China Romance
All About China => Your trip to China => Topic started by: shaun on June 01, 2010, 09:00:44 pm
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Shaoguan, dare I say it, the Epic Tale
You heard it here first. I just purchased a ticket to China again. At first you couldn't get me to go, now you can't keep me away. Haha.
I fly out Wednesday June 9th and will leave July 7 just in time for my son's Graduation, I guess that is what you call it, from the Air Force bootcamp in San Antonio, Texas, then home on the 11th. That will give me 28 days to recuperate before school starts again.
Last night the tickets came down to $1650.00 and I am thinking lower, lower. I got up this morning and the best price I could find was $2995.00. So I am freaking out, I call Peggy and tell her, she is not happy, I should have applied the 24 hour rule. So finally I tell her that I will continue to check prices until Monday, the actual day I want to leave. She tells me she will give me until Thursday, yup the day after tomorrow, then she will go to Shaoguan and find a place to live for us.
I had a 9:00am appointment so we finished talking and I left. When I got home and turned my computer on her sister was there waiting for me to sign on. Questions, questions, questions... and the ultimate. Are you going to China this summer? So I said yes I want to but give me two days to sort this out. She said OK.
I eat lunch and take a nap. I needed to calm down and sort this out. When I woke up I called my school office and talked about my return for next year. I have to take a mandatory class every year before school starts. It is the kool-aid of the school system and the state or Georgia. It is all propaganda with a little of useful information mixed in. They give me alternate meetings in differing parts of the state. If I go in July I will have to cut my trip short by 1 week. This is unacceptable for the goals I have set for this trip. So then it is back to next week.
Bottom line is that I found a trip where I go from Augusta on Wednesday to Hong Kong. I return to San Antonio on July 7 and back to Augusta on the 11th. All for $1699.00. So I figure the China trip is costing me $1299.00 to $1399.00.
We will spend 2 nights in Hong Kong together and go to Disneyland. She has never been to an amusement park before. She is excited about it. Then we go to Guangzhou from there. We will spend two or three days there and then go to Shaoguan for the duration. I think.
I am so excited about this. Watch for further updates. I might actually take pictures of scenery this time. I mean other than Peggy which isn't bad scenery to look at.
Shaun
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I wish you the best of time on this trip Shaun, I can feel the bubbling of excitement from your post. Ah...to be young and in Love again ;D
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Shaun, sorry we won't get to catch up in Shenzhen you will be back home before I even get there. Anyway mate have a great trip. Jason
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Sorry Jason. That was the way the airplane ticket and my office crumbled. I was taking the later trip then the office said you must come back a week early. With the economy the way it is I decided to agree with them. I'm 5 years away from retiring. I'll play their game a little while.
Shaun
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congrats man, I am quite envious :)
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Have a great trip Shaun , but remember to keep the blinkers on , or a very dark pair of sunglasses , enjoy Honkers , regards Robert .
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Somebody better put the natives of GZ on Hawaiian shirt alert!
Best of luck Shaun, I'm sure you will have another wonderful trip.
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Have a great trip !
Wish it was me going again 8)
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Thanks guys. I am excited. Peggy and I talked for 3 hours about the trip. Now it is fast and furious trying to get ready. Funny note. Back in April she told me that I did not dress very well. Jeans and flowery shirts. Hmmm.... So last night she asked to go through my closet on the internet. I played along. She picked my clothes to bring this trip. She allowed 2 flowery shirts and 2 polos. But she is having me bring 6 button down collar business like shirts. 6 pairs of slacks and 1 pair of jeans. I asked her why? Because she wants me looking like a professional business man to her friends. I asked her if she would tell me what I will wear every day? Yes. I bet I haven't been told what to wear in 46 years. I see this as an opportunity to mess with her a lot. I hope she can take a joke. Well she can but this will be a lot more intense. Hehe.
daghoi? you just got back? got it bad I see!!!!
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Yupp, bad as you can have it :)
My girlfriend told me that how the husband dressed was the wife’s responsibility. So when I did not dress properly it was she that was looked down on, not me !
One of the last evening I let her have a look through what I had brought and let her have her pick. At least it was fun for one night, not sure if it is fun on the long run.
At least i will bring more "nicer" clothes next time.
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Every time someone says they are going back to China or going for the first time I get super jealous, lol! Shaun have a great second trip, have fun playing dress up lmfao. I was told I took too much with me, haha. FyI ebay has the Chinese flag cuff links. I purchased me a pair. Dont know if it will score brownie points though.
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Thanks Josh. Glad to see you back again. Hmmm... Never thought about Chinese flag cuff links. I will be working on a logo soon. I wonder if I could get it on cuff links too?
