When I left my apartment in Haifa, I felt really sad that I had to do that. True, it was my decision to leave Israel all of a sudden and go to China, but it was still hard to move out of the warm and cozy place I set for Rob and me.
Today I was thinking about my little TV set I used to have in my bedroom, the one I almost never used, coz I had a normal one in the living room, and living alone- I didn't feel the need to get away and watch TV in my room. Suddenly it reminded me the last time I had used it- it was the last morning I woke up there- the first day they bombed Haifa. I woke up at 9:00am to the terrible sound of my favorite city being attacked. I was terrified and felt so alone. I called my mom immediately, and she told me she's at work in one of the clinics she supervises and that they saw, through the panoramic window, huge missiles falling down town close to them. She was scared too but tried to calm me down and tell me to pack some of my stuff and go to her place as soon as things calmed down a bit outside. I tried to think where is the safest place in my apartment, coz there was no shelter for these 50 year old houses. I decided the safest spot was between the bed and the closet which were both next to inside walls. The missiles kept falling and I was almost hysterical. I called my dad who was an hour away to the south - where things were going on as usual as if their own country isn't under attack (it was like that for the rest of the war). My dad tried to relax me and really sympathized with me. I cried and turned the little TV on, to watch the news and see what they have to say. Sadly, I heard the missiles before they even knew about the ones that landed before, so the "news" weren't so new to me... Nevertheless I kept on watching, between one siren to the other. These sirens took me back to the Gulf War, then I was not even 11 years old, and went through the ordeal with my family. This time, 16 years later, I was sitting alone in my apartment, on the floor, with the fear of actually getting hurt in my own house, not knowing where it's gonna come from next. Being alone like this, even though I was already an adult, was just as scary and unbearable as being a child with the warmth and love of the family around.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Monday, January 08, 2007
A reflection of the modern China
Shanghai, 2006
A TV commercial boat on the Huangpu River.
Why not make some more money off the tourists crowding the Bund?
(One of the most touristic areas in Shanghai)
Indoor skiing in Shanghai
(sorry -no pictures - forgot the camera...)
On Saturday we went to the Indoor skiing in Shanghai. The place is really close to where we live, and we decided to give it a chance even though we read a lot of things about it- especially not too excited reviews. I thought that it's worth a try- especially coz I need the practice, since I've skied only 7 days in my life. We woke up on Saturday on a decent hour (10am) and went there. We walked in to a nice lobby, and payed a not very nice price (218RMB for an unlimited time ticket ~ 22 Euro). The price includes equipment and clothing (we brought our own clothes- I think it's better than using rented ones- but if you don't have any- it's a good compromise), we changed and went in. The boots we got were damp inside, and even though we changed them 3 times before we started- we couldn't find a pair that was totally dry. We walked in the skiing area and saw a little man-made hill, covered with artificial snow. It's not a high hill and the slope is not very steep- but for me it was enough to practice.
This place is a good example for the way Chinese ppl keep maintenance: they don't. I'll be surprised if there's such a word in Chinese at all. In the pictures outside the place it looks so nice and clean, and taken care of- but no! Inside it's a big hill of instant China. The nice screens that covered the ugliness on the "back stage" were gone. Meaning the big metal poles holding the huge hanger, and the terrible ground next to the slope (covered with wet carton boards), were all shown to our delight, while we were goin up on the very old, annoying and slow (about 300m in more than 5 minutes) lift you put between your legs to drag you up. On the way up at some points there was no snow on the trail, so my skies got stuck a few times, till I realized I better move my feet towards where there's snow... We actually asked one of the employees (inside there were far less employees than outside) to shovel some snow on the lift's trail, but the only answer we got was: "we do it only in the evening" (we're still not sure the guy totally understood what we said). How stupid is that? So for the rest of the time it was to be left alone like that. What else was wrong there? well- they had 2 lifts, but one wasn't working, and to get the escalator that takes you to the lift- you have to walk a mile in the snow. Again- maintenance!!! and how inefficient.
