Word play
I've had some feedback that people have enjoyed learning the Chinese words through this blog. Well I've got a new one for you!
Today's word of the day is ting. I learnt this Mandarin word to use when I catch taxis around Guangzhou, but today I gave it a spin in the supermarket. I wanted to buy some extremely addictive little dessert treats they have in the bakery. They are like a profiterole with light as air pastry filled with very fake looking (probably mock) cream. They had boxes of the desserts on the counter but I only wanted a small portion. After motioning a big handful with my 2 hands and pointing to the plastic bag roll, the counter attendant got my drift and gave me a big smile. He put on his plastic gloves and started measuring them out onto the scales. When he got to around 20 I yelled out "Ting". Hehe! Stops taxis and stops you buying too many cream puffs! Ting means stop. ;)
I got my freshly made snacks for 50c AUD for150 grams. Right on! The bakeries here are very cool, just like Breadtop for anyone who knows this chain in Melbourne. I have yet to try the pork floss buns though (eek) and there are some other scary looking ones, but I have eaten some very good buns and pastries here. Sometimes we can buy baguettes for making a sandwich for dinner. A bun for a breaky snack costs about 1.50-3 yuan which is about 30-50c AUD.
The sun is out today for the first time in ages and it is warming up again to t-shirt and jeans weather though the Chinese ladies are still wearing long sleeves all the time. It's a blue sky day! Hooray! I think I have had less than 5 of these in the nearly 4 weeks I have been here. Today it is worth savouring though as the air is beautifully clean after the last 5 days of showers. I'll be outdoors this afternoon enjoying it.
Here is a story for Mum.... I was in the "western/imported" foods shop near the hotel the other afternoon when a little western boy came in with his Chinese housemaid or nanny. He was doing what kids do and eyeing off the lollies at the counter while I was paying for my stuff. I said hello and he greeted me back. The Chinese shop man then asked me, "Why don't you bring your baby to the shop?" I had to smile and say, "Because I don't have one". His reply was an optimistic "Maybe one day!". Haha!
Today's word of the day is ting. I learnt this Mandarin word to use when I catch taxis around Guangzhou, but today I gave it a spin in the supermarket. I wanted to buy some extremely addictive little dessert treats they have in the bakery. They are like a profiterole with light as air pastry filled with very fake looking (probably mock) cream. They had boxes of the desserts on the counter but I only wanted a small portion. After motioning a big handful with my 2 hands and pointing to the plastic bag roll, the counter attendant got my drift and gave me a big smile. He put on his plastic gloves and started measuring them out onto the scales. When he got to around 20 I yelled out "Ting". Hehe! Stops taxis and stops you buying too many cream puffs! Ting means stop. ;)
I got my freshly made snacks for 50c AUD for150 grams. Right on! The bakeries here are very cool, just like Breadtop for anyone who knows this chain in Melbourne. I have yet to try the pork floss buns though (eek) and there are some other scary looking ones, but I have eaten some very good buns and pastries here. Sometimes we can buy baguettes for making a sandwich for dinner. A bun for a breaky snack costs about 1.50-3 yuan which is about 30-50c AUD.
The sun is out today for the first time in ages and it is warming up again to t-shirt and jeans weather though the Chinese ladies are still wearing long sleeves all the time. It's a blue sky day! Hooray! I think I have had less than 5 of these in the nearly 4 weeks I have been here. Today it is worth savouring though as the air is beautifully clean after the last 5 days of showers. I'll be outdoors this afternoon enjoying it.
Here is a story for Mum.... I was in the "western/imported" foods shop near the hotel the other afternoon when a little western boy came in with his Chinese housemaid or nanny. He was doing what kids do and eyeing off the lollies at the counter while I was paying for my stuff. I said hello and he greeted me back. The Chinese shop man then asked me, "Why don't you bring your baby to the shop?" I had to smile and say, "Because I don't have one". His reply was an optimistic "Maybe one day!". Haha!
posted by Polecat at 10:04 PM
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