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Now you Guy's have me thinking ??? Does Qing like the way I dress now or before on my Trips . I like to be comfortable , especially when it's Hot and Humit . She either is ok with it or she is the nice Wife and say's nothing .. for now . haha
I have noticed , now with the weather getting warmer .. she NEEDS summer slipper's . Yes , the ones she wears in the Winter are not good for now . ??? I also found out living with her , she has clothes for everything .. the house , the yard , for walking , shopping ect. ect. I do hear alot .. I can't wear this for that . Here I'm wearing no more than three set's of shoes ( not counting the dress-up shoes ) and Jeans -Jeans and Tee's year-around . But all is good , she does dress nice all the time . Lucky for me , it all stops at Bed time . ;D
Shaun , I know it is still early .. but you have yourself a wonderful/safe Trip .
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Thanks Arnold. Peggy has me packing for every occasion; comfort to business. She too has different dress for different places. She comes home and changes. So far all I know about it 2 different occasions. Well, 3 if you consider night time. But Peggy tells me what looks good and does not on me. If I wear a shirt she does not like on the web cam she will kindly remind me so now when I sign on I tell her I am wearing her favorite shirt and she gives me my favorite pouting look. I love that shirt... now!!!
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Ahhh .. the things we learn ? Thanks to these lovely Women .
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Shaun, have a fantastic second trip! Like everyone else, I am looking forward to reading about your adventures in China.
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well have a good trip Shaun
Sara will be possibly transfering to Shoaguan for work so we might be in the area while your there
as we will need to buy another place there to live in and come home to GZ on weekends. have to
scout around the area to look at places while she is working
Ted
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Thanks Martin and Ted.
Ted, I hope we can meet up there.
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it would be nice to see the two of you again if not there maybe in GZ
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Ted,
We will spend a few days in GZ. I just don't know when yet. Things have got to fall into place. Check my PM.
Shaun
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Yep. Can't stand it. Gotta go. This time 4 weeks. Gotta love it. Then I'll be in the poor house for a while.
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but look what you will gain
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Excellent investment in the long run Shaun. It will pay off in the end. Enjoy your trip and take care. I'll keep the light on in the poor house for your return. Hahaha. :D
Dave C
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Hi all,
Well I have been here for 2 full days. Spent 2 night in Shenzhen and last night in Shaoguan. Dang you forget how hard these beds are quickly. I am up early because my back is sore. 19 hours in an airplane and yesterday 4.5 in a bus and retired each evening on a rock hard bed.
It really is so good to be here again and to have Peggy in my arms. Peggy is moving to Shaoguan to be near her children until she moves to America. Yesterday afternoon she wanted to look at homes. She said, "you stay in hotel, I go look." I asked why and she said she didn't want the price of the homes to go up because I was with her. She came back a few hours later and has 3 she wants me to look at. One that is new and she says we can buy real cheap. I will have to proceed cautiously.
I have had a few obstacles to work though and a few setbacks to get here. We were going to go to Disneyland in Hong Kong the first 2 days. I have postponed that little trip to the end of my stay. Peggy and I are going to hang here in Shaoguan for 10-12 days and be a family allowing me to get to know her children and granddaughter. In the long run a better option I think. So there may be little to talk about. We will do a little sight seeing where Peggy grew up and work on setting up her home here. If you do not hear from me it is because there isn't much to talk about.
Let me leave you with one thought. The second time is always better so get that first trip out of the way soon.
Shaun
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The second time is always better so get that first trip out of the way soon.
Mate I am trying and still waiting. Only one month to go. Have put in the application for 1 year multi entry visa on Friday. Pick up next week then only about 3 weeks to go. Do you think that I am anxious and wish that I was a time lord and could fast forward time?
Enjoy your holiday and time with Peggy.
Cheers Jason
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Let me leave you with one thought. The second time is always better so get that first trip out of the way soon.
Shaun
Sorry to inform you Shaun but the NEXT TRIP is always the better trip ;D
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i agree the 2nd is good but if your a good match the 1st is always the best and memorable one
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I've just been catching up on your story. Wow, you have been a busy boy! I'm really happy for you Shaun it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy! Enjoy your 2nd trip and if your ever up Beijing way my door is always open! Ted I've only ever made one trip and I never went home!!! Yes memorable it sure is!
Ming Zhi,Paul
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Paul it us sure good to see you back online.
Well I have been in Shaoguan 4 days. A lot has happened and very little time to write. I think I will start with something that happened a little over 1 hour ago. Peggy and I were shopping in the hot spot in town just about 2 blocks from where we are living. A mens store was closing and it there were a lot of people there. I tried to ask Peggy a question but the answer she gave didn't match the question so out comes the translator and off I go typing. Question answered and back into my left front pocket.
