New Bikes

Katie Melua (see clip) thinks there are 9 million bicycles in Beijing. Well after today there are 9 milion and 4!

We succumbed, well that is not true, I succumbed. We bought bikes today. Now I know what you are thinking, I would be the last person on a bike. Usually I would agree, but here in China it is really a good thing to have. We are so close to so many things that it is a pity to take a taxi when you can ride a bike, it is self imposed exercise and it is fun. Everything is flat so it is easy riding and here they actually have lanes for bikes and their own set of bike traffic lights.

I went riding today and bought the groceries and it was so nice riding along, in some ways it was kind of strange that I was actually riding a bike in China. I still keeping reminding myself that we are here.

I'd like to introduce you to our bikes. The first bike is mine - the chick bike, please note the lovely basket for shopping

Then we have Claudia's very pink and pretty bike.

Introducing Emily's cool kid bike - she picked the colour and everything.

Finally, the man of the houses bike.... for reasons only know to him, he needed a more special bike than the rest of us!

Now I have to ride the thing!

We are all so blessed,

I don't care what anyone says or thinks if we are all blessed. Sure sometimes we might have to tighten our belts and go without one or two luxuries, but we are still all blessed.

I know this to be true from what I have seen this week.

Experience 1 - I was at the Supermarket the other week and a lady came and helped me with my overflowing trolley and helped me push it to my taxi. For her she gets the 10c back when the trolley is returned. I was so grateful for her help so I gave her the $1. She took my hand, kissed it and actually cried. When I shared the story with my friend she said, "Now she can eat this week."

Experience 2 - On Saturday night we were at Ikea having dinner. I looked across at the area where we returned our food and utensils, there was a lady over there looking at the trays. She then pulls a plastic bottle out of her bag and starts pouring the left over soft drinks into it, she put them into her bag and then collected the empty cans to recycle. Then out came a plastice container and she starts collecting the letover food that she could eat!

So no matter how much you feel you are struggling, just look around and be grateful for everything you have, I know I will.

China after 6 weeks.

Apparently every cloud has a silver lining! In China this is also true, the upside to the pollution in China is an amazing sunset and this shot proves it.

We have been in China 6 weeks and now can speak about some things in China that I will never get used to no matter how long I am here;

1. Poverty and wealth can exist side by side.
We live in what is considered a wealthier part of Beijing. Our apartment building is a very expensive pace to live, yet right outside our building is a very poor housing area. We drive through this area every day. Many houses have no running water and I have 2 bathrooms and at least 7 sinks! The photos below are taken from my balcony. One is shot from the left and one is shot from the right.


2. Dog Poo!
Dogs are very popular pets here in China, yet nobody seems to have a problem letting there dogs poo anywhere! The number of times we have dogeded poos or even trod in them is getting higher every day.

3. Chinese Way of Life.
The Chinese are so proud of their country and there is a general sense of optimism here. There is a level of peace and contentment of life here in China. Every morning you see people out enjoying life, exercising, doing Thai Chi, walking dogs, playing cards or just having a chat. There is a sense of family and an enjoyment of life that is hard to put into words, it is a feeling that I enjoy being a part of.


4. Men in Uniforms.
Everywhere you look there are men in uniforms! Not the type you are thinking. Guards are everywhere - at the shops, banks and the front gate of every apartment building........ and the concerning thing is that the guns usually are real!



5. Steps with Ramps.
You don't realise how integral bycicles are a part of life here. I am even contemplating buying a bike! This land is flat and a bike is such a good way to travel (you don't step in dog shit either), There are lots of overpasses for pedestrians and besides all the steps are these ramps for bikes. Claudia thinks they are ramps for her to run up and down, much to the disdain of those trying move their bikes.

Well that is my little take on China........stay tuned.

Weekend in Singapore.

How lucky am I? Less than a month in China and I get to go to Singapore for the weekend. I went there for a workshop for school. I was so excited to be going as I had never been to Singapore before.

Singapore is a gorgeous city and I got to shop and eat without children! I did miss them though (sort of). I learnt a lot and the highlight of the trip for me was a Singapore Sling at Raffles even though it did cost $27!!!!!

First Day of School

I am so busy. We have been at school a whole week and only now am I putting up first day shots. My girls are loving being at school and having a great time, actually so are their parents.
WAB is a great school and feel we are settling in well.

These shots are taken in front of our building - the gardens here are lovely and a good photo venue. I will post some shots of our apartment once it is tidy enough to photograph!

Sports uniforms on our balcony apartment

Emily and Miss Flowers

Claudia and Miss Diaz