The amount of Chinese ppl trying to ski but falling on their behinds was unbelievable. They ski in a straight line down hill, till they fall in a very amusing way. I thought that in Israel there were a lot of ppl that didn't like to ask for help, coz they're too much of a macho. But no. Here, for totally different reasons (well maybe it is about "losing face" which is pretty much the same reason, and maybe it's just because they're stupid) it seems that they just take some boots, take some skies, put them on (usually not the right way) and go up hill. Most of them get stuck in the middle - standing there like zombies waiting for the Messiah (Rob would say they haven't noticed he already came ... ha ha - makes me laugh every time...) blocking the way for the 10 out of 500 ppl that are actually skiing down normally from up hill (2 of them were us, the rest either foreigners or some "cool" young Chinese snow-boarders that were pretty good).
I felt just like in a video game- "avoid the Chinese ppl". It was good practice- maybe next time I'll feel confident enough to ski between trees...
To sum things up- I'm glad we went, for me it was good, this way when we go skiing in February I hope I'll waste less time on the vacation trying to remember what to do, and gaining my confidence back (it takes a few hours...). I would recommend for ppl who really want to ski and are not gonna have a chance to do anywhere - to go there, but be aware of the price, and don't expect much of the place itself.
On Saturday we went to the Indoor skiing in Shanghai. The place is really close to where we live, and we decided to give it a chance even though we read a lot of things about it- especially not too excited reviews. I thought that it's worth a try- especially coz I need the practice, since I've skied only 7 days in my life. We woke up on Saturday on a decent hour (10am) and went there. We walked in to a nice lobby, and payed a not very nice price (218RMB for an unlimited time ticket ~ 22 Euro). The price includes equipment and clothing (we brought our own clothes- I think it's better than using rented ones- but if you don't have any- it's a good compromise), we changed and went in. The boots we got were damp inside, and even though we changed them 3 times before we started- we couldn't find a pair that was totally dry. We walked in the skiing area and saw a little man-made hill, covered with artificial snow. It's not a high hill and the slope is not very steep- but for me it was enough to practice.
This place is a good example for the way Chinese ppl keep maintenance: they don't. I'll be surprised if there's such a word in Chinese at all. In the pictures outside the place it looks so nice and clean, and taken care of- but no! Inside it's a big hill of instant China. The nice screens that covered the ugliness on the "back stage" were gone. Meaning the big metal poles holding the huge hanger, and the terrible ground next to the slope (covered with wet carton boards), were all shown to our delight, while we were goin up on the very old, annoying and slow (about 300m in more than 5 minutes) lift you put between your legs to drag you up. On the way up at some points there was no snow on the trail, so my skies got stuck a few times, till I realized I better move my feet towards where there's snow... We actually asked one of the employees (inside there were far less employees than outside) to shovel some snow on the lift's trail, but the only answer we got was: "we do it only in the evening" (we're still not sure the guy totally understood what we said). How stupid is that? So for the rest of the time it was to be left alone like that. What else was wrong there? well- they had 2 lifts, but one wasn't working, and to get the escalator that takes you to the lift- you have to walk a mile in the snow. Again- maintenance!!! and how inefficient.
The amount of Chinese ppl trying to ski but falling on their behinds was unbelievable. They ski in a straight line down hill, till they fall in a very amusing way. I thought that in Israel there were a lot of ppl that didn't like to ask for help, coz they're too much of a macho. But no. Here, for totally different reasons (well maybe it is about "losing face" which is pretty much the same reason, and maybe it's just because they're stupid) it seems that they just take some boots, take some skies, put them on (usually not the right way) and go up hill. Most of them get stuck in the middle - standing there like zombies waiting for the Messiah (Rob would say they haven't noticed he already came ... ha ha - makes me laugh every time...) blocking the way for the 10 out of 500 ppl that are actually skiing down normally from up hill (2 of them were us, the rest either foreigners or some "cool" young Chinese snow-boarders that were pretty good).
