The sky was gloomy on Sunday when we headed to 金石滩. The guide suggested that we go out to sea by a speedboat on our first stop just in case it rains later in the day. So off mama and I went, 60rmb per person, out to sea, and supposedly to an island to see dolphins and pick up starfish (boo, I oppose to that though).
Honestly, because of the sound from the engine and the driver’s heavy accent, I could make out less than 10% of what was said. There was a part out at sea where we met with huge terrifying waves. Mama prayed out loud and I too was praying in my heart! Somehow I figured the driver was asking if we wanted to go ahead, brave the waves and head for the island, but we were shouting, “不去！不去！” As he steered the wheel and we did a turn back, I heard the engine die. *gasp!* The driver mumbled something again and then bent down and…
Out from the sea, he drew up rolls of seaweed for us! Then, a motorboat filled with seaweed passed by, and our driver asked for more! Coooool… ;)
Mama, the proud owner of fresh seaweed! =P
This auntie from 哈尔滨 was amazing. She not only held on tightly to mama on the boat, she lifted mama’s legs so that they didn’t get wet from the seawater that drained in. On shore, she even helped us roll the seaweed and demanded a plastic bag from her husband to store our seaweed. =)
Since we were not warned about the waves, and we didn’t make it to the island, the Chinese tourists kicked up a fuss with the guide, demanding compensation. Hmm…we each got 20rmb back, but it was quite an unpleasant incident.
The day continued to be eventful! We did a little rock-climbing in 金石园. These rocks were underwater 600 million years ago…
You know how when you join tour groups, you are always brought to some manufacturing or so-called wholesale place to purchase local products? We went to see 黄龙玉 and I bought sotong… =P
Visited a wax museum (pity photography wasn’t allowed, we saw a thin and young LKY!), rock museum and Chairman Mao’s badge collection museum.
Have I ever mentioned how much my dad loves flowers? Haha… ;)
We played golf for the first time…
And did some live firing…
This pic reminds me of some terrorist training. Mind you, I was a better shooter than my 老爸! =P
Sigh sigh sigh… 12-hour train ride back to Beijing on the HARD SEAT. I have to admit…mama was zai. Very zai.
With Daddy and Aunty Li Hua’s departure, mama’s role as a Beijing guide has officially ended. Pheeeew! She is pretty proud of herself you know… ;)
I, on the other hand, am beginning to feel the pre-examination stress and anxiety. Bit by bit…
eXtrAssssUN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was at PKU today! Argh, missed that chance to catch him in person! =(
Just thinking about what my Folk Lore teacher casually said. Due to the one-child policy in China, in the future, kids will no longer know who is 舅舅、伯伯、叔叔、婶婶、姑姑、阿姨……
Tongues wag wag wag…Red lights flash flash flash…
I experienced the most challenging warm-up ever at Self Defence today! Our relief teacher, a trained wushu instructor, led us first in the normal head rotation exercise. Then, he made us lie on the mat and stretch every single muscle on our legs. As he read from the instruction sheet my teacher handed him, we were instructed to run in rounds, hop, kick and punch. All for warm-up!
Thankfully, he wasn’t as strict as my teacher during lesson itself. Instead of demonstrating some moves, he assumed that we had learnt them, and left us to try out on our own. I’ve never seen my self-defence class laugh so much at each other’s antics. It was really a lot of fun!
This is my Korean partner, who clicks really well with me. 金龈贞…
She’s absolutely into beauty…maybe a lot of Korean girls are? I remember how she would complain that certain exercises make her calves big so she refused to do them. Then today as I was ooooing and ahhhhing my way through one of the stretching exercises, she encouraged me to do that ten minutes a day for a shapely figure. =O Haha…
gRacE =)
