One of the places/events that I hope to visit in China this year is World Expo 2010 which is in Shanghai commencing on May 1st. It will run until the end of October.
When I was last in Shanghai I saw some of the preparations for this major event with the Expo site being on both sides of the Huangpu River. The statistics for this event are incredible - I don't intend to report on them here, but you can visit the website for more information. Expo 2010 website.
I well remember Expo 1988 in Brisbane - which of course was on a much smaller scale. There are 21 million people living in Shanghai and they have an enormous number of volunteers. 130,000 volunteers will be working in booths in the city, and 77,000 working on the site. I see that some of the volunteers are seniors with some up to 90 years of age.
Shanghai is only about 3 hours away from Shaoxing so we may be able to visit at the weekend. I do have a contact in Shanghai so if acomodation is too expensive or booked out, I have an alternative.
Also a friend (Australian) who was teaching in Yuexiu with us in 2008 is hoping to visit and it is hopeful that we can visit Expo together.
Time is running out and I have so much to do here in Brisbane before I go. I've yet to apply for my Visa. I was going to do that on Friday but I was called in to work as another teacher was sick.
My house sitting finishes this Friday so it will be back to normal, oh, except that now I am working in the morning. I will have to be at work by 7.30 am. Probably not too hard for me as I am an early riser, but still it will be a challenge. The bonus is that I will have afternoons free now.
Showing posts with label Shanghai. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shanghai. Show all posts
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Saturday, 17 January 2009
Back home - but a back log of China stories!
I'm feeling rather "spaced out" - after arriving in Brisbane at 10.35 am on 16/1/09 after leaving Shaoxing by bus at 7.30 am on 15/1/09 and having little sleep! The bus trip was uneventful as for some reason there was little traffic on the highway between Shaoxing and Shanghai, and we arrived at the airport in good time. But over two hours to wait for our Singapore Airlines plane to leave.
There were three of us on the plane from Shanghai to Singapore, but we left Singapore on different planes. Mine was the last to leave at 10 minutes past midnight. So seven and a half hours in the plane.
Both flights were fairly uneventful, but there was quite a lot of turbulence especially between Shanghai and Singapore, so we (and the cabin crew) remained seated for much of the flight.
In Singapore I wandered around looking at the shops - didn't really spend any money of note, but kept walking as I thought if I sat down I'd fall asleep!
I had a glass of Chardonnay at Harry's Bar and a great Toasted Chicken Sandwich at the Hard Rock Cafe (which I'd recommend! Highly) - it was big enough for two people!
I dozed on and off on the plane - probably because of the chardy and the drink at the HRC, but was still quite tired when I arrived. MM and two granddaughters were there to meet me, and I headed home for a short time before my dental appointment. (I'd broken a tooth on New Year's Day - so had a repair job done.)
MM bought me an E-bike for Christmas, so I've yet to try that out!
I'm still feeling a little surreal but slowly coming good. Had my hair cut today - and did a little shopping, so bit by bit I'm coming good, but still tired.
I have some great photos of visits I made in my last few days in Shaoxing and Hangzhou, so will post those in the next day or so.
There were three of us on the plane from Shanghai to Singapore, but we left Singapore on different planes. Mine was the last to leave at 10 minutes past midnight. So seven and a half hours in the plane.
Both flights were fairly uneventful, but there was quite a lot of turbulence especially between Shanghai and Singapore, so we (and the cabin crew) remained seated for much of the flight.
In Singapore I wandered around looking at the shops - didn't really spend any money of note, but kept walking as I thought if I sat down I'd fall asleep!
I had a glass of Chardonnay at Harry's Bar and a great Toasted Chicken Sandwich at the Hard Rock Cafe (which I'd recommend! Highly) - it was big enough for two people!
I dozed on and off on the plane - probably because of the chardy and the drink at the HRC, but was still quite tired when I arrived. MM and two granddaughters were there to meet me, and I headed home for a short time before my dental appointment. (I'd broken a tooth on New Year's Day - so had a repair job done.)
MM bought me an E-bike for Christmas, so I've yet to try that out!
I'm still feeling a little surreal but slowly coming good. Had my hair cut today - and did a little shopping, so bit by bit I'm coming good, but still tired.
I have some great photos of visits I made in my last few days in Shaoxing and Hangzhou, so will post those in the next day or so.
Sunday, 30 November 2008
Photos - approaching Shanghai by rail from Shaoxing
Just a few of the photos I took from the window of the train. To Shanghai
Rice fields after harvest.I was so proud of myself venturing from Shaoxing to Shanghai on my own. I managed to buy the tickets on my own at Shaoxing Train Station - easy really as quite surprisingly there was an English speaker behind the window in the Ticket Office!
After completing class on Friday last, I went to my apartment, collected my already packed luggage (backpack) and set off on foot to the bus stop at the West Gate. When I arrived there were many students and I reasoned that I would struggle to manage my backpack in the packed bus, so I hailed a taxi instead.
At the station in the waiting hall, several Yuexiu students were there and I chatted with them while we waited for the train. In China one waits in a very busy waiting hall - and about five minutes before the train is due to arrive at the platform, we file through the now open gate, have our tickets checked and then line up where we think the carriage will stop. Each ticket has the carriage number, and if you have paid for a seat, the seat number.
Usually, despite the orderly way everyone queues to get into their carriage, the train usually arrives and one discovers that the carriage they must enter is further along the platform, so there is a mad scramble!
On the train there was a lady asleep in my seat - the train had come from Ningbo, so she reasoned that for some of the trip anyway she would sit in someone else's seat. She did not pay for a seat. I woke her, and she got up and moved when I showed her my ticket. There were other students on the train too, and we chatted until they got off.