We decide to buy 1 shirt so I pull my wallet out. Then suddenly I am shoved forward, there is a substantial tug on my left pocket. Instinctively remembering my classes on pick pocketing, I yelled hey to alert the man I knew and I turn to the right. It was classic. A man looking like he was interested in something on the right. In his hands is a folded empty bag with something under it. Peggy was behind me she saw that I was after something and then saw the translator. She swatted at the bag and the translator fell to the ground and the man began backing up. I walked toward him and yelled hey again. He said "It is OK I go." Peggy grabbed my arm. I was about to kick his ass. He ran off.
Ah, I loved the excitement of the moment. I looked for a policeman but Peggy kept saying let's go. So we left. Needless to say Peggy was worried about my wallet for the rest of the evening. She wanted to take care of it. I said no. She got a little upset with me but I told her, "look I caught him." He won't come after me again. He knows I can handle myself.
I'm not so ignorant to think he will not try again but I wanted to calm Peggy down a little.
Well Peggy calls so I'll have to tell the rest later.
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WOW Shaun...good for you! Chalk one up to the good guy! Maybe you could teach Irishman a thing or two on catching a pick pocket. heehee
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Up yours Martin!
Nice catch Shaun, he was lucky Peggy was there to stop you kicking his ass if you felt half as mad as I did when my wallet was stolen there.
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Shaun good job.I have a chain on mine. I haven't had anyone try to steal my wallet yet.My wife says because Chinese man frightened.She said I look angry all the time.
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Good job Shaun!
Another quick and dirty trick is to use a wide rubber band around your wallet, or translator in this case. It makes it too dificult for the thief to get the article out of your pocket. Well thats the theory anyways.
Dave C
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Shaun,
That guy was real lucky, I've seen pickpockets dragged out into the street and given a severe beating by the general public. Let your wife look after stuff for you,It will make her feel good and she has more experience of this than you! If pickpockets targeted me they'd come up short as I don't carry any thing, my wife won't let me! Tell us more stories!!!!!
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thats an interesting story lucky for him peggy was there and would the police have done anything??
probably not.
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Shaun,
Give all your valuables to Peggy.
Paul,
I have a story about a, well sort of pick pocket. One of the supervisors used to check everybodies pockets for gum for himself. One guy was a little sick of him doing this every day so he cut a hole in his pocket and pulled his... thing through the hole. When the supervisor shoved his hand in and grabbed hold his eyes almost popped out of his head. Needless to say he never did just put his hand in someones pocket again. :o :o :o
Dave C
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Last trip to China, we were in Guangzhou. A large crowd had gathered, and security officials were beating a man. My wife told me he was a pick pocket..apparently not a good one. Vigilante justice for sure. If he could have escaped these guys, I know the crowd would have stopped them.
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I seen the same thing in Zhuhai.The crowed was beating the hell out of two guys.Who had stolen somebodies cell phone.It was a wild scene..These 2 guys were down on the ground.With about 20 guys around them kicking them and hitting them.These 2 guys were taking a hell of a beating.About the time this got going good.The police did cruise by.They didn't even slow down to see what was going on.
It kind of amazed me.So I asked my wife about it.She said the 2 men were thief's.So they got what they deserved.I asked her why the police didn't stop.She told me the same thing.The men were thief's and they got what they deserved
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Based off of mpo Mike’s suggestion I will try this again.
Peggy and I left Shenzhen to help her move to Shaoguan. It was an early get up on the 10th if I remember correctly. We had a ton of stuff to carry so we took a taxi where we met up with the bus headed for Shaoguan. It is a 5 hour drive. Peggy slept on my shoulder as it should be while I watched the scenery pass by. There is nothing in this world… well almost nothing in this world better than having a beautiful Chinese woman, the one you love sleep on your shoulder
After a couple of hours I was so looking forward to the mid-point stop. Peggy woke up and was telling me about the area and the homes and farms when suddenly I see us drive right by the mid-point stop. I said Peggy, are we going to stop? Her reply was that they usually will yell out if anyone needs to stop. I remember the woman who handles the business on the bus yelling something but it wasn’t in English so…
We arrived in Shaoguan about 1:30pm. It was raining, Peggy was doing the pee dance and the bus station was full of busses so the bus driver parked on the side of the station in the street. Peggy got upset and chewed one of the bus workers out. It was hysterical. She was dancing and yelling when suddenly Peggy just left. I got all of the luggage and waited. In a couple of minutes she came back say sorry, sorry. I said it was OK. She hailed down a taxi and off to the hotel. The first one she didn’t like the price so the taxi driver suggested another one to her. We went there and Peggy decided we would stay.
We freshened up and looked for a little something to eat. We went back to the room and Peggy said, stay here while she looked for a house. I said, What? Why? I was surprised by the plan of attack until she told me that if I went with her that the price would go up. Makes sense. She left around 2:30 and didn’t come back until 6:00. I was getting a little worried but then she is looking for a house.
