First off, the way our apartment is set up has our kitchen window looking out at our neighbor's driveway and the side of his house. It’s not a very big gap between the houses, and we could probably read his gas meter from our sink if we felt like it. This is just an extension of the lack of personal space people give you here.
I guess our neighbor was having a problem with his gas pipes or something because there was a guy out there in a city workers vest on his cell phone talking loudly. Our window was open because it was a nice day and he was less than two feet from our open kitchen window…talking on his cell phone, way too loud. I closed it while starting straight at the worker and our neighbor. (the only previous interaction we’ve had with this neighbor is him telling Justin to cut our backyard grass shorter as he looks over our waist high fence, while Justin was out mowing the lawn.) The neighbor seemed confused while he stared back at me through out kitchen window until I closed the blinds as well, and I don’t think they even realized it was rude (to me). Who sings that song? Don’t stand so close to me? I realize it’s not the same sentiment, but I’d like to say that to people here constantly.
Then, later, we heard a knock at the door at about nine o’clock at night. Which is weird in its self because it means that the person already was let in through the gate without ringing for us. It’s the city worker who doesn’t speak much English but indicates that he wants to come inside. If Justin hadn’t been home and answered the door I would have never let him in. But he takes off his shoes and goes into the kitchen. He then turns on all our stove burners (they’re gas), testing them I guess, and then he turns off the gas to our stove and leaves! Umm, when can we turn it back on, who are you, what are you doing, what’s the problem? These are questions that are unanswerable, at least for us.
Just to be safe, we decide to leave the gas off until all the activity stops outside. The whole next day they're tearing up the driveway and street working on pipes and stuff. I'm assuming they've turned off the gas at the street, so maybe turning our gas off in the kitchen was just a way of explaining that we'd have no gas? I don't know, but it sure would have been nice to know what was going on.
***
As you know Justin and I take walks, almost every weekend to the park. We have a pair of bunnies that we always see and it makes me happy. I’ll frown at the Koreans who crowd the bunnies and make clapping or clicking noises trying to get the rabbits to look at their cameras, but I won’t do or say anything, because all they’re doing is scaring the bunnies away, but not hurting them. Today we saw a boy, about 8 years old running around off the path chasing the rabbits. His parents watched him calmly from the path and didn’t seem to think he was doing any harm. Maybe he wasn’t, as he would never be able to catch the rabbit, but it still pissed me off. A lot. Justin got a death grip on my arm and pulled me away from my desire to hit the child with my umbrella. I suddenly envied old ladies with umbrellas who could do such things.
On our way back out of the park I saw the boy chasing the rabbits again. But this time, his father was with him and they had one of the rabbits cornered under a tall bush and were on each side shaking the bush. I don’t know if they were just stupid or really trying to catch the rabbit, but it was too much. This wasn’t (idiotic) childish fun, this was cruel.
I could see the poor rabbit shaking from where I stood on the path. I started to walk over to them and using my best angry, authoritative voice shouted a sharp “HEY” at them to get their attention. Since I didn’t know if they spoke any English I just did my deepest scowl and shook my finger at them, arm at full length. The boy went around the bush to his father. I made a ‘shooing’ motion with my hands, telling them to leave. If people think I look mean when I’m zoning out and thinking, you should see it when I try to look menacing.
I walked closer to the bush, and the rabbit seemed fine. He started to munch on some grass as I stood guard over him while the father and son joined the mother on the upper path. I stayed there until they were out of sight. I was so mad I could have spit. I’m sure those rabbits get some unwanted attention, especially since some people bring dogs without leashes to the park. But it was the fact that it was an adult (supposedly) who was not chasing a rabbit, but cornering it. The rabbit didn’t even seem too concerned when just the kid was chasing it (even though I didn’t like it). But couldn’t these people just enjoy the rabbits without terrifying them?
***
These two events aren't related in anyway, just that they both happened this weekend.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Beijing, China (Sunday)
***
Sunday
I was planning on leaving at 8am, but left more around 9:30am. BUT I finally got down to breakfast. Nothing fancy, just cereal, a croissant and some watermelon (which oddly enough I'd been served every day in China). I said goodbye to Allie, they were leaving around noon, I wasn't leaving until 6pm. I left my bags with the concierge and set out for my first stop...To see some Pandas!
I took a taxi to the closest subway stop, it wasn't impossible to walk there but I probably saved 30 minutes of walking with a 5 minute cab ride. I felt pretty good about knowing where I was going. I got the right train to the zoo and only had a few minutes to worry about finding the zoo once I got off the subway. Turns out the ticket office was directly outside the subway stop.
I got to the zoo, bought my Panda special exhibit ticket, and went straight for the pandas. I know they have lots of other animals and exhibits, but I was trying to be time-wise. The pandas were spread out in several different habitats (because they're solitary) and it was great. Minus the crushing, sweaty throng of Asians. It was really only packed at one of the panda habitats. The panda had fallen asleep pressed right up against the plexi glass and you could see it really close. It was also one of two indoor viewing places, not that it was any cooler inside. But people were pressed up close trying to see the panda like it would save their life.I literally had to shoulder my way to the glass to see the panda, as there wasn't enough room to elbow my way to the front. I'm not sure those people knew there was more than one panda to see. I took lots of pictures, saw all the pandas, bought a few panda things, saw the red pandas too and left the zoo.
The next stop was the Lama Temple. I again had subway success but was a little lost when I got out of the subway. The zoo ticket office had been right there outside it's subway stop. But I had to walk a while to find the temple entrance. The whole street was lined with picturesque shops selling incense sticks wrapped in red paper, mini gold Buddhas, and colorful paper flowers.
I was getting a little worried about finding the front gate or Any gate and had just stopped to ask for directions when I saw the gate. It was impossible to miss, just farther down the block than I thought it would be. The lama temple was set up more like a mini forbidden city than I thought it would be...Meaning lots of gates and courtyards that go on and on, all along one axis. But the carved Buddhas were breath taking. They were in every building and there was thick incense in every courtyard. I sat on the floor of the largest Buddha room and just stared up into his face. The dim light and the statue's gold skin glowed in the diffused light and was mesmerizing. The incense smoke curled up further shrouding the statue in mystery. I walked through all of the lama temple a little like I was trying to keep up with "power walker"even though I was alone. It helped keep me on track. I made it back to the subway station and to Tiananmen square right on schedule.
***still sunday***
The next part of my custom plan required me to walk across the square and end up at a different subway station, which I would then take back to where the taxi dropped me off this morning.