The activities on the train are always amusing. People wandering up and down the aisle, railway staff back and forth selling food and drinks, and hot water for the tea. Most Chinese people carry a small container of tea of some sort, and the boiling water top up is most popular. Mobile phones going off all the time, loud conversations between travellers, loud music.
I had my MP3 player going, and I was reading and enjoying the views from the train window as we passed through villages, cities, farmland, and fish farms. The scenery is ever changing. It is harvest time in the rice fields, and many of them are laid bare and the workers are burning the stubble left on the fields. In front of many of the houses you can see the rice laid out on the ground - sometimes just on the cement and other times on bamboo mats or in flat cane baskets. The rice must be continually turned over so that it all dries out properly.
Beside the houses are bags of rice. This drying of the rice continues for several weeks and someone is always "on duty" to continually rake the rice to keep the air circulating around it.
In the fields there are many green vegetables growing - it is quite a sight - neat rows of vegetables as far as the eye can see. In some places new plastic domes (or hot houses as we would call them) are being erected to protect the plants from the cold. It is down to 1 and 2 degrees at the moment and will get colder, and maybe even snow.
The scenery is ever changing. In the nearly three hour trip between Shaoxing and Shanghai the train only makes a few stops - Hangzhou and Haining. The landscape is every changing though - there are so many rivers, streams, canals, farms, cities, parks, factories, housing estates, villages, fields. So hard to describe it all - even such a short trip really.
I would love to take more photos - but taking photos through the window of a fast moving train does not guarantee success, but I managed a few!
When the train arrived at Shanghai there was a mad scramble as everyone tries to be the first off the train. It will never be me! People with all sorts of luggage from plastic sheets tied up holding all the precious "cargo", suitcases, backpacks, computer bags, shopping bags, and the ever popular red, white and blue carry bag that even we in Australia are familiar with!
Shanghai Station Sth is very modern, and it is easy to get off the train, up the escalator and in my case along the walkway to the underground railway (subway). I had to catch a train on Line 1, for two stations,get off and get the subway on line 4 to my destination. Managed it with one small hiccup, but arrived safely.
My host was at the station to meet me and we wandered back to her apartment. Now I had been there just 2 months before, but the landscape had changed dramatically. Soem buildings had been completely demolished, and were being replaced by modern housing. In her own apartment block it was surrounded by bamboo scaffolding, as the apartment was being refurbished.
It was quite cold and good to get inside. We chatted for ages before enjoying a good meal which included tender pork pieces with a special port seasoning, steamed carrot, broccoli, and boiled potatoes. And some good Australian red wine!
Thursday, 4 September 2008
Return to China
Shaoxing Boat in canal near city square
Old part of Shaoxing As usual I literally ran out of time! We all say the same. We try to pack so much into our lives and with a deadline (like a departure date!) it is a struggle doing all that one wants to do. I have not kept up the blog - so much I was going to do, but here I am back in China.
I left Brisbane at 11.45 pm on August 31st en route to Shanghai, with a short stopover in Singapore. My plane landed on time at Pudong/Shanghai International Airport at 1.30 pm. I had my luggage by around 2 pm and had to find KFC where I was to be met - but not until 4 pm. I found two KFC's - rather close to each other but I wondered which one I was supposed to be at. I bought a chicken burger at one and ate it, before discovering the second one, and I had just purchased an icecream and sat down when I saw some familiar faces.
The welcoming party from the College arrived. (Great, I was at the right KFC!) There were a couple of new teachers from France, and eventually another two from Scotland, and one from Korea. But it was around 5.30 pm (China time) that we left Shanghai for the hairraising trip to Shaoxing.
Along the way we stopped for a quick meal - snacks on small plates. Would have probably tasted better if they were hot!
Back on the bus to continue the trip. By now it was dark - which was probably good not to see the traffic that the bus weaving in an out. We arrived safely at some time, and quickly got my luggage into the apartment. On the first floor. (In Australia we'd call it the ground floor.)
I found some food. (Thanks Audrey) I unpacked some necessities. Made the bed, and fell in and was soon sound asleep.
It has been a couple of "lazy" days. Unpacking. Getting the apartment in order. Meeting the other teachers. A welcome meeting. Getting information about our teaching programs.
And the supermarket. The French couple and I walked up to Tesco in the evening - loaded our trolleys and returned to the college late. Still more things to get.
On Wednesday the three of us went into Shaoxing, for a look around. Strange how much has changed in two months! Of course most was familiar. We went for a walk around a park above the city square - where the photos were taken. It is a huge area, and I had not explored all the park before. Even now I know there is more to see, and I look forward to going for a ride around the canals on one of the Shaoxing boats to see more.
There are more teachers due to arrive in the next couple of days, and the students come in over the weekend so we may as well enjoy the wonderful peace while it lasts. There is barely a sound on the campus. Beautiful.
Thursday, 14 August 2008
Leaving Shanghai
We left Shanghai on a Sunday morning - leaving the New Harbour Service Apartments very early in the morning by taxi to get to the airport. I was thrilled to see the new airport - as when I had arrived in Shanghai nearly five months earlier we landed at the old (almost derelict) airport.
The new airport was quite a sight - with vast windows overlooking the runway with some small farms on the other side. As well one could see a variety of watercraft in the sea beyond - making their way into or out of Shanghai.
I love Shanghai - though not the pollution that seemed to hang in the air like a dirty wet blanket during our time there - but happy to move on to our next destination.
