Monday started with Blaz waking us all up before the sun. We did the usual morning routine until about 8:45 and then Blaz had his first physio session. He seemed to be quite tense in his arms, I think he is just settling in, and needs to build a repal with Tony (the physio). He seems to be very eager and passionate about his job which is good to see. This session was mainly based on him assessing Blaz and his abilities. As usual Blaz gave him a bit of shit, but he will be fine when he gets used to him.
After physio we came back to our very humbly abode and it was time for Adrians daily acupuncture. Once again i think the acupuncturist was just testing Adrians tolerance. He seemed to do alright with it. The needles look heaps bigger than the ones he gets back home.
I caught a quick taxi to the pearl markets to stock up on some dvd’s, bargain, 13 for $24. I also sussed out the markets so we can take Blaz there on a trip. Its definately a go.
The afternoon consisted of chilling inside, a good idea considering it reached -6 today. We had another physio session at 4:30 with Tony. He worked on his arms and legs, mainly stretches and passive work.
Mum joined the nurses yoga class, it will be something nice and soothing to do a couple of times a week.
I think Blaz may be getting his first injection on Friday, so its all getting pretty exciting, we have a meeting on Wednesday with the doctors, so we’ll see how that goes. Get some questions answered.
December 23rd, 2006
Once again, the sun rose and so did Blaz. Today was not as bad as yesterdays wake up, we all went to bed early and got a fairly good rest. We’re starting to build up a sturdy routine as we settle into our humble abode.
After showering, dressing, feeding i had a quick look at the map and made out by foot to the nearest shopping centre. Layer upon layer I strolled through the streets and alleys of China. A beautiful morning walk, soaking in the sights and smells. I slowly passed each home front shop peering at what they sold, every third or fourth shop being the same, a general convience store. Some even next door to each other.
It sees that the bike is a major form of transport, not only for people, but materials as well. Some would pass with massive poles of bamboo, others giving shouts to sell the food or clothes they carry. I reached to shop and managed to find what i needed, with great difficulty. Hand signals are becoming a big form of communication.
On the way back to the hospital I took a quick short cut down an alley, I was passing units and restaurants, beggers and children, it was definately a change from the normal views of Sydney. I made it back and Blaz still had two (2) IV drips to go, they are giving some sort of gloucose liquid in preparation for the stem cell. About an hour or so later the drips had finished and we decided to visit the Temple of Heaven.
Literatly layering Blaz up in 3 shirts, 2 jumpers, gloves, beanie, scarf, thermals, pants, blanket, 3 pairs of socks and shoes we were ready to tackle to cold. The Temple of Heaven is a massive park land, as big, if not bigger than the Sydney Botanical Gardens. It has Temples, Halls, trees and imaculate forest areas. The tree life was spectacular, the leaves are a rich green and the trees remind me of bonsais. We decided we wouldn’t do a tour, but just have a walk and look around the grounds. They were amazing, a tour is probably on our agenda. We walked the paths for an hour, until the cold could be felt and then headed back to the warmth of the hospital.
Mum gave me a simple mission get a taxi to Carrefour (supermarket) and buy milk, salt, pepper, a grater and a fruit bowl. Now imagine more people than you have ever seen in one place and put them all into a four storey shop that sells everything but milk, salt and pepper. I was there for hours, being bowled over and shoved by literaly thousands of people and retured with everything but the essentials.
Tomorrow is Monday and everything begings it should be a busy one I’m off to sleep.
N.B- looked at the clock at 11.11
December 23rd, 2006
So today started pretty slow. Blaz decided it would be wise to get up at the crack of dawn, and wake the rest of us up. Technically he was up at 9.00am Sydney time, but someone forgot to tell him we are in a different time zone, and, it’s 3 hours behind.
We chilled in the room for the better half of the day watched a DVD and snoozed a bit, then thought it would be smart to go for a walk. So after layering Blaz up with 3 jumpers, 4 pairs of socks, blankets and scarf we ventured out into -2′C temperature. We did not take into account the wind chill factor.
We were headed for “The Temple of Heaven” a short 15 min walk. We literally froze by the time we got there, red noses, rosy cheeks and frost biten fingers, but we made it. We were there for no longer the 10 sec outside the gated and we were swarmed by no less tha 10 locals trying to sell us jackets, beanies, watches, magazines, and gloves. We didn’t want any but I managed to bargin the gloves down to $10US and ‘headies’, but i don’t think she knew what i meant, so we didn’t buy them.