I felt just like in a video game- "avoid the Chinese ppl". It was good practice- maybe next time I'll feel confident enough to ski between trees...
To sum things up- I'm glad we went, for me it was good, this way when we go skiing in February I hope I'll waste less time on the vacation trying to remember what to do, and gaining my confidence back (it takes a few hours...). I would recommend for ppl who really want to ski and are not gonna have a chance to do anywhere - to go there, but be aware of the price, and don't expect much of the place itself.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Priorities
In the 8th grade, when I was 14, I attended a week of communication workshops from school. Not everyone went- it was our choice to apply- and after the school selected the ones that will actually go- we were off to a campus in our city- for a week. We slept there and had workshops every morning, enjoying our almost freedom from the parents for about 5 days. The special thing about this week was that it mixed Jewish high schools with Arab high schools. It was a week about communications - meaning the media- TV, radio, newspaper (I was in the newspaper group) etc. But it also was, between the lines, about communication between ppl. I made some really good friends there - some from my school some from the Arab school - and kept in touch with some of them for a few years.
I especially remember the 1st activity we had- which was suppose to get us to know each other better. I've been to hundreds of these activities in my life, especially coz I was in the Scouts for about 6 years, sometimes I even gave these activities myself, and even though there was nothing special about this 1st knowing each other activity- I remember it very well till today (which is surprising coz my memory is really bad). What I most remember is this one game where you're suppose to define yourself according to the following characteristics: gender, nationality, religion and any quality or other characteristic you think you have. I've done this activity a lot of times- you're suppose to grade the characteristics according to what you believe defines you most. I think that the reason I remember this specific time that I participated in it- is because this time there were a lot more ppl in the group that were different than me in those characteristics. This time we were not all Jewish, Israeli boys and girls. I usually define myself as a Human being first and foremost, then as a woman (in those days it was "a girl") than I list some qualities of mine, then I say Israeli and then Jewish (I think Israeli was right after "a woman" when I was a teenager- that had changed over the years- even though it's still a strong characteristic of mine). It's pretty interesting to hear what other ppl say- especially if they come from different backgrounds. They're explanations why they listed it the way they did is even more interesting...
I remember that in that week- even though I always thought in that same point of view- I understood how difficult it is to live somewhere where you don't feel comfortable using that country's nationality as your own. It only hit me when I noticed that most of the Arab kids either didn't say "Israeli" at all or only as the last on their list. I immediately understood why they did that- I had no doubts about it- but before that- it had never crossed my mind.
The reason I thought about it now was coz it seems like in the next few years I'm not gonna be a permanent resident of my own country. Not gonna be at the place that gives me a part of my identity. I don't feel bad about it- I try to look at it as a good experience for me- but I couldn't help think about those kids that were born somewhere and don't feel like they can actually say they belong there. It made me sad for them, not in a pitiful kind of way though. I think the fact that "Israeli" will always come in my list before my religion - made me think that they don't have a lot of a choice if they don't wanna put their religion in one of the first places, and that made me feel like someone - or something took that choice away from them.
It's very common that ppl get closer to their religion when they're abroad- especially if they are the ones that decided to leave their country. Their kids usually don't understand why they have to keep to certain far fetched rules, and rebel.
I especially remember the 1st activity we had- which was suppose to get us to know each other better. I've been to hundreds of these activities in my life, especially coz I was in the Scouts for about 6 years, sometimes I even gave these activities myself, and even though there was nothing special about this 1st knowing each other activity- I remember it very well till today (which is surprising coz my memory is really bad). What I most remember is this one game where you're suppose to define yourself according to the following characteristics: gender, nationality, religion and any quality or other characteristic you think you have. I've done this activity a lot of times- you're suppose to grade the characteristics according to what you believe defines you most. I think that the reason I remember this specific time that I participated in it- is because this time there were a lot more ppl in the group that were different than me in those characteristics. This time we were not all Jewish, Israeli boys and girls. I usually define myself as a Human being first and foremost, then as a woman (in those days it was "a girl") than I list some qualities of mine, then I say Israeli and then Jewish (I think Israeli was right after "a woman" when I was a teenager- that had changed over the years- even though it's still a strong characteristic of mine). It's pretty interesting to hear what other ppl say- especially if they come from different backgrounds. They're explanations why they listed it the way they did is even more interesting...
