Well, just staying in my motel in Zuosuo, and my friend comes over every afternoon and helps me translate interviews. It's an exciting existence!
I have got very into a tv series that comes on later in the evening though. It is Russian, about these army women in the second world war. Kind of a female band of brothers. The whole thing is dubbed in Chinese, so I understand most of whats going on, especially as the acting is good and there's lots going on. The women tease the male commander of their troop, go swimming in their underwear in ponds after marching through the swamp. And there's this whole sub story where the commander was falling in love with a local woman from the town when her husband who was supposed to have already died in the war, came home with one leg and found them together, (not doing anything, but talking, wearing their sleepwear). So he's obviously pretty pissed off with his wife. But now a couple of Germans (also speaking Chinese) have just been spotted in the area, so a group of five army women and their commander have gone to catch them. Unfortunately, I already know what is going to happen, because in the opening credits, you see all of these women being killed in various violent ways (some are shot, one blown up and another drowns when she is sucked into the swamp, while the commander looks horrified, desperate, miserable, etc.)
Hey, it's better than watching the Chinese karaoke performance programs.
Friday, May 13, 2005
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Sichuan
Well have managed to borrow (or rather hire!) a phone for the next three weeks until I am home. Yay- home in three weeks from today.
Yesterday morning hitch hiked across to Sichuan and yesterday afternoon met up with my friend who is (fortunately) happy to help me with my translations for three hours a day.
Nothing much interesting has been happening the last few days. Boring for blogging. Just trying to get my research finished before I go home. Staying in a motel here in Zuosuo where I stayed last time. Though fortunately am not sick as I was last time! But am certainly feeling that I'm ready to go home.
Yesterday morning hitch hiked across to Sichuan and yesterday afternoon met up with my friend who is (fortunately) happy to help me with my translations for three hours a day.
Nothing much interesting has been happening the last few days. Boring for blogging. Just trying to get my research finished before I go home. Staying in a motel here in Zuosuo where I stayed last time. Though fortunately am not sick as I was last time! But am certainly feeling that I'm ready to go home.
Sunday, May 08, 2005
quick note
Having dropped my phone in a bucket of water yesterday, I am currently not contactable. Hoping to have loan of a phone tonight- at which point I can continue on my journey. Sim card still works at least so my number will be the same!
Friday, May 06, 2005
Catch up
Oops, it's been a while.
Well, we did get to Kunming. Spent the afternoon checking out Green Lake park, saw lots of people singing, doing tai chi and performing plays.
On Friday we went to the stone forest, just outside Kunming, which was really beautiful. Escaped from the scary tour groups (It was sunny so all the women were carrying umbrellas to protect their pale complexions and nearly taking out our eyes in the process). We sat in a glade and read our books for an hour.
On Saturday they went back to Australia and I went back to Lijiang, then on to Lugu Lake on Sunday. This week I've been staying in Zhudi and working my butt off with my translator there to get my interviews translated.
Mum seems to have adjusted well to the news of my impending nuptuals, and has taken to calling my fiance to talk about flowers and gift registries. So nice, having it all done for me! Commented on the phone to Scott tonight, that when he finishes this semester he will be a 29 year old singleton, by the time he starts next semester he will be 30 and married. He didn't sound too enthused... Told me to stop rubbing it in. But he must be excited cos he keeps calling me up to talk about guest lists and venues.
signing off. Laura
Well, we did get to Kunming. Spent the afternoon checking out Green Lake park, saw lots of people singing, doing tai chi and performing plays.
On Friday we went to the stone forest, just outside Kunming, which was really beautiful. Escaped from the scary tour groups (It was sunny so all the women were carrying umbrellas to protect their pale complexions and nearly taking out our eyes in the process). We sat in a glade and read our books for an hour.
On Saturday they went back to Australia and I went back to Lijiang, then on to Lugu Lake on Sunday. This week I've been staying in Zhudi and working my butt off with my translator there to get my interviews translated.
Mum seems to have adjusted well to the news of my impending nuptuals, and has taken to calling my fiance to talk about flowers and gift registries. So nice, having it all done for me! Commented on the phone to Scott tonight, that when he finishes this semester he will be a 29 year old singleton, by the time he starts next semester he will be 30 and married. He didn't sound too enthused... Told me to stop rubbing it in. But he must be excited cos he keeps calling me up to talk about guest lists and venues.
signing off. Laura
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Out with the girls
Wednesday evening we were heading out to a friend's house for tea, when we noticed about half a dozen cows inside a tent by the side of the road, where some road workers sleep. The road workers were nowhere to be seen and the cows were happily munching away at their food supplies and straw mattresses. At first we were laughing, but then realised it would probably not be quite as funny to the roadworkers. So Mum found a big stick and ran around chasing the cows and shouting until they all ran off down the hill.
