That's the number of migrant workers who returned from Chinese New Year vacation and found themselves jobless. Their employment simply disappeared due to the financial crisis.
I cannot help finding this scary. Imagine you go on vacation and come back, you're job is gone!
Read more about it here.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Sunday pampering
Today Alice and I decided to have a pampering Sunday. We started the day with manicure and pedicure. Once we had our nails looking perfect we went straight to Bodhi to have a massage. Today we picked the aromatherapy massage, the one where they use perfumed oil. No doubt about the result: you will feel relaxed.
After the whole afternoon taking care of ourselves, we went for a quick dinner at Biteapita. Now we're fed, rested, relaxed and ready to start a new week.
After the whole afternoon taking care of ourselves, we went for a quick dinner at Biteapita. Now we're fed, rested, relaxed and ready to start a new week.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Lena
This week I finally called Lena to make an appointment. Lena is a tailor. She came today with her husband. I've grown quite frustrated of the shopping in Asia as clothes are always too small / short. So following the advice from many foreigners I decided to get tailor made clothes. Lena came with samples of fabric and catalogues of models. Basically you either give them some clothes you already have and ask them to copy. Just pick a fabric and there you go. So I ordered 6 pairs of my favourite trousers (half in wool/cashmere and half in wool/polyester, each of different fabric). On top you can also choose a model or give them a picture and they will make it. Thus 1 skirt on top.
I really liked the experience. They come to your place and you get to choose your new wardrobe in your living-room. Isn't that cool? And Lena has experience with German, French, American, Australian people. So she knows already what style you will prefer. When I told her I was French she removed some catalogues saying not stylish enough for me. And she was right!
On top, it's not that expensive in the end. Based on the fabric type a pair of trousers costs 40-50 euros, skirt was 40. I challenge you to find trousers perfectly fitting you in the shop with good quality fabric for that price.
Depending on what you order and how urgent it is it takes 1 to 2 weeks to get your clothes back. Next Saturday I'll do the fitting and I'll have my new trousers ready for Belgium!
I already asked for my visitors. Lena said if you're not too tired after your flight, we can meet on the 1st day you're in Beijing, do the fitting 3-4 days later and have your new suits / trousers / shirts / dresses ready 2 days later. Anyone interested?
I do need to do 1 thing now. Look at more catalogues / magazines and find a few dresses I want to get made! I've seen such beautiful silk fabric I cannot resist. Of course I will get as well a typical Chinese style one :)
I really liked the experience. They come to your place and you get to choose your new wardrobe in your living-room. Isn't that cool? And Lena has experience with German, French, American, Australian people. So she knows already what style you will prefer. When I told her I was French she removed some catalogues saying not stylish enough for me. And she was right!
On top, it's not that expensive in the end. Based on the fabric type a pair of trousers costs 40-50 euros, skirt was 40. I challenge you to find trousers perfectly fitting you in the shop with good quality fabric for that price.
Depending on what you order and how urgent it is it takes 1 to 2 weeks to get your clothes back. Next Saturday I'll do the fitting and I'll have my new trousers ready for Belgium!
I already asked for my visitors. Lena said if you're not too tired after your flight, we can meet on the 1st day you're in Beijing, do the fitting 3-4 days later and have your new suits / trousers / shirts / dresses ready 2 days later. Anyone interested?
I do need to do 1 thing now. Look at more catalogues / magazines and find a few dresses I want to get made! I've seen such beautiful silk fabric I cannot resist. Of course I will get as well a typical Chinese style one :)
Friday, February 6, 2009
Purple Haze
Yesterday we all went for dinner at 1001 nights. It's THE Middle Eastern restaurant in Beijing with Middle East food and belly dancing. Let's face eat it was for sure not the best food ever (can you believe they manage to screw up kafta?) and the belly dancing was far for being impressive. But as they say it's all about the company. So the food may not have been as good as expected, but we certainly had a great time, the 14 of us :)
Tonight, after a long day which was the last one of a long and busy week, I kind of invited myself to a dinner between 2 couples going to Purple Haze. It's a Thai restaurant, an excellent one even. That dinner was more than welcome. All of us needed that break, the amazing food and the mojitos.
Now that it has been 4 months that I am in China I can say that Thai is my favourite Asian food, followed by Indian. Chinese food only comes 3rd (my Chinese teacher will be sad to hear that).
PS: Visitors, Purple Haze will definitely be a stop :)
Tonight, after a long day which was the last one of a long and busy week, I kind of invited myself to a dinner between 2 couples going to Purple Haze. It's a Thai restaurant, an excellent one even. That dinner was more than welcome. All of us needed that break, the amazing food and the mojitos.
Now that it has been 4 months that I am in China I can say that Thai is my favourite Asian food, followed by Indian. Chinese food only comes 3rd (my Chinese teacher will be sad to hear that).
PS: Visitors, Purple Haze will definitely be a stop :)
Thursday, February 5, 2009
#234
That's the number of the girl from Bodhi I know try to always have for my Chinese massage. Not only she is good but she understand what's wrong with my back and really help. And each session is different so I'm always surprised.