We fly Singapore Airlines (recently voted the best airline in the world!), and were soon booked in, and ready for our visit to Singapore.
The new airport was quite a sight - with vast windows overlooking the runway with some small farms on the other side. As well one could see a variety of watercraft in the sea beyond - making their way into or out of Shanghai.
I love Shanghai - though not the pollution that seemed to hang in the air like a dirty wet blanket during our time there - but happy to move on to our next destination.
We fly Singapore Airlines (recently voted the best airline in the world!), and were soon booked in, and ready for our visit to Singapore.
Accommodation in Shanghai
There are many hotels and holiday apartments to choose from in Shanghai - but as it is huge city, if you are planning to visit, you need to determine the location of where you want to stay. MM initially booked us into a hotel (it was good price) but it was near one of the airports - quite a distance from the centre of Shanghai. On reflection we were concerned about the cost of frequent taxi rides to get to the places we wanted to.
So we studied the maps again. Cost was an issue - our budget was mid range - and as we were staying for over a week, we wanted something of reasonable price.
In the end we booked in at New Harbour Service Apartments, 88 Yongshou Road, Shanghai. It was possible to walk from our accomodation to Nanjing Road. It was a good walk and we did it once, but as MM had knee problems we chose to taxi most of the time. (There is lots of roadworks which made the taxi rides longer and more expensive but it really was very economical).
On the days we booked tours our tour bus picked us up and returned us, so there was no problem there.
It was a stroke of genius (???) that we booked accomoation that featured Gerbera flowers - as we had been Gerbera growers. There were Gerberas in the foyer, in the restaurant, and on the menu, brochures etc.
Our apartment was great. We had two bedrooms - one we used for our luggage only, and the rest of the apartment was well appointed. I've actually mentioned this earlier.
The point of this post is to encourage would be travellers to look at a map (so easy now with Google) and just see where the accomodation is. I know it is not easy if you do not know the city - and I guess you can be prepared to move if it is not suitable.
The New Harbour Service Apartments was well appointed and I'd recommend it. The restaurant was good for breakfast - but probably not the best if you wanted a good evening meal. The food was good, and well priced - but they seemed to not have all that was on the menu.
They had a good Gym (which I of course avoided) but a wonderful heated indoor swimming pool.
We found the staff very helpful - and highly rate the service of the doorman. Always a taxi was found for us very quickly.
As an added bonus, there was a small supermarket opposite the Apartments - just a walk across the road - so we were able to buy snacks, beer and wine at supermarket prices, which was a bonus. We did not use the kitchen at all!
To find out more and book click here.
So we studied the maps again. Cost was an issue - our budget was mid range - and as we were staying for over a week, we wanted something of reasonable price.
In the end we booked in at New Harbour Service Apartments, 88 Yongshou Road, Shanghai. It was possible to walk from our accomodation to Nanjing Road. It was a good walk and we did it once, but as MM had knee problems we chose to taxi most of the time. (There is lots of roadworks which made the taxi rides longer and more expensive but it really was very economical).
On the days we booked tours our tour bus picked us up and returned us, so there was no problem there.
It was a stroke of genius (???) that we booked accomoation that featured Gerbera flowers - as we had been Gerbera growers. There were Gerberas in the foyer, in the restaurant, and on the menu, brochures etc.
Our apartment was great. We had two bedrooms - one we used for our luggage only, and the rest of the apartment was well appointed. I've actually mentioned this earlier.
The point of this post is to encourage would be travellers to look at a map (so easy now with Google) and just see where the accomodation is. I know it is not easy if you do not know the city - and I guess you can be prepared to move if it is not suitable.
The New Harbour Service Apartments was well appointed and I'd recommend it. The restaurant was good for breakfast - but probably not the best if you wanted a good evening meal. The food was good, and well priced - but they seemed to not have all that was on the menu.
They had a good Gym (which I of course avoided) but a wonderful heated indoor swimming pool.
We found the staff very helpful - and highly rate the service of the doorman. Always a taxi was found for us very quickly.
As an added bonus, there was a small supermarket opposite the Apartments - just a walk across the road - so we were able to buy snacks, beer and wine at supermarket prices, which was a bonus. We did not use the kitchen at all!
To find out more and book click here.
Monday, 11 August 2008
Touring Shanghai
One of the most important things to do when visiting a new city is to do a Day Tour. I've written earlier about our Day Tour of Shanghai which took us around the city to places like the Shanghai Museum, The Bund, Old Shanghai, Xintiandi, Nanjing St, the Pearl Markets, etc. It was a great day and we met a couple from New Zealand on their way to the UK.
That is one of the bonuses of this sort of tour - meeting other travellers.
What I like about such a tour is that one gets one's bearings. You can choose where to return to as there is only a short time at each venue.
Some of the places I had been to before, but learning more about them with a tour guide is most helpful.
There are many tour companies to choose from - and there is not much difference between the companies I suspect.
We were very happy with our tour company and tour guides - although on a couple of times they were late to pick us up. However, I think the traffice had a lot to do with it.
A city of some 21 million, with lots of road works does make for challenges for the tour companies.
We did on our own go back to Nanjing Road, Old China Town, Xintiandi and the Bund. More confidant because of our early tour.
That is one of the bonuses of this sort of tour - meeting other travellers.
What I like about such a tour is that one gets one's bearings. You can choose where to return to as there is only a short time at each venue.
Some of the places I had been to before, but learning more about them with a tour guide is most helpful.
There are many tour companies to choose from - and there is not much difference between the companies I suspect.
We were very happy with our tour company and tour guides - although on a couple of times they were late to pick us up. However, I think the traffice had a lot to do with it.
