Crazy for Mosaics

Recently I took a class in the art of mosaics and I have to say, I am hooked! From searching local vendors for the perfect tiles to creating patterns and then cracking and gluing them, it has been great to have a new hobby!

Here are some of the bowls I have almost completed (I learn how to grout them this week!):

First attempt at cracking and gluing

Fun Bluesy Bowl

Lotus Flower

Hippie Flowers

Phil has asked me, "What are you going to do with all of these bowls?". He has no sense of humor . . . 

Sunday Hot Pot

This past Sunday we met several friends and enjoyed our first Hot Pot!

A hot pot is set over a flame in the middle of the table and ours actually had a hot side with chilies and a mild side with mushroom broth. We ordered lamb, beef, fish, all kinds of mushrooms, veggies and noodles.

Once the pot started boiling we cooked our lunch and dipped it in our own hand made sauces and it was so good!

Hot Pot with spicy chili broth/ mushroom broth

This fish was actually swimming until we ordered him and they prepared him for our lunch!

Fish Head and Tail at the top

When I asked what kind of fish it was, I was told "Fresh!", no name, just "Fresh!"

We really enjoyed cooking and eating our own lunch! We will have to see if we can get a fondue pot hot enough to try this at home - with all vegetables, of course (I don't think Andy would have been very happy at this one!)

Styrofoam Man

Just a quickie as we have been trying to get photos of one of these guys and Phil was successful on the way home from work!

We call him Styrofoam man! The government has outlawed travelling this way as these guys cause many traffic accidents because they are impossible to see in front of! I love him because he is collecting all of the recyclable styrofoam and heading to turn it in for money!

Styrofoam man!

This guy is cheating a bit - he has a 3 wheeler - usually we see this much travelling down the street on a regular bicycle! Ha! Ha! Kudos Phil!

Chinese New Year in YuYuan Gardens

This was a week of celebrating bringing in the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Snake. There were  non-stop fireworks and all businesses, stores and restaurants were closed so the world's largest migration of people could take place. Most of the Chinese people left Shanghai to go visit their families and celebrate the new year which made it quiet for those of us left behind. Well, except for the fireworks.

We enjoyed geting around the city with no traffic and got a better feel for just how big Shanghai is. Phil taught me how to use the Metro/subway and we crossed the river using the ferries and we even jumped on his electric Vespa and buzzed around.

YuYuan Garden is a 5 acre section of the Old City in Shanghai and had a lantern lighting each night so we headed down to see it. Apparently so did all of the other locals that chose not to migrate. It was mobbed!

Here are some shots of the lanterns before and after they were lit . . .

This was the PepsiCo wall of lanterns . . .

2013 -Year of the Snake

Today, most people are returning to their homes and jobs and the stores and eateries are in full swing. The quiet was fun while it lasted!

Xin nian kuai le! - Happy Chinese New Year

Langkawi, Malaysia

From the frigid temps of Harbin last week to the tropical heat wave in Malaysia we bring you the island of Langkawi! Our first day we settled in at the beach bar and quenched our thirst before exploring this very lush and tropical paradise.

Tiger beer at the beach bar - it was 95 by noon

The sun was blistering hot but we had the calm Andaman Sea at our feet and a beautiful pool behind us. Phil lasted one day sitting on the beach then decided to sign us up for every event possible!

Berjaya pool

Our cottage actually sat on pilings in the Andaman Sea just outside of the canopy of a lush forest full of  critters entertaining us the entire week.

Sproger cottage was 2nd from the end

We were intrigued by the squid fisherman who sat in the water just off of the resort in their boats from dusk to dawn. In the early evening, this boat would arrive and anchor for a beautiful sunset.

Squid Fisherman off of our deck

After the sun went down, the fisherman would turn on these obnoxious lights to lure the squid to the surface so he could net them. Needless to say, we had to keep our drapes closed to shut the light out because he was there til dawn every day.

Green eyed fisherman

The wildlife was incredible . . .

Collared Kingfisher on our deck

Pacific Reef Egret

Stripe tailed gecko

Bats huddled under a palm leaf

Monkeys, monkeys everywhere . . . 

Our favorite monkeys at Happy Hour

Monkeying Around

We took a cable car to the top of the island to explore on the Langkawi Skybridge. Unfortunately when we got there, it had been closed for repairs for a year. I was relieved as I could not even get close to the railings to look over the side!

That is actually Thailand in the background!

Skybridge closed for maintenance

  
 After an amazing and relaxing week, we readied ourselves to head back to Shanghai to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. This was in the lobby as we left the Berjaya and headed to snow and ice and freezing temperatures in Shanghai.

Happy Chinese New Year!

xoxo, Phil and Kathy

Harbin Ice Festival

At minus 15 degrees, we landed in Harbin located in north eastern China just below Russia to see the Ice Festival that lasts about 5 weeks! Upon arrival, we donned our winter gear and every layer of clothing we could muster and headed out into the bitter cold.

The snow sculptures, that last about 3 months, were breath-taking! Blocks of snow are stacked and then sculptors work their magic. It took more than a hundred sculptors 10 days working 10 hour days in 20 below temperatures to create this stunning snow sculpture - the largest in the world.

Dusting off new snow from "Snow Fairy Dance"

After 2 hours at the Snow Park we headed back to the hotel to get warm and then once the sun set headed out to the Ice Festival Park. Huge blocks of ice are cut out of the nearby river and hollowed out to string lights through the center. They are then stacked and carved!

Ice Festival stage where we danced Gangnam style!

The thermometer behind Phil says it is -20 degrees

Stairway to the Ice Slides

Of course Phil had to do the Ice Slide

Food stalls selling frozen candy coated fruits!

The next day we headed downtown by the river where the kids were skating, sliding and playing games on the ice. Brrr . . .

I truly don't know how anyone can live in these temperatures. The native Chinese look very eskimo-like and were not affected by the sub zero temperatures. 

Enough of the winter temps for me. We head to Langkawi, Malaysia this week where it is 90 degrees and very tropical!

xoxo, Kathy & Phil

Toasting our adventures in China 

at the Ice Bar in Shanghai

Just before I left to come "home for the holidays", Phil decided to show me the Ice Bar on the river in Shanghai! In my borrowed parka, we braved the 20 degree temps and toasted our new adventure!

A toast! Brrr . . . 

We head back to Shanghai next week after Andy goes back to PSU and Trixie to Ging Ging and Pop Pop's house. We loved our time at home and look forward to the next chapter.

We wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year and are very thankful to be surrounded by loving family and friends! Hope your wishes come true!