One week in… a walk in the park.

It's been one week already. Not much has happened, other than reconnecting with friends and slowly getting back into the swing of things. The jet lag was virtually non-existent compared to my first trip to China, when it was weeks before I felt my mind, body and soul were reconnected. It's a much different feeling this time - for one thing, it's familiar rather than new and exciting and mind-blowing, but it's also much different because I'm not on holiday this time either. 

I find one of the best ways to get reacquainted with a new place is to walk aimlessly around, soaking up the atmosphere of the street life, learning to blend into the pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle traffic, exploring as much as possible, and also visiting familiar places, to make myself feel at home again. One place I visited was a local park down the road, where my friends Xian and Ba Jin took me last time I was here. It was a busy afternoon at the park. People were disco dancing to music playing on a ghetto-blaster, kids were walking home from school, and there was just a real feeling of community in the park. It was a comfort to be around. I took a few photos of the park, and as you can see, this is fall in southern China, as the lily pads are browning, but there were still some beautiful flowers that were hanging on.

Somebody's Chinese scroll, written with water. 

This is the corner that Brad and Xian live on, where I'm currently staying.

"Seaworld" is the name of an area about a 15 minute walk down the street. It's an area built up on reclaimed land, and this ship was brought as a hotel and landmark. Every night at 7 o'clock there is a fountain show to music. People gather with cameras in hand, and cries of ooohs and aaahs abound! I was there last night to enjoy the show and it was a colourful extravaganza!

Back on China soil

Welcome back to my blog, formally known as 'George Goes To China!' After six months away in Canada, I have returned to China. I left Canada on Halloween night, and boarded a red-eye flight to Hong Kong via Taipei. It was the quickest flight I've had in a long while, which was a small miracle considering it was a 13 hour flight. Being upgraded to an emergency exit window seat may have had something to do with it. Nothing like a little leg room on a transcontinental flight! 

I arrived in Hong Kong on the morning of November 2nd, (losing November 1st to the time change of course,) and met up with my friend Brad. We hopped on a Turbo Jet ferry to Macao, checked in to a nice hotel called the Sintra, and wandered the streets. Macao was impressive, very clean and to our surprise the drivers actually stopped for pedestrians at the crosswalks. Something you never see in China. The Portugese influence was very cool indeed. I managed to take a few photos before my phone ran out of juice. 

Taipei airport, waiting for my plane to leave for Hong Kong.

Macao

Portugese-style plaza in Macao

Idyllic street of Macao

Macao

Apartment building, so colourful and full of life, Macao

The next morning we hopped on a ferry boat back to Hong Kong where we spent the day with a few of Brad's restaurant colleagues, visiting a new Mexican restaurant of theirs that is opening soon, and having drinks on a patio by the sea, watching the ships and tankers going by. We had a delicious Thai meal before our ride arrived to drive us home to China. Yesterday was my first day back in Shekou, Shenzhen. I spent some time walking along the waterfront and reacquainting myself with the neighbourhood. 

Taking a stroll along the waterfront, Shekou, Shenzhen.

View outside my bedroom window. Happy to see some blue sky!