tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196272252024-03-05T12:11:13.536+08:00en route to nowhereIdleness is not doing nothing. Idleness is being free to do anything. -Floyd Dell-Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.comBlogger340125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-58893985047741868612014-10-01T01:59:00.001+08:002014-10-03T05:01:45.105+08:00Re-entry<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It is morning and I am sitting in my house (HA! MY HOUSE!!). Even though the sky is gray, the air is clear and cool, and my windows are open (HA! My WINDOWS ARE OPEN). It is so quiet here, I can hear the crickets singing, children playing and the occasional beep beep of a truck in reverse. Today is our first full day in our house. We've been in a hotel up to now, so even though we've been here a month, it's only now that we are really experiencing life as we will know it. Some things are strange- (did I mention how quiet it is?) I made dinner last night without soaking veggies and I used water from the tap - weird. Some things are the same, I made something familiar (barley capanota), in my trusty old pots and pans. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPFkLr5WKnzrrxCg3J0vfTrhxsJIWUZfr1pxgmkMQyqTPj8GVkfkyPahDroMrZTilpsuo9xDtmvz3UjGd5mTafNMmTQihmb_I31PUIQC2ezQhCzUqYR2QkJIlu0jvWkaVvuVjtw/s640/blogger-image--873784432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPFkLr5WKnzrrxCg3J0vfTrhxsJIWUZfr1pxgmkMQyqTPj8GVkfkyPahDroMrZTilpsuo9xDtmvz3UjGd5mTafNMmTQihmb_I31PUIQC2ezQhCzUqYR2QkJIlu0jvWkaVvuVjtw/s640/blogger-image--873784432.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br><div>This has been a different transition for us, this is the first time we've arrived at post and had to live in temporary quarters. We don't have a social sponsor to show us the ropes, and I've had to do the make ready myself, there's no office to call to sort out the little kinks that every new place has. But I did get to paint! Our house has so many bright colors I'm sure people are going to walk in and think I am nuts, but I love each and every brightly colored wall (they are still bare, the majority of our household goods are still making their way from China). </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMuR9hc3cb1vDhsSqvka8511ZCTnAH3ygJEVJkxRlwCovhRpKmOYCjOQ_TE66A4ANoRrczW8V3xfTj8R5g9B7qoipfm1UXLU-teuVDqw0KlgF_8GFbSmB3MU3fEe_FILxZBpCtA/s640/blogger-image--1109803536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMuR9hc3cb1vDhsSqvka8511ZCTnAH3ygJEVJkxRlwCovhRpKmOYCjOQ_TE66A4ANoRrczW8V3xfTj8R5g9B7qoipfm1UXLU-teuVDqw0KlgF_8GFbSmB3MU3fEe_FILxZBpCtA/s640/blogger-image--1109803536.jpg"></a></div><div>But in many ways this is like moving to a new country. I'm still getting used to the prices, the unusual local customs (people stop for pedestrians that are not even at the crosswalks yet), and the rhythms of life in this new place. I've already found the grocery store, the school, and figured out how DH was going to get to work, I'm now working on finding a community to join so that we can make some friends around here. </div></div><div><br></div><div>ETA- hahaha I just realized that I forgot to say that we are back in the US in the DC metro area. The whole post doesn't really needs that small piece of info to make it more understandable. </div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-20558268405576032642014-01-04T16:18:00.001+08:002014-01-04T16:18:26.195+08:00FlounderingSo I can't decide what I want to do with this blog. I've taken a billion pics with the thought that I was going to post about them... but I haven't. I think my negative China attitude has something to do with it, and maybe I'm experiencing a form of writer's block. <br />
But maybe it's time to try something new. I've been inspired by the <a href="http://365grateful.com/" target="_blank">365 grateful </a>project. I probably won't post everyday, but I will try to find something to be happy/grateful/inspired every day. <br />
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This is a horribly blurry picture, but I am grateful for the love between Babes and her Honeydog. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-62446748220403018592013-12-09T15:43:00.001+08:002013-12-09T15:43:58.944+08:00Lame DuckI've been feeling a little bleh about my blog lately. It's not that I haven't had ideas to write about, I've taken tons of pictures of interesting things with an idea to blog about them, but.... I don't know. I just haven't wanted to write. Part of the problem is that the weather has turned cooler and also grayer. I think another problem is that we got our next assignment. (USA 2014 BABY!) The Foreign Service lifestyle is good and bad. I have many expat friends and it seems that knowing a year out approximately when you are going to leave, and where you are going is a rarity. In some ways it's awesome to know that they are not going to tell me to be out of China by the end of the month (or in 2 weeks as I have heard happening). It is also awesome to be able to plan for tricky assignments; read up on schools, figure out what we should take, do some seasonal shopping, etc. <div>
On the other hand, I KNOW that a year from now I am going to be in Washington DC (well, maybe). So Wuhan no longer holds a great deal of attraction. It's like having senioritis, but it happens every two years. I could make new friends, but I'm leaving in a year, I could go explore a new part of the city, but I'm leaving in a year.... See how that could become a problem? It also tends to make me negative about the place I'm living. Ew, I'm glad I'm leaving, look how they..... </div>
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This kind of thinking is a trap. If you do this, especially in the foreign service on a two year rotation, you never end up liking where you are, but are always looking forward/back. It is very important to live in the here and now, and not focus on where you were 6 months ago, or where you want to be 6 months from now. </div>