A city of some 21 million, with lots of road works does make for challenges for the tour companies.
We did on our own go back to Nanjing Road, Old China Town, Xintiandi and the Bund. More confidant because of our early tour.
Monday, 4 August 2008
Shanghai and the Purr!
When we were in Shanghai we went on several tours. Our first tour was of the city – a full day tour which took us around the amazing Shanghai. I always like to do this sort of tour early on a visit to a different place. It is far more interesting than trying to find everything by oneself, and with a good tour guide, there is much more extra information.
I had been to Shanghai before – a short two day visit with two of my fellow teachers from the college and we walked for miles. Somehow I think I might have preferred to do a tour, even though I enjoyed most of the long walk we did that weekend!
Naturally on the day tour we went to places that I’d not seen before. One that was most fascinating was Old China Town, which we could actually see from the window of our apartment. But seeing it close up was amazing. The old Chinese architecture - and the wonderful gardens inside.
Much of the area is retail – and you could have an amazing day of retail therapy here. Our tour guide whisked us through the complex giving us little time to part with our money but it was well worth seeing, and we did go back again later to experience some of this retail heaven.
Inside Old China Town is a wonderful garden – with an amazing history. How well the Chinese planned these gardens, and how wonderful it is to have a tour guide explain things. Our tour guide was very good, but one part of her spiel confused us. She pointed out some of the amazing stone carvings that were on the walls of this ancient garden, and spoke of the “Purr in the mouth of the dragon.” The English teacher in me came out and I asked for more information. I did not understand.
I asked her how to spell the word “purr”. She said “P E A R” - then we understood. She meant ‘PEARL’ as Pearls are grown around Shanghai. It was so funny as we explained it to her, and had her practice the correct pronunciation. PEARL. Each time afterwards that she had to say the word she looked at MM and myself and carefully spoke the word emphasising the “L” .
It was a full on day. As well as old China Town and the gardens, we visited Pearl City where they tried to sell us wonderful pearl jewelry, we saw the Bund, details of our tour are here. though we did not visit the Silk Factory in Shanghai. Details of a tour are here.
In Old China Town we visit the Jade Buddha Temple, and enjoyed a simple tea ceremony in the Tea House. It was very interesting and there was efforts to get us to purchase tea which had therapeutic benefits. We resistedWe had lunch with our fellow vistors in a huge Chinese restaurant. The food was good and the company great. We met two travellers from New Zealand – Wanda and Adam – who were on their way to the UK and Canada. We met up with them again a few days later on another tour.
Int he afternoon we visited the Shanghai Museum - how amazing. We could spend hours and hours there, but being on a tour we had limited timeIt was an amazing day – and exhausting. But it gave us good insight into Shanghai.
I had been to Shanghai before – a short two day visit with two of my fellow teachers from the college and we walked for miles. Somehow I think I might have preferred to do a tour, even though I enjoyed most of the long walk we did that weekend!
Naturally on the day tour we went to places that I’d not seen before. One that was most fascinating was Old China Town, which we could actually see from the window of our apartment. But seeing it close up was amazing. The old Chinese architecture - and the wonderful gardens inside.
Much of the area is retail – and you could have an amazing day of retail therapy here. Our tour guide whisked us through the complex giving us little time to part with our money but it was well worth seeing, and we did go back again later to experience some of this retail heaven.
Inside Old China Town is a wonderful garden – with an amazing history. How well the Chinese planned these gardens, and how wonderful it is to have a tour guide explain things. Our tour guide was very good, but one part of her spiel confused us. She pointed out some of the amazing stone carvings that were on the walls of this ancient garden, and spoke of the “Purr in the mouth of the dragon.” The English teacher in me came out and I asked for more information. I did not understand.
I asked her how to spell the word “purr”. She said “P E A R” - then we understood. She meant ‘PEARL’ as Pearls are grown around Shanghai. It was so funny as we explained it to her, and had her practice the correct pronunciation. PEARL. Each time afterwards that she had to say the word she looked at MM and myself and carefully spoke the word emphasising the “L” .
It was a full on day. As well as old China Town and the gardens, we visited Pearl City where they tried to sell us wonderful pearl jewelry, we saw the Bund, details of our tour are here. though we did not visit the Silk Factory in Shanghai. Details of a tour are here.
In Old China Town we visit the Jade Buddha Temple, and enjoyed a simple tea ceremony in the Tea House. It was very interesting and there was efforts to get us to purchase tea which had therapeutic benefits. We resistedWe had lunch with our fellow vistors in a huge Chinese restaurant. The food was good and the company great. We met two travellers from New Zealand – Wanda and Adam – who were on their way to the UK and Canada. We met up with them again a few days later on another tour.
Int he afternoon we visited the Shanghai Museum - how amazing. We could spend hours and hours there, but being on a tour we had limited timeIt was an amazing day – and exhausting. But it gave us good insight into Shanghai.
Monday, 21 July 2008
Advertising by boat
In Shanghai the Huangpu River divides old Shanghai and new Shanghai (Pudong), and on both sides of the river there are wonderful places tourists to visit and see the river and it's activities.
The river is very busy as large boats come and go along the stretch of the river to and from the China Sea, and smaller boats go back and forth all day transporting all sorts of goods. Tourists boats too go back and forward too to show the old and new of Shanghai, and we went on one of these late one afternoon. It is spectacular seeing the buildings on both sides of the river - fascinating to see the old buildings along the Bund. At night the lighting is spectacular.
