Hi Everyone......it's Friday and I'm so excited it's the weekend!
Hmmm, what have I done this week???
Well, I've been attempting to get to the gym as much as possible.....between being in China and being in Chicago I've put on about 10 pounds......aarrrgghhhh. So need to peel it off again....if only I could peel it off!
Last weekend was reasonably quiet, but on Sunday I went to have a couple "quiet" drinks with Ryan, Sam and Pam at the Boathouse in Central Park. Ended up being there for like four hours and numerous very strong Long Island Ice Teas and Mojitos....needless to say, I was very merry....then suceeded in making many drunken phone calls, as per usual. Oh well, lots of fun and the weather has been amazing! Also, chatted to Phil a couple times....nice, cute and very excited about the whole thing!
This week has been fairly uneventful.....other than work and gym. Had dinner with Justus and Laurie at their apartment....had been about 8 months since I'd seen them so it was a really great catch up.....scary how quickly time flies! We had Jambalaya for dinner and then cherrys and strawberries with chocolate fondue for dessert....yummy!!
So today's Friday, at lunch I went out with Pam for sushi and it was great to catch up before she heads out on holiday. I think I be leaving work a little early as they're trying to identify a new deal for me. Head to the gymbo and then am going up to my friend kristines on the upper westside to watch the baseball, have takeout and some white wine spritzers (darling!)....maybe haru for dinner!
No big weekend plans....my friend Berit from work has invited me for Dim Sim tomorrow....so sounds like an adventure to china town.
Also think it's time for a good throw out of clothes and shoes I no longer wear......you know how it is...they just seem to accumulate!
Well, very boring I know.....but hope you're all well and shoot me an email to let me know what you're all up to!
Have great weekends
Love Kim
Friday, August 17, 2007
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
OK....so I've been a slacker!!
Hi People!
So I know I've been terrible......if it's any consolation I've been somewhat busy.
As mentioned in previous blog I got banished to work out in Chicago and ended up out there until the end of July.....could have been until December + so I'm totally not complaining. Lot's of early mornings, flights, hotels and working......so it's really really nice to be back in the city and settling into what resembles a somewhat normal life!
Hmmmmmm, what else have I been up to. A bunch of different things....in the weekends in July...ventured out for a BBQ to CT and saw a bunch of people I hadn't seen for just too long. Then the following week cousin Steve was in town for Friday night, had dinner out at Haru and a few drinks! Then when he disappeared on Saturday for a wedding in Princeton, NJ, I went to the burbs again and visited Ryan and Samantha....had a nice swim and a pina colada! lol Also, have hung out a bit with my friend Pam. She's got a new apartment on 77th with a deck that we can have BBQ's on....very jealous....but great to know!
The following weekend Steve was in the city again.....had a blast on Fri and Sat going to dinners and drinking and a couple live music places. Also, discovered the 79th street boat basin....drinkies (specifically frozen margarita's) alongside the hudson. Fun! Shame Steve can just move over here and be my permanent weekend pal!
Last weekend, although it was supposed to be quiet ended up reasonabley busy. Friday was the PwC promotion day celebrations....after a few too many cocktails at Cellar Bar....stumbled into bed around 9pm....I'm such a lightweight! The next day I ....hmmm, got a haircut and hung at home, then had dinner at an Italian place on the upper east to help Benny and Pam carbo load for the following days half marathon! On Sunday, a work mate Simon came around and helped (or should I say totally) hang up my blinds.......finally, after over a year, my neighbours don't have to see me wandering around my apartment.....all very exciting!!! Then went to the Yankees game....yay we won 8-5 over Kansas City....I know....but a win is a win!! Then some more margaritas before an early night!
So it's now Tuesday and I'm on a new deal....hopefully this will start to increase my levels of work motivation!!
Well my peep's keep cool till after school.
Kimbo
So I know I've been terrible......if it's any consolation I've been somewhat busy.
As mentioned in previous blog I got banished to work out in Chicago and ended up out there until the end of July.....could have been until December + so I'm totally not complaining. Lot's of early mornings, flights, hotels and working......so it's really really nice to be back in the city and settling into what resembles a somewhat normal life!
Hmmmmmm, what else have I been up to. A bunch of different things....in the weekends in July...ventured out for a BBQ to CT and saw a bunch of people I hadn't seen for just too long. Then the following week cousin Steve was in town for Friday night, had dinner out at Haru and a few drinks! Then when he disappeared on Saturday for a wedding in Princeton, NJ, I went to the burbs again and visited Ryan and Samantha....had a nice swim and a pina colada! lol Also, have hung out a bit with my friend Pam. She's got a new apartment on 77th with a deck that we can have BBQ's on....very jealous....but great to know!
