More spotlights from Instagram

Whenever we  go out to explore in China or sometimes when we are just in our apartment we experience surprises and learn more about the Chinese culture. The following pictures are just a random collection of images we have captured while living in China.

Sometimes it is best not to think about the air quality either inside or outside our apartment.  This picture is of a glass table top in our apartment just 24 hours after it was cleaned. The window might or might not have been open. Either way the chunks that landed are large! Most of the time we opt to leave our windows closed and turn on the air conditioning.

Pineapples are extremely popular in China and are sold on the street corners everywhere.  Great artistic care is taken in cutting up a pineapple and the results are most impressive! Often we are concerned about the cleanliness of the hands or utensils doing the cutting.

On this night, for 20Yuan you can see Jupiter - we think. The telescopes are portable and are mounted on the back of usually very old three wheeled cargo "bikes". The laser is pointed toward whatever we are supposed to see and the resulting image in the eyepiece is remarkably clear.  The silver sign says the telescope was made in the USA........but the "Chinglish" would suggest not. Last week for 10 yuan we saw the rings on Saturn. Very cool. This is surrounding the Drum Tower in the Muslim Quarter. There were at least a half dozen of these set up.

The things we have to do to get a taxi to take us home.  After dinner one night we came across a group of taxi drivers hitting a top with a kind of whip on a stick. Laughingly they made it quite clear that if Paul tried it they would take us home. He was actually quite good. Parks always have older men doing this - occupying much more than their fair share of Chinese personal space.

Sometimes the concept of waiting in line is lost in this country. Especially if a foreigner is being helped. One day at the airport, while the agent was helping Paul, this man totally edged in front of Paul, as did a second man. These men argued with the agent that she should help them first. She made them wait. Our Delta Frequent Flyer status has really been helpful over here.  

Cell phones are a MAJOR source of entertainment - especially while waiting for a flight. I was even guilty.

Cooking is an adventure in our apartment. We have 2 gas burners and a toaster oven. Actually, with a little practice (and a few disasters) we have been able to enjoy some of the true comforts of home!  Pumpkin pie and fudge! Below is some homemade french bread with chinese strawberry jam. Who knew?

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Mr. Fu (or Peter as he is also known) lives by us and is so fun. Never a smile but he quietly tolerates everyone in his regal way. He can be very startling in a dark stairwell. Saw a picture in the paper of a zoo displaying one of these as a lion and in another zoo, dying one white and displaying it as a panda. Truly "OIC" (only in china) moments!

Peddlers sell "beach pearls" and we enjoy buying trinkets and necklaces from them. We hear from many foreigners that they "successfully" negotiate 10-30% off. Paul typically buys for 10-30% off their starting price. They sell to him so they must still make a profit, just not the bonanza they hope for from foreigners. This is the South China Sea, the sea of great international controversy. Beautiful