spookyspies

15. Shave your head, all off, number two so you don’t look all romper stomper

spookyspies — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:24:55 +0000

I have a fear of the hairdresser like others have of the dentist. I have found only two people in my life who I can go to for a cut. One is a Dutch girl living in Germany who cuts in the kitchen, smokes, reads your cards and makes a good latte. The other is the sister of my favourite couple living in the Blue Mountains. She snips dry hair without a comb, maybe still smokes, chats and would probably put salt in my coffee. It’s often a long time between cuts while I’m in China.
A friend with some artistic flair and nice hair came highly recommended. Having previously cut customers hair in the dark of a small Chengdu bar, she did a super job. In my opinion, it looks like a German cut but nothing offensive. Photo to come…

25. I think you should go for a balloon ride!

spookyspies — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:28:20 +0000

What a super-perfect excuse to go for a balloon ride, thanks A. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the cash to get to Xiling ski resort to jump one. Actually, I’ll take this challenge in to my thirties and do it sometime to challenge my new found giant fear of relatively small heights. But for now, as inspired by the little girl struggling to hold all her helium balloons outside the hospital last night, I strapped two helium balloons to my bike and rode around town.

11. Go for one last jog as a 20-something year old

spookyspies — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:32:05 +0000

This is proof that I was on the treadmill. I got a stitch and then a back cramp. I forgot some valuable gym clothing so I really had no choice but to do a light jog/walk rotation. Then I took a photo and panted a little.

22. Go on one of these jump to the music things where you have to step with your feet on those squares that light up

spookyspies — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:51:43 +0000

No, no, no, no. Never again! I couldn’t read the instructions and ended up on club remix. I’m pretty sure I looked like an elephant in a riverdance class.

12. Have you punched a panda bear in the face yet?

spookyspies — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:57:45 +0000

I scratched my hand but got him right in the eye!

18. Run a marathon

spookyspies — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:48:46 +0000

Umm, says the unfit 29 year old. Uhuh! I will run a television marathon. Every waking minute of my home time has been spent glued to the set (computer set). I have two days and one disc left to complete the entire 7 seasons of ‘Curb your enthusiasm’. I am getting a little worried that I’m starting to talk like Larry.
SUCCESS! On the morning of my birthday at 5am I completed the 7th season of Curb your enthusiasm. Ha.

24. eating crazy food like locusts and snakes and stuff

spookyspies — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:21:32 +0000

The list wasn’t about doing things for the first or last time, and as for this point, it really isn’t the first time but I kinda hope it might be the last. In 2001, I ate a spicy sparrow on a skewer. In 2003, I may have drunk the marrow from a pig’s hoof through a twisty straw. In 2007, I ate snake. In 2009, I went to hot pot many times and didn’t ask enough questions. As luck would have it, last night the local Priest of Chengdu Church invited our office to ‘crazy food’ hot pot. I had a picture taken of me eating some stomach, I also tried the guts and pigs throat. All chewy. Sorry to the person that suggested I become a vegetarian.

21. Take a photo of a good looking stranger, get her address and send it to her

spookyspies — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:52:36 +0000

I sent it to her instant messenger account. She didn’t really want a copy.

7. Find a kids playground/jungle gym and have a go on everything one last time

spookyspies — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:40:23 +0000

Just about every open space has a variety of adult gym equipment in China. But finding a kiddy playground proved difficult. I did actually find one in a housing complex but the guard wouldn’t let me in, even to use the tiny slide. So I jumped on the adult equipment outside my apartment, which was still pretty entertaining, very colourful and really required some imagination. I don’t know what the hell some of those contraptions are for. But I did me best.

4. How about fly a kite…

spookyspies — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:03:02 +0000

There is usually no wind in Chengdu… only clouds and the occasional still, sunny day. I thought I would have to get some serious kite master to get this thing up. And then, from nowhere came a strong wind. It started at 3.00pm yesterday afternoon and lasted long enough for me to skip out after work and throw this thing up outside my building. The kite was savage and came down violently on people walking by. It also went over the wall topped with broken glass but the wind picked it back up. It felt pretty nice to fly a kite. I got some tips from passersby, follow the wind and wait till spring.