Birthday

On my Birthday, the weather was extremely hot. I carried around a parasol all day long. It served me a little but one needs a space suit AC unit here these days. I had breakfast and lunch with my lovely wife. Breakfast was delicious oatmeal ala Jill. She tried cooking diced apple with the oatmeal but we agreed the apple is much better added after cooking because its flavor disappeared in the process. Lunch was at an all-you-can-eat Vegan buffet and so satisfying. There were piles of food everywhere including delicious desserts. We’ve been to several of these buffets but this one is my favorite. It is called Ai Su Fang. After lunch Jill ran off to work. I went to the Shenzhen museum and wandered around. I looked at pottery fragments, stone tools, bronze tools, and iron tools from long ago. I looked at the horrific Opium war and and trade forced upon China in the 19th century. China likes to show that it has been treated terribly. If you don’t know anything about the Opium war it is a good story to know about China. A volunteer docent approached me and asked if I was with someone at the museum. I told her that I was alone. She then told me she would be my guide and escorted me to all of the exhibits in the place. We went through 2 more floors. She chatted away in broken english interrupted by head smacks and internet searches for English words. It was delightful. I think she said her name was the words for 5 6 7 in Chinese wŭ liù qī. I’m not sure that sounds right as I think back now though. Her moniker on the app Wechat is Sailing. Sailing just graduated from high school and will attend university next year. Her grandmother sewed on a pedal sewing machine. We found out in a room full of taxidermy animals that her favorite is the raccoon. She thinks old phones are neat as well. She said she would learn better english and take me on a real tour again someday. I bid her farewell at the door but she tried to escort me to the library down the block. I told her I’d been there and she sadly said she would let me go. We hit five and I went to the subway and came home for a nap, birthdays are exhausting.

Birthday Lunch
Lunch at the Buffet

 

Me and My Friend
Me and Sailing

 

I didn't know there was a picture happening here.
I didn’t know there was a picture happening here.

 

Me and Deng Xiaopeng
That is the waxen likeness of Deng Xiaopeng the founder of modern Shenzhen. That is his car. A replica of his hotel room is also in the museum.

 

Me and Sailing
The peace sign is popular in photos.

6 thoughts on “Birthday

  • July 23, 2016 at 11:28 am
    Permalink

    A birthday to remember!!!

    Reply
  • July 23, 2016 at 4:29 pm
    Permalink

    It was so great to face time with you Martin!! I miss you and hope we could get see you this winter!

    Reply
  • July 23, 2016 at 10:22 pm
    Permalink

    We loved facetiming with you, Martin, and reading your birthday blog. I did see the photos just now. Thanks! Stay in touch and keep cool!
    Love, Mom and Dad

    Reply
  • July 23, 2016 at 11:16 pm
    Permalink

    I like your cat shirt.

    Reply
  • July 23, 2016 at 11:42 pm
    Permalink

    Wow!!! What an awesome day!! Happy birthday from New York. 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.