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One of the reasons why I write this blog is to help me remember to keep an eye out for new experiences. This lifestyle is a gift, and I should try to keep my sense of wonder about the world around me. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-2599090215132069292013-10-09T12:00:00.000+08:002013-10-09T12:00:02.591+08:00Walking in WuhanI saw this at Wuhan International Plaza. I think it was a new shop, offering fur (or fake fur, I didn't go up to feel) for ladies and their pooches. Babes got a huge kick out of the display and wanted to get a cloak for Honeydog, but, as I pointed out, Honey already has fur (plus the shop looked REALLY expensive). <br />
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I don't think they were too pleased about me taking pictures, but they were too afraid to come talk to the foreigner.... Yay for me!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-28558433169917580822013-10-07T12:00:00.000+08:002013-10-07T12:00:09.806+08:00The Wuhan Botanical GardensLast week Babes was out of school for the National Holidays. I was pretty excited I had a whole week with my cutie patootie, all by ourselves (not only was it a holiday, but DH was out of town)! I had plans to be girlie, but first we set out for exploring. I've been wanting to go to the <a href="http://english.wbg.cas.cn/" target="_blank">Botanical Gardens</a> for awhile now, Babes loves flowers and it seemed like just the place for her. After checking on my trusty Google Maps, I decided NOT to take the bus (2 1/2 hours! YIKES) and decided to drive myself (24 minutes!). Well, let's just say that between construction and non-existent roads it took us 3 hours to get there. Babes was great, she was pretty patient, only pulling out her old lady of endless suffering routine once or twice. What was so endlessly frustrating is that we were really RIGHT THERE, circling around it for over an hour! A left instead of a right and we could have saved ourselves so much pain. But that's neither here nor there. <br />
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The gardens are stunning! We were unfortunately not in the right season for a lot of flowers, we must have just missed the lotus blossoms, and were a little too early to smell the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osmanthus" target="_blank">Osmanthus</a>, but the gardens were quiet and ethereal none the less. I wish I was a better photographer, the late September light, as it slanted through the trees and sparkled off the water was inspiring. I kept expecting to run into a fairy or sprite as we wandered through the trees and across the bridges. <br />
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And oh! The bridges, if I were a painter I'd exclusively paint bridges. I love the symbolism of the bridge, spanning the space between. You are not on water, you are not on dry ground, but somewhere in between. Every bridge, every pavilion we came across seemed prettier than the last. I can't wait to go back again (hopefully this time with better directions). <br />
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Oh, and one good thing about getting lost, we found this awesome bridge just outside of the butt end of the Moshan park. Supposedly a rebellion was put down on this spot with a skillfully placed arrow, and they built a bridge to commemorate it. The archer though is impressive, it looks as if he is rising up out of the water to fire an arrow into the heart of the mountain.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-28934707567071822832013-10-04T21:17:00.000+08:002013-10-04T21:17:00.886+08:00Adding cuffs to Jeans, a tutorialOk, so after my trip to the<a href="http://www.mashawna.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-fabric-market.html" target="_blank"> fabric market</a>. I really was inspired! Babes has entered her 6 yr old growth spurt and has grown an inch since last spring. While this is awesome, it means that ALL of her pants are entirely too short. But she has my kid body type, which means she's all leg and no center mass (*sigh* how that has changed!) so the waist on the pants are actually still really loose, but the hems are halfway up her legs. I was on my way to buy new pants, when I said to myself, "self, these pants are still good, why buy new pants when you can jazz these old pants up?" <br />
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So I started with a pair of her old pants and some colorful fabric from the fabric market. Deciding that just cuffs would be a little odd I took out my seam ripper and ripped out the back pockets and the hems of her jeans. (I don't think either step is necessary, but ripping out the hem of the jeans added a bit of length to the bottom of the pants and made it easier to sew through). <br />
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Using the ripped off pockets as a guide, cut out two pockets and two cuffs (Make them a little bigger than twice as long as you want the cuff). I sewed on the pockets first, but I forgot to take any pictures. Basically you just pin, and sew them in the place of the old pockets. <br />
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Fold the cuff material in half and sew a seam across the top, to hold the material together. Turn the jeans inside out and pin the cuffs onto the jeans with most of the material toward the knee. Then, sew the cuffs at the point of the newly opened hem. Don't forget to sew closed the cuffs before you turn the jeans right side out. <br />
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Turn the jeans right side out and decide where you want the cuffs to fall, you want to make sure you cover the seam you just made, but also have the cuffs long enough to make the pants fit right. To be sure of this, I just did a quick stitch and had Babes try on the pants before stitching the cuffs on more securely with an <a href="http://fernandfreckle.com/tutorial-invisible-seams-the-hidden-stitch/" target="_blank">invisible stitch</a>. <br />
