a farn day out at a farm

We affluent metropolitan dwellers are always on the prowl for fun things to do in the maze of a mega city. Amongst the expat community in Beijing, the latest "activity" fashion is to go out to the suburbal farms/orchards and pick fruits and vegetables.

*grin* So Olof and I happily drove 1 hour out to Beyond Organic Orchard in Shunyi to pick apricots! Embarassingly, I did not know what fresh apricots looked like before this. Hhhmm, do you?

Rumours have it that this orchard used to be a play ground for the Chinese riches but has since been abandoned. It is not officially certified as organic but no chemical fertilisers have been used on the soil before, hence it can be "counted" as organic. Of course, there is more than just using chemical fertilisers in organic certification. Anyhow, we were two happy "fake" farmers ready to harvest fruits of the hardwork of the real farmers.

We arrived, in fact, a little late and missed the rest of the group, who diligently woke up super early in the morning to pick the freshest of the cohort. Under the early afternoon sun, we took with us two pails and walked briskly on the soft soils to the endless rows of apricot trees. But we were a little disappointed when we began hunting for ripe fruits to pick. It seemed that the morning "fake" farmers have picked most of the ripe fruits, leaving us with infantal ones to ravage. A little disheartened, we wandered deeper into the orchard, hoping to spot some orange fruits hanging from the trees while we fended off bugs of all sizes and kinds and grass of all cuts and heights.

"Darling!" I shouted. "Look at this tree!"

There it was - branches full of round and orange apricots beckoning us. The two buckets were filled to the brim in no time - almost 5 kg in total.

We were two happy farmers now.

I have had many embarassing moments in my 30 years of life thus far, and last night's saga has just added itself into the honorary category of the list..

It was a beautiful evening, fulfilled with good Italian food and wines. I have just had a 2-hour cooking class with the chief chef of a Italian restaurant at a 5-star hotel in the lovely company of 4 classmates.Everything was perfect until I heard a clanging sound coming from my mouth.My tongue rushed to feel the two newly fitted crowns on my two front teeth.To my (expected) horror, the left one had come off! I bore in mind every single piece of not-to-do advice my dentist so laboriously gave me and I was certain I adhered to everything she said. Guess what I was eating when the crown came off? It was the dessert! A lump of harmless, soft and jiggly pudding!

My best friend in Shanghai said I was lucky that the crown did not come flying out of my mouth and hit the glamorous lady sitting opposite me. But my departure was less than glamorous.
I jumped up from my chair like I just got a bee sting on my butt and dash to the bathroom at rocket speed. My dinner mates must have been quite shocked, but I couldn't care less. I just had to check. With a front tooth missing, I looked totally horrible! Well, I guess nobody can possibly look enchanting with a gap in your gap, unless I am an endearing granny or in my best friend's terms - Bo Gei Auntie (toothless middle age woman in Singlish). How apt! Without my two crowns, I certainly fit the call of Bo Gei Auntie!

Reckoned that I could not simply disappear by the bathroom's back door (there wasn't any anyway), I walked back towards the cheery dinner group, my brain spinning like the Russian Roulette comtemplating an exit plan. A less than embarassing exit plan. My evil angel laughed, "Stupid woman! What kinda glamorous excuse can you come up with?!" The less than one minute walk back to the dinner table was torturous. Truth. Just tell the truth, I decided. And tell it fast.

So I announced to everyone that I had a dental emergency, that the food was great, that the chef was lovely, that I had wonderful evening, that I did not blame them my crown came off. Perfect! Then I dashed off to the taxi stand in space-shuttle speed. The driver, seemingly knew that I was in the most hurry, never wasted a second on the road. Whizzing past vehicles and taking advantage of every possible gap, I thought he was Men In Black. I arrived at the clinic in less than 30 minutes.

My "life-saving" dentist (she was last night, but after she executed "CPR" on me, I felt like strangling her) said the composite filling, together with the supporting dental post and some parts of my original tooth had broken off. Without a second word, she got down to work to set the crown back again. The procedure took one tormenting hour. The whole time in the dental chair I thought to myself, "If this can happen once, it can very well happen again!" When I could finally speak again, I asked her why it can break so easily. The explanation sounded simple: I have now very little of my left tooth left and so composite filling need to be used to artificially lengthen it in order for the crown to fit. So of course, the glue line can break easily.

