Weekend sights and scenes....
Saturday - After finally waking up and deciding we might want to leave the house, we headed to Jing'An Temple in central Shanghai. It is the second largest temple in Shanghai (Longhua is number 1; we visited it over May holiday). Unfortunately, it was much the same setting as most Buddhist temples. People worshipping false gods and praying for help that will never come. We did see the monks on parade through the temple areas. They play instruments and chant as they visit different parts of the temple. We aren't sure if it was something that happens every week or if there was a special occasion. The temples are quite depressing, however, they are good exposure for the kids to see different world views and the difference between the real Truth and the lies people believe in.
Sunday - Happy Father's Day! I was greeted this morning by my family telling me I wasn't supposed to be up yet (8:45, stupid me). Next, I made the mistake of asking if coffee was ready? (Silly me!) So, I was told to either go back to bed or sit still and ignore what was going on around me. I stayed awake, the kids disappeared out the door, and 20 minutes later it was time for my Father's Day to begin. My present was assorted coffees and a mug from Starbuck's. After I chose which kind I wanted brewed, I was then served my breakfast in bed (the kids had gone out to a store to buy me quiche) sitting in the Command Module (Green recliner) watching baseball. We then spent the rest of the day lounging until it was time for church. The sermon today was on Faith and works. It bounced around a lot, but was theologically sound. After church we went to City Diner for dinner. It is an American-style 24-hour restaurant. This led to a true China occasion. We sit down, figure out what we want to order, and then notice it is cash only. After pooling our resources, we realized there was no way we had enough cash. Natalie mentions there is a bank next door. So I walk across the street to the ATM. Next China occurrence. 4 ATM's, none work. I go back to the restaurant and Natalie asks if they take Bank of China debit cards. The waitress says they do, so I have wasted fifteen minutes of furious, fruitless motion. Dinner is over, and now it's time to pay. Next China moment. The BOC card will not work. We are assured there is no problem as all the workers huddle behind the bar talking and pointing at us. One of them runs by our table muttering, "No problem", and comes back 5 minutes later. He had gone to a different restaurant downstairs, taken their credit card machine, and brought it to ours to use. Everything works and we are on our way home. Last China moment of the day occurs. We pull up to a stop light and there is a cab stopped with a moped in front of it. The moped driver has the cab door open and is yelling at the cab driver. Next he pulls the cab driver out and starts pushing him. The continued pushing and shoving lasts throughout the light and we pull away as they are still fighting. Anyway, just another day in China.... Bao zhong, Mark
Saturday - After finally waking up and deciding we might want to leave the house, we headed to Jing'An Temple in central Shanghai. It is the second largest temple in Shanghai (Longhua is number 1; we visited it over May holiday). Unfortunately, it was much the same setting as most Buddhist temples. People worshipping false gods and praying for help that will never come. We did see the monks on parade through the temple areas. They play instruments and chant as they visit different parts of the temple. We aren't sure if it was something that happens every week or if there was a special occasion. The temples are quite depressing, however, they are good exposure for the kids to see different world views and the difference between the real Truth and the lies people believe in.
Sunday - Happy Father's Day! I was greeted this morning by my family telling me I wasn't supposed to be up yet (8:45, stupid me). Next, I made the mistake of asking if coffee was ready? (Silly me!) So, I was told to either go back to bed or sit still and ignore what was going on around me. I stayed awake, the kids disappeared out the door, and 20 minutes later it was time for my Father's Day to begin. My present was assorted coffees and a mug from Starbuck's. After I chose which kind I wanted brewed, I was then served my breakfast in bed (the kids had gone out to a store to buy me quiche) sitting in the Command Module (Green recliner) watching baseball. We then spent the rest of the day lounging until it was time for church. The sermon today was on Faith and works. It bounced around a lot, but was theologically sound. After church we went to City Diner for dinner. It is an American-style 24-hour restaurant. This led to a true China occasion. We sit down, figure out what we want to order, and then notice it is cash only. After pooling our resources, we realized there was no way we had enough cash. Natalie mentions there is a bank next door. So I walk across the street to the ATM. Next China occurrence. 4 ATM's, none work. I go back to the restaurant and Natalie asks if they take Bank of China debit cards. The waitress says they do, so I have wasted fifteen minutes of furious, fruitless motion. Dinner is over, and now it's time to pay. Next China moment. The BOC card will not work. We are assured there is no problem as all the workers huddle behind the bar talking and pointing at us. One of them runs by our table muttering, "No problem", and comes back 5 minutes later. He had gone to a different restaurant downstairs, taken their credit card machine, and brought it to ours to use. Everything works and we are on our way home. Last China moment of the day occurs. We pull up to a stop light and there is a cab stopped with a moped in front of it. The moped driver has the cab door open and is yelling at the cab driver. Next he pulls the cab driver out and starts pushing him. The continued pushing and shoving lasts throughout the light and we pull away as they are still fighting. Anyway, just another day in China.... Bao zhong, Mark
7 comments:
Anyway, Mark, it sounds like you were king for a day! Wow! What treatment! The evening meal sounded a bit hectic. Bill would have tried to catch the first flight back to the states about half way through that scene! I probably wouldn't have done so well myself.
Have a great day in the Lord.
Aunt Carol
Mark,
Yep, Buddhist temples - freaky places - hot and stinky from the burning incense. Life is way more complicated there, isn't it? Something that is a simple "cha ching" in the States requires great mental energy on everyone's part. It is all very interesting. Thanks once again for sharing your experiences with us. We look forward to more soon.
Love the pics too.
Have a great day, um, night!
Beth
Oh Poop! Well, not literally, not in the street either! I wanted to blog at 7:30am so that when all you were getting up to go to work, I could rub it in that I'm still in bed...of course it's 8am your time so theoretically speaking I still am sleeping in this morning in China! Let me know when it's 10;12am - that's when Slim Pig is on the Canadian channel, kinda like Flat Stanley only PIG-ish! Well, have a wonderful day at work and doing the things you do there!
Love Love
Your Lonely Friend who has no one to share "the scoop" (not poop!) with!!
Karen
Hey, I think I found out why people walk backwards. Some friends of ours had their son in China a couple years ago to try an experimental treatment for his ALS. Anyway they were telling me about the surprising things they saw (mostly a lot of hocking lugies by ladies in Armani) and so I asked them if they saw people walking backwards to work. Actually they hadn't seen anyone, but they still knew why people do it. Apparently it's better excercise that way. Something about the way you hold your neck and back when you walk backwards.
Happy Birthday Mark! Eventually I'm going to get this time difference down and actually wish you greetings on the actual day, BEFORE bedtime. Anyway, I hope you had a wonderful day. See you soon!
Love, Angie
Happy Birthday Mark.
Hope you enjoyed your day trip with family to your workplace.
Love,
Dad & Mom
Happy Birthday to you!!!! Happy Birthday to YOUUUUUUUU!!!! Happpy Birthday Uncle Mark!!! Happy Birthday to you. Poor Michael - he had to sit here and listen to me sing as I typed this to you (and talk while typing), but at least he is still laughing. Ha ha!
Hope you have(had)a wonderful day.
Beth for all the Kents
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