Written by Nadia Abramova

“Do the best with what you have and where you are”

A few mornings ago I was sitting alone and looking around my place when I started to feel an urgent need to change it. I began to notice that my living room lacked any bright colours and because of this the atmosphere had become a little gloomy, not good!

So, then and there I decided to redecorate the living room. Was that a good idea? You’ll see…

First things first, I went straight to my bedroom to look for my most colorful pink dress with embroidered silver flowers that I bought during my first trip to China. I found it looking lonely, lying there in the dark far behind my much more recent purchases; there it was, my pink party dress. It isn’t getting any use there so I decided it would be fun if I could cut it in to pieces and use the material to make the cushions on my sofa more…interesting.

Less than half an hour later my beautiful pink dress was in pieces and I had a set of rather fabulous cushions. The time flew by, singing along to songs of my favorite Bollywood movies and watching the X files I got the fancy work done very quickly. From that moment on, my sofa would never look gloomy again! But never one to be content, I decided I wanted to do more, so to keep the balance of colours even I decided to decorate the ottoman covers with sequins and beads.

After a week of a task that was not as hard as it was pleasant I was able to boast to my friends and relatives about my handiwork. After a week of keeping my thoughts on one project and setting my mind on one task I learned a valuable lesson about being persistent even while doing small things, plus I also made my apartment look fabulous!

“Make your day fabulous so that tomorrow you can envy yourself”

Creating something new in your life with your hands can be very fulfilling. Drawing, singing, writing, paper folding or any other hobby is a good way of self expression; it helps in constructing the world around us and such hobbies make us feel happier with whom we are.

After my beads and sequins adventure I took a large white fruit bowl, which up until now I had used for putting candles on, and decided to spice it up a little. So, I dug out my acrylic paint and started drawing a blue bird with a large tale. The design went well with my new cushion covers which was a bonus!

I remember how last summer, my aunt called me to her place and gave me a cap and said, “Can you decorate it with beads?” I said, “Sure!” and after three weeks of thinking and planning and embroidering, I made it, the fancy work was completed and two beautiful birds and a heart with an infinity symbol were placed on the cap. The birds with their wings and the shine from the beads makes you think of a starry night, and this image evokes a lot of emotion from me and makes me think of my love for my auntie. You are probably thinking, why would anybody want an embroidered cap? And I agree, it is not for everyone but my aunt liked it, and that’s what matters.

Imagination and creation lie deep within our minds, little did I know that when I was holding that cap in my hands that somehow my love for birds would find a place on it! It’s amazing how all things begin, from a thought that later on grows into an idea and then becomes a plan or a blue print which we then put into practice.

All that we have around us was once an idea, as Robert Collier puts it in his Secret of the Ages (1926). Imagination makes our life richer. So, just try and tap in to yours, try something new, something that always interested you, and see how great it makes you feel. Every time I enter my apartment and see my little covers, cushions and fruit bowl, I see a little part of my creative side that was forgotten a long time ago, and then I realise how glad I am for having remembered it again!

Sincerely yours,

Nadia Abramova

   By Elsbeth van Paridon

After a scorching hot and humid summer, followed by a rather chilly autumn, Beijing winter is starting to show its stone cold face again. Hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, ear warmers, the whole shebang is being pulled out of the closet for the sake of just keeping a little warm when the wind starts blowing you (or better hitting you) in the face the moment you set one Ugg outside. Sure, a trip to H&M or Zara is easily made here nowadays; however, scouting the general Chinese markets and stores for cheaper/runway knock-off winter clothing often results in disappointment. But have I got news for you: it doesn’t have to，as the fashion industry is throwing us a bone this season.

Usually the sight of Minnie Mouse lookalikes and swanky pompoms make me turn and run faster than a taxi driver saying he doesn’t know how to get to Tiananmen. Of course after exercising the necessary patience, you may find some nice glitter less scarves and gloves that actually match (your taste). And if you’re lucky, maybe even a nice matching hat. But behold! Now enters the wonderful and rather innovative part. A/W 2011-2012 catwalks were packed to the rafters with knitwear. Wool has made its comeback into the most knit picky design lover’s walk-in closet, or in my case onto my IKEA clothing rack.

Personally I have always been a fan of wearing wool, especially in the Beijing cold or on the slopes, as long as it doesn’t make me look like ‘The Friendly Giant’. Having said that though, I must admit that my number one favorite fabric during these tough times, the one I just cannot pass by without trying to bargain it down, would have to be Fake Fur. The mere sight of it makes me dream of the glamorous studio times where flawless Ava Gardners, Hayworths and my grandmother would swoon into Bogart or Gable´s arms (or my grandfather´s obviously), wearing fabulously tailored fur coats with perfectly harmonizing accessories, down to their hatpins. Ah, those were the days… Fast forwarding to 2012, there is a sparkle of hope for diva-wannabes like me as you can find plenty of (somewhat) politically correct faux fur for all in this city.

