Christmas - New Year update;
Again – welcome back, or welcome. Pretty much as we thought it would be, a mix
of steady at work and we have also managed to fit in another couple of excursions. One thing that has definitely changed here
–the weather! When we first arrived the temperature was running into the 30’s
and very humid, well winter is upon us and Julie is monitoring the forecast
daily. Coldest so far has been -7, we
have purchased another duvet and we now have an electric blanket each- oh and
then there is the two heaters we bought.
We are busy layering our clothing and really glad we bought some Merino
tops and long johns to go with the 2x jackets, hat, gloves and scarf which are
all compulsory accessories!!
Once again we have organised a dinner get
together for the foreign teachers we have met up with and this time there are
15 of us including another Kiwi! So
there we are at a Gelato shop in a plaza downtown Huaian, China- run by a
couple of Italian guys eating Italian food and drinking German beer talking to
this Kiwi bloke and in discussion it turns out he used to work in Shannon
–(where I grew up as a kid and also spent some time there in the Police in the
mid 80’s) and he was from Timaru where he knew my best mate’s in-laws. We were both having a good laugh about that!
I have to admit I have been quite taken
with the amount of construction that is going on here. I am sure you are all well aware of how the
economy here is rocking along and pretty much been a key driver for the world
economy. One of the things that is hard
to miss is the number of construction cranes that adorn the skyline. Julie reckons I can’t stop counting the
cranes – have to admit she is probably right, it’s just that there are so
bloody many of them! Here are some
examples;
From our apartment to downtown we catch a
little tuk-tuk taxi for about 5 minutes to a bus stop and then the bus into
town for about 30 minutes. One day on
the way home I decided to count the high rise cranes I could see – I got
96. This in itself is a stunning number
and then you factor in this was not the main route in the city and the real
kicker – that is 96 out one side of the bus!! Next trip to town there is
another 126 counted out the other side of the bus.
How about 26 cranes on one construction
site. Or when driving along the motorway to Nanjing we pass a random city, name
unknown, and in one quick count from right to left without pause as we drive by,
-65, again out one side of the bus. I’ve
had to stop counting as they are literally everywhere.
For our three day weekend at the start of
November we headed off to Nanjing- the capital of Jiangsu province and also a
former capital of the country at various times.
Nanjing in recent times is probably most infamously known as being the
site of the “Rape of Nanjing” by Japanese occupying forces in 1937.
Nanjing is a booming city of more than 8
million people, (some material suggests up to 11 million) and has a pollution
problem similar to Beijing. In fact
after 3 days we feel the effects of pollution more so than the 5 days we had in
Beijing.
After the Massacre by the Japanese, Nanjing
is probably best known for its 33km long massive city wall. One of few remaining in China as over time
most have been pulled down- some major ones since the takeover by the Communist
Party in 1949. We walk on the wall in a
couple of places and marvel at the scope and the massive entry gate and
fortifications around the wall. The bricks
were made over 600 years ago and they still have the stamp markings visible in
Chinese stating the –date, name, village and region where the brick was made so
that there was accountability if the bricks crumbled. (photos)
We visited an English/American style sports
bar in Nanjing which was a little oasis of western food and drink smack bang in
the middle of town. Was nice to go and
relax over a cold beer, pizza and fries.
It was however pretty much at western city prices. We were meeting some other teachers here and
they finally turned up -seven and a half hours for a 2 ½ hour bus trip as they
got lost, one left her phone at home and the other no credit on her phone as
well as no passport –which you need when checking into hotels or travelling by
train. So that was a mission for them.
So how much do things cost in China? – here
are a few ideas on the cost of various items, I will list the price first in
the Chinese currency, Renminbi (Peoples money) RMB or yuan and then in NZ
dollars, FYI the conversion is roughly $1NZ to 5RMB.
Fruit, 2x bananas and 4x oranges 3.50/.70c
Bottle water, small 1.40/.28c and a large
3.60/.70c
Can of coke, 2/.40c
Bottle of beer- large, 2.50/.50c
Bus ticket for 30 minute trip, 1/.20c
Haircut, 10/2.00
Dozen eggs,
11/2.20
Packet of pot noodles, 2/.40c
New key cut, 8/1.60
Dinner for 4 at small local restaurant with
7 mains, rice and beers, 120/24
Dumplings from local stall for lunch, 4/.80c
Bottle of Italian Merlot, 28/5.65
-not too bad either!!
