Early Morning Work Outs

First morning in China

Early Riser

OK...it's 5 o:clock in the morning.

I find myself up with the sun each day. I don't know if that is the jet lag or just the excitement of wondering what I will learn today.
Typically I don't get up until 9 or 10.

I thought I would get my coffee and things and go down to the park and watch the day come alive.

The elderly people here get up early and work out in the park.
Everybody had their own routine.
Some use the exercise equipment and some just do laps around the park.
They swing their arms and rub their faces.
One old man walks around backwards clapping his hands.

Soon there will be a large group doing Ti Chi.
Another group does some type of Ti Chi with Chinese fans.

It's already very warm out. The air is thick.
And last nights mosquitoes are still around.
But no bites to far...they must be used to Chinese food.

One old man walks by and I give him the old "Nee How"..."Hello".
So he replies and walks up and starts talking to me in Chinese...Damn I forgot my phrase book!
After about 2 min. of trying to chat he laughs and shakes his head and walks away saying something to Mr. swinging arms guy.
I may have to run up and get my book real quick.

Ok one old guy is standing behind me watching me type
He tries to chat too but all I can say is"Boo Dui"..."I don't know".

Every body is hockering and spitting...even the nice little old ladies.

I read that was something that people did here.

And so as 5:30 approaches the sun peaks over the horizon.
Must be time for the...I don't know what you call it, but they have small tennis racquet type thing and a ball and they toss the ball back and forth.

Mr. Slap yourself in the head man is now on the scene.
That may be me in a few more months.

The music starts up and we now have a group of people doing some kind of dance aerobics using little yellow things on the end of strings.
Little groups of men are walking around chatting very loud. This reminds me of the mall walkers back home.

Two guys wearing camouflage just came up and sat down next to me and try to chat...
I gotta' get my phrase book!
I think they are some sort of security.
And I forgot to bring my passport with me.
I wouldn't know if the asked to see it anyway.

I ask them if I can take their picture and they say no.
One writes something on his hand and shows me thinking maybe I can read Chinese.
Sorry..."Bui Dui".
I'm not too sure if the people mind if I take their picture or not so most of my shots are from the hip without the flash.
I don't want to offend anybody.

It's getting a little more crowded.
They now have a net set up for the little racquet and ball thing.
And I think the Ti Chi crowd has finally arrived.
They are doing some sort of dance...I think a warm up.

And now two little old ladies are trying to chat with me and checking out my lap-top.
With no progress they move over the other little old ladies and ask them about me.
(I can only guess)

The Ti Chi with fans has begun and I can hear the loud clap of the fans as they slap them open.

And there seems to be a lot of dragonflies all of a sudden.
6:30...Dragonfly:30.

I think I'll go back up and work on my blog and learn a few phrases that might actually help me in one way or another.

More Later.

Jim