I remember that in that week- even though I always thought in that same point of view- I understood how difficult it is to live somewhere where you don't feel comfortable using that country's nationality as your own. It only hit me when I noticed that most of the Arab kids either didn't say "Israeli" at all or only as the last on their list. I immediately understood why they did that- I had no doubts about it- but before that- it had never crossed my mind.
The reason I thought about it now was coz it seems like in the next few years I'm not gonna be a permanent resident of my own country. Not gonna be at the place that gives me a part of my identity. I don't feel bad about it- I try to look at it as a good experience for me- but I couldn't help think about those kids that were born somewhere and don't feel like they can actually say they belong there. It made me sad for them, not in a pitiful kind of way though. I think the fact that "Israeli" will always come in my list before my religion - made me think that they don't have a lot of a choice if they don't wanna put their religion in one of the first places, and that made me feel like someone - or something took that choice away from them.
It's very common that ppl get closer to their religion when they're abroad- especially if they are the ones that decided to leave their country. Their kids usually don't understand why they have to keep to certain far fetched rules, and rebel.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
About fear and joy and new years
Last year, on New Year's Eve, I was on a mountain in Czech Republic with Rob and about 15 of his good friends from all over the world (well- mostly Europe- but other places too...). I arrived to Germany the day after x-mas to be with him for about a week. 2 or 3 days later we drove to Czech Republic and there he taught me how to ski. It was the first time that I ever skied in my life (not counting the time I was 5 in the states- freezing in the kids group, where mom and dad left me to "learn" too...). I'm known as a not very sporty person, and only in the last 6 years or so I do sports on an almost regular basis (gym and Yoga) and that's especially coz of the mental change in me. This mental change was probably the grounds for falling in love with skiing- something I'm sure I wouldn't have liked 10 years ago. I must admit- I'm a bit of a coward when it comes to heights and mountains- and my ability to ski down a hill full of trees- but I proved that I can do it- and even enjoy it (providing some good weather of course- try skiing in Mount Hermon in Israel- there's either bad weather and snow or good weather and no snow - which means you either ski and hate it or not ski and hate it). I'm sure that if Rob had written here he would say that skiing with me can be a really hard job- coz it involves a lot of my complaining (well- if you knew him you'd know that he'll never say that to anyone- but I know that I've complained a hand full to him at least the first few times we skied together).
There's something in me that never lets me rest till I feel like I'm good enough. Good enough doesn't mean "the best" it just means that till I'm rather complete with how I'm doin something - I wont feel comfortable to do it next to ppl who are good. That's why in the beginning when Rob taught me how to ski - I felt so insecure. First of all- he skies since he's about 2-3 years old, and all of his family skies. His mom grew up between the Austrian Alps, and his parents met skiing, which says it all (what can I say I grew in to? my parents met in the Israeli army... LOL) anyway- to make things short- I felt like I know nothing about something he's an expert in- and that made me really scared that I will just not be good enough. Rob was the knight in shining armor he really is- and was the perfect teacher and gentleman. I even asked him at a certain point on the top of the mountain (while having the most sour face a person can have- from being so scared going down) how is it possible that he tolerates me at all- and that he deserves a medal. I only remember one time he frowned - for about 5 minutes of the whole 3 days. In March we were skiing in Austria in the best weather ever- and I was a bit more experienced- which made the whole thing so much better- and so great.
