to year '07

Xristmas story
On the morning exactly a week ago before Christmas, Zizi, a friend of mine, was so devastated to find out ,only when she got to her office table, that she'd been robbed on her way,of her purse, her cell phone, and credit cards. She just couldn't figure out how it happened because she rode a bike while wearing it on her shoulder. Friends either msn or called her up, trying ed to comfort her, like a small loss of money brings good fortune next year etc. One sms worked best and most rewarding,to her as she explained to us, a man would like to date her
seven days later. This worked shortly for a day, till in the evening she suddenly came to realize, seven days later being Christmas and the mysterious admirers actually Santa.

We were so amused by her story of dating Santa and her new cell phone at a Janapese restaurant. And we were thinking of booking some restaurant for next day's dinner,as it's the Eve. We called some places but were surprised that either they were booked out or they had special set dinner with exhobitant prices. In the end, we settled at Banana Leave, a Thai place but was informed that they no longer took booking but kept some table available for early comers.

We welcomed the Eve with very rain and cold weather. Xu, soon-to-be-bride was dispatched to fight for a table, because the office is the closest to the restaurant. Xu got there around 5 pm and succeeded in getting a second last table on the second floor. I was the second to arrive and we chatted mostly about her wedding.

Xu is going to arrange the wedding ceremony and banquet on Jan 11, 2008, which is the exact date of my parents and my flight to Xiamen thus Bangkok. What a coincidence! I expressed my greeting and garantted that Jan 11 must be a very aupicious date and the marriage is sure to be blessed. She explained about the proceedings and arrangements, which turned out to be very tiring, but of course she hardly concealed her excitement and happiness either.(Congratulaiton!.) It was almost one hour later when every body was there. The food was Okay but the live performance,given by some philippino singers was really cheer-up. We decided to finish and leave soon to give our table to the people behine long waiting line. He and her wife went to the church ,and I hit the bed early, feeling cold and a little bit hangover partly from the dinner before.

A mosqito hummed around my pillow. I hope she is singing Christmas lullaby,my favourite to me, and meanwhile I admire it to be so hardy and able to survive the cold.

Christmas. Had the afternoon tea with Ping. She told some stories about our friend, B. and her formal girl friend. The breakup was really messy and involved financials. The girl was desperate and commit suicide by cutting the blood vessel. Fortunately she was saved. While I was listening to the story, I couldn't believe, for I knew B is now back to his ex-ex-ex girl friend. The poor girl was dumped on msn years ago and I wish her wise enough.

Anyway, I wish merry christmas to the world, my family and friends and my myself Peace.
With this.

This is a Christmas Lullaby
To steal softly into dreaming
A simple Christmas lullaby
I sing to you each passing year
The world is wrapped in joy and wonder in silent mystery
And in this spell that we are under
Blessing surround our hearts completely
This is a Christmas Lullaby
For someone lovely as snow falling
I sing your Christmas Lullaby
To cradle you with all our love
Let peace on earth be yours tonight
Under the star that shines so bright
The world is wrapped in joy and wonder
In Silent mystery
And in this spell that we are under
Blessing surround our hearts completely
Now close your eyes and as you sigh
Make up a Christmas wish to dream on
And like the moon that shines on high
Send out your wish to that star in the sky
Blessed by this Christmas lullaby........

old pictures of Lijiang

fountain

newly projected with color lights. Colors including seemingly overtuned blue, purple, red, orange s, accompanied with loud ever, and high pitched folk songs, make the fountain a little strange and scary.

winter scene of the lake

winter scene of the lake

we are snow birds

we are snow birds
The light rain and wind added the cold of a winter day here. People are putting on their warm jackets, so are the dogs. Who the earth keep talking about the global warming, for I havn't experienced it at all, at least today. Walking into the streets out of my cozy place feels like sudden freezing at the frozen foods section at a supermarkt. Thinking to myself, I did nothing wrong but how come I deserved punishment of this type?

I don't think I am the person who enjoys cold and damp weather of winter here. So in recent years, I try to escape it by travelling to warm areas in southern asia, besides sightseeing the different cultures too. This year, I am planning, instead of my original destination of Nepal and Indian,acoompany my parents to Thailand.

They haven't been abroad ever and grow more and more excited each day by it . When they first planned it , they thought, one week should be long enough, but the longer they wait, the more choices of places come to their minds.

' Son, maybe, macau is good, too.'

'Son, let's go Hong Kong too, because it's close to Macau.'

'Son, after we come back, do me have time for Xiamen or Guangzhou?'

Travelling with them must be a little difficult, especially when we are on our own.I totally am aware of it.But it will valuable chance for us to be together for two weeks, love it or hate it.. .Please wish us good luck! Or, wish ME good luck.

one joke

Man hanging up phone: Wow, that guy had a neat accent. He said he was from the United Kingdom.
Woman: United Kingdom? That's in Florida, right?
Man: No, I think that's the Magic Kingdom...
Woman: Oh, you're right! United Kingdom is in Kentucky.

reborn

Viruses , if not friendly, are at least mysterious . How can they track your pc down, out of trillions of trillions of machines in the world, sneek into yours,hide then break out to destroy and make you mad.

Especially in case of my laptop, because it doesn't have any anti-virus software to make the system run too slow. On the other hand, since I think I don't 'visit' any dangerous pages, am not curious about any mails with 'seducive' pictures, I've been calm with it for long long time.

Anyway, I was hit this time. It turned out that my only wayout was to reformat the hard drives and reset the system. After several tries, the windows is running all right now. Since then, I 've been trying to find its history back, including my softwares, my players, my favouites, and blog websites.

In short, I am feeling like it's everything reborn.

love my crabs, love me

When autuman wind begins to blow, Chinese people can't wait any longer to rush into restaurants, to gorge a very seasonal delicacy, or only one during the period of time a year, fresh0-water crabs. There are different varieties but all agree the best are those from Yangcheng lake, in Soochow.

No wonder every year in the autumn, many of us would spare some weekends to travel there just for the freshest and most ahthetic crabs at the lakeside. Also there we heard about the love story of Yang, owner of a large crab farm

Yang is in his thirties when we met him, and without any doubt ,the most handsome crab-man we 've ever met. If he was born ten years later, he definately made into the last run of 'Best boy' a talent show. And if he promises every votee would win one crab leg, he must win over the champion. And if it is ten years earlier, he might be a leading role in the tv drama' dreams of red mansions'. Anyway, some of the friends talked about him and his romance was really dreamlike, but not at the manion but at the pond of crabs.