Several Chinese people had been stopping me in the square to take pictures and a few wanted to practice speaking English with me. Some of them wanted me to come to dinner or tea with them so we could talk for more than a few minutes. I didn't mind spending a few minutes standing and talking, but I was on a schedule with a flight leaving at the end of the day so I didn't want to go anywhere with anyone. Also, can we say stranger-danger?
But, but...I was within sight of my last subway entrance that would take me back towards my hotel and a taxi stand when I got stopped again to talk and practice English. I had about 20 minutes extra so I didn't mind too much, and I stopped to talk to them.
It was a girl and her cousin who were from Shanghi and were visiting Beijing because the girl had just finished university. They asked what I'd seen so far and if I'd seen the old china street just behind the last building in the square. They were walking that way, would I like to walk and talk with them? okay. so we walked around the thousands of people and sure enough there was a huge shopping street that I wouldn't have seen. It's for pedestrians only and looked like it was newly renovated. They wanted my email so they could write to me and practice English. I have no reason not to give it to them. I take out my pen and the cousin ducks into a restaurant/tea shop to get paper…but then he sits at a table just inside the door.
I'm confused and ask him if he thinks the owner will mind us sitting down just to write out emails. He says no, and the girl and I sit down too. It's hot, and I have been looking forward to ice cream and want to get going. But I'm polite and chat while they write out their emails. They start to tell me about how Chinese people always get together with their friends and drink tea. And then tea is brought. Ugh.
Okay, I say, I 'll have some tea but I have to be back at my hotel by 3pm. No problem they say. We're sitting just inside the tea shop in front of a window that looks out on the street, so I feel safe, but I was getting annoyed. It was hot, I wanted to get an ice cream bar, not drink hot tea and I wanted to be alone. Not surrounded by people asking me how old I am and if I'm married. But I didn't want to be rude either, so I sat and drank my small cup of tea (and burned my tongue).
The cousin as telling me some crap about how if you drink hot tea when it's hot you'll feel cooler. Whatever, that's why ice-cream was invented. I finish my little cup of tea… but oh, we have to finish the whole pot they say, it's lucky they say. F%*@. I still have time, it's just that I don't want to be here anymore, where as before I was slightly enjoying talking to the locals.
So we finally, finally finish out hot pot of tea. And the cousin calls for the bill. I, being the polite person I am, reach for my wallet to at least pay for my part of the tea even though I was invited. But oh, the cousin's face lights up. You buy for us? he asks. He seemed thrilled so I was like why not, sure.
The bill was 450y!!! That's like 70 US dollars, for a pot of tea you'd get for free if you went out to lunch at any Chinese restaurant. So I pull out a few yuan and fake that that's all the money I had. I might have felt a little bad, but then the cousin presses, "Why not use your credit card". I say it doesn't work in China. "Why not use US dollars?" (I think he got a glance at my wallet when I took it out), I say I only have a few dollars. So he finally, reluctantly give the owner His credit card. Ha!
I say a quick thanks and book it out of there back to the subway, with the cousins trying to keep up with me, regretting my polite/friendly streak. They finally say they're going to stay and shop (as we reach the end of the shopping street) and tell me I should stay in china longer next time I come. I smile vaguely and speed walk back to the subway ready to speak Spanish to the next person who stops to wanting to practice English.
I'm so annoyed at this point because my tongue is burned and I wanted ice cream (it was Hot outside) and I'm running a little late now. I misread a subway sign and got on a train going the wrong way. I noticed immediately and it's a quick fix at the next stop where I get on the right train. But it's a sign of what the next few hours are going to be like for me.
I make it out of the subway and find a taxi. But I have to talk him into driving me to my hotel. I find it's best to get into the taxi first and then try to tell them where you want to go, then they can't drive away from you. While I'm trying to talk to a man that speaks no English whatsoever, another man is outside my window, talking to me, trying to get me to get out of the taxi I'm already in, and get in his car/unofficial taxi. I'm a female and I'm traveling alone at this point. No. Thank you. Plus I'd already used up all my 'Polite' for the day and I eventually got the real taxi to get moving.
I got to the hotel with no problem. I have no idea why the driver didn't want to take me there if he knew where it was all along. I got my bags from the concierge and change my last US dollars to cover the cost of a taxi to the airport. I got a good taxi from the hotel, he has his AC on (score) and it's 4pm on a Sunday so there's no traffic. I relax in the back of the taxi and unceremoniously repack my bag and change shoes (I would have liked to put on non sweaty/sticky clothes before I left the hotel but I packed so well I didn't have extras). We got to the airport sooner than I was expecting.
I checked in, as was asked if I wanted a window seat (thanks China Air). I got through security and was promptly picked up by one of those airport golf carts that gets old people to their gates on time. There was no one on it and the driver asked me which gate I was going to, E6, 'oh that's the farthest one, get on'. Sweet! But about two seconds into the ride he tells me it's going to be 10 yuan. I'm like, just stop the car, I can walk. He's like but it's only 2 US dollars. I'm like F you (in my head, I never Actually cuss people out), fine. So I ride the giant golf cart.
He takes me to the gate and I pay him. I have to then back track to the bathroom that we drove past and the duty free shops I wanted to look in. So I'm annoyed at him for being so pushy.
I stop on my way back from the bathroom to get a bottle of water from the vending machine. The water is 5y, the smallest I have is a 10y but the machine says there is a place for 1,5,10 and 20. So I put my 10y in and get my water.... and it keeps my change. grr.
Whatever, I finally got on the plane and just arrive at my seat when I look over at my "window seat" to find no window. Yes it's the inside seat and there are windows all up and down the plane and there Should be one according to the intervals, but there's just no window whatsoever. Not like it's half behind me (like southwest flights have sometimes) but there is just a wall. China Air:2. Lucy:0.
And that's how I feel like those Chinese people ruined the last part of my day.
And I still had to time change an hour later, wait for the post bus, get a cab from base to my home and take a shower. It was like midnight, but I was home <3
***
Since I don't want to end my blog post that way (and with people getting the wrong impression about how I feel about my trip), I'll admit that I was probably primed to be put in a bad mood, it was the fourth of a really long string of days, it was hot, I felt gross, I was denied ice cream by the gods and I kept dealing with little annoyances.
