What happens in China......

One of the biggest challenges for me traveling, is time.  Time to plan, time to pack, time to prepare the kids, and actually finding open time to go somewhere.  I seem to be experiencing this same dilemma over and over with my writing.  With my oldest involved in preparation for an upcoming competition, I find myself in preparation of  a lot of food!!  I hope days like today where I put writing at the top of my "to do" list, I won't choose to give up on this blog.   I want to be able to look back in 20 years and see what differences I can find in myself, and have a great journal of all the places I have been and the memories I made.   I have quite a few trips on the books, from a Rocky Point Spring Break, (as I write Rocky Point, I think why don't they call it Beautiful Mexican Ocean instead of Rocky Point which makes me think it may be a "rocky" Trip!!)   to Thailand in Spring, to a girls trip with grade school friends for all of our 40th Birthdays.  I am excited for all the adventure ahead as well as the relationships that are strengthened spending time with family and friends.  I really do appreciate all the kind words encouraging me to keep on writing.  It helps me to put this as a priority, and to that I say, Thanks!!!!!  It's easy to get overrun being a Mom and Wife,  but I am grateful for all the places I have been and all the time you have given taking a moment to read about it!!

Now clearly "what happens in China" has not stayed in China.  I am ready to sum up this trip with  pictures and some explanations to go along with them........

After landing, almost getting kidnapped by a "fake Taxi driver" (see last post) and settling in we began to wander the streets of Beijing.   One of my favorite memories happened in this shop.  I couldn't resist the art gallery and the owner inside as he spent an hour telling me the meaning of each painting he had, and how it related to me being beautiful and J being a lucky man.  Come on, I should go here everyday!!!  What a great way to build some self esteem.  Now he may have just been trying to sell me something, which clearly worked, but either way I loved the time and all the stories behind the different paintings in the shop.

             

After my time with 

 this very sweet Gallery owner, we headed to the Forbidden City.  Upon arrival we quickly decided to hire one of the tour guides stalking us, and promising front of the line and special viewing of the city.  This turned out to be a great idea because there was so much history and meaning throughout the city that we would have never known without the tour guide to inform us.  I personally can't hear worth a darn,  I actually think its because I am always looking around and forget to listen, but either way, a tour guide speaking directly to me and answering my questions worked in my benefit.  These days I prebook tour guides so I can read reviews on them and schedule them for when we are interested in visiting a specific location.  
(side note, The Forbidden City to me is really a large compound in the City of Beijing)                                              

I learned quickly that in Asia, everything means something.  The Lions were one of my favorites and I will forever look at them differently.  Don't be surprised when I have a pair guarding my front door!!

 FYI,  the Emperor chose all the colors of his structures, Red being a predominant one because of the meaning of happiness, wealth and honor.  No one else in the whole city could use that color and so even today most of the buildings are just gray.

And, the lady Lion is placed on the Right of all buildings because the Lady is always right :) Not sure this isn't just what our Lady Tour Guide decided!

Brilliant idea having a moat around your "City"  Keeps out the Family who want to kill you for your title and makes for some pretty scenery.

Doesn't look so bad????
Wrong, it was!  I tried it to be adventurous because the second cart was so far out of my ability to gag down.  Clearly I am not cut out for Fear Factor!  Good thing I had a whole bag of protein bars and protein shakes with me that kept me alive in China!

                                                   How is this even Sanitary?????
                            Fish, squid, random bugs,  just in the open air for you to enjoy!!!

OK, the picture above tells quite a story.  We again hired a tour guide to take us to the Great Wall of China.   Side note,  J is not interested in large party tours.  He prefers a private tour if at all possible.  We asked the bell man at our hotel to help us book the tour guides upon our arrival late the night we came in.  He quickly informed us that he could get us a better deal booking it himself and not with the hotel.  No surprise, I grilled him for 30 minutes about our safety with his tour.  He assured me that we would be fine which we were, but I am confident I will never leave that to chance again.  I have become a firm believer in reviews and pre booking all tours.

So here is the thing.  In my inability to catch on quickly, our guides enticed us with all types of invitations to view pottery factories, silk factories, etc.  I said yes thinking how amazing to get a glimpse into the factories in China.  What I didn't realize is these were going to be high pressured sales situations to get you to buy pottery and silk.  I will admit the pottery was beautiful and amazing how it was made. It took hours to lay the wiring and painting on the pots, but it was so expensive! Like $1200.00 expensive.  My eyes opened to the fact that not everything in China was going to be a smoking deal!!!

