Weekly Photo Challenge: From Above

04 May 2013 12 Comments

by smkelly8 in Blogging Challenge, photos, Weekly Photo Challenge Tags: , , , , , , , ,

ready for a banquet

ready for a banquet

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pineapple, rice sweetly combined

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you know it’s spring when you see these

Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, we’ll provide a theme for creative inspiration. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog anytime before the following Friday when the next photo theme will be announced.

2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “Weekly Photo Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use a “postaday2013″ or “postaweek2013″ tag.

3. Subscribe to The Daily Post so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS.

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Walking Around Da Ming Lake

14 Apr 2013 3 Comments

by smkelly8 in architecture, China, culture, expat life, photos Tags: , , , , , ,

This afternoon was a picture perfect spring day so I went for a walk around Da Ming Lake, a sight Jinan is particularly proud of. I went into the scholar’s home, which is a small museum. I’m not sure of the era of the home, but the furnishings were exquisite. I’d love to have such furniture, though I’d want modern futon or mattress for the bed.

At Mencius’ Temple and Mansion

04 Dec 2012 Leave a Comment

by smkelly8 in architecture, art, China, expat life, History Tags: , , ,

In Zoucheng

Weekly Photo Challenge: Green

22 Nov 2012 Leave a Comment

by smkelly8 in Blogging Challenge, China, culture, photos Tags: , , , ,

New to The Daily Post? Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, you’re invited to get involved in our Weekly Photo Challenge to help you meet your blogging goals and give you another way to take part in Post a Day / Post a Week. Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, we’ll provide a theme for creative inspiration. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog anytime before the following Friday when the next photo theme will be announced.

2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “Weekly Photo Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use a “postaday2012″ or “postaweek2012″ tag.

3. Subscribe to The Daily Post so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS.

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Henan Trip: Hiccup #1

11 Oct 2012 2 Comments

by smkelly8 in expat life, travel Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

After so much tumult trying to get train tickets, we finally got some. We thought we were on an overnight train since that’s the only trains I asked for. Nope. We were given fast train tickets, which we didn’t realize till we were on the train.

The problem was we didn’t have hotel reservations for Tuesday night. Mind you, it’s a busy travel time. We arrived in dusty Kaifeng at 11 pm. I hate arriving in a city late at night, especially one I don’t know. In Jinan there are some okay looking hotels right by the station, but not in Kaifeng.

Henan is the second poorest province in China and it lags behind my province Shandong in terms of amenities, modern architecture and infrastructure. So there’s one decrepit looking hotel nearby looking like the Chinese version of the Bates Motel. We decide to get to our hotel and hope they have a room. We aren’t thrilled at the prospect of spending who knows how much.

We get to the Tokyo Arts Hotel, which K’s friend recommended. My, it’s upscale and grandiose. Once inside we explain our plight hoping for the best. It turns out that they don’t have any rooms left. Moreover, they doubt anyone has one since it’s a holiday.

All is not lost as the English speaking receptionist spoke with the manager of the adjoining Japanese style spa. We could stay there! For only 49 rmb each (compare to 488 rmb/night for the room we booked).

I’d stayed overnight in such public baths in Japan. They weren’t bad. You donned the cotton cabana sets they provide and sleep on a comfy Lazy Boy chair with 70 other people. It’s a very Asian thing.

After we surrendered our shoes for plastic slippers, he manager led us to the locker room. We changed clothes and were then led through a corridor, into an elevator, down some stairs, through another corridor, up some stairs and around until we were in the VIP section. Eventually, we got to our room. Not one of the big rooms with dozens of people, but a small hotel-like room with a TV and two Lazy Boys. Now the restroom was down the hall and the showers back by the locker rooms, but this was quite nice.

We both slept easily, in fact this was the best night’s sleep I had the whole time I was gone.

Shandong Asparagus

26 Jun 2012 5 Comments

by smkelly8 in food, recipes Tags: , , , ,

(Liang Ban Lu-Sun)

SERVES 2 – 4

A specialty of Shandong province, this dish is traditionally reserved for banquets because asparagus is so expensive in China. But in the United States, when the price comes down in summer, take advantage of this flavorful dish.

1 1⁄2 lbs. asparagus, trimmed and cut crosswise on the
diagonal into 2″ pieces
1 tbsp. Japanese reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tsp. Asian sesame oil
2 drops red chile oil
1⁄2 tsp. toasted sesame seeds

1. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add asparagus to pot and cook until tender-crisp and bright green, 1 1/2–2 minutes. Do not overcook. Drain, then immediately plunge into a large bowl of ice water; set aside to cool, 2–3 minutes. Drain again, then transfer to paper towels, pat dry, and set aside.

2. Whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, and chile oil in a medium bowl. Add asparagus and toss. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with sesame seeds.

*I never had this in Shandong, but it is tasty and easy to make. For something even easier, just use a Chinese sesame store bought dressing.

Source: Saveur Magazine Online

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Day Trip: Zhujiayu

12 Jun 2012 4 Comments

by smkelly8 in architecture, travel Tags: , , , , , ,

The Lonely Planet suggests the small town of Zhujiayu as a day trip from Jinan and I’ve wanted to go there, but had been put off by the potential hassle of getting there. You’re supposed to take a bus to a different city and then ask the bus driver to let you out at Zhujiayu. Then it sounded like a bit of a hike just to get there. Would there be signs I could read along the way? Just how hard would getting back be? Would you have to just wait along side the road for whenever the next bus came?

It sounded like too much trouble.

Yet I liked the idea of wandering off the beaten path. With the help of two former students, Melody and Monica, some of my friends were able to rent a van to take us directly to Zhujiayu. So four of us went with Melody and Monica, who’d researched the village. This was the way to go as for just 280 rmb total we could leave and return whenever we wanted. Thanks to Melody we could negotiate and arrange the transportation using one of the drivers outside the university gates.

Zhujiayu was well worth the trip. It took us about 2 hours from the west side of Jinan. The village contains well preserved buildings and homes from dynasty. The entrance fee is 15 rmb with a discount rate of 9 rmb for students and seniors. Not a bad price to see over 200 ancient buildings and 90 stone bridges.

Inside the village there are several exhibits of local textiles, looms, old manuscripts, written in beautiful calligraphy, and ceramics, however, there are no English labels or signs so we contented ourselves by categorizing these artifacts as “old” and simply enjoying their wabi-sabi.

Throughout the village there are several restaurants and stalls of vendors. It’s all very low-key though. No hard sell. The only time we felt slightly duped was at the first restaurant we saw. They beckoned us in and we weren’t sure if that was the best place for lunch. It was just 11:30 am. Melody asked an older couple what they recommended and the man told her that that was the only restaurant in the village. We did have a good lunch there for a good price, but they aren’t the only restaurant in town. a two minute walk and you’ll find more.

We had such a wonderful day quietly strolling and exploring. It was hard to imagine we were free of the hordes.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Today 2

04 Jun 2012 13 Comments

by smkelly8 in architecture, art, Blogging Challenge, China, photos, travel Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

At Thousand Mountain Buddha

Another Buddha, one of a thousand

I like this challenge so I’m adding a post.

Another day, another adventure since I’ve got a friend visiting from the U.S. We went to Jinan‘s Thousand Buddha Mountain, a lovely park/sacred site. Afterwards we went on to Shandong Elite Teahouse. très elegant and soothing.

Shandong Elite Teahouse

New to The Daily Post? Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, you’re invited to get involved in our Weekly Photo Challenge to help you meet your blogging goals and give you another way to take part in Post a Day / Post a Week. Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, we’ll provide a theme for creative inspiration. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog anytime before the following Friday when the next photo theme will be announced.

2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “Weekly Photo Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use a “postaday2012″ or “postaweek2012″ tag.

3. Subscribe to The Daily Post so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS.

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Today

03 Jun 2012 10 Comments

by smkelly8 in Blogging Challenge, China, photos, travel Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Zhujiayu, an ancient village

Lots of wabi sabi

Off the beaten path, Zhujiayu, Shandong Province

New to The Daily Post? Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, you’re invited to get involved in our Weekly Photo Challenge to help you meet your blogging goals and give you another way to take part in Post a Day / Post a Week. Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, we’ll provide a theme for creative inspiration. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog anytime before the following Friday when the next photo theme will be announced.

2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “Weekly Photo Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use a “postaday2012″ or “postaweek2012″ tag.

3. Subscribe to The Daily Post so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS.

Related articles

Weekly Photo Challenge: Hands

20 May 2012 26 Comments

by smkelly8 in art, Blogging Challenge, China, culture, meme, travel Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Shandong Provincial Museum

New to The Daily Post? Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, you’re invited to get involved in our Weekly Photo Challenge to help you meet your blogging goals and give you another way to take part in Post a Day / Post a Week. Everyone is welcome to participate, even if your blog isn’t about photography.

Here’s how it works:

1. Each week, we’ll provide a theme for creative inspiration. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog anytime before the following Friday when the next photo theme will be announced.

2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “Weekly Photo Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use a “postaday2012″ or “postaweek2012″ tag.

3. Subscribe to The Daily Post so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS.

Related articles

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