Today's message will largely be about gastronomical delights. As you can imagine Chinese food is very different, much different than "American Chinese food". Last night we went the local grocery rather than eat in the hotel. On the same street as the grocery they had an evening market where you could go and buy your evening meal from one of dozens and dozens of street vendors. Most of the items available consisted of various meats and veggies on sticks that could then be roasted over small coal fires right in front of you. We certainly had no idea what meats were being offered. We did see many kinds of fish, squid, beef, pork and other "skinned things." Because we have a hard time communicating other than pointing we were sort of at the mercy of fate. We did try some things on sticks, but have no clue what they were! Maybe not a good idea? We also had some potatoes that were diced, deep fried and then seasoned in front of us. Again, no idea of the seasoning but they were delicious! We also had a "corn treat" on a stick that was somewhat similar to a sweetened, congealed corn mush! We thought it was pineapple when were buying it! Today at the market we also bought some apples that tasted like pears, nearly translucent in color, and served sold nearly ice cold. Delicious! Another interest fruit, pictured, is red dragon fruit. The skin is red, the flesh white with black seeds and somewhat the taste of kiwi. Tonight's dinner consisted of half a roasted duck, sliced off the bone then served with onions and a thick brown sauce.
All of this was wrapped in a small rice flour tortilla. Good but duck is very fatty. One last food note that is interesting, each night the maid comes around, knocks on the door and hands us mini Kit Kat bars! How funny!
Today our guide took us to 5 Springs Mountain which is a park, zoo, temple complex and more. We saw Taoist shrines, a Confucian courtyard and a Buddhist Temple with a 600 year old bronze Buddha about 15 feet tall.
Confucius
Here in this park complex is a favorite place for the elderly to walk and get their exercise. Some also come here to play their musical instruments, pipes and small horns. We told one horn player we liked his music. He said we looked like happy Buddhas. This is becoming a theme. The zoo was a site.... The animals were in cement enclosures, pits and large cages...no grass, no clean water. It made us appreciative of the fine zoo in Nashville. 
Jin's favorite cloth sculpture
We had tea this afternoon in the hotel.
We shared in the Chinese tea ceremony.
Thank you for all your well wishes and prayers and good wishes. We feel them giving us strength. Please feel free to reply, we like sharing with you, but as this email goes to about 200 people, please be careful not to hit reply to all. Thanks!
Love to you all,
We Three in Chi-ny
No comments:
Post a Comment