February 2009 and beyond

Don't know if this got published but it is sitting in as a draft on my own computer so I will send it our without the pictures.....my other computer is back in China...was not able to send out any stuff in May June...think there was some blocking going on..so I will try to get hat one out as well...enjoy if you haven't seen this...delee if you ave


After a rest in Malaysia, am getting back into the routine here.

David Gibson has lent me his old cell phone so that I can get along for a while and until I decide which type I will buy. Big decision as I want to have the right one for Europe.

There is a Bruce Springsteen concert in Italy about the time I am there...I am going to see if I can get a ticket....need to start putting some dates on the calendar for planning purposes

Got an email from Rosamund a couple of days ago.....she has started dating another man and seems very happy...am glad for her and will remember our time together with a lot of pleasant memories...the irony about it was that I had sent her some flowers for Valentines Day....ah well, timing..

Went out for a Friday night dinner with friends and got in too late again...slept until about 11:30...need to send Denis's invite...got an email from Mike Sims who is going to get here...not sure how long or when he arrives.....also trying to get my credits for the Lufthansa flight to Greece.....

Well it finally happened...all year no snow....it snowed today and it is staying for a least a day ....it is cold here today...have been having winter carnival this week...Monday was twins day...Mark and I went as Rider Fans...green and white eye patches,hat...and my inflatable helmet, Tuesday was crazy hair day....see my wig...borrowed it from the lady at admissions...Wednesday is Rainbow day....as many colors as you can......Thursday we had students going skiing or skating....I went the skating route...Friday is formal day.. so I will wear my tux I think...with a pink shirt...

Was a good day....Tux and all...went to the Car showroom at the 3rd Ring road...wanted to see if I could get a picture with the Lamborghini in the window....nope...the also had a Lotus Ford...I guess I wasn't with the Elite....did find out that it was worth 6 000 000 rmb.....oh well now I know what the Upper Crust can expect.....I will get my picture with it in the background.....

I went to Carrefour and bought my third Nokia N95...and will be careful with this...I was before but nobody believes that....just bought the phone...I have all the rest of the stuff..hope to be able to use it on my European holiday....Clark W Griswald as Mark calls me....am also seriously considering buying my own Apple computer....so that if and when I leave here I will have something to take with me...stay tuned

Mom is not well...seems she has given up the will to live....so some things are happening to get her into a home so that she can be comfortable....Jan and I are talking alot....

Went to Harbin for hockey.....got to the train well on time this time Jay...same type of sleeper....we shut down the bar car, we played a lot of crib games which the crew came to watch from time to time....went to bed at about 2:00...was talking with three Chinese...2 girls and a guy...the girls had been with the fellow and were supposed to get off the train...but it started out and they were stuck on it....so they had to travel for several hours and then get off and were taking a train back and being charged for that...

The trip to the hotel was an adventure....stayed at Home Inn and there were several of them so we drove by two to get to the one we were in ......and it was a hotel....and it was in the boonies....we got in had a shower and then headed out to the games...but I went for a little walk just to see where we were.....walked about a block and then came back towards the hote...Police car pull up and asks if he can help me and I said no I am jsut heading back to my hotel...told me to get in to the car and I said not I could walk back ti was ok...didn't think he liked that so repeated and me too...then he got out of the car and accompanied me to the hotel where he checked my passport and asked a whole bunch of questions like I was going to cause an insurrection...then we had the house police on us the whole time......stange.......off to the game...we had to go through security again, as in the Olympics. Then found out a startling thing...THEY HAVE SHUT DOWN ALL THE BARS IN HARBIN......CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT.....so we went and had dinner at MacDonalds....then came back for the final game.....Canada against Russia.....great game....fast....but the Russians were better...and the score was 4-2.......but they played well...we were given tickets from the Canadian delegation to the closing ceremony...2000 rmb a good deal...so we wanted to have something to eat...there was a Pizza Hut right by the place of the closing ceremonies so we took off for there...get this THEY HAD SHUT DOWN ALL THE STORES AT THE CLOSING CEREMONIES VENUE.....AND THERE WAS A REAL PRESENCE OF THE ARMY THERE.....a whole line of the green meanies...and some armed personnel carriers c/w armed guards with machine guns and flame throwers...I guess university students are a threat...

Was a typical ceremonies....here....a lot of show...great show....but lip synching .....and lights camera action.....funny things......they had people who were showing people when to clap.....a conductor telling the girls on the floor when to wave their flowers.....artificial.....but colourful and if I were an athlete, I might have been happy for the attention that was paid for these closing ceremonies....got out of the arena...another line of army..stretching almost to the street....funny thing they rushed to fill in the empty spaces but did not have enough people to fill the spaces left behind.....was going to take a picture but thought I might be jailed...got back to the hotel and basically went to bed.....got up the next day and caught the flight back to Beijing....went to the Market to buy some Pashminas for J and will send them home soon.....had Wan Ying Lan for a massage and that ended an interesting week...