But looking back at the rest of my trip, I saw some pretty amazing things. I'm So grateful I was able to have this chance to see a lot of beautiful and historically significant places. I'm amazed that I can now say I've been to the Great Wall of China. I saw Pandas in China!! (I LOVE Pandas). I made a huge leap and traveled pretty much on my own (this from a girl who has never been to the movies alone). I also packed lightly!! (I Always over pack). I feel pretty awesome about myself and very thankful that I got to travel to China.
Sunday
I was planning on leaving at 8am, but left more around 9:30am. BUT I finally got down to breakfast. Nothing fancy, just cereal, a croissant and some watermelon (which oddly enough I'd been served every day in China). I said goodbye to Allie, they were leaving around noon, I wasn't leaving until 6pm. I left my bags with the concierge and set out for my first stop...To see some Pandas!
I took a taxi to the closest subway stop, it wasn't impossible to walk there but I probably saved 30 minutes of walking with a 5 minute cab ride. I felt pretty good about knowing where I was going. I got the right train to the zoo and only had a few minutes to worry about finding the zoo once I got off the subway. Turns out the ticket office was directly outside the subway stop.
I got to the zoo, bought my Panda special exhibit ticket, and went straight for the pandas. I know they have lots of other animals and exhibits, but I was trying to be time-wise. The pandas were spread out in several different habitats (because they're solitary) and it was great. Minus the crushing, sweaty throng of Asians. It was really only packed at one of the panda habitats. The panda had fallen asleep pressed right up against the plexi glass and you could see it really close. It was also one of two indoor viewing places, not that it was any cooler inside. But people were pressed up close trying to see the panda like it would save their life.I literally had to shoulder my way to the glass to see the panda, as there wasn't enough room to elbow my way to the front. I'm not sure those people knew there was more than one panda to see. I took lots of pictures, saw all the pandas, bought a few panda things, saw the red pandas too and left the zoo.
The next stop was the Lama Temple. I again had subway success but was a little lost when I got out of the subway. The zoo ticket office had been right there outside it's subway stop. But I had to walk a while to find the temple entrance. The whole street was lined with picturesque shops selling incense sticks wrapped in red paper, mini gold Buddhas, and colorful paper flowers.
I was getting a little worried about finding the front gate or Any gate and had just stopped to ask for directions when I saw the gate. It was impossible to miss, just farther down the block than I thought it would be. The lama temple was set up more like a mini forbidden city than I thought it would be...Meaning lots of gates and courtyards that go on and on, all along one axis. But the carved Buddhas were breath taking. They were in every building and there was thick incense in every courtyard. I sat on the floor of the largest Buddha room and just stared up into his face. The dim light and the statue's gold skin glowed in the diffused light and was mesmerizing. The incense smoke curled up further shrouding the statue in mystery. I walked through all of the lama temple a little like I was trying to keep up with "power walker"even though I was alone. It helped keep me on track. I made it back to the subway station and to Tiananmen square right on schedule.
***still sunday***
The next part of my custom plan required me to walk across the square and end up at a different subway station, which I would then take back to where the taxi dropped me off this morning.
Several Chinese people had been stopping me in the square to take pictures and a few wanted to practice speaking English with me. Some of them wanted me to come to dinner or tea with them so we could talk for more than a few minutes. I didn't mind spending a few minutes standing and talking, but I was on a schedule with a flight leaving at the end of the day so I didn't want to go anywhere with anyone. Also, can we say stranger-danger?
But, but...I was within sight of my last subway entrance that would take me back towards my hotel and a taxi stand when I got stopped again to talk and practice English. I had about 20 minutes extra so I didn't mind too much, and I stopped to talk to them.
It was a girl and her cousin who were from Shanghi and were visiting Beijing because the girl had just finished university. They asked what I'd seen so far and if I'd seen the old china street just behind the last building in the square. They were walking that way, would I like to walk and talk with them? okay. so we walked around the thousands of people and sure enough there was a huge shopping street that I wouldn't have seen. It's for pedestrians only and looked like it was newly renovated. They wanted my email so they could write to me and practice English. I have no reason not to give it to them. I take out my pen and the cousin ducks into a restaurant/tea shop to get paper…but then he sits at a table just inside the door.
I'm confused and ask him if he thinks the owner will mind us sitting down just to write out emails. He says no, and the girl and I sit down too. It's hot, and I have been looking forward to ice cream and want to get going. But I'm polite and chat while they write out their emails. They start to tell me about how Chinese people always get together with their friends and drink tea. And then tea is brought. Ugh.
Okay, I say, I 'll have some tea but I have to be back at my hotel by 3pm. No problem they say. We're sitting just inside the tea shop in front of a window that looks out on the street, so I feel safe, but I was getting annoyed. It was hot, I wanted to get an ice cream bar, not drink hot tea and I wanted to be alone. Not surrounded by people asking me how old I am and if I'm married. But I didn't want to be rude either, so I sat and drank my small cup of tea (and burned my tongue).
The cousin as telling me some crap about how if you drink hot tea when it's hot you'll feel cooler. Whatever, that's why ice-cream was invented. I finish my little cup of tea… but oh, we have to finish the whole pot they say, it's lucky they say. F%*@. I still have time, it's just that I don't want to be here anymore, where as before I was slightly enjoying talking to the locals.
So we finally, finally finish out hot pot of tea. And the cousin calls for the bill. I, being the polite person I am, reach for my wallet to at least pay for my part of the tea even though I was invited. But oh, the cousin's face lights up. You buy for us? he asks. He seemed thrilled so I was like why not, sure.
The bill was 450y!!! That's like 70 US dollars, for a pot of tea you'd get for free if you went out to lunch at any Chinese restaurant. So I pull out a few yuan and fake that that's all the money I had. I might have felt a little bad, but then the cousin presses, "Why not use your credit card". I say it doesn't work in China. "Why not use US dollars?" (I think he got a glance at my wallet when I took it out), I say I only have a few dollars. So he finally, reluctantly give the owner His credit card. Ha!
I say a quick thanks and book it out of there back to the subway, with the cousins trying to keep up with me, regretting my polite/friendly streak. They finally say they're going to stay and shop (as we reach the end of the shopping street) and tell me I should stay in china longer next time I come. I smile vaguely and speed walk back to the subway ready to speak Spanish to the next person who stops to wanting to practice English.
I'm so annoyed at this point because my tongue is burned and I wanted ice cream (it was Hot outside) and I'm running a little late now. I misread a subway sign and got on a train going the wrong way. I noticed immediately and it's a quick fix at the next stop where I get on the right train. But it's a sign of what the next few hours are going to be like for me.