One thing that is fascinating was the number of boats that seem to do nothing but advertise various products and services. As there are usually thousands of people along the banks of the river, especially at weekends, holidays and at night. So it is a good way to get business messages to the masses. There were several boats that at night were brightly lit with active neon signs. Something that I'd not seen before except in Shanghai.
The lights seem to get through the fog/smog too!
More interesting fruit
It's funny but it is just one of those things. We don't know much about fruits that are grown and eaten in other countries. It was a surprise to me to see how many different fruits were in the streets, markets and supermarkets in China.
I'd seen these fruits before - but no one could tell me what they were. Eventually I learned that they were mangosteen. In Shanghai there were several people like this with huge heavy baskets of these fruit. We bought some - which caused quite a bit of amusement, I think because we paid far too much money for our small supply.
The fruit are very tasty - similar to lychees. The dark skin is thick and hard and inside there are wonderful white segments of fruit.
I found them difficult to get into the fruit - in part because we did not have a good knife to use. Perhaps at some time later I can try again. Perhaps I can learn a little bit more about how to use this fruit.
Sunday, 20 July 2008
Trying hard to cope
I'm back home, sort of. I'm actually house sitting in a house not far from where my husband and I live when things are "normal". I arrived home from China via Singapore on July 7th, and learned that my mother had been in hospital, so I arranged to go to Adelaide and visit her and my father.
My father celebrated his 89th birthday on July 16th - so we had a small party, but his life is difficult as he is my mother's carer. My mother is 92 years of age, and slowly but surely she is "losing it." She is often confused, and despite her protestations that she cleans every day, cooks every day and carries on as normal, the reality is that she has been doing very little for a long time.
She fell in her room one night about 2 am and broke several ribs as it turns out. Dad woke and helped her back to bed and in the morning tried to get medical help for her. Not easy as I will explain later. Mum's story is that it happened during the day, and it was deliberate as she was throwing her jewelry onto a cupboard. Not true, Mum.
Dad called the doctor in the morning, but was told the doctor does not do house calls. Not in fact true - but the reality is that it was a hospital/ambulance situation, and it took several hours for an ambulance to arrive. When the took the x-rays, they reported no injury and sent for Dad to take Mum home. It was obvious to him when she returned home that she and he could not cope, and eventually she was admitted to hospital. (Later, it was found that she had broken several ribs - whoever read the x-ray initially did not notice!!!!!)
Mother spend nearly two weeks in hospital - but her mental state deteriorated which was possibly due to her medication. They gave her pain killers, and increased her other medication, and it appears there was some conflict.
I do get the impression that if someone is in their 90's there's not a lot done for them.
In any case Mum was eventually taken home, but it was clear from my conversations with both Mum and Dad that all was not well.
My sister had been in regular contact with them and visited Mum in hospital - but the reality is that there needed to be an "advocate" for my mother and father. Someone with some medical/nursing knowledge.
That is where I come in! As an ex nurse I have some expertise - though I am unfamiliar with the system in South Australia. It is not easy to manage a situation like this. Like many elderly people they refuse all assistance. I had to be very sneaky to get information and support.
My "walk around the neighbourhood" was not about exercise, but I found my way to the doctor's surgery and spoke with the nurse practitioner. For some reason they thought all was well with my parents. They put on a "show" indicating all is well - such is their desire to remain at home without needing to go to retirement accommodation.
I managed to make phone calls to support services. I managed to meet her doctor and attempt to inform him of the challenges that my parents face. In time I might get the support services they need to remain at home. It is obvious they cannot remain at home without some support. But neither of them are nursing home material yet - if they can get some support.
So I've been in Adelaide for a few days, and still have spend little time at home, and little time catching up on things I need to.
One of the hard decisions I will have to make is whether to return to China at the end of August. All is in place to do so, but I worry about my parents.
Meanwhile if I can catch up on some sleep, I might get around to updating this blog with the photos and information from two amazing weeks - one in Shanghai and one in Singapore.
Tomorrow maybe.
My father celebrated his 89th birthday on July 16th - so we had a small party, but his life is difficult as he is my mother's carer. My mother is 92 years of age, and slowly but surely she is "losing it." She is often confused, and despite her protestations that she cleans every day, cooks every day and carries on as normal, the reality is that she has been doing very little for a long time.
She fell in her room one night about 2 am and broke several ribs as it turns out. Dad woke and helped her back to bed and in the morning tried to get medical help for her. Not easy as I will explain later. Mum's story is that it happened during the day, and it was deliberate as she was throwing her jewelry onto a cupboard. Not true, Mum.
Dad called the doctor in the morning, but was told the doctor does not do house calls. Not in fact true - but the reality is that it was a hospital/ambulance situation, and it took several hours for an ambulance to arrive. When the took the x-rays, they reported no injury and sent for Dad to take Mum home. It was obvious to him when she returned home that she and he could not cope, and eventually she was admitted to hospital. (Later, it was found that she had broken several ribs - whoever read the x-ray initially did not notice!!!!!)
Mother spend nearly two weeks in hospital - but her mental state deteriorated which was possibly due to her medication. They gave her pain killers, and increased her other medication, and it appears there was some conflict.
I do get the impression that if someone is in their 90's there's not a lot done for them.
In any case Mum was eventually taken home, but it was clear from my conversations with both Mum and Dad that all was not well.
My sister had been in regular contact with them and visited Mum in hospital - but the reality is that there needed to be an "advocate" for my mother and father. Someone with some medical/nursing knowledge.
That is where I come in! As an ex nurse I have some expertise - though I am unfamiliar with the system in South Australia. It is not easy to manage a situation like this. Like many elderly people they refuse all assistance. I had to be very sneaky to get information and support.