The following weekend Steve was in the city again.....had a blast on Fri and Sat going to dinners and drinking and a couple live music places. Also, discovered the 79th street boat basin....drinkies (specifically frozen margarita's) alongside the hudson. Fun! Shame Steve can just move over here and be my permanent weekend pal!
Last weekend, although it was supposed to be quiet ended up reasonabley busy. Friday was the PwC promotion day celebrations....after a few too many cocktails at Cellar Bar....stumbled into bed around 9pm....I'm such a lightweight! The next day I ....hmmm, got a haircut and hung at home, then had dinner at an Italian place on the upper east to help Benny and Pam carbo load for the following days half marathon! On Sunday, a work mate Simon came around and helped (or should I say totally) hang up my blinds.......finally, after over a year, my neighbours don't have to see me wandering around my apartment.....all very exciting!!! Then went to the Yankees game....yay we won 8-5 over Kansas City....I know....but a win is a win!! Then some more margaritas before an early night!
So it's now Tuesday and I'm on a new deal....hopefully this will start to increase my levels of work motivation!!
Well my peep's keep cool till after school.
Kimbo
Friday, July 6, 2007
I'm BACK!!
So....I'm now back in reality in New York and working again. Have been assigned a job where I'll be in Chicago for at least a month.....bugger!
Sorry for not blogging more during the trip but we didn't have regular access to internet cafes and China blocks a lot of websites, which prevented me from seeing my blog and posting was tricky! Not too mention that I was kept busy seeing things and sitting on buses and in 4x4's!!
The remainder of the trip was amazing....Everest is spectacular .....a couple on our trip actually got engaged up at base camp....very cool! Then onto Nepal and Kathmandu.....absoluately beautiful and lush countryside ...definately will have to try and get back there to do a bit more travelling and maybe even hiking. Such different terrain to the dry and arrid desert like Tibet. Nothing grows there cause of the altitude.
Once I download some photos I'll upload them and you'll get to see what I got up to.
Although it's kinda sad to be back home....have to say it was nice sleeping in my own bed and having a beautiful toilet to use.....it's the small things right!
So, don't know what's next on the travel agenda. But totally looking forward to a visit from Dad and Mum over the next few months and showing them around this city that I love. Then I think it may be time to plan my next steps from a life perspective!
Anyway, keep checking back....I'll keep updating this thing with the latest going's on.....
Tonight/tomorrow....getting a desperately overdue haircut and dye job!!!! Grrr the grays are showing badly!!!
Sorry for not blogging more during the trip but we didn't have regular access to internet cafes and China blocks a lot of websites, which prevented me from seeing my blog and posting was tricky! Not too mention that I was kept busy seeing things and sitting on buses and in 4x4's!!
The remainder of the trip was amazing....Everest is spectacular .....a couple on our trip actually got engaged up at base camp....very cool! Then onto Nepal and Kathmandu.....absoluately beautiful and lush countryside ...definately will have to try and get back there to do a bit more travelling and maybe even hiking. Such different terrain to the dry and arrid desert like Tibet. Nothing grows there cause of the altitude.
Once I download some photos I'll upload them and you'll get to see what I got up to.
Although it's kinda sad to be back home....have to say it was nice sleeping in my own bed and having a beautiful toilet to use.....it's the small things right!
So, don't know what's next on the travel agenda. But totally looking forward to a visit from Dad and Mum over the next few months and showing them around this city that I love. Then I think it may be time to plan my next steps from a life perspective!
Anyway, keep checking back....I'll keep updating this thing with the latest going's on.....
Tonight/tomorrow....getting a desperately overdue haircut and dye job!!!! Grrr the grays are showing badly!!!
Friday, June 22, 2007
shigatze.....
so all i am now in the second biggest town in tibet called shigatze.....predominantely chinese unfortunately, but gives us a bit of a pit stop before some fairly heavy travel days.....
over the last couple days we've travelled here from lhasa in a convoy of landcruisers, we stayed in a monestary/climed a mountain (no showers etc.....very smelly toilets) then yesterday we had 10 hours of driving through the mountains to arrive at gantze. the views were totally amazing .....ended up at a 5000m pass over looking the most beautiful sapphire blue lake...later we did a little off roading and in doing so past many little houses and people working on the fields and on the edge of the track. it truely astounds me how friendly, inquisitive and happy these people seem to be even though they have nothing....absolutely nothing (especially not showers!!). one thing that's really georgeous is that every body hugs each other as they walk down the street, they're very affectionate..
