Travel the Silk Road - Lanzhou

Our flight from Beijing to Lanzhou was uneventful, except for Kristine’s pair of scissors being confiscated at Beijing airport security checkpoint. Flight was on time but we didn’t get to Lanzhou city centre until midnight. Airport was 72km away from town centre, second farthest from nearest town centre in China. Airport coach cost Y30 per person. First bus was packed so we had to take a second bus 10mins later. Upon reaching the city centre, we had to take a taxi to our hotel. The taxi cost us Y4. This is a city where the taxi drivers dont earn much. They take multiple passengers whenever they can. Next morning, we joined a city tour for Y180, but we were the only tourists in the group with a tour guide and a driver. We had a ride on a raft across the Yellow River steered by a Uiger man. The raft was supported by 13 inflated sheep skins, apparently an old means of transportation across that river before bridges were invented. The river was stinky, but Kristine and Kimberley had a ball.

Kimberley's Turn to Children Hospital

On the eve of our departure to Dunhuang, Kimberley threw up thrice during the night. With Kristine too having high fever, Grace took them to Children Hospital in the afternoon just hours before our flight departure.

Kristine had a chest xray which was clear. Kimberley took a blood test which was normal. Kimberley can categorically declare she never cried having her blood sample taken. That is true. However, she apparently resisted vehemently at the sampling counter, where she was supposed to surrender her hand through a glass window for sample to be taken. She refused. She placed her legs against the wall underneath the counter, and placed her palms against the glass above, just like a Spiderman!

Tests showed both Kristine and Kimberley had some virus infection. Their doctor of the day prescribed some Chinese herbal medicines. The medicines were so bitter each dose was a painful ordeal for Kristine and Kimberley My question to Grace is if you cannot get past the kids’ taste buds, how can the medicines be meaningfully administered, just like if the kids don’t like going to schools in the first place, how can teachers have a chance to teach the children anything?

Monday off

Kristine went to bed last night with very bad coughs and woke up with the same bad coughs and sore throat, so it was a rest day at home. After sending Kimmie to kinder, I went shopping for her fav redbean steamed buns at at local market but they didnt have that this morning. While there, Kristine called my mobile to ask if she could watch Nickelodeon on TV, to which I said no.
Upon returning home, I checked all TV settings and was confident she obeyed my instruction. Felt heppy, but wondering how I can find a balance so she would not grow up rebelling or sneaking her desire behind my back. The message is presently getting through that she can and will always enjoy her fav tv if she first gets through her chores. For this morning, her work was to rewrite her essay in English (see earlier blog entry). She watched TV for 20 mins after that, and again after finishing her lunch (reheated lasagna, and steamed peas with my garlic butter). Next in her list after lunch/TV is her school work of the day, posted on the school website.

Central Heating

Central heating to our apartment stopped two weeks ago. Technically speaking, our neighbours' heating stopped two weeks ago. We did not turn our radiators on so our heating came from our neighbours downstairs and upstairs (every home paid for heating: use it or lose it). Even without our radiators on, it was still too hot for us.

2 weeks after central heating logged off, and with outside temperature still hovering just above 0 overnights, our floors are getting colder and colder. Snuggling into bed at night is a nice feeling, but the first step on the floor in the morning is Cooooooold.......

Kristine's Weekend Diary

Kristine has to submit an essay each week on any subject she chooses. Grace and I are trying hard to get Kristine to be more expressive and not being inhibitive by correct spelling or writing. Slowly I am seeing improvements.

Her essay is reproduced below. words in parathesis are mine for easier reading and comprehension.

