Cancun-Mayan Riviera-Palace Spa Resort

.....Me gusta la playa.

Paul and I decided that after all the China stuff (rejection) we needed a vacation.

We picked the Palace Spa Resort in the Mayan Riviera. As we live in San Diego and are at the border, the swine flu was not even a care in our planning and it shouldn't be in yours if you plan on going south!

The best thing was the 1500 room resort had 1/8Th capacity. The service was great, the resort was all inclusive which is not normally our style.

The room was nice with an ocean view. If you go ask to be in the 1500- 1600 building(s). The rooms included liquor for those who couldn't get out and order at the pool. We never even cracked the bottles, of course Paul seldom has a drink and I go for wine as a preference. But they keep your refrigerator stocked with juice,soda, beer and water. We asked to remove the everything and just leave soda and water. The water came in handy on or day trips we brought plenty to help with the heat.

The food and tips- Tips were included with everything and you didn't feel pressure from staff,, but we still tipped 20-50 pesos for good service. You can tell the people are worried for their jobs because there are so few room occupied. They has 6 restaurants open, 2 were closed. All the food was fine...I would say like cruise food, some times better than others.

The Pool- they have two area, kids and no kids under 18. The no under 18 was a constant large pool party with more drinking than we cared to be around. The few times we watched the activities the people were having fun doing pretty silly, a bit risque, but other wise harmless stuff. The other pool was empty!!!

The Lagoon- We stayed hear most of the time. We sat in the VIP section which was covered in shade. We never figured out if we were VIP but they didn't toss us out of the nice seats! It was quiet, relaxing and those frosty fu-fu drinks were fun! (No direct ocean , lots of fish in a protected lagoon)

The Spa- great book a package as soon as you arrive and this is not included in all inclusive but great spa and massage!!!!

The trip(s)---UGH!

The Chitzen Itza trip was 2.5 hours of driving in a crowded,no space bus, then forced shopping, a crappy guide, and 2.5 hours of driving back. Do your self a favor pay for a private driver to take you for the day, have the concierge set it up. We had to stop in 4 other resort both coming and going ---other folks had a worse day they had 9 stop before they were back at there resort. Chitzen Itza is worth doing just not on a big bus"""""""!

The Tulum Express is worth doing the guide was on time, very informed. Bring your bathing suit this has a beach rated top in the world.

China-Like the Hobbit or there and back again!

Well, Folks here is my latest news!

Paul went to China, I got a postcard and mandarin lessons. The China project is on hold or stall when Paul left May 31-- the clothes were in the garage ready for movers, the shots were done, the cultural and lessons were ON! Go China.

Then comes the bad news-- talks have stalled , all work on hold.......disappointment follows as our "adventure" has now turned to dust (or smog in China, not really sure).

So I am like the fantasy book "There and back again", only I just get to live vicariously through Paul as he travels thought China (as we all read "the Hobbit" and lived through Bilbo Baggins).

Not really the new Plan is: Paul and I are going together his next trip over(whenever that may be) and then we will spend time traveling in China.

I have had about 6 going away parties here in California and now I need to have a return party (even though I haven't gone anywhere)!

Any ideas on how I should make my return to the west?

I guess we can serve Dim Sum....I will pick a date soon and if you are in the area hope to see you on my return , with humor and smiles Diane

Devlin's Potty humor(and other Chinglish)

Shanghai Nancy has come to the rescue. (to help explain the NQR- Not quite right life in China).

As you can see the Chinese are kind enough to give us signs to explain: 

First WHO you  are? Lots of  the Devlin clan- as well as friends of the clan- are Ragamuffins (and proud of it!).

Those not in this category will kindly be placed in the latter 2 areas.(Note: we not longer need to read the entrance regulations having been excluded from the start.)

Kindly refrain from placing your "Junks" in the toilet.

Consequences below:

 

China Apartments- What is this?

Looking at Apartments online in China I found these two view: 

Help What are these items?

So far my sister Carol has the funniest best answer, particularly for the foyer:

Picture 1 is a hair dryer.  (old outdated-ok maybe you have never been in establishments with this upgrade!)

Picture 2 shows the accoutrements for a little known chinese ritual involving tea kettles, giant bird baths, potted trees, plastic tubs and spray bottles.  First, you take the spray bottle and coat the tree with water.  You then collect the drippings using the plastic tub.  Transfer the drippings from the plastic tub to the tea kettle.  Heat the water to boiling.  Fill the bird bath.  Repeat until bird bath is full of hot water.  (TIP:  Act quickly or the water will cool.)  Buy a freshly slaughtered chicken, head still attached.  Holding the chicken by its head, dip it repeatedly into the bird bath full of hot water.  This will loosen the feathers.  Lay the chicken on the table and pluck the feathers, which have been loosened by the hot water.  (Save the feathers for another ritual, one that also involves the tree, a chinese opera singer and the theme song from the original three stooges movies -- more on this in a future email.)  Cook the chicken using flavorings and sauces of your choice.  Be careful of the feathers you were unable to pluck - they tend to stick in your throat.  DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT use the water in the bird bath for chicken soup --  unless of course you have access to the giant strainer that sits inside the giant bird bath.  PS, the giant birdbath also serves as a footbath, which is why it is common in the foyers of chinese apartments.  Skip the chicken and heat the water just short of boiling.  This explains why the chinese are so fond of chicken feet.