Among those coisseurs to the lake, there are many girls and young ladies. Handsome men are as popular as their crabs. Love crabs love me. So one girl fell in love with Yang soon and they married soon. So she ate his crabs, slept his beds; licking crab eggs while enjoying goodlooking man, life sounds in paradise.

However, vegetable and rice could be for everyday, but not crabs. When the winter comes,the lake falls in dead silence, while the bride began doubting this love and marriage. Do I really love this man or his crabs only? As soon as there were doubts, the situation din't go the fine direction. Yang was generous, and after a quick divorce, presented her ex lots of gifts, maybe with full basket of crabs too.

And in the autumn next year, there was another girl coming to the lake and into his life. She eats no crabs from other place, and of course marries no other man than from here. Yang already forgot his sad autumn last year, and harvested crabs and harvested his second marriage meanwhile. But soon it was winter time again, the bride began fed up with crab the more and more, which was a clear sign to Yang. The time to say good bye again.

We were curious about his and asked him,did you find your wife this year? Yang was cool and wispered, all crabs I raised these years turned into wives, and wives into crabs too.

spooky

It was around 6 in the afternoon but the sky was very dark already. It is now winter of course. When I came back to my apartment, all of sudden, I saw the light from one of the three rooms from the stairs. Scary. It can't be. For this room is the smallest in my apartment but used only for storage almost. Nobody has entered there for a long time. So who could it be to have turned on the light? And I am very sure, because the only key to it is somewhere in the mess of my bedroom. Who can open it?

I went up to the floor and opened my door. It was dark, very dark and scary quiet. I silently put my ears on the door but heard nothing inside. But the lights were on. I searched and found the key, opened the door. No one was there, but the lights were on. And while I tried to calm myself down, I pulled the swith thread.

But no matter how hard I tried, the thread was stuck there; and I tried five more times, the light finally went out.

So spooky. All of sudden, I thought about a scene I saw at the court yard days ago. There were piles of boxes, furniture, home appliances,flower garlands, all in paper of colors.( Those are going to be burned for the dead.) I have already lost a neighbour just one month before. Now again.

Could it be possible they were still haunting around, still missing the life here or wanting a little warm and bright place out of the cold wind and dark world...even though their visit was not expected.

That's outrageous

It was a lovely day with bright sunshine, blue sky and pleasant breeze. And the temple complex at Nanshan, Hainan, set in a large park, was green, clean, well managed with shuttle cars, but reasonably busy with tourists and believers. So very frequently we noticed some people holding and burning very long incense, about 80 cm long,as offering to Buddhas.

Everybody has a wish to make, I think. And I do hope they could be blessed sooner, with their faithful gestures like this.

However, I doubted so when I entered the temple’s vegetarian restaurant for buffet lunch. 48 yuan/per person seems ok for ever-growing-richer Chinese. But who could conclude it was not a war scene? It seemed nobody would stay in the line, but instead, kinda push and fight especially when a new tray of foods came. They must have felt so accomplished to have much more than they could bite. Then they sat (sometimes more than they could occupy), lit their cigarete and talked loud. Of course, they left abundantly on the table (99% left over half of what they fought), before they set out for more games.

What’s the matter with them? I wonder; and how possilbe will they it be well blessed.

walking on Nanjing Rd, Shanghai

While walking on Nanjing Rd, Shanghai, every man must have such an understanding:

lady and massage are something man can not live without; and they even have some fresh ones, like university students, flight attendants, and balleria.

The decadence of old Shanghai is finally back. Bravo!

id-day

I have to come back, even though it was already the third time today to have come to the passport center to renew my passport. And besides, I planned to apply for a new ID card afterwards. Or, I will be like the buddha statue, with no face and identity.

Both of the former times failed for I didn't prepare enough documents as required.( why the fuss, even the Chinese made the passport application so difficult, let alone the visa apply to other countries.) The first time, the official didn't take my case for he thought I lacked my Hukou book ( my permanent residence) even though I had others ready, ID card, original passport, two passport photos and a digital photo, which I took right there at the center.

The second time, I did have a copy of Hukou book with me, but not the original. So yet, I didn't have it done.

After waiting long time, it was finally my turn. Passing over, the application form, two photos, a code for my digital photo( taken in another building,) hukou, origial and copy, ID card, original and copy, I finally had satisfactory results. And the charge was 220 yuan and a new passport will be ready two weeks later.

And since I have all documents about my identity were available, I continued to apply my pass to Hongkong and Macau, at the same site. Even though Hongkong and Macau are part of China, visiting there requires special pass, pretty expensive pass. Similar procedure, and the charge 180 yuan, for two entries a year. Due within 27 days.

Then I tried to apply a new ID card, but was so desperate or fooled by the info hotline staff. Both addresses given by them didn't exist any longer. So exhausted and disappoited after walking between to double check both locations, I gave up and went back home, onto the internet and then, found the updated info immediately.

Tomorrow I am doing the ID application again. Maybe it works at the first try.( I hope. So supposedly two months later, I am going to have a new and new-gerneration ID. )

Happy for the buddha, who doesn't need to trouble to have an identity. How good it is to remain faceless and mysterious. Ha.

Oct 17

Over lunchtime, on Oct.17, our local tour guide in Lhasa got a call from his manager, mentioning not taking groups to Jorkang temple and Barkor streets, which actually were the plan for that afternoon. I had felt lucky that Dreprang Monastery was not on our itinerary when told by another guide that no allowance there to all visitors at all on 17 th. We were at dinner the day before at Lhasa Kitchen.

Why,then?

It was on that day, the current Dalai Lama was awarded by American Congress a gold medal. To avoid any celebration and political embarraseement, at his former site of government offices and more known landmarks of Lhasa, the Jorkang temple and Bankor streets, here came the order.

The guide, me and driver decided still to go, after checking with other groups who did make to the 'sensitive' places. Meanwhile, I was guessing the Potala Palace, the symbol of Lhasa should be more forbidden. But we noticed nothing different from usual the same day in the morning. I didn't know for sure, the fire close to its east section of the palace was related or not to this event.

We reached there, but instead of parking at a regular lot, we were guilded a little far away. We walked extra five minutes only, and we did visit both places and shop around freely individually. When most of us were ready for regroup at 5:15 pm we were asked to leave politely while still waiting for several late returnees. Not only foreigners group, but also Chinese too. They were nervous by any inapproriate protests or actions, I guess?