Made our way to the friends house and sat while they slaughtered a chicken and some fish and then prepared them in our honour. At dinner we were treated to a few glasses of "Mother's" home made rice wine. Mum's glass was refilled a few times and then we set off home before it got dark. As we passed the road worker's tent, we saw that one man had come back and was sitting out the front of the tent cooking his dinner. Mum was about 50 metres ahead of Connie and I, and decided she wanted to convey to the man what had happened. Much to his astonishment, she walked up to him and began doing a cow impersonation, before grabbing a stick and running around waving it. The cigarette nearly fell out of the side of his mouth. He looked so astonished at this mad, blonde, Western woman who was holding her fingers to her head like horns and making mooing noises. I must remember to give Mum rice wine next time I want her to play charades. I got there and explained to the man what had happened, at which point he nodded and thanked mum (Connie was still doubled over with laughter). After a few more beers in the village, Mum skipped home singing Mosuo songs.
Friday we went back into Yongning to see a few more friends- Mum and Connie bought matching stripy hats. Caught a taxi to Luoshui, where we went for a boat ride out to the island- Gorgeous weather. That evening we went and had Mosuo bbq, cooking little strips of meat, potato, capsicum, fish and tofu.
Saturday it was back onto the bus to Lijiang. First we caught a minibus to Ninglang. Maniac driver. From there we changed buses and arrived in Lijiang at around 4.30pm. In the evening we went to Prague cafe and watched a dvd on the couch.
Sunday we caught up on a lot of shopping. Exhausting. In the afternoon we finished off the last of the cheese from Australia along with a couple of bottles of Dali beer on the balcony and in the evening went out to a restaurant on the square for some cold and stodgy noodles. Didn't think there were any Chinese people who didn't know how to make fried noodles.
Monday morning it was an early start. Packed small packs and jumped on a public bus to Qiaotou, from there a taxi into Tiger Leaping Gorge. Got to our guesthouse in Walnut grove, got rooms and ordered lunch, planning to begin a long hike into the middle gorge after lunch. Just as we finished lunch, two drops of rain fell so we went inside to have a nap till the rain finished. Woke at 5.30pm- oops. Went for a little walk around the area and had a pleasant evening talking to some guests.
Tuesday morning- another early start- but this time to go for our hike. A guy called Ron, whom we'd met the night before, decided to join us, so we set off around 8.30 with a guide we had hired. He was very friendly and patient and told me lots of stories which I translated for the others. I was a bit worried about my ankle- still a bit sore- and had to take it very slowly. The walk was difficult and steep, but spectacular. Fantastic experience. It was four very tired hikers who emerged from the gorge four hours later. The guy was still running around- and was planning to take someone else down later that afternoon!
In the afternoon we had a very relaxing lunch at Seans guesthouse. Then caught a taxi back to Lijiang. I got some take away pizza which we munched in our rooms before collapsing on our beds.
This is our last day in Lijiang. Tomorrow- on to Kunming.
Thanks to everyone who has sent their congratulations. Jesse- I don't actually have your email address, would you be able to send it? Brooke- any chance you can get down to Melbourne in July?
Made our way to the friends house and sat while they slaughtered a chicken and some fish and then prepared them in our honour. At dinner we were treated to a few glasses of "Mother's" home made rice wine. Mum's glass was refilled a few times and then we set off home before it got dark. As we passed the road worker's tent, we saw that one man had come back and was sitting out the front of the tent cooking his dinner. Mum was about 50 metres ahead of Connie and I, and decided she wanted to convey to the man what had happened. Much to his astonishment, she walked up to him and began doing a cow impersonation, before grabbing a stick and running around waving it. The cigarette nearly fell out of the side of his mouth. He looked so astonished at this mad, blonde, Western woman who was holding her fingers to her head like horns and making mooing noises. I must remember to give Mum rice wine next time I want her to play charades. I got there and explained to the man what had happened, at which point he nodded and thanked mum (Connie was still doubled over with laughter). After a few more beers in the village, Mum skipped home singing Mosuo songs.
Friday we went back into Yongning to see a few more friends- Mum and Connie bought matching stripy hats. Caught a taxi to Luoshui, where we went for a boat ride out to the island- Gorgeous weather. That evening we went and had Mosuo bbq, cooking little strips of meat, potato, capsicum, fish and tofu.
Saturday it was back onto the bus to Lijiang. First we caught a minibus to Ninglang. Maniac driver. From there we changed buses and arrived in Lijiang at around 4.30pm. In the evening we went to Prague cafe and watched a dvd on the couch.