Mike Sims arrives on Wednesday this week....Wednesday I go to WAB for some training....Tuesday, the International Baccalaureate comes to evaluate our school for readiness....will have to show Mike a few of the sights and sounds of the China I know...

Mike arrived pretty well on time..took him to Tims Texas Roadhouse for some Western food...stayed for a few girly drinks and came home to shoot the breeze...

Got up normally...had a good day...Mike borrowed the bike and went out for a spin in the afternoon...said her got lost a couple of times while I was in school....we had decided to go to the Birds Nest for after school so I borrowed Reg's bus pass and we left after school...was a typical ride....packed at the rush hour....this was Mikes first subway ride so he got to see the newest here....was uneventful....but we could not get into the the actual stadium ...seems we got there too late so we just took some pictures outside....also a couple of pictures at the Water Cube...almost went inside on some event but didn't know what it was so we left...then went to the Silk Market where we bought a couple of pearly stuff....then off to Hooter's Beijing and Mike had his picture taken with 4 lovely ladies...Friday night we are going over to The Goose and Duck to celebrate a fellow leaving.....I think Mike, Mark and maybe Scott will be coming as well....then we will probably take in a few bars for the evening....I have to phone Eric to see if he will take Mike to the wall for an afternoon....one of the days that I am not available...that will take a day...he leaves on Thursday....so want to get him as much excitement as I can.....we went down Stinky alley...to look at the new "houses" which are basically 3 walls up against a brick wall....also the skewer place and the massage parlour that I go to....the hooker places...the bathrooms...went to the Culture Club and booked Denis and my trip to Xi'an for the time he is here....

Chinese New Year end

Chinese New Year ends

The final days of the new year celebrations are on…..all around Chaoyang Park there are scores of people setting off fireworks….some small ….most large…between buildings and on street corners…doesn’t seem to matter…safety is not a concern as I think I have mentioned the first year I was here…people set off the fuse and then step back about 5 metres and watch the show…..there are some cars driving by almost as I write this page…..and only a car's width away…they drive by nonchalantly…..quite a show for the final days…it is Saturday, Feb 7 2009 and I believe tomorrow will be even more spectacular…we shall see

Had an interesting thing happen to me today…..I was at the school working at the computer as my apartment is no longer wired for the computer and I need to work at the school…I had to go to the bathroom….and luckily I checked…..there was no toilet paper in the stall that I was at…so I checked the ladies room…none there…so I checked the boys bathroom…none there…..looks like when they cleaned up…they really CLEANED up…..and all that was left on all of the rolls was the cardboard centre…..good thing I had some Kleenex in my room or I could have been up the creek without a paddle so to speak….another interesting Chinese way

Had a long chat with Jennifer today…things seem to be going well with the pregnancy although she says this will be the final one…..and was emphatic about it….quite sure it will be…..Kenzie is counting already…just the even numbers though (Jay counts one and she counters with two …and continues all the way up to 10)….math inherited?????.....also was talking about my European trip and she says that Bruce Springsteen will be playing on a tour so I have asked Rosamund if she wants to go and if she can buy tickets….Italy looks like a possibility as he is playing in three venues…..Jay said she had a blast at the Honeymoon Suite concert…got to be up front and personal (high fives, helping them sing, right on the front line) with the band members and even got them all to sign a T-shirt…..know she will enjoy the Eagles concert as well…

Will spend tomorrow getting ready for the next semester and some extra duties as the Athletic Director and as the CAS coordinator for the International Baccalaureate program….need to talk to the owner about those in the new contract….

Had a chat with Janet and it appears Mom is beginning to show signs of old age…she is 93 I guess that happens……she actually went into the hospital for a couple of days with a sugar level of between 35 and 40 and it is supposed to be around 5 Jennifer said….Cheryl has come from BC to sty for a few days and Janet is going to come maybe next week……she seems a little disinterested in some of life’s struggles and so we have been looking at having her go to a nursing home where they can look after her diet and pills and also be checking on her and she will have the necessary care….is difficult to be a part of things from here but Janet and Cheryl can make some decision and I can be made aware,,,….it is concerning….

Janet and Tony gave me a book about travel in Europe and it looks like it will come in handy as I have my flights confirmed and am off into the wild blue yonder…lots of interesting places that I have heard about but never thought I would see….now only a few months away…am going to get some dates firmed up and then just fill in the rest as I go…seems like that is my life now…..one blind jump after another……hope there are no cliffs or deep gorges…

Fireworks like crazy here….seems like many of the big hotels or apartments have someone out lighting them off…sometimes sounds like a war zone…..aw well it is Chinese New Year you know…..

