Wake up, rush, rush, rush. It's the norm. Heading out to our family photo shoot, this is not going to go well at all. Skipped breakfast.
I take back everytime I've said that Asian women aren't pretty. Oh. My. God. Sexiest body ever on the owner of this photography place. Hotdamn.
So I have to put up makeup for this? This is such as hassle, makes me appreciate how far girls go just to impress us guys. I guess you really do have to step in someone else's shoes to truly see it from their perspective. Finally some food too, Micky Ds.
I have been here for 5 hours... that's 4 hours too many. Some embarrassing photos of me, why am I so un-photogenic? The photographers here are some of the coolest and most fashionable Chinese people I have ever met.
Rain strikes as soon as we go outside for the outdoor shoot.
Finally.
Well not yet, it's 4:30 and my parents are picking which pictures they want made. Yada Yada.
Dinner at some terrible restaurant. What does a guy have to do to get some ice water around here? My grandma and parents get into an argument about prices. I once again hear both sides of the story. In private my grandma tells me her days with us our numbered anyways. Makes me feel bad.
Dead tired as I'm writing this. Probably skipping breakfast tomorrow, since we're leaving at 8:30 to head to Shenzhen.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Day 4: Thursday July 29
Today I woke up kind of late, good thing as seeing how every vacation we have involves early rise-and-shine. Breakfast is down at White Tiger Restaurant in the hotel again. It seems like I'm doing a lot of deep thinking again. Hmm.
This trip gets worse and worse, we can't plan worth a damn can we?
Driving through the zoo was pretty cool with my aunt's sunroof and all. My dad points out a couple of lions who are "fighting", while they are clearly having sex. Pretty disturbing image.
I bet you never considered that elephants have nipples... me neither.
I used to think that all those cartoons exaggerated all the yelling and screaming of little kids, but after meeting my cousin it seems almost accurate. And the peace sign in pictures? Yeah that happens too, a lot actually. As everyone crowds around the panda display, I realize how short they are. Maybe all stereotypes have some bit of truth? These pandas are definitely living the life here. Air conditioned room, all you can eat bamboo while people take pictures of you as if you're some kind of celebrity.
What we though was some panda show turned out to be a prize show, at least it's entertaining.
Saved Xiao Xiao's life and he yells at me stupid kid. Leaned back in his chair and almost fell back on the concrete.
"Home is where the heart is."
Headed to tiger and lion show, the danger is the main appeal. Fifteen white tigers, okay but not as great as advertised.
Reading through the rest of my day, it honestly isn't very interesting. I got to hold a white tiger cub, and my family wanders around some more, gets off track, the usual by now.
And do to our mis-planning it's instant noodles for dinner.
Night.
This trip gets worse and worse, we can't plan worth a damn can we?
Driving through the zoo was pretty cool with my aunt's sunroof and all. My dad points out a couple of lions who are "fighting", while they are clearly having sex. Pretty disturbing image.
I bet you never considered that elephants have nipples... me neither.
I used to think that all those cartoons exaggerated all the yelling and screaming of little kids, but after meeting my cousin it seems almost accurate. And the peace sign in pictures? Yeah that happens too, a lot actually. As everyone crowds around the panda display, I realize how short they are. Maybe all stereotypes have some bit of truth? These pandas are definitely living the life here. Air conditioned room, all you can eat bamboo while people take pictures of you as if you're some kind of celebrity.
What we though was some panda show turned out to be a prize show, at least it's entertaining.
Saved Xiao Xiao's life and he yells at me stupid kid. Leaned back in his chair and almost fell back on the concrete.
"Home is where the heart is."
Headed to tiger and lion show, the danger is the main appeal. Fifteen white tigers, okay but not as great as advertised.
Reading through the rest of my day, it honestly isn't very interesting. I got to hold a white tiger cub, and my family wanders around some more, gets off track, the usual by now.
And do to our mis-planning it's instant noodles for dinner.
Night.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Day 3: Wednesday July 28
Woke up early to the sound of grandma talking on the phone. My mom's mom has lived with me ever since I came back from China for the first time when I was 2. She's the one that's always home so me and my brother and sister are the ones that are close to her. My parents and my grandma always have arguments but I don't know how we'd manage without her. She cooks and cleans and everything, but unfortunately she's staying in China this time. A lot of her friends and relatives are passing away and she tells me she wants to see them one last time before she loses anymore. I know I made it sound more dramatic than it should be but it's what she told me. She's not arriving home on the same flight as us, in fact she's not coming back. Grandma said to call her whenever we wanted her back, but I don't know how that will work...
