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Arturo and Maria Lagos
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Photos taken: November 09/ Fotos tomadas: Noviembre 09
With so much going on we are lucky we find time enough to update our blog from time to time. This particular post is actually when we went to Shanghai back in November. We spent Thanksgiving there and let us tell you is was awesome! It definitely is a woman's paradise. It's full of shopping, shopping, and more shopping.
Shanghai has a population of about 15,000,000 while Dalian has a population of almost 7,000,000. So you can imagine how much more crowded Shanghai is vs. Dalian. And oh yes, we experienced that first hand when we took the subway. A massive group of people coming out of the train while another grand mass of people trying to get in. We had to push our way in, no joke. Some of the staff were pushing people in in order to close the doors! Just imagine New York's subway station on steroids. The whole city is super charged compared to New York.
Spanish Translation ( ST) : Con tanto que hacer tenemos suerte que podemos encontrar tiempo para escribir de nuestras experiencias. Este paseo en particular fue en Noviembre. Pasamos el Dia de la Gracias ayi. Y no la pasamos de maravilla, nos encanto. Es el paraiso de la mujer. Puro compra, compras y mas compras.
Shanghai tiene una poblacion de 15,000,000 cuando Dalian solo tiene 7,000,000 personas. So ya se pueden imaginar que tan mas abarrotado es Shanghai comparado con Dalian. De eso nos dimos cuenta cuando tomamo el subway (tren). Avia mucha gente saliendo del tren cuando tambien avia un monton de gente tratando de entrar al tren, ha la misma vez. Teniamos que empujarnos adentro para no perder el tren. Algunos de los trabajadores empujaba gente adentro para poder cerrar las puertas. Nomas imaginense Nueva York en esteroides.
This was our view from our room./ La vista de nuestro cuarto de hotel.
It is very typical to see this in China, buildings with extravagant lighting./ Es muy tipico ver esto en China, edificios con luzes extravagantes.
After dinner we decided to take a walk to Harbor Lake and enjoy the boats passing by, but enjoyment was not an option. We were attacked by so many vendors. They saw foreigners so they ran up to us and started selling anything they could. "Come come, looka looka", is what they would say in English. lol At one point we had 4 vendors and a homeless guy in front of us. We kept saying "Bu yao, bu yao!" ( I don't want, I don't want), but they wouldn't give up. The homeless guy saw that we weren't bugging so he snatched our left over food that we were carrying in our hands from dinner. lolST: Despues de cenar fuimos Harbor Lake para mirar los barcos pasar, pero no pudimos disfrutar nada. Fuimos atacados un monton de vendedores. Miraron estranjeros y se vinieron ensima. " Ven ven, mira mira", es lo que decian. En un instante abia 4 vendedores y un señor pidiendo dinero. Nomas deciamos nosotros " Bu yao, bu yao!", (no quiero, no quiero), pero no se hiban. El señor que pedia dinero se fue con comida que nos sobro de la cena. :)
This was outside a very large commercial street. Most of these bikes belong to vendors./ Aqui es una gran calle comercial. La mayoria de las bicicletas le pertenese ha los vendedores.
Melissa and Mike
Julio and Maria
And the Kids :)
And the Kids :)
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Arturo and Maria Lagos
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Woo hoo!.... we love spa days. In China you get great services for very cheap. Since I (Maria) don't work, I get to enjoy more of these great services more often than my hard working husband. he he. But once in a while we go together and enjoy a nice anmo (massage).
Just so you get an idea a decent face massage will normally cost any where from $50-$100 in the US, in China 60RMB ( less than $10 US).
On this particular day we decided to try something new rather than the usual oil massage. We wanted to try more traditional Chinese services.
Spanish Translation (ST): Nos encanta ir ha darnos un masaje. En China uno pueda tener un masaje por bien varato. Como yo (Maria) no trabajo, puedo disfrutar de estos servicios mas que mi esposo trabajador. he he. Pero algunas veces si vamos juntos ha darnos anmo (masaje). Nomas para que tengan una idea, un masaje facial cueste como $50-$100 en los Estados Unidos. Pero en China cuesta como 60RMB (menos de $10).
En este dia particular decidimos tratar algo nuevo. Queriamos tratar servicios tradicionales de China.
Chinese Cupping
It's suppose to be good for relieving sickness, pain or stress. The more purple the cup leaves on your back means the more tense that area is. Arturo said it didn't hurt and all he felt was a lot of pressure. Circles on his back lasted about 3 weeks. I tried it a few days ago and it will be the last time I will ever do it. It hurt so bad, the lady kept telling me..... "It hurts because you don't have enough skin for the suction, so you feel more pressure than others"....lol ha ha. I thought it was funny the way she said it.
