Hailaer

[Vegemite]

Here's some pics from life up here in Inner Mongolia, before the cold sets in.
During National Week the three of us laowei up here (plus my daughter) took a trip out to the grasslands. We stayed in an American-style camp located near Erguna - a small town 20km from the Russian border. The camp's run by an American couple who've lived in China for about 16 years now - just about real locals.

Here's some pics of the yurts we slept in...




Getting away from the hustle and bustle of the city and just breathing fresh air, listening to silence (no horns tooting) - 'tis a true delight...




After two days on the Grasslands we headed up to Manzhouli, the last town in China when travelling on the Trans-Siberian.



It's strange going up there and hearing all the Russian, here in Hailaer we are used to mainly hearing Chinese and Mongolian - plus, shop signs, street signs etc, are all bi-lingual - Chinese and Mongolian. Up there in Manzhouli, they're all Chinese and Russian.

My daughter and I particularly like the Russian Easter Egg themepark - the second time we've been there now but we've still only checked out about a third of the eggs. This time we found Nelson Mandela, Che and a few others who'd snort with disbelief to know they'd been eggified. The largest egg is 20 metres high.













When we left our hotel on the morning of the 6th, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, we met this guy on our doorstep. He was just about to kill the two chooks and leave some of their blood on the front doorstep, it brings luck. It's a good wee hotel so I hope it works.



And last, but not least, here's our wee dog 'BenBen' frolicking in the school garden.


And getting held by an Ewenke woman we met at a local Nadam Festival


And as to what we look like...here's my daughter and I at a local wedding...



And uploading these pictures is hard work! I made them all the same size but then they don't come out all the same. I had tehm all vertical but then every time I linked them in, two would go sideways...I thought it would be a quick job...but ages later...Mmmmm

[AMonk]

Good job. Very glad you took the time and effort. They are Marvelous!!

[Lotus Eater]

The tree and clouds one is gorgeous. I love sleeping in yurts - nice round places seem so cosy somehow. I like Inner Mongolia and will be back one day.

[Dr. Gonzo]

OK, which one's you and which one's the daughter? [an old line I know].
I'm interested in the John Lennon egg with an Old Glory adornment.

[George61]

Nice, Vegemite.....What program do you use to edit your pics? You can edit in Photobucket, too.
As Gonzo said, which one is the daughter?......and who are the two laowei?

[mich]

which one's the daughter...how old were you when you gave birth to her? 5?

[Ruth]

I'm with Lotus, the tree/cloud picture is fabulous.

[Newbs]

Thanks. Well done Vegemite, you little vegemite.

Couple of points to make.
1. How about a saloon conference out that way sometime?
2. I've seen some theme parks in China which quite frankly are krape, but this Easter Egg one looks a lot better than most.

PS. And what all the guys said about the mother and daughter bit.

[solongtinik]

though vegemite is a female and white?
how do u cook the chicken yer holdin veg? er!

[Vegemite]

solong said:

though vegemite is a female and white?
how do u cook the chicken yer holdin veg? er!

wo bu mingbai le.... lack of my vitamin Bs, lack of vegemite, means the old brain cells aren't sparking...duibuqi...

[Vegemite]

A saloon conference up here would be good - bring some vegemite and red wine and my door's open ;D We'd all like the odd bit of company.

There's three of us teachers up here - Kcannuck, another young Canadian and myself.

When my daughter and I first arrived it was just us for six months, so we were going stir crazy for English. Oops, that's not quite true - we arrived on the same flight with an Australian but he went home within three weeks . So when Kcannuck arrived there was much rejoicing...English, we could speak English with another native speaker...and then a month after Kcannuck came there was another. So now we have a huge community up here!

And my daughter wishes me to inform you that she loathes you all, you're giving her a complex. However, as my friendly laowei comrade, Kcannuck says, it's a flattering photo of me - is that a backhanded complement or what?

I like the tree photo too, and I really enjoy getting out to that camp. I'm trying to talk the manager into organising a Chinese language bootcamp there in winter. I've sent him links to the one mentioned in the 'Learning Chinese' thread. Imagine, living in the yurts, surrounded by white - no noise. Sleigh rides and steaming hotpots...mmmm...

[Vegemite]

george61 said:

Nice, Vegemite.....What program do you use to edit your pics? You can edit in Photobucket, too.

I was using Photobucket, but the pictures wouldn't stay vertical - or the same size.

[solongtinik]

veg..
i was just kiddin around...i missed one letter actually...that's thoughT vegemite is a female...
u have one pic with a guy holdin a chicken right? makin a joke out of it...

er! my english aint good!!!!!1

[Lotus Eater]

Vegemite - that is one bootcamp I would consider - although currently my plans are to be polishing up my Tibetan for Spring festival, and maybe doing some riding as well among the snow fields and winter camp areas with the nomads.

[con's fly is open]

Gorgeous terrain! No wonder y'all put up with the winters there. I've gotta see that place before I leave China.

Now if y'all will excuse me, I have to start a Hot Moms thread in the Locker Room grade a jillion papers.