Trips – Page 3 – Just An East Coast Girl

Top of the World!

It’s up and over …most of the time.

The trip from Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada to Shenyang, Laioning in China and return is a long one. It usually is about 29 hours from start to finish one way with wait times and long airport lays in Beijing and if there is weather like today’s flights, it’s even longer!!

Today is the return flight. I was up at 4 am Monday December 12 China time ( 4 am seems to be “my” wake time in China) It was that way when we lived there and last year when I visited, and same this year. I’m up and ready…and sad to be going…

We left the hotel at 8:30, arrived at Shenyang Taoxian Airport at 9:30.

Our flight was supposed to leave at 11:15 am but snow and ice conditions in Shenyang meant de icing before we could take off. It was almost 12 before we left and arrived in Beijing at Beijing Capital Airport at 1:30 ish.

Beijing is always a long lay on this trip anyway but when we landed we found out our flight was delayed because of snow in Toronto. An even longer lay over! So we wandered around browsing the shops, enjoyed the quaint spots to have a coffee, had a bowl of wonton soup and a Portuguese egg tart and coffee and had a massage. I opted for a 30 minute foot massage followed by a 15 minute shoulders and neck massage. I curled up under a cozy blanket and had a little nap , it was wonderful!! The guys had a body massage and while they enjoyed it, I don’t think they napped like I did.

Our flight revised time for take off was 19:50 Beijing time but it was 20:50 before we got away. A long 12 hour flight! I learn to pace the time by enjoying the hot meal, watching a movie and sleeping, getting up and down a bit and stretching. This time was great! David and I tried a new strategy seeing it was a Monday flight. We booked a window and an aisle with an empty seat in the middle. It worked this time!!! No body filled the seat and we had more space to stretch and take turns curling up on the seats. This was the best!!! It wasn’t a full flight either so it was a bit quieter.

Mid flight there is a snack of noodles, sandwich and cookies. I used to enjoy the noodles because the hot broth feels great when your throat is so dry. These last few times though I don’t get the noodles because of the salt content. I just carry my thermos bottle filled with hot water. Yep, I’m like the Chinese people. I love my hot water. It really works for so many things.

The flight pattern is generally “up and over “the Arctic and down in to Canada. I remember only one trip we flew over Europe and Russia. It made me nervous that trip because we never did that flight plan before, but I guess occasionally that flight plan is taken depending on air current.

About an hour and a half before landing breakfast is served. Who wants eggs on an airplane? Sorry, not me so I choose the Chinese congee which is like rice porridge with mushrooms. The fresh congee you get in a Chinese home or restaurant is so much better than this, but I prefer it over the eggs and little white sausage.

Then every thing happens quickly. Breakfast cleaned up, paperwork for customs and arrival passed out and needs to be filled out, a quick trip to the WC to wash up and apply a clean face and it’s time to land. The BRUTAL flight is over.

The short flight from Toronto to Halifax is usually a piece of cake, especially if you arrive in time or there’s no weather . Today is Monday December 12th still ( from the future…China time back to Canada time) we arrived at 19:50 lol and were delayed getting to the gate. With only about 20 minutes to make our flight we fast tracked through customs and security running fast all the way!!! Thankfully we had some pretty great Airport Security people.

We arrived at the gate sweaty and out of breath just in time to board. The flight to Halifax was smooth. So happy and thankful to be in Halifax after all the delays, I had to give this bear a quick hug!

The drive home was brutal. The 103 was a mess of ice and snow and very very slippery. Thankfully the guys weren’t driving and we had a chauffeur.

We’re HOME after a VERY long day and My clean fresh bed looks so inviting …Now sleep!!!!

No one likes goodbyes

It’s time! Time to say goodbye to my much loved China.

I can’t express how I feel about this every time. Each time we leave it gets harder. It takes me weeks to come around when we get home. It’s almost as if I am in withdrawal. Hopefully this year will be a little different since it’s Christmas in a couple weeks and I’ll have lots to do to prepare…no time to think!

Last night, our driver and his daughter came to say goodbye.

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And today at the airport my dearest friend came to see us off. He works for China Civil Aviation Authority and has security clearance. So he came right to our gate to see us on our plane.Goodbyes are never easy.

