Thursday, March 10, 2022

Virtual China: Overview- The Mainland

 


Next week we will begin Mainland China.

The People's Republic of China covers 3,700,000 square miles and is home to almost 1 and a half billion people.

The country is divided into 23 Provinces....which we will explore this year. Seeing the unique things each has to offer and sampling cuisine from all of them.

China has officially been The People's Republic of China and under the Chinese Communist Party since 1949 after their Civil War.

There are many religious practices here...the main language is Mandarin and the writing is Simple Chinese characters as opposed to traditional.

We will spend the rest of the year exploring all China has to offer...seeing the sights and wildlife...mountains and rivers...people and religions and languages...and of course, The Great Wall.

Come Along!





Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Virtual China: Finishing Taiwan

 

 

And my Tea Egg II

The marbling effect finally worked...but it is still rubbery and disgusting.

Today we will finish Taiwan...not with the omnipresent neon city-scape...but instead part of Old Town...and some much needed green-space.

First up...Old Town.

Juifen...just outside of Taipei harkens back to a time this was all under Japanese Rule.

https://youtu.be/sD72M6q4eF0]

https://youtu.be/YnTvFrcgUNY'

Walking Tour

https://youtu.be/V0gokBNbLBQ

https://youtu.be/3qJy-1XdqjY

The last video showing what a beautiful island Taiwan really is...and the third video a lot claustrophobic even for me...just too narrow streets and alleyways with way way too many people.


and the famous A-mei Tea House.


Tea House and Night Walk

https://youtu.be/b1n7jJDw8EQ

onward to the best National Park of Taiwan

Taroko
 

The park covers 355 square miles encompassing Taroko Gorge.

It has everything for everyone...from the glitz and gloss of neon and amusement park rides...to breath-taking scenery from suspension bridges...

and even caves and caverns.

Tour

https://youtu.be/POimlO9u0ts

(best video...if you only watch one...watch this)

 

Next time we will do an overview of the Mainland.

Until then...


 








Saturday, March 5, 2022

March...Gardening...Betty White's Final Book & More


 

The 60's and 70's have arrived and Spring is just around the corner!

Trimmed my nails back and spent the first day of digging in the soil, yesterday planting pre-chilled bulbs that arrived this week.

More to come...and these will eventually look like this...


Soooo nice to feel the soil in my hands again!

And the garden shoppe already has the seed racks out.


The Cookbook has arrived.

It is amazing. Has traditional recipes from all 23 provinces...ingredients to buy...and a bonus section of some of the herbs I can grow myself to prepare these dishes!

I LOVE my new cleaver...but have a healthy respect for it.

...maybe even a little fear...

It is the sharpest (biggest) knife I have ever used in the kitchen.

Cuts through everything as if it was butter...this includes meat and bones.

I don't know what I have done without it.

Next week we will finish Taiwan and start Mainland China.

...and see if my second attempt at a Tea Egg works...

Still having an adventure of self-discovery (and re-discovery) with the Sixty & Me Group. 

One day was all about exploring what we used to love/be interested in (our passion) before life got in the way.

Jobs.

Husbands.

Kids.

The day-to-day stuff...

I found while examining this, things that I loved, that I had literally forgotten or set aside for years.

...not any more...

There was an entire day devoted to independent lives after 60.

Also keeping up with current trends and events...Seated Yoga and Tai Chi to keep flexible.

...I even understand NFT now...though I don't see myself creating my own...

I've probably kept up a little obsessively with the on-going Invasion of Ukraine this week...now at 10 days...

Honestly, I have never seen people with the indomitable spirit of the Ukrainians.

...and have had a few laughs, too...

Today's Best

Russian troops who were taking an elevator to the roof of a building to secure a position.

Ukrainians cut power to it while they were inside.

(...I am dying over here...)

The look on his face says it all!

"I told you guys we needed to  take the stairs..."


 

And maybe my favorite joke from the conflict so far:


An elderly Russian man goes to a corner stand daily, and buys the newspaper.

For three days straight he looks at the front page...curses in Russian and tosses the paper in a nearby rubbish bin.

The fourth day this happens, the paper seller cannot contain himself and asks what the old man  could possibly be looking for...

"An Obituary" replies the old fellow.

"Those aren't on the front page...they're inside." the vendor explains.

