I’m already back out to sea after a three day port visit in Qingdao, China. Visiting mainland China was always something I wanted to do, and now I can say I have.
The first two days were spent filming official functions - pulling-in ceremonies, receptions, community relations basketball games - but on the third day I had a little time to explore.
What started out as a rainy day turned out to be a nice humid day, much like Oklahoma would feel like this time of year. First stop was food. My liberty buddies and I enjoyed a nice meal of mystery Chinese soup with chicken feet topping it off. Anyone who knows me, knows that I’ll eat almost anything. After that we decided to head to the downtown district for shopping and sightseeing. After about 10 minutes we found a vendor on the side of the road selling roasted scorpions. It’s not very often that you get to try roasted scorpions, so we ate those too.
We made it a point to visit the city’s Walmart. Yes, they have Walmart in China. It’s not too different from the states, although some of the food was a little odd.
I tried to learn a little bit of the language while there, although it’s extremely difficult. I learned “cold water” (which sounds like “bing swey”) after I was given watermelon instead of an icy cool beverage. The city itself was a big contradiction. Some places had really nice high-rise shopping malls, like any number of places you’d find in Japan, but other sections of the city looked like a bomb had gone off. The closest place to it that I’ve been is Thailand. Nice in the touristy places, not much else everywhere else.
Besides that, there wasn’t much that pictures couldn’t say more than I ever could. I took quite a few and I’ll be sure and upload them while I’m in Guam.
Yesterday we had a refueling pit-stop in Okinawa. I thought we’d be stuck on the boat, as it was only a couple of hours, but we were allowed to leave the ship and hang around. We changed into our swim trucks and took off for nice sandy beaches. It was one of those perfect little scenes that would have been impossible to make any more pristine. I remember thinking as I walked out to a small island a couple hundred feet offshore, that this experience is something I need to really remember, because it’s not every day someone gets to visit somewhere so nice.
I’m actually getting used to life on a destoyer. It’s still very different from life on a carrier, but it’s not bad at all. I love hitting 3 ports in two weeks. The crew here said it’s not normal, though.
Another “oh, by the way” - today I was getting my hair cut and happened to sit next to a very large map of the US posted on a wall. Right at eye level was Oklahoma, and to my surprise I could make out several places I thought were too small for a map. Keystone Lake was visible, so was Sand Springs, and barely there was Mannford. It’s funny how something like a map can be a huge reminder that your life is going to change drastically and soon. I have the tendency not think about being a civilian in a little over half a year, but it’s close. Soon I’ll be living in a quiet city, far from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and Asia. That’s life, I guess.
Can’t wait to see your China pic.s. We were with Nanny a lot this weekend and she remembered from her trips to both China & Japan that China was kinda dirty by comparison. Guess it’s easy to get spoiled by a place like Japan.
Okinawa sounded nice. Glad to see the big “M” actually made it onto a world map.
Amy & Jon’s wedding was AWESOME. We’ll send you pics.
Take care! Stay in touch!
D.O.D.
Comment by Dear 'ol Dad — May 28, 2007 @ 10:48 pm
a civy in 18 months? got to get through the sales pitch first. how you gonna get your car home? how you gonna stay in one place–no more exotics? be sure to get your passport before you get out. will they let you out–there is a war on you know.
channel 23 says 72 F and cloudy–60% chance of rain today. Munchow moved yesterday to OKC.
Last I heard, china has 3 billion, USA only 300 Million. Ireland only has 3 million [8 M in 1850–they had British help].
Comment by rex — May 29, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
To answer the salespitch -
I’m out in a little under 7 months. I’ll give my car away, drive it into the ocean, or blow it up. I’m tired of going to exotic places with 4,999 idiots. Once I have a degree I’m sure I’ll be able to travel to exotic places. Yes there’s a war on, but I’m in an overmanned job.
Comment by lane.randy — May 29, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
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