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And you're done! Babes now has a pair of pants that fit reasonably well, AND they look pretty different from the way they looked before. (If you look closely you can see how long she's been wearing the pants, there are several seam lines from when the pants were shorter, it's almost like rings on a tree)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-2715318631986680102013-10-02T12:00:00.000+08:002013-10-02T12:00:05.618+08:00Walking in Wuhan Zhongshan Park edition (Bonus-SMURFS!)Hi All! Here are some shots taken while walking through Zhongshan park. Despite the fact that it's pretty close to our house we have never been there before. It's a decent sized park, and it even has a small amusement park inside it, complete with fun houses, roller coasters, and creepy kid rides. <br />
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The Smurfs were not a Zhongshan park, I just happened to come across them one morning on my way to buy bagels at Wuhan Tiandi. I think they were set up as part of a promotion for <b>The Smurfs 2. </b>Imagine my surprise when I came across a (what I imagine to be) actual sized smurf village. I wanted to go inside and play with them, but there was security posted, so I refrained. <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-1261528398908152242013-10-01T20:36:00.000+08:002013-10-01T20:36:14.411+08:00The Fabric MarketAs an amateur crafter and prodigious window shopper I am always on the look out for new places to go see, or places to buy things. Which makes being in China that much more pleasurable because China <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">LOVES</span></i> it's markets. As far as I can tell there is a market for everything. Need, a pet? There's a pet market. Need electronics? There's an electronics market. Need shoes? there are shoe markets. Need a door? There's a door market (note, I know that this exists, but I haven't found it in Wuhan, <i>yet</i>). <br />
Last week, I took a journey into Wuchang for the fabric market (or tailor street). It wasn't an easy journey. Getting there required, trains, buses, and my chevrolegs, but it is totally worth it. <br />
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There are bolts and bolts of cloth of all different types of materials; cotton, denim, silk, polyester, chiffon, you name it, they seem to have it. Be sure to bargain for your material, but be aware, they will only come down a RMB or two per yard (at least for me, maybe someone else has had better luck?). <br />
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I wish I could get down there more often. The colors, patterns, and textures of the fabric are amazing, just walking around got my creative juices flowing. </div>
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I especially love the Chinese silks. If I was a hoarder (and I'm trying not to be) I would buy some just to have it on hand. But really, silk is not practical for a lady with a 6 year old and a dog. I can't imagine what I'd do with it that wouldn't be irrevocably ruined within the year. </div>
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Are you a quilter? Their selection of cottons had me thinking about making another quilt even though I swore that I would not ever do it ever ever again.... (It's only a matter of time before I make another one, you know it, I know it, everyone knows it)</div>
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The fabric market (tailor street) is located on Yanzhi Lu <span style="background-color: white; color: #46433a; font-family: Cabin, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">胭脂路 in </span>Wuchang. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-64863023917792291442013-09-27T12:00:00.000+08:002013-09-27T12:00:09.070+08:00Sometimes you just gotta stop I love being able to record video on my phone. I saw this in a store the other day and I don't know that words would ever be able to adequately describe it. <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/e7vKdJoqbyQ" width="420"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-18911967890963517302013-09-25T12:00:00.000+08:002013-09-25T12:00:09.591+08:00Pomegranate and pomeloIt's Moon Festival time! Which means that it's also Pomegranate and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomelo" target="_blank">Pomelo</a> time! Pomelos are generally eaten during the moon festival. Someone once told me that this was because they are round and shaped like the moon, but I haven't been able to back this up. I don't care though, because they are awesome! They are like dry sweet grapefruits. They are harder to eat because you have to peel them all the way down to the flesh and can't eat (not poisonous, just tough and hard to eat) any of the membranes surrounding the fleshy part of the fruit, but it is worth it. If you like grapefruits, which I do, then you would love Pomelos! <br />
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Pomegranates are a new love for me. I remember DH brought some home when we lived in Baku, but I was unimpressed. Last year I was helping out an acquaintance for the <a href="http://www.gishwhes.com/g_blog/" target="_blank">gishwhes</a> (scavenger hunt) with a clue that involved a pomegranate and computer city. Well I performed the picture needed for the clue, and was left with a pomegranate. I'm not one to let food go to waste so I cut it up and ate it, and fell in love. I ate as many pomegranates as I could last year, and this year I waited around until I started to see them in the fruit stands again, and have been buying and de-seeding them like an addict. I will de-seed one or two at a time and store them in jars in the fridge. I don't know how long the seeds last, because I generally have devoured them in a day. <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-20664068338679716112013-09-23T12:00:00.000+08:002013-09-23T12:00:05.656+08:00Moon Cakes Last week was the Mid-Autumn festival. Surprisingly, it doesn't feel like fall here yet, the days are still heavy with heat. But the moon was beautiful. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Autumn_Festival" target="_blank">Moon festival</a> is held during a full moon close to the Autumnal equinox (late September, early October). <div>
