And It Was A Big Splat

I have been asking if Zhengzhou is even worth blogging about. I thought, why the heck not? I may have more bad things to say about the place but I'm quite certain I can relish the bad taste in my mouth with a few good ones.

Zhengzhou, location: mainland China, climate: still freezing cold, (snowing even), people: not too friendly; in fact they do not have time for chit-chats and are too busy doing just about anything that they can get their grubby hands on. The streets are not safe since the traffic rules are as useless as that china survival book I have carried around since last year. And the funny thing is, you will more likely end up being ran over on a pedestrian lane than on the expressway. Hygiene: non-existent. I literally see and smell crap everywhere and they said it gets worst during the summer. If spitting was a problem in India, in Zhengzhou it's a way of life. They expectorate just about everywhere, even in restaurants and when I say restaurants, I am not talking about the dodgy ones. I am talking about the assumed fancy or shall I say 'classy' restaurants. The children, cute as they are, are made to wear these funny-looking pants with slits on their behind so that they can easily pee or take a dump just about anywhere. Believe me, my friends and I can attest to that.

Ooops! It looks like I have more bad things to say today. I will stop here before I get carried away. My attempt to make my article neutral was a failure and I will make another attempt maybe tomorrow. For now, I will leave you with a photo of a shot I took while I was scouting the area. This is proof of how Chinese people drive in Zhengzhou.

You're Okay, Den.

Kids

Dejavou? I think I remember a similar experience when I was four. What is it about being four anyway? Hahaha...

My First

I forgot to blog about this last month. My mother finally shared her secret 'ube jam' recipe and I gave it a whack. I gave my friends a cup each so they can try it out and they told me that it was delicious but the presentation needed to be improved. Further, it was suggested that I finely grind or mush the 'ube' or taro. Here's a photo of my 'ube jam' --- yum!

Bangkok and Samut Prakan, Thailand

Fun At The Carnival

My friends and I decided to go to the carnival in front of the NCCC Mall in Davao City. It was the usual carnival scene. Cheap food, rusty rides that made grating sounds (the bigger thrill is always on the thought of possible accidents that are bound to happen because of the callously maintained equipment such as the ones found in the carnival), children running around unattended, a Binggo game for money-hungry lazy bones, inexistent toilet, firing stalls with not-so-interesting prices, amongst others. We opted to end our visit with a big hurrah by riding the Sea Dragon. I thought, why not post our picture just for the heck of it. Note to all readers, I would love it if you would focus on my wind-blown hair but the guy wearing purple who was seated behind me had a facial expression that was much more interesting to look at.

Check List

When the year started, I told myself that there there should be changes in my habits. One, dance again. Two, pray more. Three, eat but do not over-do it. Four, travel. Five, loosen up and have fun. Six, only pack the things that are necessary. Seven, sleep less. Eighth, document everyday activities.

One, unchecked.
Two, checked.
Three, uhhmmmm somewhat checked.
Four, checked.
Five, checked.
Six, checked but I think I went beyond this time.
Seven, checked.
Eighth, inconsistently checked.

Looking at the list, I would say that my status as of February 7, 2011 is not bad at all; however I can do better.

Talking In Riddles

And I go back. In my mind, I went back to what made me happy, before the cruel door slammed in --- enraged at my mere presence. It was wonderful and I find comfort in knowing that I have that safely tucked in my pocket, away from prying eyes.