Jorkang temple, the holiest among the tibetan people, attacts numberless pilgrims who travel hundreds of mile from hometown to worship. Everytime I am so touched and moved by them, their strong faith and nonstop prostrating and kneeling and praying. Hope Buddha bless them!

And among so many interesting attractions in Lhasa, my favourite is Norblingka park, which was the summer palace. Ablaze with so many colors of flowers and trees, while breathing the crsip, peaceful and fresh yak-butter-free air, observing the shadow of tall poplar and cyrpess trees cast on the yellow walls, red gate and purple buildings, I am always lost.

a little cafe

I've always wondered the good business of a little cafe, where the service is not so attending but price close to starbucks.

Maybe the reason is the little size but cozy and homely feel there.

Of course the great sense of humor as well as lots of magazines and books around on the shelves.

a mail of great joy

Got this email just two days after she flied home to California hurriedly when she grew so worried and nervous over her family and her house during a big fire hitting there and people evacurated. She skipped all the tour programme and stayed at the hotel last two days in Shanghai, watching CNN while checking Google news nostop.

When I met her in the lobby once, she looked so desperate and soon began to cry.'my children and cats are safe now. But my house, all stuff from grandparents and parents...may be gone, for the fire is only five minutes away.' She wept on. I felt so sad for her but could speak no words of comfort. I reached around her and gave a hug.

'It's time to be strong for your children. And compared to your dear memory of grandparents and parents, material may not be so important.'She wept and nodded. It was a heartbreaking moment, for her and me too.

The last morning before the flight home, she kinda gathered her calmness and sense of humor. ' all because of the wine last night.'

The letter which reached me the first thing read so comforting. Her house survived and she got rescued, mentally.

I have just returned to the states yesterday from
China; thankfully after four days of evacuation we
are only under inches and inches of ash. The girls
are both safe and sound with me and the cats are with the girls father . We are grateful and relieved that our home is
intact and saddened for those who have lost theirs.

Hope everyone who has been evacuated has returned home
with little to do but sweep and dust. However if you
need any assistance or a place to stay please don't
hesitate to contact me.

Best to everyone and thanks for your care and concern.
B.

sunset

lost and found, almost

When I was gauging down a big pizza, I felt the guilty pleasure of losing control. But that lasted only seconds. I deserved it. I told myself.

The whole day yesterday, I was busy reinstalling softwares and besides, refinding my files on my harddrives, after the new operating system was installed. However, on the drive, I noticed only one of the two partitions was there while the other seemed gone. It must have occured during the installation of operating system.

The files were still there, as I ensured myself after trying goback sofeware, which convinced me the positive info. However, still the computer couldn't load the partitions both. Between windows and dos, on and restart, so I downloaded and opened software diskgenius, which turned out it didn't work on mobile hard drives. I had to turn to another yiwoxin for help, twice, till the correct partitions appeared.

It's been long hours, and I needed a reward to myself.

story of chips

For the last couple days, I 've crazed by my IBM laptop. Changeable and hard to predict it has become. Sometimes, I found it's so hard to turn it on, waiting for the startup, and there were so often moments error stopped all operations for no reasons seemingly.

My first reaction was God, I must be attacked by outbreaks of viruses. For my computer had not large hard drives for huge antivirus softwares, and if I did, as I did now, the machine worked so so slow. I installed from disc, norton, avp and others from the net, but all showed I had no threats. Good news.

So it must be the techinical problems, as indicated on the error pages, varied from time to time. Since I could not get on the net, I had to go to a night public net cafe at 1 am, to seek some repair stores information. Of course I did find some help but the next hours till 7 am I watched some movies, comforting one night craziess doesn't kill.

I noticed the streets out of the cafe became brighter and brighter as my stomach felt emptier and emptier. In the end I kinda crawled out and had a big breadfast. One hour's sleep before I packed my machine and poped on the bus to electronics market.

It was on the third floor of the market. The staff was very patient and helpful. He checked with ghost softward and concluded that one of the two memories chip must be corrupted. He pulled one out and installed the operating system again. And he also helped contacting some stores for new chips( of course he would make some profits). He called twice and the second store was closer to the market. He turned off his ibm x right on the table and left to fetch it.

I must be so very trustworthy to him, as he dared to leave his whole store and computers to me, with no one at guard either. Minutes later he returned but complained the store gave wrong info on the phone.

He was not to blame but my old machine about 10 year old. He regretedly asked to be cool with the possible result that xp could be running slowlier.

It wasn't fun to travel at noon time aross the city from the market in the west part of the city back to where I live. But I felt great. My laptop was reborn with new life. But, as soon as I powered on, the error page showed again. And again and again, after I tried to switch it on, off and on, off, among which, some worked but not long. Despressed I had a nap; and I was planning to have a new computer. So my afternoon was spent in two computer stores closeby.

I don't know from where I had such a mad idea. When I came back home,I took away the one thought to be good, but put back the diagonised chip. It seems all righ now, after two hours.

God bless me!

shopping is so exciting

Shopping is so addictive, especially on the net. When you are still awake at 1 am, when the city you live have so limited resources, and when it's hot out in the streets, or when the city has the largest shopping web in the country. Naturally you will feel so proud or so obliged to shop with it.

Open anytime the web: www.taobao.com, and you will be thrilled you have anything you need now or in the future. With its secure payment system, alipay, it has won over all the shopper or stores from chinese version of ebay. ( I had one bad shopping experience on ebay.cn, and found the buyers are very often not protected.) Alipay supports all bank cards, and works as the middleman. You decide to buy and deposit the money on your account, and if you are satisfied with the quality of the purchase, you inform it to transfer the money.

And taobao is a smal universe, where you can meet all sorts of people, lazy, smart, or too smart. And take my recent shopping experience for example.

I'd decided to buy a new camera, a compact one, all manual operations, wide lense. I've focused on Panasonic Lx2 and Canon s80. Although both have big shortcomings, like the noise at even low ISO with Lx2, and S80 doesn't have 16:9 widescreen mode.

After searching and comparing , I locked a store with good record. A Japan based store with very competive price, too. I pressed the button, and waited for a long week, each day expecting the surprise and then comvincing it takes time from Japan.A week passed and there was no response from the store. I lost patience and contacted his email and left message there at his store. But all went with no replies. Two days later, I sent another message, threating if he/she doesn't give any response, I will cancel the deal and give a 'bad' evaluation. Maybe it works, the threat of a bad record. Came soon the reply and an explanation about his busy work. He had no time for the deal and promised to refund the money to my account.

