chi.mer.i.cal | 1. created by or as if by a wildly fanciful imagination; highly improbable
2. given to unrealistic fantasies; fanciful
cog.i.ta.tions |
1. thoughtful considerations; meditations
2. serious thoughts, carefully considered reflections
i made numerous brilliant (at least to myself, at that time) observations about china during my one week sojourn. unfortunately, i've forgotten most of them.
there were several blog-worthy incidents. unfortunately, i've forgotten most of them, too.
there is one strange sight i do remember. unfortunately, i am unable to bring you pictures of this. this last letdown i can blame on someone else - my sister brought her camera along with us to china. in her infinite wisdom, however, she declined to bring it out of the hotel room, citing its weight as the limiting factor. the fact that she possess one of those pocket-sized jobs that probably weighs less than a miniscule slice of green apple typically contained in a $1 bag of mixed fruit slices that the fruit seller in the basement of the adelphi sells aside, what it means is that i am unable to produce photographic evidence of this revealing insight into chinese culture.
but anyhow - along a long, dusty road in the middle of nowhere in shanghai, was a long, dusty wall. made of grey bricks, irregularly stacked on top of each other, i would hazard that the wall is no less than a century old. now this ancient wall opened at one point into an equally superannuated florist shop. next to this florist shop, mounted onto this fossil of a wall, was a technological marvel of the 21st century - a vending machine.
now, perhaps a vending machine mounted on a wall is not a particularly startling sight in most places. but in this area, where the next most modern affair within a dozen square miles was a traffic light straight out of the 18th century, it was rather out of place. somewhat akin to seeing a coin-operated sewing machine in the middle of the aleutians. or a computer that takes less than 10 minutes to boot up in my workplace. you get the idea. an anachronism if you ever saw one.
but all was explained when i took a closer look at the machine, and realised that it sold condoms. a bouquet of flowers gets you a long way in shanghai, apparently.
more on china, as and when i recall interesting facts.
in the meantime, i'm off to placate my wife, who is annoyed at me again.
about five minutes ago, there came a call of distress from our bedroom. naturally, i ignored the first cry, and the second, and the third. then i figured that the yells would come in unceasing succession, and increasing percussion. so i wised up and went over to find her clutching her forehead in distress. she had hit her head on a shelf.
of course, there wasn't the suggestion of a mark.
i replied, which, while pleasing her no end by justifying her yelps, also alarmed her slightly.
she enquired, with a worried look, pain forgotten.
i replied. which has sparked off her latest huff. the things i put up with.
there were several blog-worthy incidents. unfortunately, i've forgotten most of them, too.
there is one strange sight i do remember. unfortunately, i am unable to bring you pictures of this. this last letdown i can blame on someone else - my sister brought her camera along with us to china. in her infinite wisdom, however, she declined to bring it out of the hotel room, citing its weight as the limiting factor. the fact that she possess one of those pocket-sized jobs that probably weighs less than a miniscule slice of green apple typically contained in a $1 bag of mixed fruit slices that the fruit seller in the basement of the adelphi sells aside, what it means is that i am unable to produce photographic evidence of this revealing insight into chinese culture.
but anyhow - along a long, dusty road in the middle of nowhere in shanghai, was a long, dusty wall. made of grey bricks, irregularly stacked on top of each other, i would hazard that the wall is no less than a century old. now this ancient wall opened at one point into an equally superannuated florist shop. next to this florist shop, mounted onto this fossil of a wall, was a technological marvel of the 21st century - a vending machine.
now, perhaps a vending machine mounted on a wall is not a particularly startling sight in most places. but in this area, where the next most modern affair within a dozen square miles was a traffic light straight out of the 18th century, it was rather out of place. somewhat akin to seeing a coin-operated sewing machine in the middle of the aleutians. or a computer that takes less than 10 minutes to boot up in my workplace. you get the idea. an anachronism if you ever saw one.
but all was explained when i took a closer look at the machine, and realised that it sold condoms. a bouquet of flowers gets you a long way in shanghai, apparently.
more on china, as and when i recall interesting facts.
in the meantime, i'm off to placate my wife, who is annoyed at me again.
about five minutes ago, there came a call of distress from our bedroom. naturally, i ignored the first cry, and the second, and the third. then i figured that the yells would come in unceasing succession, and increasing percussion. so i wised up and went over to find her clutching her forehead in distress. she had hit her head on a shelf.
"is it bleeding?"
of course, there wasn't the suggestion of a mark.
"oh no, there's a gaping hole."
i replied, which, while pleasing her no end by justifying her yelps, also alarmed her slightly.
"is it bad?"
she enquired, with a worried look, pain forgotten.
"yes, you better not move your head, the brains might fall out."
i replied. which has sparked off her latest huff. the things i put up with.
lol!!!! you're so mean!
what do you mean i'm mean?
you: 'don't move my darling wife your brains might fall out through a nonexistent hole in your head.'
....need I say more? hehehe!
that's concern dear cousin.
you'd do well to get youself a husband as loving as myself.
*hastily turns laugh into a strangled cough*
um. yeah. totally. ^_^