Tianjin Crystal Palace Hotel

... a conversation with a Chinese man a few weeks ago who referred to me as a “jin xiong mao”, or “Golden Panda”, insinuating that we (foreigners) are an asset to the Chinese people and should be taken care of. I have to admit, I rather detest feeling like a bag of money. As a westerner here I often feel I am being exploited for money and “face” as the common assumption about Westerners (especially Americans) is that they are all ...

... and had some coffee to warm up. The coffee was served cold, but the beer was OK and we played some cards for a while.

Originally, I had wanted to spend a whole weekend here, seeing what there was to see, but after just a Saturday here we decided there was nothing left and headed back. There would be more to do in the city the next day. At least now I can say I've been there, but really not much to go back to and I'd hate to live there.

A couple of months have past since our last little adventure and the throes of a day to day job have enthralled me for the moments. I do feel, however, the often little tug to wander streets I haven't walked and to places I have not yet gazed. And so, for this weekend, the two of us decided to go to the close coastal city of Tanggu to see there what it had to offer. Of ...

... 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 ...

... end included a new feature called the Zhiyuan pagoda, from the top of which yielded some wonderful panoramic views of the city.

After a visit to the reptile zoo, a round of go-karts and a coffee (instant), we took the bus back to her apartment then grabbed our many things and took the bus back to Jinghai to prepare for Friday work the next day. And no, no day came sooner than Friday.

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

National Day in China is celebrated on October 1st, and this year is a big one since it's the 60th anniversary of the PRC. Added with that, the fall festival fell close enough to national day this year that I ended up with 8 days off. 'Course, I had to work the Sunday before and the Saturday after ...

Pics from Culture Street and Dinner at a Hot Pot Restaurant.

HUO GUO mean "fire pot"-- The concept is easy you put seasoned water in a pot and boil it in the center of the table. Everyone around the table cooks food in it and eats. Kinda like a Fondue.

Our dinner was shrimp, beef, lamb, mushrooms, cabbage, octopus, squid, and noodles. To make the ...

I went to dinner at a pretty nice seafood restaurant. I picked the food from aquariums on the main floor of the place and they cook it and bring it to your table which is upstairs. I went with a JV (joint venture) Team member and the Mexican team.

We had Chicken, Pork, Green beans, 2 kinds of shrimp, fish, and a crab. It only came to about 10 US dollars per person.

Enjoy thee Pics,
Blake

... Bu durum genel olarak iyi ama konusacak birileri icin digerlerinin odalarina sikca ugruyorum. Bu yuzden sadece siniftakilerle degil, otelde kalan bir cok kisiyle de arkadaslik kurmus oldum. Her derste hemen hemen ayni yerde oturuyorum: Hayako-chan ve Togawa-sempai nin tam ortasina(ikisi de japon). Togawa sempai nin yasi buyuk:35. Kocasi burada calistigi icin dil okuluna gelmis. Yasi ona yakin olan iki Koreli daha var. Birinin ismini Anne koyduk (9 yasinda bir oglu ...