Anyways I want to blog more because it's entertaining when I'm bored. So Mom said to wake up early so here I am; took a shower in my super cool VIP suite and got dressed to go to the "something" zoo. I forget what it's called.
I turn on the TV since I have some rare down time. Our vacations our usually really stressful and un-fun so this is nice for a change. Watching Ghana and Australia soccer but the TV lags. Plus it's in Chinese so I had a hard time figuring it out. Sweet, ESPNSTAR it's in English and holy shit!!! Matt Garza no hitter!!!! Please tell me I started him in fantasy baseball fingers crossed. (Turns out I did start him, but that week he accounted for 170.5 of my 300 something fantasy points so I still lost damn) OK I'm calmer now wow isn't that the fourth no hitter this year? Now it's the results of the 20 km walk lol these people look really stupid. Reading the bottom line like I do at home. Terrell Owens got traded to the Bengals. Dan Haren got traded to the Angels. A lot has happened in 3 days.
Breakfast at the White Tiger Cafe inside this huge amusement park/zoo/hotel/water park/restaurant. There's real white tigers in an area around the hotel it's pretty cool. Figured out the name, it's Chimelong Zoo and this place is called Chimelong. Pretty sweet but we can't go to the zoo; it's raining pretty heavy. Some of Grandma's old friends are here from Austin. Small world haha. I wonder if I'll see anyone from school or I know that would make my trip.
My contacts are killing me is it something in the air? No offense but China is not the best place to go babe-hunting. There should be a universal rule where kids from vacationing families can hang out. Or maybe that's a bad idea. Who knows?
Well we're in the zoo and guess what? We are hiding from the rain next to the pelican exhibit because there is thunder and lightning and everything else that comes during a thunderstorm. This sucks, I think we should've taken a hint when it was pouring rain this morning. Well we are all seperated. Aunt's at work, Mom went back to the car my aunt let us borrow to get her camera, Dad is renting a stroller, and me, my siblings, Xiao Xiao, and my grandma are sitting here. Thank god for my ipod. *huge clap of thunder* Ok maybe not thank god thank my thoughtfulness lol I have a feeling I offended people with that line. And apparently we are supposed to meet my cousins in ShenZhen today. Wow we are off schedule.
We are all reunited now, except for my aunt, and leaving the zoo. We got a refund though, since we didn't see anything but pelicans.
Just ran through the rain to go back to this gift shop near the pelicans to buy Emily, my sister, this fat squirrel/panda thing that she wanted. I know, I know, I'm such a great person. I hope I can get this much exercise everyday. Lol I looked like a thief running back with a stuff animal in my hands. And it felt weird paying 45 yuan for a stuffed animal because it sounds like a lot but it's still only 7 USD which is a deal I guess.
We are hiding from the rain in our hotel room. My aunt has these 2000 yuan gift cards that her friend gave her that she forgot to use. How to you forget 2000 yuan? Oh wait, she lives the high life haha. Derek and Xiao Xiao are both being annoying in their own ways.
Ate crocodile for dinner in the Unicorn Restaurant in the hotel in, once again, a VIP room. It tasted okay I guess. (Later it turns out this dinner costed 3000 yuan. Yeah I know.)
I need my Ipod with me more I need to keep track of things. I also need more pants with pockets. I'm so used to carrying around my bag all the time now.
Back in the hotel room. It's pretty hard getting used to seeing a 6 pack of 7-up for 58 dollars, I mean yuan lol.
For some reason here I wrote "crazy asian people" and I forget why I wrote that. Oh well.
Really digging the sexy businesswoman outfit but then again it's all that looks good around here.
I'm out.
Anyways I want to blog more because it's entertaining when I'm bored. So Mom said to wake up early so here I am; took a shower in my super cool VIP suite and got dressed to go to the "something" zoo. I forget what it's called.
