Traveling in China? Need a cellphone?
August 30, 2006
If you’re planning to spend much time in China, you should consider buying (or renting) a cellphone. I’ve been using www.Pandaphone.com for my cellphone in China. They have English-writing customer service by e-mail, and you can recharge your phone on-line so you can top up your account wherever you are. Now you can use coupon code PANDA06 to get 15% off your order. Good for new and returning customers.
Chinese phone service is can be pretty unreliable. Even with the big names like China Mobile, you often end up in bad-reception areas or with mysterious error messages. But a working cell phone — especially if your Chinese is pretty poor — can be very helpful.
Hornbek Homestead (Flourissant, CO)
August 30, 2006
 Hornbek Homestead, Fourissant, Colorado  Hornbek Homestead Root Cellar, Flourissant, Colorado photos ©2006, Technogypsie.com |
Hornbek Homestead Flourissant Fossil Beds Park, Flourissant, Colorado
‘Despite this lack of opportunity, and the loss of two husbands, Adeline Hornbek retained her pioneer spirit. In March 1878, she filed claim on 160 acres in the Flourissant Valley under the terms of the 1862 Homestead Act. Within 7 years, Adeline not only “proved-up” her claim, but had expanded her homestead to include this large house, nine outbuildings, and $4,000 worth of livestock. As if homesteading chores and raising a family did not keep her busy enough, she also worked at the general store in Flourissant. ‘ (Monument marker sign)
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Cottonwood Hot Springs, Buena Vista, Colorado
August 30, 2006
  Cottonwood Hot Springs, Colorado |
Cottonwood Hot Springs, Colorado http://www.cottonwood-hot-springs.com/ 18999 County Road 306, Buena Vista, Colorado 81211 719-395-6434 A developed Hot Springs just 5 1/2 miles west of colorful Buena Vista. A small rustic countryside inn nestled in the desert cliff mountainsides overlooks a series of concrete enhanced pools for hot springs users to relax in. 4 tent camping plots, private cabins with their own hot spring pools, a hostel type dorm room, and hotel rooms give visitors a place to settle. The pools are open till midnight, and 24 hr access for those staying on the property. After dark, the pools are clothing optional, while daytime suits are required as kids are present in the pools. Bordered by Cottonwood Creek and the San Isabel National Forest, scenic beauty surrounds the resort. The pools are fed by geo-thermal, gravity-fed mineral spas historically noted for their medicinal and therapeutic qualities which were used for centuries by the Ute indians as a spiritual gathering retrieat. They offer lots of retreats and activities. Rating 3.0 stars out of 5. Visited: 8/26/06.
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Honesty Is Never The Best Policy
August 25, 2006
My sister and I were talking about the shades of gray in Chinese honesty. In just the last few weeks, she’s already been witness to quite a lot of what we in America might describe with the local idiom “lying through one’s teeth.”
It’s pretty common to be told that what you want is out of stock when it clearly isn’t. Quite often mei you means “your bad Chinese is making too much work for me” and not “we’re sold out” or “we’re out of rooms”. But I no longer accept that all tickets are sold or all tables are booked without calling back three or four times and getting a second opinion. (That’s a habit that I should probably break when I get home — harrassing the Chili’s hostess isn’t such a good plan)
It’s not all foreigner mei you, though. For every no-soup-for-you, there’s someone else lying to tell you want you want to hear. Or what he or she thinks you want to hear. I have never been told that a train, bus or airplane would be late, in fact, employees will promise promptness in the face of storms, technical failures or other unavoidable delays. (even delays for which I couldn’t possibly blame the ticket seller!)
If Mussellini made the trains run on time, then Mao made sure everyone at least tells you the train’s on time.
Faith and The Muse (Cafe Netherworld, Denver, Colorado)
August 21, 2006
| Faith and the Muse Live at Cafe Netherworld, Denver, Colorado 9:30-11:30 PM - August 19, 2006 http://www.mercyground.com/ Faith and the Muse made a very earthly and down-home performace, this saturday, August 19th, at Denver’s infamous Cafe Netherworld. Introduced by The Siren Project, they wrapped up the evening’s charm with an acoustic set playing to their audience’s called out requests. First ever live performance of a “Wicker Man” song, some of their new stuff, and with William Faith appearing on stage with his first mohawk. William Faith and Monica Richards, who are “Faith and the Muse”, bring to their audience diverse musical backgrounds ranging from Dark Alternative Rock, Electronica, World Music, Neo-Classical, Jazz, Avante Guard, and Folk. From Los Angeles, they started to mesmerize their audiences in 1993, they have extensively toured Europe and the Americas with over 250 performances. Their performance this evening was mesmerizing and enchanting; satisfying their audience that surrounded them. Afterwards a drum circle with the Siren Project and the audience was planned. Rating: 4 stars our of 5. Viewed: 8/19/06. 