I remember what my mom said when I told her that I'm going skiing in the Hermon for the first time (I wanted to practice what Rob had taught me). I had to get up at 5am to get there at 8am so I have as much time as possible to ski. I told her how cold it is- and how hard it is for me- and the only thing she said was: "so why do you do that to yourself?" There at that point exactly I realized where my laziness comes from- it comes from the fear to harm myself in anyway - the fear to not enjoy and the fear to suffer even just a little bit. What, I guess, I wasn't told for most of my life was that suffering a bit can bring to a big joy (as long as I don't do it to harm myself or of course- anyone else) and pointless fear is something that stops you from living - not something that keeps you alive. It's amazing how one little thing like skiing can make you understand all that- and give you a big feeling of accomplishment and joy.
We're planning on going skiing in China in February in the Chinese Spring Festival. I hope all is gonna go well (still waiting for the reply from the travel agent) and that I wont freeze to death there (it's gonna be about minus 20°c) - but I got lots of presents from Rob that he brought me from Germany- that are suppose to keep me warm even in this kinda weather.
***
This New Year's Eve we spent in Hangzhou. I liked it so much the first time I went there that I asked him if he wants to go first thing after he lands. He said it's no problem and we went. We spent the evening with the new friends I made last time I was there - and it was a really nice night. Hangzhou is relatively colder than SH (I guess coz it's more humid) and we did spend a lot of time in doors - but we really enjoyed our little vacation - and for me it was a refreshment from life.
I wonder where I'll be next year on the same day... I like spending it every time in a different country!!!
There's something in me that never lets me rest till I feel like I'm good enough. Good enough doesn't mean "the best" it just means that till I'm rather complete with how I'm doin something - I wont feel comfortable to do it next to ppl who are good. That's why in the beginning when Rob taught me how to ski - I felt so insecure. First of all- he skies since he's about 2-3 years old, and all of his family skies. His mom grew up between the Austrian Alps, and his parents met skiing, which says it all (what can I say I grew in to? my parents met in the Israeli army... LOL) anyway- to make things short- I felt like I know nothing about something he's an expert in- and that made me really scared that I will just not be good enough. Rob was the knight in shining armor he really is- and was the perfect teacher and gentleman. I even asked him at a certain point on the top of the mountain (while having the most sour face a person can have- from being so scared going down) how is it possible that he tolerates me at all- and that he deserves a medal. I only remember one time he frowned - for about 5 minutes of the whole 3 days. In March we were skiing in Austria in the best weather ever- and I was a bit more experienced- which made the whole thing so much better- and so great.
I remember what my mom said when I told her that I'm going skiing in the Hermon for the first time (I wanted to practice what Rob had taught me). I had to get up at 5am to get there at 8am so I have as much time as possible to ski. I told her how cold it is- and how hard it is for me- and the only thing she said was: "so why do you do that to yourself?" There at that point exactly I realized where my laziness comes from- it comes from the fear to harm myself in anyway - the fear to not enjoy and the fear to suffer even just a little bit. What, I guess, I wasn't told for most of my life was that suffering a bit can bring to a big joy (as long as I don't do it to harm myself or of course- anyone else) and pointless fear is something that stops you from living - not something that keeps you alive. It's amazing how one little thing like skiing can make you understand all that- and give you a big feeling of accomplishment and joy.
We're planning on going skiing in China in February in the Chinese Spring Festival. I hope all is gonna go well (still waiting for the reply from the travel agent) and that I wont freeze to death there (it's gonna be about minus 20°c) - but I got lots of presents from Rob that he brought me from Germany- that are suppose to keep me warm even in this kinda weather.
***
This New Year's Eve we spent in Hangzhou. I liked it so much the first time I went there that I asked him if he wants to go first thing after he lands. He said it's no problem and we went. We spent the evening with the new friends I made last time I was there - and it was a really nice night. Hangzhou is relatively colder than SH (I guess coz it's more humid) and we did spend a lot of time in doors - but we really enjoyed our little vacation - and for me it was a refreshment from life.
I wonder where I'll be next year on the same day... I like spending it every time in a different country!!!