I turn on the TV since I have some rare down time. Our vacations our usually really stressful and un-fun so this is nice for a change. Watching Ghana and Australia soccer but the TV lags. Plus it's in Chinese so I had a hard time figuring it out. Sweet, ESPNSTAR it's in English and holy shit!!! Matt Garza no hitter!!!! Please tell me I started him in fantasy baseball fingers crossed. (Turns out I did start him, but that week he accounted for 170.5 of my 300 something fantasy points so I still lost damn) OK I'm calmer now wow isn't that the fourth no hitter this year? Now it's the results of the 20 km walk lol these people look really stupid. Reading the bottom line like I do at home. Terrell Owens got traded to the Bengals. Dan Haren got traded to the Angels. A lot has happened in 3 days.
Breakfast at the White Tiger Cafe inside this huge amusement park/zoo/hotel/water park/restaurant. There's real white tigers in an area around the hotel it's pretty cool. Figured out the name, it's Chimelong Zoo and this place is called Chimelong. Pretty sweet but we can't go to the zoo; it's raining pretty heavy. Some of Grandma's old friends are here from Austin. Small world haha. I wonder if I'll see anyone from school or I know that would make my trip.
My contacts are killing me is it something in the air? No offense but China is not the best place to go babe-hunting. There should be a universal rule where kids from vacationing families can hang out. Or maybe that's a bad idea. Who knows?
Well we're in the zoo and guess what? We are hiding from the rain next to the pelican exhibit because there is thunder and lightning and everything else that comes during a thunderstorm. This sucks, I think we should've taken a hint when it was pouring rain this morning. Well we are all seperated. Aunt's at work, Mom went back to the car my aunt let us borrow to get her camera, Dad is renting a stroller, and me, my siblings, Xiao Xiao, and my grandma are sitting here. Thank god for my ipod. *huge clap of thunder* Ok maybe not thank god thank my thoughtfulness lol I have a feeling I offended people with that line. And apparently we are supposed to meet my cousins in ShenZhen today. Wow we are off schedule.
We are all reunited now, except for my aunt, and leaving the zoo. We got a refund though, since we didn't see anything but pelicans.
Just ran through the rain to go back to this gift shop near the pelicans to buy Emily, my sister, this fat squirrel/panda thing that she wanted. I know, I know, I'm such a great person. I hope I can get this much exercise everyday. Lol I looked like a thief running back with a stuff animal in my hands. And it felt weird paying 45 yuan for a stuffed animal because it sounds like a lot but it's still only 7 USD which is a deal I guess.
We are hiding from the rain in our hotel room. My aunt has these 2000 yuan gift cards that her friend gave her that she forgot to use. How to you forget 2000 yuan? Oh wait, she lives the high life haha. Derek and Xiao Xiao are both being annoying in their own ways.
Ate crocodile for dinner in the Unicorn Restaurant in the hotel in, once again, a VIP room. It tasted okay I guess. (Later it turns out this dinner costed 3000 yuan. Yeah I know.)
I need my Ipod with me more I need to keep track of things. I also need more pants with pockets. I'm so used to carrying around my bag all the time now.
Back in the hotel room. It's pretty hard getting used to seeing a 6 pack of 7-up for 58 dollars, I mean yuan lol.
For some reason here I wrote "crazy asian people" and I forget why I wrote that. Oh well.
Really digging the sexy businesswoman outfit but then again it's all that looks good around here.
I'm out.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Day 2: Tuesday July 27
I'm eating dim sum in the Canton Hotel. It's so hard to get clean water here, let alone ice water, apparently nobody drinks it. Napkins cost 2 yuan when we can just grab a huge stack at McDonalds for free, yeah it's different.
We just spent 275 yuan on breakfast. It sounds like a ton but it's actually about 41 dollars. Yeah I guess that still is a lot isn't it? My dad didn't eat, it was just me, my mom, my grandma, and my brother and sister.
Wow saw a lot of China fail around here I'll create a photo album with all them soon. (Note this was all deleted after my sister accidently deleted all her pictures, which happens later on in the trip)
We have been waiting a long time for my aunt to pick us up to go to the Zoo. She finally arrives and takes us to our hotel room inside the zoo. Dangggg we get VIP suites because apparently my aunt knows a guy lol.
Wow I just thought I saw someone that I knew back in the States. Maybe all Asian people do look alike? Nahhh.
Heading to the circus, supposed to be real famous and have cool animal tricks and stuff. Wow they have bears and everything pretty BA. Nothing wrong with tight circus spandex right?
Back at suite with grandma who I'm sharing a room with. Goodnight.
