CHINA 2010 MONDAY 26th JULY

I suggested we take a bus to an area around Xiamen University, one of the sites Mander took us to on our first day in Xiamen, and on checking our map Keith found 22 would take us in that direction. So crossing the footbridge we arrived at the stop outside ‘Rainbow’ just as an almost empty 22 rolled up.

We travelled down familiar streets we have walked along in the older part of the city but after that it was all new. As usual Keith was following the route on our map so had a rough idea where we should alight. Spot on as we were almost at ‘Nanpatou Temple’.

Having ‘lost’ my folder of photos somewhere in the computer and a search revealing nothing of the Saturday spent with Mander so I was keen to return to the Temple. Not so much to enter the buildings but to explore the ponds in the entrance area that just happened to be free. We hadn’t been in this particular area with Mander and found it delightful. All the ponds bar a large square one contained water lilies and lotus plants and hundreds of fish that I began to wonder if theTemple’s monks supplied all the restaurants in Xiamen. This area was full of families enjoying themselves, the children climbing the stone steps whilst others feeding the fish although I did wonder what on earth one family was throwing into the pool as it sank! As well as fish there were a vast amount of turtles of all sizes. Some were having a leisurely time lazing on the large lily pads and others found time to mate – in this heat. I did worry about a small one that was hanging on to a lily still in tight bud whilst those on the leaf in a mating position looked at it! I can think of no end of captions suitable for my photos of the turtles! Lined up close to the Temple entrance were 5 buses from a Cruise Ship visiting the site and as I said with so many families and local tourists the place was crowded and yet I managed to take some pictures without anyone in sight. Walking round the perimeter of the large pond with its stone bridges and a walkway to a shelter we had a good view of the Temple roofs with the large wide mountain behind before it was time to leave.

Outside the street leading to the Temple entrance we found it hard work trying to avoid the beggars and the map sellers. At least some of the sellers laughed when we showed them we already had one in English. We knew we were not far from the sea so keeping to the path before checking at the bus stop for our return trip we did a slight detour into the University’s grounds, which is adjacent to the Temple, as today the fountain was working due to ‘The Global Leadership Programme’. Back to our plan we came to a narrow path by the side of a bridge that leads out to the overhead coastal road. Following the path we found ourselves on a deserted wide promenade with a view of the coastal road, a lovely sandy beach and the sea. It wasn’t quite deserted as three workers were busy cleaning the beach and a gardener was cutting back the branches of bougainvillaea growing up a wire fence. As we approached the end of this stretch of the promenade we found we had to make a slight detour passig workmen repairing the bridge. Behind a wire fence old timber lay in large piles on the original walkway. We could now see that we had reached the beach area with the start of the 2km wooden walkway that we had taken with Yeti, Helen and Mr. Cheng before going for supper recently.

Time to head back to a bus stop, this time walking alongside grounds with a very impressive building, and a large amphitheatre leading down to a sports track where one oldish man was running round the circuit barefooted whilst a lady was quite happy to walk. As we moved along we saw the familiar new building of Xiamen University so guess this must be part of the complex. We soon found a bus stop and arrived home just as the sun disappeared.