As I sit down for my 10 dollars glass of tea at the airport - I think I've flown back to the states at that price. The name of the restaurant "Lucky Shamrock" should have clued me in or the velvet seats :) I litterly have 5 hours of waiting-ugh. The very small airport is being updated for the 60th anniversary of the country, which is next year.
We went from rice fields and dirt road to being on the airports main terminal drive within three blocks. Again an example of a country rooted in its past (rural) but trying to modernize very quickly. We drove through a massive new double lane area about 4 miles long - a new industrial park, which street and lampposts were up - but only a few buildings - note, skyscraper size-going up.
Glad to say goodbye to my 48 year old guide who was overly mothering- ugh. But her knowledge was unbelievable. She shared how her father learned English from a priest when he cleaned the church-from that he went on to teach English. During the cultural revolution he was sent to the country for four years without his family. It was during that time my guide upon graduating from middle school was sent to live in the country for one year to learn rural living-as required by Mao ZeDong at the time. She said the cultural revolution was a hard time for her family. It was from her father she learned English and then taught kids English and than went to tourism school in their local neighborhood- like all my guides to enter this career-something she's been doing for 20 years.
She brought me to a village in the countryside- a new place to her. To see the rural way of life after seeing the city was good. Think outdoor courtyard where everything is done and all rooms facing that. The house we met the grandparents had 4 generations and 12 people living there. They took manure in what looked like a septic system top and fermented it and from the gas they get their electricity. The city solar water heaters are another testiment that despite the factory pollution, this country is trying to be green on the home front. we saw about 20 water buffalo being herded down a busy freeway-two women marching them on. Apparently you get one day a month you watch the whole villages water buffalo instead of everyone carrying for their own. I saw rice fields carved into hills. People raking and drying rice on new cement slabs that looked like future home foundations. Corn was just being harvested. Wheat is more popular in this region. I now fully understand why people eat so much- the processed carb meals have left me wondering how Ill respond when I get real fiber again.
Our driver passed cars on this narrow road while going up hills--hed just honk. I feared headon collision at his 45 mph speed. Trees are planted right at the edge of the two lane rough right alongside the cement. They are painted white about 2 feet up, so they form this guard rail on the side of the room. I thought thw white paint would glow in the dark to guide cars at night. Guide said it was lyme on the trees to protect the government planted trees from bugs eating and killing them in the winter. Boy was I wrong on their true purpose.
Two toddlers are running around the airport and rolling on the ground and - surprise crotchless clothes! Yes, only diapers at night. Kids naturally crouch when they need to go so parents train very early here. Guide said was only bad part was when in public-they could go at anytime- but parents are usually ready with a bag --man sounds like how we handle dogs. Most be cold for the kids and part of why they don't come outside in the winter.
Since my fingers are cramping from blackberry typing should finish my "Wanderlust" magazine a London gentleman gave me one night over dinner in Xian. Its a fabulous mag, now to see if I can get a subscription in the states for this UK publication. I'm taking recommendations on where I should go next trip - really welcome all ideas. I've decided Ill likely make at least 30 more trips abroad in my lifetime and should start making a list.
Oh-got on a computer last night downloaded photos etc to be safe and could not get onto Facebook-did I read or hear that was really popular here?
Also, scored one quarter the asking price on some tea today, but still haven't found a pot I like-may need to hit that tea store in Minneapolis to have the right gear for my new loose leaf. Okay 4 more hours of sitting. Ugh.
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