The next morning she took me to see what she found. The first one was very nice, it was brand new and spacious even by American specs. But they were asking $82,500.00US. 500,000RMB Well you know what my answer was. I love you Peggy but no.
The second house was about 30-40 years old. It was a 3 bedroom, one of them converted into a study. All very nice blond wood. Much smaller than the first. Completely furnished except
refrigerator and washing machine. Peggy kept telling me it was 39000RMB. I m thinking it can’t be. I ask the agent 39000 she said yes. I am thinking yes if I can figure out how. I mean we are talking $5850.00. But at the same time I am thinking 2 things. Price is way wrong and in China every 70 years all property reverts back to Chinese government. I am thinking it has less than 5 years to go. If she were just to live in it OK but I am thinking investment property because the government is revitalizing the community. We could make a bundle in a few years.
When we get back to the agents office and I am pressing the 2 points. I write down on paper 39000RMB and her eyes open wide and she says no. $396,000RMB. That is a more reasonable price, maybe high but more in line with what I am hearing. $59,400.00US but they also want $30,000.00 down. OK Question 2 isn't even a concern now. I am out of the picture. Peggy is upset. She tries everything she
can think of to get me to buy. OK I do this and I do that. I will ask mother for money. Blah Blah Blah but I know there is no way.
I was just sick because I know she wants a house to call her own. I was also heartbroken because I would have like to have given it to her but reality is reality. Besides he sister tells me that once she comes to America she will not want to go back and live in China. I’m still not sure I agree with that assessment.
But we find a place she can afford and she is now living in a 15'X15' bedroom, kitchen and bath. It is in
nice shape but now I feel like a heal. We have been in it 6 days and it is not that bad. There are a lot of inconveniences but not hard to get around. Even has a squat toilet. I ‘ll spare the details.
That evening we have the internet installed. It turns out the contractor is her step son. Quite a remarkable young man. 29, owns his own company, physically handicapped due to some kind of accident when he was a young boy. A good portion of his torso is missing. He wasn’t suppose to walk again ever but he walks quite well. It is an interesting story I won’t share but I will tell you that Peggy took him in as if he were her son.
Two days after we move in we pick up her granddaughter Sisi and take her to an amusement park. Now there was a cute bundle of energy and will power. I was amazed to watch Peggy work and play with her. Guy’s I found one heck of a woman. We had a lot of fun and I wound up with another beautiful Chinese female sleeping on my shoulder. Talking about luck and Peggy isn’t even jealous. We were wore out by the end of the day and crashed.
Then the famous pick pocket day happened.
This evening we met one of Peggy’s childhood friends for supper. They had a great time. She is a school teacher.
Peggy and I haven’t done just a whole lot except spend time together getting to know each other better. I keep asking myself what life would have been like if I had met her 30 years ago. Well, no use crying over lost time but we vowed to make up for it and live together in happiness.
Well there is more to come. We still haven’t made it to Guangzhou but Ted we’re headed your way soon. Looking like June 27 right now. Still waiting to hear about a meeting at the consulate office.
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Shaun,
if you and Peggy arent planning on living in China after she moves to the USA then maybe its a good thing
to not buy here. you could buy a nicer one in the USA if you didnt spend the money here for one. something
i guess you need to clear with her on what will happen. but it is amazing the difference in prices between GZ
and were your at and its not that far away.
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Ted,
You are absolutely right. We have discussed it several times. Marry, buy a house in the US, retire, buy a house in Shaoguan, and agreed to it but you know how it is. For Peggy it is a security thing. I think. It is what her sister tells me. I entertain her thoughts and look then say no and later will remind her of our plan. She says yes but... I think it will take her a while to come completely around.
Shaoguan has a real depressed economy. People here are always saying the people here are very poor. While I agree with their comments I don't think they are as poor as they think they are. But there is a lot of wealthy people here too.
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Good to hear all is going well Shaun,
Buying apartments here is tricky especially when your ladies expectations are high. My Tasmanian friend Lester has just bought a 80m2 one bed roomed place here in Baoding for 16,000 usd. It's in bad shape but structurally sound, renovating a place here is real cheap. Double glazed windows fitted for 400rmb, metal security doors including the fame fitted for about the same price, floor tiles 80rmd for 800x800. The beauty of the place is that it has a walled garden, completely overgrown and full of rubbish but the place has potential written all over it. He payed half in cash and the rest on a bank loan at very good rates. His wife wanted the new builds but the prices were more than he was willing to spend, she is still not happy with his choice but I think after the renovation she will be more than pleased. Bargains can be found here.
I hope the rest of your trip goes well and as for thinking about" what if " you had met 30 years ago just be grateful that you are together now ! Looking forward to more updates!
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Thanks for the update Shaun
And as Paul mentioned above.....don't whine about 30 years, because we all know a fine Wine is better aged ::)
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Ron it was kind of tongue in cheek or wishful thinking.