Same night, I placed on another store, but instead, for a S80. around 23:00 pm. Next morning, I got a call from the saleswoman, mentioning someone had remitted the money through real bank. She had no camera for me and apologized for it. I got the refund again, 24 hours later, which is the minimum time for a deal. I guessed for each deal through alipay the store has to pay commission. So stores welcome real cash remits better ( but no gurantee for the buyer though).

I searched again, firm now with S80, believing the photo quality cleaner and better. The deal this time worked perfectly. After a small discount, I accepted the deal and condition of express delivery.

Two days later I got my new camera here in Hangzhou from Wuhan, central China.

smoke gets in the eye

He sits there and after hesitating for a second, takes out one cigarette and lights it up.

You fool, who will care? He says to himself. In the courtyard of Linyin temple, where so many believers or tourists rush burning joss sticks as offering to Buddha. So who cares about my little cigarette smoke.

His tour group of Americans are all on their own to explore this beautiful ancient temple, which was first constructed by a visiting Indian monk one thousand six hundred years back. Mesmerized by the tranquil surrounding around the valley the monk believed it was a perfect place for Buddhist meditation, thus the temple got its name 'linyin' meaning 'soul's retreat'. In its grand halls are some China's best preserved, oldest and most magnificent statues of Buddhas. And now it's already a must-see attraction in Hangzhou.

Motionless mostly, he occasionally takes a puff. There are great pains with my throat. Too much smoke, too spicy the hotpot dinner with my friends, and too crazy screaming at that Karaoke room last weekend. Usually he's not this type of person. But his friends guessed and one girl asks cautiously.

' We heard your news. And is it true about your breakup?'
All of sudden, the air in the room was so quiet and tense. All stopped singing and looked at him.
Braving their gazes, he admitted.' It was one month ago.'

'But why?'
A good question. Their relations are already three years, smooth and stable in the eyes of them, including themselves. But a recent purchase of an apartment seemed to spark all their fights. Both tried and still there seemed no possibility of a truce. So that night all came to end, finally.

'We broke up and I went to a hotel nearest one. I threw myself in, half incautious.... ..I even forget I had a discount card for their room rate.'

His friends exchanged a quick eye contact, and soon suggested toasting and welcoming back to 'available' status.

That night, a boozy night,I pretended so well. He now smiles when his phone rings.After the call, he switchs to camera mode in this Cam-phone and begins browsing pics of his new friend, a young and fresh girl. An easier one, he hopes.

dancing queen at Starbucks

So classic or so mad, I should say, was a man I observed the other day at the Starbucks (Pinghai rd). And first time I regretted about not having a tiny camera with me. Or else I would win lots of hits if I posted in on the web.

I was browsing some magazine when I heard some murmurs from behind. Of course, all off the keys. When I turned back to check everything all right back there, I saw a kinda young man in middle 30, casual dressed, enjoying himself listening his ipod. He gave me a quick stare before I immediately shook back and volumed up my ipod. However, I couldn't concentrate on my reading anymore, as minutes later he moved to the middle open space and began...

Dancing.

And he was not doing dancing slightly. But instead he was doing a very SERIOUS and so bitchy one. By my guess, he was listening to music like Beyonce or Jolin, for he snaked his a little fatty body back and forth and did ballet jump and turn repeatedly.

It was so stunning. And this guy didn't have any intention of slowing down. Maybe he felt not many audience. So he went out and continued in front of the Starbucks' large glass doors.

I was sure everybody on the spot noticed him but obviously, how possible was he satisfied with our pretentious calmness or embarrassement. Anyway he swang back and began his grand performance right at the counter to entertain every customer ready to order something.

If god lended me a video recorder or camera..., I promised I would be a nicer person that I am now.

three gift books

Claire P. sent me three Children's book, ' Tikki Tikki Tembo', 'The five Chinese brothers' and 'The story about Ping'. They, as my friend explains, have been popular Chinese stories in the states, although none of them were very new to me or my friends. . Claire also writes in her mail:

...those stories were my first information about China that I learned as a child. After being with you on Tour with Duke University, you opened up so much more of China and its people. I am grateful to you. Fondly, Claire

The story about Ping:
Ping is a spirited little duck who lives on the Yangtze River. One night, to avoid a spanking for being the last duck home, Ping stays out all night and explores the world. His funny misadventures will delight young readers today as much as they did in 1933, when this classic tale was first published.

Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip reri pembo is the name of a mother's first and most honored son. It means the most wonderful thing in the whole wide world. After 40 years and over a million copies sold, Tikki Tikki Tembo remains one of the world's most beloved picture books, perfect to share again and again.

The five Chinese brothers are a little like ' gourd brothers'. Each of them has different powers and they work together to combat the devils.

when you can believe?

At this critical moment of trade war between China and USA, our BTV has so wonderful a gift for our American partners, with this piece of news.

BEIJING - Chopped cardboard, softened with an industrial chemical and flavored with fatty pork and powdered seasoning, is a main ingredient in batches of steamed buns sold in one Beijing neighborhood, state television said.

more here:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070712/ap_on_re_as/china_cardboard_buns

And within the next 24 hours, BBC and CNN have made it known already almost everywhere in the world.

Chinese media is really full of genius. YOu can't help admiring it how this news is dealt with.

A widely aired expose of Beijing dumpling makers who used cardboard as a filling was a hoax and police have arrested the reporter, Beijing Television station has said.


more here:http://www.21food.com/news/detail7000.html

REAALLY!

Poor guys, the programme producers and executives, who must be celebrating the big hit, but next day got scked and hit.

lotus blossom

 

an encounter

He sees her, immediately, out of the crowd.

All of sudden, he feels all scenery around blurs when he gazes at her. It has been longer than a whole year since they say goodbye. She was so smart, proud and confident, he recalls; but now she seems so tired, and distant, he wonders.

He guesses she's seen him too, only meters between them. But with no intentions of slowing down her pace, she walks on with head high but eyes low.

He has a sudden rush to stand up and wave hello to her. But, he just turns back and then continues the chat on the table.

Out of the windows the rain has almost stopped but he shakes with ripples of the drops on his heart, one by one, harder and harder

'carl is gay'

Aaron, 8- year- old, giggled and opened his palm. There it wrote in marker pen, 'Carl is gay.' Carl is his brother, 5 years older brother. They are from a small town of only 600 people in the middle of Australia and now traveling in China with their parents and another family. Surprisingly to me, their parents even allow them to wear earrings for such early ages and continue their little argue which brother is gayer.