Sunday we caught up on a lot of shopping. Exhausting. In the afternoon we finished off the last of the cheese from Australia along with a couple of bottles of Dali beer on the balcony and in the evening went out to a restaurant on the square for some cold and stodgy noodles. Didn't think there were any Chinese people who didn't know how to make fried noodles.
Monday morning it was an early start. Packed small packs and jumped on a public bus to Qiaotou, from there a taxi into Tiger Leaping Gorge. Got to our guesthouse in Walnut grove, got rooms and ordered lunch, planning to begin a long hike into the middle gorge after lunch. Just as we finished lunch, two drops of rain fell so we went inside to have a nap till the rain finished. Woke at 5.30pm- oops. Went for a little walk around the area and had a pleasant evening talking to some guests.
Tuesday morning- another early start- but this time to go for our hike. A guy called Ron, whom we'd met the night before, decided to join us, so we set off around 8.30 with a guide we had hired. He was very friendly and patient and told me lots of stories which I translated for the others. I was a bit worried about my ankle- still a bit sore- and had to take it very slowly. The walk was difficult and steep, but spectacular. Fantastic experience. It was four very tired hikers who emerged from the gorge four hours later. The guy was still running around- and was planning to take someone else down later that afternoon!
In the afternoon we had a very relaxing lunch at Seans guesthouse. Then caught a taxi back to Lijiang. I got some take away pizza which we munched in our rooms before collapsing on our beds.
This is our last day in Lijiang. Tomorrow- on to Kunming.
Thanks to everyone who has sent their congratulations. Jesse- I don't actually have your email address, would you be able to send it? Brooke- any chance you can get down to Melbourne in July?
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Ma and Yima (Mother and Mother one / Aunty)
Well, Mum and Aunty Connie arrived at Lijiang airport on Saturday night. We got a taxi into town and dumped all their stuff in our room, before going for a walk around old town. They were very excited to experience their first evening in China, and we strolled through the crowded streets while they poked their heads into souvenir shops and took photos and talked and giggled a lot. Then we sat down in a little restaurant called Hakuna Matata for some Chinese food and I told her my news. Scott was down in Mordialloc the same night telling his mother the same news. That was quite exciting.
Sunday morning we took the wine and cheese that I had talked mum into carrying on the plane, and went down to Black Dragon Park. Wandered around for a bit - Mum paid five yuan and got to hold a monkey in her hand while we took a photo. Then we hired a little rowboat, rowed out to a pagoda in the middle of the lake there, tied up and sat down and enjoyed our wine and cheese.
Monday we did a bit more shopping (can't keep them out of the shops) and then climbed up the hill in old town to visit a large tower on top. Walked around there a bit and relaxed and enjoyed the spectacular view over Lijiang. In the evening Mum and Connie got dressed up and went out to the Naxi orchestra. More shopping (especially window shopping) before and after- Mum's quote for the day: "I like a bit of sensuality in statues".
Tuesday, we had an early start, packed our bags, bought some mantou (steamed buns) and then jumped on a bus up to Lugu lake. That was an interesting experience for them and they spent a lot of time trying to take photos out the window of plunging gorges, rustic villages and cows, goats and pigs crossing the road in front of us. The squat toilets with metre high barriers and no doors were quite a talking point. I think they were a little nervous on some of the single-lane, hairpin-bend, unmade-road, oncoming-truck sections. Can't imagine why.
I think the view of the lake made up for it though. In the evening we went to watch (and join in) some Mosuo dancing in the village of Lige. Aunty Connie met a handsome young Mosuo man called Erche and suddenly started asking lots of questions about walking marriage...
Wednesday we went to Zhudi, where I have spent quite a bit of time. Joined the family for lunch. They were very warm and friendly. We took lots of photos and the mother took Mum and Connie out into the barn to feed the pigs. They had a little of her homemade rice wine to drink too! Had to take Mum and Connie out into the backyard to have a pee. Mum was heard to say "I never thought I'd see the day when I'd look forward to a squat toilet". As you can see, they are adapting very quickly.
In the afternoon we went into Yongning so I could introduce them to my latest conquest: the lama at the monastery. Then, visited another friend and wandered through the markets. Went back to the guesthouse for dinner and a Dali beer.
This morning my Norwegian friend talked me into getting up at 5.30am and climbing a mountain so we could go to a village to see another Mosuo funeral. Similar to last time, except they also gave us lollies. Were home by 8.45 and starving (poor foot was aching). Had a relaxing day sitting around the courtyard and chatting. Just had noodles and a beer for lunch. They are bargaining for handmade scarves and we are going out to tea tonight with friends.
