Watermelon and Cheese

It is very common for us to stress over the little and the big things. Take for instance my toothbrush. I had the right strategy-put and use my current toiletries close to my luggage until I was ready to pack. But as soon as I grabbed that toothbrush for the last brush, it never made it back to my bag. I told myself I could purchase one in China…forgetting one major thing-dental care is handled a bit different here culturally. In my first supermarket hunt, I was in a hurry so I grabbed the most expensive brush and ran out the store. When I got home and read the back, it clearly stated: soft.

I figured no big deal. It actually only cost me 4.50 RMB. I’ll just try another. In this supermarket, they kept all of them on display so that you can feel and make a choice. I discovered one that said ‘hard’ on the packaging but it didn’t feel that way in the slightest. So I asked a nearby worker. She insisted it was the hardest because there was no silk. It was 2 for 10.50, so if you do the Maths, it was the same risk. But I bought it, unwrapped it and made a comparison. If I’m honest, although it harder that the first one, it’s no way as hard as I left home and that was an old brush.

Now why did I just spend 2 paragraphs lamenting about a toothbrush? Because one day it is a toothbrush, another day it is lack of lunch options. If we give it a chance, there will be always something to complain about. And as much as a toothbrush is a viable challenge, it is officially out of my hands. No point in wallowing in hopelessness.

That’s the same approach I took last night, when I realized that my cold had developed into a fever. The sore throat, irritated tonsils and high temperature almost convinced me I was dying. I didn’t get a chance to go down to the dinner, so I had no food to take my medicine. So I turned to the only food I know. Praise and worship. I thanked the Lord for life and for every resource I had at my disposal. I reminded myself of His goodness and so many ways that He had been faithful. I asked him to remove anything in me that would cause me to depend more on myself than on Him. And I started to feel an ease. Then I remember I had a kettle, so I boiled some hot water to consume. The Chinese swear by it and I figured it couldn’t hurt.

The results were almost immediate. It is like a weight was lifted. The temperature broke. I started to feel human again. So much so that I started walking around the room and then I put on the light. And what did I see right at the back of the kettle? My bag of soy milk and farine. The very “food” I needed to take the paracetamol. And I can’t help but wonder, if God had orchestrated that moment to show me His sufficiency.

The very next day, I was walking through the hall where wedding preparations were underway, when I heard the smoothest bass crooning the words of Louis Armstrong with gusto and flow.

I ran to the room where I saw the most distinguished gentleman, articulating “What a Wonderful World” to a room of maybe just 5 persons. But he sang as if the bride and groom were already listening, reminding them to hold on to the things that matter. Reminding them that the world is a beautiful place because of a baby's cry. I started getting lost in the bridge when the class organizer came to close the door. Apparently, he was disturbing the lecturer. But it didn’t stop me from receiving the message. We can't let the stresses of life take our eyes off of the beauty of this world. We just have to keep looking and we will find it.

October 1st of each year signals quite a few things: it’s been 8 days of fall, it’s 83 days until Christmas, and it’s National Day in China. If you are in the capital city, you can commemorate the journey with a visit to Tianmen Square, the gate at which Independence was declared. If you are on the outskirts and unfortunately battling a flu, then your best bet is compiling the breakfast of champions.

China has a rich culinary scope with 8 different cuisines to represent major region. In Hunan, most dishes are punctuated with hot, spicy flavours and undercut with aromatic oils. It reminds me a lot of Sichuan cuisine minus the numbing, mala, spice.

Of course with my dietary restrictions things are looking a bit different this me around. I have always found Chinese breakfast to provide the most options, with steamed buns, steamed corn and provision, congee and noodle soup. Lunch and dinner focuses more on meat forward dishes with random punctuations of western food such as pizza, fries, chicken rings and hamburgers. So I try to make the most of breakfast.

If I am not refilling my bowl of congee then I am twirling my chopsticks around some noodles. Both dishes are served hot with an array of Chinese condiments that can be used to customize the dish. You can choose from 3 noodle types, flat rice noodles, thin wheat noodles or thin rice noodles. The types of leafy greens change every day and usually in less than 3 minutes it’s all place in a new bowl.

Then we move on to the flavours. There is a stock pot of pork flavoured soup to those who desire it. But it’s never necessary when you have these options before you. I feel like the perfect combination is a ratio of 2 sesame oil, 1 vinegar, 1 soy sauce.

Then a spoon of chives and cilantro for a fresh bite. I up the protein by adding laba bean paste, pickeled green beans and roasted peanuts. And finish that off w Laoganma for the perfect balance of spice and fermented soybeans.

This is usually very filling. But I may squeeze a steamed bun in there for a sweet treat or some steamed vegetables for extra fiber. I think that’s a pretty good deal considering the circumstances. What do you think?

As much as I love me some Wylclef Jean, the last thing I expected was to end up at the hospital on just the second day of classes.

We had gone through whole day of indoctrination and training. Understanding the history that birthed this nation. The many dynasties and the customs that survived them.

This included how to enjoy this Welcome Banquet where we got to put all our skills into practice. After the servers so meticulously filled these round tables and everyone was seated, we were invited to pour drinks into our glasses and take a toast with our organisers. Then we were invited to partake in various delicacies from roasted beef and duck to well seasonsed shrimp and prawn. The challenge was finishing all these items so that rice could finally be served and I can have something to eat.

The lack of vegan options did not stop me from admiring the innovation that reached our table. For a long time and even on this blog we have seen many takes on steamed buns. But check out these quite realistic cream-filled oranges. Oranges are generally used for represent prosperity. By turning it into a dessert, it feels more like a reward and was an awesome pairing for the fresh watermelon slices. That was before things took a turn.