Beijing clothing markets allow you to create your individual Moss or Macpherson look to casually browse around the latest openings at 798, watch the up-and comers on the city’s rockscene at Mao Live or just tumble out of Apothecary or Spark in style. One example of a dear fuzzy item on my clothing rack is still a short furry gilet I got from Old News Vintage Boutique in Wudaoying Hutong, Plenty of similar shops around nowadays and a new one seemingly opening up every week; the latest one being ‘Station’; its collections offering a mixture of young new designers and upscale vintage. Two other vests, knitted with fake fur lining, I dug up from a basket over there. Second hand gems I call them. Plenty of them around, but you need just as much patience to spot them.

Moving back to wool on the other hand; there is one item I have never been able to wrap my Yaxiu wig around: the ‘Ugly Sweaters’. Itchy wool, warm to hot, shapeless… They’re considered all that and more. There’s just something about them that doesn’t want me to wear Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer or the Leader of the Pack – Santa Clause himself – on her chest. Let alone a snowman, which actually give me nightmares. Until now that is; because according to the grapevine I should change my mind. Rykiel, Mccartney, Jacobs and trailblazing Holdhus have decided that grandmother’s Christmas present is now hot and happening instead of just boiling hot and rash inducing. Frosty is back with a vengeance: it is the ‘Ugly Sweater Phenomenon’. And where else do you have easier access to these gems and a wider variety of them than in this nation’s capital?!

It’s almost like the question of the chicken and the egg all over again.  Who came up with the idea to put Christmas decorations on people first? Was it this city’s vendors or the top designers? Or maybe it was just Coca Cola. But all skepticism aside, it seems we have a new way to look in vogue for next to nada AND be warm .Normally I would say ‘hot’, but I haven’t had a chance to take my snowman out on the town for a spin in men’s land yet. The glass should be half full though as it has been scientifically proven that men like to touch or get closer to women, in a NICE way I might add, who wear soft fabrics. Even the inscrutable Don Draper shouldn’t be able to resist. So if you go for the non-prickly wool, you should be set until Chinese New years date-wise methinks. Go prickly and you’ll just end up literally shocking people every time your feet touch a carpet – speaking from personal experience here.

All that remains now is the vital question: How to wear the Ugly Sweater and take its rating from granny convalescent to convincing Agyness hot? It is a large burden upon our shoulder pads (can’t believe those are still around, let alone that I’m wearing them, but that is a whole different topic). In other words, putting on a wool item can end up being like opening Pandora’s Box… The only way you should be able to pull it off would be to pair it with skinny jeans or leggings, 5plus inch heels and a first-rate sense of humor lined with self-confidence/mock. And maybe ask Santa for some help. It IS warm though. And fun. And fun is something that has been absent from the general fashion scene for a while. Tis the season, so join in and stay hotter than maltwein I say! Besides, should people laugh at you, just shock´em.

You got the power.

For more information, and the proof I’m not making this up, check out the following site!

www.uglysweaterstore.com
Want to see more and experience more, please visit:  http://www.beingfunchina.com/magazine/the-getgo-vol-15/

Hi this is Lara Lee here on Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is all about getting together with family and friends and giving thanks for all the wonderful things you have been blessed with. In China I use the opportunity to invite my closest friends over and cook some traditional treats. Today I’m going to share with you one of my family’s secret recipes for you to surprise your friends and family with this holiday. I’m going to show you how to make my mother’s famous Southern Pecan pie. What you’re going to need is:

3 eggs

1 cup of white sugar

1 cup of honey

1 tablespoon of melted margarine or butter

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

At least 1 cup of pecans

1 unbaked pie shell

But I’m cheating today and using a graham cracker crust in place of the pie shell because it’s my favourite. What you’re going to wanna do is take a medium sized bowl and stir in the eggs, sugar, honey, butter and vanilla and then mix it all together really well. Then you wanna stir in the pecans and pour it into the pie shell.

Bake it on 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 50-55minutes, or until you can put a toothpick in it and it comes out clean. Next, just cool it on a rack, you definitely wanna make sure it is completely cool before you serve it and it makes about 8 servings.

All that is left to do is enjoy! If you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving then the recipe is also a great idea for Christmas. Anyway, by for now and I’ll see you next month when we’ll be cooking up some new year treats!

Y’all take care now,

Lara Lee

x

Want to see more and experience more? please visit: http://www.beingfunchina.com/magazine/the-getgo-vol-14/now!

