Thai by Simon

Just when I thought life couldn’t get any drearier, it did. It has been raining on and off (mostly on) for about three weeks now. The few dry days we’ve had, have been sad and grey. I’m a solar-powered girl, so for me, the weather really impacts my mood. Some people claim rainy days or sunny, they suffer no side affects. Okay. Sure. Whatever. This morning I woke up, poked my head through the curtains and then promptly went right back to where I came from; curled up under a cozy flannel blanket dreaming the morning away – only to awake a few hours later to the same reality. What does any of this have to do with Thai food? Basically nothing. Well, other than the fact that one of the best restaurants in town has closed its doors for good. No warnings. No goodbyes. Nada. I guess it just sort of adds to the general dreariness of life lately. The few people that have visited me here in my temporary home know the impact this will have. It was one of my favorite places to eat, and not just in China.

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Photo Booth

*****

Street art in Shanghai - We were just passing by, but looking at this photo, I now wish that I would have stopped and taken a closer look. I'm always afraid to seem too interested 'cause then the pressure is on to buy.

I Was Here

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While shuffling through some recent photos, I came across this particular one, and found myself thinking “gosh, that’s me, a small-town girl a very long, long way from home.” Who would have thought? Not me! At times the world seems pretty small, but at this particular moment it felt big, incredibly big.

Often I find myself in different situations, for example; having dinner with friends, at a wedding, riding in a taxi, or shopping downtown, and feel as though I am experiencing them similar to how you would experience a movie；I guess that would explain it best. I mean you are there, in the thick of it and at the same time, somewhat…well, seemingly not really there. Everything is foreign. The faces, cuisine, fashion, art, customs, architecture, landscapes, world views and language all seem, at times, surreal.

Oversized Load

I have been trying to get a photo like this for some time, and it’s a bit trickier than you might think. Seemingly, it boils down to always being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This guy almost snuck by me as we were intently focused on trying to flag down a taxi. If my multi-tasking husband wouldn’t have brought him to my attention, he would have quickly disappeared into a bustling city, full of commotion. It is fairly common to see a truck, scooter, bike or any other moving vehicle for that matter, making its way down the road, maxed out, above and beyond capacity.

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One Spring Morning

I would have to say, one of the perks that come along with living in China, make that Suzhou, would have to be the 'early' arrival of spring. 'Early' according to Michigan standards, of which I happen to be a bit more familiar.

As I looked out the window this morning, I noticed many subtle but pleasant changes. While I love all of the seasons for different reasons, I do have my own particular favorite. I’m sure if you know me, or have followed my blog, it’s not too terribly hard to figure out which one. However, spring runs a pretty close second.

Now it’s safe to bet, that in the upcoming days ahead, winter will undoubtedly have a few last words, but in the end, will make way for its welcomed replacement.

Below are the photos I promised. Klynt took most of these, okay, not most, but ALL. My camera and I are having a bit of a spat. Don’t worry, we’ll work it out. (Is anybody interested in buying a really nice digital camera?)

Aren’t these tiny, little blossoms sweet?

Harbingers

Pssst…look who’s in town! Spring is quietly making her appearance. Just wait until they blossom; soon, very soon. I will post photos - promise.
*Note* Do not be startled or confused by the use of a big word in the title. It is the only one I know and can spell. It probably won’t happen again.

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Guanqian Jie (Walking Street)

You may have heard me mention Walking Street before, but in case you haven’t, it’s a popular shopping district downtown Suzhou. There are no cars, scooters or bicycles allowed, hence the name. I know there are a few photos of vehicles, but these were taken near the entrance. Since we’re on holiday, Klynt and I decided to spend the afternoon doing a little people-watching…with our cameras of course!