Bits and pieces
About a week ago we found ourselves on a cruise ship headed down the Yangtze river from Yichang towards Chonqing (chon-cheeng) about. Most of the passengers were about 40 years older than us and came from the lands of Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, China, and Germany (I wrote and performed a song w/guitar about this to the whole ship during talent night!). Every tour group we have been on they instinctively refer to us as "the boys".
The boys, the only two passengers from the US, lived it up on the cruise seeing the Three Gorges Dam, the actual three gorges (huge and beautiful- my favorite part), Shennong River (almost naked locals paddle you around in pea-pod boats), FengDu City (a ghost city - I think they made it up but had great scenery for some more Kung-fu pictures). We learned how to play Maijong- a traditional chinese game similar card games and dominos.
We have found out that by saving $150 USD off the total trip cost we opted not have service provided between airports and train stations and tour guides. We arrived in Yichang knowing we had to find our way to a cruise ship at some port by the end of the night. All we had was piece of paper with a phone # on it. No name or instructions or address. Just a phone number. Through a series of events of having very friendly Chinese people call and take us around in taxis we somehow have found our way on this trip. The morning comes to leave the cruise ship and all our itinerary basically says is, "Flight transfer to Guilin" - no directions - we didn't even have the tickets! As we leave the ship, someone mysteriously comes up to us, hands us plane tickets, and we're off using hand signals to communicate to the taxi to take us to the airport. All in all this has proved to be very exciting and adventurous....always waking up not knowing how to get to the next destination haha.
A few cultural things: many guys roll shirts about half way up to cool off their bellies. Many people ride bikes. The childrens' mannerisms are the same in China as in US- playing games, nagging their moms, and trying not to step on cracks in the sidewalks. The public toilet really is a hole in the ground- but with correct posture can prove to be very efficient. Spicy food eaten will mostly likely be spicy coming out the other end. Everyone knows how to say, "Hello" and love to say it to westerners. Smog is everywhere and it is ridiculus- can make for great pictures though. China is building (construction) like they are going to take over the world. We haven't seen very many animals. Everyone wears pants (never shorts) and shoes (never sandals). Chinese people take on Classic American names like Bob and Lucy; in response I have taken on the Chinese name of Qin after one of their dynasties.
We've also seen the terra cotta warriors and are now in a city called Guilin which is beautiful all over. Hope all is well back home-
The boys, the only two passengers from the US, lived it up on the cruise seeing the Three Gorges Dam, the actual three gorges (huge and beautiful- my favorite part), Shennong River (almost naked locals paddle you around in pea-pod boats), FengDu City (a ghost city - I think they made it up but had great scenery for some more Kung-fu pictures). We learned how to play Maijong- a traditional chinese game similar card games and dominos.
We have found out that by saving $150 USD off the total trip cost we opted not have service provided between airports and train stations and tour guides. We arrived in Yichang knowing we had to find our way to a cruise ship at some port by the end of the night. All we had was piece of paper with a phone # on it. No name or instructions or address. Just a phone number. Through a series of events of having very friendly Chinese people call and take us around in taxis we somehow have found our way on this trip. The morning comes to leave the cruise ship and all our itinerary basically says is, "Flight transfer to Guilin" - no directions - we didn't even have the tickets! As we leave the ship, someone mysteriously comes up to us, hands us plane tickets, and we're off using hand signals to communicate to the taxi to take us to the airport. All in all this has proved to be very exciting and adventurous....always waking up not knowing how to get to the next destination haha.
A few cultural things: many guys roll shirts about half way up to cool off their bellies. Many people ride bikes. The childrens' mannerisms are the same in China as in US- playing games, nagging their moms, and trying not to step on cracks in the sidewalks. The public toilet really is a hole in the ground- but with correct posture can prove to be very efficient. Spicy food eaten will mostly likely be spicy coming out the other end. Everyone knows how to say, "Hello" and love to say it to westerners. Smog is everywhere and it is ridiculus- can make for great pictures though. China is building (construction) like they are going to take over the world. We haven't seen very many animals. Everyone wears pants (never shorts) and shoes (never sandals). Chinese people take on Classic American names like Bob and Lucy; in response I have taken on the Chinese name of Qin after one of their dynasties.
We've also seen the terra cotta warriors and are now in a city called Guilin which is beautiful all over. Hope all is well back home-
posted by Michael Dix at 4:37 AM
1 Comments:
Michael or Qin can you say:
Tikki-tikki-tembo-no-sa-rembo-chari-bari-ruchi-pip-peri-pembo
We want to see lots of pictures when you get back. Sounds like you're having a great time and that the trip is very "Michaelish" with all the adventurous travel procedures. Hope you're safe in AU now. Did you see John and/Ruth?I will email more. Yo Momma
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