My "walk around the neighbourhood" was not about exercise, but I found my way to the doctor's surgery and spoke with the nurse practitioner. For some reason they thought all was well with my parents. They put on a "show" indicating all is well - such is their desire to remain at home without needing to go to retirement accommodation.
I managed to make phone calls to support services. I managed to meet her doctor and attempt to inform him of the challenges that my parents face. In time I might get the support services they need to remain at home. It is obvious they cannot remain at home without some support. But neither of them are nursing home material yet - if they can get some support.
So I've been in Adelaide for a few days, and still have spend little time at home, and little time catching up on things I need to.
One of the hard decisions I will have to make is whether to return to China at the end of August. All is in place to do so, but I worry about my parents.
Meanwhile if I can catch up on some sleep, I might get around to updating this blog with the photos and information from two amazing weeks - one in Shanghai and one in Singapore.
Tomorrow maybe.
Friday, 27 June 2008
Shanghai
I had been to Shanghai before. Once on the trip to Shaoxing, having arrived at Shanghai, we were whisked without visiting the city to Shaoxing. On another occasion I spent two nights and two days here, with two other teachers from the college. That visit has been documented earlier. I knew that they was so much more to see, and was glad to have nearly a week here.
On our first day we did a one day tour of Shanghai, which took us around the city to see some of the places of interest. Old China town, which we can see from our apartment is near the River Huangpu River, which winds its way through old Shanghai and new Shanghai (or Pudong). There is just so much to see. Old buildings, new buildings - gardens, shops, more shops and so on.
The gardens and temple in Yu Yuan are a sight to see! The pavilion was built in 1784, and houses one of the most popular tea houses here in Shanghai. So many touts, shops, people and things to see.
The Temple with its jade Buddha is well worth a visit, and there is so much of interest there. I have many more photos.
We visited The Shanghai Museum - which is so impressive. One could spend many more hours there exploring the great history of China and Shanghai. Not like any other museum I have visited Modern, clean, with stunning exhibits.The new area Xintiandi - with its old style "shikoumen" buildings (that is buildings with stone arched doorways and black painted gates) was most impressive. We had time just to have a quick look and make plans to return to see it all. Xintiandi is in part of the old French concession.
We had a quick look at the Bund - getting a view of the river and the stunning buildings on the other side of the river.
We visited Pearl city and purchased some pearls, and the People's Square. So much to see.
Enroute to Australia
What a flurry the last few days were - completing exams, marking, saying farewell, packing etc. I have decided to return to China at the end of the summer holidays, though it is still dependent on getting a visa. So it was hectic.
In the end, around 10 am on Sunday morning I was packed and ready to go. A taxi ride to the "big bus stop", and I was soon on my way to Shanghai. I put my MP3 player on, and listened to Conversations with Richard Feidler from ABC Brisbane, and the almost three hours flew. It was raining most of the way, and the bus was only half full. Pleasant enough trip.
At the bus station it was pouring with rain, so I grabbed the nearest "helper" and managed to get a taxi to the apartment where Ian was surprised to see me so early. It was good to see him after 4 months, and so began an adventure in Shanghai. Oh, what a city.
In the end, around 10 am on Sunday morning I was packed and ready to go. A taxi ride to the "big bus stop", and I was soon on my way to Shanghai. I put my MP3 player on, and listened to Conversations with Richard Feidler from ABC Brisbane, and the almost three hours flew. It was raining most of the way, and the bus was only half full. Pleasant enough trip.
At the bus station it was pouring with rain, so I grabbed the nearest "helper" and managed to get a taxi to the apartment where Ian was surprised to see me so early. It was good to see him after 4 months, and so began an adventure in Shanghai. Oh, what a city.
Friday, 23 May 2008
Ball room dancing
Ballroom dancers in Shanghai Nanjing St (note the band members complete with hats on the left of the photo.
Dancer with his "virtual" partner in Shanghai.It may surprise folk in "the Western world" how popular ball room dancing is here in China. Apparently there are groups that dance in parks - especially of an evening. When we did our night time tour of Shaoxing canals, we saw two groups under two of the big bridges here - with 50 - 60 dances all in full swing to the dance music.
I have been told it is quite common in parks all around China.
The only other time I have seen it was in Shanghai - and there right in the heart of Shanghai, in the famous Nanjing Road, there were ball room dancers in the street. The band was on a "balcony" playing their hearts out, while the dancers did there stuff on the footpath.
One lone dancer with his virtual partner amused us. He was so enjoying himself and posed for his photo to be taken.
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
A few problems solved.
China always presents challenges to those foreigners who dare to try to live in the country. The language divide is of course one.
In the last few weeks I've suffered an awful cold, and resultant deafness that I couldn't seem to get any of the medical people to understand. Even with the "help" of interpreters. I've taken strange medication that was supposed to fix me - and my request for some sort of ear drops was always ignored - as the Chinese medicine would cure me - "guaranteed". Oh, yeh!
As well, I still have had challenges with the computer. I bought a new one, but we had continual trouble with the internet connection in the teachers' apartments - and all efforts to resolve it seemed to work for some and not others.
My deafness and cough continued despite the medication. In all areas I was getting desperate.
A few days in Shanghai might make me feel better - but it did not! New medication was recommended in Shanghai, and I didn't enjoy the endless crowds of people in the May long weekend, the heat, the walking, the stairs and my deafness.
When we returned to the college, we found that the Internet was off completely - so no hope of resolving any of my computer problems, and I had to seek out a friend to get a message back to home that I had survived the days in Shanghai.