EASILY was the word that kept ringing in my ears. She continued to add fears to my already weak heart that if it breaks again, then I will have to set a crown on the tooth's neighbour as well, so that the small brother can shoulder some of the weight of the big one. I wanted to pass out.

I walked out of her clinic feeling as down as the rat in the drain. Perhaps the rat is happier because at least it has strong front teeth to nibble its favorite cheese. I don't, not anymore. To a certain extent, I regretted consenting to this dental procedure. Not that I was forced into it or got it done for free (I paid some freaking few thousands RMB!!), I was lured by its cosmetic effect and seemingly minor interuptions to my normal life. I have had composite filling on my root canals for more than 10 years and I was able to crunch apples and break peanuts without effort. But not now anymore. Dentist said I should from now on AVOID using my two front teeth, sorry crowns to be exact, for ANY ingestion of food. No more biting a burger off its whole. No more nipping the edges of an ice cream cone. Perhaps even no more french kisses!

The lesson learnt? Be aware of the dangers lurking at home. My beautiful front teeth were destroyed because of a slip outside the bathroom. This led to a root canal dental procedure that went wrong. And now a crowning procedure that did not make things better.

Picnic Renaissance

We are very into picnicking recently to the extent.... I researched a little about the origins of picnic!! According to wikipedia, the word picnic originated from the french word pique-nique, where its first usage is traced back to 1692. It was used to describe a group of people dining in a restaurant who brought their own wine. In the early 19th century, there existed even a Picnic Society! The Londoners started it. Now, I am itching to revive it! *wink*

The good summer days in Beijing are indisputably charming and enjoyable. Although this mega city pales pathetically in comparison to European cities, especially the Scandinavian ones, in terms of nature and air quality, on days when the weather and air quality are both good, there is every reason for us to rejoice. Finding a green santuary in Beijing that is away from traffic and PEOPLE takes some effort. But thank goodness there are a number of mega parks (yes, nothing in Beijing is never mini) where sun-suckers like us can busk ourselves under the UV rays for a negligible RMB5 admission fee. However, one always run into the risk of fighting for a small green space in the mass of parks with 16 million people. But when luck is with you, when everyone else is distracted by something that is going on at the other end of town, you find no other souls than yourself spreading out over a football-field-sized grass patch. Nifty!

BUT! Before heading out straight to the park, you've gotta equip yourself with the essentials of making your picnic a success. Sun-block and sunglasses are a must. Then gastronomy. We had tried coffee, and recently beer!

The latter was thirst quenching and cooling under the big hot sun. But coffee and tea are equally charming and desirable. Fruits and sandwiches make also good companions to a lovely picnic. I realised recently that strawberries can taste good with coffee! Now entertainment. Kites and frisbies are common sights at the parks. Jinxed enough, we bought a kite (in Sweden!) that was probably a NASA engineering feat. We couldn't fly it, SIMPLY couldn't. We sought help from a picnic compatriot who seemed to be a kite expert. He managed to get the kite into the skies, but never more than a minute. Us? Not more than 10 seconds. BUT! We have at least proved this kite can fly! How pathetic we are! Ha!

Oh! And we realised that Beijingers go to parks not only to enjoy the sun and "fresher" air, some kinki young couples went with an intimate agenda. They brought all they need to ensure they have privacy even in the most public of places. Tents!

Over a large green field, we occupied a shady patch under the tree, laid ourselves over the soft beach towel and gaze into the clear blue skies. Then came along a young Chinese couple, who are, in my accordance, not dressed appropriately for such a big hot day, who pitched a tent behind us under ANOTHER shady tree. It all started out like any other picnic - sipping a soft drink, flying a kite. After less than half an hour, we realised they had retreated into their little blue tent. Oh man, the rest is up to your imagination. At first, the door flap was up but the next time we turn around, the flap was already down and I swear to whatever-the-what that the tent was shaking! This would have been unimaginable just 10 years ago, I believe. And the next time we turn around again, they have already packed up and left.

This incident probably wouldn't have left an impression and warrant a mention in this post had it not given my husband some great ideas for our next picnic outing. I have just got you hooked onto our next picnic outing blogpost, haven't I? *grin*

memory...