2009年3月28日
今天，我去吃“hui zhuan sushi”。我 zheng (正)在吃土豆泥的时后（候），我看见了‘Shen Yue Jun‘ (一位男同学)了！吃完了，我去yi yuan(医院)去yan(验)血。我的雪（血--白血球,常规4.0-10.0）是8。5。周二来的时候我妈妈和爸爸jie(接)到yi yuan(医院)，na(那)时候我的du（肚）子很tong(痛)很tong(痛)！还有呢我的血是16。5。 妈妈说：“你有wen (问)题”。
还有呢，周二来的时后，我得打点滴，应为我的血是16。5！！！
打的时候，我看见有一些打头(点滴)呢！

Today I went to eat 'Hui Zhuan Sushi'. When I was eating mash petato, I saw Xaivia (Xavier)! When we finish eating, we went to the hospital to blood test. My blood was 8.5 (white blood cell count, normal range 4.0-10.0). On Tuesday, Mummy and Daddy picked up me from school to the hospital, that time my tummy very very painful! and my blood was 16.5! Mummy says:"There is something wrong".
And on Tuesday, they gave medison through a drip, because my blood was 16.5!!! When doing that, I saw some do it on their heads!

Pre-Paying for Services

A popular tactic to attract repeat business is to pre-sell credits on services with discounts to pay-per-use pricing. The practice spreads from haircut, massages, piano lessons to hobbies... In fact, eletrcity, gas, hotwater, bathroom water in our apartment are all prepaid (no discount).

Hidden in our drawers somewhere, we have prepaid credits for Grace's beauty massgae, Kristine's taekwando, piano, and Kristine and Kimberley's weekend Playschool.

After attending her first Taekwando last Sunday, Kristine missed her second lesson yesterday and will miss her third this coming Sunday while travelling the Silk Road with us. Could this be another of Grace's ideas that hits the Great side-Wall soon after initiation? Grace gets frequent 'why-are-you-not-coming-here-anymore' calls from her masseur (from whom she purchased manymanymany discount sessional tickets), and the manager of a weekend playschool (疯狂家族）to which US$350 was paid but used thrice. Most people would be worried of their pre-paid credits disappearing (if the businesses shut down) and thus wanting to use their credits up quickly. Grace is a different breed.

The usage stats:
Grace:
Playschool: Unlikely Grace will consummate her original desire here. My bet is the manager will eventually give up calling Grace.....
Taekwando: yet TBD
KK
Piano lessons and practice: successfully into second prepaid contracts.

Jessica's Birthday Party

Jessica is one of Kristine's classmates and a better friend. Kristine and 2 other friends were invited to her party on Sunday for pizzas, cakes and icecream lunch, at a nice clubhouse where Jessica lives. Photo to follow.
Kristine was actually unwell with sore throat in the morning. She gave up her taekwando but insisted on attending Jessica's party. Amazing she was so well during the party, but not before, and certainly not after.

More Blood Test

Kristine returned to Beijing Children Hospital on Saturday to do another blood test. Prior to that, we had sushi at The Place (世贸天阶),chosen by Kristine as her reward for a week's almost perfect (she missed out on a morning's teethbrushing) score in executing her morning timely chores.

Her white blood cell count is down to 8.5 (normal 4.0-10.0). Much better than 16.5 last Tuesday when she had her drips. She saw the same lady doctor who was a lot more attentive and detailed than the first male doctor she saw on tuesday, but then again, what do you expect for Y5 of consultantation fee per visit? Seriously, we felt a lot more confident with this lady doctor.
When we first arrived at the hospital, we were supposed to check in at the front desk, and upon determining Kristine's blood test was not urgent, she was given a queue number in 'normal' clinic, rather than the 'emergency' (very loosely defined in my opinion: when Kristine had stomach pain on Tuesday, that was classified as 'emergency'. Her second visit the next day (to receive another dose of antibiotics via drips) was also classified as 'emergency'. Her third, this past Saturday, was classified non-emergency. Kristine was #40 in the queue, so Grace went back to front desk, asked for 'emergency' queue, paid twice the fee (from Y5 to Y10), and Kristine went back to see the lady doctor she saw on her second visit, within 15 mins. With prescription in hand (Y45 extra), we took kristine to her blood test which was very fast.