Well on the 21st Peggy and I didn't do much of anything but sit around and talk.
Yesterday we went to her sisters house up in the mountains. It was the bumpiest bus ride I think I have ever had. My butt was sore. We arrived and didn't have a clue which direction we should go. We found our way to the market in the center of town being directed by her sister on the cell. It turns out her sister has a store there. I like her already. They talk a while and then we have lunch at the store. I ate some kind of pork thing with something that looked similar to a green bean. It was out of this world.
Peggy's oldest sister is one year older than me and is real charming. She just happens to be into astrology. Sister's verdict? Perfect match. Peggy is happy and so am I even though I do not believe in it. I am sure there are some truths to it but it isn't something I am really into.
Later Peggy and I went to the house where we met Peggy's retired brother in law. It was obvious that everyone in this town was very poor but Peggy's sister and her husband had done rather well for themselves. They are a delightful couple and have a son who lives in Guangzhou. The phone rang all night and people dropped by. Last night there was plenty of food and it was delicious. I almost think I could get used to the simplistic life there... right for two days maybe and then I would be climbing the walls.
This morning I learned how to play Mahjong and many of the people in the market watched. Have you ever tried to learn the game and they only speak Chinese? I was a lot of fun. There was one man that told me his life story. I kept telling him that I only knew about 10 words of Chinese. He would shake his hands in the air and say something. I think he could have been saying it doesn't matter. No one else listens either and just kept on talking to me. If I appeared to begin to lose interest he would gently slap me on the arm an keep on talking.
We had lunch and caught the bus back home. I think the bruises on my butt from yesterdays bus ride now have bruises. It was a 2 hour ride up but today it was a 1.5 hour ride of torture. The driver had music blaring that I think would be best describe as techno rap. Why I called it music I have no idea. I don't know who many times I body slammed Peggy into the side of the bus because of the bumps and jerking movements of the driver. The only 3 good parts of the ride where the photos I got, the way people would stop and stare at me when they got on the bus and the fact that we were able to get off the bus.
Tomorrow I think we head for the village to see Peggy's mother and where she grew up.
Have I ever said that I am totally infatuated with Peggy on this site? She is incredible.
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Way to go bro , terrific read , but as they say in China , relax , everything gets done in time , but not necessarily on time , ha ha , it is great that you are getting to see the countryside , you and Peggy take care ,regards Robert and Sujuan [ yo ]
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The day before yesterday June 24 Peggy and I didn't do much of anything. The only thing to note was that we were in the grocery store and yet again a thief tried to strike. Peggy and I were discussing buying a product. Her large handbag where we have been carrying the translator, my camera, my sunglasses, her money, umbrella and various other items was in the childs seat and our backs were to it. For some reason I turned around, a man was just putting his hand in the bag. He suddenly jerked it out. I began walking around be basket and he started walking briskly away. I started kind of a half jog and he took off running as fast as he could. He jumped over a small wall onto an escalator going down. I stopped and went back to Peggy. Peggy told the store manager and he shrugged his shoulder and said it happens all the time.
Apparently if you ever come to Shaoguan you need to watch your personal items very closely. Because the people here are very poor there is a lot of stealing going on.
Yesterday we went to Peggy's mother's farm. The home where she was born and grew up. The journey was by taxi because it was raining and Peggy didn't want to walk down a dirt road to the house. I agreed. Then when we got there it was so far back in the woods I wouldn't want to ride a bus and walk ever. It would take the better part of 1 hour to walk.
I didn't mention it but we took Peggy's granddaughter with us also. Sisi has warmed up to me quite a but but I ain't grandmother and she will let me know it every now and then. I have been calling her affectionately boogerhead be she can be one quite often. Last night Peggy what boogerhead meant so I ran it through mdbg translator thinking she is really going to be mad. When she saw the translation she broke out laughing and said yes, she is.
When we arrived at mothers house I noticed it was quite large by the Chinese standards I had seen to this point but it was run down and yes very poor. The kitchen does not have running water and is carried in by bucket that from the well in their yard. You have to prime the pump to get the water going. Peggy's mother and sister in law had begun cooking lunch and I watched with fascination. They had one propane burner and a very large home made wood burning stove and oven. Mom stoked up the stove and made quite a bit. The wok on the hand made had me quite nervous because I realized it was big enough to put me in it if necessary.
When lunch was finally prepared I began eating and the food was out of this world. It is by far the best food I have ever eaten in China. OK it is settled I will retire here only if mother is alive and still cooking. That being the case I will be almost as big as Ted is. Hehe.
They even had Chinese `chili reanos there. I scarfed those down with great vigor. It was a chili, ground pork, rice, and some things that Peggy said don't ask what it is. I bit into something today and then asked Peggy and she said don't ask but I pressed the point. It turned out it was pigs stomach. Sorry I asked.
