Thursday, November 30, 2006

Happy Thanksgiving

So you'd like to think that something like getting internet hooked up would be straight forward, right? Well perhaps is should be, but it was anything but.... But I'll save that one to grumble about another time. Instead, let me wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! We definately celebrated here. I got together with all my foreign friends and we had a HUGE feast - including turkey! The food was incredible and plentiful. We then went out for a guys and girls game of American football! Boy am I out of shape... Well, that's not true. Round is a shape too.


Sunday we went for another round of football - this time guys only, four on four, tackle! We had an awesome time...I was the star running back! :) One little oops happened on the last play of the day though....I tackled a guy pretty hard & smashed facces with him. There's still one or two teeth that I can't feel. They're there, but still numb. Oops!


The apartment is up and running, I've got all the basic furnishings now. I do have a guest room in case any friends would like to visit...? I just got done having six guys stay for a week and a half. It was an AWESOME time, but I'm ready to start getting to bed at a decent hour again. That's it for now, much more to come over the next week! :) I'll finish off with a picture from a trip to Green Lake.



(Artist at Green Lake)

Monday, November 06, 2006

New Apartment

I'm in a rush for this post 'cause...... I just rented my new apartment! I'm seriously excited - I looked at nearly 10 places in all, and this one captured me immediately when I saw it. It is VERY clean - those of you who have looked for apartments in Kunming know how exceptional that is. Come to find out that the previous renter's were Americans who knew how to take care of a place. It's HUGE, by far the largest I've ever stayed in. Only one small drawback to the whole thing.... There's nothing in it! :) So I've got alot of shopping (and spending. sigh...) ahead of me, hopefully beginning with a refridgerator today - oh! and a mattress! I'll probably post some pictures in a few days when I get internet turned on over there..

Anybody have extra furniture they'd like to donate? :)

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Journey to the West Mountains ... & Kunming Zoo

I met up with a friend of mine from back home and he's been taking me around Kunming, showing me some of the tourist stuff! I'm not usually one for tourist sights, but for some reason I've felt differently this time...On the 28th we went to the West Mountains, and it was AWESOME! It's off of the southwest side of the city, just across the lake. After travelling through the smog filled city day after day, this was truely a breath of fresh air. We took a taxi up the mountain, but many were walking along the road...It would take them probably 4-5 hours to get to the very top! Anyway, besides the clean air, green trees, and beautiful view, the best part of the trip was an artist. :) For ¥7 he would paint your name on a banner, with amazing colors and cool stuff worked into it like butterflies, bamboo, sunrise, etc... The photo is a bit blurry because he moved so fast and with that ... well ... artistic flair. :) Then they laminate it for you - a must have for your wall at home!

(The Amazing Artist of the West Mountains)

Two days later I got a chance to go to the Kunming Zoo! Everybody loves the Zoo, right? Well, I found it to be so-so. Not much money for this zoo, located in the center of downtown Kunming. The animals are mostly kept in small cages which was especially sad for the lions and tigers. In fact, they're often just conrete and metal bars, not even trees or grass. There are some really nice paths though, and in the spring time with everything blossoming I bet it looks and smells fabulous! A guess it's a cross between a park and a zoo. I think I'll go back again some time with some friends..

("Monkey Island" - at the Kunming Zoo)