Written By Nadia Varlam

Living in Guangzhou gives you an opportunity to find genuine leather bags for a cheap price and sometimes to bargain for even cheaper. Leather bags can make beautiful Christmas presents for your family and friends. But sometimes it is hard to know if the bags that are claimed to be made of genuine leather are not made of an artificial one. In Guangzhou there are several markets for leather goods, for example, like the most popular among expatriates, Guangzhou Bai Yun World Leather Trading Centre. There you can purchase a variety of replica bags and some Chinese and Hong Kong brand products. Guangzhou leather markets may seem huge but once you go to one of the leather trading centers, you will learn to find some differences between brands and their products.

In order to keep yourself from making the mistake of buying fake leather goods, you may want to know some tips for spotting real leather from fake.

Sometimes it is hard to distinguish genuine leather from fake, even for those who are professionally involved in leather sales. This is because new technologies of fake leather processing are being invented to make its smell and other qualities like softness, thickness and shine almost identical to real leather. But there are some methods that can help you to know if you are holding real or fake leather in your hands.

How do you know if the leather is real?

1) By touching

Maybe, it’s the first thing to do, to feel the surface’s consistence and softness. If it is easy and pleasant to touch the bag and you feel comfort and even a little warmth while rubbing it, it is real leather, if it feels like a plastic and rubber, it’s fake leather. One more quality of real leather is that when you pinch it with two fingers and rub them together you will not get any feeling of a tissue underneath, whereas fake leather while rubbing has a feeling of a tissue basis.

2) By the edges

Examine the edges of a bag and check that there are no threads, if there are threads it’s fake leather, no threads can come out of genuine leather.

2) By taking a smell

Try to catch that hard to describe smell of leather from your bag, in most cases real leather still preserves it’s smell after processing. But there are rumors that some manufacturers add a leather fragrance to their artificial products, so, this method may be a little too dated to catch the manufacturer out. But you can give it a try…

4) By stretching

Try stretching slightly the side of a bag with fingers of your two hands – if the surface is elastic enough to stretch easily and get back in to the initial shape after you get your fingers off, it’s real leather. If the sample can stretch, but only in one direction-by axial filament of a tissue cover -it’s a sign of fake leather.

5) By burning the edges

Sure, no shop assistant will allow to try this kind of a check in the shop, but once you get home you may test your abilities to distinguish real leather from fake –glide the edge of the bag with a lighter and see if it burns, if it starts burning, it’s a fake, but if it only gets hot then it’s real!

6) By looking for scratches

No scratch can stay after you try scratching real leather with your nail, but even a slight touch of your nail will leave a visible scratch on fake leather.

7) By dripping some water

If you drip some water on to real leather the water will stay on its surface, when it’s artificial leather the water will not.

One more tip to consider – sometimes some shops in the leather trading centers may have perfect samples of real leather bags and wallets, but what is brought from a warehouse may have some imperfections like cracks, tore zippers, a very strong plastic smell etc. Well, some can find it better to buy a sample rather than a stock item.

And the last piece of advice you may want to use, is –Feel free to bargain over the prices and you ask shop managers to give you a discount for your next purchase, they will always remember you the next time you visit their store. Maybe it’s due to the fact that in a city as big as Guangzhou where people are used to seeing several hundred different people every day, being recognized anywhere you have been at least only once is not surprising.

So, I hope that this article was useful to read, take your time and enjoy leather bags shopping in Guangzhou! Merry Christmas!

Want to see more and experience more? please visit: http://www.beingfunchina.com/magazine/the-getgo-vol-14/now!

Written By Michael Smith.

For those of you who don’t want to spend a fortune on hotel Xmas lunches & would prefer to eat at home anyway, I’ve put together a simple to prepare Xmas lunch that wont cost the earth. I’m assuming you have access to an oven (even one of those small portable ones is ok) If not then you’ll need to improvise like buying a whole roast chicken using the wok for frying instead of roasting potatoes, the rest should be easy with what most people have in their kitchens in PRC..

Starter- Smoked Salmon
Buy a pack of sliced Smoked salmon or gravadlax, arrange on plate with a wedge of lemon & some brown bread & butter. Serve with a petit salad if you like. Drink sauvignon blanc or sparkling wine

Main- Roast herb chicken, potatoes, cabbage, carrots and red wine gravy

Ok! So let’s get started….

The Gravy
Buy a chicken, keep giblets & remove & chop wings & neck (chop & lightly fry these with half an onion /carrot and a celery stick. Do this until it starts to brown, then drain & boil in a litre of water for 30 minutes. Strain & reduce volume by boiling to half its original) don’t season it as you will be reducing it later and the flavour will intensify too much if you season early.

Stuff half a lemon & half a cross cut head of garlic inside the chicken, Mix half of a softened pack of butter with fine chopped herbs and rub under chickens skin evenly, starting from the flap on the rear and working up and around the legs (be careful not to break the skin). Lightly add salt & pepper & oil to the chicken & roast in preheated oven 200C for 15 minutes then reduce to 175C* until cooked. It will take around an hour or you can calculate this at 20 minutes per half kg plus 15 minutes by its total weight from start of cooking. Insert skewer in to the thickest part of the thigh and if the juices run clear it’s done. Remove, but keep it warm & allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes.