So for now it’s not goodbye…it’s like my driver and friend ALWAYS say…

see you later!

And now we fly!

Time Flies!

Time Flies! It is a saying my Chinese friends like to use. Our time sure has gone quickly. Today is the last full day in Shenyang. Sadly, tomorrow morning we are flying home!

BUT…today is Sunday. What to do?

Well…we ended up shopping. LOTS and LOTS of shopping!

We stopped at the bank for some money, very important because China is a CASH society more so than a card society. Especially when you’re a foreigner. They don’t want foreign plastic.

WE jumped in a cab and went off to Wuai market. On the way we stopped at the Catholic Church to show Ron the amazing architecture. Shenyang’s large, Gothic style city cathedral stands out quite clearly from the surrounding buildings. Generally the cathedral serves as a backdrop for photos, but on Sundays the area is teeming with people and dancing in the square. The church offers at least four Masses in Chinese each Sunday beginning at 7am.

Then on to Wuai. I didn’t get a lot of pics here. I was busy picking out a couple “Chinese fashions” ( no, not the hats)It’s so hard not to buy these cute outfits and for this reason among others is why I only brought carry on luggage and not a suitcase. We looked at clothes, handbags, watches, Chinese decor items…and bought a few things.

Then off to San Hao Street. This is the electronics street. The guys had a couple small items on their list and I wanted to get the screen on my iPhone replaced. I thought my screen was cracked in a few places but thankfully it turns out it was just the protective screen. I got one of the really good protective screens put on last year when I was here. I didn’t realize they would crack like this . So for 15rmb ($2.85) I got a new cover.

Street food was the way I dealt with my bit of hunger today. A street wrap and sweet potato. The guys opted for McDonalds.

David wanted to show Ron the tool market. Every guys dream under one roof. Whatever you can imagine. We asked the price of a HUGE vice at one stall. 800rmb. That’s $150. Only a $150. You would pay that for a small one at home.

We finished up the shopping back near the hotel in the underground fashion mall at Taiyuan Jie. This place is the absolute coolest for shopping with 2 levels all underground going for miles under the city. And again the coolest unimaginable thing happened. I was walking along and heard “Anna”. I turned around and there was my friend Wanda’s driver, Long. Oh Long! I can’t believe it’s you! I am so happy to see you. I spent many days with Wanda and her driver Long shopping. We would always check with Long before purchasing items, whether or not it was a good deal. Long has terrific fashion sense.

It has been a very full, very busy wonderful week. David was here for networking meetings and so we didn’t get a lot of time together but we both knew that going in to it. Tonight we had dinner together just the two of us. We took the subway to Mix C. I was there earlier in the week by myself and had been wanting to get back at night. WE had a wonderful dinner with jiaozi of course and then took a few pictures outside in the beautiful lights of the city. Ahh…Shenyang! You have my heart. I will miss you. ❤

Then it was back to the hotel and try to stuff my weekly purchases in the carryon that was already full when I came. BUT I did it!

Now…sleep! Goodnight Shenyang

What are the chances?

Shenyang is a city of 8 million. 8 million people!!!! That is always so hard for me to fathom in my “small town on the east coast of Canada” mind.

But I LOVE it! I love the busy-ness, and adventure of this city. As we were landing a week ago, I said to my husband it feels like we are coming home. He shakes his head and thinks I am crazy. But somehow, in this HUGE city I can function, I know how to live here. I will truly miss it when we leave tomorrow.

So, in a city of 8 million, what are the chances that you will accidentally bump in to one of your sweetest and dearest little Chinese friends. My friend Xaioxu is the same age 24 as my youngest son. When I lived here I got to know her and her family. Her parents speak very little English. Xaioxu and I would get together so she could practice her English. We enjoyed dinners together and I even spent a Saturday afternoon playing badminton with her parents. Great and wonderful memories.

Xaioxu and I stay in touch with an app called WeChat. We message and send pics back and forth. That is actually how I stay in touch with all my Chinese friends. Xaioxu knew I was coming to China, she didn’t know I was actually coming to Shenyang. I don’t always tell my Chinese friends a lot before I travel here because it is just so hard to see everyone.