Peggy's brother came home and they spent the next few hours talking. Peggy and I have got into a thing where she will slap me on the arm, not hard, and it will slap back. We will go not 10 to 20 times then end in laughing. Well Peggy said something and I said something back and she slapped me so off we go into the routine. Mother was delighted with it. She laughed and laughed. She then told her daughter that we are very good together. We should be happy married to each other.
We took pictures and I was showing them to mother and Sisi was looking too. I was showing them from my camera when Sisi slapped the camera so hard she knocked it out of my hands and into a bowl of water. Now you know where boogerhead comes from. I snatched the camera out of the water and took the batteries and disc out immediately. I did yell a little but regained my composure after a few words one of which was boogerhead. Then I told Peggy she was only a small child and does not understand what she did but that didn't stop Peggy from wearing out the little girl butt. Peggy's brother got a hair dryer and we dried out the camera. Once it cooled off from the blow dryer I put the batteries back in and all was good. I told Peggy OK so will will take the little boogerhead back with us, she won't have to stay with great grandmother.
The taxi arrived to pick us up and we went back home. I tried to take more photos but there was a spot on the center of the camera screen that was washed out. When I got home I downloaded them and the spot was still there. Now I'm hot but I decided to investigate a little more and discovered that there was a water spot on the lens and all is well. Dang I was hoping to get a new camera out of the deal. Hehe.
Peggy's family sent us home with a 50lb bag of rice from their land along with supples to make cakes. Peggy took what she wanted and sent the rest of the rice to her other brother.
Today we shipped the rice by bus and then met her oldest sisters brother for a little shopping and lunch today. This is the sister I met about 4 days ago. He was down buying product for their store. He also told me he could get me a great deal on mahjong tiles. I have learned an important rule today. If your girlfriend/wife or one of her relatives tells you they can get you a great discount on something and they put a dollar value on it you had better at least double what they said. So far it has happened every time. I am not sure why but it appears to work that way for me. We decided to do something different today. I would cook supper. I made beef stew. She said she liked it but I could tell she didn't like it very much. Oh well at least I tried.
Tomorrow is a big day. It is Peggy's birthday and I am grasping on how to do it big for her. I think I will invite her children out for lunch at a restaurant.
All for now.
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so i take it he didnt get anything since you turned around in time?
how was the farm? did you get any pics of it?
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Ted,
Sorry, no he didn't get anything but I sure wanted to get him this time. I will post more pictures. Peggy is trying to keep me off of the computer. She says I spend too much time on the computer.
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I did forget to mention something in my update yesterday. To me it was kind of weird. Yesterday morning Peggy woke up saying her stomach hurt and that she needed to see a doctor. I was really concerned. The she got up and said no wait, you can help me? I am thinking what can I do? She runs into the kitchen gets a rice bowl put water in it and get a porsalin (sp) spoon. She said let me show you. You can help me save 200RMB. She dipped the spoon into water and them began rubbing her back with the edge of it. She said like this but harder, first red then black.
So I began rubbing it and she kept on saying harder harder. I don't want to hurt her but her skin is beginning to turn red. She kept on saying harder. I know, sounds like Willy having sex. Oops, did I say that? I am complaining that I do not like this or what I am seeing because I can see blood just below the skin. I am thinking if I do this in America the police would arrest me for spouse abuse. She says it feels good. I said yeh right. I get a mirror out and make her look and she says very good now black. I said no more but she insisted. Her skin began turning a darker brown and then she said good. I feel better. We yeh, I would to if you stopped scraping my back.
I don't know about that one. It kind of reminds me of when mpo4747 mike was talking about cupping. Today her back is still red and it looks like she scrapped a wall with it but she says it feels real good and she has not complained about her stomach since.
Here are a couple of more picture of our trip to her mothers house.
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actually the cupping has worked wonders at time for my back
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the pics didnt show up??
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I am guessing that Shaun will post the pictures when he gets home.
Dave C
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Yes Dave I will. I am In San Antonio right now at my son's graduation from boot camp in the Air Force. I say him yesterday. It took me a while to recognize him. We had lunch and supper together and I was still amazed at how he looked and acted. All good.
I'll post some time next week.
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so were will he be stationed at. my neice ended up on an aircraft carrier off the coast of Japan for a
couple of years
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Ted he is going to Tech school in Wichita Falls. He is going to school to be a jet engine mechanic on a C-130. They have not told him where he will be stationed but there is a real need overseas.
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he will enjoy it much as my neice has really not regretted it and is piling up a lot of cash from them to
pursue her degrees when she gets out. she is in her second 4 years.
