Fitbit poser? Or a Fibit Judger?

I don't review products. But I do want to propose something to you. Do you like to keep track of your exercise? Did you ever use a pedometer? Do you want a Fitbit?

Fitbit

Let's discuss this for a minute. When you're dieting, do you check your weight more than once a week? I do. I even tend to judge myself by that number. 

And that's so incredibly wrong. That's why I am approaching this issue from a different angle.

In that context, do you want a Fitbit? I've read a number of reviews for it and listened to TV reports on it, also. It looks like a nice little rig. Most love it, and they check all the stuff they need to - diet, exercise, sleep. Not all the reviews are glowing, however. It won't sync sometimes, or quits unexpectedly or, like that pedometer you once attached to your belt, can record exercise when you're not exercising. 

But let's face it. It's cool. It's unobtrusive, and yet, shows the world you're tracking your exercising. Good for you! It can come in nice colours with pretty little fasteners. No one wants to be seen with a nerdy pedometer on their belt anymore. 

It's also great for posers. They like to show off. It's great for keeners, too. They can really micromanage their regime.

But here's a warning. Just don't wear it only to show off. And don't wear it to micromanage your life. In fact, I challenge you to wear it only to confirm what your sweat (or lack thereof) is telling you. 

Don't allow it to judge you, either. Fitness is a long term goal, a lifestyle, a means to have quality of life. Fitbits are tools to help, not to 'fit' into the crowd, or keep you busy during your break when you should be walking away from your iphone and going outside to enjoy life.

So stop reading my blog and get out there! 

Is there a novel in you?

It's not too late to join NaNoMo. Or Nano, as we novelists call it. It's really National Novel Writing Month and it is a way to spur you on to get that novel inside of you out!
But so many people whine, "I can't write!" That's not true. I simply tell them, "No, you can't edit." No one should rely on their own edits, anyway. We're too close to the story. 
And, yes, I also hear, "But I don't know grammar!" (I don't know him, either. But I do know some correct grammar) 
You may not speak the Queen's English all the time, but you don't have to. 
Just go to Grammarly.

    

(Sorry I couldn't line it up properly within my blog.I'm just not that savvy.)

So why not give it a try? Why not start your story today? Because there is a novel inside of you.

So that's what they were cooking! And other last day revelations

We are due to fly out this afternoon, but since our bus isn't leaving for a quite a while, we decide a walk around the neighborhood is in order. 

The husband part of our traveling companions is still under the weather and opts for a nap. My throat hurts still, mostly likely from the pollution, so we head to a convenience store. The drugstore beside it holds only herbal medicines, all in Chinese, so I opt to walk next door for some recognizable Halls cough drops. My friend teases me about coming all the way to China and not trying their herbal remedies. 
My throat isn't that bad.
We walk around, snapping photos occasionally and coming up upon a fresh food market with many tubs and trays and cages out front.
Oh! So that's what those small birds were that we'd seen cooked in the market the day before. Pigeons!

While I have not seen any live chickens on this trip, (not that they would be on our tour company's bucket list of things to see) we did see our first live ducks. Do you remember when I wrote about Beijing and the Peking Duck? We had duck breast quite often and I rather liked it, but to meet eye to eye with someone's future supper is unusual. 

 I don't know for sure if I met these tasty morsels in the eye, but it was interesting to see them. As for the eels above, I hear they taste like chicken. 

We also passed this poor overburdened bicycle, a symbol perhaps of the old world this country is leaving in its wake? 

The bus finally comes, and we say our goodbyes to the tour guide. At the airport, going through security, there is a small glitch with my passport. For some reason, my passport information didn't jive with the information they had on me, either with the visa or my ticket. I wait a short time, but get through all right in the end. 
Waiting for our plane is a joy. For there is a Burger King!! Be still my beating heart!

We choose this instead of the variety of Chinese food offered. Then after, we see an unusual sight out at the runway. Beyond the airfield is the mouth of the Yangtze River, and it's not often you see an airplane with a huge container ship in the background.

