So, for a change, I’m not with my giant pandas this morning. Instead, I’m sitting in my room, reflecting on the difference in lodgings from previous years.

For my last two visits, I’d stayed at Xiao Xi Tian (Little Western Sky), located inside Bifengxia Panda Base. Ideal location except it’s little more than a backpackers’ inn, with really very basic amenities. But it was within walking distance of the various exhibits, and it was cheap, dirt cheap. But after two stays, I didn’t think I could stay there one more time. Fortunately, something came along that made it possible for me to stay somewhere else.

Air Asia now flies direct to Chengdu, which means I saved on the travelling time and also on the airfares. The basic fare is about 2/3rds what I paid to Guangzhou in previous years, plus it’s the only fare – no more connecting flights or extra fares to pay.

So with the money saved on flights, I opted for better lodgings this time. Annette recommended the Ibis Hotel in Ya’an City. When I arrived, I found out how central it is, within walking distance of shops, including what I thought was the EverJoy supermarket, but is really called NewJoy. It’s also about 15 minutes’ walk to the bus stop where I take the staff bus to and fro the Base everyday.

When I checked in, the reception staff asked if I wanted a room with a view. I did. She gave me a room on the top floor, facing Ya’an’s best known landmark.

It’s the bridge that’s the landmark. Whhat looks like a magnificent historic building on the bridge is actually a shopping centre, filled mostly with tea shops.

The room itself is a BIG step up from Xiao Xi Tian, especially the bathroom!

But the room and attached bathroom are not the best features of the hotel. It’s the security that really impressed me, even tho I had to find out the hard way.

After checking in, I went to take the lift to my room. The lift door closed, I pressed the button for my floor … nothing happened. I pressed again. The button still did not light up. It was then I saw the little slot next to the bank of buttons.

The lift buttons can only be activated by a room key, and therefore only by a registered guest of the hotel. Very secure.

There’s one more thing that made me glad I’m staying at the Ibis Hotel – its Spring Festival (as Chinese New Year is called in China) decorations on the hotel’s facade.

I was there, but not specifically to attend the event. I’m here for my annual volunteer trip which happens to coincide with Tai Shan’s big day. Here are some pictures from this special day.

The weather forecast had said rain from 6 March (the day I arrived), but it only rained on the 3rd day. This morning, rain in Ya’an became snow when we got to Bifengxia Panda Base. Only for Tai Shan!

Welcome banner and red carpet at the start of the path going up to Tai Shan’s new home

Volunteers called up on stage to receive certificates of appreciation

There were blank cards attached to the railings at his yard for volunteers to write messages to him. This was mine.

Caught in the act!

The volunteers each received a goody bag with a panda soft toy inside. Mine is US bound for a special foo-foo pet … I mean, baby.

And now some pictures of today’s star attraction, Tai Shan.

His keeper and team really got into the spirit of the occasion and decked out a buggy for Tai’s personal transport up to his new home

Within minutes of arrival, he was allowed outdoors. He came out, looked around and headed straight for the slope on the other side so that he disappeared for a while. But he was soon back up and facing the pandarazzi on the other side of the railings.

After the excitement of the morning, he settled down quickly to his usual routine of eating bamboo! We went back after lunch and were rewarded with his left profile …

… and his right profile

Tai in his yard – an overall view to give an idea of the size of the yard.

Yup, no access to Facebook and Twitter in China. I feel “offline”, altho I have Internet access in my hotel room, and brought along “H”, my Asus eeePC 1000H, so I am online, just not on Facebook or Twitter.

I’m at the Bifengxia Panda Base for my annual volunteer trip. This trip coincides with American-born giant panda Tai Shan coming out of his 30-day quarantine and moving into his new digs today. It’s a big event with 20 volunteers helping him to move. I’m one of the 20.

This should be a fun day.

I just remembered my blog entries are sent to my Facebook account, so this should go up there, too. If any of my FB friends read this, please post a comment on my blog to let me know. Then, I’ll update my blog more often while I’m in China.

Thanks.

Don’t mind my silliness.

Earlier today, I saw a note from a friend on FB about getting together a reading group for A S Byatt’s Possession. I thought I was so smart when I replied “Persuasion was what persuaded me about A S Byatt’s wonderful-ness.” A while later, it occurred to me Persuasion is not the title of the book, but Possession. I went back and deleted the note, and later tweeted dunno what possessed me to write Persuasion instead of Possession by A S Byatt. Was trying to be funny and use the word “persuaded”. *blur*

I have various writing projects, including Panda Stories, a series of 20 stories based on 20 pictures, and A – Z, short notes on Facebook. So far, I’ve only written three of the 20 panda stories, and four of the alphabet notes. Panda Stories was “launched” on 20 December 2009 and the third story posted about a month later on 19 January 2010. The first of the alphabet notes, “Age”, was posted on 19 January 2010, and “Disorganised”, the fourth, on 23 February 2010.

Pretty pathetic output. Nevertheless, I’m feeling somewhat accomplished today, having written and posted a new story on The British Council’s A City of Shared Stories Kuala Lumpur site. I’ve posted various stories on that site, and should really include them in my recent writing output.

I’ll do better than that. I’ll post links to all my stories posted to date on that site.

Taken for a ride
17 December 2009

Kindness Remembered
18 December 2009

Urban Miracle
3 January 2010

Spiked
8 January 2010

He also started this way
10 January 2010

“You won’t believe what happened, man … “
1 March 2010

Hmm, no stories posted in February? Well, it was a short month – the shortest month! – and just whooshed by.

Hopefully, I’ll maintain, if not increase, my writing output from now on.