Once again we received more moon cakes than we know what to do with. The boxes are so pretty, but the cakes are dense, heavy, chewy confections. They take serious energy to eat, and the flavors remind me strongly of what I remember fruit cakes to be like, but with a wild exotic flair. There are red bean paste ones, some sort of jellied sweet duck egg, a sweet sesame paste, something that might be lotus, and many many other flavors, that I cannot describe. </div>
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But I do love the boxes they come in. Oh if only the boxes held donuts! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-59088958836047645592013-09-22T12:00:00.000+08:002013-09-22T20:12:48.168+08:00The bad daysI had a bad couple of days last week. Actually it might have been a bad week, I'm trying not to think about it too hard. It didn't start off bad, in fact, it started off pretty good. I went to a friend's house for a modern day sewing circle, we chatted, ate some baked goods, I knitted the other two ladies quilted, it was a good day. So what if I woke up that morning with a headache. A headache in that same place that all the three day headaches sit. So what if I took drugs and the headache didn't go away. I haven't had a three day headache in awhile so maybe it would go away. <br />
But it didn't.<br />
Day two of the headache I went to the Crazy Market. I've been there before a bunch of times, but this time I went with friends. We wandered around, it was hot, but dry, I didn't buy anything, but it was good to be out again with other people. I got home feeling a little tired and headachey but ready to go to this Parent Teacher Organization thing way out near Babes' school. I decided to drive, because hey, that's why we have a car.<br />
I got into what could best be described as a scrape. It wasn't an accident. It wasn't a fender bender, nothing was bent. I can't even really say that paint was scraped off the car (Ok, maybe paint was scraped off our car). But it was with a taxi driver and he wanted cash. I'm actually ok with what happened here... sort of. We got out and looked at our cars he asked for money. I countered with an offer for about half of what he started out with. But he didn't bargain. ?(Has China changed since we first came here? Do people not bargain any more?) He just said no, and went with his first price. I made a call for back up. Then he started asking me how long it was going to take. I told him I didn't know. I needed translation help, this guy's Mandarin was horrible. I was stressed, late, headachey, and he was speaking in the Wuhan dialect (that's my story and I'm sticking to it). I kept asking him to speak Mandarin and told him that it would be an hour before someone could come and take pictures and make a report. Because you know this was the way "my company" dealt with accidents. He decided he didn't want to wait, and got a water bottle and a rag and washed away most of the evidence of the accident (like I said It really wasn't a scrape). He then took the price that I originally offered and left. (I took lots of pictures, I hope this doesn't come back to bite me) I'm not sure if I cheated the guy, or if he cheated me. I think I'd feel better about it if he had bargained a little. I missed all but the final minutes of the meeting, but made it to pick Babes up from school, which I never get to do, so it wasn't a total loss. <br />
Day three of the headache was a holiday for Babes and DH. We went to the park, skated, snacked, had a generally good time. By this time the headache was a fading thing. Here one minute, gone the next. I had minutes of horribleness followed by blessed freedom from pain. <br />
So by the next day I was pain free, but feeling mad at the world. Unfortunately, I had to go to the store, couldn't put it off for another day. I'm not going to rehash the encounter for you here, but let me say to you that I let road rage take over my emotions. Thinking back over what actually went on, I don't think I acted badly to anyone but myself. But I did allow my road rage to boil over in my head and I was horribly horribly angry at Chinese drivers. I think the other driver knew I was angry, but I don't know that they thought anything of it (Chinese people can be incredibly patient and zen like, but then if you catch them wrong they can fly off at a moment's notice). <br />
Why am I recounting the week here? I think what I want to say is that if you are living the expat life, everyone has bad days. I try, I try very hard to think positively about my host country. I try, very very hard to allow myself to float free in the current of humanity and not allow myself to get snagged on the rocks. But sometimes you have bad days, sometimes the current catches you and you struggle to keep your head afloat and steer clear of the rocks. <br />
As with anything else though, a large part of this struggle is mental. I woke up the very next day and said to myself I had to do better. If you allow yourself to get sucked into the "I hate this place" blues then you will hate it. It will eat your soul and you will be miserable. I'm not saying that you will be able to conquer your blues purely by wishing it, but sometimes that is half the battle. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-70836434073016729442013-09-06T12:00:00.000+08:002013-09-06T12:00:05.602+08:00How I get aroundIn the past year I started using public transportation ALOT. I didn't before because, while I can read some characters, I can't read nearly well enough to read those bus maps fast enough to determine where I want to go and how. BUT that all changed the day I discovered that Google Maps will give you public transit directions. (I know this works in Taipei, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Wuhan, Philadelphia, New York, Washington DC, Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka ) Now, I'm not an expert, but I can at least get you started. I did this tutorial using my google maps phone app (it's the same for both android and apple) but you can do the same thing with <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/" target="_blank">Google Maps</a> on the computer using the mouse instead of touching the screen. <br />
