Hi Everyone,
The Chinese New Year holidays have now finished Jun has gone back to work today after a week off,maybe the fireworks will now stop as they have been setting them off day and night for the last 10 days it was like being in a war zone sometimes haha,but very colourful.
I have just took Jun's dog ( a daschund) to the park and met her friend Ping who works in the customs dept next to the park at their local canteen and collected our rice I thought i was picking up a small bag from her but it weighed a ton i struggled back with it haha.
We went to the Temple of Heaven on New Years day to see the celebrations by the Taoists but it was so crowed we couldn't see the parade only hear it,we then went into the park surrounded by trees hundreds of years old some even a thousand at one point there were 4 young men aged about 16/18 climbing one of them and taking photos of each other Jun went straight over a gave them a telling off they just jumped down apologised and moved on I thought in england she would have just got a load of abuse.
Another day we went to another park to look at the white stupa that dominates the skyline over the forbidden city and climbed to the top with lovely views over the city,while in the park we watched a woman doing Tai Chi (Chen Style) she was very good so we chatted with her then she asked me to do some of mine which was a bit embarresing doing it in front of other people but i did some then she asked if i would like to train with her that i could meet her every morning at 7am in this park (It's 3 tube rides to get there) so i declined.
I watched a man writing poetry one day on the pavement with water,hows that for a demonstration of impermanance (It's one of the photo's i have included).We also went to chairman mao's tomb to see him but i had forgot my passport so they wouldn't let me in they can go to the extremes sometimes with beauracracy Jun says there are regulations then there is reality.
I will be going to the local hospital later this week for my medical so i can apply for my chinese driving licence then i have to pay £100 to sit a theory test, I have done a bit more driving and becoming more comfortable with the chinese system of driving called (get out of my way I,m going into that lane) haha.
I hope this finds everyone well and you enjoy the photo's.