Jinli Street, Chengdu

Chengdu is a city brimming with a strong leisurely ambience. Jinli Street is particularly representative of this city.

It is recorded that as early as the Qin Dynasty (221 BC - 206 BC), Jinli Street was the most famous place for baldachin - a rich, ornate cloth. And it was one of the busiest commercial streets during the Shu Kingdom (221-263). Hence, it is known as 'First Street of the Shu Kingdom'.

In order to reclaim the street's prosperity of former days, it was restored with contributions from the Wuhou Memorial Temple and was opened to public in October of 2004. Since then, visitors from all over China and abroad gather in this ancient street to relax, admire the traditional-style buildings, and taste some local snacks.

Copied from - http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/sichuan/chengdu/jinli-street.htm - more info on their site.

I really enjoyed visiting Jinli street with my chinese friend who lives in Chengdu, she said you haven't really been to Chengdu until you've visited Jinli Street.

Ducks?

From a friend in the South

Christmas in Australia

These are a few of my favourite things about Christmas in Australia

1) Time with my family - the whole family getting together around the table, sharing memories from the year.

2) Yummy Yummy Food!!! - so many special treats like: Choc Self-Saucing Pudding - with Icecream, Fruit Cake - with custard, Lebkuchen, and so much more!! I also love baking with my mum and making our own chocolates with my brother. ^.^

3) Summer Sunshine - I really enjoy going to the beach with friends, going on picnics by the river, blue skies and misty mountain mornings.

4) Bushwalking - there is something so beautiful about wondering thru gumtrees, along the trodden path, finding native plants and animals, and stumbling across a waterfall tucked in a valley. I like going with friends so we can point out things we spot to each other.

Chinese Wedding

I've had this post in my drafts box since May last year, time to publish!

Last May I was invited by my friend to attend her Wedding Celebration, we met at her apartment and watched her husband carry her up the stairs! Then they gave tea to their parents, aunts and uncles to show respect and were given red packets in return.

We then got into a bus and drove for 3 hours to a rural town where her husband grew up.

When we got there people were setting off fireworks and handing out lollies, everyone was so excited! We then went inside and they did more tea ceremonies for his family and other ceremonies to bring luck and prosperity.

Then my friend got changed and we went to a big banquet. I'll add more photo's soon but I thought it would be good to just get this one out there.

Cherry Blossom Time

Hello! Well here I go, having another try at this blogging thing.

On Saturday just gone I was invited by 3 different groups of friends to go and see the flowers! It is Spring here and that means lots of flowers but especially Cherry Blossoms!
The Wuhan University is famous for it's Cherry Blossoms, that was the offer I took up and I'm so glad I did! I had so much fun and it was sooo beautiful!
Here are some pictures, hope you enjoy! The white ones are the Cherry Blossoms, the pink are Peach Blossoms.

First Baking Experience in China

On Saturday I made Peanut Butter Choc Chip Cookies!!!
I love baking but without an oven I have been discouraged :( but on Sat I decided to have a go and asked a friend with an oven if we could do some baking, she loved the idea and so began the fun!
We said we would take some pics but then forgot so sorry no pics of my first China experience but I have added a pic of baking I did over Christmas break.
Let me know if you have any must try receipes, I love to try new foods!

Chinese hair cut

Well I must say I'm kind of disappointed I don't have a camera to show you photo's, I have a before shot because I went out with friends last Sat but I don't have an after shot so you'll just have to wait and see!
So this pic on the right is the before shot, see my lovely long curly hair? I got about SIX inches cut off!!! Crazy crazy crazy !?! This thought was running through my head after the hair dresser tried blow-drying my hair to show me it wouldn't be too short when dry, I told him before he started 'I have crazy curly hair, if you don't know how to cut curly hair please just give me a trim, if you know what you are doing then I'm open to suggestions.' So he got out his book and showed me this beautiful girl with curly hair that came to just below her shoulders and said 'I think this will work well for you' hmmm so I thought about it and decided why not, it's not every day you have your first Chinese hair cut! And now I leave you in suspense waiting til the next time you see me, I'll let you decide if you think it was worth the risk! hehehe!