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First, you will want to open your google maps app (this is different from the preloaded maps app on an apple device, DON'T USE THAT, it's not good). You'll see a lot of Chinese on the maps, but there's also Pinyin, so you don't have to be able to read Chinese to use this (and if you're not in China there won't be any Chinese at all!)</div>
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When you do you'll get a basic map screen, that will show you your current location. Decide where you want to go, and then you can either drag the map there with your finger, or search for it using the search bar at the top of the screen. I recently went from the <a href="http://mashawna.blogspot.com/2013/09/walking-in-wuhan-flower-and-bird-market.html" target="_blank">Flower and Bird Market</a>, to Beihu lake so we'll use that as the example. This screen is roughly where the flower and bird market is. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UzUzvJNHxyM/Uia_nWAxUhI/AAAAAAAADE4/0C-qTBw585s/s1600/IMG_0682.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UzUzvJNHxyM/Uia_nWAxUhI/AAAAAAAADE4/0C-qTBw585s/s320/IMG_0682.PNG" width="213" /></a></div>
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Touch the map on the screen at approximately where you want to go (or type in an address, or location, in the search bar at the top). It will give you an approximate address at the bottom of the screen. </div>
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touch the address at the bottom of the screen and you will see a page like this: </div>
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At the very top of the screen there is a car, a bus, and a person walking. If you want public transportation, touch the car. The pink arrow shows your beginning and ending points (the default is from your current location, but I just added Beihu lake as the endpoint instead). The purple arrow shows the one of the route options you have. I usually get 3 or 4 different route options, but this one only has two. Each option tells you approximately how long it will take and the bus/train number you will need to take. In order to get directions, you need to select one of the routes. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QfOEqyJlRjY/Uia_p0cAqQI/AAAAAAAADFA/XgdxJvMGTmE/s1600/IMG_0685.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QfOEqyJlRjY/Uia_p0cAqQI/AAAAAAAADFA/XgdxJvMGTmE/s320/IMG_0685.PNG" width="213" /></a></div>
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The purple arrow at the top shows your starting and ending point and what method of transportation you are using. The green arrow is showing you the route you selected, which will usually be highlighted in blue. The pink arrow at the bottom shows which transportation option you are using (if you swipe here you will see the other route options if you decide you want to switch). </div>
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And here is your end point, usually highlighted with a red flag (drop pin, marker, what is that?). When you see a bunch of blue dots (at the blue arrow) that means you are walking. One of the cool things about using the mobile app, is that you can follow your progress in the map by watching the flashing blue dot as it moves along your route. This is a helpful feature because I sometimes will get on a bus going the wrong way. But it is also good because often the name of the stop is not immediately obvious and the blue dot will tell you when you are getting close to the point where you need to get off the bus/train. </div>
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So there you have it! Getting around has never been easier right? </div>
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PS, if you live and china and want to buy a bus card (or if you have one and you want to refill it) go to the Hongbai grocery stores, there's a counter, usually near the doors that will chongzhi (充值) (refill your card). In Taiwan, you can do this at the ever helpful 7-11! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-18229077639751222362013-09-04T12:00:00.000+08:002013-09-04T12:36:06.573+08:00Walking in Wuhan - Flower and Bird Market The weather here has cooled down slightly. You know it has been hot when you think a 90 (33 for you Celsius users) degree day is cooler. I was therefore determined, to get out of the house and go see <i>something</i>. I have been hearing about a big flower and pet market in Hankou, supposedly not too far from Wuhan Tiandi, so I decided to find this place and go there. I had a hard time finding anything about it in English on the web, though. The best I came up with, was that it was about 200 meters away from the Wuhan Changjiang No. 2 bridge. Adding that to the knowledge that it was near Tiandi, I decided to give it a try. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2yu_1y01TD4/Uia1e7Wdr3I/AAAAAAAADDY/hLl-wcaVynE/s1600/IMG_0846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2yu_1y01TD4/Uia1e7Wdr3I/AAAAAAAADDY/hLl-wcaVynE/s320/IMG_0846.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Using my trusty Google Maps app (more on this Friday) I plotted a course to the nearest bus stop to the No. 2 bridge. Once I got off the bus though, I realized where I had gone wrong in planning. I just figured I could ask around once I got near enough and go from there. Unfortunately, the area was pretty deserted. And the few people I did see were not likely to speak enough <i>clear</i> Mandarin for me to be able to understand. So I used my Chevrolegs to see what I could find. Surprisingly, I did find it after 30 minutes or so of walking (it turns out, that despite the fact that it felt cooler 90 degrees is still actually pretty hot), and it turns out that I got off the bus <i>right there</i>, but walked right past it. <br />
