Cooking and Gardening

Everyone in the world knows that Chinese are good at cooking. Chinese not only cook super delicious food, but also combine their arts with the food. Our meeting with relatives, friends and classmates means diner after diner and banquet after banquet. I’ve gained five pounds in a month!

China has several cooking styles. In Dongying most of the dishes belong to “Lu Style” that was originated in Shandong province.

My dad has some fruit trees in his yard, and I wish I could grow them Kuwait.

The hills and the birds were made of arrow roots and carrots

Sushi dish

Fish fried like swallows

Scallops

Dad's fig tree

Dad’s pomegranate tree

Baby red pomegranate

White pomegranate flower

Red pomegranate flower

Lotus Pond

We’ve been traveling in China for a month from Beijing to Dongying, Weihai, Qingdao, Yangzhou, Suzhou and back to Beijing (see maps below). Phew! The boys were sick several times (fever, cough, allergies and etc.), and my elder son even went to an emergency once in a middle of the night. However we are back to our home in Kuwait safe and sound. We had a SUPER trip and I am happy to share the pictures with you! Enjoy!

The flight from Dubai to Beijing was eight hours. Our friend’s driver from Beijing drove us to Dongying the next day where the China Petroleum University and China’s second largest oil field is located. Also China's second largest river, Yellow River, runs into Yellow Sea from here.  I was raised in this campus and lived here for seventeen years. Dongying is about 500 km southeast of Beijing and the ride was four hours on the highways (see dark purple line on the second map). In the past five years, China has constructed thousands of miles and miles of highways and high speed railways. Travelling became more convenient.

One cool morning after an overnight rain, I walked to the lotus pond that is five minutes’ walk from dad’s apartment. I was so joyful to see the rain drops on the huge lotus flowers and leaves!  I like the weeping willow by the pond too.

Map of China

Places (red dots) we visited on this trip

Beijing -> (drive) Dongying -> (bus) Weihai -> (bus) Qingdao -> (regular train 120km/hr) Yangzhou -> (fast train 200km/hr) Suzhou -> (high-speed train 336km/hr) Yangzhou -> (overnight express train) Beijing