Shanghai

We went to Shanghai on the weekend. We stayed at the Howard Johnson on Huai Hai Lu and we had a great time. It was a 5 star hotel, so it was very beautiful. It was on a great street, far enough away from the hustle and bustle and close enough to walk to most places, including the subway, which will get you all around the city for 3-4 RMB each.


We caught the train from Suzhou to Shanghai and went direct to the hotel, then went across the street to eat lunch at Element Fresh. We went to Tai Kang Lu, which is an old Hutong maze that has been changed into a trendy touristy area full of shops and cafes. Kane took a heap of photos and I bought some Oolong Ginseng Tea. It was a pity about the rain though. That night we went out to a Thai place called Simply Thai for dinner, we had mince samosas, wide chicken and asparagus noodles, massaman curry and rice. So yummy!

Ti Kang Lu

Saturday morning I had the hotel buffet breakfast and Kane went to Macca's for 2 egg and bacon McMuffins. See, the hotel deal we got was 1 free breakfast, to pay for the other is was going to be 148RMB per extra person plus 15% service charge. Not in our budget. We went out to Decathlon for some sports shopping, then we went to the copy market, only to come home with only a pair of sunnies. They were not negotiating at the market on Saturday, I think it was because it was quiet. Then we floated around the Superbrand Mall in Pudong. We had an afternoon snack at Element Fresh, again! That night we went on a cruise along the Huang Pu River. It was a free night with the cruise, dinner and drinks all provided by a travel company we use to book out holidays. It was cold, so we stayed below deck mostly and looked out the windows.

Huang Pu River Boat Cruise

On Sunday, I headed across to Element Fresh for breakfast (3rd visit for the weekend), I had yummy blueberry pancakes, while Kane enjoyed the hotel buffet breakfast and then I went shopping at H&M and Zara on Huai Hai Lu. Kane went back to Decathlon to get a camel back and a red rain jacket. Just before we left the hotel, we once again went to Element Fresh for the fourth time. We went to the train station to watch a toddler being held up by his mum doing a shit on a piece of newspaper in first class waiting room- how gross! Kane took a photo, of the toddler I mean :) Here he is in the yellow...

Have a great week everyone

Kelly

xxx

Casino Royal 007 - Bond

Happy 40th Birthday Jill and Heidi

The birthday girls, Jill and Heidi

Bond and his girls

Erin and I holding Ron (the Chinese Red Army Spy)

Bond and his Bond girl

Kane with his Chopper Read stance


Kane, you're in trouble

It was a long fight, but I got him Bond

Thanks for the hard work Bond girl

Kane and Dom (Kane's teaching partner)

As the night got on, so did the girls, on the bar I mean!

We had the Casino Royal Party last night at a local bar/restaurant called Zapata's. Most people got into character and it was so much fun. People walking around with their guns and numb-chucks. Girls is gowns and the boys in all sorts of suits. China is great for buying costumes, and they are nearly all from Wedding Street... Yes... Wedding Street. Here is China during the cultural revolution people couldn't afford to get dressed up for their wedding. So they would go to the photographer and hire an outfit for 1 photo. It was like playing dress-ups for your one wedding shot. So as time has gone on, this tradition still continues, but now you will have 5-6 outfit changes during you photo shoot which happens one week before your actual wedding. So Wedding Street here is a costume street.

Here they are...

Here is Becki's baby girl.

Anahira Koa Denzler

23-3-09

She is definitely a cutie. She slept all the way through the whole visit. She tried to wake up, but it was just too exhausting. Becki is doing much better and looked wonderful, they are both glowing. I'm rapt for them both. Here name means Anahira-Angel and Koa-Happy in Maori.

Here she is

With Me

With Mum

With Becki and Todd

With Kirstin Me and Becki

Good News

My friend Becki just had a little girl. 8 pound 8 yesterday via c-section. She called me just as she got out of surgery, she was still all groggy. I'm so pleased they are both well. I'm going to try to get there after work today if she is feeling well enough.

