Beijing UpdateS

Friends and family have been concerned and curious about our progress in Beijing. Many have asked if i prefer Beijing or Shanghai... Truth is, i don't know. yet. All i can say is, we've survived 7 days here.

All 63 boxes of our belongings have arrived safely, without damages. Thank god we didn't bother with the insurance and blow all that money- it could have come up to almost 2K sing.

Building a new home can be the most fun and rewarding process for a couple (after parenting i suppose). It's like working on a project together so your life can be enabled- does it make sense? You build your house in a way you forsee ur future to be. Like if u want an extra room so you can put the baby there, or u want a music corner so u can enjoy music together, or a well-set dining table so we can share good meals.

So yes... Les and I are doing fine here. We're enjoying ourselves.

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Anyways, here are some pictures we took today. we were at Sanlitun (again) for mexican food. The restaurant is called LUGAS... Very cheap and cheerful so we like. pardon the picture quality i was using my camera phone.

U can get their t-shirt for just 50RMB! Question is, why would i do that?

Nice murals on the wall...


hawt. hheehe.

Narrow Stairs

Death Cab for Cutie falls under a league of bands that i am quite crazy over. I follow album to album (since Transatlanticism) and it's the kind that i will go back and rediscover.

I am in love with Ben Gibbard's soothing ethereal voice quality. Their songs either deliver on the melody, or powerful lyrics, or a beautiful use of metaphors that'll make a sad song romantic, or all of the above... They have range so fans don't get bored, but in every album they give you the familarity that makes us recognise them...

I will possess your heart is the first single released from their latest album Narrow Stairs.
If you have time watch this, it's the original video, 8 minutes long.


If you don't have time, then listen to this 4 minute version.


AND, they will be performing on August 12 in Esplanade. So go get your tickets if you love em. Enjoy...

Sanlitun

It's my 2nd night back to Sanlitun... It's an area on the northeast of Beijing. Lotsa cool stuff, shopping, markets, DVDs, drinks, food and people of all races, most of whom we don't see in daylight. Rusta man, hippies, middle-aged aunties who'd sit in alfresco bars to enjoy a beer and a cigarrette.

So les and i were hanging out with a friend when suddenly a whole buncha cops came in trucks to raid some roadside DVD stalls. No one was arrested, assumingly the sellers got wind of the cops arrival and abandoned their stalls.

On a random night, along a random street... a 5 to 6 piece Mariachi broke out into song... This dude looks pretty happy.

Shortly after, a bunch of neighbourhood security- oddly enough consisted of kids around the age of 18 -came rushing down in an attempt to stem down on the "noise" pollution. But then later on they kinda chickened out when they saw that the band were angmohs.

Here they are standing around wondering what to do.

Beijing is experiencing this weird energy as the Olympics draws near. Suddenly, everyone is out of character, the whole city is undergoing redecoration. Beijing definitely wants to be prepared when every camera in the world points at her.

Venus and Mars...

This is what i call a chick magnet. A handsome man with a kid in arm. When Les hangs out with Shannon, i melt instantly.

This is what i call a dude magnet. SKIN and boobies.

Mountain man to the rescue...

Sometime last week, i read a blog entry by Yann recounting how her fiance came to her aid when she had this nasty food poisoning. I felt very touched by the fiance's act of chivalry... I wondered if Les would have done the same if we weren't living together. I got my answer last night.

China is going through this season called the 黄梅时节, basically the monsoon equivalent which usually takes place late spring early summer.

So last night, i went out to Sanlitun's 3.3 (local shopping mall) for manicure/pedicure and it started pouring cats and dogs!! All the shops were closed by the time i was done, i couldn't get any umbrellas and there were like a million people waiting for cabs along the street. I called les to lament and surprisingly he offered to come pick me, AND he was having a beer when i called! so i was doubly touched.

When he arrived at 3.3, there were hoards of people rushing to the cab Les was in, assuming he was gonna get off.

This is a typical cab-fight scene in china:

Ang moh girl to her angmoh friend: Man i'm so ready to hop on that cab right now.

(i went infront of them and reached for the door handle)

Angmoh girl to me: Oh wait i don't think so...

(she and her friend rushed towards me and wanted to fight for the cab)

Me: Sorry ladies, my husband came to pick me.

(I hopped on the cab, feeling super "lawak")

My mom used to complain that when she was pregnant with us, she'd have funny cravings in the middle of the night and dad never once went out to buy supper for her. So i was extrememly grateful and proud that i have a loving husband who'd come to my rescue over such a small matter, i wasn't pregnant, or vomitting, or green in the face. I promise not to abuse it!!

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Here's a picture of the Santa Fe workers moving stuff from 2nd floor to 1st floor. So clever and efficient!

We've moved!!

Literally and figuratively...

After having gone through an entire week of agony in tech-hell, it is finally done. http://lovexiaolongbaomore.blogspot.com/ has now moved to http://www.thirdmay.net/.

It took me almost 1 week to realise why my new domain didn't work, i did everything as i was told... or so i thought! I only discovered my "mistake" today, but i won't bore u cos you probably won't understand anyway.

Anyway, the timing couldn't have been better. Today also marks the first day of our Beijing Chapter, we're both now officially part of the Beijing office (our names in the contact list already!) Shanghai is now history....

So why not lovepekingduck.com...
A. I hate duck.
B. I hate peking duck.
C. I have gotten over naming blogs after metaphorical food.

So thirdmay.net really best represents us as it marks the day we began our lives as Mr and Mrs Ng, a unit, a team...

Don't worry if u can't remember the new URL (even tho its darn easy to remember!). http://lovexiaolongbaomore.blogspot.com/ will automatically link to this blog.

Last day at work in Shanghai...(self-interview)

So, today is your last day at work in the shanghai office...
Yes indeed.

How do you feel?
I feel okay, a little sad to leave behind the familarity i've build up over the last 16 months. But i'll come back to Shanghai office pretty often so it's not goodbye.

What/who will you miss most about Shanghai?
Definitely friends. Especially Jackson, Aileen, Daren (already back in malaysia), the whole chain gang hangin out.
I will miss Taikang Rd cafes, Element Fresh food, and H&M.
I also can't bear to leave my masseur (No.1 Shifu from Kangjun), my facial lady (Meidi), my tailor (Li Shifu), and the person who puts on my fake lashes (Ming Ming).

Are you looking forward to Beijing?
Uhm, mixed feelings really. Excited about exploring a new city, but I also feel like i've been lifted out of a comfort zone so there's a lot of anxiety and fears.

Like what?
Finding friends all over again, getting used to where everything is- supermarkets, tailors, drycleaners, facial places, yoga studios..

But what about your job? is this move good for you?
I am doing the same things but i sit in the shanghai office. I'll just have to find other ways to make myself useful.

Have you gotten a house in Beijing?
Yes. Its a two bedroom apartment. We've downgraded only cos Beijing houses are expensive due to the Olympics.

Right you'll be there during the Olympics, got free tickets?
No.

You don't sound excited about the Olympics...
You're right i'm not.

So when are you leaving for beijing?
This sunday afternoon.

Oh that's quick. Have you packed?
NOT REALLY!!! i hope the movers will do a good job cos i can't be bothered to fill in the insurance form. Okay maybe i should. Can't continue with the interview anymore i have to go count the number of pins and needles i'm shipping over the beijing!