Jin Ao Hotel Tianjin

... place in the HSK singing competition at Nankai as the only Western competitor. In addition, I’m learning how to cook my favorite Chinese dishes so I can go home and teach my aunt, and I bought bananas for just over 6rmb today! I really feel my Chinese is advancing, especially listening comprehension and writing. I’m confident I will at least be conversational by the time I get back, and I’m already pondering ways to maintain my proficiency.

... market close to the train station. The market was quite nice with a lot of goods I couldn't find in parts of Tianjin, however the prices were high and none of the 'western' things were really Western at all. Regardless I bought some gifts and some leather mittens. Afterward we had jiaozi at a nearby chain restaurant, and a little skiff with the waitress when she brought and charged us for a dish we didn't order.

After, we took a ...

... expat could expect to be. There's no regrets, but only a wish that I had more time to wander the little crevices and feel the mood of the buildings more often. In time I suppose, and also in time I will be able to travel away from my comfortable little zone of China I have created and to wherever the winds of change may call me.

Pictures added, taken Nov. 17.

... to start with, but then Tanggu and TEDA. Didna shoot 'em yet, sorry. Betcha somebody did if the curiosity's killing you. I planned on the penultimate stop, looked closest to the port. Exhibition Center. Nothing but cabs and an Exhibition Center. Sadly dead. Exhibition ended yesterday. Wonder wander, pedestrian access is unfinished. This area still under construction. Wander wonder back. Around the other side. Out fifth ...

Early on the day of the 7th, we went to the main intersection close-by with all our things to grab the long distance bus to Tianjin city. The drive was long and more or less uneventful - the drivers played a couple Jackie Chan movies and a couple Jet Li movies to keep us occupied.

We were, as expected, molested upon our arrival at the bus station. Many cries of 'taxi', us responding with ...

October 1 I had the day off for the Celebration of Chinese National Day. It was the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China. I used this time to explore more of Tianjin. I did a lot of walking and sweating but it was worth it. Enjoy the Photos.

Blake

... time off so it's not really that much time off, but great for a trip.

For this trip I traveled to Chengde county to stay with my gal's parents and see the mountain's of China.

Wednesday night after work I took the bus out to Tianjin city and we went out to dinner and packed for the trip.

... these 2 guys came to our table and spun the noodles in the air to stretch the dough and then they put them in your pot. It was pretty cool. The pics from dinner only include about half the group cause some ditched out because of the rain and they had to ride their bicycles home.

And yes we had a private room at no extra cost for dinner.

Blake

... buildings were found. After some lunch, we wondered down the main shopping street (looked like any shopping street in Europe except everything was in Mandarin!). We eventually ended up at the Antique Market, which had all sorts of stuff for sale. We continued to walk and found a nice small park and eventually we found the China House. This house was insane, it was literally covered in china and porcelain pots (looked out of this world!). We then went to ...

... van. Talk about personal service!!! When we arrived at the hotel, the lights were all off inside. It looked like it was closed..... But in fact, it was open and some girls came out of the back to help us check in at the reception. Thank God we had the information girl as a quasi-translator. I decided, since they had only charged us 5 RMB to get to the hotel, which was extremely cheap, I asked if it was possible to hire a driver for the rest of today to take us to the ...