Friday, December 29, 2006
Film Review: "The Mistress of Spices" (2006)
Well it's official now- I'm definitely gonna put my (very) short reviews here. I can't help it... When I watch a movie- sometimes I'm so drawn to it - that I forget who I am or where I am... (The same always happens with books... I already missed my stop on the subway coz of that...)
"The Mistress of Spices" (2006) is based on Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's book of the same name. I wish I had read the book first- but I think I've never heard of it (even though now when I think about it - I'm pretty sure that my mom has it in Hebrew at home... hmmm...).
Not like other examples- in this case I don't mind watching the movie first- coz it was such a colorful, magical, romantic, mysterious and beautiful one. The story is almost a fairytale, the colors are so vivid and bright, the music is perfect for the cause. For about 100 minutes you completely forget reality - even though it stands right in front of your face- the movie takes place in real life San Francisco. If you feel like stepping out of ordinary life to a place full of passion and magic - you better watch this movie.
I think I'm going to find that book now- knowing the story and the ending doesn't seem to make me want to read it any less- because books hide so much more in them- so many more details than you can actually capture by watching a movie. In a book- you "drink" every little thing, nothing goes through you without leaving a mark.
A note about the star this movie didn't get (I'll give it 4 stars) - I never like it in movies when immigrants, whom their mother tongue is not English, speak it among themselves.
"The Mistress of Spices" (2006) is based on Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's book of the same name. I wish I had read the book first- but I think I've never heard of it (even though now when I think about it - I'm pretty sure that my mom has it in Hebrew at home... hmmm...).
Not like other examples- in this case I don't mind watching the movie first- coz it was such a colorful, magical, romantic, mysterious and beautiful one. The story is almost a fairytale, the colors are so vivid and bright, the music is perfect for the cause. For about 100 minutes you completely forget reality - even though it stands right in front of your face- the movie takes place in real life San Francisco. If you feel like stepping out of ordinary life to a place full of passion and magic - you better watch this movie.
I think I'm going to find that book now- knowing the story and the ending doesn't seem to make me want to read it any less- because books hide so much more in them- so many more details than you can actually capture by watching a movie. In a book- you "drink" every little thing, nothing goes through you without leaving a mark.
A note about the star this movie didn't get (I'll give it 4 stars) - I never like it in movies when immigrants, whom their mother tongue is not English, speak it among themselves.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
The "little" things that affect our lives
There was an earthquake near Taiwan, 2 ppl got killed and 42 wounded. We hear about these things every day right? this time it actually affected my life a bit, and all the other ppl around here too. The earthquake damaged a few big communication cables under the sea - and now around all this area of Asia there's telecommunication problems. I can't open my e-mail, nor sign in to my messenger. Almost all international websites are inaccessible. I don't really mind, I mean they said that it's gonna take at east a few days- but I'll survive. The thing is that it shows me how delicate these things are, the things us- human beings- build. Earth can do what ever it wants to- and leave us without the little things that make our life better and easier, even take ppl's lives. Here I sit in a rather comfortable apartment, next to my own laptop (when it works... ) in the warmth of the AC, just watched a movie, and had my dinner, and in any minute there can be an earthquake, a storm or whatever that takes all of this away from me. We all know it- but to protect our selves we ignore it. Otherwise who can live thinking 24/7 that he can be literally swept off his feet in the next Typhoon?
Well that's it for today's philosophical moment...
So- no e-mails guys, and no MSN messenger!!!
(Skype works most of the time- in a miraculous way...)
Well that's it for today's philosophical moment...
So- no e-mails guys, and no MSN messenger!!!
(Skype works most of the time- in a miraculous way...)
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Exit
I took this picture from the train
when it stopped in one of the stations on the way to Shanghai.
Notice anything wierd?