The Potatoes
*Part boil evenly cut potatoes until you can see a rim appear on the cut edge, drain, add some salt & pepper and maybe some chopped garlic & rosemary or thyme then roll in the chicken fat as the chicken begins to cook at 175C, chicken & potatoes should be ready at same time.

The Veggies
Slice carrots & boil until cooked drain them and then return to the pan with a little orange juice & sugar, warm through until carrots are glazed and drain.
Take a Cabbage and finely slice & steam it with a little salt, drain the water and then warm through in a pan with a small piece of butter.

Back to the gravy
When the chicken & potatoes are removed drain all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the roasting dish, add 2 tbsp flour and stir to make a paste. Put on a high heat flame and add a large glass of red wine, keep stirring (you’re making a sauce) reduce by half then add the giblet water and reduce by half, adjust seasoning.

Serve for everyone to help themselves or carve the chicken & plate individually. It’s important that plates are hot & everything is ready at the same time so that it doesn’t get cold. Serve the sauce in a jug and accompany with an oaked Chardonnay or light red wine.

Pudding?
It’s best just to raid a decent shop or bakery & buy your own as pastry is a bit of an art.

Merry Xmas & enjoy!

Mike.

Want to see more and experience more? please visit: http://www.beingfunchina.com/magazine/the-getgo-vol-14/now!

December means that Xmas is almost upon us again.   Christmas can be a very stressful time for some people.  There is a lot of work to be done to prepare for the holiday season.  Maybe you are already worrying how you will fit everything in. Meditation and focusing on only what is the most important for you to achieve is a good way to lower your stress levels. Amethyst is a good crystal for this. It can help to calm and quieten the mind. Also Apophylite is good with calming the nerves and overcoming uncertainty.

Maybe you have the opposite problem and find xmas a little lonely.  It can be a difficult time if you are away from your family and friends, in a country where xmas isn’t celebrated. If you are feeling a little lonely, you could try emerald, which is good for encouraging friendship and openness. Rose Quartz is also good; it encourages self-love and the ability to love others.

As always with a new crystal don’t forget to perform a cleansing ritual in order to activate its powers:

1/ clean your crystal, carefully, using a dry brush.

2/ next you will need to cleanse your crystal, in order to remove the negative energies of anyone else who has handled it.  For this you need to bathe your crystal in a solution of warm water and salt. (Soaking the crystal for7-10 hours is normally sufficient).

3/ recharging the crystal is the next step.  For this it will need 4-6 hours of sunlight to restore the yin-yang balance.

4/ activate your crystal.  For this you need to simply spend time with it.  Hold it.  Gaze at it.  Focus on it.  Sleep with it even.  This is your chance to ‘bond’ with your crystal.

Here is what you can expect for the coming month.  Of course, don’t forget to use your mantra word. This is a word that you should repeat silently to yourself whilst meditating and focusing on what you want to achieve.  I would encourage you to do this daily; even five minutes a day can bring the most amazing results.

Capricorn (22 December-20 January)

Travel is well-aspected this month.  You have been working hard lately and may be in danger of forgetting what is really important for you.  It may be time to take a little break from it all.

Mantra word: grace

Aquarius (21 January-19 February)

Finances will need some attention this month.  Maybe you need to think about where you can cut back on your spending a little or maybe you need to put out feelers for a new job.  Whatever the case, you need to do it now and not leave it another month.

Mantra word:  holistic

Pieces (20 February-20 March)

This is a very exciting time for you.  You need to make sure you take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.  Make sure to keep a clear head for all business matters, so that you don’t miss anything, but make sure you are in possession of all the facts before you sign anything.

Mantra word:  hologram

Aries (21 March-20 April)

This could easily be a very confused month.  You need to carefully check any travel arrangements.  However, exciting possibilities are also likely, so make sure you keep your eyes wide open so as not to miss anything.

Mantra word:  serene

Taurus (21 April-21 May)

Sometimes we keep our feelings all bottled up because we are afraid of saying things out loud.  However there has never been a better time for you to open up and not be so scared of what other people think.  This is an excellent month for you.

Mantra word: deliver

Gemini (22 May-21 June)

There is a lot going on in your life at the moment and your main problem is going to be how to fit it all in.  You need to make sure you take good care of your health in order to have the energy to cope with all the attention you are about to receive this month.

Mantra word: echo

Cancer (22 June-22 July)

Do you feel as if you are being pulled in so many directions that you don’t know what to throw your energy into?  You need to spend some time thinking about what is most important for you this month and set about concentrating all your energy on that instead of having your fingers in so many pies that you end up tired and directionless.