We just spent 275 yuan on breakfast. It sounds like a ton but it's actually about 41 dollars. Yeah I guess that still is a lot isn't it? My dad didn't eat, it was just me, my mom, my grandma, and my brother and sister.
Wow saw a lot of China fail around here I'll create a photo album with all them soon. (Note this was all deleted after my sister accidently deleted all her pictures, which happens later on in the trip)
We have been waiting a long time for my aunt to pick us up to go to the Zoo. She finally arrives and takes us to our hotel room inside the zoo. Dangggg we get VIP suites because apparently my aunt knows a guy lol.
Wow I just thought I saw someone that I knew back in the States. Maybe all Asian people do look alike? Nahhh.
Heading to the circus, supposed to be real famous and have cool animal tricks and stuff. Wow they have bears and everything pretty BA. Nothing wrong with tight circus spandex right?
Back at suite with grandma who I'm sharing a room with. Goodnight.
Day 1: Monday July 26
Thought it'd be nice to remember my 1st trip back to China in 12 years, so I'm gonna keep track of everything (well almost everything) I do and write it on here. Maybe I'll turn it into a blog who knows but for now... Note It's really unorganized from this day until August 2nd when I realize that I should time my posts. Keep reading until then it gets much better. I hope. At least in my opinion. I mean you don't have to. But you should. I'm just saying.
Early morning at Austin airport rushing to catch flight, being late definitely runs in the family. 3 hours later (and after watching Diary of A Whimpy Kid which you should never watch because it's so bad) we touch down in LA, grab some McDonalds with Bryant, and prepare for 12 hour flight across the ocean to South Korea. I'm a little bit nervous; I haven't been on a plane for that long before.
About to touch down in Seoul, the capital of Korea. Well South Korea of course we sure as hell aren't landing in North Korea. I watched a bunch of movies on board and kept me entertained: Greenzone, the Bounty Hunter, Date Night, From Paris With Love, and half of Percy Jackson. I got about 4 hours of sleep when the flight attendant woke me up for breakfast. These airlines are super nice and awesome. They have pretty much on demand movies and real meals not pretzals or peanuts or that crap. I'm not even sure what day it is though, the jet lag is already getting to me.
Wow I just met my aunt that I haven't seen in 12 years and my 6 year old cousin whose nickname is Xiao Xiao and that's what I'll call him throughout this. Didn't get to meet my uncle though, he's still at work.
My dad took me to visit my grandma's grave. He went back to China in 2007 to bury her. Really good view from on top the mountain, but I was kinda, well actually really nervous, about the whole spiritual praying thing because I've never done that before. My soccer celebration is officially kissing 3 fingers on my right hand, the ones I touched her grave with.
We're booked in Canton Hotel. It's really not the best place but it is a 4 star hotel even though the standards are different in China. People who work here are slightly bitchy.
Pissed and dead tired. I'm done for today.
Early morning at Austin airport rushing to catch flight, being late definitely runs in the family. 3 hours later (and after watching Diary of A Whimpy Kid which you should never watch because it's so bad) we touch down in LA, grab some McDonalds with Bryant, and prepare for 12 hour flight across the ocean to South Korea. I'm a little bit nervous; I haven't been on a plane for that long before.
About to touch down in Seoul, the capital of Korea. Well South Korea of course we sure as hell aren't landing in North Korea. I watched a bunch of movies on board and kept me entertained: Greenzone, the Bounty Hunter, Date Night, From Paris With Love, and half of Percy Jackson. I got about 4 hours of sleep when the flight attendant woke me up for breakfast. These airlines are super nice and awesome. They have pretty much on demand movies and real meals not pretzals or peanuts or that crap. I'm not even sure what day it is though, the jet lag is already getting to me.
Wow I just met my aunt that I haven't seen in 12 years and my 6 year old cousin whose nickname is Xiao Xiao and that's what I'll call him throughout this. Didn't get to meet my uncle though, he's still at work.
My dad took me to visit my grandma's grave. He went back to China in 2007 to bury her. Really good view from on top the mountain, but I was kinda, well actually really nervous, about the whole spiritual praying thing because I've never done that before. My soccer celebration is officially kissing 3 fingers on my right hand, the ones I touched her grave with.
We're booked in Canton Hotel. It's really not the best place but it is a 4 star hotel even though the standards are different in China. People who work here are slightly bitchy.
Pissed and dead tired. I'm done for today.
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