I make it out of the subway and find a taxi. But I have to talk him into driving me to my hotel. I find it's best to get into the taxi first and then try to tell them where you want to go, then they can't drive away from you. While I'm trying to talk to a man that speaks no English whatsoever, another man is outside my window, talking to me, trying to get me to get out of the taxi I'm already in, and get in his car/unofficial taxi. I'm a female and I'm traveling alone at this point. No. Thank you. Plus I'd already used up all my 'Polite' for the day and I eventually got the real taxi to get moving.
I got to the hotel with no problem. I have no idea why the driver didn't want to take me there if he knew where it was all along. I got my bags from the concierge and change my last US dollars to cover the cost of a taxi to the airport. I got a good taxi from the hotel, he has his AC on (score) and it's 4pm on a Sunday so there's no traffic. I relax in the back of the taxi and unceremoniously repack my bag and change shoes (I would have liked to put on non sweaty/sticky clothes before I left the hotel but I packed so well I didn't have extras). We got to the airport sooner than I was expecting.
I checked in, as was asked if I wanted a window seat (thanks China Air). I got through security and was promptly picked up by one of those airport golf carts that gets old people to their gates on time. There was no one on it and the driver asked me which gate I was going to, E6, 'oh that's the farthest one, get on'. Sweet! But about two seconds into the ride he tells me it's going to be 10 yuan. I'm like, just stop the car, I can walk. He's like but it's only 2 US dollars. I'm like F you (in my head, I never Actually cuss people out), fine. So I ride the giant golf cart.
He takes me to the gate and I pay him. I have to then back track to the bathroom that we drove past and the duty free shops I wanted to look in. So I'm annoyed at him for being so pushy.
I stop on my way back from the bathroom to get a bottle of water from the vending machine. The water is 5y, the smallest I have is a 10y but the machine says there is a place for 1,5,10 and 20. So I put my 10y in and get my water.... and it keeps my change. grr.
Whatever, I finally got on the plane and just arrive at my seat when I look over at my "window seat" to find no window. Yes it's the inside seat and there are windows all up and down the plane and there Should be one according to the intervals, but there's just no window whatsoever. Not like it's half behind me (like southwest flights have sometimes) but there is just a wall. China Air:2. Lucy:0.
And that's how I feel like those Chinese people ruined the last part of my day.
And I still had to time change an hour later, wait for the post bus, get a cab from base to my home and take a shower. It was like midnight, but I was home <3
***
Since I don't want to end my blog post that way (and with people getting the wrong impression about how I feel about my trip), I'll admit that I was probably primed to be put in a bad mood, it was the fourth of a really long string of days, it was hot, I felt gross, I was denied ice cream by the gods and I kept dealing with little annoyances.
But looking back at the rest of my trip, I saw some pretty amazing things. I'm So grateful I was able to have this chance to see a lot of beautiful and historically significant places. I'm amazed that I can now say I've been to the Great Wall of China. I saw Pandas in China!! (I LOVE Pandas). I made a huge leap and traveled pretty much on my own (this from a girl who has never been to the movies alone). I also packed lightly!! (I Always over pack). I feel pretty awesome about myself and very thankful that I got to travel to China.
Beijing, China (Saturday)
***
Saturday
Well almost sleep. Allie's roommate came home and started snoring, maybe 2 hours after I went to bed. A few hours later I woke up because Allie finally came back but only a few hours before I had to wake up. So much for my full night of sleep. I didn't wake up in time for breakfast again and had to settle for more granola bars. I got picked up by a different tour guide but the same driver. We only had seven of us on this tour (we had ten the day before), but I liked small tour groups. We had one mixed Asian couple, one older British gent named Geoff, and three new graduates from UC Berkeley! Those girls were fun but it took us a few hours to warm up to each other. They were traveling together across China as a graduation present.
Our guide's name was "Power" we called him Power-walker. He walked so fast he constantly lost our small group (where HE would be the only one not with the group). We went to our first stop, the Summer Palace, it was crowded and the tour of the Palace felt rushed. But it was still beautiful. We got dragged to a Pearl Factory and had a surprisingly good lunch there. We all ate too much because we didn't know the next time we'd get good food.
Then we went to the Forbidden City (call thus because the only person who could come at go at will was the Emperor, once you went inside you were never allowed out, don't ask me why). Well we tried to go to the Forbidden City, this turned out to be harder than it should have been. The gate we were supposed to enter had a looooong line (which we didn't know about until we got off the bus and had to run to catch as it was idling in traffic). We finally got power-walked to a golf cart thing that took us to a less crowded gate. We then got power-walked through the Forbidden City in about half an hour (this place is huge too). But we didn't get to see Tiananmen square.
We then got hauled to a silk factory, which was actually slightly educational, but I was getting annoyed with all the factory stops tours seemed required to make. We finally got taken to the Temple of Heaven. It truly was a paradise of the day. The sunlight was just lowering to the golden hour and the overcast day cleared up. An evening breeze cooled everything off and the colors and shape of the Temple appealed to me on every level, the colors (blues and gold) the shape (round), both my favorites. We even got to skip the power-walking and got set free for half an hour. It was probably my favorite monument after the Great Wall. It even felt alive in a different way than the other over crowded palaces. There were dozens and dozens of retired people sitting around playing card games, or dancing, or singing, some were selling little things they made, but not in an obnoxious way. It felt real and alive and like I was actually seeing part of the city and not just a rush of tourists.
We were all tired and looking forward to going back to our hotels, but no, we got taken to a tea tasting instead. "Power" walked us right past our bus in the parking lot to this tea house (also in the parking lot). *Groans of tiredness* We at least got to sit while they showed us the different teas and had us try them. In truth it was the best factory tour we'd had. I enjoyed tasting the different teas and even bought a few tins of tea (maybe because they looked pretty too). And I got a free cup.
We finally, finally we got taken back to our hotels. There was another note on the bed when I got to the room saying Allie had gone to dinner. I'd missed them by half an hour. Again. I took a shower (happily, you get so grimy on all day tours) and went to dinner alone again in the hotel. I was too tired to explore for food.
I also talked to the concierge to plan my Sunday and met the famous "Storm Li" that all the hotel review sights rave about how good he is. And he was. He saved my Sunday. He found out the remaining things I wanted to see and showed me on two different maps (marking and letting me keep them) how I could take myself on the subway. He then wrote out step by step directions of which stop was which and where to change trains etc, and every detail I needed to know to rule the subway.