hmmm, nothing much else to tell.....just loving being here and understanding the culture here an the political things that have gone on over the last 50 years.
do tell me what you're up to people.....feeling rather disconnected from the world. hope you're all well ..
love kim xx
over the last couple days we've travelled here from lhasa in a convoy of landcruisers, we stayed in a monestary/climed a mountain (no showers etc.....very smelly toilets) then yesterday we had 10 hours of driving through the mountains to arrive at gantze. the views were totally amazing .....ended up at a 5000m pass over looking the most beautiful sapphire blue lake...later we did a little off roading and in doing so past many little houses and people working on the fields and on the edge of the track. it truely astounds me how friendly, inquisitive and happy these people seem to be even though they have nothing....absolutely nothing (especially not showers!!). one thing that's really georgeous is that every body hugs each other as they walk down the street, they're very affectionate..
hmmm, nothing much else to tell.....just loving being here and understanding the culture here an the political things that have gone on over the last 50 years.
do tell me what you're up to people.....feeling rather disconnected from the world. hope you're all well ..
love kim xx
Friday, June 15, 2007
Lhasa
Hi Folks
Sorry its been a long time since I've posted. At certain places in China they don't seem to allow this site.....censorship and all that I guess.
Well I've come along way since then...we are now in Lhasa the main city in Tibet. Very isolated but the Potala palace and general city vibe are great. I'm about to have a Tibetean language lesson to help us through the rest of the trip and we're going to see people painting Thankas (pictures of buddas etc).
Since I last wrote we've since been to a bunch of Amdo Tibetean monestaries and had fun meeting the people.....they're so inquisitive, they come up and poke certain bits of you to see if you're the same as them. We have this guy Tom in our group who is about 6ft7 and they're all facinated by him....he's a real celebrity. We also stayed with a Nomad family in their winterhouse (2 very small rooms) on the grasslands near Langmusi....it was great....no electricity and all the meals they made we're on a Yak dung fire....amazing....such hard workers but characters all the same. We also went into a school near there and met some kids and spoke english with them. So much poverty....on average a family earns approx. $250 USD a year. Despite that they seem extremely happy and content with their way of life.....i guess cause they know no other life. Also.....have been eating Yak...mainly in the form of burgers....very tasty!
Well my lessons are nearly about to begin so I must run. If you need to contact me remember my hotmail address......kim_e_ward@hotmail.com.
I'll update you before we leave Lhasa for the road to Kathmandu!
Kim xx
Sorry its been a long time since I've posted. At certain places in China they don't seem to allow this site.....censorship and all that I guess.
Well I've come along way since then...we are now in Lhasa the main city in Tibet. Very isolated but the Potala palace and general city vibe are great. I'm about to have a Tibetean language lesson to help us through the rest of the trip and we're going to see people painting Thankas (pictures of buddas etc).
Since I last wrote we've since been to a bunch of Amdo Tibetean monestaries and had fun meeting the people.....they're so inquisitive, they come up and poke certain bits of you to see if you're the same as them. We have this guy Tom in our group who is about 6ft7 and they're all facinated by him....he's a real celebrity. We also stayed with a Nomad family in their winterhouse (2 very small rooms) on the grasslands near Langmusi....it was great....no electricity and all the meals they made we're on a Yak dung fire....amazing....such hard workers but characters all the same. We also went into a school near there and met some kids and spoke english with them. So much poverty....on average a family earns approx. $250 USD a year. Despite that they seem extremely happy and content with their way of life.....i guess cause they know no other life. Also.....have been eating Yak...mainly in the form of burgers....very tasty!
Well my lessons are nearly about to begin so I must run. If you need to contact me remember my hotmail address......kim_e_ward@hotmail.com.
I'll update you before we leave Lhasa for the road to Kathmandu!
Kim xx
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Xi'an
so folks....just a short note to say hello! today I'm in Labrang, home of the 2nd biggest monestery in the world, we've just finished a 5 hour drive after a night on the train. the countryside is truly spectacular.....the fields all seem carved out of the mountain. have seen a few yaks and goat and unfortunately entered a number of ghastly toilets....apparently they only get worse from here on out! ;-) joy
we're now at altitude so have to drink a bunch of water....3 litres at least a day in order to help prevent altitude sickness.
last couple of days were spent in Xi'an, an old historic city in central china and home to the terracotta warriors....very cool to see...also the city has a full city wall that you can bike around and catch the views...very cool. you should see some of the places we've eaten at.....can't quite believe it! no yet sick so that's a bonus....hopefully it stays that way. other point to add is that xi'an had the worst pollution...just a thick heavy haze in the air constantly....that's why it's really great to now be in the countryside with clear skies.
