the adventures renew

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Leaving China for Malaysia, I, with ample assistance from Laura, chose a budget airline and one of the worlds fastest growing  airlines too from what I understand.  At any rate, they must be saving money by not paying gate fees as we eschewed the traditional gate at start and stop points after leaving China – even though an ample number of gates appeared to be available.

And the hike to the terminal once in Kula Lumpur, do not even get me started.  And I have been on hikes before while in the Boy Scouts.  – it was late, hot like we were in the tropics – (well duh ) – and oh so full of that sweet smell of airport fuel, diesel fuel for the trucks, and just hot asphalt and concrete.  

 I sat in the back, my choice on the second flight as I knew I would get to get on - off quickly as they use both doors on loading and un- loading the aircraft – really a good idea.

 Also in the Kuala Lumpur terminal, I saw my first, in person, women in full Arab – Moslem regalia complete with the face covered and only eye slits for them to see out of.   Patt and I often speak of the filter/funnel you go through in international airports and even local airports as the distribution of people is carried out.  Once again it was remarkable from Chengdu to Penang.


 The lobby is full of host country/local population, the departure lounges beginning a segregation by destination, of course, and that is where Arabs, then  Americans,  all the way through the litany of travelers to Zambians begin the segregation and filtering of peoples.  For example the departure lounge for China in Chicago is at least half full of Chinese looking people, and the departure lounge for Malaysia in Chengdu had a large number of people who did not look like Chinese – only one Westerner (that was me) – as I was now with Indians, Malays, Indonesians, and Chinese diaspora people – and so on.  Once in KL, going to Penang it continued and actually picked up a couple of westerners as Malaysia has a higher percentage of western people than does China..  an so the transition was complete as I was filtered/ funneled out of China and into Malaysia.  It is fascinating to me as a people watcher who enjoys distant travel.

 The airplane above, landed, was assaulted by service vehicles and personnel, as luggage off loaded, loaded, food service serviced, and the plane cleaners cleaned.  Then within minutes of unloading was reloading -- and making preparations for departure - more like a bus stop than an airline.  (the plane above is of the same Air Asia I was on, this one just had it's owner Chairman's picture painted on it.) . This airline does get luggage to the luggage pick up carousel !    ---and by the way- the my suitcase was there -- and you all may imagine, I can get to a carousel as soon as most anyone.

 Once here and with Charles and Linda,  we had a delightful first evening.  It so happened that Charles and Linda, ever being the gracious hosts, arranged for some big time Chinese Buddhist festival, replete with parade for me to enjoy.  Actually I think from  listening to C & L talk, I think about anytime you come, there will be a festival of some type – as the Buddhists and Hindus compete in a who can be most garish contest.   

 Apparently I will miss one of the larger festivals held on the island, but aside from a would like to see a bit of it -- sounds like something worth missing- sorta like a Chinese New Year or Thai water festival.-- I guess something of the feeling of those who are not fans of the State Fair might feel about the fair.  This is based on discussion with above hosts - with whom I am glad to be staying.

 A great deal of effort was going into getting the parade underway which included much praying, chanting, burning of incense and a no-one-is-in-charge-here final preparations – or perhaps it was everyone is in charge –The resulting efforts were lots of efforts, and then more efforts. ---- eventually this boat was hoisted onto the backs of a dozen or so "carriers of the boat"- and parade ready.

 While waiting this Monk and I discussed the fact that the USA is a long way from here-  He was right about that too.  Once again confirming my children's suspicion of me potentially talking with about anybody anytime and about anywhere.

and in the background was a room full of monks and supplicants chanting and such.  and actually a lot of photography going on-- so much so that even I did not feel conspicuous taking pictures.

a technology park

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 You know what that is.  -- A day or so ago, we went out to eat at the closest McDonalds which was about 30 minutes away.  It is located in this cities technology park like place where high tech industries with names we recognize are located.  The McDonalds looked like one on the outside, and on the inside, it was identical except for the language.  There were one or two unique items on the menu, but the basic hamburger – which I got – was IDENTICAL, right down to the slightly gummy bread.  The one big difference, there were no Hispanics working at this one.

The McDonalds, along with a Subway are located in the new “Technology Park” part of town.  Think of it as a gigantic RTP and you are getting close to the idea.  This place goes on for miles and miles.  It is landscaped to a plush green and that also goes on and on.   This is an example of what I have a hard time imaging here.  It does not fit my pre-set idea of what ought to be here

 The buildings in this version of research Triangle Park, are new and have that Chinese flair (I guess you could call it that )  where the buildings are odd shaped, have interconnections, and use one heck of a lot of glass.

