A day at the Market

For those of you that know China City or China Mart in South Africa, well the market we visited is like that but just bigger.  It was an amazing experience and well enjoyed.

Helen and Kathy picked us up at 11am and off we headed to the market.  Well we had to find it first.  But hats off to Helen because she can find a needle in a haystack.  This was the first time that I think we have experienced the China that we always hear about.  There were so many people and cars, that we had to park a block away from the market.  It was not so bad as there was vendor tables all on the side walk all the way to the market. 

Well when we got there we decided on a plan of attack on how we were going to walk through as there are narrow passages ways and the merchants display there goods in and out of the store making the passages even narrower.  And believe it or not, some people ride their scooters down the passage.  So we had to occasionally give way.

The prices are reasonable, however one still has to be careful as when they see a foreigner they increase the amount.  We want to buy some dishcloths and we were told they were 2 Yuan each, then all of a sudden another man walk up to the guy helping us and speaks to him in Chinese and then the price was 5 Yuan each.  Needless to say we kept quiet and walked away.

Once we had shopped and walked till we were about to drop, we found the exit and headed back to the car.  But a display of vendors selling street food caught our eyes. 

 

This was Pita bread, but I do not know the filling, however the smell was familiar.  It had a curry smell to it. 
The time we were researching about China, before we came here, there was a you tube video about street food and I was determined that one day I would try the  Jian Bing (A thin fried egg pancake with bean paste and lettuce, similar to a crepe).  And guess what?  There is was being made in front of us.  And it was freaking divine.  Yum.

 

 

They even were selling puppies on the side walk.  Don't go thinking Bupsy's Puppies.  They were being sold as pets.  (I hope).

We need to start charging the shop owners for drawing the crowds to the shop because these Chinese people want to see what these westerners are looking at or buying and they usually end up buying something as well.


We then landed up at KFC for a cold drink and some chips. Look at all the bicycles parked outside KFC.  But there is a shopping mall next to KFC.

 What an awesome day.  We got home at 4pm.  I am definitely going back at the end of the month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Update

Well this week has been really busy.  

Monday my new Chinese Co-Teacher started at our school.  Her name is Sunny.  

So I have been showing her the ropes.  Then on Thursday we had a parents information evening.  I had to do a PowerPoint presentation introducing myself and a little bit about what we doing in class and what is expected.  Well I think I did awesome.  I only got home at 7pm that evening.  I was exhausted.

Our American teacher also arrived to add to the number of our staff.  

On Friday we celebrated Founders day.  This is was when the Foundation was started.  So we had an all day event.  We first sat in the hall watching the other campuses live saying hello and to listen to the Founder, Dr Chan, give her speech.  Afterwards we had a small sports day with a few fun races.  The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves.  

(I had to crop the photos so that I had no children in them.)

 

After the activities we had  the children paint a mural together.  It was a fun day enjoyed by all.

Then we had Vivian Whang over for supper in the evening.  

 Today we went out and bought some fruit.  We found a delicious fruit called a Mangosteen.  The Thai name for the fruit is Mankoo.  It has a texture of a litchi and is not overly sweet. MMMMMMMMM

We also bought a beautiful Porcelain China Dinner set.

Well the days are turning into weeks, weeks into months.  I can't believe that we have been here for almost 3 months already. 

Keep reading.

Last day of the Holidays

Well its back to school for me tomorrow.  I have had a very relaxing week.  Found the game(s) on Zynga.com and have been playing it all week. 
 
This week we surprised family and friends that can't speak to us over skype.  We bought skype credit and we telephoned them instead.  Wow were they all excited.  I also had the opportunity to have a skype session with all the teachers of Pinetown Junior Primary School during their tea break on Friday.  I really do miss you all so much.
 
It was really funny last night.  I was busy skyping with Sanchia and my little niece Erin wanted to skype with Kerry.  So she called her from her Ipad.  Well Kerry had to play hide and seek with her, wanted Kerry also to have an ice lolly, and had to sit next to Erin to watch a movie.  Hilarious.  She is such a noo noo pie.

 

 

Today we decided to take a taxi to the beach.  So off we went.  Yes it was busy.  But we went to the little market that they have on the beach.  They sell a lot of "seaside"  items.  Coral, shells, buckets, hats, live turtles, live lizards, .......... weird.

 

 

 



Then we decided to walk in the opposite direction to where we were on the last visit to the beach.  The beaches are very clean an very decorative.  Today there was some sort of yatch race as there were plenty of yatchs on the horizon.  Some touristy photos:

At the main beach.  Its pronounced (One Ping Ko).

The yatchs on the horizon. 

 

Took photos at an amphitheatre.

It is really clean and well manicured.

This looked like a big basin to burn wood in. 

There was also this huge bell people could go and sound it with the log on the right.

 

Dragon holding it up.

 

 

While at the amphitheatre, a young gentleman walked up to Kerry and started talking with her.  He said that he enjoys speaking English and thought he would come and speak to her, even though he hardly knew the language, but tried very hard.  Then he ask if he could take a potato (photo) of Kerry and then if Paul could take of both of them.  He said that because he saw Kerry and Sarah, he bought them each a coldrink.  Well lets say Kerry has been teased ever since. 

 

 

 

We then went and walked through the park like area that separates the beach from the bay, and we see him coming from the other side.  I think it was just to see Kerry and Sarah again.

 

 





The park is also very picturesque.  Very beautiful and clean indeed.

  
  
  

   

There were also a lot of fishing trawlers in the bay.  It was low tide and you also see a lot of people digging in the mud looking for sea cucumbers.

  
If you look in the background on the second photo you will also see some luxury boats.

  
  
The second photo shows the people digging for sea cucumbers.

Some touristy photos of us:

 

 

We decided to go to Yummy for lunch.  On the way there we saw a 6D horror house.  I think it was a horror house.  But I don't think I would have gone in with that ugly demon on the top of the entrance.

 

 

We miss South Africa so much.  Well that's it for this week guys. Hope to have more posts for you soon.