If you are interested in reading more about this here is a link I found: http://www.chinesecupping.net/
ST: Catacion Chino: Este proseso es para aliviar todo el mal, dolor ho estres. Entre mas morado deje las copas en la espalada es que ay mas tencion en esa area. Arturo dijo que no le dolio nada que nomas sentia presion. Los circulos le duraron como 3 semanas. Yo trate este proseso ase 3 dias y no me gusto. Me dolio un monton. La señora me decia... "Es que no tienes tanto pellejo poreso sientes mas presion" ja ja
Scraping
So I ( Maria) got my back scraped. It's also meant for relieving tension. I can't lie, this also hurt me a lot.
ST: Yo (Maria) trate este tratamiento, se llama raspar. Tambien es para aliviar la tension del cuerpo. No puedo mentir, esto tambien me dolio mucho.
This is the place we stayed at for the day. It was awesome! A full size suite just for us! The bathroom has a sauna and jacuzzi.
ST: Este es el lugar donde nos quedamos por el dia. El baño tenia un sauna y jacuzzi.
Over all Chinese remedies are great! One of my favorite things to get done is acupuncture. / Dentro de lo que cabe, los remedios Chinos nos magnificos! Unas de las cosas que me gusta tratar es la acupuntura.
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Maria, Melissa, Maria
This was the day after New Years. We went to Liberty Park in Downtown Dalian because we heard there was going to be some performances and a lot of other things going on. We get there and it was DEAD. Nothing. There weren't a lot of people which it's not usual to see empty places in China. There were many vendors but we were expecting this big crazy after party at the park. It was not all a loss though, we did see some really cool Chinese decorations. China loves bright colors so they decorated the entire park with traditional New Year ornaments.
Spanish Translation (ST): El dia despues de Año Nuevo fuimos ha un parque en el centro de Dalian, nos comentaron que hiba aber un funcionamiento de baile y otras cosas. Cuando llegamos estaba vacio. Nada. No abia mucha gente, y eso no es comun en China. Si abia mucho vendedores pero estabamos esperando una gran fiesta!
No todo el dia fue una perdida, si vimos muchas decoraciones bonitas. China les encanta los colores brillantes y si decoraron todo el parque con diferentes adornos tradicionales.
This guy seems to be selling popcorn. Which is the first time I (Maria) have seen a vendor sell in China. Normally I see some type of meat on a stick.
ST: Este señor estaba vendiento palomitas. Fue la primera vez que yo (Maria) miro alguien vendiendo palomitas, normalmente se mira alquien vendiendo una clase de carne en un palo, como brochetas.
Gotta have your dumplings!/ ST: Tiene uno que comer sus dumplings.
Now here we go, the famous meat on a stick. Oh..... and on your right there is some yummy sausages. Chinese people love sausages you have no idea. One of these days I'll have take a picture of the sausage aisle at the supermarket.
ST: Ahora aqui estan las famosas brochetas. Oh... y a su derecha puede mirar salchichas. A los Chinos les encanta las salchichas.
Mmmmmmmmm
Decorations/ Decoraciones
This guy makes sugar animals by blowing with his mouth. Very cool, there is video below./ ST: Este señor ase figuras de animales soplando. Abajo esta el video.
Password/ Clave: mlagos
This is the mall near our house. This was a few days before the New Year, it was worse than the day before Xmas.
ST: Este centro comercial esta cerca de nuestra casa. Este foto fue algunos dias antes de Año Nuevo, era peor que las compras de Navidad.
These are some of the traditional New Year decorations/ ST: Estas son algunas decoraciones tradicionales.
Oh and Happy Valentines Day!/ Feliz dia de Valentin
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El Año Del Tigre
Happy Chinese New Years! This year is the Year of the Tiger. We spent it in Downtown Dalian, booked a room at a hotel and watched fireworks all day and night. New Years Eve ( Feb. 13th) was pretty crazy with fireworks all over the place. It sounded like a war was going on outside. Gotta love China when you can set off firework just outside your hotel right on the street. It makes 4th of July seem like a joke! The craziest thing we saw was how close these fireworks were to buildings and cars. People were setting off fireworks with no concern what so ever.
Chinese New Years to Chinese people is very important. Many people take these days as a time to visit family that they haven't seen for the whole year. We heard that some Chinese don't have many days off through out the year to visit family from other provinces, so the only two times they travel is on Chinese New Years and Autumn Festival.
Spanish Translation (ST):
Feliz Año Nuevo Chino! El Año Del Tigre. No la pasamos en el centro de Dalian, reservamos un cuarto en un hotel y disfrutamos fuegos artificiales dia y noche. Febrero 13 era el dia antes de Año Nuevo y abia cuetes por todos lados. Parecia que abia una guerra afuera. Ase ver el 4 de Julio como un chiste, con tantos cuetes. Uno tiene que adorar China cuando se puede tronar cuetes afuera del hotel, en la calle. :) Lo mas asombrante que vimos fue que la gente estaba tronando cuetes muy cerca de los edificios y carros sin ningun cuidado.