I talked to Allie for a short time when she got back from dinner. She has badly hurt her foot on Friday night and had stayed in the room Saturday. I packed and planned my Sunday more than I normally would because I had a plane to catch that Sunday night and didn't want to miss it. Blissful sleep.
(see next post)
Saturday
Well almost sleep. Allie's roommate came home and started snoring, maybe 2 hours after I went to bed. A few hours later I woke up because Allie finally came back but only a few hours before I had to wake up. So much for my full night of sleep. I didn't wake up in time for breakfast again and had to settle for more granola bars. I got picked up by a different tour guide but the same driver. We only had seven of us on this tour (we had ten the day before), but I liked small tour groups. We had one mixed Asian couple, one older British gent named Geoff, and three new graduates from UC Berkeley! Those girls were fun but it took us a few hours to warm up to each other. They were traveling together across China as a graduation present.
Our guide's name was "Power" we called him Power-walker. He walked so fast he constantly lost our small group (where HE would be the only one not with the group). We went to our first stop, the Summer Palace, it was crowded and the tour of the Palace felt rushed. But it was still beautiful. We got dragged to a Pearl Factory and had a surprisingly good lunch there. We all ate too much because we didn't know the next time we'd get good food.
Then we went to the Forbidden City (call thus because the only person who could come at go at will was the Emperor, once you went inside you were never allowed out, don't ask me why). Well we tried to go to the Forbidden City, this turned out to be harder than it should have been. The gate we were supposed to enter had a looooong line (which we didn't know about until we got off the bus and had to run to catch as it was idling in traffic). We finally got power-walked to a golf cart thing that took us to a less crowded gate. We then got power-walked through the Forbidden City in about half an hour (this place is huge too). But we didn't get to see Tiananmen square.
We then got hauled to a silk factory, which was actually slightly educational, but I was getting annoyed with all the factory stops tours seemed required to make. We finally got taken to the Temple of Heaven. It truly was a paradise of the day. The sunlight was just lowering to the golden hour and the overcast day cleared up. An evening breeze cooled everything off and the colors and shape of the Temple appealed to me on every level, the colors (blues and gold) the shape (round), both my favorites. We even got to skip the power-walking and got set free for half an hour. It was probably my favorite monument after the Great Wall. It even felt alive in a different way than the other over crowded palaces. There were dozens and dozens of retired people sitting around playing card games, or dancing, or singing, some were selling little things they made, but not in an obnoxious way. It felt real and alive and like I was actually seeing part of the city and not just a rush of tourists.
We were all tired and looking forward to going back to our hotels, but no, we got taken to a tea tasting instead. "Power" walked us right past our bus in the parking lot to this tea house (also in the parking lot). *Groans of tiredness* We at least got to sit while they showed us the different teas and had us try them. In truth it was the best factory tour we'd had. I enjoyed tasting the different teas and even bought a few tins of tea (maybe because they looked pretty too). And I got a free cup.
We finally, finally we got taken back to our hotels. There was another note on the bed when I got to the room saying Allie had gone to dinner. I'd missed them by half an hour. Again. I took a shower (happily, you get so grimy on all day tours) and went to dinner alone again in the hotel. I was too tired to explore for food.
I also talked to the concierge to plan my Sunday and met the famous "Storm Li" that all the hotel review sights rave about how good he is. And he was. He saved my Sunday. He found out the remaining things I wanted to see and showed me on two different maps (marking and letting me keep them) how I could take myself on the subway. He then wrote out step by step directions of which stop was which and where to change trains etc, and every detail I needed to know to rule the subway.
I talked to Allie for a short time when she got back from dinner. She has badly hurt her foot on Friday night and had stayed in the room Saturday. I packed and planned my Sunday more than I normally would because I had a plane to catch that Sunday night and didn't want to miss it. Blissful sleep.
(see next post)
Beijing, China (Friday)
***
Friday
I woke up easily for me, but knew I'd feel the less-than-normally-long-sleep later. I didn't get a chance to get down to breakfast, but luckily I packed a stash of granola bars. I was the first (and only person from my hotel) to get picked up for the tour. We then picked up; one older couple from Sweden, one older couple from Vancouver, and five exotic flight attendants (2 girls, 3 guys) from Dubai Air.
The tours were smooth, the Chinese public toilets were literally holes in the ground- that took me by surprise and I look forward to never using them again. We drove past the Olympic Park (the Bird's Nest) on the way to the Great Wall and the Ming tombs. We went to the Ming tombs first, it was dusty and a little scruffy, but historically interesting. I'm glad I saw the National Geographic special on the tombs or I wouldn't have been very interested. Next we made our mandatory stop at X store that sponsored our tour. This one was a jade place and it had a restaurant where we ate our prepaid lunch, which really wasn't too great, before we finally headed to the Great Wall!
We got dropped off in a dusty parking lot and rode the gondolas up to the main section of the wall. It was CROWDED, mostly on the insanely steep section up to tower 8, the highest tower. We all got stopped and had Chinese people take pictures with us. They even photo bombed our group shots. It was a a very clear day (for China) and strangely surreal. I took more pictures than strictly necessary because it didn't feel real and I wanted to remember I was really there. The mountains and the strange way the wall curved along the tops of them, almost organically, mesmerized me.
After seeing the Great Wall we got on the bus expecting to get dropped off at our hotels. But no, we got taken to a "free" foot massage place where they were going to be pushing herbal medicine on us from the sound of it. I was still trying to get back in time to meet up with Allie and her group to go to dinner together (it was about 5pm at the time) So when the Swedish couple bailed on the massage and Chinese herbal sale pitch, I jumped ship too. We told the guide we had to go and tried to get a cab. there didn't seem to be a single cab in the city. Just when we thought we'd have to take the subway, a cab stopped for us.
We then got to spend an hour in bumper to bumper traffic in hot direct sunlight with no AC. The couple were really nice and paid for the whole cab ride when I finally got dropped off first. I made it upstairs at 6pm only to find a note from Allie saying they left at 5:30pm. ugh. I was too hot and tired and dehydrated to be too upset though. I took a shower and had dinner alone in the hotel restaurant while listening to some of Allie's classmates who stayed behind gossip like 15 year olds. It was really shear force of will that got me downstairs to eat, I would have just skipped dinner and fallen asleep, but I really hadn't eaten more than granola bars all day. I had the peeking duck. It was kind of chewy.
