Random Thoughts

We have now been here a little over a month and I have done a lot of observing.  I also have had a lot of time to think on all these long train rides (between peeling Cooper and Tucker off each other, putting Tuck back in his seat and keeping Cooper from licking the walls- yeah, gross I know). Anyway, here it goes!

Smoking
There is a shit load of smoker here. It is incredible! Especially coming from Tacoma where it seems like there are almost no smokers (I know there really are).  It just amazes me that everywhere you look someone is smoking and throwing their butts into the street, or on the train tracks or anywhere they should not be. And, the age of the smokers- these kids I see cannot be more than 14 years old! That is crazy and honestly they look really stupid.  I also see a lot of moms- even moms with babies- smoking.

Trains and Buses
The public transportation system here is really good. The trains and buses are clean, easy to find and navigate and they go virtually everywhere at least 3 different ways. Each platform has a sign that says which train is approaching, how far away it is and where it stops AND it has a little lady announcing all that as well. Maybe I have been away from the big city for a while, but this impresses me.

Taxis
We have been taking a lot of taxis lately. The taxi drivers here are actually HONEST! They do not try to scam you or cheat you. I even had one leave (to come back later) and he said, "Just pay me when I come back."  The taxis also provide car seats for the bubs.  Am I too easily impressed? :)

People
In general, the people here are very friendly. Their Australian accents make everything they say seem ten times nicer than it really is. I imagine when an Aussie tells you to "%$@# off," it would even sound nice! I cannot tell you how many times I have been struggling with the stroller and someone- male and female, old and young- have stopped to help. One man even carried our stroller down a flight of stairs for us!

Food
First off I will say all the Asian food here is incredible! I have not had a bad meal yet and there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. The produce here is really good as well. The fruit is delicious- except for the bananas- bad banana year here due to the typhoon. The rest of the food here leaves something to be desired. A burger here is really meatloaf shaped like a burger with some nasty cheese and salad, yes, salad on it.  Don't even get me started on pizza because I have not found any that I like.  Gonna have to work on a recipe of own... I cannot find plain, old-fashioned cheddar cheese here. I would kill for a piece of Tillamook cheddar cheese right now.  Soda here is strange. I am pretty sure they use a lot less sugar than in the States and perhaps not all the "crap" that is in it there. I am getting used to it- slowly.  Eggs- oh- they do not keep eggs in the refrigerator here! They are just on the shelf!  Cereal is different here, too. Rice Crispies are "Rice Bubbles." They pretty much taste the same.  Oh, cannot forget potato chips. There are some really good regular chips, but the flavors are so odd- burger flavor, chicken flavor, bacon flavor. Not my thing.

Grocery Shopping
When you go shopping here for groceries, you can go to a big supermarket and get all you need OR you can go to a butcher shop for your meat, a bakery for breads and sweets, a produce store for fruits and veggies and a seafood market for seafood! It is really fun.

I did find a Metro Market type grocery store here and they had Dr. Pepper, A&W Rootbeer and Hershey's bars.  All of which made me so happy. They had a lot more foods from home, but I didn't really have a chance to browse with the boys,

TV
I really don't get TV here. Actually, I don't really watch it, but I have been trying to find kid tv here for the boys.  We did find a great channel that had really good quality kid shows, but since we moved to our new place it has disappeared! Funny thing- all our favorite characters speak with either Australian accents or British accents.  Imagine that! :) Something to get used to. Cooper hasn't noticed yet.  He does, however, when talking about the shows speak with the correct accent! Amazing! It has been interested watching some of the news shows regarding the whole bin Laden ordeal.  Australians do not really get the whole war on terror thing and the 9/11 thing is lost on them. It is quite sheltered down here.

I have rambled enough.  Later folks!