Mantra word:  evolve

Leo (23 July-22 August)

Do you feel as if you have been having a difficult time recently, and everything you try to do has been more problematic than you anticipated?  Don’t worry because things are about to get dramatically better.  You just have to stay focused and make sure you don’t miss the opportunity when it comes your way.

Mantra word:  simultaneous

Virgo ((23 August-21 September)

Maybe there is a lot of uncertainty in your life at the moment and this is making you feel uneasy.  However all that is about to come to an end and you will be amazed at how much better you feel once you have taken that important decision or finally made that move.

Mantra word: dichotomy

Libra (22 September-22 October)

It’s important now to start thinking about the people who are most important to you.  Sometimes you work too hard and people take advantage of your good nature.  You need to learn to say ‘no’ sometimes so that you have more time to spend with the people who you really care about.

Mantra word: celestial

Scorpio (23 October-21 November)

This would be a good month to try and widen your social circle.  Maybe it would be a good time to take up table tennis, learn salsa or do something that you have always wanted to do.  You need to make time to do things that you enjoy and be with people who feel the same way.

Mantra word:  equal

Sagittarius (22 November-21 December)

Finances are well-aspected at the moment.  You need to make sure you have safeguarded you future and the future of those who are important to you.  Keep your eyes open for any money-making opportunities that come your way but make sure you check the facts carefully.

Mantra word:  latex

Want to see more and experience more? please visit: http://www.beingfunchina.com/magazine/the-getgo-vol-14/now!

Guangzhou, the city of fast growth and false hopes, the city of expensive nights and cheap days, the city of Indians, Arabs, Africans, Europeans, the city that never sleeps. Guangzhou, my city, is as versatile and unexpected as my life in it.

What makes Guangzhou what Guangzhou is? Well, firstly, Guangzhou is a home for 153 different nationalities. All those people spend their days mixing and mingling and trying to find a common language to help them co-exist in this city.

Guangzhou, being the capital of Guangdong province, also gets a vast number of Chinese from different parts of the country arriving in the search of a better life. Many of them end up opening little shops selling clothes, snacks, household items or a tiny restaurant offering their region specialties. If you think you can speak mandarin come to Guangzhou and try out the mix of dialects here.

Known as the market place of China, Guangzhou is frequently visited by all sorts of businessmen from all over the world. They spend their days in one of the big wholesale markets, searching, bargaining and buying. Their nights? In the bars, pubs, clubs, restaurants, KTVs, hotels, motels and streets of Guangzhou, turning the place into even bigger mess than it already is.

Put all that together and you get a true Babel. Now, if you think that you know what living in Guangzhou means, you are wrong. For 2 months each year- March and October- Guangzhou is turned into an even bigger mess, and us locals, have to take it all. Why’s that so? Well, because of Canton Fair of course!

Canton Fair is the biggest trade fair in China and one of the biggest in the world. Over 25,000 exhibitors, 60,000 booths, and 4 weeks full of dealing and haggling. In Canton Fair you get everything. Positive versus negative. Angry and disappointed voices after the deal falls through or proud faces at the end of a successful business deal.

What Canton Fair brings to Guangzhou is money. A lot of money!

Obviously, the money doesn’t travel here by itself. No, it comes in the hands of the businessmen companies send, in the hands of traders looking for the deal of their life, in the hands of fortune seekers, in the hands of newbies trying their luck. It comes from all over the world. From Angola to Finland, from Spain to Lebanon, from Japan to Indonesia, from Argentina to Canada.

I really like Guangzhou, except during Canton Fair. Why? Well, number one, everything is crowded. The metro and buses are full, the restaurants are full, the bars are full, the streets are full. Number two, everything is more expensive. There are restaurants that even change their whole menu for Canton fair. But last and the most important reason are the businessmen who arrive to Guangzhou during the fair.

Indeed, Guangzhou is always full of businessmen, but the ones who join the fair are the ones who really disturb me.

You see, they come here for a very short time with a main goal to make as much money as possible. Meanwhile, as long as they are already here, they also use the opportunity to get away from their lives back at home, to relax and enjoy themselves. To experience all that’s possible and all that’s forbidden.

What do they do to enjoy themselves you ask? They drink endless amounts of alcohol, sleep or try to sleep with every girl on their way and often abuse drugs. They have no boundries. They are here just temporarily. They are not attached.

I have interacted with a few of those guys personally. They message me through a travelers club I belong to. They smile to me in bars and clubs. They give long looks while passing by on the streets.

How can you recognize them? Except the fact that they are usually well dressed and may be wearing Canton Fair participants neck badge, there’s nothing much more particular in their looks. That does not mean you cannot recognize them easily. Canton Fair businessmen have a special aura around them. They are more confident and straightforward than other men in Guangzhou because they stay here only for a short time and have nothing to lose. They will probably whirl around you like cats around hot porridge. They will give you long needy looks. They may even appear to give you their full attention.