Allie came back as I was getting ready for an early night, it was only about 8pm but I was Tired. She invited me out to a club with her friends, but I was way too tired to go, and knew I'd have a long day tomorrow. So I went to sleep.
(see next entry)
Friday
I woke up easily for me, but knew I'd feel the less-than-normally-long-sleep later. I didn't get a chance to get down to breakfast, but luckily I packed a stash of granola bars. I was the first (and only person from my hotel) to get picked up for the tour. We then picked up; one older couple from Sweden, one older couple from Vancouver, and five exotic flight attendants (2 girls, 3 guys) from Dubai Air.
The tours were smooth, the Chinese public toilets were literally holes in the ground- that took me by surprise and I look forward to never using them again. We drove past the Olympic Park (the Bird's Nest) on the way to the Great Wall and the Ming tombs. We went to the Ming tombs first, it was dusty and a little scruffy, but historically interesting. I'm glad I saw the National Geographic special on the tombs or I wouldn't have been very interested. Next we made our mandatory stop at X store that sponsored our tour. This one was a jade place and it had a restaurant where we ate our prepaid lunch, which really wasn't too great, before we finally headed to the Great Wall!
We got dropped off in a dusty parking lot and rode the gondolas up to the main section of the wall. It was CROWDED, mostly on the insanely steep section up to tower 8, the highest tower. We all got stopped and had Chinese people take pictures with us. They even photo bombed our group shots. It was a a very clear day (for China) and strangely surreal. I took more pictures than strictly necessary because it didn't feel real and I wanted to remember I was really there. The mountains and the strange way the wall curved along the tops of them, almost organically, mesmerized me.
After seeing the Great Wall we got on the bus expecting to get dropped off at our hotels. But no, we got taken to a "free" foot massage place where they were going to be pushing herbal medicine on us from the sound of it. I was still trying to get back in time to meet up with Allie and her group to go to dinner together (it was about 5pm at the time) So when the Swedish couple bailed on the massage and Chinese herbal sale pitch, I jumped ship too. We told the guide we had to go and tried to get a cab. there didn't seem to be a single cab in the city. Just when we thought we'd have to take the subway, a cab stopped for us.
We then got to spend an hour in bumper to bumper traffic in hot direct sunlight with no AC. The couple were really nice and paid for the whole cab ride when I finally got dropped off first. I made it upstairs at 6pm only to find a note from Allie saying they left at 5:30pm. ugh. I was too hot and tired and dehydrated to be too upset though. I took a shower and had dinner alone in the hotel restaurant while listening to some of Allie's classmates who stayed behind gossip like 15 year olds. It was really shear force of will that got me downstairs to eat, I would have just skipped dinner and fallen asleep, but I really hadn't eaten more than granola bars all day. I had the peeking duck. It was kind of chewy.
Allie came back as I was getting ready for an early night, it was only about 8pm but I was Tired. She invited me out to a club with her friends, but I was way too tired to go, and knew I'd have a long day tomorrow. So I went to sleep.
(see next entry)
Beijing, China (Thursday)
I’ll preface this entry with an explanation. A lot of people were a little confused as to the whys and hows of me ending up in Beijing semi by my self. It’s not that confusing, so follow along.
I live in South Korea because this is where my husband is stationed with the Army.
My friend, Allie, is in law school and took a summer abroad trip through her school that went to Shanghai (or similar, I forget where they actually were).
Allie’s group was going to have a weekend in Beijing (a lot of cool China stuff is there).
Beijing is actually not that far away from where I live.
So since it was
a) cheaper than flying to the states to see my friend and
b) there is a lot of cool stuff in Beijing I wanted to see
It made sense for me to plan a long weekend trip to Beijing and mooch off Allie and her school group by staying in her hotel room.
Plus it wasn’t AS scary as going to China all by myself and not having anyone to notice if I went missing until after my trip was supposed to be over. (Justin isn’t really supposed to go to China for security reasons, plus he doesn’t have a passport yet and he really doesn’t have the days-off necessary, so he couldn’t come with me).
So that’s how I ended up in Beijing “alone” while my friend was on her school tours etc.
***
Thursday (6:40pm Hotel Lobby)
"Somewhere beyond the Sea" came on the lobby music stream. It seemed appropriate since I was sitting there (6 hours later) waiting to meet my friend and thinking I could be with my husband instead.
The bus ride to the airport that morning was fine (after I talked myself down from a panic attack), and everything in the giant Seoul airport went smoothly too. I only had to glance at signs a few times, but otherwise everything was basically intuitive. The flight was short, just under 2 hours and easy. The only down side was my chair didn't recline because I was in front of an exit row. China Air: 1. Lucy: 0.
I got out of the Chinese airport which was even bigger than Seoul's international airport and found a taxi (after a few tries) that seemed to understand where I wanted to go. I was SO pleased that I made it to the hotel right in time for lunch, which seemed over priced, but might not have been as I wasn't used to thinking in the new currency I'd have to use yet. The pizza was 98y and bottled water was 45y, I felt like I was paying 150 dollars for lunch. I mean I wasn't, but still.
So I ate pizza and talked to the concierge about tours, since I wasn't sure what Allie's group would be doing or if I could tag along. I had my plans in place, but I had to be checked in before I could book any tours. ugh.
The biggest problem with hanging out in a hotel lobby (for six hours) is not with finding something to do, I'd brought a book (well Kindle). But it was keeping the staff from looking at me like I might be homeless. I moved around a bit, reading in different places in the lobby and sat even sat outside just to shake things up.
I wished Allie had been able to tell me Before I bought my ticket what time she would be arriving in Beijing, so that I could have arrived closer to when she would. She told me last week that they should be due at the airport about 4pm, so they'd be at the hotel by 5pm. But one of the nice concierge people I had talked to came over and told me that a large school group just called from the airport and were running very late. Well, at least I knew.
Allie showed up about 7pm, sans group. She'd heard they were running late and would be taken from the airport to dinner before coming to the hotel. But she didn't want me to wait longer than I had to so she convinced one of her teachers or something to get a taxi with her and they skipped dinner to come meet me and check in. (yay!)
We checked in, caught up a little while having a dinner of granola bars I'd brought. A group from her school wanted to go the the Silk Market. So we all hopped into two cabs and had a surprisingly nice nighttime cab ride. The windows were open and it was late enough that there was no traffic so we got a running breeze. We also unexpectedly drove past the Forbidden city and Tiananmen square lit up with strings of white lights.
