Construction update

I know that its been a while since we've provided an update to the construction going on right outside our place, but that's because there really hasn't been any noticeable changes...
You can see that they've set up an additional living quarters in the right corner of the lot, and they've also brought in some additional equipment to help them make more noise.But not much really seems to be moving quickly. We've had a lot of rain recently, which just makes it a general mess at the site. I did find it funny when they managed to get one of their trucks stuck in the mud.
Who knew that rain would make the ground soft? They stood around and looked at the truck for about an hour. We left before they pulled it out, otherwise I would have taken photos of that too.

One thing that is nice, but we don't fully understand, is that they seem to be taking more time of lately. Wednesday they didn't start working until the afternoon so Tina was able to sleep in, and they didn't work today either which allowed me to sleep in to 11:00. It was a deep and very much needed sleep...

Another Party at Temptations

Ah, I think that we are starting to become a little bit spoiled. Earlier this week we went over to Temptations for another birthday party, this has to be about the fifth or sixth one of these that we have attended. Along with the dinners that we have had over there we are starting to get a little to used to having the best western style food in Xiamen...

This time we were over for Edlin's birthday, and this time the food was an excellent coq au vin, a nice salad, and cheesecake to finish it all off. We all had a great time enjoying the food, our conversation, and of course the wine. Seeing as we both didn't think enough to bring our cameras with us, you'll just have to imagine it being a great time, picture us all happy.

As with the standard party set with this group of our friends, Edlin is having a second, bigger, party over at the Mexicans this weekend. That means more wine, daiquiris, sangria, margaritas, and of course a full assortment of barbecue and other great foods. For that party we will bring our cameras - who knows, I get the feeling that bottle of snake wine will make an appearance again.....

Wine Tasting # ?

A couple nights ago we were invited to a wine tasting at the Sofitel. The usual drink and chatter ensued and then we went to a private room for dinner. It's quite typical when you dine and want some privacy, the restaurants or hotels have smaller rooms where you can enjoy dinner without the loud conversations, plus you get your own waiters. This usually happens when Mark and I are eating with Chinese or in our case that evening, Malaysians. Yup, Siew and Siewyih and her husband Allen. The Food and Beverage Manager, Jacky joined us as well.

Since all of them can speak English, Mandarin, and Cantonese, they kept flipping from one language to the other. Mark and I looked at each other as if to say, Mandarin isn't hard enough to understand, now we have to listen to Cantonese? We learned a few words, but pretty much we stuck to our native tongue.
After dinner Jacky asked if we wanted to try one of his favorite desserts, and naturally we all said yes. The next thing you know, a portable stove, pan, bananas and a few other ingredients come out, and he's making dessert. It was delicious and now our friends have invited Jacky to try Siew's food. We're hoping it's the lamb again.

China helping the Environment

Effective June 01, the Chinese government has decreed that no more free plastic bags. According to one newspaper, The Chinese use over 3 billion plastic bags per day, that's right, 3 billion. That's a lot of plastic bags floating around on the ground.

The government recognizes the need to save energy and the environment, and of course many have an opinion on that, but we like it. According to the Economic Times, "the country, which consumes 37 million barrels of crude oil each year to manufacture more than one trillion plastic bags, is following in the footsteps of countries such as Ireland, Rwanda and Bangladesh."

One can still get them for your groceries if you pay for it. Today, I needed a bag, as I had left my trusty one at home. The charge, .5 RMB, not much, however, many people have started to carry their own cute little canvas bags and some are complaining that the costs are too high.

I will remember to take my little bag with me.

Xiamen ranked #1

Yesterday I was reading an article that claimed that Xiamen was chosen as the friendliest city in China.

Questions ranged from economic development, public services, the community, and the environment according to the article I read on the What's on Xiamen website. Hangzhou was second and Shanghai came in third. The year before, Shanghai failed to even make it in the top 10 so it made great improvements over the past year.

As I read this to Mark, he quipped, "I guess we're not the only ones that think that Xiamen is friendly".