El Año Nuevo para los Chinos es muy imporatante. La mayoria de la gente toma estos dias para visitar ha sus familias que no han visto por todo el año. Nos comentaron que algunos Chinos no tienen muchos dias de vacaciones para visitar ha sus familias de otras provincias, so la mayoria nomas viaja solo dos veces por año que son en Año Nuevo y el Festival de Otoño.
El Año Nuevo para los Chinos es muy imporatante. La mayoria de la gente toma estos dias para visitar ha sus familias que no han visto por todo el año. Nos comentaron que algunos Chinos no tienen muchos dias de vacaciones para visitar ha sus familias de otras provincias, so la mayoria nomas viaja solo dos veces por año que son en Año Nuevo y el Festival de Otoño.
Old traditional Chinese wedding attire. Now days Chinese people are embracing more of the western customs, such as the famous white dress.
ST: Esta ropa era la ropa tradicional en China cuando abia boda. Ahora en dias los Chinos tiene bodas mas occidentales, como el bestido blanco de una novia.
This was just outside our hotel room window./ST: Esto era afuera de nuestro cuarto de hotel.
This a picture was taken about 8pm on New Years Eve. It is unusual to see empty streets at that hour, especially in Downtown China. Since we've lived here traffic is inevitable. But because of the holiday the majority is with their families. Also, as you can see it almost seems like Las Vegas with all the lights. Now imagine this times 100. China likes to use a lot of lights for pretty much all their buildings. (Some more than others)
ST: Esta foto la tomamos ha las 8pm. Es raro mirar las calle sin un monton de carros, especialmente ha esta hora y en Centro de Dalian. Desde de que llegamos a Dalian traffico es inevitable. Pero como es dia festivo la gente esta con sus familias.Y claro como se mira en la foto, parece como un mini Las Vegas con un monton de luzes. China les encanta las luzes en casi todos sus edificios. Claro algunos edificios mas que otros.
It was barley 9pm and people were already blowing fireworks./ ST: Apenas y eran las 9pm y la gente ya estaba quemando cuetes.
This was taken about 10pm./ ST: Foto fue tomada como las 10pm.
A very special tradition in China is making lots and lots of dumplings! Dumplings for Chinese are like tamales for Mexicans. One of the traditions that both Chinese and Mexicans have is women always/ often do the cooking!
Since the place we stayed at was an international hotel, the cafeteria held a dumpling making event. Both men and women were able to learn how to make dumplings with different stuffings.
ST: Una tradicion muy especial en China es cocinar "dumplings" (bola de masa). Los dumplings para los Chinos son como los tamales par los Mexicanos. Una cosa en comun que tienen los Chinos con los Mexicanos es que las mujeres son las conineras. Como el lugar en que nos quedamos es un hotel internacional, la cafeteria de alli tuvo un evento de cocinar dumplings. Nos enseñaron como aser dumplings con diferentes rellenos.
It's a little hard to see it but on the center of the street they set up tons of boxes of fireworks./ ST: Es un poco dificil de mirar pero en el centro de la calle ya tienian listos un monton de fuegos artificiales.
Now this was 12am..... it was sooo loud, we couldn't here the person next to us. The fireworks were so low to the ground that the ashes would sometimes fall on our clothes. Not to mention how close the fireworks are to the buildings. It was an experience!! It was like something we've NEVER seen before. There were fireworks all over the place, in front, behind, to the sides. It was CRAZY!
ST: Ahora si son las 12am.... y estaba muy ruidoso que no se podia oir la persona junto ha uno. Los fuegos estaban tan cerca de los edificios. Deberas que si era una experiencia!! Era como algo que no abiamos visto antes. Abia fuego por todos lados, al frente, atras, por los lados donde quiera!!.
There was so much smoke that it made it hard to breathe./ ST: Abia tanto humo que era dificil para respirar.
Password/ Clave: mlagos
This was the next day, outside our hotel. Imagine this x 100! This was just used by our hotel alone.
ST: Este fue el siguiente dia afuera de nuestro hotel. Imaginense esto multiplicado por 100. Estos fuegos solo lo es hotel enque nos quedamos.
Lion Dance
The Lion Dance is a traditional dance for Chinese New Years. Usually there's drums like the ones above setting the beat for the lions. The lions consists of two people usually men, imagine a horse costume, one guy in the front being the head and the other the ass. :) The dancing is awesome! They do some acrobat moves, human pyramids and standing on two legs with someone on their shoulders.
ST: El baile del Leon es un baile tradicional para celebrar el Año Nuevo. Usualmente usan tambores para darle el ritmo al baile. Y los leones son dos personal usualmente son hombres, imginense un disfraz de caballo, ay alguien en frente siendo la cabeza y la otra persona es el trasero. :) El baile es increible, asen movimientos acrobaticos, pyramides humanas y parandose con do piernas con alguien arriba de los hombros.
Look at the face of the lady to the left....... priceless. :) ha ha/ ST: Miren la cara de la señora al le izquierda.....esta foto no tiene precio. he he he