The Silk Market was a standard indoor Asian market. Tons of crowded stalls inside a huge multi floor building with knock-off brands and insistent sales people who were really, really pushy. We got to the market at closing time and inadvertently got some better deals though we didn't have time to shop much.
Getting a ride back was another thing. It was now "late" about 9:30pm and the cabbies wanted to bargain with you instead of running the meter. Five of us ended up getting into a small van that was NOT a taxi, just some guy who gave us a better deal (ie not trying to rip us waaaay off). I would have never done this alone or with a small group of just girls… but we had two guys with us, and it was the middle of a crowded city, but still. We did get back safely. I showered and passed out getting every minute of sleep possible before my 7am tour pick up.
(see next entry)
I live in South Korea because this is where my husband is stationed with the Army.
My friend, Allie, is in law school and took a summer abroad trip through her school that went to Shanghai (or similar, I forget where they actually were).
Allie’s group was going to have a weekend in Beijing (a lot of cool China stuff is there).
Beijing is actually not that far away from where I live.
So since it was
a) cheaper than flying to the states to see my friend and
b) there is a lot of cool stuff in Beijing I wanted to see
It made sense for me to plan a long weekend trip to Beijing and mooch off Allie and her school group by staying in her hotel room.
Plus it wasn’t AS scary as going to China all by myself and not having anyone to notice if I went missing until after my trip was supposed to be over. (Justin isn’t really supposed to go to China for security reasons, plus he doesn’t have a passport yet and he really doesn’t have the days-off necessary, so he couldn’t come with me).
So that’s how I ended up in Beijing “alone” while my friend was on her school tours etc.
***
Thursday (6:40pm Hotel Lobby)
"Somewhere beyond the Sea" came on the lobby music stream. It seemed appropriate since I was sitting there (6 hours later) waiting to meet my friend and thinking I could be with my husband instead.
The bus ride to the airport that morning was fine (after I talked myself down from a panic attack), and everything in the giant Seoul airport went smoothly too. I only had to glance at signs a few times, but otherwise everything was basically intuitive. The flight was short, just under 2 hours and easy. The only down side was my chair didn't recline because I was in front of an exit row. China Air: 1. Lucy: 0.
I got out of the Chinese airport which was even bigger than Seoul's international airport and found a taxi (after a few tries) that seemed to understand where I wanted to go. I was SO pleased that I made it to the hotel right in time for lunch, which seemed over priced, but might not have been as I wasn't used to thinking in the new currency I'd have to use yet. The pizza was 98y and bottled water was 45y, I felt like I was paying 150 dollars for lunch. I mean I wasn't, but still.
So I ate pizza and talked to the concierge about tours, since I wasn't sure what Allie's group would be doing or if I could tag along. I had my plans in place, but I had to be checked in before I could book any tours. ugh.
The biggest problem with hanging out in a hotel lobby (for six hours) is not with finding something to do, I'd brought a book (well Kindle). But it was keeping the staff from looking at me like I might be homeless. I moved around a bit, reading in different places in the lobby and sat even sat outside just to shake things up.
I wished Allie had been able to tell me Before I bought my ticket what time she would be arriving in Beijing, so that I could have arrived closer to when she would. She told me last week that they should be due at the airport about 4pm, so they'd be at the hotel by 5pm. But one of the nice concierge people I had talked to came over and told me that a large school group just called from the airport and were running very late. Well, at least I knew.
Allie showed up about 7pm, sans group. She'd heard they were running late and would be taken from the airport to dinner before coming to the hotel. But she didn't want me to wait longer than I had to so she convinced one of her teachers or something to get a taxi with her and they skipped dinner to come meet me and check in. (yay!)
We checked in, caught up a little while having a dinner of granola bars I'd brought. A group from her school wanted to go the the Silk Market. So we all hopped into two cabs and had a surprisingly nice nighttime cab ride. The windows were open and it was late enough that there was no traffic so we got a running breeze. We also unexpectedly drove past the Forbidden city and Tiananmen square lit up with strings of white lights.
The Silk Market was a standard indoor Asian market. Tons of crowded stalls inside a huge multi floor building with knock-off brands and insistent sales people who were really, really pushy. We got to the market at closing time and inadvertently got some better deals though we didn't have time to shop much.
Getting a ride back was another thing. It was now "late" about 9:30pm and the cabbies wanted to bargain with you instead of running the meter. Five of us ended up getting into a small van that was NOT a taxi, just some guy who gave us a better deal (ie not trying to rip us waaaay off). I would have never done this alone or with a small group of just girls… but we had two guys with us, and it was the middle of a crowded city, but still. We did get back safely. I showered and passed out getting every minute of sleep possible before my 7am tour pick up.
(see next entry)
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Collection of Thoughts
I haven't had a coherent set of thoughts or unusual events to write about, so I've put off writing. But these are some thoughts I've had in the past month. I'll be posting something about my China trip soon though. Until then, welcome to my brain when it's drifting.
***
Working out always seems to come to an end for me either when I hurt myself, or talk my self into too many days in a row off and then I just lose momentum.
One of the things I’ve heard since I got here (and people found out that I enjoy dancing) is ‘You should try Zumba!’, convinced that by telling me they’re letting me in on the greatest secret in the world. In truth it’s a cool concept, working out by dancing and Brazilian dancing at that (almost anything Brazilian is cool). But I had to adjust to freezing winter that didn’t make me feel like leaving the house for Any reason. And then the fact that there was either a morning class (I’m not a morning person) or the afternoon class (which would have made me loose time with my husband whom I’d only been married to for a short time and traveled half way around the world to be with). So it finally started getting brighter earlier and I agreed to let a friend pick me up (saving me my third excuse of having to walk to an exercise class).
The class we went to was the morning class, and admittedly Zumba IS fun. It got me going faster than a cup of joe that early (for me) in the morning. Then we stayed for the class immediately after and I got to try Pilates for the first time too. All and all a good work out day. That was a friday so I had all weekend to rest too.
Monday, bright and early, I got picked up and taken to another round of Zumba and Pilates (and hour for each class). Tuesday Zumba was taught by a different instructor in the gym, this class was a little later in the morning and populated by more new moms complete with babies and baby fat. I didn’t catch on as quickly in this new class and so didn’t get as good a workout. But the next day was Zumba/Pilates again, so I took the break where I could.
And then I decided I needed a day off and wasn’t sure how I felt about the Tuesday/Thursday class. Friday I had the satisfaction of feeling more in shape and able to follow almost all the moves.