well must run....keep in touch with what's going on in the real world
kim
we're now at altitude so have to drink a bunch of water....3 litres at least a day in order to help prevent altitude sickness.
last couple of days were spent in Xi'an, an old historic city in central china and home to the terracotta warriors....very cool to see...also the city has a full city wall that you can bike around and catch the views...very cool. you should see some of the places we've eaten at.....can't quite believe it! no yet sick so that's a bonus....hopefully it stays that way. other point to add is that xi'an had the worst pollution...just a thick heavy haze in the air constantly....that's why it's really great to now be in the countryside with clear skies.
well must run....keep in touch with what's going on in the real world
kim
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Ni Hao China!
Hi Everyone!
So I've now been in China 3 days....first time connected to the world and it feels great! The flight was great we flew over the north pole..so could look out at the ice flows and stuff....got 5 hours sleep so I can't complain. Beijing is pretty stinky although I think i'm now used to it......
The first day Helen and I went to the Summer Place where the Emperors and Empresses hung out in ...you guessed it summer. Quite amazing...this GIANT man made lake. It's very cute.....european people are pretty rare here, so chinese people will point at us and get there kids to say "hello"....very cute! The women here are hilarious, dressed up to the nines with heels and everything...whilst trekking up and down hills and for miles at a time. I'll have to explain the craziness of their foot stocking fetish and the use of parisoles..... After the Summer Place we headed to the Hutongs, basically local traditional housing networks....where we hitched a ride on a rickshaw and then had a beer on a rooftop. Is quite surreal sometimes being in foreign lands chilling out!
Must say....language is a struggle...not many speak english at all. Helen and I were in a taxi the other day and we couldn't get him to stop! It's quite hilarious thinking about it....we were yelling he was yelling....we worked it out in the end and then had to walk half a km back to where we wanted to be.
Yesterday we went to the Great Wall....very cool....killer hike up there but got to luge down from the top! After that we hit the markets where helen picked up a 70L pack for lik US$10! She's a definate hard arse in the bargining department!
Today the tour hit Tianimen Square (forgive the spelling) and the Forbidden City.......quite spectacular! You'll see photo's later I'm sure.
Tonight is the first of our night train and tomorrow we drive 6 hours to the terracotta warriors......things are not all fun!
Also! Have heard that sometimes....we'll have to share toilets no walls and no sense of space woman are lined up to use the toilet and there are no DOORS....this is NOT good...problem is that at altitude you have to drink a lot not to get sick.....YUXCK YUCK YCUK....more to come
hope you're all well....talk soon
So I've now been in China 3 days....first time connected to the world and it feels great! The flight was great we flew over the north pole..so could look out at the ice flows and stuff....got 5 hours sleep so I can't complain. Beijing is pretty stinky although I think i'm now used to it......
The first day Helen and I went to the Summer Place where the Emperors and Empresses hung out in ...you guessed it summer. Quite amazing...this GIANT man made lake. It's very cute.....european people are pretty rare here, so chinese people will point at us and get there kids to say "hello"....very cute! The women here are hilarious, dressed up to the nines with heels and everything...whilst trekking up and down hills and for miles at a time. I'll have to explain the craziness of their foot stocking fetish and the use of parisoles..... After the Summer Place we headed to the Hutongs, basically local traditional housing networks....where we hitched a ride on a rickshaw and then had a beer on a rooftop. Is quite surreal sometimes being in foreign lands chilling out!
Must say....language is a struggle...not many speak english at all. Helen and I were in a taxi the other day and we couldn't get him to stop! It's quite hilarious thinking about it....we were yelling he was yelling....we worked it out in the end and then had to walk half a km back to where we wanted to be.
Yesterday we went to the Great Wall....very cool....killer hike up there but got to luge down from the top! After that we hit the markets where helen picked up a 70L pack for lik US$10! She's a definate hard arse in the bargining department!
Today the tour hit Tianimen Square (forgive the spelling) and the Forbidden City.......quite spectacular! You'll see photo's later I'm sure.
Tonight is the first of our night train and tomorrow we drive 6 hours to the terracotta warriors......things are not all fun!
Also! Have heard that sometimes....we'll have to share toilets no walls and no sense of space woman are lined up to use the toilet and there are no DOORS....this is NOT good...problem is that at altitude you have to drink a lot not to get sick.....YUXCK YUCK YCUK....more to come
hope you're all well....talk soon
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