I'm of course not certain how much these little boys understand the meaning of homosexuality. But Will and Jack, characters on 'Will and Grace' show( I am having overload of it), are adult enough or their play writers must be for their gay characters. A well received comedy TV drama by NBC, W&G is said to be the first of its kind with homosexual leading roles.

The new issue of 'City weekend' magazine,freshly out of closet, I mean, from its publishing house in Shanghai, happens to have topics on gay scenes in Shanghai., like Eddy's, Frangipani, Pinkhome, Clubdeep gay bars to name a few.

In whole China, there are no laws on record regarding the legality of homo. In 1984, same sex seduction and various sexual behaviors with bad social influences were classified as hooliganism. In 1997, a new criminal law has this term abolished. Homo, also was deleted from Chinese classification of Mental disorder in 2001. Still, gay marriage is not recognized or protected in legal system while there's been more and more promotion and acceptance of homosexuality, just to take the magazine for instance. But, there's an unofficial ban on representing acts on TV and films. Although there are only 10 officially published gay works of literature but countless blogs appear blogs on the internet. Roughly, there are 30 million gay Chinese, among whom the number of male gays outnumbering the females.

skyline 2

skyline of Hangzhou

pat the melon

Patting a melon and checking the sound, everyone acts like an expert to pick a ripe melon. Just curious, how are they to act, if some special beings pop their heads out from inside and answer those knocks?

Last Sunday, the sky over the lake was rarely blue. So, regardless of the heat and risk of sunburn, I went and had a walk around before I met my friends at a restaurant Butterfly by the lakeside for dinner. A buffet dinner treat from Ms Wu to celebrate her recent graduation with her Master degree.

Ms Xu, who we havn't met for a long while, brought her new husband to the dinner. During the dinner, the most heated topic was stock and funds. The markets this year have been so dramatic and crazy. And besides, we have oome up with list of performance at buffets. Wu's husband was voted the most pretentious, while I got the remarks as 'slow but steady'.

hot

hot, sweating hot,

hot, baking hot,

scorching hot,

evaporating hot,

sensational hot,

or, senseless hot

just too hot

A Blossoming Tree

How can we chance upon each other

At my most beautiful moment?

For this scene,I've begged Buddha,

500 years nonstopping,

For the fate we can be interweaving.


Buddha hence changes me into a tree,

Standing by a road you'll be passing,

Blossoming, discreetly, under the sun:

Every flower is my previous life's yearning.


When you trek near, listen carefully:

The trembling leaves are my longing passion.

But you pass, you pass carelessly,

Leave, behind you, the tree that's shedding.


Dear, the sheddings are not petals at all,

But my heart, my withered heart, crying!

(by Xi Murong)

Across the darkness of the river is a poetry book I just ordered from Amazon.cn. It's the collections of all of the poems created by Ms Xi, a painter and artist from Taiwan. Born in 1943, with a Mongolian origin, she, in 1981, made a sensation by publishing her first love poems among the young readers, Seven-li scent, Qi-li xiang. Other of her collections include Blameless youth,Wuyuan de qingchun and A booklet of poems gone astray,Mitu shice. Across the Darkness of the River (Chang Shu-li) is also available in English. Copenhagen/Los Angeles: Green Integer, 2001.

 

puzzling summer

The temperature hit 35 degrees c, or 95 f yesterday, according to the local paper,which was the hottest summer day up to now. But wait, really? I remembered another hotter day last Sunday, clearly. When I came out of Exit 10, metro line 2, Shanghai and was searching around the location of Bestbuy, I felt suffocating waves and waves of heat.

Bestbuy in Shanghai Xujiahui district is the first of its outlet in whole China. Compared to other e markets in the neighberhood, it attracts more customers obviously. New, clean, open-priced,customer-friendly, it encourages touches and test uses. And to me, the coolest gadgets are apple's big screen pc and other accessories of ipod. On over 22 inch the screen ( I couldn't carry that big stuff back to Hangzhou), I tested sending emails on Safari,apple's new browser safari.

That evening, on the way to Portman hotel for the acrobatic show, we were caught by a very sudden big thunderstorm. All came just within minutes. The sky became dark,and the wind began to hoal. Immediately the rain began to pour. Excited but also scared I was, while I looked out after I found a table at the Starbucks and began enjoying their salard.

In both Shanghai and Hangzhou, last week it has been quite a few surprises of thunderstorms. And the paper also says, already 10 got killed and another 12 injured during them last week alone in Hangzhou. The detailed report about the locations of accidents adds more intense. For I've there, walking by the lake side; I've been around that construction site; yes I remember too, I was close to there. But thank god, I was not close to the hits of thunders.

There were nights with rains falling, but when I woke up next morning I was welcomed by sunshine and blue sky.Puzzled, I would keep wondering, are all thunders and lightings only in my dream, scary movie dream? And if it rained, really rained, where had all of them gone?

Similar puzzle last night too. I kept my air-con on all night through. I guess it had to work after having long hibernation. It humed on, way better than its strong and very open complaint the night before. So, vaguely I heard like rains; again it's another morning of strong sunshie and hot air.

emma's home-finding tour

Emma is an adorable little girl of six years old. She smiles a lot and likes to sing songs, play karate and games, also sometimes she becomes crappy. She was now sitting in the arms of Mr Wang on the bumpy road to Sanhe village, where she came from originally.

Her adoptive parents were sitting in the back of van. They were not so prepared for the bumpy road condition but excited by the great view along. Sanhe villae,located about one hour's drive out of Jiande city, is surrounded by mountains, with terraces of lush orange trees and tea bushes. Boatmen were ferrying across ,while farmers were ploughing with the water buffaloes on the rice paddies. It is the season for the summer crop.

Mrs. Wang also was sitting on the van. She was all lost in memory. 'When my husband went to have exercise around 5:30 am he saw a bamboo basket at the doorsteps of his old office. He worked there. She was wrapped up by a blanket and placed inside. It was Nov. Very cold. We were so happy she didn't die in such a cold.'

' We brought her home and prepared hot milk for her. She stayed with us for only three days. Then he decided to bring her to the orphanage. She was so small.' Full of love and care, she looked at the little girl, now enjoying every jump the van did.' We were so eager to adopt her, but the law didn't allow.'

The parents were busying writing down every detail. ' We had a son already. So we couldn't have big chances then.' Mr Wang turned back and added. ' Yes, our son is now 20 years old and studies in Hangzhou, our capital of Zhejiang province. Before the college, he stayed in military service for two years.' The mother said very proudly.' If we had her, he must like his baby sister a lot. He's a very good boy.'

