Huanghuacheng

Our new best friend David (went to INSEAD with us, works for Apple, and lives in Beijing!) took pity on us and offered to get us out of the city for the day in order to see some blue sky and take a peek at the Great Wall. We couldn't be too adventurous because we had the peanut in tow but we packed up a pick-nick and headed out for the day.

So the plan for blue sky didn't really work. It was grey and overcast. Here is the reservoir at Huanghuacheng (which means bright yellow flower due to the abundance of these in the spring-very obviously not visible today!)









Here is the wall. Seriously, look closely and you can see it. We have to get back once we have Olivia sorted with the nanny so we can actually climb it but at least we saw it (just).










The local facilities (we didn't use them!)









Peeking over the dam.









Always good to have lanterns on a dam in the middle of nowhere.












Walking across a hanging bridge. Felt very wobbly.












The local Chinese tourists were very interested in Olivia (we were the only Westerners there), one guy put his hands out to hold Olivia. She agreed and was held (briefly) by him, at which point 10 of his relatives grabbed cameras. Clearly they don't see blond haired blue eyed babies much. She is quite the celebrity.

We had some trouble getting her to wear the life jacket. When we tried, it just got worse. Daddy just had to hold her tight-no life jacket.

Starting to explore

Last Sunday, we went for a walk near apartment and heard that there was a local dive joint there. It turns out it is a rugby pub and we turned up 2 minutes into the England NZ game live! Could it get any better?
OK was very amused by some preparations for a party involving orange baloons.



We will be purchasing some furniture here, Lily's antiques. They custom make furniture at about one fifth of the price to buy in the US. Carl and I are already making our lists of what we need. We have to order before the Olympics because their order books will fill up and we need to make sure we have the furniture in time to ship back with us next year.






Here is our car. Our driver is Driver Wang (and our nanny is Ayi Wang too, I don't think that they are related). And yes, we have a minivan but it is very practical given the car seat and peanut plus all accessories. Driving in Beijing is a NIGHTMARE, no idea how there aren't more accidents. Don't think that we'll be doing it yet, at least.

Kissing Olivia (in CA)

So we went for sushi dinner at Blowfish in Santana Row (near Cupertino) with David, a friend who lives in Beijing. He works at Apple and was over on some corporate business. Anyway, Olivia was a complete beast; not remotely cooperative. Either Carl or I were outside with her at all times to try and keep her quiet. Some Dutch photographer took a photo of me and Olivia kissing. He just sent it to me. From the photo, you'd have no idea that I was missing eating great sushi.

Our apartment in China

So here are some photos of our 22nd floor apartment (technically it isn't the 22nd floor because there are numerous numbers of 'unlucky' number floors missing such as 4, 13, 14 etc) But you get the idea. It is brand new, bright, and we don't hear the neighbours although they probably hear Olivia crying and The Wiggles on DVD. The only stuff that we have so far is stuff that we carried with us on the plane, lots more of our things on the way but we've been window shopping already and like what we see. We'll definitely make some furniture purchases over here and ship back with us.

Here is the view from our living room (the master bedroom view is the same). The weird angular building is the new CCTV building. It looks more spectacular at night when the nice building are lit up and you can't see the nasty ones! And this view is a clear day, typically you can't see this far. We are going to have to teach Olivia that it isn't normal to be able to look directly at the sun.
Olivia snacking in our 'American' kitchen. It is small but has a dishwasher, big fridge, washing machine, and larder. No complaints from me although I think that we'll be eating out a lot. Check out the huge fruit basket that the apartment gave us as a welcome gift; we have no idea what most of the fruit is in it!
This is our living room and dining area. The dark hard wood floors get very dusty but we have hired a maid and it was deemed necessary that she comes 4 hours every day. How much dirt can one small family make? Anyway, we agreed as it isn't expensive and we don't want to offend our chinese friends who are helping us out with hiring 'help'.
The master bedroom, it also had a nice ensuite bathroom. The mattress is the worst ever, we probably will have to buy a better one.
Olivia playing with bunny in our closet.
A small orchid display that we bought for $20 from the flower market. They delivered within 10 minutes of us pointing and saying 'that one'. Such service. Our ayi has agreed to keep it alive, I'm not very good with orchids. They die on me.
Olivia's room overlooking the golf course (2 minutes away and $20 a round of 9 holes).
Guest bedroom for anyone who comes to stay. Also has ensuite bathroom.
Olivia's bathroom (she likes the shower hose.)
The study with sliding glass door (hours of sliding entertainment for Olivia).
The swimming pool and spa. This is a saturday at 1pm, we had the place to ourselves.

Carmel

In order to try and save me from having a mental breakdown over the China visa issues, we spent a few hours in Carmel trying to recover. Exactly what I needed.

The cutest bottom in the world.













Hours of entertainment. Emptying the pool one cup at a time.













Carmel valley view.













Olivia literally took a 'dip' in the ocean at Dog Beach. She was unphased but had more sand in her hair than was left on the beach.











Carl had to chase her down the beach as she ran after every dog in sight (and there were many!)











The life we should be living (including plastic wine glasses)

Sunnyvale

Life at the Holiday Inn in Sunnyvale! Oh we live in such luxury. It is hot away from the coast.












So hot that we decide to visit the only 'beach' in the South Bay. Luckily there was a triathlon taking place and we turned up right at the end so the beach was relatively empty. We assume that most peeps would have thought that it was closed due to so many athletes.







Daddy tries to explain the concept behind sieving water.

Last visit to HMB beach

So I managed to find a couple more photos that I took before we left our house in El Granada. Thought that I'd share them.


Olivia did a face plant in the sand, but didn't seem to mind. We quite liked her with the moustache look.












Olivia showing chubby thighs at the beach.













I am not sure if I am more disturbed by the fact that Olivia is trying to drink beer, or that Carl is finding it amusing!

Day at the museum

Now we aren't packing or trying to move, it is like being on holiday! It isn't exactly glamorous, staying in a Holiday Inn in Sunnyvale but it is at least closer to work.
On Sunday we went to the San Jose Discovery Museum; and we know that Olivia loves the one in Marin. Well, she loved this one just as much, particularly the water exhibit (no surprise there!). She was getting herself, and everyone else, so wet that parents were carefully manoeuvering their kids away from her. She didn't care, and spent the whole time shrieking with delight and making more splashes. We ended up taking the waterproof overall off her, she couldn't have been wetter anyway.
The afternoon was spent at our friend Ryan and Jeanette's house in Dublin, where Olivia and their 3 year old, Carter, had a very nice play date while the parents had very nice steak.
I could get used to this.
Here she is:

Moving day

Finally it arrived: the Big Move. We finished everything we needed to do and even had time to mow the lawn and tidy the shed. The movers arrived 3 hours late which meant that we had movers, a cleaning team, and our new tenants all in the house at once. When we open our boxes in China I am wondering if we'll find any of the new tenants stuff packed in there!
Olivia was, as usual, an angel. I think that she has a crush on Alexei which gave him the excuse to hold her instead of unpack Brendan's stuff.
Anyway, around 6pm on Friday, we started our new life in Sunnyvale. We are staying in corporate housing, which is essentially a Holiday Inn. It is perfectly adequate and only a 12 minute commute to Apple. Got to love that.
Here are photos of Carl supervising the operations from the other side of the street.
And one of Olivia exploring the new empty kitchen (note moving truck outside).