Sunday morning we took the wine and cheese that I had talked mum into carrying on the plane, and went down to Black Dragon Park. Wandered around for a bit - Mum paid five yuan and got to hold a monkey in her hand while we took a photo. Then we hired a little rowboat, rowed out to a pagoda in the middle of the lake there, tied up and sat down and enjoyed our wine and cheese.
Monday we did a bit more shopping (can't keep them out of the shops) and then climbed up the hill in old town to visit a large tower on top. Walked around there a bit and relaxed and enjoyed the spectacular view over Lijiang. In the evening Mum and Connie got dressed up and went out to the Naxi orchestra. More shopping (especially window shopping) before and after- Mum's quote for the day: "I like a bit of sensuality in statues".
Tuesday, we had an early start, packed our bags, bought some mantou (steamed buns) and then jumped on a bus up to Lugu lake. That was an interesting experience for them and they spent a lot of time trying to take photos out the window of plunging gorges, rustic villages and cows, goats and pigs crossing the road in front of us. The squat toilets with metre high barriers and no doors were quite a talking point. I think they were a little nervous on some of the single-lane, hairpin-bend, unmade-road, oncoming-truck sections. Can't imagine why.
I think the view of the lake made up for it though. In the evening we went to watch (and join in) some Mosuo dancing in the village of Lige. Aunty Connie met a handsome young Mosuo man called Erche and suddenly started asking lots of questions about walking marriage...
Wednesday we went to Zhudi, where I have spent quite a bit of time. Joined the family for lunch. They were very warm and friendly. We took lots of photos and the mother took Mum and Connie out into the barn to feed the pigs. They had a little of her homemade rice wine to drink too! Had to take Mum and Connie out into the backyard to have a pee. Mum was heard to say "I never thought I'd see the day when I'd look forward to a squat toilet". As you can see, they are adapting very quickly.
In the afternoon we went into Yongning so I could introduce them to my latest conquest: the lama at the monastery. Then, visited another friend and wandered through the markets. Went back to the guesthouse for dinner and a Dali beer.
This morning my Norwegian friend talked me into getting up at 5.30am and climbing a mountain so we could go to a village to see another Mosuo funeral. Similar to last time, except they also gave us lollies. Were home by 8.45 and starving (poor foot was aching). Had a relaxing day sitting around the courtyard and chatting. Just had noodles and a beer for lunch. They are bargaining for handmade scarves and we are going out to tea tonight with friends.
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Important Announcement.
As you have all been following my life via the blog in the last few months I don't see how this should be any different. But for once I'm going to take a back seat and let Scott post on my blog. Well, I'm going to copy one of his recent emails to me into this blog anyway...
Yep, we're engaged. So if you happen to be a close friend or family member you had better put our names down in your diary for the 9th of July. This year. Having finally decided that we wanted to get married, we also decided we couldn't wait. There won't be an engagement party (won't be time). The church, reception and honeymoon are booked. (We've actually been planning this since February.) Now Scott just has to get around to proposing.... properly. He has been very wonderful doing lots of running around and booking things, while I sit here in China and email him "don't forget to..." etc.
We are quite possibly insane, as we will have a bare month after I get back to do a lot of shopping. Now I would like to receive lots of comments telling me your response to this blog and online proposal.
G'day again Sweetness
Just realised something with all this talk of
weddings.
Will you marry me? Are you willing to share the rest of your
life with me?
I think asking by email is the only method I had not tried
yet. I have done it in person, in bed, on a plane, in a car, over the phone and in a letter.Just thought I would get that out of the way. Now that I have tried all of these different methods. I can start drafting a proper proposal.
Feeling relatively sure you will answer in the positive and this is not an elaborate hoax to keep me occupied.
Miss you
Love you
Come home soon
Scott the fiancee
Yep, we're engaged. So if you happen to be a close friend or family member you had better put our names down in your diary for the 9th of July. This year. Having finally decided that we wanted to get married, we also decided we couldn't wait. There won't be an engagement party (won't be time). The church, reception and honeymoon are booked. (We've actually been planning this since February.) Now Scott just has to get around to proposing.... properly. He has been very wonderful doing lots of running around and booking things, while I sit here in China and email him "don't forget to..." etc.
We are quite possibly insane, as we will have a bare month after I get back to do a lot of shopping. Now I would like to receive lots of comments telling me your response to this blog and online proposal.
Scott,'Engagement blog' decorations courtesy of Danielle McCredden, blog administrator extraordinaire.
I love you.
Thanks for doing so much work
and for being such a wonderful support while I've been here in China. See you in
six weeks!
love Laura xxx
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