I thought it's funny that instead of writing: "Exit" under the 出口(= exit in Chinese)
they wrote the Pinyin for the word = chu kou.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Hangzhou
Warning: This post is kinda long
Yesterday I puled myself to Hangzhou, even though deep inside I knew I should stay in bed for at least another day or two. I took the subway to the new train station in Shanghai - they build it in the past year or two, it didn't exist last time I lived here. I see it from the outside all the time - it's just amazing- it's supposed to look like a big Chinese umbrella and it actually does... you can see for yourself in this picture:
Shanghai South Railway Station a view from the outside
I change metros there every day on the way to uni and back, but I never got to go to the actual station. This place looks totally like an airport rather than a train station in east Asia. It was absolutely easy to find my way around (I think it would be easy for ppl who don't know any Chinese at all too), and it's definitely efficient which is a very surprising thing when talking about China... I arrived there in the morning (after getting a wake up call from Rob at 8:14AM - wake up shmake up- there's nothing sweeter than waking up from a phone call from you tipsy loving boyfriend...) so that drove me to leave on a normal time- being in the station at 11:10AM. I asked for a ticket to Hangzhou - and the teller told me the train leaves in 40 minutes. I was really relieved to hear that there's seats, and that I don't have to wait for long. I bought the the cheapest there was (I guess that's what was left) it cost 25RMB (= about 2.5€） and headed to the entrance to the gates. There I found an x-ray machine (they have one in all the train stations- even the ones you think are so not worth the security coz they look like a dump) went through that and looked for my gate. The nice lady in the entrance told me to go to waiting room number 7 - so I headed there and was very impressed with the inside design of the place too...
x-ray machines even in the crappiest train stations
As soon as I set down on the seat- I noticed that my train was "boarding". I followed the herd and found myself going down an escalator to the platform. I found my seat on cart number 13, and set down. It wasn't the cheapest ticket for nothing: my seat was one out of three crowded seats (out of five in a row divided in the middle making a 2 seats row and a 3 seats row with an aisle in between). My seat was just next to this kid and his grandpa, and here in China I must admit- I haven't figured out a way to tell who cares about those seat numbers on the ticket and who doesn't - it appears to be 50-50 in the population... In the end instead of sitting on my aisle seat- I found myself sitting between a Chinese guy (later on he left and came a young woman) and the grandpa with the 4-5 year old (spoiled like all of these one-kid-per-family-kids) on his lap. The kid I must say seamed kinda smart but as I said- very spoiled. across from us set a middle aged couple that was just as noisy as all the Chinese ppl, and a young guy that while sitting down on his seat was finishing his noodle-meal-in-a-box (it's very popular here as travel food or something to eat at work). The whole time I was being squeezed by the kid / grandpa that were moving around as if it's a new national sport. The kid saw one of the food carts ladies walking through - and told his grandpa that he wanted to eat lunch now (it was almost noon and the Chinese ppl can not go through a day without eating their lunch at noon and their dinner at 18:00. Really - they just can not). He looked at all the nice boxes the lady had and picked them all up looking at them to see if they're nice. He picked a blue box and said he wants that one, but the lady told him that this one is spicy and he should better pick something else. He looked a bit confused for a second, saying that he wants the blue one coz it's just the most beautiful one... but his grandpa and the nosy lady across from us agreed that he should take the orange one. The nosy lady butted in and told him: "it's beautiful, but it's also spicy!". The kid was convinced and there was peace for all. Until he decided he doesn't wanna have more than a few noodles and the chase after him began in the whole train....
After 2 hours and 10 minutes of being a playground for one little kid and one old grandpa, we finally arrived at Hangzhou. By the way- I totally managed to fall asleep on the train- even if it was only between squeezing and only for 20 minutes). To start telling you about the differences between the old east Hangzhou train station (there's a new one in town) and the Shanghai South Railway Station - it's like telling the difference between an airplane and a horse carriage. The smells, the colors (well the lack of colors in this case), the lady who was laying on the platform- not moving when the security guys touched her frightfully... Third world compared with state of the art. Got out of there as quickly as possible and took a taxi to the youth hostel to meet Omri, whom I know from the China forum online. The youth hostel is located in the center of town, right next to the lake, which is a great location. I really liked the streets next to it, and this lake, as touristy as it is- has something special about it - especially under thick mist. I checked in the hostel, got a lower bed in a 4 bed dorm room, put my things in the locker and headed to meet some more ppl.