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Wow, I didn't post very much after June 26. Peggy didn't like me spending so much time on the computer. She wanted my complete attention while I was there. ;)
Her birthday went very well. We spent the day doing what she wanted. We were supposed to have dinner at a special restaurant but the day got away from us and we never made it. I already knew what I wanted to buy her as a gift. When I helped her move from Shenzhen to Shaoguan I noticed she didn't have very much jewelry. She has pierced ears but no earrings. She would also occasionally she would look into the window of a jewelry store and would only say she liked to look. About 8:00pm we were walking through the she old town shopping center, I stopped in front of the jewelry store where I bought the engagement ring for her back in April and asked her if she would like to go in and look. She said no but I insisted. We looked around and I said let's look at earrings. So we sat down and looked. There were 3 different pair she though she liked. I asked her if she could have a pair which ones would she like the most. The pointed and I asked the clerk how much they were and I said let's get them. Then I turned and said happy birthday to Peggy. You should have looked at her face. It was worth a millionRMB.
Later as we were walking back to the house she was holding onto my arm a little extra close and a little extra hard. She told me that in her 48 years I was the only person that had given her earrings. I was amazed.
A couple of days later we went to Yingdu for her sister and brother in-law to investigate a business idea for the US. Yingdu is between Guangzhou and Shaoguan in the mountains and is quite beautiful. Their industry there is landscaping rocks. It almost seems the whole city is in the business. Now we are talking in term of tons here. 2, 3, and up to 20 tons for one rock. It is quite incredible. I took tons of pictures but will only share the best ones later. Needless to say I was impressed and it was worth the day trip to go there.
Then we went to Guangzhou to do some shopping for me and my business. I was like a child in a candy factory. Peggy lived there for 8 years working for a company who made some of the ingredients for Pepsi Cola. Peggy was the official taster and explains to me why she does not like soft drinks. She left the business two years ago. She has many friends there that are now friends of mine. He old boss spent a couple of days with us and told her he would hire her back in a minute. Meeting her friends only confirmed that I really have one phenomenal woman.
One of her friends is dating a man in the US so she grilled me on American men. Then she had a friend who is about to marry an American and had a few concerns she wanted to talk with me about. Then she wanted her fiancé to talk with me so I gave her my phone number. I told Peggy what I did and spent the next hour trying to explain my way out of that one. Our final agreement was that I was never ever to give my American phone number to another woman again, especially a Chinese woman. Dang, they can sure get jealous real fast. I only thought I was being helpful.
Peggy and I had breakfast with the Ambassador one morning before he went to Beijing. Then we went to the American Consulate. What a fiasco. It was a total waste of time.
Peggy, her friends and I went shopping at several wholesale stores. I bought quite a lot and we had a lot of fun. The next day we went to the world largest furniture market in another city near Guangzhou. I think I could have spent a week there and not seen it all. We were in Guangzhou a total of 4 days.
Two things particular to note is that one night her friends got me something special to eat. It was a small bird. I tried it, it tasted OK but it was pigeon and I could not get past the thought and could only eat a little bit. The other is that one evening Peggy and I were on our own and we went to a restaurant called Moon Bay Café. Ted it is worth trying. It is a fusion of American and Japanese food. It has a sushi bar. The couple next to us had a steak. I asked Peggy if she was interested in one. She was not sure so I ordered 2. It was good and Peggy loved it. We had steak and noodles. Well??? It isn’t quite the same without a baked potato but I hit the spot anyway.
From there Peggy and I went to Shenzhen. We met up with her youngest brother and his wife. For the first time we ate hot pot there. WOW. Now I want to open up a hot pot restaurant in the US. Not really. But the food was amazing. The soy milk was terrible but everything else was really good. We were there 2 days.
I tried to ship 2 Mahjong games to myself in American and the China Post would not do it. They told me it was against the law. I asked them to show me the law so Peggy could read it. I tried to explain that you can buy it here trough eBay but they would not show me the written law and would not budge. I was afraid that I would be overweight with my luggage and I was.
From there I said, I need coffee so we stopped at a KFC. They said that they didn’t sell coffee that time of day but I would buy coffee with ice coffee with ice cream in it. So I think this will be something else Peggy will like. Wrong. It is too cold and I end up eating both. About an hour later Peggy said that she had a runny nose and her throat was beginning to hurt. She then told me it was because of the coffee and ice cream.
The next morning we went to Hong Kong. Peggy was feeling a little worse and I could tell she had a head cold. She was still blaming the ice cream and ice coffee, but we were in a nice hotel in Hong Kong overlooking the bay. It was the Royal View Hotel. We were going to go to Disneyland but she was not feeling all that good so we stayed in the room and she slept. Later that day she was feeling better.
This was not only Peggy’s first time out of China but the first time she has been outside of Guangdong province. We walked around town and looked, went back to the hotel and walked the beach at night. We had fun.