Unfortunately,   I am admitting I ate this.... Silk Worm Poop!!!  I doubt the girl at the front desk of the Silk Factory ever gets tired of watching Americans eat poop.  Note to self.... when someone asks you if you want to try something, ask more questions first.  I never ever wanted to be the person who can say they have eaten poop!!!!

Ohh....... The Summer Palace.   I am pretty sure I need one of these!  They used the waters for military training but also to enjoy during their summer stays.  I am intrigued by the contradiction of the Forbidden City and the cold feeling it had in an effort to defend the Emperor, and the casualness of the Summer Palace.  (An example being the Forbidden City had no plants within the walls so no one could hide behind them.)  Seems like even the Emperor needed some time to get away and relax and forget about all the problems that come with running a dynasty.

The Great Wall was a "bucket list" adventure.  It is fascinating that throughout time, massive walls have been built to keep countries divided and threats out of their borders.  It is even more fascinating the time and effort it took to put these walls up.  I would not volunteer to help on this project for sure!!!!

The Great Wall offers the option of taking a chair lift up which I gladly accepted and an even better option of taking a bobsled down.  The line was totally worth the experience on both!

This one below is the best!!  Our tour guides were a cute girl from Mongolia who spoke OK English and a young male driver who spoke No English.  It was a particularly warm day and in the back of the car I was getting car sick.  I asked our guide to turn on the air and she promptly rolled down the window.  Problem solved????  J, quickly turned it into a joke which made me laugh, and they never did turn on the air!!  It was a hot, sour stomach kind of day.  I think by the time we visited all the sights and random factories we were in the car about 6 hours.  Bad to be in a car that long, but great to see all the city and some of the countryside.  I love seeing how people live!!

We had four flights within Asia.  On the flight from Beijing to Shanghai, our pilot in very broken English informed us he would do his best to land safely!!!!!!

Can you believe I stayed on the plane???????  I kept thinking as I tried to laugh off the situation that I really wish he would have said, "We will land at your destination safely and without incident".


I really hoped his BEST was really, really, good!!!!











In Asia the amount of buildings in unreal.  I also could not quit thinking about the contradiction they provided.  You would have streets lined with high brand name designer stores and people walking around dressed to perfection.  You would then have buildings not even an ally distance behind them that were run down housing that went on for miles!!!  I can not even begin to describe the amount of apartment looking buildings that seemed to go on forever.  Such examples of wealth and poverty right in front of you!  There was also so many people who were begging for money and so many that had serious body deformations.  Legs going the wrong way, hands seriously deformed and on and on.  It broke my heart and made me so grateful for the health care we have.  I know our system is far from perfect, but what we have is an amazing blessing.

This is the life of a factory worker in China.  Good thing, no children and no poor quality working conditions at this factory!!!!  They did live on premises, worked 12 hr. shifts, 7 days a week, and had all their food provided.  During Chinese New Year, this factory closes for almost a month to have employees travel home to visit family.  I am sure the factories you hear about with horrible conditions were all around, but I was glad to see ones like this are there too!!  It is amazing how hard they work and how good these workers attitudes were!

Chinese Carpool..... See how many kids you can fit on a scooter???  I saw up to four kids on a scooter, sometimes asleep!!  Impressive how you work with what you have.  My kids feel squished in a suburban, I realize they are spoiled living in America.

My only traditional Chinese lunch.  J, asked for a vegetarian for me and I am still impressed how they can make vegetables so dang slimy!!  Might as well be fish! PS I'm not a vegetarian but I am an extremely picky meat eater.  We figured Vegetarian was safer.  Not sure it was!!

Burger Anyone??????????????????

OK, how about a Poo Poo Smoothie????  

I guarantee no where in the world has street entertainment like Asia.  There were exotic fish in bags lining the streets, all kinds of seafood in buckets and street performers that still make me giggle when I think about them.  Imagine the worst dancing person you know, add crazy music, and you can have a show.  I could have stared for hours!!!

Seafood anyone????????