In China they have in general a lot of people working in restaurants, spa, shops, beauty salon, anywhere. So many that you sometimes wonder how it can be profitable (cheap salary most likely). Employees have numbers. So when you find one that gives you good service and you want to ask to have that person again, they give you their number. Despite asking many times we never managed to get a name. They go by their number. I can't help finding this very impersonal. I would like people to remember me by my name and not my number. But that's China, so one has to go with numbers.
In China they have in general a lot of people working in restaurants, spa, shops, beauty salon, anywhere. So many that you sometimes wonder how it can be profitable (cheap salary most likely). Employees have numbers. So when you find one that gives you good service and you want to ask to have that person again, they give you their number. Despite asking many times we never managed to get a name. They go by their number. I can't help finding this very impersonal. I would like people to remember me by my name and not my number. But that's China, so one has to go with numbers.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Gilmore girls
Last week Alice and I made another trip to the DVD shop to get some movies. On top of a bunch of movies, we bought the integral of the Gilmore Girls. I started watching season 1 during the break and now get on to season 2. It is really nice to get back into the world of the Gilmore girls (especially on that big screen). Guys you can pass as it is a series for girls.PS: Joy, you we should be watching it together.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Last day in Bangkok
Today I started the day by swimming, just enough to give me good conscience as beside walking and swimming a bit I haven’t exercise during my stay. Being energized afterwards I checked out and started my last round of visits. I took the skyline to the closest station from Wat Benjamabophit. This temple is known as the marble temple and is the last major temple built in central Bangkok. What's really unique about this temple is the stained-glass windows.
I then walked to another temple, Wat Suthat, which is considered as one of Thailand's six principal temples. And guess what? Another big Buddha inside :) I think I have seen enough Buddhas for some time now.
The video
While I was resting in the courtyard of the temple some man approach me. Usually they are guides and try to sell their service. As for the other ones I said no even before he could speak. Then he said “no guide” and started to talk to me in Thai (of course) and make some gestures with his hand as I didn’t understand what he was saying. After a few explicit ones I understood he wanted to sleep with me! Chocked as I was (if only he would have been handsome) I said no and asked him to leave. He stayed there, next to me on the bench. Desperate I stood up and left. I ended up running in the temple and hide in there hopping he would not wait for me outside. Fortunately for me when I made my way out 10min later he was already trying another girl (poor one). I would have never believed they would do that in a temple area, after all it’s a sacred place, in principle, isn’t?
I walked back to the Siam square for dinner. Today I walked 8 km or so. Given the temperature (30C at least) I’m quite proud of myself. As I said that’s my favorite way to discover a city.
I am now sitting at the airport preparing my blog and all the pictures / videos that I will upload tomorrow. I feel a bit sad that my vacation is over and don’t really look forward to spending the night in the plane before a full week of work. That’s going to be a hell of a Monday morning, I feel it (my flight is at 1:20 am, arriving at 6:50am in Beijing). But all in all I’m glad I seized this opportunity to come to Bangkok. There are still a lot of things and places to visit in Bangkok and Thailand and for sure I will come back, for a longer stay this time. And as I said, nothing better than a few days of summer in the middle of winter. I feel re-energized and ready to conquer the world! It’s amazing the power of the sun on your moral.
I then walked to another temple, Wat Suthat, which is considered as one of Thailand's six principal temples. And guess what? Another big Buddha inside :) I think I have seen enough Buddhas for some time now.
The video
While I was resting in the courtyard of the temple some man approach me. Usually they are guides and try to sell their service. As for the other ones I said no even before he could speak. Then he said “no guide” and started to talk to me in Thai (of course) and make some gestures with his hand as I didn’t understand what he was saying. After a few explicit ones I understood he wanted to sleep with me! Chocked as I was (if only he would have been handsome) I said no and asked him to leave. He stayed there, next to me on the bench. Desperate I stood up and left. I ended up running in the temple and hide in there hopping he would not wait for me outside. Fortunately for me when I made my way out 10min later he was already trying another girl (poor one). I would have never believed they would do that in a temple area, after all it’s a sacred place, in principle, isn’t?
I walked back to the Siam square for dinner. Today I walked 8 km or so. Given the temperature (30C at least) I’m quite proud of myself. As I said that’s my favorite way to discover a city.
I am now sitting at the airport preparing my blog and all the pictures / videos that I will upload tomorrow. I feel a bit sad that my vacation is over and don’t really look forward to spending the night in the plane before a full week of work. That’s going to be a hell of a Monday morning, I feel it (my flight is at 1:20 am, arriving at 6:50am in Beijing). But all in all I’m glad I seized this opportunity to come to Bangkok. There are still a lot of things and places to visit in Bangkok and Thailand and for sure I will come back, for a longer stay this time. And as I said, nothing better than a few days of summer in the middle of winter. I feel re-energized and ready to conquer the world! It’s amazing the power of the sun on your moral.
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