Mr. Wang showed the driver the direction and we began to ride on a very narrow path. After the rains it was very muddy. ' It's here.' We stopped in front of a earth building, dark yellowish. It was almost empty and neglected for a long while. ' This used to be our office. Our Sanhe village government. Three years ago, our village was annexed to Dayang township. So we all left. Now it is temporarily for a local police unit.' Yes on the door it has a sign of Sanhe village police station, but during our stay about half an hour, we met no policemen at all, but some farmers around only. One of them must know Mr Wang well, for minutes after we met him, he returned with a box of Zhongzi, a festive food made of sticky rice and wrapped by bamboo leaves. Yes, it was our dragon boat festival today.

Emma liked this couple very much. She walked around this small village holding the hands of Mr and Mrs Wang. They were just like a family to me. At the doorstep, where emma were discovered by Wang six years ago, they took lots of pictures. Emma was all smiling, asking curiously about how she looked like.

'You were so small, like a little mouse.' I joked. She laughed and protested.' No, I am not a mouse.' For a girl just six years old, she handles such a big issue pretty well. Her parents were very open about that or she knew the fact but not much. Also, coming with her family to China but to different cities there were another four families who adopted their Children from China. The daughters are all six years old.

Mr Wang asked if our van could stop again at his new office at Dayang township government. 'We prepared little presents for her and her parents.' It was not little, but whole box of wax berry fruits, two packs of green tea and. He got the bag from his wife. 'She knitted these when we knew they are coming. One long sleeve, one short sleeve sweaters. The green skirt we bought from the market the other day. Hope sizes all fit.'

Emma's parents were obviously not ready for such LITTLE gifts. I was so moved there too. She knitted sweaters for a girl she took care of for three days. A baby girl she liked to adopt but had to give up.Maybe out of a mother's instinct, the size fits perfect on her. Before we drove out the office compound, they just kept shaking hands, saying thanks and hugging. And on the way back to Jiande city, they all felt silent.

We stayed one night at the hotel in the downtown with good view of a river. In the morning next day, we paid a visit to the orphanage, or the welfare institute should be a better name, for it takes cares of the elderly people too. The director, Ms Zhang, a slim young lady in thirties, explained about her place before showing us around.

'Thanks to government funds and social donations, we moved to the new site and build up new houses about 4 years ago. And most of the kids are disadvantageous and stay with foster families for more normal life. and when they are at school age, we will sent them to schools, even those with brain problems. Of course for them we don't expect much on their performance.'

On the second floor of a new building we saw the only five babies between months to 3 years old. She said, four out of them are special needs, one healthy girl. And there a nanny is busy changing diapers for them. Emma and her parents stayed there long while, asking every question about the babies.

The one had problem with vessel slump on her head. We just had a operation on it. You cal see the pipe still there. And this baby, is with problem with urinary system. But after the operation she is getting better and better...

About half an hour later, it was the nap time for all of them. We had to leave but Emma together with her parents had lots of fun with those exercise facilities at the playground, which attracted lots of audience from the nurses and patients too from the hospital in front.

This is a special tour for Emma and her parents, as they wrote in their note to me:

Thank you so much for your wonderful guidance and companionship to our family. Our journey to Jiande,but most especially to Sanhe village to meet Mr Wang and his wife is something we will never forget. For Emma, it was a thrill of a life time. He is her only link to her life before Jiande. Thank you for interpreting, escorting, for being so patient and for making our journey so special!!!

rained

I prayed for rain, a buffalo hair rain. And it really rained this afternoon, but it rained whole buffaloes (or cats or dogs.)

Frustrated I feel so often now, when I work really hard but not appreciated, and when I give my heart but not trusted, and when I plan but turn out to be planned.

The world is never meant to be perfect. I clearly know but why is so hard to live it?!

buffalo hair rain

'Bing, please prepare buffalo-hair rain season for us.'

Yes I do hope I could.

It's my favourite time of year. Even, I love this spring rain better than summer sunshine. In spring, when the chilly air flows with floating small raindrops, are so like those subtle sad memories come back and then go just before the flooding of tears. And in spring, on days when even walls feel wet like after breaks of crying tears, who could and would survive the grayest depression?

So when rains begin to fall, so do I. Into the deepest sorrow.

xizha of wuzhen

Xizha is the new part of Wuzhen water village just open to tourism. I found my timing to visit so perfect. After the May holiday, and on a working day, the place was so quiet in the afternoon breeze, night lights, morning air...And besides only four people stayed at the same hotel.

6.2

June 1st, the International Children's Day, is of course a big day for china's little emperors and their spoiling parents and grandparents. And to me, it's just a day of music, wine and rest since lots of rains out of windows.

Next day, the second of June, seems more fun. In Hangzhou dialect, 62 is a word for 'stupid'. The older you get, the more 62 everyone is, admit it or not, in this adult world.

So cheers! 62's day!

himalaya

I am just back from a long trip of two weeks. I am happy I can happy several days off, to have a break and slow down.

This morning, I found all links to a very wonderful movie theme soundtrack of Himalaya, a french production and filmed in Nepal. I happened to be attracted by it when I was inside a small bookstore on Beijing rd, Lhasa. The music was so great and spiritual, however the price the owner asked for a self-burned cd, 38 yuan sounded a real ripoff to me.

I am now enjoying the music while unfurling myself in my small room...

Day 7, ava and Chinese emperor

Legend had it, when Beijing the capital of Ming dynasty was conquered by the army of a farmer rebellion led by Li Zhicheng, the last emperor once ran southwards to Mandalay, Burma, but unluckily betrayed and thrown into prison by the king of Ava. He was then returned to Yunnan and then killed by a gerneral Wu Sangui, who'd surrendered to Manchurian. (Sounded true? But didn't the emperor hang himself up on a tree on the Prospect Hill just north of the forbidden Palace?)

Anyway, when I rode my bike out of shaded path, so surprised was I to see a big- scale white paya stationed quietly in the middle of soya bean fields. It was like a UFO which just landed, still exhaling the fume. Or a cream cake ready to melt, as much as me myself after such a long ride and fruitless search.

One kind woman, (must be caretaker) came up to me, still holding the prayer bead in hand. All in smiles, she gestured to welcome me up onto the terrace. So I quickly changed my sneakers into slippers and left my bike, and my bag there, unlocked.

