Last year I wrote about getting myself into shape this year… And I must admit, I’m not doing so well. It’s just easier to become lazy. Then pause. Then eventually stop altogether. Especially when you’re just exercising at home, which was what I was doing.

So I decided to adopt a sport/activity outside the house. I wanted to join a yoga class, but all the studios are so far from home. I love table tennis and can play at the nearby YMCA, but I don’t really have anyone to play with me regularly. And forget signing up for a gym - gym memberships are pretty costly (the good ones). And they’re also far from home.

And then it dawned on me - swimming! It’s a good workout, I can do it by myself, and the local YMCA’s just a few minutes away. And it’s summer now, so it’s perfect. I already started last week. I’m no swimmer though - I haven’t swam “properly” in about a year, so naturally I’m rusty. But that won’t deter me, I know I just need practice. Then I’ll be as good as Beibei here! =P

Photo source: Beijing 2008 Official Site

Which I forgot to include in my post about my trip to China, so here they are.

Whilst bargain shopping in Beijing.
My bro wanted to buy some magnets to give as souvenirs to his friends. At the first stall we approached, the girl tending shop said that they were 45 yuan apiece. Uh, are you kidding? No, thank you. As we were walking away, the girl asked, “How much do you want for it?” We didn’t bother haggling and just went off. Guess what we saw in the stall right next to the first one? Yep, the same magnets. Bro got them for 5 yuan each.

In our Shanghai hotel lobby.
To make a long story short, the receptionist referred to me and my bro as “two little kids”. That’s what she really said, in Chinese. My bro and I are 18 and 22, respectively, and she didn’t even call us “two teenagers” or “two young people”. She really said “two little kids”. It was pretty funny.

Whilst shopping at Yu Yuan Bazaar. I was looking to have a Chinese name seal made.
Girl tending shop: 170 yuan, write your name in Chinese.
Me: 50 yuan.
Girl: No, no.
After I haggled for a bit, we started to walk away - there were other shops selling seals anyway.
Girl: (chases after us and latches onto my arm, trying to pull me back) OK, 50, write your name in Chinese. 50!
Me: No.
Mom: We’ll come back, thank you.
Girl: (still pulling at me) 50 yuan. OK, 40!
Me: No.
Girl: (still holding on) OK, 30!
Me: No, thank you.
Girl: (finally lets go) *insert Chinese cuss words here*
Got my name seal at a different shop for 25 yuan. Haha, that was a fun experience.

At Yu Yuan Garden.
Tour Guide: If you clap your hands, the fishes will come to you and look for food. (claps a few times)
Dad: Really now. (starts clapping)
Me and Bro: Oh cool. (joins in the clapping)
Soon enough, the koi fishes - like a bazillion of them - start swimming toward us. But unfortunately we didn’t have any food for them.
Bro: (waving his arms) Oh no, go back! We don’t have any food, we were just kidding! We’re sorry, go back! Go back!

Believe you me, there’s more where they came from!

Wasn’t able to keep up last month, I only finished Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis and started Superstitious by R. L. Stine. Meh.

Previously:
January
February