Best street performers ever!!!!! When I go back to Hong Kong in April I will be looking for him and his crew.  If you see me, ask I will act out this performance, it was great!

Hong Kong was breathtaking on the Island!

Shanghai's architecture was unreal, If there is a competition for the most amazing buildings, they are kicking some booty.  (Park reminded me of Central Park in New York.)

He was back to happy in 10 minutes!

OK, this will be a story J wishes I would not share but....... I  shall give you the shortened version because it is really his story.   We arrived in Shanghai and started our normal "walk the streets" to see what we could find.  We are at this point in our third city and pretty aware of Chinese culture.  We maneuvered the streets through so many people I couldn't even begin to describe it, and it feels like everyone of them is touching you they are so close, kind of like ants!  Even in areas where there was space they would stand next to you, literally touching.  Eventually, J lost it!!   There was a taxi that decided just like the people, to push his way through with his car.  He literally hit J, and I saw red flash in J's eyes and fear flash in the little Chinese drivers eyes.  J's hands went on the hood as he began to get ready to demonstrate what road rage looks like, when I quickly grabbed him to move on.  We spent the next 30 minutes talking about if we were separated, what I should do.  The people walking on the streets are like a brick wall.  There is no space, you just move with the flow of the people.  I was over it by the time we left and have never been so grateful for my personal space!!!!

This picture was in Shanghai and significant because after our need to get off the streets of crazy busy people, the hop on hop off bus was the perfect solution.  We didn't really do much hopping off after we hopped on!

I Loved the traditional Buildings.

Robot Restaurant in Tokyo, recommended by Anthony Bourdain travelchannel.com Worth a visit!! No real reason for anything they do, but highly entertaining in a weird way! 

Robot Restaurant 

When we were in Tokyo so was President Obama.  It was unreal how the city shut down for him.  There was the National Anthem blaring through the streets and hundreds of police bussed in to protect his car as he went for sushi.  Not sure any other leaders get the treatment from us that he was shown!

My trip to Asia has memories I will never forget.  I am happy to have gone, happy to have lived through it and happy to have crazy adventures to tell.  Sometimes when you are gone, amazing things happen, like the birth of a nephew.  In my case three of my nephews have been born while I was out of town, but I also make sure to keep in touch and go first thing to see them when I get home.

I cannot express enough how grateful I am to be overcoming fear, and traveling the world.   I look at upcoming trips with anticipation an no longer dread them.  I hope someday everyone will get a little taste of the world out there.  There really is something for us all!!!!  And I hope if you do, you tell me all about it!!!!

If you gotta go.....

I have wanted to share my thoughts on the Chinese Bathroom situation for awhile because the toilets in China are almost as shocking as being fondled by a Chinese Masseuse!

When I found out China was my first International Destination I went to work trying to figure out how I would survive in their culture.  I had fears that the bathroom situation would be scary, and as I found  pictures on the Internet of the toilets all my fears were confirmed and became 100 times greater!!!!

Now lets get real......  (I am writing this while J was in Europe so censorship need not apply)

I have had four children!!!  I am a healthy girl and drink up to a gallon of water a day.  With that said the bathroom situations for me are important!!!!  I have to go a lot and there isn't many bathrooms I haven't visited.  I am a great friend to take to the bathroom because I am usually headed there anyways and know where they all are.  I am not a great friend to travel with in a vehicle caravan because I want to stop every hour to see how the bathrooms are doing in each city.

I am lucky because the business we are in requires J to check in on convenience stores.  He doesn't complain when I ask him to stop because he sees it as an opportunity to do a little work.  I literally have a friend who will not drive with us because a six hour trip has the potential to become much longer depending on how many people in our car are consuming beverages.  If I play my cards right, I can get a different kid to need to go to the bathroom in every city along the way, which helps it not look like its always me!!!

So back to China....

I knew I would use bathrooms every place we went and I tried to prepare for all situations.   I packed my own wet wipe toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and toilet seat covers just in case.  I practiced standing up at home a few weeks prior to strengthen leg muscles (OK, I didn't really do this, but it sounds good)... and I researched how to best use their toilets without peeing all over my own feet!

Within minutes of landing in Beijing, I headed to the bathroom for my first experience with the toilets  in the ground.  I have to say I really do like the fact that you don't touch anything.  There is no seat to try to cover and no handle to flush, but there is a great splashing effect that goes on while standing!  This causes the area where your feet are to go, to be less than desirable!!!