Rent, not 100% but led to believe our 3
room apartment is 500/100 a month.
Just to give you some idea on the cost of
things. It is also quite regional as
well and some provinces are known as being better off than others. Jiangsu province is considered well off and
some of the provinces in the west are cheaper as the provinces are not so
prosperous and the cost of living is lower again. Rest assured the prices in Beijing and
Shanghai do not reflect the prices we enjoy here in Huaian - which is classed
as a tier 2 city.
At the end of November we did a 4 day trip
to Shanghai, we have a 3 day weekend every other weekend and took an extra day
off school. It’s a 6 hour bus trip from Huaian to Shanghai and 1 stop along the
way, again good use of our e-readers. At
the bus-stop and train station we are assisted by random people who go out of their
way to help us –this it seems is very typical of the people here and have to
say much appreciated.
Our hotel is in central Shanghai and we get
sorted and pretty much head out straight away and head to the Bund on the Huangpu
River to take in the amazing sight of Shanghai by evening. Then we went to the Hyatt Hotel on the Bund
where you can go to their rooftop bar on the 32nd floor for what is
an absolutely amazing view of the river and the Shanghai night sky. This place is rated as one of the best hotel
bar views in the world and it is clear to see why. (photos) Prices to match the location-
sky-high!!
The next day we decided to do a hop-on
hop-off bus tour as a way of getting around to see as much as we can. Included in this we head up the Jin Mao tower
to the 88th floor and its awesome walk-around 360 degree views. Not the tallest building in the Pudong
district but still pretty damn impressive as the cityscape disappears into the
distance- OK then, disappears into the smog!
(photos)
There is so much to see and do in this city
that is constantly on the go- we quickly decided we will be back at some time
for another visit and it was only our second day there. This evening we met up with another Kiwi,
friend of a friend, who is also living and teaching in Shanghai. Great to catch up and chat. We meet a couple of her friends and we head
to the French Concession part of town –one of her friends is a Frenchman who is
right up on his dining- for a look around and dinner. This area is pretty cool and in parts a
myriad of alleys which will appear behind an open doorway leading to an amazing
selection of small shops, bars and restaurants. Simply the kind of places you
would not find without local knowledge – or a Frenchman who has been in
Shanghai for 5 years!
The next day was more of the same with a
visit to the YuYuan Garden area and hanging out with Michelle from Tauranga. Later in the day we headed along the Bund and
got on one of the Huangpu River cruises.
We missed the 3pm trip and waited till the 4pm cruise and so glad we did
as the sunset over the skyline was something else and there was one very happy
and busy photographer!
December was a case of settling in and
keeping warm as best as possible. Enjoyed a couple of dinners with the expat
group of teachers over Christmas.
Christmas day in China?? –just another normal work day as far as the
Communist regime is concerned so it is off to school we go. The school took us
out for dinner on Christmas night with the teachers from Julie’s office looking
after us at a nice local restaurant. Christmas is creeping in here being driven
by the commercial side as opposed to the real reason for the season.
On Christmas eve the school got into the
swing of things and the kids decorated their classrooms and had a mini concert
going on in each room and the treats were apples, bananas, oranges, water-melon
seeds, peanuts and a pile of sweets. Julie ended up being Father Christmas for
her students –red suit and white beard included, and was being introduced as
“Christmas Father” until she managed to correct the introducing teacher! I visited a number of my classes and got
“sing us a song” everywhere –avoided this by getting out my USB stick with Lady
Gaga, Justin Bieber and One Direction songs – a little bit of preparation did
the trick!!
For New Years eve we went into town and
caught up with an American/Canadian couple, Robert and Lily, who we have become
friendly with and teach at the Huaian University. We stayed the night at their place and had a
great meal, a few drinks and saw the New Year in…..but not much more.
Coming up fast is the Spring Festival
break, which includes Chinese New Year on the 31st January, and
means a four week break for us. The
school is yet to confirm when it is we actually finish –remember TIC- and some
of the train trips we need to make you cannot book until 2 weeks before
departure date-TIC. We are heading south
to where it is warmer to escape the winter here in Huaian.
All the best to everyone for 2014, - at
various times thinking of you all.
Later, J2 on walkabout.
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