Getting home was a very leisurely stroll along Yabao Lu to Chaoyang Menwai Dajie, caught an electric bus and home in 20 mins. A young lady gave up her seat for kimberley but she and Kristine could not sit still for long. We stopped by Huatang and got them a Happy Meal. With that, they stayed home and watch a bit of Nickelodeon on TV while Grace and I strolled out to look for dinner. The first Hunan restaurant I chose had been closed for business. We looked at a Sichuan Spicy Pot, gave that a miss, than another ChongQing Baked Fish, also gave that a miss. Finally, we walked into a Korean. Y75 for three dishes. Enjoyable. We took kristine and kimberley there again the next day for dinner!

Kimberley's Kinder Outing

Wednesday was Kimberley's kinder Spring outing, to a wildlife safari near Badaling Great Wall. Each child must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Kristine came along to keep me busy. Altogether 12 coach buses to ferry kids and guardians from kinder to Safari and back. The trips took just 90mins each way, through mountain passes with majestic Great Wall sections. Guardians were busy distributing goodies to kids around their seats and those their kids like. Kimberley personally distributed her Melb soft jelly to three of her better friends (she doesnt have many, as she doesnt know most of her classmates' names). A part of the outing in the Safari was to plant a tree, which Kristine and Kimberley helped enthusiastically. Notice how Kimmie held the rootstock.

Kristine's First Drip

Kristine's stomach pain worsened on Tuesday, so Grace and I picked her from school and sent her to Beijing Children hospital, walking distance from her school. The doctor prescribed 3 tests: blood test, excrement test, and ultrasound. Ultrasound revealed nothing wrong with her stomach and intestines. She could not provide any sample for excrement test, but her blood test showed very high white blood cell count. The doctor, a young male decided she was suffering from some kind of gastro and prescribed anti-biotics. In China, antibiotics are generally administered via drips --- a very busy section of the hospital dedicated to just that function. Attached some photos of Kristine's first visit to Beijing Children hospital. It cost just Y5 to see a doctor, Y30 for a course of oral anti-biotics, Y150 for drips, and Y100 for some kind of medicine to help 'with her digestion'.
Her drip course was supposed to take three days. We took her there again yesterday for her second dose. This time another doctor saw her, a lady doctor who, like all before and around her, covered half of her face with a mask. Her assessment of Kristine was that she was too healthy to need another drip, so she cancelled that. Kristine just has to finish her present course of antibiotics and do another blood terst after to see if her white blood cell count reverts to normal. We schedule that for Saturday, so Kimberley can witness how brave her sister is with blood sampling.

Kristine's Dinner

Kristine's dinner consisted of plain rice with Japanese seaweed, roast chicken wings, and winter melon slices and black fungus saute in Miso paste. Simple meal using whatever we have in the fridge. The fridge is now empty of vegetables. We leave for Lanzhou and Dunhuang next Wednesday for a week so the vegie inventory must be kept low.

Kristine's Taekwando

Sunday morning was Kristine's first Taekwando lesson, at the clubhouse just 50m from our home. From Kristine's posture and movements, I think she is more suited to ballet than Taekwando, but some martial art is good for her later on in life.

Her teacher is a gentle looking lady, until we saw her beat a boy on his hand for not following her instruction correctly. I mentioned to Grace that Kylie's piano teacher in Singapore used to tap Kylie's finger with a ruler whenever Kylie was not not doing her paino correctly. A parent sitting next to Grace turned his head to look at me with disbelief.

The highlight of Kristine's first lesson was sitting up exercise. Her teacher wanted Kristine to do 10 repeats. She could only muster 6. Her 7th was with help of both hands propping up on the floor.....