Plus - I have found a 1.5 meter silk wedding veil, and they will do whatever beading I want for under 150RMB, that less than $30AU!!!! Bargain :)

Where did the weekend go?

I just read my friend Kate's status on the facebook... 'Where did the weekend go?' Kane came in and said that is so true, and I third it. You live for work here, there is no other way to put it.

So my weekend -
I went to the dentist... 2 hours late! So I had to go back today at 3pm. I nearly didn't make it either. I went to dragonfly for a manicure/pedicure thanks to Kate who had a free voucher to use. Now I have deep burgundy/brown nails and no dead skin on my feet. I made blueberry muffins and froze some. The house was spotless with no washing or dishes. Bliss for a woman. We played 5 crowns (cards) at Erin and Rons and saw a beautiful thunderstorm with heaps of lightening and thunder through the window, and got a taxi straight away and the rain had stopped and it was warm! Perfect. I went to wedding street at 10am today and bought a whole heap of stuff for the Bond theme party next weekend. I am getting my chipao made, so I got a cheap garter, a plastic gun, and a Chinese traditional hair piece for me and for Kane some numchucks, suspenders and a bow tie. I didn't make it back in time for our walk around the lake at 1.30 and nearly missed the dentist appointment at 3pm. I only made it by 1 minute after a 15 minutes taxi ride.

I found quite nice veils today. I can get a silk veil made if I want. I might find out the price, but they have said they can make whatever I want. I just need to bring a picture of what I want made. The normal tulle ones were only 80RMB, less than $20. I tried to find a petticoat/hoop, but they were all pretty feral. I think I might just hire one for the day when I get back.

Kane went and looked at suits today for the wedding. It's going to cost 680RMB , that's $147 Australian to get one made. I told him not to do anything until he gets his boys measurements so all the suits are the same. That's so cheap for a very good quality suit, custom made. He doesn't want to get a vest made, but I really like the vests at bridal parties, they add something extra and Kane looks so hot in a vest!!!!!

I haven't heard anything from my friend Becki here in Suzhou yet. She went to the hospital to be induced yesterday and got sent home and was told to come back again today. Maybe I'll hear tonight :)

I bought a chipao

A chipao is a Chinese traditional dress, and I just got measured up for one.
Next weekend it is two of our friends from work 40th birthday party. They are having a Casino Royal Party theme and a friend and I have decided to dress up at Chinese Bond Girls with garters under our dresses with a plastic gun... Yeeha, I'm looking forward to it :)

The week has passed without too much drama. It's a busy weekend for me, tomorrow it is visit number 4 to the dentist for a check on my bridge, which is still quite sensitive at the front. It may need a root canal to stop the sensitivity. Saturday night is cards at Erin and Rons. We are teaching them how to play 5 crowns. Thanks to Tricia for teaching me that one. And on Sunday it's a trek out to Wedding street to find the garters and a few thing for a dress up book character morning next Friday.

And all this happens with severe Thunderstorms predicted for the whole weekend.

And Becki, my friend here is booked in to be induced at 8am. Good luck to her :)

Kimbob and Bridges...

Kimbob on the balcony on a finer day in Suzhou. We are hoping these days continue as spring comes. Kimbob is Korean Sushi Rolls, it has egg, crab, ham, spinach, carrot and radish rolled in rice and seaweed paper. You can see the spicy kimchi on the side. It is made of cabbage and chili. We love it so much. Afterwards I snacked on some yummy strawberries.







Kane being creative with chopsticks!






I went to get the bridge attached to my teeth this morning. I am glad that the first part is over now. It hurt quite a lot. The nerve is so close to the small stump that any touch, cold air, cold water, etc feels like really bad tooth ache. And all the later lasted for about an hour as the bridge went off, then on, then drilled, then filed, on, off etc, until at last it was stuck on. That part was probably the worst as the cement was so cold and now it is super sensitive. The sensitivity is supposed to last about a week. So I go back for a check up next Saturday and then it'll start all over again on the other side. I really like David my dentist, but I am sick of going to the dentist.



We are just on our way out to go for a stroll in the sunshine.



Cheers,
Kelly
xxx