I Made it Through…

Got through the longest, toughest day of the week today. Even felt energized enough to go to Ikea, but didn’t realize they closed at nine. Yes, I was that asshole leisurely walking through a super quiet store, thinking I had plenty of time to check out the Circular Market.

I’m sorry, everybody.

Surprise!

Today was one of those surprise days. I didn’t expect to go out, but I did. Two of my colleagues wanted to take me to Three Lanes, Seven Alleys, which is a cultural and historical place in the middle of town.

It was a nice day weather wise. We went to the chocolate museum, and since I’d been there before, I wanted to go to their store to see if they had any chocolate-covered raisins. They are tasting very good to me at the moment, and they are sort of hard to get in China. You can’t just walk into the store and buy them.

So I got some, and that’s all I had planned to buy… but, it’s that kind of place where they have all sorts of really cool stuff. My colleagues took me to a cork-carving store. There are hundreds of examples of these carvings that you can buy. Some are very simple, some are really big and detailed. But I never would have imagined cork, of all things.

I’m doing my best to save money. There’s a LOT of really cool things here in China, but I’m trying to control myself. However, I saw these little coin purses. I’m a handbag freak (they had handbags there too). I may have to go back and get one. But I figured at 35 RMB, I could afford it. That’s only $4.90 USD. It seems sturdy and has enough room for several credit cards, cash and coins.

Then we walked around some more and stopped for snacks, then we all went to the teacher’s canteen on campus and ate. I insisted we have Sweet and Sour Pork as one of the dishes. It was excellent!

So what would have been another Saturday probably spent at home, I got out and socialized a bit, and that was good. As well as needed.

Hurray for 1980s Hair Styling Technology!

My banana clips came! I’ve been looking for these for YEARS here in China. But the only thing I could find was this.

See that puny thing on the right? For years, that’s what I had to deal with.

The piece of crap on the right just doesn’t do it. It has a flimsy clasp, and you can barely open it. I suppose this would work for a five-year-old, with wispy thin hair, but not for me.

It took me years to find one, but the one on the left is the old school, Goody-style banana clip. So named because they curve like a banana, I relied on these as a teen to keep my super thick mane of hair out of the way. Slightly fancier than a ponytail, they gave a literal mane-like look, or a Mohawk replica. I was horse-crazy at the time, so these were okay with me.

I wore it for the first time today and I’m thrilled. After my haircut January 2025 that made me look like a fat lesbian, I’m so glad to have longer hair again. I’m never getting it cut again in China by a professional. I’ll stick with my own handiwork, which served me well for years. And the next time I think I want to change my hair, I’ll just say, “no you don’t.”

I’ll wait until I’m in the capable hands of Kara Bush, stylist at Ulta Northcrest, Fort Wayne, Indiana. She’s a curly girl who knows how to work with curly hair.

Would Recommend… Better Signage

So I finally got to go to Panda World today. It had been closed for renovations for several months. On one of my last vacation days, I went, but didn’t know I had to reserve in advance. So since I don’t have classes on Wednesdays for another four weeks, I went today.

At least it wasn’t raining. I wore double layers on my bottom, and triple layers up top, because for some reason I didn’t want to be burdened with a coat. I chose wisely, as Panda World is built into the side of a mountain and you are either climbing up ramps or steps. So, not wheelchair-friendly. But the way the park is designed, you get the sensation you are among the trees, literally. Kind of appropriate, seeing as that the park is all about pandas.

Ai Lun having a snack.

I was a bit reserved about going here because there are some terrible reviews on Trip Advisor. Claims of kangaroo abuse (?) and pictures of bricks on the ground with kangaroos laying alongside, supposedly knocked out. But what I saw of the enclosures today showed clean environments. Not much was shaking; as it was an overcast, cool day, but I got rewarded with footage of a panda taking a dump.

This panda is pooping, but it’s not the same one I got footage of. I thought this was both funny and in poor taste, so I got a shot of it.

The giant pandas themselves had spacious living areas that mimicked their natural environment. Plus, each of them had a place they could roam around outside. I never realized how solitary these bears are. I think there are around five giant pandas, and each of them had an indoor area, as well as an outdoor area.

Along with actual animals were indoor exhibits, a museum, several cafes, a decent children’s playground, plenty of places to sit, and also an outdoor theater of sorts, where there are probably demonstrations done.

I’d seen just about everything I wanted to, but the indoor Red Panda exhibit remained elusive. Well, I thought, maybe it was closed. I’d walked back and forth between two signs that supposedly pointed the way to the Red Panda indoor habitat, but couldn’t find it. After I’d ask four people where it was, a volunteer with pretty good English helped me. I pointed out the contradictory signs that indicated the Red Panda indoor habitat was either down hundreds of steps, or along a path behind a huge building.

It was the volunteer’s first day, so he didn’t know where things were either. However, after he convinced me to go down the giant cascade of steps yet again, after the first flight of six steps or so, he turned left and pointed. Sure enough, it said, “Red Panda Indoor Habitat.” Okay fine. But where was the fucking sign that said to TURN LEFT after that first short flight of stairs?

The elusive Chinese Red Panda Indoor Habitat. Just remember, it is in the BACK of the museum, to your LEFT. If you go right down the hundreds of steps, you’re going the wrong way. Also, if you don’t see a somewhat shitty apartment building across the street, you’re in the wrong place.

Nowhere, of course. And there was a convenient pole (holding a surveillance camera, of course) that would have been the perfect spot. Because when a sign points you in one direction to seek something out, why would you look over your shoulder on a steep flight of stairs in the OTHER direction?

This lack of courtesy on the park’s behalf cost me about 45 minutes worth of walking back and forth, wondering if I had lost my mind. Even looking at the park map hadn’t helped.

But I found what I’d been looking for. But because Murphy never sleeps, I found the exhibit, with not a Red Panda in sight.

Then, just like that, a little Red Panda came out of his little cottage in the corner and got up on some of his playground equipment, and crossed a log in front of the huge window, only to disappear into a corner. But at least I got to see a live one after all my walking.

I’m glad I got to go. Panda World is definitely worth a visit. I learned a few things (they live solo, only getting together to hook up, then they split again) panda conservation started around 1869, and there used to be 2,400 pandas in the world, but dipped to less than half that in a very short period of time.

And for $7.50, it was well worth the money. If you get a chance, GO! Read my review: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g297405-d1555486-r1051897148-Panda_World-Fuzhou_Fujian.html

I am Nowaylaowai on TripAdvisor