Yesterday I was miserable. As well the movie I planned to show the students would not work on the college computer, and I spent hours trying to resolve that. With the deafness I was near to tears!
In the end, with the help of a college student I went to the college "hospital", and this time was sent to one of the local hospitals. (That is a whole story in itself!)
My ears were blocked - and at the hospital cleared and at long last I could hear! It is amazing how good I feel now!
And today I managed to download Firefox as my Internet Browser and almost instantly I found it easier to access the Internet.
I can hear and surf! All in one day. And I managed to show the movie - with the help of my laptop.
I feel quite inspired. I can hear and some things are working well for me.
Now if only the parcel (with my new camera) would arrive from Australia. Airmail from Brisbane should not take 4 weeks!
In the last few weeks I've suffered an awful cold, and resultant deafness that I couldn't seem to get any of the medical people to understand. Even with the "help" of interpreters. I've taken strange medication that was supposed to fix me - and my request for some sort of ear drops was always ignored - as the Chinese medicine would cure me - "guaranteed". Oh, yeh!
As well, I still have had challenges with the computer. I bought a new one, but we had continual trouble with the internet connection in the teachers' apartments - and all efforts to resolve it seemed to work for some and not others.
My deafness and cough continued despite the medication. In all areas I was getting desperate.
A few days in Shanghai might make me feel better - but it did not! New medication was recommended in Shanghai, and I didn't enjoy the endless crowds of people in the May long weekend, the heat, the walking, the stairs and my deafness.
When we returned to the college, we found that the Internet was off completely - so no hope of resolving any of my computer problems, and I had to seek out a friend to get a message back to home that I had survived the days in Shanghai.
Yesterday I was miserable. As well the movie I planned to show the students would not work on the college computer, and I spent hours trying to resolve that. With the deafness I was near to tears!
In the end, with the help of a college student I went to the college "hospital", and this time was sent to one of the local hospitals. (That is a whole story in itself!)
My ears were blocked - and at the hospital cleared and at long last I could hear! It is amazing how good I feel now!
And today I managed to download Firefox as my Internet Browser and almost instantly I found it easier to access the Internet.
I can hear and surf! All in one day. And I managed to show the movie - with the help of my laptop.
I feel quite inspired. I can hear and some things are working well for me.
Now if only the parcel (with my new camera) would arrive from Australia. Airmail from Brisbane should not take 4 weeks!
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
Start all over
In a way, I feel like I am starting all over again. It is because of my new computer. The College provides a computer here, but it is limited. It is not a current model, and seems to be missing some bits, and some days has a go slow period where it takes 50 seconds for a letter you have just typed to appear, for you to type another one.
My own little laptop that had served me well, worked for the first three or four weeks, and then played up. I could not save any Microsoft Office documents, and many I couldn't open. All my work for the course was locked in the computer.
I went from person to person, place to place, and no one could seem to make much of a difference. I am still waiting on some software from Australia, which just might resolve the problem, but in the meantime I had to endure the frustrations of it all.
In the end I purchased a new computer - and while it is working almost as well as I need it, it still has some hiccups, but I will persevere. Maybe at the end of the week, I'll take it back to the shop for some advice. Maybe next week - it is a holiday week, so the people I want to see may well be away. It is not urgent. Just a little frustrating.
As well as the software from Australia, I am still waiting for my new camera. That too is frustrating as the "old" one (still under warranty) chooses when to function or not, and anyway would not let me transfer photos from the camera to the computer. Grrrrrr.
With the new computer I just pull out the SD card from the computer and happily upload the photos to the laptop. Easy.
I have so many photos and stories to write I may never get it all done. It is hard to believe that it is less than two months before we are due to finish the term, and I should be winging my way back to Australia.
I have been asked to return for next semester - and it is very tempting. Some days I am all enthused about it, and other days I wonder at the wisdom of it. One thing that really appeals is that the college I think has been granted university status (we are waiting on confirmation) so it will look good on my resume that I have taught at a university, but the most important thing is that the whole living in China thing, and teaching here is so overwhelming that the first few months are a blur - and I'd like to come back because I know so much more.
We will see. In the meantime, I have work to do - but will post some photos and stores. This weekend - May holiday - I am going to Shanghai for two days - probably with the old camera by the look of things, but I'm looking forward to that!
My own little laptop that had served me well, worked for the first three or four weeks, and then played up. I could not save any Microsoft Office documents, and many I couldn't open. All my work for the course was locked in the computer.
I went from person to person, place to place, and no one could seem to make much of a difference. I am still waiting on some software from Australia, which just might resolve the problem, but in the meantime I had to endure the frustrations of it all.
In the end I purchased a new computer - and while it is working almost as well as I need it, it still has some hiccups, but I will persevere. Maybe at the end of the week, I'll take it back to the shop for some advice. Maybe next week - it is a holiday week, so the people I want to see may well be away. It is not urgent. Just a little frustrating.
As well as the software from Australia, I am still waiting for my new camera. That too is frustrating as the "old" one (still under warranty) chooses when to function or not, and anyway would not let me transfer photos from the camera to the computer. Grrrrrr.
With the new computer I just pull out the SD card from the computer and happily upload the photos to the laptop. Easy.
I have so many photos and stories to write I may never get it all done. It is hard to believe that it is less than two months before we are due to finish the term, and I should be winging my way back to Australia.
I have been asked to return for next semester - and it is very tempting. Some days I am all enthused about it, and other days I wonder at the wisdom of it. One thing that really appeals is that the college I think has been granted university status (we are waiting on confirmation) so it will look good on my resume that I have taught at a university, but the most important thing is that the whole living in China thing, and teaching here is so overwhelming that the first few months are a blur - and I'd like to come back because I know so much more.