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I also brought the big camera, but forgot to put the memory card in it, so I had to take the pictures with my phone, <i>again</i>. But I guess I should be grateful that I didn't wander about all that way only to have no camera and nothing to show for the walking.... I guess.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbdc9k6VrYcPAKi_RMAfxojtwSEr0_Uea0oeeq0GfggT5o9OcXBZlgix49hcrsFoG7NO91-NcRQPVnlzJwDc-M8xKgneDaP9NinFg-qP9c7_FQbbHDQGXiDpamu5Wyz6fkj9Gjw/s1600/IMG_0849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbdc9k6VrYcPAKi_RMAfxojtwSEr0_Uea0oeeq0GfggT5o9OcXBZlgix49hcrsFoG7NO91-NcRQPVnlzJwDc-M8xKgneDaP9NinFg-qP9c7_FQbbHDQGXiDpamu5Wyz6fkj9Gjw/s320/IMG_0849.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I was expecting something much bigger, this was more of a medium sized market than a BIG market, but interesting none-the-less. It immediately brought to mind the phrase used to describe the Muppet Show-- it was filled with dogs, and frogs, and pigs and chickens. (actually I didn't see any frogs, but I did not look closely at the aquariums). <br />
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If you are looking for this place it is on YanJiang Ave, 200 meters North of the Changjiang No. 2 bridge. And the sign for the place looks like this:</div>
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The characters aren't super clear so here they are again: <b>花鸟市场 </b></div>
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And the entrance looks like a parking lot entrance (which it technically is):<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-59036793498945088692013-08-28T12:00:00.000+08:002013-08-28T12:00:06.845+08:00Walking in Wuhan, parking and crazy car edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This guy figured his car wouldn't fit in the space, so he just parked half on the sidewalk. </div>
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Aside from the fact that this car is full on parked on the sidewalk (perfectly legit to do) it is the color of a purple Christmas ornament. <br />
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Last, but not least, the crazy Mini. </div>
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I apologize for the short short post, but I'm still trying to get back in the groove. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-61737551808403015212013-08-26T12:00:00.000+08:002013-08-26T12:32:28.501+08:00No news is great newsIt has been three months since our Honeydog was diagnosed with a <a href="http://mashawna.blogspot.com/2013/06/just-dog.html" target="_blank">malignant tumor</a> and given a month to live. I feel like I have been on death watch for that entire time. Babes and I returned to the US, leaving DH in Wuhan with Honeydog, and every day I called him wondering if this was the day I would get the news that she was leaving us. Yet surprisingly, that day never came. While we were gone a new tumor started growing on her face, and I thought for sure that this was it. But we came back to Wuhan and the new tumor on her face is gone and she is still her normal, sweet, spunky self. I call it a miracle, and even if it doesn't last, I am on my knees every night thanking God for the extra day we have had with her. <br />
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So what have I been up to? Well, we went back to the US, and I enjoyed every minute of blue skies and sunshine that I could. I ate LOTS of avocados (which they don't have in Wuhan). And I wandered around the malls, and grocery stores, marveling at the clothes that I could wear and the food that I love. I even hit some tourist sites in Philly (which I NEVER do). <br />
Well, I basically just wanted to break the writer's block. In case you are somewhere like Wuhan where you've forgotten what a blue sky looks like, this is for you:<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-23310503912174238242013-06-05T12:00:00.000+08:002013-06-05T12:00:04.970+08:00Just a dogWe are going to lose our Honeydog... No, let me say it right, Honeydog is going to die. What started out as a weird little bump on her sweet face turned out to be a fast growing cancer, that has spread to her lymph nodes. But whatever, no big deal right? I knew this day was coming, I knew we were going to far far out live her, after all she's just a dog,right?<br />
Trouble is, Honey is going to take with her a piece of my heart. I have never cried so much over anything in all my life (ok, well since reaching my middle childhood years). When we found out that there was nothing more we could do I cried off and on for 2 days. The sound of my heartbreak must have been very loud indeed because it woke up Babes, DH, and Honeydog at 2 am even though I was making no sound at all. I honestly didn't expect this sort of reaction, after all she's just a dog, right?<br />
Honeydog has been with us for a short 7 years. She was DH and my first big responsibility. We endured racing outside 4-5 times a day during her housebreaking, little puppy whines at 3 in the morning, and destroyed household furnishings. She taught me the value of patience, love, discipline and consistency. Barely 6 months after we got her we knew Babes was on the way, and I cracked down on her discipline and routines because I knew change was coming. I wasn't too worried about Honeydog, after all she's just a dog, right?<br />