The next day I got onto the airplane and came back home. We were both sad but at the same time we made a lot of progress in our relationship. I have found the perfect woman for me. It was well worth the 28 days that passed very fast. One the way home I came down with the same cold. And of course I am very lonely just like Peggy is. I’ve got to get her here soon.
I need to handle some business here and then will edit photos and post them.
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Shaun, very interesting trip you had. Who would ever think that a cold coffee drink would give you a head cold? Wendy has been saying that I have to try the hotpot when in Shenzhen so now it is a must. Looking forward to the pictures. All the best to you and Peggy.
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Hi Shaun,
Great update,thanks. Sounds like you had a fantastic 28 days together. I know what your saying about China post! I ship stuff out for buyers in the UK and Europe mainly and sometimes China post just flat out refuse to send it. They say that it's against the law like you say, sometimes even private shipper say this. Now I have a "friend" in one of the international shipping companies and all these law's just seem to melt away. It's just China I think. I hope the time passes quickly untill you and Peggy are back together again. They sure are surprising women aren't they!
Hi Jason,
If you think the idea of getting a head cold from drinking cold coffee is strange just wait till you get here! One word of advice is don't try and change your ladies view on all this stuff just except it. Not long now................................Best of luck with your trip!
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One word of advice is don't try and change your ladies view on all this stuff just except it.
Shaun, sorry to hijack your thread. Paul thanks for the good advice, taken onboard. I will be going with eyes wide open and blinkers off.
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ok im confused in december early december i sent a nice Mahjong game to my brother in california
as a xmas gift and i had no problem sending it???? i guess its just like anything else here, it just depends
on the day,who,and what they feel like if something gets sent. Shaun next time try a different post office
before giving up. maybe in the small town Peggy lives in they have different procedures.
from what i understand and i could be wrong but some of the china posts are indendantly owned and operated
maybe that was the problem.
but of course maybe being the Ambassador entitles me to a few perks lol!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Ted,
I think some are independently owned based on what the lady was saying to me. I tried to ship in Shenzhen and I was running out of time. I talked with Peggy about going to another Post Office but she like many other Chinese people take these people at their word. When they first said no I begged Peggy to go back in and ask to see the law in their book saying that I could not ship the Mahjong set. You should have seen the look on her face but being a good Chinese woman she went in and asked. The woman was highly offended and grabbed the book and put if below her desk so that we could not touch it.
I push the point saying that I wanted to read the law. When Peggy began to look a little worried I stopped. It was then that the woman gave me the biggest clue. She said that THEY had determined to not ship it because it was illegal and that I would have to go to another city to try.
When I asked Peggy to go to another post office I could see that Peggy was not wanting to try again so I worked it out. I was just overweight in one of my suitcases. I just paid the extra money. I reasoned that I was either going to pat China Post or Delta. If I paid Delta more then it was only a little bit.
Paul, thanks for your reply. I am already working on a person in Guangzhou, a friend of Peggy's, on helping me with shipping. I am doing this with Peggy's approval of her friend. I plan to do a lot more shipping from China.
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Shaun,
shipping and sourcing are very big hurdles here in china to overcome. be very careful with who you do this with.
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Great trip log Shaun. One morning on my first trip, Zhifang and I stopped at a bakery for breakfast, where I had gotten some cold milk. This apparently gave my wife a stomach ache. Same went for cold pop. If it wasn't room temperature or warmer, she didn't want it. Hot Pot is good, but after a couple times, it lost its novelty for me. It is good though.
Glad you had a great trip, and look forward to hearing about when she arrives in the USA.
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Today I was talking with Peggy. She went to see a doctor because she still had the virus she got toward the end of my stay in China. I guess I should say the virus she got from drinking ice coffee and ice cream. I have it too. She informed me that she was correct with her theory that the doctor confirmed it; Ice Coffee with Ice Cream on a hot day causes people to get cold viruses. Remember you heard it here first. :o ::)
I tried to explain that you cannot catch a virus from a glass of ice coffee. Finally I said, "Yes dear, I will never buy you an ice coffee again. I am sorry." Who am I to argue against a Chinese doctor. I can't wait until she gets here and meets my doctor. I can see it now... I'll have to put it on utube. ;D Sorry Willy, Ted you'll have to miss out on it.
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Lol Shaun, i knew as soon as I read your post that the cold food would be the root cause for the sickness. You just cannot fight it haha!
As to hot pot, first time i thought it was great, but by the third and fourth time I was thinking, why the heck am i paying to go to a restaurant to cook my own food? Its just dipping raw veg or meat into a hot soup for flavour.. Pretty dull stuff once the novelty has worn off in my opinion. A chef cooked meal beats dipping various vegs in boiling soup any day.
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Ronan yes I asked Peggy how much she got paid for cooking the food. It seems to me that there should be a chef to do the cooking.
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Shaun,
you cant get your paper work done screwing around online here lol!!!!!!!