Got to get the tickets for the train to Harbin soon and then I will have all the t’s crossed and I’s dotted for that trip…I hope ….looking forward to the weekend there….may try to get to Tianjin on the bullet train this weekend and stay one night over…we shall see….need another one who would go as well…..

That’s it…..I will start a new blog for the new semester….

Malaysia pictures only

The first one here shows the Mangrove Swamp trees with their roots showing...they apparently spike down and then send out the other roots to get the nutrients...the tide is out as you can see..

The next one is the length of our beach...from the other end...some little huts as well...the third one is how close we got to one of the little monkeys as we went into a bat cave..the little guy was thirsty because he was trying to steal the water bottles of people as they were going in...kind of a little pest...they were all around as we went around the island....in groups mainly...tried to match them to something we have in Canada....only could think of politicians.......hahaha










The fourth one here shows me petting a manta ray...it was not dangerous as the guide told us...notice his mouth sort of a sucking one.....then the next couple of slides show the beach we were on the Rider flag was unknown to everyone...but that doesn't matter...met a couple of guys from Ottawa who recognized the hat...that is how the conversation gets started.....


Geez this is frustrating.....I just typed in a whole whack of stuff and it disappeared...this one was with one of the staff we met on separate boat tours..this was at a fish
farm...one of the fish type could spit and knock bread off a2 X 4 and have it fall in the water....about 1 metre up....impressive...also got to pet a manta ray...somewhat like a sting ray I guess...leather like skin
In our hotel room...note the Bob Marley shirt..one cool dude hey?

On the golf course....lost 6 balls but had a decent round....the course was average....a couple of impressive holes but no caddies...
Me in my kingly robes and trying to look the cool dude again....this picture was taken at the twin towers in Kuala Lumpur at the observation deck....had a few locals wondering what the heck these guys would want their pictures taken for.....Ron had one taken with the owner and was supposed to be the wedding guy...
Sitting at the restaurant....we tried different ones each time....lots of different ones....even Mexican....go figure...

Am listening to some big fireworks as I sit here typing at school....sounds like big cannons .......getting ready for tomorrow...listening to Gordon Lightfoot....something else I miss about Canada .....turning up my stereo and just listening at multidecibels....

Couple more pics and I will send this on...need to get "the worst picture I have ever seen"......REG ie me on the beach in my "Speedos.." Got 2 pictures of the riders and can't get one out...also put a picture of my neat little massage lady....Wang Ying Lan
number 68

Malaysia 2

Malaysia 2

Quotable Quote from Ron Badger….after I had given him a can of 100 PLUS a drink from here… …It tastes likes licking sweaty armpits…..and my response is “and you are an expert in licking sweaty armpits”…..and then an additional response…. Passion….?????

Well, today started out reasonably well…breakfast no great treat…toast, juice and coffee….we are all trying to figure out what to do….Reg decided to tour the island and David did not go as he felt ill at ease on the bike….Ron and I went over and negotiated for the Mangrove tour after a lot of walking…I had to get some more money to tide me over….then rented a small motor bike for 25 ringitts …about $8…and had to fill it with gas,,, another $3....then we were off….we lost each other a couple of times…told Ron if he wanted to take photos he could just stop and I would check in the rear view mirror….he went away on me so I circled back….much to my surprise and astonishment, Ron was seated by his bike, nose bleeding, scrapes on his arm and hands, toe blackened, glasses off, and about 6 people crowded around him trying to stabilize him and care to his hurts…..almost 1 year to a day, and Reg was in the same boat, a motorbike accident in Vietnam….am I a bad luck charm…should I be getting a complex….people were very nice and helping with us… .Ron was treated at a clinic and we came back to the hotel….after that Ron urged me to go on my own…he didn’t need help…..so off I went…was not able to take photos as I had no camera so what goes in here is only my memory….stopped at a couple of places just to see the scenery ..also talked with a lady about retiring here….took an elephant ride…5 minutes for 80 R but was not able to use the Rider flag…no reason…..young, male elephant…Lasah…30 years (live to age of 90) after its walk of 5 minutes I was to feed bananas…and the bit on the end….then off to a cable car that was 710 meters above sea level….two levels…interestingly there was a walkway in between two peaks and it was a looooooong way down I had a long look over the side, it was a long way down …As I was driving, there were monkeys on the roadside…in fact a whole family of them at one point crossing the roads…on roadside, there were cattle just walking along minding their own business…..black one…night market…..neat to see some of the stuff…took Reg back to see it after it got really dark……soccer game…..lazy to throw the ball back….conspicuous when you are in the crowd with you being the odd person out…

