Friday the 13th has been a very great day, indeed! We went to the Henan National Museum in Zhengzhou with two Chinese friends we've made here at SIAS. First we had to get a taxi on the street. That was a first for us here. They charged us 4 times as much for 4 people....I was SHOCKED. Now I understand it is the Chinese way. Just so you know. Then we took on the Zhengzhou subway for the first time. TADA! We did it! Okay, full disclosure---Lucy knew just where we were going. :-)
Then lunch at a McD's. The dad next to us handed me a baby so he could take pictures.....well, all of a sudden he grabs him back. What the heck? It seems natures called. So under their table and on the floor was better than on me. I heartily agree! :-) Then, it was off to the museum. What a wonderful place. We covered the first two floors. Hope you enjoy the pics! October 1 2014 we left SIAS at 8:00ish. We headed out on a "Three Hour Tour (trip)". We went this way and that way and back thata way and thisa way! :-) At one point we went form a 4 lane interstate to a 2 lane road to a one lane road and stopped to ask a farmer--then backed up into his cart lane and turned around. :-) At 2:00 in the afternoon we got to the Laojieling Scenic Area WOW WOW WOW! BEA U tiful! Had lunch outdoors at a home/restaurant---was delish--based on the pen at the side wall, the chicken was quite fresh. The head came on the plate. :-P The guy went and picked us persimmons off the tree. SO good! They brought shelf fungi to show us what we had eaten. They were really good. The locals came to greet (see) us--very fun! Then the tourist tram went flying up the mtn.--best carnival ride EVER!!!! WHEEEE. We hiked up stairs for at least an hour and the sign said we were about 1/3 of the way to the top. Some of the group made it to the top, others went a little further and then took the granite slide back down--flying! We headed back down--my legs were literally shaking and burning--but I was still proud of myself! Some road the cable car. Then it was off down the Mtn. in the tram--WHEEEEEE!. There was a village of cabins with real Chinese laterns really lit! Breathtaking! Sadly we were flying by too fast for any pics. :-( On the way out the bus got caught up on one of the S curves--it took about 15 of the locals to consult on how to get us back on the road. :-)) We LOVE an adventure! First night was a 5 (count them *****) star hotel! If you think every Chinese meal comes with hot tea and fruit for dessert--think again. We learned right here to bring a bottle of water. The last course is usually rice--so you can fill up it you are still hungry. If you are a coffee drinker--BYOC!!! Just sayin. The SIAS guy in charge--Charley, saved me by sharing a couple of packets of his personal stash. THANK YOU Charley!!! Thank God for hard boiled eggs! It is what's for breakfast. Loved it all!
Yahoo! Visited the Yellow River today and traversed it by HOVERCRAFT! That's right, a step out of star wars. Awesome day included petting horses, hiking a mountain, seeing 5000 year old statues of the Imperial brother emperors, Hiking back down a mountain, AND ringing the historic bell. SWEET!
We went to Zhengzhou to shop, and between Ikea and 360 Mall was an event sponsored by a local FM Radio Station (92.?). They were taking pictures of people (anyone who wanted to participate) and putting HUGE copies on the outside wall of a skyscraper. Liv has pictures of the wall and we'll post those later. They had so many in fact that they had covered the skyscraper and were working on the sidewalk too!
The concept behind the event was that Humans make up the Culture, so they were preserving and sharing photos of all the humans making up the Zhengzhou culture. Kind of like Humans of New York, and they have already done this in Beijing and Shanghai. It was a great message to everyone, it definitely brought people together for a fun day. We decided to join in, and they were so happy we stopped to do it! Lots of people were taking our pictures (we were taking pictures of lots of people too :P ). Mom's took pictures with their teenage boys, aunts were getting pictures with little nieces, girlfriends doing it together, the older men were making funny faces. Everyone was having such a great time! The best part was that if you participated, you got a free copy to take home! So now Angela's room doesn't look bare any more :) The pictures fit the wall perfectly! Happiness! |
Angela & OliviaAfter finishing law school, we are off to see the world! The adventure starts in China, Xinzheng, Henan to be exact. You are welcome to come along for the ride! Present Home!Archives
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