China

On my recent trip to Harbin and Hohhot I went through various airport security checks. In China you go through security checks on the bus and trains so this was something I was quite accustomed to. I had not been stopped at anytime up until this trip.

I got from Tai'an to Jinan with no trouble. Jinan to Harbin with no trouble. However leaving Harbin and going to Hohhot I was stopped. Firstly I was stopped for an explosive test. This is quite normal and has happened to me on several times even leaving Australia. They choose you randomly.

I checked in my luggage at Harbin for my journey to Hohhot. The scan your luggage again at check in. I was called over. They were questioning my luggage. I was anxious in the waiting but knew all was good.

It was a quick process and hey they are just doing their jobs.

Badminton was a name of a sport I had heard of but knew nothing about it. Barbara asked me if I would like to play with her as she needed to do some form of exercise. I agreed to play with her on her understanding that I had never played. Nothing was ever organised.

Andrew arrived from Canada and was keen to do some exercise but didn't want a gym membership. He asked about Badminton. So I played my first Badminton game. I was woeful. However by the end I was told by Maggie that I had improved.

I will be interested in going to see the endocrinologist on my return and doing a stress test. Before I left he rated my fitness level as 8/10. I reckon I could run marathons now.

I've been in enough change rooms in my life to understand the western etiquette. That is, do what you have to do without watching others. In China though it's a totally different situation.

Generally I go to the gym in the morning and have the change room all to myself. Other times I have to go in the afternoon or at night due to my teaching schedule. On my first occasion at this time slot I found I was sharing the change room with 20 other women. Now this does not bother me at home but the situation here is very different.

First I struggled to understand why all these women were naked and having a general conversation. I just ignored it and went about doing my own thing. Until, one naked Chinese woman came to speak with me. Now I don't speak Chinese and she didn't speak English. This was not the real concern. My real concern was she was totally naked. Who knows what I was shrugging my shoulders at.

Anyway going about my own business it later dawned on me that these people don't have showers or baths at home and they are accustomed to having communal baths and showers that they are not as body conscious as we are. To them this is natural as they wait for their turn in the communal bath/shower.

With this new found understanding I was cool with this. Until, one day I was at the gym and sharing it with 2 other Chinese women. One of the Chinese women was getting dressed and she had her knickers pulled have way up. She than waddled like this to her locker. I thought 'oh no, I know what she is going to do.' Yep insert a tampon. Now I don't think this is acceptable in any country.

Shandong Province is famous for cultural relics in China. Jinan and Qufu both are well known cities for their history and culture. There are 1 303 historical relics under protection. The most famous ones are Confucius' Temple, Mansion and Cemetery in Qufu and the Dai Temple in Tai'an. More than 4 000 historical sites have been excavated.

Valentines Day in China is held on the 07th August. Which explained why there were men running round with red roses everywhere.

I received my first valentines in China but also the last person to be me a valentines present would have been Jason and let's see that would have been maybe 12 years ago!

I receive a Text message that says - 'Hello! Do you have know me. I am VK. Today is Chinese lover's day. So good luck for you!' I had to rack my brain to who VK was. Finally it dawned on me that he was the Chinese boy from the hairdressers who helped me get a taxi after I had been kicked out of the shopping centre.