We will see. In the meantime, I have work to do - but will post some photos and stores. This weekend - May holiday - I am going to Shanghai for two days - probably with the old camera by the look of things, but I'm looking forward to that!
Back again.
I've been "off air" for a while as my computer has been playing up. I'm not sure what it is - but in the end I've bought a new one! And still struggling with some things that I have decided must be associated with the "system" here.
In any case I am back on line, with more features available to me with this computer than with the other one. Still some challenges though. For a start, negotiating getting the computer with non-English speaking salesmen was a challange in itself, and it took me 6 and a half hours to pick it up. And I need to take it back for some adjustments.
But at least I can do some things, and I've got a pile of stories and photos so there's plenty to do.
This weekend is May holiday weekend, and we have four days off. I am going to Shanghai with two other English teachers from Australia, so expect to have a busy time. No great plans - just to look and learn a bit more about that part of the country.
So afte my lessons tomorrow (Wednesday) I will make a hasty retreat and get to the bus station in time for our bus to Shanghai with my new suitcase - just a little one that will beuseful for such a short trip. We are due back in Shaoxing on Friday evening, so will have another two days of rest. Sounds great to me.
In any case I am back on line, with more features available to me with this computer than with the other one. Still some challenges though. For a start, negotiating getting the computer with non-English speaking salesmen was a challange in itself, and it took me 6 and a half hours to pick it up. And I need to take it back for some adjustments.
But at least I can do some things, and I've got a pile of stories and photos so there's plenty to do.
This weekend is May holiday weekend, and we have four days off. I am going to Shanghai with two other English teachers from Australia, so expect to have a busy time. No great plans - just to look and learn a bit more about that part of the country.
So afte my lessons tomorrow (Wednesday) I will make a hasty retreat and get to the bus station in time for our bus to Shanghai with my new suitcase - just a little one that will beuseful for such a short trip. We are due back in Shaoxing on Friday evening, so will have another two days of rest. Sounds great to me.
Sunday, 24 February 2008
Arriving in China
We left Brisbane at 11.45 pm and arrived in Singapore around 5.15 am (Singapore time) knowing we had some 2 hours to wait. I was last in Changi/Singapore Airport in 1991, and how it has changed.
It is much, much bigger, hugely friendly with displays of wonderful Singapore orchids. Altogether friendly and welcoming. I was travelling with two gentlemen - friendly Aussie blokes whom I met at Australian City College - and we were soon lined up at the Sports Bar for our first drink. I had a lovely red wine and the guys had a few beers.
We were very tired - sleeping sitting up in economy class is not a good sleep, but we were OK. One of the guys had been to Yuexiu before, and I was the only one of the trio that had never been to China.
There is now an airtrain that takes folk between the different parts of the airport. M1 managed to get on the train before the doors closed and M2 and I were stranded, until the train returned. We boarded and found that we had taken a different route. Back to the origional departure spot, and then on to the right destination and we were reunited again. Lots of laughs!
It wasn't long before we boarded the next Singapore Airlines flight - the 5 hours to Shanghai.
As it turned out we landed early in Shanghai and jour meeting and greeting party had not arrived. We had been given instructions to wait for two young ladies who would have "a plate with characters on it and our names." Eventually M1 found them - with the sign with thename of the college in English and Chinese and with "Dianne Michael" on it. The two blokes are both called Michael - which is why I will call them M1 and M2. Easy for me.
The girls had travelled three hours by bus and went off for something to eat, leaving us with our luggage to watch the world (in Shangai) go past.
The Shanghai airport was more than adequate - but compared to Singapore - well, there is no comparison. Shanghai was stark and functional, without the glamour and welcoming of Singapore. No doubt Shanghai Airport will upgrade one day to cater for the increasing number of Westerners to the country.
Eventually we found our bus driver and bus and were on the road to Shaoxing. Will I ever forget that bus ride? Never in a zillion years.
It is much, much bigger, hugely friendly with displays of wonderful Singapore orchids. Altogether friendly and welcoming. I was travelling with two gentlemen - friendly Aussie blokes whom I met at Australian City College - and we were soon lined up at the Sports Bar for our first drink. I had a lovely red wine and the guys had a few beers.
We were very tired - sleeping sitting up in economy class is not a good sleep, but we were OK. One of the guys had been to Yuexiu before, and I was the only one of the trio that had never been to China.
There is now an airtrain that takes folk between the different parts of the airport. M1 managed to get on the train before the doors closed and M2 and I were stranded, until the train returned. We boarded and found that we had taken a different route. Back to the origional departure spot, and then on to the right destination and we were reunited again. Lots of laughs!
It wasn't long before we boarded the next Singapore Airlines flight - the 5 hours to Shanghai.
As it turned out we landed early in Shanghai and jour meeting and greeting party had not arrived. We had been given instructions to wait for two young ladies who would have "a plate with characters on it and our names." Eventually M1 found them - with the sign with thename of the college in English and Chinese and with "Dianne Michael" on it. The two blokes are both called Michael - which is why I will call them M1 and M2. Easy for me.
The girls had travelled three hours by bus and went off for something to eat, leaving us with our luggage to watch the world (in Shangai) go past.
The Shanghai airport was more than adequate - but compared to Singapore - well, there is no comparison. Shanghai was stark and functional, without the glamour and welcoming of Singapore. No doubt Shanghai Airport will upgrade one day to cater for the increasing number of Westerners to the country.
Eventually we found our bus driver and bus and were on the road to Shaoxing. Will I ever forget that bus ride? Never in a zillion years.
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