My rugged greeting 'mingalabar/ hello' amused her before she retreated back into her seat. I could feel her kind and friendly care towards a lonely traveller from her smiles and eyes. But when I tried secretly to take a pic of her from the other side of the paya arch, she smartly avoided and picked up her chat with another villager.

I was the only visitor there. I walked around the paya again and again, and everytime when I walked beside her, we would smile at each other, hers a little apologetically. In the end I waved her goodbye and walked to the neighboring paya, which had a grand terrace with statues of lions and a huge gold top. The caretaker was an older man, who kindly offered me a cup of water. This made me hesitate for a while, to refuse such a good hear or to risk the water safety?

Then walked back to my bike when I noticed four horse carts driving past. It was an European or American group. I decided to follow them, but riding the bike on such narrow path was a really chanllege. When I got to the place, the palace wall, not so well preserved, they were already back to the wagon. I decided to walk in their way,instead of riding again, for my bottom ached a lot.

It was another 10 minutes' walk through soya bean fields, before I got to the watch tower. which was in collapsing condition. A girl kindly reminded me the danger of the stairs and ballastrade, and I bought a set of postcards from her at 1000 k. On the top of ' the leaning tower of Inwa', I had some little chat with the group. They were Americans and had been to China and Tibet.(Interesting! As judging by the date, I was in the same time in Lhasa too. )They were accompanied by two guides, one tour guide and the other an escort from the boat. Both of them were polite and patient, especially the escort. A handsome young man looked so gentle with his pure white bag. He replied it was a Shan style bag, a traditional handicraft from Inle lake. And actually later when I found similar bags at Inle lake, I could not wear so smart like him.

It was the Bagaya Kyaung which made me decide to come to Ava. The finest attraction, happily unrenovated, dated back to 1834, and was a wonder of teak beautifully carved. And at the entrance I was stopped to pay 10 dollars for the ticket for all attractions in Mandalay and around. And the vendors and kids there were becoming a little nuisance, though.And from there, I had a pretty good view of the Ava bridge. Because of its strategic importance, any photography of , or from is strictly forbidden. But despite this, nobody on the sight, including the kids begging for money or bon bon or even the monks, seemed not to care at all.

On the way out of the village, some very Bagan payas caught my attentions. I stopped there for a lot of photos, which tired the white baffalos, as I guess. But the kids seemed very excited all along the way. Do I look foreigner to them, for they were competing with themselves or me, to see who could yell goodbye loudest? I felt victory.

The way I was riding on had special designs on bridges every 30-40 meters. I guess it must be a sacred road leading mandarian to the palace. And when I waited for a father with his young daughter to go first, the father thanked me and then asked:' are you traveller? are you from Japan? My answer seemed satisfactory. He seemed assured, then surprisingly in Chinese, ' ni hao. wo ye shi zhong guo ren. hello, I am Chinese.' Is there anything so dramatic and perfect?He explained I'd better return and ride on the old road, for the next one, still being under constrution would be dusty.( It was the way I came.)

After pleasant ride under the shade, I returned to the first part of new road, where I 'd stopped for direction. Amazingly, the women workers all turned their faces to me and smiled goodbye to me! And beyond the road, several farmer were working on the ride fields or catching fish from the pond. What a wonderful day, or a wonderful half day!

Next I was going to U-bein bridge.

Day 7, eve of Christmas

When I rose in the morning, I didn't realize clearly today was the eve of Christmas. At 7 am, I dropped a note to an Indian girl and explained to her that I couldn't go to buy train ticket to Bagan with her,since I had to leave earlier because it was for sure, going to be a long bike- ride day for me.

I knocked open the bike rental across the street when the housewife was busy making pancake oven the stove. I've thought until that moment the pancake was served only for tourists but not locals . She kindly forked me one piece, which was fresh from the oven and watched me swallow immediately, although with no honey or jam, it tasted just like pancake. I paid 1500 k for one day's bike and then my room number. That's all she needed.

So I rode away fast. The air was chilly early in the morning. The roads were not so busy as I 've observed during the day. Some stores were ready to open while more locals were strolling around for breakfast or aimlessly seemingly.

My first stop WAS the train station, where a man directed the coming cars or bikes with a bar and long rope. On second floor, one window was for foreigner, with English-speaking staff. although foreigners were already allowed to buy cheaper classes too. The staff checked my small American notes carefully and recored my passport number then handwrote a ticket, at last a chop. To Bagan, a ticket of the best class, cost 9 dollars. Must be fun, I told myself. And It turned out really to be a special experience the night after.

There are four ancient cities around Mandalay, Amapapura,Ava, Sagaing and Mingun. I chose to go visit two interesting ones Amarapura, and Ava.

Amarapura, located 11 km south of Mandalay had little remains left from palace buildings. There are several kyaung (temple) and Paya (pagoda). More interesting would be : watching hundred of monks having lunch together at the Maha Ganayon Kyaung, and the most popular teak bridge U-bein around the sunset time.

Scared by the limitation of the map, I stopped almost every 15-20 minutes for directions. So easily I found it with the help of a food store owner, a door keeper of a school, a father carring his son on the bike. Hardly it was 9:30, when the father explained me the location of U-bein bridge, I knew I already drove past it. Too early for the monks' lunch and too early for the sunset over the U-bein bridge. So I thanked them and continued my ride to Ava first.

I felt many gaze from the streets once again. I was in white T shirt and shorts now, while my jacket was around my shoulder and neck. None of information I could get from the net about biking there. And even on LP, it says: the ancient city of Inwa,for a long time a capital of northern Myanmar after the fall of Bagan,...,A FEW kilometers fouthe of Amarapura,just south of the bridge. LP, you shouldn't call yourself again information!!!

How's A FEW? Keeping that doubt, I rode as fast as I can, down the bumpy path, while avoiding the passing vehicles . Good thing was there were not many crossings. I stopped twice to ask the car repairer and fruits vendors. Some of them were quite puzzled by my greeting and suddenly understood me when I showed the word on the book INWA(AVA). I remembered once a housewife corrected me, it was AVA instead of Inwa.

Finally I got to a constrution for a tunnel or a bridge. More people were passing some inspection pass, even the sheperd walking tens of sheep. There was a river. Should be here. But where was the way to boat to cross the river to get to Ava? I just ignored the inspectative looks and made a left turn before drving onto a new asphalt road, half side done.

There was a handsome young man in the shabby office-like and with all smile he pointed me the way, ' yes, that way.' I rode on and on, feeling so dry and exhausted after another half an hour in the heat. When I pushed my heavy bike uphill to the bridge, I saw a man who just overtook me, seemingly resting or waiting for me.