 

That should make you laugh and be happy for the new experience I can look forward to in the near future.

SMILES Diane

What's your interpretation?

Lost (&Confused) Horizon-China Update

China always takes a long term view. They have been around over 5,000 years. 

Keep this in mind as you read my attempt at making a stressful situation humorous.

Getting a "Z" Visa in China has become getting an F&Z Visa.  

Here is the process.

a medical exam

a letter from someone in china inviting you to come over

a employment letter from a company in China

apply for z visa

Doesn't this (above) sound so simple!

An update(or as much as "we", aka Paul and I, the confused, can tell you)!

Call all, Chinese Embassy(s)  in USA numbers to get the prerecorded message(s) then leave messages which will go unanswered. There appear to be  no live people in these mystery places just recordings.

Now save yourself some worry(hahahaha)and get a relocation agency to assist you in the process.

They are trying to help but the email messages are so tricky. 

Does a "we" mean me and Paul or does it mean "we" as in Paul, Me and the relocation company or "we" the relocation company only? 

Does "I will start the process" mean while you work on your end? I think not!!!!

Yes I am ranting.

Medical Exam to get into China to work-- it is harder than becoming a Navy Seal-- blood, hiv, hep B\A , Aids test, EKG,Chest xray, physical etc. Get an "approved by China" doctor to do all the tests, bring all films, originals of all tests, with signed Chinese Medical Form, and send it all to China.

Invite Letter- takes 15-20 days, mas o menas, but not until you get all medical exam completed.

Employment Letter- takes 4-5 days, and I think it is a letter from Paul's company(China division) saying they want him to work in China, so it must be issued and stamped-Chinese like their "Stamps".  Again Not until you complete the medical exam.

Apply for Z visa- get all (we think as our inquiry to embassy is awaiting tranlation -including xray and ekg etc)of the originals of everything you had done above  sent to you in USA then get it to the Chinese embassy and they might get you the visa in 3-5 days.

IF you get the "F&Z Visa" go to China and repeat all the steps plus a few more, including registering with the Police so you can get another permit to reside here!

So you ask when are you leaving? 

We can't tell you, it is in God's and the rulers of Middle Kingdoms hands

How long will you be there (if you get through the process)? 

As long as it takes to get through the next set of hoops...

 it could  be 10 -12 months in which case Paul will be done with his project.

with humor, SMILES DI

Lastly, Swine FLU may prevent entry or exit....Ugh!

Staycation?

Hi all,

I haven't gone anywhere so I guess I am on a staycation!  A friend recently used this and explained it was staying in your home town and doing stuff you normally do when company comes from out of town.

This got me thinking; What do I do now that I do when company comes to town?  

I clean more, Yes I have been doing that since I am not working (outside the HOME!!!).  

I  go out eat, Yes, I am doing that but not really more we must always be staycationers.

I hike and go for walks on beach, Yes, But again we live in San Diego -We do this for exercise.

Ok, I have not gone to Disney since the  "last company" but we have zoo passes and seaworld so we stop in for an hour about once a month. 

 Side Note: Sick as it is....Why don't we ever see crazy ladies jump into the polar bear exhibit -----during feeding time?

Nick gave the perspective of the polar bears.   "Hey, feeding time and they just chucked in a crazed overgrown seal!! WeeHa".  The bear was just excited like getting easter candy to little kids.  

Sorry, my mind wanders back to staycations.

I don't think I like "staycations". I  don't like the word or the ?meaning?  I am confused.  It is ugly to mix vacation and staycation. I don't want the "stay" I want the "VACATION"  as defined by websters:

Main Entry:1va·ca·tion
Pronunciation:\vā-ˈkā-shən, və-\
Function:noun
Usage:often attributive
Etymology:
Middle English vacacioun, from Anglo-French vacacion, from Latin vacation-, vacatio freedom, exemption, from vacare
Date:
14th century
1: a respite or a time of respite from something : intermission
2 a: a scheduled period during which activity (as of a court or school) is suspended b: a period of exemption from work granted to an employee
3: a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation
4: an act or an instance of vacating

Now according to "Urban Dictionary" (as this is a made up word Webster doesn't even recognize it!)

staycation: 
A vacation that is spent at one's home enjoying all that home and one's home environs have to offer.

Let me just finish by saying: Excuse me but isn't that what we should be doing everyday?

regular day:

A regular day(removed vacation) that is spent at one's home enjoying all that home and one's home environs have to offer.

Lastly, while living in China I think I will do both "staycation and vacation" depending on my mood on that particular day...I hope you will keep  up with me. 

Smiles to all Have a pleasant stayca...oops I mean day!

 Diane