Virtual Tour pt. 1

I feel like sharing some of the more captivating things that I have been lucky enough to snare with my camera.

To the left here, we have a ... er... some kind of enclosed, motorized taxi-trike.  These things are slow usually slow when you add the weight of a foreigner.  Whenever I'm inside one of them, it's a mixture of fun and paranoia--thinking that at any moment the structural integrity could go out the window.  I'm perhaps more than slightly afraid that my soft, white ass is going to become acquainted with pavement.  That being said, prices are negotiable.  When there are no taxis to be found, these little guys can get the job done.

Living in the city, it's quite easy to forget that there exists some natural beauty in China.  Just twenty minutes south of my location on campus, there is a quaint park where people sometimes go for barbecue, fishing, horse riding, and other r&r.

This was my second time to this particular location.  The first time was in September when blistering heat and soggy humidity made the experience slightly less enjoyable.  Being spring, the humidity hasn't yet made me feel as though I could swim in the air.  Barbecue was quite delicious.  Unfortunately, I don't think I have any pictures of the food...

The park is split into specific areas.  One for crawdad fishing, one for proper fishing, one for horse riding, one for barbecue, and you get the point.  Some of the fishing spots looked quite striking, in my own humble opinion.  I could imagine sitting in a place like that, on the left, listening to classic rock and shooting the shit with one of my best mates from morning 'til night.  I can scarcely think of anything more relaxing.  Maybe a foot massage....

We drove to the park and put all of our food and barbecue materials on a table.  Then, we waited for the boss to come so that we could get coals to use.  We set up base here at this place (right), and I spent the afternoon helping to prepare food to be barbecued and eagerly trying to decipher Mandarin.

I was there with a good friend.  I was relaxing and enjoying myself, but I wasn't really actively engaging in conversation.  Everyone was speaking Mandarin.  While I was eagerly listening to the conversation, attempting to decipher what was being said, I was powerless to participate.

While there, I found this lovely bit of Chinglish.  I imagine that the Chinese was simply plugged into an online translator.

"Upper reaches is vast department Er ooze prairie and Mongolia country steppe, in thousands kilometers of without industrial pollution pure green base, pure natural ture qualities, make red plum brand glutinous corn, mouthfeel perfume is pure, sweet glue appropriate, can steam.  Boil.  Burn.  Roast is you assembly relax, with present the best option of relatives and friends."  Couldn't have said it any better myself.

Now that it's spring, I'm noticing that couples are taking to the outside world in droves.  Even bfe park was no exception.  You'll notice that the scenery is quite romantic.  As they get further along the path, they'll be walking side by side along the bank.

This park had several buildings that were "in the old aesthetic"...  Whatever that is supposed to mean.  No, I know what it means.  It means "rustic" and "quaint".  I like to look at em, but there are people there who live in them.  I don't know if I could handle a life like that.  I like my computer and my music too much, perhaps.

I'm on the fourth floor in my apartment.  I have a wonderful view right outside my window of the student tennis court.  Every morning, I can awake to hear the glorious sound of tennis balls being jostled about and about twenty basketballs not much further away.  The above picture is of a PE class.  I have a couple videos of them, but I don't think they're worth posting.  My camera can't zoom for video, so the quality is atrocious.  It is, however, exceedingly hilarious to witness the shit their coach makes them do.

Until just recently, the view of the "nature" outside of my window has been drab and uninteresting.  With the spring, though, comes beautiful color.  The blossoms on these trees are breath-taking.  I sit on my balcony and stare out at the foliage for about an hour each day.

I've even grown accustomed to hearing the tennis, basketball, and passersby.  It almost seems haunting when they're not about.  I picture that some ghastly event has taken place and that the apocalypse is upon me.  And then every morning, unless it's raining, I awaken reassured when I'm surrounded by the glorious music of activity.

Spring brings beauty, but there's two sides to every coin.  My allergies have been playing games with me.  Now that it seems that winter is finally put to bed, maybe that means I won't get tonsillitis for the third time in a few months.  My fingers are crossed.