He looked back at me, waiting. Half of his face was covered under a big bamboo hat. In perfect English, he answered me that within another ten more minutes I was reaching after a right turn at the pass-bar. He was a real surprise to me, speaking such a wonderful British English. Silently he sat on the bike again and rode away. Ahead of me the road was so dusty, like in desert, before asphalt put over. I rode after him, soon lagging behind him.

I saw nothing of a sign or a pass on the right after 15 minutes. So I just kept fighting on. I was so touched to see that kind man waiting for me again in the heat and dust. And this time after he made sure it was me again, he turned around and drove up to me.' You've driven past the pass.' He led me back the way. And the pass was nothing but some bamboo scaffolding to me. store place. I thanked him heartily before I drove into the narrow country path.

In the field farmers were ploughing with white baffalo under tall palm trees; there were chickens and ducks roaming, dogs lying in the shade not so excited by my arrival as many kids. I imagined I could easily found a guildance map to show all the remains and attractions or whatoever,but in vain. Finally some cluster of white pagodas appeared before me, but disppointed to tell all of them brand new. I wandered on my bike and jumped off to ask. But the woman only nodded repeatedly, meaning' a, yes, a yea, it's AVA here.'

To her it was Ava village with fields, houses, trees and animals and families, but to me Ava should have more. When I stumbled further into a narrow pathes between fields, but towards the river, I heard from behind. ' Where are you going?'

A woman in 30s appeared and voluteered to show me the way after I explained. I was a little embarassed when she chatted with some other villagers. I was an intruder, but a lost one. And yes, the anicent paya began to s

water or wine?

It has been scientifically proven that if we drink 1 liter of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli (E. coli) (bacteria found in feces).
In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of Poop.
However, we do not run that risk when drinking wine (or rum, whiskey, beer or other liquor) because alcohol has to go through a purification process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting.

WATER = Poop
WINE = HEALTH.

Therefore: It is better to drink wine and talk stupid, than to drink water and be full of crap.

There is no need to thank me for this valuable information; I am doing it as a public service.
(from I.)

Mandalay, Mandalay

what's new!

For several days already, I 've had pains in my right chest. However, due to my busy work, I didn't have the time to see the doctor. And meanwhile I've been dreaming that that pains would disappear just as they occured all suddenly.

Yesterday after the badminton games, on the way, I was caught by a very unexpected downpour. Yes, a sudden one, like it began within half a second. I was telling myself, the spring is over and another summer with such thunderstorms around already. How time flies!

Last week, I attended an Chinese Australian family. The driver and I tried our best to make their stay in Shanghai and Hangzhou very smooth and enjoyable. And when I heard their announcement of praisement, I was so touched especially when their representative spoke seriously to their national guide' we like bing to fly with us to Beijing. And you can give your ticket to him and you buy yourself the ticket.' They were not joking. Here I was not to discuss any mistakes from the guide. I later got short messages that: all the group missed me alot and talked about me so often.

When I was working for another group in Shanghai, I got a call from a friend of mine. She was planning to visit Combodia during the coming May holiday. She was a little scared by some rumors about this country. But I comforted her that everything would be fine. In the end, I added: how I wish I could go there again...

I am going to be busier and busier; and I 'm not sure if I had the time for more writing of my travel to Burma...

my birthday his deathday

Day 6, way back to Mandalay

Opposite to me the little child smiling in the arms of the mother was a Albino. I felt a little guilty after a little long while's gaze and so I abruptly smiled back and turned my eyes away when the mother noticed me. Maybe to the young couple , such a curisoity from a stranger was too hurting.

Or I just considered too much. For, two young women sitting next to them quickly started conversation with the mother and kindly took a big red apple and put it into the hand of the baby. The kid, with smiling eyes, was totally not afraid of it and tried to grab it and feed it by him/herself, which worried but amused both of the parents. And all during the trip, the child and the family was always the focus, no wonder.

I tried to stop my mad worry about the troulbe the child might experience when he/she grows up because of the specialness. I was so sure of the happy childhood. And I admired more the courage of the young couple peacefully accepting such a fate.

Actually we were already on the right way back to Mandalay, but one of the passengers spoke one word. So the driver backed our way and drove into a left road. End of it was a restaurant. We stopped for half an hour there and then we continued our pleasant journey, under the blue sky and through greet forests, while breathing fresh and crisp air.

I was dropped around the market. I tried at first to take a shortcut through the alleys, but in the end I had to turn back because of the dead ends. While I was looking around, for directions and nearly temples every corner, one man riding bike past me, ' konichiwa, dogo ikimasi ga?' (Japanese, hello, where are you going?'. He was still on the bike.

'ee-do...' I was trying to remember more words, polite refusal ones.

'okay, sa-yo-na-la'( bye!)

He abruptly rode away, even before I finished my sentence..

I looked at myself, really the same as I at the botanical garden the day before, so Japanese. Howver, good news was , when I pushed the door and entered Royal, all girls at the reception remembered me and greeted warmly'

Ni-hao!'

'Ni-hao', I was excited that moment; I knew I was now home. A comfortable little home.

financial related

Last Friday on the bus to a Bank of China branch to close an account, I was so astonished to see a public show by some high school students sitting in the end around me. All in their school uniforms, while others acting as audience,one boy and one girl, were gambling seriously. Show-hand it was. And each bet was 20 yuan. And the boy seemed very unlucky as hell, for he lost to the girl with heavy cosmetics on the eyes, 150 yuan( about 20 dollars) within about three minutes.

Day 6, should we have some tea?

(Back to Maymeo).

On my way back to Grace hostel, under the Purcell bell tower, I was approached by a very old man in sixties. He was tall, thin, and looked very neat. Very politely, he greeted me first and asked for my nationality. I was always respectful towards the aged, my Chinese traditional.

He invited me to a traditional teahouse for some chat. I expressed I had to go back immediately( I was not lying). And he held my hand firmly and continued: I am very sick, could you give me some money. All in a surprisingly perfect British English and very surprisingly gentle manners. I could hardly dare to look at his begging eyes. Silently shaking head, I fought away his grip and left. And another middle aged man noticed us and asked: everything ok? any problem? I smiled unfocused and thanked him: no,no problem.

The sky was blue and high. The air was crisp and a little chilly still. I went back to my room and packed within one minute. Then checked out with the sweet owner. One block away were the bus stop with many vans. I jumped on one and got charged 1500 again and found little space among passengers and many package crates for Fuji apples from China.