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The Siren Project (Live @ Cafe Netherworld, Denver, CO)
August 21, 2006
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The Siren Project Live at Cafe Netherworld, Denver, Colorado August 19, 2006: 8:30-9:30 PM, opening for “Faith and the Muse” http://www.thesirenproject.com/ On their Eighth year August anniversary, The Siren Project did a grandiose performance opening up for “Faith and the Muse” at Cafe Netherworld, Saturday the 19th, at that wonderful cafe/bar known as “Cafe Netherworld”. The artistic talent that is The Siren Project, transformed Cafe Netherworld’s back pool room in a ethereal fairyworld stage where both acts performed. Audience inclusionary, the Siren Project brought in attendees to help with drumming as Margaret and Alex mesmerized the remaining audience with their charm, vocals, and enchanting music. There was much adlib that added to the night’s charm for both acts, especially since they were handicapped with their bass player out on injury leaving the act up to Alex and Margaret. With audience 180 degrees surrounding them, everyone had a great view and felt included in the performance. It was a otherworldly experience. Rating 4.0 stars. Viewed: 8/19/06. |
Dance Extroadinaire: Sun Shier Dance Company (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
August 19, 2006
Sunday, 9 July 2006 - Part III
Dance Extroadinaire - Colorado Springs, Colorado
| Colorado College Summer Programs: Extroadinary Dance - Faculty Performance Gala, 2006 Summer Festival of the Arts 7:30 PM - Armstrong TheaterSun Shier Dance Company Title: Jacquelyn Music: Dinaresade Dancers: Hsiu-Ping Chang, Chia-Hao-Chiang, Wen-San Ho, Wei-Lun Lee, Yi Chieh Len, Pi-Jung Wu 30dance.com
 Sun Shier Dance Company |
 Sun Shier Dance Company  |
Lipgloss @ La Rumba, Denver, Colorado
August 19, 2006
“Lipgloss” @ Club La Rumba
Every Friday - 99 W. 9th Ave. • 303 -572-8006 • One block west of Broadway • $5 Cover after 10; free B4 10 • 21+ Only • $2 G&Ts • $2 PBRs
http://www.denver3.com/index.html
| DJ’s Michael Trundle and Tyler JacobsonMe, Rebecca, and Brad - started out the evening at the Church’s new Goth night in the basement and then for a short walk a few blocks away to Club Rumba where “Lipgloss” - Denver’s hottest Brit pop night springs to life every friday night. Free cover before 10 pm, and $2 gin wells and PBR’s …. its a night of good affordable fun. We arrived just after midnight, $5 cover, and a crowded energetic thriving club full of very happy and bouncy patrons. They played a good assortment of Britpop, Indie, and Alternative rock; though ventured with some hip-hop pop; but short-lived as they returned to our British alternative flavor … glam, britpop, indie, and rock … trancing into 80’s funk - the dancefloor and stage was wild demonstrating Denver’s competition to the now-defunct famed Luvafair of Vancouver, BC and Neighbours 80’s in Seattle, Washington. This has been the first ‘happening’ britpop night I’ve been to in the states; even though later reoccuring visits to the club have been diminishing with the lead of brit pop to my disappointment … a musical venue much needed in the land of the red/white/and blue. If you’re ever in Denver on a friday night, it would be an ecstatic loss to miss this night. Staff of La Rumba were incredible and while the drinks were weak on the national average, they were certainly affordable. The DJ’s were fantastic and addressed inquiries and requests quickly and very friendly - knowing their stuff, I’d recommend them for any event. The Denver3.com. Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5. |  |
Previous review of Lipgloss @ La Rumba can be found here: http://thesinglelife.net/archives/2006/06/17/lipgloss-fridays-la-rumba-denver-co.
I Can’t Watch This!