I conquered the airport bathroom with little to no complications and really thought this whole bathroom thing wasn't going to be as bad as I predicted.

Detour:  

While I was in the bathroom at the airport, J was looking for a taxi.  Now he hates lines and was hesitating getting in an extremely long one when a Chinese man approached him to drive us to our hotel.   I knew nothing about this practice of random people at the airport that will act as a taxi to take you to your destinations before our arrival.  I learned they may also take your money, your luggage, and not take you to your destination.

Looking back J confirms he knew it was not a good idea to agree to the random Chinese Fake Taxi Driver.  He didn't want to wait in the line, and he knew he was much bigger than the Chinese man so he decided to take a chance!!!

Get out!!!! Did you just read that??????

He decided to take a chance with me, the girl who's afraid to do anything adventurous, and agreed to go to CHINA!!!  Not sure how he thought it was a good idea for the first thing he does with me overseas to be risky!!! He lead me through a parking garage with a random Chinese man!!!  Bad Idea..... I want to live, I have 4 children who need their mother!!!
And I get he is a big guy, but maybe the small guy has big friends or big guns!!!

So....

Not to worry, before we got to the Chinese mans car, 3 other men came running at us which caused our Fake Taxi Driver to throw our bags in the street to block them and run as fast as he could to try to get away from the men chasing him!!!!  I didn't even grasp what was happening until it was all over and J proceeded to explain to me how you are not supposed to go in random taxis.... We headed to the taxi line which we used the rest of our trip, but damage was done!!  In my own mind  our fake taxi driver was kidnapped and beaten, and we barely escaped kidnapping ourselves.  I have no idea what was behind the whole thing,  gambling debts or territory wars but what I do know is that our fake taxi driver was not having a great day, and I nearly joined him!!

Back to toilets....

The lid lifted up as you walk in the room, So Cool!

I visited a lot of them in China.  Most were disgusting, but I still liked that I really didn't have to touch anything.  I was prepared with my own arsenal of cleaning supplies so it really went, pretty well.  By the end I mastered how far to spread your feet to avoid backsplash, and to put down wet wipes in previous backsplash situations to preserve the bottom of my shoes!

My favorite, and I'm not kidding, favorite toilets ever were in Tokyo, Japan.  (yes I have favorite toilets) They were normal US toilets but the really, fancy, upgraded kind.  As soon as you walked in the bathroom running water sounds started and the lid manually lifted.  I hate the idea that people can hear each other in the bathroom and this running water sound solves the problem completely!!  I think about them often when in a bathroom and running water to muffle any sounds someone might hear.....  I know I have issues!



So Tips for International Bathrooms:

Take your own supplies!
-wet wipes
-toilet seat covers
-hand sanitizer
-some spare change because some bathrooms require money
-rain boots  (if you're in China and can't squat this may be a necessity for you :)

Next time I bringing one of these!!  Peeing standing up made a whole lot easier!
Found on your local Amazon Website.

I think someday I am going to start a Yellow Hat Club.  I know that at any given time, one Mom or another is laughing, jumping, exercising, running, or just breathing and accidents happen.  Oh the joys of childbirth!!!! (PS this can be fixed and I did and its the best thing ever!!)

I usually avoid the talk of toilets,  but like laundry I find it fascinating how different things can be done in other countries...... Because in all places If you gotta go, you gotta go!!

PS:   Do Not Get into any Taxis that are not the result of standing in a long line, or ordered by your hotel.  (Several times while waiting in line we saw these Random Fake Taxi Drivers chased by actual uniformed Police and some arrested.  As soon as the police would leave they would be back and I just wanted to run around telling all the people leaving with them not to get in their cars.  It is a huge problem and so scary!!)

And bring the address of your destination in their language!  If you bring it in English they will stare at you in confusion when you ask to be taken to the Marriott.  (Once at the hotel, you can get a card from the front desk to hand to taxis to get back to the hotel, they are quite handy)

Last Side Note:  I read and reread my stories over and over to try to simplify my sentences and not use so many commas and run ons.  Unfortunately, I want these stories to read just as I would say them so I can't modify them to much.  Try to use my voice and really understand that a lot of exclamation marks means I'm Serious!!!  Thanks for reading, I really love writing!!