With a gleam in his eye...the old man chuckles

"This ONE will be."

 

This Week's Book:


 




 


The Final Memoir by Betty White.

And it was everything I thought it would be, and more.

Finished it yesterday sitting outside on the patio with fresh air and a glass of sweet tea after tucking my bulbs in.

I think an unexpected pleasure was hearing her voice as I read.

She was funny, witty, engaging throughout.

This is a must read!

Also finished the 8 episodes of Jack Reacher from Amazon.


Having seen Tom Cruise in this role earlier...and being more than a little dissatisfied-

...Cruise is too small to play Reacher...


Alan Ritchson is perfect.

The instance when he flexes and removes the plastic tie-cuffs was just great!

This is one series you won't want to miss.

Can't wait for Season II.

Amazon has confirmed one, but will not reveal the release date yet.

We will be there.

...thanks for turning me onto this, love...

And last, but not least...our furry kids.


"I think she is talking about us!"

                                               Sofi


"Go 'way...I'm napping."

                             Gadget


"Dad finally finished building the new house Mom got for me...I supervised."

                                                                                                    Gadget

"Hey...I think I'm going to LIKE this!"

                                                        Gadget



"Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz"

Have a WONDERFUL Weekend!

 

 






















Friday, March 4, 2022

Invasion of Ukraine...

 

Day 9...

The above bit of missile shrapnel found outside the Presidential home with a quip by Zelenskyy

"Missed Me!"

He has survived 3 assassination attempts this week, and continues to fight alongside his troops. 

Total badass.

And (it seems) so are the average Ukrainian people.


 

Moving a live landmine without removing the cigarette from your mouth.

Stealing tanks with tractors.

And maybe my personal favorite-

Grandmas making Molotov Cocktails...or as they are called here

"Ukrainian Smoothies" 

I have to admit I have been inordinately fascinated by this 72 hour blitzkrieg of Putin's that is now entering its ninth day...

Following The Kyiv Independent closer than some Ukrainians do.

And, like Burgess' A Clockwork Orange (where he used pidgen Russian in the book...which you could read and understand by the ending) 

Using translation with the Kyiv articles is very similar.

In addition to my base couple of words

(basically Nyet and Da)

Now I recognize

Slavia Ukraini

as Glory to Ukraine

Putin Khuylo

(...Putin is a dickhead...)

And this one...

"Путин, пошёл на хуй"

Translating roughly to Putin, Go Fuck Yourself.

Who said the Internet isn't educational??? 

Anyway...it is Day Nine. Zelenskyy has achieved a hero status...not only here, but throughout the world. The President has balls of steel and his people would follow him through hell...and are.

The Sanctions seem to be working...as are the seizures of assets.

Yachts and Personal Jets.

Volkswagen, IKEA, AirBNB, Nike, Panasonic, Microsoft and others are removing their businesses from Russia. 

Airspace and flights and ports are being closed to them.

The Ruble has went under 1 cent on the USD...and the Russian Stock Market has lost >50% of its value now.

At this point Vlad is in a no-win situation.

Even if his troops manage to eventually take Ukraine...the sanctions and economic collapse of Russia will persist.

Already there is a run on the Russian Banks much like the USA in The Great Depression.

I have to believe watching what is happening to Russia is the catalyst for this morning's announcement by Belarus that they will not be joining Russian Forces...and will stay neutral...a reversal from several days ago.

We will see how this plays out.

Putin calls this the Denazification of Ukraine.

It is beyond me to understand why he thinks children in orphanages, kindergartens, playing ball in the street, et al have anything to do with Nazis.


 

Besides he bombed a famous Anti-Nazi Holocaust site here.

WTF???

 

Slavia Ukraini  



 





Handling Looters Ukrainian-Style




Saturday, February 26, 2022

War...Unbelievable Strength and Resolve...and More

 

Today The World stands in Solidarity with Ukraine.

It has been three days since the invasion.


 

Kyiv is still held as of this morning.

President Zelenskyy is fighting alongside his troops and has refused numerous offers of refuge elsewhere (including the US). 

They have tanks and anti-aircraft weapons, too.


 

Many acts of heroism have already surfaced. 13 men who died on Snake Island when a Russian Battleship demanded their surrender...and their answer was "Fuck You" and they continued their stand.