So…here’s what happened. I was in the mall close to the hotel going to find a restaurant for dinner with David and the networking team. I was ready to go up an escalator and I heard “Anna”, “Anna is that you?” I turned around in utter surprise because ” who is calling my name here?” and there with extreme excitement was my sweet little xaioxu. WoW!!!!! I was so excited and she was too!

She wasn’t even in the part of town where she lives and imagine meeting her? Lots of hugs and smiles and a very quick catch up, with a few pics, she told me to have a wonderful few days in Shenyang and that we would chat soon.

What are the chances? I feel so BLESSED!

Choo choo…it’s off to Dandong

…and the Great Wall.

One thing that is a MUST when you come to China is to see the GREAT WALL! David & I have been to many sections of this amazing wall. You know it’s not all one connecting wall right? And no it can’t be seen from space.

We wanted to provide opportunity for David’s boss Ron to see this. Since a stopover in Beijing where most of the famous wall sections are located wasn’t going to work, we decided that on our final weekend here we would take a VERY FAST train ride to nearby Dandong city. It is a 3.5 hour car ride which ends up being longer or a quick 1 hour train ride! We chose the train so he could experience traveling on a high speed train too!

Dandong is the largest Chinese border city, Facing North Korea across the Yalu River which demarcates the Sino-North Korean border. Dandong has had a dynamic history because of its strategic location for the northeast’s rich natural resources and because of its convenient access to the ocean. It is designated as a major export production centre for the province, and is a port city connected by rail with Shenyang and Sinuiju. A significant amount of trade with North Korea flows through the city.

First stop in Dandong, the GREAT wall at Hushan. Hushan Great Wall lies near the Yalu River in Dandong City of Liaoning Province, and faces North Korea across the river. It crawls on the Hushan Mountain which literally means “Tiger Mountain”, so named because the two towering peaks resemble two tiger ears pricking up into the sky when seen from afar. The Hushan Great Wall was built to strengthen the frontier defense in 1469 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and is the eastern most point of the huge military defensive system.

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After the wall we headed back to Dandong city. The Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge, a railway bridge connecting Dandong with Sinuiju is the big attraction to see along the waterfront. The differences between the Chinese and North Korean sides are immense: Dandong is brightly lit, glitzy and filled with people. Construction equipment and modern cars are everywhere, hospitals and train stations are at the expected Chinese levels. Sinuiju, on the other hand, goes completely dark at night, looks run-down and if you ever do see construction activity it’s going to be manual labor with even basic tools seemingly in short supply. Border guard activities are similarly different: While on the North Korean side a lone soldier with an AK47 can be seen shivering in the cold in regular intervals, the Chinese side instead uses FLIR-like camera systems on large poles to keep an overview of activities along the river.

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15327478_10154807440051514_5054806811604493240_n And just one more thing…

When in Dandong, many foreigners want to try what the locals call the “sweet meat”. Well, it’s not sweet, and this will be my third experience, But for Ron…we once again had DOG. It is a dish that is served in the Chinese Korean Restaurants.

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Yes… stewed dog.

Ron has had many experiences and tasted many kinds of food this week!

Next…An afternoon coffee to warm up ( and erase the taste of lunch lol) and then to the train station to head back to Shenyang.

It’s been quite a FULL day!!! But I love the adventure .

Tonight we arrived back in Shenyang and just stayed in and relaxed for dinner. David ordered room service.

Goodnight!

Heading North!

…The “North” part of Shenyang city that is. There are some great restaurants and one of my favourite parks is in the north. Today, my last “free day” because David’s networking meetings finish up today, I went to Beiling Park.

In 1927, Government of the Liaoning Province established the park, which includes Zhaoling, the tomb of the second Qing emperor. The construction of the tomb took place between 1643 and 1651. West of the tomb are flower gardens and lakes.

It is a very picturesque park and since I didn’t get there last year , it was a must on this trip. And in the snow…it has a whole different feel! There were so many “photographers’ capturing this beautiful day on film. So beautiful!!

A Seafood Hotpot at Shifu Square on a SnOwY day in Shenyang

How’s that for a title?