 This is what I mean, you got your tall building, lots of glass, and and no way looks like a steritypical type old style communist structure.-- this is not a tobacco barn.

The base is a little weird if you ask me, but no one has yet.  The buldings behind the roundy glass thing are apartments.  There are lots of those scattered, no grouped tightly among the other office looking buildings.

 See what I mean about flair and a bit odd shaped glass type thing. 

Most places I have been I have not had as good an angle to get a picture, or the sky and buildings are obscured as it is often overcast – this day was a wonderful clear day – but often the sky is overcast due to season, due to this city being surrounded by mountains with humidity and fog, and of course, there is that good ole standby – pollution.  
And as is obvious, several of these photos were taken from the car as we drove through PART of the complex.

What it was -- was football

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With respect to Andy Griffith’s monologue – I was party to the advent of football on a campus in China.  It happened this way --Matt and I were on campus during the first week of school when students are encouraged to join, participate with or become involved with extra circular activities.  

Along the internal campus road that was next to one of the large cafeterias on campus and near playing fields, ball courts, and so on students had set up booths to introduce their “club” society, interest group or whatever.  In front of the roller-blade club, the club members had set up an obstacle course and were putting on a show of moving through it kinda like ice skaters – and these guys were really good too.

 In addition to roller blades, there was mountain biking, photography, drama, several ethnic clubs, various music type clubs, (did not see young Republicans or Democrats), and many which could not be identified by someone like me who is reading Chinese characters challenged (again, my teacher’s fault).  This booth in particular, despite the best efforts at signage did not seem to be to catching on. 

  

I sorta got the idea that Matt’s idea of introducing football, --good ole USA – Demon Deacon type of football – to the group of these students would be a challenge,  This was reinforced when as Matt was walking towards us, one of the boys asked me “what is that ball he has?”

Matt has done this before,  he lines the guys up in facing lines, puts them through  a rudimentary passing the ball drill while teaching how to hold the ball type instructions.  Anyway we pass the ball back and forth across the two lines of kids (by the second time down the line, there was noticeable and significant improvement – of course given the starting point, that may not be all that much praise).

Anyway, then divide into teams of four, no rushing the passer, four downs to score and losing team leaves the field to return for another chance.  We were playing on the soft surface in the endzone of their soccer field that is part of the track.  It really is a nice track facility.

 And this guy with the ball, will not be playing on Sundays as the saying goes.  The play was an energetic all out effort., though it will be a while before any of these guys are seeing a lot of playing time –Matt has the only ball.

 This guy who also joined us for football, was playing his guitar and singing with some friends when I stopped to talk with him.  His English was quite good and we had a very enjoyable visit and I got to hear some Chinese music that sounded a bit like American Folk music of the 60s. – I liked it.  He knew what folk music was after one of the guys looked it up on the dictionary in his telephone.  They have nice phones too.

and the campus looked exactly like a college campus -- a nice college campus with lots of money to develop the facilitiy and such.

Our apartment

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Patt and I have an apartment here in China, well actually Matt has two and one he is managing for us.  All we do is show up, all the bills paid, internet hooked up, hot water and furniture.  Well actually we paid the bills, but they were paid and are being paid for us.

That is our apartment building in the middle of the picture, the second gray like building from the right.  Photo is taken from the roof of one of Matt and Laura’s friends apartments in the same complex as Matt and Laura showing an oft walked between our apartment and theirs.

This is the oriental garden/park that our balcony looks down on.  It is quite pretty , not so functional, but pretty.  New construction is just off photo to left. 

Inside is new, and quite nice, two bedrooms, this is the guest bedroom.  You are invited to come visit.  That is your closet.  If you come, we will go ride on the big web-wow bus and go to Tien Fu square, and other places.

The bath and kitchen are not spacious, heck, they are not big, they are downright tiny- but typical.  The refrigerator, slightly larger than dorm sized is just off the kitchen photo to the left in a most cramped even more tiny space.  Sharing the bathroom with guests is just what we will have to do.

Our master bedroom has been shown before, but here is the main room that opens to the balcony as does the master bedroom.

I do not spend a lot of time on the balcony,   though I do on occasion go out just to check out the day.  There are not a lot of my neighbors out either though some come out in the morning to do exercises and stretches.  I took the following with my telephoto just to give you an idea of what my neighbors are doing with their balcony. 

Lots of them have plants,

Most are used for storage of some sort.

And this one gets the I need another closet award.  Of course there are no closets in the units.  

This is my front door, it is a card security entry. This is opposite from the side that my apartment looks over.   

 And this is my apartment from the little garden/ park thingee.  My balcony is on the 12^th of 17 floors.  It is one of the second column in from the right.

 Down on street level this is a common sight, an old man walking stiff legged with his hands behind his back – this guy is still looking up as I am not sure he understood my efforts at telling him which one was mine and that I was taking a picture of it.

 Also there are lots of grandmothers with babies.  Julianna took this photo.  There are very few little children or teenagers in the complex.  As the complex is a new one and has mostly new families and grandparents.   Also the kids if they older than three or four are in school.

This is the playground, yeah it is not much.  These "exercise machines seen here are incredibly common, mostly unused and pretty useless.  Julianna and Lydia do play on them a bit though.

 There is little evidence of the advertised tennis court, fishing lake,  or golf course as shown on the advertising that covers a construction wall.  The “theme” or motto or something of the complex is “Choosing because we love the land and all the gift (sic) we received  We will tell a story about the original style of life"  I am not so sure about the story to be told as the billboard about the river front district is replete with English and French looking names- and no little old men or grandmothers at all.

When finished there is supposed to be a riverfront shopping - dining district on the lower level of the buildings that face the river.  Having retail, service, and dining  activities on the ground floor of the exterior buildings of an apartment complex is the norm.  the complexes are quite large, gated, walled and NUMEROUS.  Our building alone has between 250 and 300 units in it. 

 At 2.5 * persons per unit there will be a lot of people.  There will be approximately 20 buildings when the construction is complete, so we have lots and friends and neighbors.  The population of this apartment complex could easily be 12,000.-- Just this complex.  And it is not a terribly large one as apartment complexes go.  Have you heard, China has a lot of people.

(*The source for the 2.5 p/u is field observation-  and as most of us know, if you use a decimal in your calculations, you have an aura of accuracy and people will think you now what you are talking about.) 

A Big Weh-wow bus

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A – A-  A   A big weh-wow bus.  And I have understated the excitement of discovered communication that is present when Isaac talks about the bus I ride into town for my Mandarin lessons.   Isaac is really into the stage of identifying and classifying things.  His excitement when he is on target and wanting to communicate is a hoot.  And the letter "L" appears to be endearingly difficult for him.  Initial "R"s aren't so easy either.  His favorite color is bwou but he has considerable  interest in wed, when seen as a color for cars.

 The “Three hundred” is another name for the bus and it is quite nice as far as busses go.  I have never been on it when it was not full or at extreme capacity. 

 I have sat in the very front seat – great view and exciting game of just how close can we come to that whatever it is that is in front of you- , along side row seats,  the very back row and even stood for a while too.

 The commute is between 45 and 55 minutes and is accompanied by regular blowing of horn and hollering by the bus attendant.  If you like quiet, best not spend a lot of time in a Chinese city.  And aggressive driving!   Apparently road rage is not an issue here though I sure would have it unless I did some serious culturifying.  Cut off the other guy seems to be the way to go.  Just never ever make contact with your front bumper to another anything.  That is how the guilty party is identified.  Seems to work.  Not nearly as many bent or banged up cars that you would see in most North Carolina cities.

And the roads are really quite extensive.  Of course there are upwards of 10 million or so people, give or take a couple of million in the metro area—and it is metro.  Sometimes on my commute we are on the elevated highway but most times on the lower level.  Elevated highways seem to be the norm.  

Also  here English is the second language on many signs, the recordings on subways, on airlines, and so on.  Sometimes the results are “interesting”

Line one reads " Appropriate storage of article on one's person"
Line two reads "Take care of the environment of the bus.  No smoking"
Line three reads  "Give your seat to the old, weak,  ill, disabled, and pregnant activity."

one one occasion I was offered a seat.  I took it under the assumption there was another classification - that being the foreigner sighted that day.  The other admonitions as far as I can tell are somewhat ignored.

As is obvious, there is more information than those that is available.  It is however unintelligible to me.  (Again, my Mandarin teacher's fault )

and you probably would find things on the road that you would not see in most North Carolina towns.