, they looked at me olddly and replied that it was part of the temple. Yet another care of China's interest use of gate fees. I also discovered this was the entry point to the gardens. Not wanting to go either I took the next small track that I though should take me towards home. Wrong! After bending and twisting along the path getting increasingly wet, it was obvious I wasn't going toward home. There was good points on the path which needed a bit of jumping, ducking and swinging. Great fun. Found my way eventually back at the side of the temple so ended up using there paths to get back to uni! Great walk which definitely re-set my not such mood. Looking forward to more of the same!
More farcisical mucking around at uni as when I arrived the lady that had said she would help then redirected me to another building, which in turn said that I should immediately go to the 'openning ceramony'. Still not registered, so more time to dwell on whether I am in the right place. After the 'ceramony', I tried again to register but was told that I should go directly for the test. Caught up with Matra & another girl that I met previously. In the test room we were 20+ to 2 teachers so was sloooow but got chatting to An Ya from Slovakia. Interestingly it was easier to speak Chinese than English. Could be the way of the future?
The Japanese girl before me was impressive. Both her spoken Chinese and reading was very much up to scratch. When I finally stepped up, as no one else was, I chatted with the teacher for sometime before she asked to read the sheet in front on me. Well let's say that bit was over quickly! Based on the fact that I know less than a hundred characters, probably not even that now, and the uni's lesson are all in Han Zi (Chinese Characters) I am in the beginners classes for everything. Bug*er.
That set my mood. Not such a happy bunny. Returning to registeration, I finally received my ID card - whooopieeee, but then had to queue again to hand in the papers concerning why I wasn't living at the uni who then told me that I needed extra copies of everything. You would think that this could easily be put in a single welcome pack. Organised is not a word I would say is too common here. Any way I survived.
To get back in a positive mood I decided to go for a walk. Headed round the park next to Nan Pu tuo temple. Very relaxing. Thought about going into the temple but after the previous weeks trips I was templed out. Decided to explore the back of the uni. Heading up hill I found some small paths leading up past what I assume are the teachers residents. I noticed in one of the hedges some pathways so ducked into the hedge and climbed up. Very peaceful, lovely little single person paths that cut through the trees. Coming to a clearing by a pylon I had a wondeful view of the capus and the surrounding hills. Damp hung in the air around, the air was fresh and clean - ahhhh. Following the path further up, I came across what I assuming was a stage or a temporary card table. Seemed like the locals like this spot too. My little path joined a purpose laid track which lead to a tea house! Asking way they were there, they looked at me olddly and replied that it was part of the temple. Yet another care of China's interest use of gate fees. I also discovered this was the entry point to the gardens. Not wanting to go either I took the next small track that I though should take me towards home. Wrong! After bending and twisting along the path getting increasingly wet, it was obvious I wasn't going toward home. There was good points on the path which needed a bit of jumping, ducking and swinging. Great fun. Found my way eventually back at the side of the temple so ended up using there paths to get back to uni! Great walk which definitely re-set my not such mood. Looking forward to more of the same!
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