Today it snowed!! I figured it would, and I am just like a young girl!!! eek BIG squeals! Watching from my window on the 11th floor, playing “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow” I couldn’t wait to get out and play in it…rather just walk in it. Today was full of traffic jams in slow moving traffic, taxis that didn’t want to take you anywhere, and overcrowded subways and buses because EVERYONE is using them today. SNOW days create a WHOLE new adventure in China!

15355757_1169509039783964_1883374236791759662_n 15390737_1169509149783953_1131657017718607501_n 15285013_1169509173117284_724836972556199281_n 15337525_1169509266450608_8777770906324635064_n 15337650_1169509243117277_2795293920620151827_n 15350695_1169509356450599_8264516546739722519_n 15338717_1169509469783921_8037714076449585894_n BUT I had to get to Shifu Square ( Government Square)

15390703_1169509279783940_2856259353785348787_n 15267981_1169509346450600_6952743402021153529_n And Today’s special EVENT was a Seafood hotpot with some members of the hiking group that we used to go out with on the weekend. 3 guys, 3 girls and me. They were thrilled to hear I was back in China and of course wanted to treat me to dinner. Sometimes I feel like I get invited to things like this just so they can have a foreigner sit with them at their table. Unfortunately the 3 ladies that were coming were traveling together and had a fender bender, very common on a day like this. I am so glad we took the subway rather than taxi. Anyway it ended up that I had lunch with the group leader (far right), my Chinese friend and another person I have never met from the club.

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This was interesting as I could just sit back ( the conversation was mainly Chinese) and enjoy as many plates of crabs, prawns, shrimp, clams, mussels, oysters and the like… were steamed in front of us. After the seafood came the regular hot pot items with one very interesting item…bone marrow. eww…but I ate it and it was ok.

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15390957_1169511836450351_5873541475521389427_n One thing I can not get used to is the mixed washrooms, side by side, at these restaurants.

15350497_1169511856450349_2533056416229015720_n On the way home I took more pics of the lovely snowfall before taking the subway which was sooooooo crowded. No pics of this because I was literally sandwiched between hundreds of people. I kept thinking if anything happened…explosion or whatever…I would never be found. SO MANY PEOPLE!!! That’s what happens on a snow day.

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David was late getting home from work. He had fun in the snow too, rather trying to get home in it from Michelin. Normally they take a bus but because of the weather the company figured it would be faster by subway too!

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This evening we were invited to dear sweet friends for dinner. Sarah has been here from the start of the Michelin Project in Shenyang and for the past two years has taken the position of site manager. You have to know she is an amazing lady to communicate in Chinese, and keep things top notch at the plant with mostly Chinese colleagues. There really aren’t too many expats left these days so her circle of business and the people she relies to get these accomplishments are Chinese. Our very first Christmas in China in 2011, they invited us to their home for Christmas dinner, along with a few other expats who didn’t go home for Christmas. Sarah & Rodney live in a serviced hotel apartment that does not have a kitchen and so over the years they have become close friends with the chef that prepares delicious meals for them tailored to their special diets. How wonderful is that? It was so lovely to catch up with her and her sweet husband Rodney. A perfect evening!

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Everyday here is like a gift and I will treasure it in my heart for days to come…or at least until one day I can return?

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Shopping in Shenyang

Today was all about a little retail therapy. Not a lot, just a little treat for me.

It was actually a nice day, a bit chilly… ok cold! BUT I dressed warm and went for a walk to Nan Er for a couple pieces of fabric. Some silk to make a couple scarves and silk to make some table runners or something. I will decide later. Chinese fabric is inexpensive here so it’s nice to take a little home. That was my treat!

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Then I took a cab to Mix C mall. This is one of my favourite Western-style malls. I had lunch at a little restaurant here and browsed the mall. The decorations for Christmas here are beautiful. I think I will have to try to return at night to get a few pictures outside.