Every now and then, a super star is born and sweeps the whole world off its feet. Nowadays, opportunities to be discovered as the "next big thing" are getting abundant by the wicked innovation of talent discovery shows like Britain's Got Talent. And now in the show, the next big thing is already prematurely born, EVEN before the contest went into semifinals! Susan Boyle!

Olof was QUITE inspired by her, and believe he can be the next big thing too. *Don't you dare laugh!* Sometimes, I am equally upset and inspired by my husband's optimism. To begin with, I am quite a pessimistic person. At first thought, I would think he is a daydreamer, but on second thought, I admire his guts to dream. Everything starts from a dream, isn't it? Of course, not all dreams come true, but if you dream enough, try enough, somehow one or some of them will come true eh?

I am blessed to have a man with the guts to dream to share his live with me. Without a doubt, he will make my life more exciting and fulfilling.

On our 2nd wedding anniversary day, I thank India for bringing us together, SKYPE and MSN for being our romance germinating beds, and finally OLOF for putting the ring on my finger.

Chinese business culture

Hey, hey!

During the last couple of months we have traveled to a few places around China. In December we went together with Sam's family to Harbin where they organize an annual ice festival. In April my dear parents and brother joined us to Xi'an to see the Terracotta warriors. And then we have done some more sightseeing around Beijing (incl. the Great Wall a couple of times) and to Shanghai with my friend Magnus. All this has been for leisure.

Earlier this week I went for my first business trip outside the big modern cities. We went to a rural area called Luzhou in Sichuan province. As usual, everything was much bigger than one would first imagine. This "small town" had a city centre with almost half a million people, far bigger than many of the "big" Swedish cities. All in all, including the surrounding villages, 5 million people lived in this area. We visited some of the more rural areas.

What was new to me, at least to this extent, was the Chinese business culture and relationship building. We met with local government authorities, including the mayor. They all showed big hospitality. Hospitality here meant that they took us around and treated us for meals. An important part of these meals, whether it was lunch or dinner, was the never-ending toasting with the locally produced Luzhou lao jiao - a spirits brand famous nationwide.

For one of the dinners, they took us to a supposedly very good Sichuan (= super spicy) fish restaurant along the river. They ordered fish dishes of all kinds. The fish was from the river. I usually have no problem in trying new kinds of food. However, I knew that the river was extremely polluted. I did not eat too much more than vegetables, and I only took a sip of the drink when they emptied the glass. Every other minute they had a reason to toast. In addition, the conversation was all in Chinese. Not an easy situation...

Luckily my colleague managed it all very well. And I had a chance to speak a bit of Chinese. All in all a good experience, even though I would not like to go back too soon again, hehee. Hopefully we set the foundation for a successful project.

Bye, bye!

The latest news from Pyxxxyxxg...

is not about a new balisxx missxles test nor about re-activation of its nuclear reactor... nor about it rejoining the six-party negotiation table (fat hope!)...

What is it about then?

It is about the FIRST ITALIAN RESTAURANT OPENS IN PYOXGYXXG!

Take a look at the delectable pizzas and pastas serving up onto its dining tables:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/28/content_11274872_4.htm

Taste? Hopefully one of its customers will blog about it or give the restaurant a food critic review on North Korea's http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/ equivalent soon.

Nothing ever comes easy...

I think about my granny every now and then. When I walk home from work... when I lay awake in bed... when I see elderly people. I dream of her in what I think quite often too.

I miss her and I owe her alot. I can never forget the day when she carried a feverish me on her bent back, climbed the seemingly insurmountable stairs of the overhead brigde, and eventually got me to the doctor. I wonder how she is doing at the otherly world.

I had never done enough for her and I do not have the chance to do so anymore either. But if i were to be given another chance again, I quite believe that I will make the same mistake still.

I assess myself as someone who doesn't really know how to value kinship. I live by my very rigid set of principles that are paramount to all relationships, it seems.

Thou needs to be fair, I always say. And yet, there is no fairness when it comes to relationships. How can one be objective when it comes to his/her own kind? Worse, what if one is torn between two of his/her own kinds?

The web of relationships is always changing, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Sometimes the threads get stronger, sometimes they just snap off. Just let them be and let nature take its course.

If granny is still around, what will she say to me?