August 19, 2006
When Stick and I were in Qingdao, we stopped at a tiny DVD store, mostly so he could read the Chinglish. After a few months in Yantai, I’m usually so excited to see an English sentence, that I can over look some of the errors that leave Stick gasping for air.
These DVDs are totally NOT pirated or illegal or anything because they’re being sold in an actual shop, not on the street, and that is exactly what I’m going to tell the customs inspector when I’m trying to get them back into the states. (Do you think I should cry when I say it, or look entitled-American defiant? And if they do confiscate my movies at the border, do you think I can at least keep my Chinese Starship Troopers for Jay?) Somehow these fine, legal copies have blurbs and flavortext unedited from fan sites and blogs. These blurbs may not be flattering, they may not be about the movie in question, in fact they might not even be about movies at all but they’re English. Almost.
“What does that even say?” Stick asks, about a blurb on the back of one movie. “Look, the Sopranos! Box set!” (Would someone who’s seen an American copy tell me if it should be the Sopranos or The Sopranos?)
“That’s the violent HBO show, yeah? The mobsters?” I ask. Did I mention that I no longer make proper questions? After getting a (loose) grasp on hao bu hao and you mei you, I’ve decided that ma is my favorite Chinese grammatical construction. You can make any statement into question with ma, or in English yeah? on the end.
I ask the proprietor for the price, and we decide that about $25 is a reasonable price for seasons 1-4. Stick leaves happily, sure that I’m going to love this show. I’m less enthused because I hate violent films. (I never really watched TV when I was a kid, and I think that’s directly responsible for why I can’t stand to watch movie gore or violence. I made Stick turn off Silence of the Lambs after seven minutes and I had to close my eyes for parts of Rome. Give me I, Claudius any day!) But six months in China has made me appreciate how nice it would be to have a simple night in front of the TV with my boyfriend so I agreed.
A few nights later, we were back in Yantai, sitting on the couch with pineapple beers in hand.
“I can’t watch this, boy,” I said, halfway into the series premiere.
“It’s not even violent yet!” he protested.
“I know… it’s just the food. Pizza. Pasta. Cheese. Salads. Mmmm. Why do they have to eat so much on this show? I don’t know if I can watch!”
The White People Want More
August 18, 2006
Stick and I went to Qingdao, and because he doesn’t speak any Chinese, even my rudimentary Chinese was pretty impressive. (He doesn’t know I’m saying “Buy Ticket Qingdao Two Yes?”) We walked by the beach, found a place for cucumber cold noodles (slightly different in Qingdao and Yantai, but still delicious) and walked around exploring the city for a while.
We visited St. Michael’s Cathedral. Although it’s an active church, and there were a few Chinese Catholics sitting in the pews saying the rosary, there were also signs in English and Chinese telling visitors who Jesus is and what a confessional is. Stick said that being in the church was a weird oasis of familiar in the unfamiliar… It was fun to see the Latin and Chinese side-by-side, but I didn’t feel like this bizarre German/Gothic/Chinese church was particularly home-like.
We found a little hotpot restaurant in our wanderings that afternoon. It was on Fei Chang Lu, right by our hotel, but thanks to my horrible sense of direction and not-so-great Chinese skills, we ended up taking a cab there. Actually, we ended up taking the cab to a sushi bar across the street that turned out to be closed by the time we got there.
It was great to have No Sense Of Direction Girl and No Plan Ahead Boy reunited again.
Hotpot is a strange and awesome Chinese dinner. It may be one of the rare foods I’ll miss when I go home. You are served a dish of boiling soup, I’ve heard that there are all different kinds but this place gave us half herbal and half spicy. It came in a little pan, divided into semicircles, and set on a hotplate to keep the soup at a tongue-burning tempature.Then you pick what to cook in that broth. (Or, if you’re Stick, your girlfriend orders these dishes in flawless Chinese, because beef, mushrooms and tofu are in my very limited vocabulary) The staff all express their shock that the white woman has spoken Chinese, and then bring over a plate of spongy tofu, sall mushrooms and thin-sliced raw beef. You take, say, a piece of beef, and toss it in the spicy broth and in an amazingly short time, you pull out a piece of spicy cooked beef.
We ate awesome hotpot and drank nice, cold Tsingtao beer. In fact, it was so good that I asked the fuyuan to bring us a second plate of raw beef and she said ok, and shouted into the kitchen “The white people want more!”