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15327365_1167688469966021_4259709605013441003_n 15337397_1167689099965958_3885241903504236942_n 15326344_1167688193299382_1039349998834970514_n 15380415_1167688169966051_6792916461425314910_n 15327462_1167687626632772_667864250223713222_n 15401155_1167686899966178_1219555414763581145_n 15326374_1167665613301640_4803072146674222822_n 15349724_1167666393301562_766907759040151300_n 15267621_1167667076634827_2585493265294823339_n 15327356_1167667089968159_8640495338354667983_n 15401088_1167667106634824_801927865499405154_n 15380398_1167686353299566_4747971571786148584_n 15349696_1167686453299556_913048353501222017_n 15380535_1167686863299515_9132459514196034945_n 15380712_1167686633299538_7360881309575516960_n There is an indoor skating rink at this mall so I spent a little time watching the skating lessons. The little kids are so much fun to watch and you can tell that one day they will be great skaters.

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After Mix C I got a snack…little apples with candy coating. A real favourite this time of year.

15355704_1167650539969814_2245225570815959934_n Then just a quick little browse through Zhang lan guan…another market. It wasn’t very busy today and I guess that a lot of the markets are suffering now because of alibaba. EVERYONE is shopping online for EVERYTHING these days!

15317739_1167657166635818_1368954257785680618_n 15355584_1167657833302418_2098227877847247430_n 15380571_1167649293303272_5545616694545969592_n 15350550_1167649593303242_3290352822029635482_n I took the subway home. It’s much fast then taxi and a lot cheaper. Only 2RMB. It’s the fastest way during evening rush hour and some how the taxis struggle finding Somerset with the taxi card I give them.

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15420787_1167648119970056_336907928585647507_n I picked up a few things… tea eggs, tomato fruit and bananas, a couple seed squares ( peanut and sesame seed) and a McDonald’s coffee before returning to my hotel. I kinda felt like a Chinese person picking up their daily groceries from the market on their way home for supper.

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David has another dinner tonight …

15380280_1167810726620462_5688469703397143997_n … and I am relaxing and doing this blog post. Our time is going far too quickly. Tomorrow is Thursday already.

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Good night!

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Two Dinners on Tuesday

Today David & I each had our own separate functions to attend. After work he was invited to a large 25 person banquet dinner. These work dinners are very common when colleagues from other countries visit, when milestones are reached at the plant, or when someone is leaving. The Chinese people know how to put on quite a spread.

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The networking team from Canada, USA, Brazil and China 15337671_10154787710586514_4490759054001797139_n

Knowing that it would be a long day and late night for him, I got in touch with a Chinese friend that helped me teach at a couple schools while I was here, as well as tudor a bit privately. I spent the day at his office, then going back to my familiar and “happy place” Wulihe Park and my old apartment.

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My dinner tonight was with Chinese friends that I taught a bit of English to their children.

It was wonderful to reunite, BUT Chinese dinners are very long. We started at 4pm and didn’t finish until 8:30pm. It’s a very social event, and a lot of catching up and stories and cheers…thankfully I had a translator for some.

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I enjoyed some of my favourites Peking Duck, and silk worms 😛 The guys had some fun food as well…chicken feet and heads and silk worms ( shown in the pics above)…I am used to this food but I wonder how the newbies made out in their first dinner of this kind?

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We both had a lot of fun at our events and I even managed to get home before David. His dinner went even longer than mine. We were both tired and right off to bed. There’s more adventures tomorrow!

Good Monday Morning Shenyang!

Good Morning Shenyang! I hope today there are blue skies and warmer temperatures BUT …not likely.

Today is the first day of business meetings for David. So he was up early and ready to go! I was up early, actually earlier than him, and ready to figure out what to do today.

I have been in touch with a few different Chinese friends here and want to try and see them. I also want to go to a couple of parks and shops and of course my favourite Wulihe park but I may have to wait until we have a clear, less smog day. It’s just nice being here so I am trying to relax and savour the quiet moments. So that is exactly what I did today. Nothing much. Just enjoyed being here. I went out for a little, ate lunch at a huge food court, interesting dishes and flavours. It looks like a lot of food for one but it is so cheap that you have to try it, besides I didn’t eat it all. And then I enjoyed a wonderful long nap.

The guys got back at 5:30 and were pooped from their day. Ron, David & I went to Pizza Hut for supper and then the guys had a presentation to prepare so I took a hot bath, I’m writing this post, and then it’s off to bed.