Let’s be honest, to get the full attention of a man is quite a rare thing, which makes it a lot harder for women not to feel even a little bit curious. Of course, those men are always ready to buy you a drink, dinner or even more. They seem interested in what you say and may send you long, sweet messages during the time they spend in the fair. Don’t let yourself be fooled! They are here or a few weeks. They can do all this because they have nothing to lose. Most likely, you will never meet again.

Some of them may look nice and cute. Some of them may behave like true gentlemen. Some of them may seem like the perfect material for a boyfriend. Believe me, most likely they already have girlfriends back at home (just check their facebook if you want to find out). Most likely you are not the only girl they are flirting with and messaging during the fair. You are not sleeping with the guy? Don’t worry, someone is (remember, Guangzhou has a wide variety and big number of prostitutes)!

DON’T LET YOURSELF BE FOOLED! These guys have no respect, no feeling of wrong or right, no pity. Remember the fact that they are here for a short time. They have lives and wives back at home. They have work to return to. These few weeks or days in Guangzhou are just a little game for them.

So when you see a Canton Fair businessman… RUN! In the other direction!

To finish up this article that turned into an honest warning I have to apologize for myself in front of some people. I don’t imagine there would be any Canton Fair businessmen reading this but if there are, I am truly sorry and totally understand your anger.

All of this is a strong generalization.

There are businessmen coming to Canton Fair who are actually nice guys. There are those who come here to work seriously. There are those who respect women. I haven’t met them but I’m sure there are.

As for the rest of you, I imagine you are angry because you feel like you are not doing anything wrong. After all, those girls agree to be with you. Well, here’s news for you. Getting a girl in bed with you based on lies, lies and lies is not a fair game and should not be part of your Canton Fair experience either.

You are one of those girls who did get fooled? Find his girlfriend on Facebook and let her know too!

Want to see more and experience more? please visit:http://www.beingfunchina.com/magazine/the-getgo-vol-13/now!

November can be a hard time for some people. The days are getting shorter and the weather is getting colder and this can so often leave you feeling a little down and lacking in energy. If this is you, then here are some crystals that can help you to overcome the negativity.

Do you feel a little depressed? Try smoky quartz or amber. Both are known for their ‘feelgood’ qualities. Do you find you are affected by the moods of those around you, so that if your friends and family are a bit low then you feel that way too? Hematite can help you to deflect the negativity, Black tourmaline can also help, although can be harder to get hold of.

Whatever crystal you decide on, you will need to perform a cleansing ritual in order to activate its powers. There are four steps to this:

1/ clean your crystal, carefully, using a dry brush.

2/ next you will need to cleanse your crystal, in order to remove the negative energies of anyone else who has handled it.  For this you need to bathe your crystal in a solution of warm water and salt. (Soaking the crystal for7-10 hours is normally sufficient).

3/ recharging the crystal is the next step. For this it will need 4-6 hours of sunlight to restore the yin-yang balance.

4/ activate your crystal. For this you need to simply spend time with it. Hold it. Gaze at it. Focus on it. Sleep with it even. This is your chance to ‘bond’ with your crystal.

Here is what you can expect for the coming month. By the way, don’t forget to use your mantra word. This is a word that you should repeat silently to yourself whilst meditating and focusing on what you want to achieve. I would encourage you to do this daily; even five minutes a day can bring the most amazing results.

Capricorn (22 December-20 January)

It’s time to stop caring so much about what other people think and spend time doing whatever it is you want to do.  You have some amazing opportunities this month, if only you can manage to keep yourself open to new ideas and don’t let other people’s negativity influence you. 

Mantra word: delicate

Aquarius (21 January-19 February)

You may find yourself getting more and more frustrated when everything seems to be taking so long to happen.  Try to be patient. An amazing opportunity is about to come your way, possibly through a new friend or colleague. An older woman, possibly an earth sign, may bring something good into your life.

Mantra word:  ginger

Pieces (20 February-20 March)

You need to be very focused this month. Too often you give in to the temptation to procrastinate and then find that some wonderful opportunity has passed you by. Seize the day!

Mantra word:  understand

Aries  (21 March-20 April)

Friendships are well-aspected this month. Maybe this is something you have been neglecting lately because you have been so busy with other things. You need to be open to new possibilities and you may find a new friendship offers you a new outlook on life. 

Mantra word:  value

Taurus (21 April-21 May)

You sometimes spend too long dwelling on past mistakes and fretting about things you cannot change.  Now is the time to put the past behind you. This month is well-aspected for change so now is a good time to cut the ties with the past. Learn from the experience and then move on.

Mantra word: satin

Gemini (22 May-21 June)

You need to pay attention to your health this month. Maybe you have been working too hard or maybe burning the candle at both ends and partying too hard too. This would be a good month to join a gym, take up Salsa dancing or do something else that you enjoy to keep yourself fit.  

