2005年11月30日Wednesday

Swing and Hop

Contemplating a bus ride to the local market for fresh fruits today. It can be daunting as a ride in a small bus needs some gymnastic abilities to a certain degree. The bus screeches to a stop, a guy pops out and yells the final destination, people barely swing/hop into the minibus and then the door swiftly slams and the bus screeches off, blasting its horn at the same time. I have seen one women who only put ONE foot into the minibus steps and already the bus careens off! I am so amazed by the safety consciousness of bus drivers here.... of course it doesn't help that some women here now wear boots with high heels (winter is here afterall) and they veer and sway and finally FALL on seated passengers so many times that even I feel embarassed. But they think nothing of it and continue to tether and bend half backwards like some dance.
Posted by Sakuragi at 02:15:29 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

2005年11月29日Tuesday

Sweet guilt

There is a good gelato place in Sanlitun aptly named as Gustomania. Been there a few times and LURVE the melon flavoured ice cream. Today me and S met Fabio, brother of the boss. He is an Italian who just arrived 2 weeks ago to help expand the business and put gelato in the hearts and minds of Chinese. Chatted for a bit while savouring my choc and amaretto flavours as a new waitress irritated S by mixing up the orders. Fabio was in his 40s and had a Singaporean girlfriend when he was in China 20 years ago. He gave up his nice car and house in Italy to make it big here and he misses his comfortable lifestyle where he had no language difficulties :)
Posted by Sakuragi at 13:19:55 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Xiao Qiang ah Xiao Qiang

Everyone knows Xiao Qiang is my ichiban numero uno public enemy. It's either me or them in the eternal contest of speed and will. Have been hoping against all hope by coming to BJ, I will escape the whole species altogether. Afterall, they are not known to survive winter. Alas, my dreams are shattered by their tiny bodies creeping around in the kitchen. Last night, found one next to the stove. He was the 4th one so far and the tiniest. The good thing is Xiao Qiangs here are smaller and strangely slower to flee my violent mindless reactive smashing cloth/newspaper (whatever is handy that moment). Not sure if God is training me to face them without screaming and hoping around. P claims that Xiao Qiangs did not appear till I came and calls me 'Xiao Qiang magnet'. I certainly AM NOT! I bet P was too bochap to spy them in the nooks and cranies and didn't cook as often. Nevertheless, the score is still 4:0 (it was 3:1 until Xiao Qiang No. 3 reappeared the next day on the fridge door!!!) and the contest continues.....

Posted by Sakuragi at 02:37:54 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

My Cabbage Patch Kids

Bought my 3 'babies' 2 weeks back (pls see album in blog) and they are Droopy, Perky and Shorty. First saw them when I was in Tokyo and loved their colors. They are popular in Japanese households due to easy upkeep and tolerance of extreme winter. We will see how my 'kids' fare coz Droopy wasn't droopy at first (obviously I have better shopping sense). Already Droopy has been revived in my absence last week while Perky is starting to fade a bit. Don't ask me why coz they get the same water amt. The locals call them "Ye Mu Dan" or leafy peony.
Posted by Sakuragi at 02:24:23 | Permanent Link | Comments (1) |

2005年11月28日Monday

Numbing winds

Winds were at 4 to 5 levels today and they numbed my face as I battled them in a huge coat. But you can still breathe in the smoke from cars and Chinese men puffing to keep warm. Do ciggies really make you warmer in winter? I really can't tell from their glazed looks. The leaves have all fallen from the trees and the bare skeleton twigs can be gloomy yet beautiful in their own way. Last week I was in Hanoi and nearby misty Sa Pa mountains where trees are still lush and green. The similarity lies in being choked by exhuast fumes from the numerous motorcycles. But I shall let my photos do the talking.
Posted by Sakuragi at 13:54:27 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

2005年11月18日Friday

Cold blue cold

Today's temp in BJ dropped till below 10 deg. At night it will be below 0 deg. I realised that it is interesting to eat  hot french fries while walking home in the cold and dark evening. Two fingers holding the fries will be ok but not the other 3 fingers!!!! Couldn't really bend them much after a while. So that is how cold it is. I wonder how it will be in a few weeks more. One thing I realised is blood flows slower here. How do I know? Becoz I get sleepy by 9pm. The sun sets about 4:30pm and the whole day is shorter. Another irritation is the dry skin I get. I practically "drank" bottles of moisturiser here. Even switched to baby oil and still I get pins and needles sometimes. Learning to cope.... ah well, all part of the experience
Posted by Sakuragi at 10:49:50 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

2005年11月17日Thursday

And there was light....

on my laptop that is. Finally I did it. Wanted to start my own blog since the beginning of this year and even wrote it down my list of things to be done while BUMMING. I finally did it after realising that I hit the BIG 30. Thought it was significant in some ways. I mean, it's been a decade since I change the 1st-digit in my age so it better be something to reflect about. So this 'thing' here marks a milestone of sorts? A pretty 'lame-o' stone since it's just "3 easy steps" to creating one, so what has been stopping me for this whole year? Ah well.... this column ain't big enough for my lazy excuses. So here it goes.....

Posted by Sakuragi at 16:33:56 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |