The kids and I took a couple of walks today outside our gated neighborhood. First we went to see a boat that is being built and launched on Jinji lake nearby our house. This boat has been a topic of ongoing conversation with my co-workers and neighbors. At first we thought it was a building that merely looked like a boat, but as they proceeded, it became clear that it was truly a boat. Two days ago on a morning run I noticed they had installed a rudder and that clinched it - the boat is made to sail.
Two days later we witnessed the start of a slow launch. As of Sunday night, the boat's stern is in the water and the rest still on dry land and we heard a story that the boat will shuttle passengers back and forth between Rainbow Plaza on the west side of the lake and Modern Plaza on the east. The Chinese are certainly not afraid to take on new and ambitious projects like shipbuilding on a 10 foot deep reservoir.
Later in the day, Joseph and I took a long walk to the aforementioned Modern Plaza. It was quite a long walk, probably two miles, but we had many diversions along the way. We saw people fishing and strolled through lakefront parks with lots of feng-shui inspired paths and landscaping. We could check the progres on the new Jinji Lake cruise ship across the water. And we discovered a construction site where a small amusement park will be built, including a 300 foot tall ferris wheel ! This project has is only just begun - there was an excavator making a few holes on the site - but they had posters up showing the the design of the park.
We ended up at a place called the "Daytona Sports Bar" which friends had advised us was a good place to take the kids because it offers air hockey and playstation. Joesph and I played some games, ordered some drinks at the bar, and had a man to man talk about his recent misbehaving.
Finally, we were too tired to walk all the way back home and instead hailed the motorcycle cab you see in the second picture. This battery powered motorcycle carried us home comfortably in the bicycle lane at a speed not much faster than a brisk jog. Cost for the ride was 15 RMB ($2) and was well worth it.
Two days later we witnessed the start of a slow launch. As of Sunday night, the boat's stern is in the water and the rest still on dry land and we heard a story that the boat will shuttle passengers back and forth between Rainbow Plaza on the west side of the lake and Modern Plaza on the east. The Chinese are certainly not afraid to take on new and ambitious projects like shipbuilding on a 10 foot deep reservoir.
Later in the day, Joseph and I took a long walk to the aforementioned Modern Plaza. It was quite a long walk, probably two miles, but we had many diversions along the way. We saw people fishing and strolled through lakefront parks with lots of feng-shui inspired paths and landscaping. We could check the progres on the new Jinji Lake cruise ship across the water. And we discovered a construction site where a small amusement park will be built, including a 300 foot tall ferris wheel ! This project has is only just begun - there was an excavator making a few holes on the site - but they had posters up showing the the design of the park.
We ended up at a place called the "Daytona Sports Bar" which friends had advised us was a good place to take the kids because it offers air hockey and playstation. Joesph and I played some games, ordered some drinks at the bar, and had a man to man talk about his recent misbehaving.
Finally, we were too tired to walk all the way back home and instead hailed the motorcycle cab you see in the second picture. This battery powered motorcycle carried us home comfortably in the bicycle lane at a speed not much faster than a brisk jog. Cost for the ride was 15 RMB ($2) and was well worth it.
1 comment:
I enjoyed reading about your new life in China. If you have as good a time as I did in Japan, Korea, and Thailand it will be a wonderful experience. I will share the readings with Dick. I am now "partially" retired as I stepped down from being the director of the nursing program and now work only two days a week. I will check in every once in a while. Sheila and Dick
Post a Comment