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Honeydog, not even a full year old, nursed me through my pregnancy. She was there all day, and by my side when, at 6 months I was still morning sick. She went to the bathroom door with me and waited patiently for me to come back out with a worried look on her face. If there was no Honeydog, I wouldn't have gotten off the couch during those horrible months, but her need for walks and attention, spurred me to lift my ballooning body into motion. Yes, as I got bigger, those walks got smaller, but she'd be okay, after all she's just a dog, right?<br />
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After Babes came, I appreciated Honeydog all the more, she was patient, loving, and put up with a whole lot. I have a video of infant Babes beating Honey over the head with a toy. Honey didn't move, didn't complain she just tolerated that abuse. The bond between girl and dog did not happen immediately. Instead, Honeydog went from ignoring the mild nuisance that took up all our time, to occasionally being interested when she started eating solid foods, to waiting patiently for her to wake up from naps or come home from school. Babes herself considers Honeydog her best friend, her security blanket, her big sister, and the champion of all her stories. Honeydog plays a prominent roll in any story, any picture, or any song that Babes creates. I still don't know how I'm going to tell her that she is going to leave us. But it's okay right, after all she's just a dog, right?<br />
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Honeydog has been with us through 5 international moves. She has lived in 4 countries, she has been spoken to in 3 different languages. And people love her everywhere. I have never met a gentler soul than Honeydog. I truly believe that, because of our lifestyle, Honey missed her true calling to be a therapy dog. She is so patient and loving, and calm. Whenever I had to leave her with someone, be it grooming, or boarding, I always heard back that everyone loved Honey. With Honey around I never have to worry if there's a strange noise, if it's something to worry about she will bark and check it out. With Honey around I'm never all alone in a strange house, she's there to listen to me talk. With Honey around there's always a cold nose, warm dog breath, and soft fur. After all, she's just a dog, right? <br />
Right?<br />
The only thing I know is that the world will be a colder scarier place from now on. <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-85031612348328683602013-04-22T12:00:00.000+08:002013-04-22T13:32:42.259+08:00Worry and visit vetsI know, I know, it's been weeks and weeks! I expected to be gone for a week in our Spring trip to Japan--actually I thought I might get to post at least once from there, but no, the internet was way too spotty for me to get anything online. But when we got home I took one look at Honeydog's face and freaked out... About two months ago we noticed a small spot on her face, could have been a bump, or a bruise, so I thought, well let's wait and see. Right before we left, it STILL hadn't gone away so I took her to a vet who looked at it and said tumor! I thought, really? Tumor, no test, no real look, just a glance and a poke. So we went on vacation, praying all the while that this lump would just go away. However, this is one time where my wait and see policy did NOT pay off. When we got back I could tell right away that this was not just going to disappear, and I began to worry, and visit vets. And worry, and visit vets. <br />
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Have you ever tried to find a vet in a country where you can't read internet posts, or phone books? Well, it's hard. For the past week I've been basically wandering around Wuhan with my smart phone, google maps, and my bus pass visiting vets. Here's the thing, they have vets here, but they are scary. Most of the time they are dirty; imagine dog paws and people shoes tracking mud and dust but only sweeping once a day. Add to that cigarette ash and people trash on a white linoleum floor (or what used to be white). Now picture steel trays as examination tables and dingy walls. Put all this in a room the size of a fast food bathroom and you will have most of the vets that I've visited. And the vets themselves; most of them had this haughty attitude and would only talk to you through an assistant. I never once saw anyone wash their hands, even when they went from examining an animal to eating their lunch. I was scared (I think it gave me another gray hair!) I couldn't leave Honeydog in the hands of these guys. I just couldn't. <br />
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Finally, with the help of DH and his co-workers we found a place that wasn't some dude and his assistant. It was still a dismally depressing place to go to, but it was clean (ish) and the vets themselves were clean, and most importantly it didn't smell bad. As with everything in China, there was no privacy. The doctors examined Honeydog in the waiting area, she got shots, an IV lead put in, and had her consultation without moving from where we first came in. Not that there was anywhere private.<br />
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Even when they took her in to operate (yes, they put her to sleep, and cut out a huge chunk of her face) people came and went from the operating room ALL THE TIME! <br />
But she is home eating, drinking, and resting well. She has to wear the cone of shame for the next two weeks, but it's a small price to pay for our Honeydog to be ok. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-60986526165989509962013-03-29T12:00:00.000+08:002013-03-29T12:00:08.187+08:002 Museums When Babes was off for the Chinese New Year, we took the opportunity to visit some of the museums Wuhan has to offer. The first, The Wuhan Art Museum, is actually a very nice art museum, empty, but nice. I've seen two exhibits there and I thought both of them were very well done. But the museum itself is very very empty. I think it has the capacity to hold 4 or 5 exhibits, but only has 2. <br />