Mantra word: honour

Cancer (22 June-22 July)

Possibly you feel that your life is a little dull at the moment and all you do is follow the same routine.  Things are about to change though, provided you are open to accepting that you need something new to spice up your life. Make sure you don’t neglect the people who are most important to you.

Mantra word:  resonate

Leo (23 July-22 August)

You should soon start to reap the full benefit of all your recent hard work. Beware of giving in too soon on a project you have been having difficulties with; this is definitely the month to see things through to the end.

Mantra word:  thaw

Virgo ((23 August-21 September)

Money is looking very favoured in your stars this month. A new business opportunity or special friendship should come your way, provided you are ready to take the chance. You should make certain to explore every opportunity that comes your way.

Mantra word: treble

Libra (22 September-22 October)

Follow your instincts this month. You are at your most intuitive right now, so if something feels right then just go with it. Similarly trust your gut instinct if someone seems to be acting suspiciously, particularly around the middle of the month.

Mantra word: believe

Scorpio (23 October-21 November)

This month should be packed full of wonderful opportunities to enjoy your life to the full. Make sure you take care of your health so that you are able to enjoy all that this month has to offer. Don’t let other people’s negativity ruin your enjoyment.

Mantra word:  fraternity

Sagittarius (22 November-21 December)

You need to spend some time this month thinking about what is really important to you and stop wasting your energy on stuff that doesn’t matter. Accept the stuff you can’t change and take advantage of every offer that comes your way.  

Mantra word:  support

Want to see more and experience more? please visit:http://www.beingfunchina.com/magazine/the-getgo-vol-13/now!

Is your wardrobe drab? Are you becoming the victim of numerous jokes about your dress sense? Fear not readers, there are people who can help!

Not everybody is gifted when it comes to fashion and clothes. So, the first thing you need to do is find someone that is…. Or failing that, you could always try to impersonate the style of a famous celebrity, say Lady Gaga? Or David Bowie? But then again style is about being individual isn’t it? And you don’t want people to think that you are on your way back from a fancy dress party while doing your weekly shop.

For this reason we sought out the advice of Guangzhou’s very own fashion designer Kenny. Kenny owns a clothing store in Taojin called ‘Noisy’.  His designs are inspired by music and film, hence the name. Pretty cool right?

Kenny: Fashion Guru

What is your biggest inspiration?

Music and movies.

What types of movies and music inspire you?

I like many movies, especially the classics. And music, I like electronic and bands like ‘The Clash’ and ‘The Beatles’.

How do you fuse these passions in to your designs?

You cannot see music, so what I try to do is give music a face. Each one of my designs is my physical interpretation of a piece of music or film. I want to bring music and vision together.

(At this point Kenny digs out a rather cool jacket with a Guitar shaped trim)

What does fashion mean to you?

Fashion is my life. Without music there is no life, so for me, without fashion there is no life.

Are there any rules that you have when designing your clothes? Or do you just go all out?

I have to consider business and make my designs practical as well as creative. So, yes in some ways.

(At this point we were temporarily distracted by Kenny’s badge which he apparently bought in Japan.)

Tell us about your current line?

The current line is inspired by jazz music and artists that are trying to be discovered.

Can you give us some deets on what you’ll be doing next season?

We’ll be exploring 70’s disco.

Great! We’ll have to dig our flares out.

What do you think of fashion in Guangzhou?

(Smiles all round) Do we have fashion in Guangzhou?

Well, the fashion here is more colourful than a lot of places. It seems people are not afraid to experiment, isn’t that what fashion is all about?

I think people in Guangzhou struggle to find their own look. Much of their style is copied from magazines but it doesn’t necessarily suit them.

People say that Shanghai and Beijing are very fashionable cities, so, why did you choose to pursue fashion in Guangzhou as opposed to one of these?

From a business perspective there is a big gap in the market here and Guangzhou is changing rapidly by the day. From a creative perspective, we dream that we can make the people of Guangzhou look better.

Great! So let’s do that. We’ve brought along to individuals who are in dire need of a new look. Something crazy, unconventional. Are you up for the challenge?

I am indeed.

“These are the type of clothes that will make everyone look at you when you walk in to a room” Stefan

Guinea Pig 1: Stefan Strotz

Stefan is a t-shirt and jeans man who claims he knows nothing about fashion. So, we asked Kenny along with his assistant Roger to see what they could do to help bring out his inner fashionista.

‘I’m not handsome enough for this” Stefan declares as he is shown his shown a selection of clothes.

Kenny, can you tell me about the outfit you have chosen for Stefan?

Ok. This outfit is very traditional but we have added some extra details. We have decided on a check design and it has all been traditionally tailor-made. It can be worn to a party or work meeting so it is very versatile. The pants are a very modern style (As he shows us the pants Stefan’s jaw drops). Stefan: “I have never been in a shop that sells these kinds of clothes, let alone worn them, it’s cool” (great, we have Stefan’s approval).