Lasagna Sunday

Sunday morning was all about Kristine's Taekwando. Afternoon was shoe-hunting for Krisitne and kimberley. Each bought 2 pairs of shoes for Spring. Scarlet came by at 4pm to play with Kristine and Kimberley. Scarlet and kristine were trying out their skate boards, while Kimberley tried HARD to ride her scooter. Full marks to Kimmie for trying hard. Jenny joined them soon after she finished her homework. At 515pm, they came upstairs to assemble lasagna ingredients. Everyone chipped in with some effort to make lasagana a success. Dinner was roast chicken wings, home-fried french fries, and lasagna. We all ate too much.

Children Day(s)

This weekend was for the children (which weekend was not?). We jammed 8 children ranging from 2 to 10 yrs old into our home on Saturday evening. 5 families were represtend. We had to feed the kids first before the adults had a chance to enjoy dinner together. The place was so noisy I was afraid neighbours would knock on our front door anytime soon. The party went on late into the night. Auntie Vivien popped in at 930pm to drop off some goodies from Xinjiang. Scarlet and Jenny had to return home soon after that. Then so did everyone else.

Kristine's classmate

In Grace's note to Kristine's teacher apologising on behalf of Kristine for being absent on Monday, she added that Kristine's classmate sharing the same desk had been rough on Kristine, often beating her hands if she refused to do what he wanted (such as painting a drawing a certain way, or certain colors).

This morning, Kristine's teacher changed Kristine's deskmate. Another boy. He slipped two notes to Kristine, in Chinese. One said 'I love you', and another said 'You are now my girlfriend'. We have the notes at home now.

Morning Job List

Kristine returned to school this morning after having Monday off due to fever. Each monring, since 2 weeks ago, she has to perform against a set of routines by time, starting from 630am, until 708am when her school bus arrives. There are altogether 19 tasks she has to complete during that 38 minutes, including brushing teeth, drinking water, milk, breakfast, fruit, check her school bag etc. So far only 4 mornings when she didnt get full marks, usually short by 1 mark, always for not finishing her fruit. The other 6 mornings were all full marks of 19. Her reward is a present of her choice no more than Y15 each week. Each evening, she has to record her daily morning scores on a worksheet pinned to the fridge door. Each time, Kimberley will come over, watch Kristine do the checks and add the scores. Kimberley will always say,"I not cry in kinder."

K* SICK

Today I have a fever. One of my friends at school had a fever. I think that I cought the gems from her. I thought I sleep to late. I sleep at 1105pm last friday because my friends came. I fed like vometing this few days. My mum lets me eat lollypop so I dont fed like vometing.

The Silk Road and Lumix LX3

Separately, Grace and I spent hours over the weekend researching a trip to Lanzhou and Dunhuang (ancient Silk Road), and our desire to upgrade our digital camera.

First the Silk Road. It was a toss up between the Silk Road or Li Jiang in Yunnan. The deep arifare discount tipped the scale to the Silk Road. She booked the tickets at 65% discount in the morning. The tickets arrived within 2 hrs. After more research on itinerary, she booked our return tickets, also at 65% disc in the evening. There is no surcharges now.

We mentioned to some friends that we wanted to squeeze a trip in before the peak season starts in April. One replied there wont be a peak season this year with the financial crisis. We shall see.

My challenge was deep and wide, crossing models and crossing countries. I started with an intention to get an SLR (Canon 450D) and a Canon EF f1.4 USM. After much checking on the internet, the prices are somewhat similar buying online in China, the US and Australia. In fact, for the Canons, they were cheaper in China!

After hours and hours of reading up on user feedback, the internal debates intensified between an SLR with wide aperture (f1.4) but bulky, or a narrower aperture (f2.8 for Canon G10) but pocket size. In the end, Panasonic Lumix Lx3GK took the chequered flag, with the widest aperture (f2.0) for a pocket size digital. The widest in its class. It also costs as much as an SLR. For this model, Amazon.com is about US$40 cheaper before state taxes, plus Jiatian's effort to bring it back from the US after his next trip there. So we placed a call to an online seller in NW Beijing, placed the order and it was delivered on COD basis 3 hrs later.