Ordinary citizens...and mayors and such who have taken up arms to defend their cities and country.

Teenagers and old women filling Molotov Cocktails to throw.

A grandmother who reportedly told a young Russian soldier to fill his pocket with sunflower seeds so they would grow when he fell. 

...the sunflower is Ukraine's National Flower...

Make no mistake about it...if this war is won and Putin is thwarted...these average ordinary people who stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine's soldiers and say "Not Our Home" will make the difference.

Globally, we have responded with tough sanctions...freezing banks and assets. Sending weapons, ammunition, military equipment and in some instances troops...most of the world standing in solidarity...including thousands of Russia's own people.

And so we wait...and hope.

Working on a Sirloin Steak Stroganoff with mushrooms brunch for my guy and I, tomorrow. 

This month has been insane...hopefully settling soon.

Today is a Cinderella Day, here.

I did manage to watch

Which, despite its all-star cast, was uniformably, bad.

As in almost unwatchable.

All of the characters had no redeeming qualities whatsoever...even Adam Driver who started out humble, quiet, almost likeable...ended up

"I married a MONSTER"

"No...you married a GUCCI."

Yeah...it was like that.

Lackluster performance by both Leto and Pacino...were the final nail is this abomination's coffin.

2 hours and 38 minutes of my life that I shall never get back.


I have started the Jack Reacher series though...am on Episode 5 and it is phenomenal.

John said I'd love it.

So, will be finishing it next week and reviewing it then.

Must get back to things here.

 

"Dad said he needed help with the laundry, Mom."

                                                                             Gadget




 

 

 

 

 


 


 

Friday, February 25, 2022

Virtual China: Taiwanese Tea Eggs

 

The photo above is NOT my eggs.

This is a stock photo...mine failed.

...will be trying again...

The Recipe:

Hard-boil several eggs.

Use a spoon to crack the shells outside, but do not remove.

Simmer cracked eggs in solution of black tea mixed with 5 Spice Seasoning.

Remove and store in refrigerator in solution for 1-3 days.

...I only left mine overnight...this may be the problem...

After which, when peeled, they are suppose to look like this.


 ...mine did not...

They are rubbery and have a distinctive savory smell. I hesitate to use the word good to describe the flavor...perhaps interesting is more accurate. The texture was very off-putting.

These must be an acquired taste.

The #1 street food of Taiwan.

I will post pictures if my second attempt works out.

 

Until then... 

 

TAH DAH!


 


Monday, February 21, 2022

Virtual China: Taiwan


 

 
 
Taiwan...also known as Republic of China
began as a Dutch settlement
and was named'
Formosa 
at one point
by the Portuguese
meaning
Beautiful Island
 
It remained
under Japanese Rule
from
1895-1945
and the traditions, culture and architecture
of that time 
remains
 
Taiwan Tour 
https://youtu.be/dp8xuBqTAUs

Another
Taiwan Tour- Top 50 Places
https://youtu.be/-ltO_iTeiVM
 
Located 100 miles off Mainland China
Taiwan is now fighting
(as is Hong Kong and Macau)
takeover from
PRC
and have been for some time

The legal status of
Taiwan
is 
a matter of serious
contention.

The people are split
almost 50-50

Half consider themselves
Taiwanese
the other 
simply
Chinese.

The Taiwanese 
want to continue their independence.

The Chinese 
want
Reunification.

With 23.4 million 
people living
on the island
this is a tangled
mess.

It will not be quickly solved.

Or solved to everyone's 
satisfaction.
 
Mandarin
is the most common language here.

Buddhism and Taoism
 the primary religions.

There are over 15,000 temples on Taiwan.

In 1995 they implemented Universal Healthcare
known as
NHI

Assuring that all
who need medical
attention
can receive it.
 
Gay rights
have
been acknowledged here
since 2017.

Karaoke
is a holdover
from the Japanese
and is extremely
popular here

Taiwan Karaoke Bar
https://youtu.be/W2RCZFwg3es

It is so popular
that even some taxis offer
karaoke cabs

https://youtu.be/CsQK1LGuQI8

...notify Dante...it seems
we have found
an additional
circle
of
HELL... 



Next
we will
try
the favorite
cuisine treat
of Taiwan

The Tea Egg



Until then...