Looked into buying a house, had heard something about a good place to retire…..350,000 rm for a one acre and house (about 120,000 dollars)….website to find out the cost of property…Alison Fraser…Malaysia, my Second Home….ExPat Magazine…..The Trends….Marios Tel no….019946179…actually can get a house for about 50,000 Canadian…..or rent for about 200 a month…..that is what the lady said you should do….rent to see if it is for your

Got to bed late…but had a Seduction….slept in until 7 and then Reg and I rode out our bike time to Kuah…..a city…small by China standards…..back by 10 a quick chat with buddy Ron…….Checked the emails…not much success and by the time I was back Reg and David were on the beach…..off I go…and was sun tanning for about 3 hours….with my designer briefs acting as swimsuit attire… “ Worst sight I have seen in my life”...…quoteth Reg…....too bad …and the horse ….back to room for a shower and then got Ron a burger…he was under the shade of the swimming pool reading….

Spent most of the days on the beach just tanning and swimming and checking out the ladies (smile) ….not many here though…..many of them are covered top to bottom……Muslim…we have been eating at different places and have enjoyed most of the meals….spicy….good for Reg but some are too hot for me….

Rented a kayak…..2 man and rowed over to an island….well it was actually two islands…..the first one was very unusual…..actually we got there and two ladies were there before us so we didn’t stay long….but the beach was not sand but actually crushed shells and it was very difficult to walk on but I wonder how many shells there were to make up this 100 metre long beach….a lot….the other island was actually a private resort it looked like….condos and waterfront property….I have been kidding everyone that I will be buying some property here and that they can come and visit…..another day of the beach and my skin is getting a little red…..but I know it will turn to brown soon…..actually tomorrow we go out on the Mangrove tour and see the Crocodile farm and Bat Cave and Fish Farm and the black Sand beach…..supposedly ……afternoon on the beach and then we are out of here and back to KL and then to Beijing at 6:30 in the morning….actually looking forward to getting back to the cold weather….not…..but will be able to get a few minor things done that you can’t get done when you are in school

Minor glitch in out trip…we stayed an extra night at our hotel….so that was why they didn’t make up our beds…..then we went on tour with Din….he was a good guy to talk to and he was a good tour guide….saw the stuff we were supposed to and a couple of extras…the Crocodile caves was not with crocs…just a former one or it was a legend????...funny…..had a good supper after Reg and I had wandered the Underwater World and David did his last tour of the beach…..got to the airport and here is where the glitch was….we were supposed to have flown out last night…not what we had planned or so I thought…..we had the other flight fine…..Kuala Lumpur to Beijing was ok…but we had missed our flight…..plan B..... book another flight..... so we did

We got business class and for about 30 bucks…so not a big deal…..so had some stuff to eat…..checked the internet.....took advantage of all of the benefits of luxury……Reg commented that he wasn’t going to book through this travel agent…..luxury in a Muslim country means NO BOOZE…funny…but I was looking kind of grubby and Reg pointed out that there were shaving kits in the bathroom so I had a shave before I left…..felt soooooo much better..

Trip to Kuala Lumpur was quick…we had to get new tickets there as well…and then we were off to Beijing…..I had a darn good sleep…..about 4 hours worth…could tell I had one I was drooling in my upright position (hahaha)….got back on time

Each time there seems something different….this time we were the first off cuz we got onto a VIP bus…..got in and the luggage went around…..all were gone and I was still waiting for my golf bags…..oversize was right close to us but no bags…..first off last out??????.....took the tag to the oversize depot…of course they don’t speak only point…..pointed to Air China…I go there and they send me to THE OTHER OVERSIZE BAGGAGE area away from the first one…… golf bag was probably there all the time we waited……typical Chinese as we say here.

Then went to get into the cab…couldn’t fit my golf bag in because the little shit had his water bottle in the corner and wouldn’t move it….so we were browbeat…there were about 10 cabs and 10 attendants (one of them an obnoxious sob)…into taking a van…the van drives about ½ a kilometer before telling us it is 150 rmbs…..which is about 70 more than the taxi…..what are we going to do walk back….pissed me off……typical Chinese way……

Got home and unpacked……went to the school and found my tickets had arrived for Harbin hockey….also my care package from home…thanks to Jennifer…. and then got some work done on the computer…… got some groceries….got my photos lined up…..got my watch fixed…..had a lunch and then a late dinner of dumplings and then back to the school cuz I have no internet here in the apartment…got my CPP application done…checked out some Hostels and Eurorail pass info and then came home and am off to bed…such ends the Malaysia holiday…..I will try to get some pictures for the next blog…