The entrance to Mingtown Youth Hostel, Hangzhou
After 2 hours and 10 minutes of being a playground for one little kid and one old grandpa, we finally arrived at Hangzhou. By the way- I totally managed to fall asleep on the train- even if it was only between squeezing and only for 20 minutes). To start telling you about the differences between the old east Hangzhou train station (there's a new one in town) and the Shanghai South Railway Station - it's like telling the difference between an airplane and a horse carriage. The smells, the colors (well the lack of colors in this case), the lady who was laying on the platform- not moving when the security guys touched her frightfully... Third world compared with state of the art. Got out of there as quickly as possible and took a taxi to the youth hostel to meet Omri, whom I know from the China forum online. The youth hostel is located in the center of town, right next to the lake, which is a great location. I really liked the streets next to it, and this lake, as touristy as it is- has something special about it - especially under thick mist. I checked in the hostel, got a lower bed in a 4 bed dorm room, put my things in the locker and headed to meet some more ppl.
The entrance to Mingtown Youth Hostel, Hangzhou
We met Diego and Adriana, he's an Israeli who was born in Argentina, she's Colombian. We had lunch and then headed to the place where it's all gonna happen: Adriana's place (lives with a few more lovely girls- just like her) to cook the x-mas dinner. After a lot of ppl in a small kitchen (well, bigger than mine) and a few hours - we had some dishes set on the table- and we dug in... The evening was one of the most pleasant, fun, warm and welcoming I've ever been to. I even got a nice bracelet from one of the girls- as a x-mas present (thank you Cecilia) - this little gesture of giving presents to the ppl you love- I think I'll have to write about it one day too (we don't have a holiday like that in Israel, well at least we just like giving presents for fun...). Even though I still didn't feel totally healthy - I didn't wanna leave. In the end we left at around 02:00 and I was asleep by 03:30 (it takes a while to get ready for bed when you're doing it in the dark to not wake up any of the other 3 ppl you have in your room).
In the morning I met Omri and Diego for breakfast in one of the endless Starbucks coffees in China. This one is just by the lake, and it was really nice walking there on the bank while rain drops were falling on my head (had to say that line from the song...).
A golden ox merging from the lake
West Lake (Xihu), Hangzhou
In the morning I met Omri and Diego for breakfast in one of the endless Starbucks coffees in China. This one is just by the lake, and it was really nice walking there on the bank while rain drops were falling on my head (had to say that line from the song...).
A golden ox merging from the lake
West Lake (Xihu), Hangzhou
As it was raining a bit and I wasn't feeling very well - I decided that I'll go back to Hangzhou soon, and of course take Rob with me... I took my backpack from the hostel, and went home...
(still not feeling great- laying in bed since I got here...)
(still not feeling great- laying in bed since I got here...)
Saturday, December 23, 2006
baaaaa I feel ichy...
Went to sleep last night - put on the alarm clock so I wont sleep all day, but the universe had different plans for me: I really didn't sleep all day - but I feel really bhhaaaa... Headache and a sore throat and a general feeling like my head is gonna fall off... So I guess I'll rest today - maybe go get me a ticket to Hangzhou for tomorrow later on... oof... well... It's OK, I have 5 days off school (including the weekend) so I'm not in a hurry. Besides- I have another exam on Friday - so I better study a bit...
***
Just a note-
Especially when I have a headache or don't feel very well- I hate the Chinese!!! Why??? Why??? Why do they have to honk their horns all the time everywhere all the time for hours and hours??? They are such noisy ppl, and again- I usually don't like it - but I let it go, but when I'm sick - I just hate it!
***
Just a note-
Especially when I have a headache or don't feel very well- I hate the Chinese!!! Why??? Why??? Why do they have to honk their horns all the time everywhere all the time for hours and hours??? They are such noisy ppl, and again- I usually don't like it - but I let it go, but when I'm sick - I just hate it!
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