I asked the shop assistant who delivered the camera to our home if there was any risk of imitation product. He said China does not have the technology to copy a Lumix LX3 yet! Photo taken with the new toy, with ceiling lights on, but no flash.

Kimmie's Negotiation Skills

Saturday was a quiet day for all of us, afer a busy evening with Linyun family, Viv's family and Edith. Kristine started to have a fever, possibly a virus from school as several of her classmates have been absent from school last week. So it was a rest day at home.

Late afternoon, since it was a warm day around 17degC, Grace wanted to take the kids downstairs. Kimberley refused to put her socks on herlsef, insisting on Grace to do it for her.

I took over, gave her 5 counts of warning: put on the socks herself or she stayed home. After 5 counts, I locked the main door after Grace and Kristine exited. That shocked Kimmie. She gave chase, screaming her head off. I insisted she had to put on her own socks before she could go. She refused. Kimmie took a while to figure out how to unlock the door and then chased after Grace and Kristine, screaming 'mama'. By then Grace and Kristine has taken the lift down, so Kimmie took the stairs, barefooted, without any warm clothing. I gave her 1 min headstart and then I took the lift to ground floor to intercept Kimmie, but she changed her mind, possibly on 4th Floor and return to pound our door on 6th floor, screaming for 'papa'. Her scream should have attracted at least a few busybody-neighbours but nobody popped their heads out. They were probably muttering to themselves behind closed doors,"It is that Giam family again."

Once inside, Kimmie demanded nonstop wanting me to put her socks on for her (so I could take her downstairs to Grace). I held my ground and insisted she had to put them on herself.

These were our exchanges:
"你帮我穿袜子，我自己穿boots" (You help me with my socks and I will put on my boots myself). I was very impressed with her full sentences. She wanted to meet me halfway, but no deal.
"No, you can put on your own socks"
"No, I am still a baby"
"You are not a baby"
"I miss Mama, 帮我穿袜子"
"Then you put the socks on yourself."
The sequence repeated many rounds.
Then Kimmie climbed to sit on my laps, gave me a kiss and said,"Papa I love you." Now she was onto the 'killing me softly' tactic.
"I love you too Kimmie."
Then the sequence started again.
Such determination!
Then she took my mobile and started pressing buttons as if to call.
She turned to me for help to call Grace, saying,"I miss Mama."
I insisted she had to put on her socks herself.

This went on for 35 mins. Neither of us won on Saturday. A lot of efforts to get nowhere. Deep down, I think I lost. Kimmie had to climb a steep hill just to stay still, and she did.

Kimmie went out with Grace this afternoon. Kimmie put on her socks herself!

(Updated Monday Mar 16: Grace put kimmie's socks for her this morning before sending her to kinder. Back to Square 1)

Meeting with Frank at Viv's

Our meeting was scheduled for 9am, then 10am, then 1030am. I checked local transport guide and found a direct bus to Viv's office. Route 639 first made me wait 20mins in freezing windy morning. It then took me and a bus load of passengers through Guanghua Lu which took forever to get through the 3rd Ring Road. I was late for the meeting. Frank left soon after lunch and I took a bus home as recommended by Viv. Route 855 breezed through Chaoyang Lu and I was home after 4 stops from CBD.

Viv and tom dropped by after work for hotpot dinner at home, with Linyun/Jiantian/Talia, Edith and Scarlet. A chance to try a gummy shark fillet from Melbourne.

The kids had a great time using their bedrooms as interrogation rooms on the adults one by one. Scarlet was the 'judge'. Kristine and Kimberley acted as bailiffs. Each time when I gave a wrong answer about my identity, the Judge declared 'Beat him up!!!' and kristine and Kimberley would throw themselves on me in bed where I was made to sit, with lights switched off, and a torchlight held by Scarlet shining at my face.

Dinner photos taken by Kristine and Scarlet standing on a stool.