They were hitting me with what they wanted me to buy, it was insane. I started to tell them all, “Blaz would run every single one of them over”, and they still didn’t understand. We figured out ignoring them is the best way to get out.
Freezing cold, frost biten and surrounded we decided we would go into The Temple o a partially warmer day. We headed back to the hospital, but detoured down the ramp to the frozen river. Beauitful scenery, but we were freezing, so we’ll soak in the scenery another day.
We got back to the hospital to thaw out, and decided we’d never go outside again. I’m sure that will only last till tomorrow.
Wondering around the hospital corridors, Blaz and I discovered it was kosher to smoke in the foyer of a hospital. China is not a place to come and kick habits.
We wordered our dinner and chilled for an hour till it arrived, three (3) dishes of Chinese cuisine sets us back no more than $10.00, so yeah you guessed it, that ’s been our breakfast, lunch and dinner since we got here.
N.B-I looked at the DVD player and it was 01010101. (11:11)
December 23rd, 2006
Today has been non stop, doctor after doctor, nurse after nurse. They all wear traditional uniforms, white robes, masks and all. Started with Blaz having a blood test at 6am, I wasn’t happy. Acupuncturist came around and physios as well.
Blaz is getting Acupuncture once a day for half an hour and physio twice daily, one hour sessions.
We planned on exploring the hospital and its surroundings today but all the test and visits from masked clad nurses meant Adrian has been in bed all day. We’re slowly picking up the common Chinese words but we have far to go.
Mum and I re-arranged the furniture in the room so we could actually fit, like i mean this is small, but its cool we are all close together.
Mum went off to the shops to get some essentials, things are pretty cheap around here. She came back with bags and bags and said the place was like a 4 storey Woolworths with everything you need.
I managed to find 15 min to wonder out the back gate of the hospital. We’re literally in the slums of town, it’s an eye opener though. Old roads, people everywhere, some trying to sell things, others just going about their way. I bought a pack of durries for roughly $2.00, here’s to quiting. I continued my wonder across the main road and sat by a frozen river.
The people seem to be pretty friendly around here. Got the internet hooked up today as well, everyone is very helpful.
December 20th, 2006
12.20 flight to Beijing then onto Shanghai, or the other way around. Either way were in China. We all flew business class, it was our first time. The seats literally folded flat into beds.
It was a reletively easy flight. Blaz was a little stressed out and tight but it was all good. Mama seemed to be unwell o the flight, I figured it was from stressing herself out. We took turns sleeping and chillingwith Blaz. I was pretty dissapointed they didnt have Borat as a movie film to watch. But they did have all the chinese hits, which was a bonus.
When we got to Shanghai, everyone had to get off the plane and we got to stay on, it made things a little easier though Adrian would have been uncomfortable, it might have been good for him to get out of his seat for the hour stop over.
Continued the flight to Beijing, Blaz fell asleep for more than an hour of it, so it was good. Except when we landed, i had trouble waking him up, probably the funniest part of the trip. He slept through the bumby landing and everyone getting off the plane around him. I literally shook him so hard to wake him up and he wouldnt have a bar of it. Once i finally got him up we put him in a tiny wheelchair that could fit down the isle of the plane and went into the -2 degrees of China. It was damn fricken cold. Two Cginese guys helped us with our baggage , they didnt speak a word of english. We then went out and met with Kotan and Kammy from the hospital. I remember Tata telling me they would pick us up in “appropriate” hospital transport. This van was rusted, loud and broken. No wheelchair ramp, nothing, 4 seats in the back, 3 in the front baggage and us. We managed, Got Adrian in and to the hospital. And yes, its not a myth, they are the worst drivers. No Blinkers, overtaking on the inside, just insane. Got to the hospital at 1:30am local time so its 4:30am in Sydney. Blaz was buggered and they tried to make him do some tests, “follow my finger” blah blah its fricken 4:30 we been on a plane for 14hrs sleep or tests?? Sleep. We told them nicely and went to sleep. My bed was the form and comfort of a metal grate, mums was a slab of rock. Adrian had the luxury air mattress, its only problem is its too short.
Our room is no bigger than Blaz’s at home. That includes our kitchen, living, dining, shower and toilet. Were here for 2 and a bit months, this shall be interesting 
N.B- Landing in Shanghai I looked out the window and saw a shooting star. *
December 19th, 2006
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