Our trip is over. The plane is only about 3/4 full and we all get a row to stretch out. We still have a long flight, then a connecting flight and will get home late, but we're looking forward to it. 
Would I return? No. I've seen all I had wanted to see. The price would have to be excellent before I return, as it was this trip.
Would I recommend this trip? Not to everyone. Frankly, some people would not be able to stomach the food, some the crowds, some the pollution, the walking. But if you want to hit all the famous sights, taste all the real Chinese food and can take crowds and walk, I would recommend it. Otherwise, I suggest a shorter trip. Just make sure you take the cruise, as it's the only down time you get. 
I hope you have enjoyed my blog posts on China and please share them with your friends. I've attempted to present to you an honest view of this mysterious culture, and would love for all to read it.
Thank you for stopping by!

Our Last Full Day

It's a busy one, in the market, and ending at a show that still blows my mind! 
It's the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe. It's insane! I don't have photos for you because they ask that you do not take them during the performance, and I wanted to respect that. 
I have only two photos. One of the outside of the theatre and the other of the motorcyclists after the performance.
 

Needless to say, some people below me videoed the entire performance, or snapped photos, but they weren't from our group. I can't imagine what the flash of a camera might do to these young performers. 
One man in our group said it was Cirque de Soleil without the gimmicky stuff. Another said it was better than that. We watched in awe as acrobats piled on one bicycle, or drifted down on ribbons, one woman held up by the strength of a man's flexed feet. Six motorcyclists ride around in a large cage, and performers bend into incredible shapes. Two live bands and one singer provide the music, and I find myself speechless. If you ever come to Shanghai, you must see this performance. 
The evening was marred by a man who, after the performance, tried to sell my husband either laser flashlights or wheels for his shoes. My husband, being a true Canadian, was too polite to say no, but when I got tired of the hawker racing in between us, I stepped in to block him. For my effort, I was jabbed in the side by a flashlight. The hawker wheeled around to the other side to continue his haranguing, and, with my side stinging, I yelled at him. He swore at me in English, but eased off. Our guides ignore all of this. Of course, I remember. It's all about saving face, not appearing to be trying to embarrass another person.
I can't help but be disappointed by it. Our last tour group was in Israel, where our guide stood up for us and sometimes chased hawkers away. 
As we approach the bus, we spy a man with no arms, sitting, shirtless, on the ground, with a hat in front of him. I give him some money, as do several in our group and he smiles his thanks back. 
We get to sleep in tomorrow as our flight is late, but even with the last day looming, we find surprises in store. 

Thank heavens for tea.

We're going to yet another market. I had asked our guide if he had any ideas on what to get my son and son-in-law. He gave me some ideas and our local guide offered to get them for me. I didn't realize that they would be at this market. It certainly didn't smell like a place you might buy electronics.
In fact, as soon as we entered the market, we were hit by the smell. A kind of unpleasant cooking oil smell. Thankfully, we got used to it, but on our way to the centre of the marketplace, we passed what had probably impaled our nasal cavities. I couldn't even guess, until our last day, what they were.

And then there was this thing, sitting in the window where they made dumplings and pasta thingies and other exotic delicacies. Made of black rice, maybe? I couldn't help but recall a documentary I watched once at a museum about the dung beetle...

But I won't go into that now. 
One of the local guides hands me my electronics, and we decide that we will test them as soon as possible. We do, during supper, and they work great. I'm happy. All our gifts are bought.
We are given some free time to shop and meet back at the tea house upstairs. My husband barters for a tee shirt, and all the while, my throat hurts, probably from the smells of all the cooking. I cringe at the assortment of food, but welcome the tea house. We make our way back to it.

It's actually a pretty market if you can get past the crowds and the smells, and I enjoy just sitting up in the tea house sipping jasmine tea. 

Our trip is winding down. But our guide tells us he has one more surprise up his sleeve for tonight.