It's been pretty cool recently.
Watched two 3D movies in a week!
Tron was first, and I'm so glad I watched it! The 3D effects were great, the storyline wasn't too bad, and all the pretty lights made it very trippy.
There were a few things about the movie that were a bit sad, like how Sam was so flip about everything, how Tron wasn't really a part of the movie,rather a side-kick, who does a little changing of ways right before he dies. Blah blah blah.
After we watched Tron, Phil and I went to Saizers to eat lunch (yup! Saizeria has made it's way to China!)

Chronicles of Narnia was seen with the boys and Michelle.
It was a school outing (where Michelle works), and so we were able to tag along.
The boys enjoyed it immensely.
We did our school in a flash, got ready to go and had lunch before you could blink, and waited outside for the taxi. It got a little crazy, with all the tension of waiting for the movie.

The children at the school were so exited as well, and omg the ride to the theater (we took a limo bus because you can't move 30+ kids any other way.) was so loud! It was nice to get off.

Sorry I don't have enough time to write the whole experience, except that it was yummy! We got free popcorn and coke, and it was pretty funny. Course there's the whole sadness of the deviation from the book but oh well, I have given up on watching a movie that's relatively close to the book. Here's the pics

For my free-day this week, we went to Yuexiu park.
It's where the famous goat statue of Guangzhou (goats are Guangzhou's symbol) is, and I thought it was nearly a crime to not have gone there once during my 5 months here in Guangzhou.
Phil said he never went to the park either (!) so it was set, and we headed out to town.
First we did some banking business (for my panda hat), and then recharged my phone( money goes out quick when you're texting), and we were off to the metro. We got a 'metro meal' a small,cheap and oh so tasty little lunchbox full of lotus root (renkon)tofu, mushrooms, carrots, and what we call fungus. YUMM!! It was like having Osekiryori.
Yuexiu was a few metro line transfers away, and then had a bit of a mix up with the exits, but we finally found the park gate.

The park was actually really big! We only managed to cover one half of the park in one day, and not only is it a big park, but it's also got some terrain!

I need to give the kids school in a few minutes so I'll let the pictures do the talking.

I think I'm actually getting Phil to be more photograph friendly! Miracles do happen!

We did some yoga by this monument, and shortly into a few asanas, two older women came along and started doing some tai-chi! I guess a few other people thought it was a nice place to do some slow exercises.
I cannot believe how out of shape I have gotten concerning yoga. All of my flexibility has been lost again. It's always like that. I get super into yoga, then get burnt out, lose all the flexibility that I've gained, then I get back into it again, and the cycle happens once more. :P
I think I'll put yoga aside for a while, and get into this hooping business. There's some pretty cool hooping going on out there!
ah I gotta go. the kids school time has begun.

Not only was it a food day, it was also finding out about visa EXTENSIONS!! pretty cool shunks.
Today we tried out a Panini cafe.

We walked into the EMPTY cafe, and were like um ok....either it's empty because the people just like to have take-out from here or they're really not that good.
I have to say the settings weren't too fancy, but it was cute. Italian flag theme and yellow lighting, with one pink carnation in a vase on each table.

But it was cheap, only 20 kuai for a panini and a drink, so we figured 'hey, try out the place, and if it's good, great. If not, then it's not too heavy a loss' :P

A look at the menu and I chose a ham and cheese while Phil tried a beef and cheese.
It took a while to arrive, but when it did, we were pleasantly surprised.
The bread was nicely grilled top and bottom, there was abundance of lettuce, the bread was fresh, and the ham and cheese was tasty.
And I cannot believe I didn't take a picture of the food.
Serious face-palm moment.
Moving on, we amused ourselves with looking at their menu and seeing how many typos we could find.

I have to say, orangeade is pretty cool.
Ice Lemo Tean is cooler.
After that, we headed to my place to pick up my backpack, passport and other papers necessary for visa extension, and headed to Kecun.
We got there (Jiefang Nan Lu) early enough, but the lines were long (or so we thought) and we figured we could kill two birds with one stone and get some home shopping done while waiting our turn.
Off we went to Yide lu. Picked up 10 cans of tuna for the home, and I got a bag of almonds (YAY!) and Phil bought me a box of Jasmine tea. So sweet! I am now seriously addicted to tea.
On the way back to Jiefang, we spotted a KFC and decided to have a yumyum. They're having a special promotion for their soft cream ice-creams, and twisted cruller and egg tarts. We got egg tarts and twisted crullers.
When we got back, we missed our number call by 3 people....3 PEOPLE!! Arg. Our new number put us behind 30 strong. Sigh.
At least we had our KFC snack to keep us pacified.
We got the necessary information for when my visa expires, which is such happiness. That means that next month I won't have to make a trip out to Hong Kong, but that means no sending my 'Christmas box'. Sorry my family, you'll have to wait a bit more.......
Home to have an English class, and a cup of hot Jasmine tea,

Today, Phil and I went to the zoo.
To see pandas and giraffes.
The best part of it was, was that it was all for free!
That's right, we got 3 tickets to any Chimelong attraction, you could chose between Amusement park, Safari Zoo, Water Park, or the Circus.
For me it was either the circus or the Safari Zoo, since they had tons of pandas.
And so we went to the zoo.
Woke up nice and late, had a brunchy lunch of corn soup and cereal for breakfast (plus gingerbread) then headed out the door into the lovely sunshine for the Hanxi station. Phil's younger brother, Sam, came along with us to use the other ticket, as they would expire this year.

Pictures will have to come later since I'm blogging from Phil's computer, but I shall say it was so much fun! First we saw flamingos but our main aim of the day was giraffes and pandas.
Pandas and Ressa Pandas came first, hurrah!
Then Phil's giraffes, which are always cool with their slanted backs and long black tongues.
Then we went to see the monkeys, where Sam had moments with the monkeys and we tossed gingerbread to the Rhesus baby monkeys. The older ones were such greedy ones, and would swipe the gingerbread right out of the air and then gobble it down while the baby monkeys looked on with sad eyes. Poor things. We tossed a some more until a few of the baby monkeys had some gingerbread to eat.
I felt like a kid again, oohing and cooing at the animals at the zoo, but it was great.

On the exercise front, yesterday I did 30 push-ups, in sets of ten, so I don't know if it counts as saying 30 or just 10 3 times. Ah well.
I got myself a nice hula hoop for Christmas, and it's been quite fun hooping, since it's been such a long time since I last hooped.
Pictures will come later, and now I'll have an English class in a few mins so I'll leave you here.
So close to new years you guys! What are your resolutions?

I just came back from a very cold Thursday out with Phil. We went to Ikea to get a towel for Phil's dad, and ended up picking up some hazelnut chocolate(still haven't tried the vegan chocolate recipe you posted Meg) and a towel for Phil as well. The weather when we were stepping out of the house was a brisk wind and clear, clear skies.
By the time we were out of the metro and walking towards Ikea, the wind was much cooler, and had a bite to it.
Our next stop after Ikea was University city.
Yup
Our favorite food hang out place was where we had our linner? lunner?dinch?(Lunch/dinner)
and by the time we were heading back, we had to stop by Dakasi to pick up a warm drink for our frozen hands.
Poor Phil had barely enough to keep him warm.
Previous to this post, Michelle had lent me a coat, as my winter wardrobe was seriously lacking, and I felt it was time to return it.SO! That meant a shopping trip.
I dragged Phil out into the cold again after a home for my jacket, and he was nearly frozen! I got my jacket and a scarf, and we hurried home as fast as possible.
Happy Christmas weather to you all