My country mate who had been experiencing some discomfort all day had reached a breaking point of pain. Unfortunately that meant finding the nearest main hospital which was a good half an hour away. The taxi ride was quiet with slight anxiety but that changed at our arrival. The dark, empty halls stood tall with odd hope, that the answers still lay in the walls.

Each floor was assigned a category of treatment, making it easy to locate a doctor to help us. We even got to take our weight while we were waiting (pun intended) on a nearby scale. In my head I was like, man this is gonna look so different two weeks from now.

The process itself was quite efficient. After the check up, we paid down at the lobby for a blood test. By the way, one of the easiest blood tests ever taken. She didn’t even know when the needle entered or left. As someone who has shy veins, even I was relieved and I was just a witness. Then we waited about 20 minutes for results which we brought back to the doctor. She checked all the allergies and we were down at the pharmacy in another 15 minutes. And at a total cost of about 200 yuan. A 10/10 experience.

You know I heard a pastor say recently that our own prayer requests can hinder God’s vision for our lives. He said Joseph may have prayed to be released from prison but God’s plan for him was to bring his father and the community of Israel into their new land. As I experienced the efficiency of this hospital system, it made me wonder what was the bare minimum that I was accepting for healthcare in my country? It’s a question worth asking especially in light of recent developments. But I will leave the challenging of that mindset to you.

As someone who has been traveling since 3 years old, I not only grew up calling LIAT "Leave Island Any Time" but I enjoyed real Pinehill Passion Fruit Juice and a sandwich. By the time the company was sold for parts it had become a literal shell of itself.Which is a shame because every national airline is charged with the unofficial task of repping its country's pride.

British Airways does this through the most hilarious, well thought out in-flight instructional videos and every year we look forward to which theme they bring to life. First it was Pubs in Pelham. These days it's been Lady Whistldown and her friends. And no matter how many times you see, it nothing prepares you for that haunting buccal cavity.

China Airlines does this in their seating and food. Tight squeezes. Chinese ayis and shushus walking up and down the aisle. And the unforgivable Turtle Shell Gel for dessert. If we are going to do dessert, do it right or doh do eet atall.

Well today, I was introduced to Hainan Airlines, based in the only island that willing belongs the China. From the minute I saw our air hostess dressed like this I knewwww, this was going to be different. As soon as I got to my seat, the hostess asked permission to wake me up for my vegan meal just in case they found me sleeping. What??

Then we were all handed a menu and a night bag of socks, sleeping mask, toothpaste and a toothbrush I very much needed.

Drinks were served not once but twice through out the meal so I started with this ice cold lychee inspired cocktail and ended with coconut water. After lights out, we were offered cups of warm water to settle ourselves. Unlike on BA, when I fell aslp with 2 blankets and 3 pillows and woke up with one each. Who takes sleeping paraphernalia from a customer on an ice cold flight? I'm going to remember that one for a long time.

But this should not surprise me, at one point, I headed to the back and was waiting for assistance to collect hot water when an Anglo Saxon entered the kitchen space opened one of the large bottles of water and started pouring himself a drink. Typical, I thought. Then a Chinese couple entered, bewildered at first, then started helping themselves to the Oreos and KitKats from the basket. And then suddenly I had to accept that Hainan Airlines was simply the Chick Fila of the Sky.

This level of service was really giving domesticated. Between the rose on the bathroom and breakfast that looks like this, this was easily one of the best Airlines I have ever been on this side of the world. And I look forward to flying with them again in a couple weeks.

Would you believe it if u told you that today was the first time I set foot in London even though I've been coming here since 2010.

Almost every intransit flight to China has taken me through England. But they were usually characterized by quickly transfers from Gatwick to Heathrow or depressing nights squeezed between airport benches

Finally in 2026, without prior planning, without an iota expectation, I not only left the airport but made it to the front of Buckingham Palace.

If you know me or have read any of these journal entries, you would know that I do anything for an adventure. Wake up 5am for coastal sunrise, bring an entire tour bus off course for a salt pond or or cross an ocean to see Pua Pua shells in person.

But somewhere between aging and some other unidentified factors, I started sacrificing wonder. On this particular trip, I remembered pushing back my friend's suggestion to visit a nearby mall because the obligation of being a team leader seemed too preocupacious (made up word).

However, when we landed we knew that 6 hours on a dreary airport was out of the question. A couple queries later and we were northbound to central London.

The frosty air of the train platform chilled our behinds but England's customer service had already prepared us for that. We first made our way to East Croydon hoping to hop on another train to Victoria. But turns out this had happened.

And all trains were delayed. By the time we hopped platforms to a substitute route, our original train came barreling down and whisked into the hills. This train had way more stops and brought further delays but we seemed to arrive at Victoria Station to meet our host for the day.

And host she was. Even though we crashed her family reunion, she took us all over on foot to all the places on our bucket list if we had one.

At one point I had to pinch myself. Because I had seen so many of these places on TV that part of the experience didn't feel real. I mean this is THEE Buckingham Palace.

I have no idea why we were so fascinated with these squirrels but they reminded me of Fat Gus from those Matt Rober videos.

Then we piled into a double decker to see Big Ben, London Bridge, the River Thames and the London Eye. Speaking of eye, we had to be ever vigilant of pickpockets and phone snatchers. No matter how tight I held my bag it never felt tight enough. At one point I started putting my phone into my tshirt because what do you mean someone could come on a scooter and ride away with this raggedy S21. They would dump that so fast it would be a lose lose for us both.

As much as we wanted to see Piccadilly Circus and Kensington Gardens, the looming tiredness of the journey ahead wouldn't let us be great. We said our good byes and jumped a packed underground back to Heathrow. Now I feel something reawakening, and I have a feeling that my final destination is going to be more interesting than I initially planned.

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