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The science and technology museum, on the other hand, was nice at some point. Babes had a good time, but I thought the place was starting to look a little dingy. Most of the exhibits looked frayed or dingy, and about half of them were out of order or not really working. But, I thought it could have been a very nice Children's museum with just a little bit of work. <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-5775986699782682732013-03-28T12:00:00.001+08:002013-03-28T12:00:08.675+08:00Why China is so fascinating<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yep, there was a camel in front of the park the other day. I think they were offering camel rides (or sits, as I don't think the camel actually went anywhere). I suppose it's not THAT crazy, except that it wasn't part of a fair, or anything, just a camel. <br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-34028378547547458392013-03-28T12:00:00.000+08:002013-03-28T12:00:09.291+08:00Where has the week gone?So I've been meaning to get these pics up for a week now, but somehow the time has just flown by.<br />
Last week we went to the opening of the Wuhan Zall's Soccer season (Zall is the name of Wuhan's team). It's actually pretty interesting how similar going to a sporting event in China is to going to a US sporting event. There were people in team colors, wearing wigs, and jerseys. There was the section of die hard fans for both teams. The stadium was very similar, except that it was really big for a soccer stadium. They even did the wave! Unfortunately, the Zalls lost, but we'll get 'em next time! Anyway, here are some shots of the game (I took them with my phone so.....)<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-23604351014538141002013-03-23T12:00:00.000+08:002013-03-23T22:02:36.806+08:006 years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Has it been 6 years already? Yes, I actually know it has been. The time goes by so fast, but then that is a lie. The minutes, the hours that I've had with you, my darling daughter, have ticked by in my heart. I count every heart beat, yours and mine. I know what they mean, each second, each heart beat- it's here now, but in a moment it will be a memory, and then it's gone. When I look back in my heart to that first year the minutes still seem to last an eternity. I learned so much, that first year, and little did I know, but you would not change nearly as much as I have. I mean, yes, you are bigger, you are stronger, you are more capable. You've gone from a tiny creature that could not eat by herself, to a kid who can get herself together in the mornings with such little help from me. But so many things that I learned about you in that first year still hold true. You love snuggles, you are serious about eating, you don't liked to be constrained, you WILL figure this out, and you're so happy most of the time. I, however, am nothing like the girl I was before you came to me. I have become a snuggler, I am more serious about all things, I think less about myself but always about you, I no longer want a career or even a job other than to watch you grow, I cry more, I can't read suspenseful novels or watch movies where kids are in danger, and I love pink and frills and flowers just because you love them. <br />
I have loved watching you grow. It is a hard thing, being a mom, I know that you have to do all these things. That I must give you space in order for you to grow, but I want nothing more than to hold you all the tighter as you move away from me. I'm sorry if you think I never let you do things, but I want to spare you all the mistakes that I made, even though I know that those mistakes, those tears, paved the way for me to become who I am. <br />
Know that I am here for you, little one, know that I love you, and that we'll continue to grow together. I look forward to not only who you are going to become, but to who you are going to make me into. Happy 6th birthday, Babes, may you have 200 more! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-75686818904383645882013-03-20T12:00:00.000+08:002013-03-20T12:00:04.006+08:00Walking in WuhanA different park, but no less interesting...<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-19660669264519768262013-03-18T12:00:00.000+08:002013-03-18T12:00:00.338+08:00International Women's day (March 8)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Interestingly enough, the US does not celebrate International Women's
Day, but in China, all the ladies get half a day off. There are also
usually special activities for women, sales, and discounts to encourage
the ladies to shop and have fun (I guess?). Anyway, this year for
International Women's day I, and a busload of foreigners, took advantage
of the opportunity to visit East Lake and view the plum blossoms that
were blooming.</div>
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It was a free event, so of course there was press. For every picture that I took, I think there were five other pictures taken. <br />
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Then we went to Moshan, which was also quite pretty, but only for a group photo. <br />
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But I snuck in and had my picture taken by myself before everyone arrived. <br />
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And of course, there was lunch. There was way more food but I got busy eating and forgot to take anymore pictures. <br />
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They then went to an embroidery workshop, but I had to go home to pick up Babes from the bus stop. The subways were a mess! It took me two hours to get home in a subway car where I was packed in like sardines in a can. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19627225.post-29375528389550651842013-03-15T12:00:00.000+08:002013-03-15T12:00:11.119+08:00Lantern Festival--close ups<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316292325793373085noreply@blogger.com0