People's park

Stuff. Buns. Coke.

Jade temple

It was ok. But they've learned to do commerse. A simple beads wristlet is like 220rmb which in the street you may pay maybe 70rmb for. Of course you can think of it as a donation.

The guy in the photo is some kind of semi guide sales person. Not very clear. Anyway had a good chat.  They speak very good english.

As normal: foreigner must but ticket to visit whereas chinese don't need to.

That was fun!

Shanghai but no noodles

Yesterday I had a slow start. I slept long after having a terrible dinner. Note to anyone: neverbeat at a chain restaurant called "tasty" - because it isn't at all. Its interesting that they provide fix prix menu. But at 96rmb you'd think it be good. But it wasnt. Of course it may be related to that I opted for meat after a month of mostly veg food. In anyway. I was desperate. After that I went to bed as I was exhausted after the 6h train ride.

So. Next day late start. I decided to go to Yu Yuan area. As can be seen on the pics its crawling w tourists. I had some veg food; the pic w veg chicken feet. Not to good. Imitation meet in all honour. The sweet sour pork was ok. But too much sugar and no veggies.

I left it to the tourist to sort out the neo-asian-old-style shopping mall.

After some relaxing that became late. I looked for food. Where I'm staying its all "new" so no street food. That makes it difficult. I decided to head for a restaurant in my guide near a bar I was heading for.

At 11pm poking my head through the door the lady was gesturing that they were closed. I went outside. The serving and buss boys told me to go in again and say I was hungry. I did. They came and took my order. Best food so far in shanghai. Eggs fried w tomatoes. Stinky tofu. The waiter warned me but I persisted. And some scallion cake. Tea. Very good. Happy.

After leaving I headed to the bar. Had a good time. But that's another story. But not for here. :-)

China - a bigger holland with mountains?

Its funny. Travelling in Fuijan province by car or train. Where ever I look I see water. I mentioned earlier that to grow anything if it can be flooded controllable it seems they won't grow! The lanscape is much flat, at least.patchwise, with mountains in the hinterground.

On the train I sit on window seat. The guy next to me is big but relative young. So far (coffe sandwhich lunch milkdrink) he has paid. Not allowing me to pay at all. I feel strange. I think he treats me as a guest to his home. We don't speak much. He'll get off before shanghai. His english is minimal. My chinese dismal.

Mandatory id control on train

Hmm. I guess we're entering a soecial zone. When the pass me with their portable reader I ignore them. They pass by. Still strange for me. Swedes generally in sweden can't be asked for ID by the police.

I think anyone in china can move freely now. At least to shanghai. But govt apparently want to know who is where.

Take picture?

Occasionally some guys want to take picture with me. Sometimes girls if they dare. These were taken near or in the xihu park fuzhou.

Oh. Abd the hunnantv from Changsha wanted me to say their name. Ok. Maybe I get famous there now. Haha.

Life in fuzhou

People working.

Guanyin Minitemple

In Fuzhou I visited and stayed my friend monk Guode at his guan yin temple. Small but sufficient. We meet first in Beijing. But meanwhile he took over this temple.

Simple conditions. But what do you need?

The temple is on a small hill with 4 temples in total. One buddhist. One taoist (using buddhism teachings and taoism). One monkey/elephant temple. The head temple for that type. One folks temple with local legends and gods. They all peacefully coexists next to eachother. It seems they take turns in chanting as to not disturbe eachother.

Is it cruel?

To eat a boiled egg in front of a chicken. Can it tell its an egg? An egg from a duck? Salted boiled egg?

VIP tea

Today. We drank tea. Then went to bank. Drank phuerh tea with monk and nun. Ate veggies with them. Hao zhi! Then drank Da Hong Pao tea. Did some chanting and meditation. Then saw that our car had a flat tire. We were late for our appointment. Where we drank tea. And got samples for three  teas, as our the general manager wanted to give us a good tea but we didn't know which. When we sample we can tell her which tea we like. Then we went to cittra/xiqin store to show/intriduce the instrument to the ladies of our appointment. There we drank tea! One was a 12 years old stored Da Hong Pao! That was a first. Nice! A bit of earthy flavor but quite good. The way we tend to steep puerh in west is probably all wrong, gets too strong. Shang was trying out the cittras and then we drank more tea. After this we went to pick up a mechanic to take the tire to a shop. Its been raining and cold pretty much all day. When they fixed the tire and we tried to pay. The cost was nothing! The reason is probably that the person who directed us to the repairs is married to a local chief of police.

The mechanic guy who helped us is 17 years old. Freckles. Reminded me of my 17 yo brother in Norway who learn mechanics.

Now. Back home eating light meal -  takeout steamed bun and fried pancake with veggie biscuit filling (chao bing).

Taking a warm footbath.

How was your day?

tao of tea

in the morning I prepare some lapsang souchong w condensed milk  i only wrote the text, wish i could draw this nicely.

Goooodmoooorning wuyishan!

Tea making

The drying or traditional roasting of da hong pao requires turning the leaves every 5 hours by hand. My timing was good. And the room felt like a good sauna!