If you can, you must.....

I have so much to say..... (I know most of you are not shocked)

and it feels like I have so little time to devote to my writing.  I have ideas jotted down and things to remember to write about,  but it seems until I have a thought I can't get rid of, I don't make the time to sit down and write.  I think this will be how this blog goes.  I hoped to write at least 3 times a week but if I can write one or two heartfelt posts a week, I will be happier than 3 posts just to get it done.

So what has me moved this week......

J traveled without me!

I chose not to go, but it seems even when I choose not to go, I am still unhappy he is experiencing new places and I am not there with him......

Now let me tell you again, he is a patient man.  I have thrown some major fits (i hate to call them fits but really that is what they were) in his past travels.  I felt like it was unfair of him to go on a "business trip", which was business mixed with sightseeing while out of the country, while I stayed home with our kids!

Because of these feelings, It seems like every time he left the whole house melted down.  It was four against one and they took over.  I am becoming aware that it is I, who melted down, and the kids just followed my lead.  I didn't go to bed, I planned excessive projects to do while he was gone, and I tried to cover all his responsibilities as well as my own.  This lead to disaster every time!

He is the best patient!!

On top of these genius ideas by me, I have mentioned my youngest has some health issues.  He is doing much better now, but two years ago we almost lost him due to the inability to figure out what was causing all his health problems.  It turned out to be a disease called Hoshimotos.  My little boys thyroid does not work at all, and the lack of discovery was causing him numerous health concerns.

I wouldn't leave him, and I couldn't understand how J could leave him.  I lived in extreme fear everyday and night as to what he would go through.  He had breathing issues, couldn't keep any food down, slept all the time, had no energy, and I didn't know which symptom was the root cause and if any were the result of each other or a bigger problem.

My nerves were a mess!!!!!

This is where I really had to do some soul searching.  I look back and realize that I was where I needed to be.  I really couldn't have traveled back then.  My youngest was too sick and needed my care, but I also realize that is was not fair of me to expect J to halt his business travels that were providing for us, to drown in my misery with me.  My Grams always reminds me there is a season for everything, and clearly it was not my season to travel the globe.

Me and C  2014. He is my miracle!

So with all this understanding I have found, why do I still battle the need to halt his travels based on my decisions??  I think I can say a little selfishness is the reason.  I have tasted what its like out there, and I really like it.  The places I have seen and the things I have experienced are amazing.  What I need to remember is that my kids are AMAZING too.  Carpool will never be a gondola ride in Venice, but a great conversation with my kids will be right up there with it.

(unless they are complaining and then I imagine I am in a gondola in Venice and pretend I can't hear them:)

Unfortunately, sometimes things at home need one of us to be here.  I am beyond grateful that my youngest is better, and that I can travel now with J.  I am sad that I can't always go, because he goes a lot, but I can make a priority to go as much as possible.  Balance is the key, and I am still figuring this one out.

Venice is by far my most favorite place on the planet!

Why didn't I go this time????   Cold!!  I hate to be cold, and I knew it was freezing where they were headed.  I chose to stay home because I didn't want to be cold!!!!!!  I started thinking as he planned his travels that I had made a mistake.  It is one thing to not travel because my kids have a need for me, and another to not travel because I don't want to be cold.  I should have taken out my ski clothes that never get worn, because I hate to ski.... because it is cold.... and used them to tour the cities he is in!!!

In summary:

Find Balance!!!  If an opportunity presents itself to go somewhere amazing.  Take it!!!!  Stay home if there is a valid reason to miss out, but don't let fear, or discomfort be the reason for not living life!

If it is not your season, and you want it to be, figure out how to make it!!  I think that we can let anything get in our way if we want to, but I also believe there is a solution for most problems.  Determination and a little creativity can go a long ways!

If you have to miss out....

At the top of San Tan Mountains.  I worried about C the whole way up, but he did so great and beat us all!

don't stay up excessively late, try to cover everything for everyone and plan extra projects with all the free time your are not going to have.  Instead, make the best of it, and use your time  to plan another get away.  Even if its close to home adventure can be found just about anywhere!


I think these thoughts have consumed my mind this week as a reminder to myself,

If I can, I must............

I have got to write about this next..... Toilets in China!!!