Until…..

Stefan: Wait a minute! (Here we go) is that, is that a skirt? It’s a skirt isn’t it? That’s for me?

Kenny: Yes, it is just an accessory. A Scottish theme.

Just think of it as going back to your routs. Wait, are any of your family from Scotland?

Stefan looks unimpressed “You really want me to wear a skirt? Ok, I’m gonna try it. Just for ‘The GetGo’.” (That’s a boy)

Before you go in to the changing room Stefan, how are you feeling?

Well, you know me. I’m no good with fashion. This is a new experience and I’m keeping an open mind. (He says this whilst looking terrified) I’m quite excited (yeah right). Ok, I’m a little bit nervous, but it’s good (the truth will triumph)

Kenny’s assistant Roger was on hand to help Stefan dress and after a few tweaks here and there Stefan was a new man…

The Result

Wow is it the same person!? Well done Kenny, you would never guess that this guy was once a slow swimmer in the fashion race!

Guinea Pig 2: Kaisa Ansper  

Kaisa: “Ok, go for it. I am all yours.”

Our very own Kaisa Ansper. Kaisa’s style isn’t bad but she wants to be more ‘out there’ at the moment her look is a bit plain. Hopefully Roger and Kenny can help her to unleash her hidden Lady Gaga? Or even Madonna? Let’s see…

Kaisa: “Ok, go for it. I am all yours. I will do whatever you say” (wow, be careful Kaisa)

Can you tell me about the outfit you have chosen for Kaisa?

Erm, raw sound, punk rock, the look has a very rock feeling.

Kaisa, any final words before the change? I can’t wait!

15 minutes later Kaisa came out of the changing room declaring, “It doesn’t fit!” Picture of struggling

Kenny: “Well, that is because you need to wear it differently.” (A few magic tweaks from Kenny and voila!)

The Result

I swear I have seen this girl in a movie. Kaisa has been transformed into an 80’s icon. Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, eat your hearts out! Picture of result

Thanks again Kenny, I hope you can do more good work around the city. Wouldn’t it be cool to see a city full of movie and music star look alikes? If you want to spice up your style, why not head down to ‘Noisy’ for yourself and let your inner fashionista run wild!

Want to see more and experience more? please visit:http://www.beingfunchina.com/magazine/the-getgo-vol-13/now!

Hi my name is Lara Lee, I’m from America and in my column I’m going to teach you how to cook real food, real fast.

This month I’m going to show you how to make the famous Middle Eastern dish, hummus. Hummus is a healthy snack that you can use for sandwiches, salads, or plain old dipping. It’s a great success when I invite friends over for movies and I usually serve it with sliced fresh carrot, cucumber, celery tomatoes and warm pita bread.

Now, you’re probably thinking that making hummus within China could be a little difficult. Firstly, you need to find the ingredients and secondly you need to find them at a reasonable price. Well, the great news is, you can! In fact, it is really simple.

Chick Peas

Chick peas are very easy to get hold of in China. Now, if you are looking for the quick option you can buy cans of ready to eat chick peas from most large supermarkets. However, if you want to save A LOT of money, but sacrifice a little more time, then you can buy dry chick peas from many small Chinese shops and supermarkets.

Dry chick peas need to be soaked in water for 8 hours and then boiled for 2. (Very important: when boiling make sure there is plenty of water). This may seem like a long time but it is totally worth it, you can make loads and it costs next to nothing. Best thing is to soak them over night.

Tahini

This ingredient is very important. You can buy imported tahini at ‘Corner’s Deli’ for around 60 RMB, pretty steep huh? Or you can do what I do and use a Chinese brand sesame paste which is basically the same at just 14RMB.

The other ingredients are simple, garlic, Lemon, salt and olive oil (optional). Here are the amounts:

l         Two cloves of diced garlic

l         30 oz of chick peas (or 2 cans)

l         The juice from half of 1 lemon

l         1 tablespoon of tahini

l         1/2 tablespoon of salt

l         1/2 a cup of water

l         Olive oil to garnish (optional)

All of these amounts can be adjusted to suit your taste, so have some fun with it and experiment!

How to do it

Put the chickpeas in to a blender with all of the other ingredients. Start to blend them together, stopping every couple of seconds to mix the ingredients at the bottom of the blender. Continue blending until the mixture becomes smooth. Once the mixture reaches a smooth but slightly lumpy consistency then it’s done.

To finish, pour the mixture in to a bowl, create a small hole in the mixture and pour in a little olive oil. Serve with fresh vegetables and warm pita bread, enjoy!

Let me know how it turns out and join me next month when I’ll be cooking up something festive!

Ya’ll take care now,

Lara Lee xx

Want to see more and experience more? please visit:http://www.beingfunchina.com/magazine/the-getgo-vol-13/now!