The current week, Ceci and I decided to step it up a bit and met to walk to class. Then Tuesday arrived and we decided to step it up one more notch and run around base before the later morning Zumba class. We did okay for two people who hadn’t run in a while and I felt like I followed the moves in class Much much better. But as we we stretching at the end of class I notched my knee hurting and didn’t want to kneel on it. I still had to walk home, shower and walk back to base to meet Justin for lunch but luckily it took me so long to get home that I “had” to call a taxi to take me to lunch.
My left knee hurt in a weird way, like it was severely bruised on top of the fact that my legs we just plain tired. Justin said I probably hyper extended it when I was running and that I should stay off it until it felt better.
I needed no further convincing to take the next day off class… and stay on the couch… and eat a bacon and bacon toast sandwich… and red vines…and a coke light. My knee felt much better since I stayed off of it, but I’m hoping it’s better for class by Friday, because if I stay home and rest it much longer, my bacon sandwich will look healthy by comparison to my “get better” foods of choice.
***
I sometimes wonder how my personal perception is different than that of other people. The best example (or simplest example actually) is that of color. I see a red toy. I know it is red. Someone else can look at the toy and tell me that they see red too. But how do I know they are seeing the SAME red that I see? If I were able to take a picture through my eyes and through their eyes and hold them up side by side, would they be the same shade of color? Or would it look like one was blue and the other was red or some other opposites on the color wheel.
The same with feeling or with taste or with… I just lost my train of thought. My point was, how do I know that even though we are all human, we see and experience the world in the same way.
I’m sure there is some scientific study about all this, but that’s not my point. I don’t really care what science has to say about perception. I care about how other people see things. and maybe why it’s hard for other people to see things the way I do.
***
I keep having the strangest dreams. They leave me feeling disoriented and tired when I wake up. I can usually tell they’re not real when I’m in them, and I think something like ‘well, this is odd’ but that doesn’t stop them from draining me of a good nights sleep.
Maybe it’s because the weather has been getting warmer. We slept with the window open a few nights to stay cool and I thought maybe the subconscious fear of someone breaking in our first story apartment was giving me strange dreams and keeping me on the edge of wakefulness. Then we finally broke and started using the AC. The dreams remain.
I’m still stuck in the ‘longing to bundle up for safety’ vs sleeping with no covers because it’s hot at night. I feel compelled to sleep with my back either covered up to my head or with my back to a wall or similar. Either way I’m not sleeping well and I get to wake up to confused thoughts and a sweaty pillow.
***
Working out always seems to come to an end for me either when I hurt myself, or talk my self into too many days in a row off and then I just lose momentum.
One of the things I’ve heard since I got here (and people found out that I enjoy dancing) is ‘You should try Zumba!’, convinced that by telling me they’re letting me in on the greatest secret in the world. In truth it’s a cool concept, working out by dancing and Brazilian dancing at that (almost anything Brazilian is cool). But I had to adjust to freezing winter that didn’t make me feel like leaving the house for Any reason. And then the fact that there was either a morning class (I’m not a morning person) or the afternoon class (which would have made me loose time with my husband whom I’d only been married to for a short time and traveled half way around the world to be with). So it finally started getting brighter earlier and I agreed to let a friend pick me up (saving me my third excuse of having to walk to an exercise class).
The class we went to was the morning class, and admittedly Zumba IS fun. It got me going faster than a cup of joe that early (for me) in the morning. Then we stayed for the class immediately after and I got to try Pilates for the first time too. All and all a good work out day. That was a friday so I had all weekend to rest too.
Monday, bright and early, I got picked up and taken to another round of Zumba and Pilates (and hour for each class). Tuesday Zumba was taught by a different instructor in the gym, this class was a little later in the morning and populated by more new moms complete with babies and baby fat. I didn’t catch on as quickly in this new class and so didn’t get as good a workout. But the next day was Zumba/Pilates again, so I took the break where I could.
And then I decided I needed a day off and wasn’t sure how I felt about the Tuesday/Thursday class. Friday I had the satisfaction of feeling more in shape and able to follow almost all the moves.
The current week, Ceci and I decided to step it up a bit and met to walk to class. Then Tuesday arrived and we decided to step it up one more notch and run around base before the later morning Zumba class. We did okay for two people who hadn’t run in a while and I felt like I followed the moves in class Much much better. But as we we stretching at the end of class I notched my knee hurting and didn’t want to kneel on it. I still had to walk home, shower and walk back to base to meet Justin for lunch but luckily it took me so long to get home that I “had” to call a taxi to take me to lunch.
My left knee hurt in a weird way, like it was severely bruised on top of the fact that my legs we just plain tired. Justin said I probably hyper extended it when I was running and that I should stay off it until it felt better.
I needed no further convincing to take the next day off class… and stay on the couch… and eat a bacon and bacon toast sandwich… and red vines…and a coke light. My knee felt much better since I stayed off of it, but I’m hoping it’s better for class by Friday, because if I stay home and rest it much longer, my bacon sandwich will look healthy by comparison to my “get better” foods of choice.
***
I sometimes wonder how my personal perception is different than that of other people. The best example (or simplest example actually) is that of color. I see a red toy. I know it is red. Someone else can look at the toy and tell me that they see red too. But how do I know they are seeing the SAME red that I see? If I were able to take a picture through my eyes and through their eyes and hold them up side by side, would they be the same shade of color? Or would it look like one was blue and the other was red or some other opposites on the color wheel.
The same with feeling or with taste or with… I just lost my train of thought. My point was, how do I know that even though we are all human, we see and experience the world in the same way.
I’m sure there is some scientific study about all this, but that’s not my point. I don’t really care what science has to say about perception. I care about how other people see things. and maybe why it’s hard for other people to see things the way I do.
***
I keep having the strangest dreams. They leave me feeling disoriented and tired when I wake up. I can usually tell they’re not real when I’m in them, and I think something like ‘well, this is odd’ but that doesn’t stop them from draining me of a good nights sleep.
Maybe it’s because the weather has been getting warmer. We slept with the window open a few nights to stay cool and I thought maybe the subconscious fear of someone breaking in our first story apartment was giving me strange dreams and keeping me on the edge of wakefulness. Then we finally broke and started using the AC. The dreams remain.
I’m still stuck in the ‘longing to bundle up for safety’ vs sleeping with no covers because it’s hot at night. I feel compelled to sleep with my back either covered up to my head or with my back to a wall or similar. Either way I’m not sleeping well and I get to wake up to confused thoughts and a sweaty pillow.
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