CHINA 2010 SATURDAY 24th JULY

We went out early which is a change for us but perhaps not such a good idea with the temperature remaining around 35 degrees. No arrangements had been made to entertain us today apart from having supper with Mander and his girlfriend Lin this evening.

I had studied the map and decided we would head towards more parks the other side of Yundang Lake particularly an area where the main Government Building stands. I am intrigued to know if the area is anything like Dalian’s with a huge square and the white marble dancing fountains.

As usual we never stick to our plan as we found ourselves walking along a route that took us past the ‘Cruise Line Terminal’, an area of several overhead roads including one directly over us. The only green area we saw was a ‘mountain’ on our right and no apparent access up it but then it was so hot we were in no mood to go mountaineering today.

We decided to go over a curved stainless steel footbridge which would lead us to a waterfall on the other side of the road. By the time we walked over the bridge, acknowledging a group of children shouting “hello” to us as we began to climb the steps, the water had stopped. How many times has this happened to us – I am convinced there is a little man watching and as soon as he sees the foreigner he pulls a switch!

Still whilst we were here we might as well have a drink sitting on small marble stools at a small round marble table with a power socket for charging several mobile phones. Across the road was a waiting electric car so perhaps there was something interesting to see. Finishing our drink the car had now disappeared not that we wanted to take it anyway. Up the wide road almost under the largest bridge of several that lead to the mainland we arrived at the ticket office where we had a decision to make as a young lady explained we could ‘do Traditional’ or we could ‘do the Bridge’. We chose ‘Traditional’ and on paying the fee of 30 yuan each she gave us a game card explaining that on our trip we had to complete the 4 empty squares, members of staff would help us play the game as we went around. She then kindly came out of her office and showed us which of the two roads we should take.

Sod’s law we were to go up rather than down! Not a problem as we had renewed our energy at the drink stop. We hadn’t gone very far when I noticed black marble squares engraved with Chinese scene. As there were several of these on our route I assumed they told a ‘Traditional’ story. To our right and under a shelter were two very large red bowls emblazoned with gold dragons. Expecting to find a few goldfish swimming in them I was somewhat surprised to find they were empty, not even a pattern inside apart from the red signature of the maker. When we reached the top of the incline we arrived at a large viewing area containing a stage and several buildings. There was also plenty of seating including white metal garden swings – very romantic but in need of oiling!

From this point we had some good views of the Bridge and the surrounding area. Below was a container port and behind that an area where small boats were tied up at the short jetties. It was also in this area we discovered more of the large bowls not only the red ones but another with blue and white painted scenes and whilst I was in a world of my own Keith was receiving instructions on how to play the game.

We had 6 dice which we had to throw around the bowl and hope they would all settle with a winning score. We had been told if we got 4 fours and 2 twos we would win l,888 yuan, otherwise depending on how many squares we filled we could win a prize. We had three chances here and when Keith threw his he had no winning numbers. My turn and I got two out of three. Thanking the lady who had assisted us we entered one of the buildings to discover a ‘Mooncake Museum’ and then the penny dropped that we had been playing Xiamen’s famous ‘Mooncake Game’. This game is traditionally played at the Mid-Autumn Festival the second occasion in the year when families get together. A good display of bronze models playing the game, glass cases containing several elaborate costumes and hats, and a wall plaque showing ‘Mooncake’ designs of the delicious small round pastry of different fillings which is traditionally eaten during the festival, were just a few of the objects on show.

Back outside for more photos we were entertained by a couple of local musicians. The same lady who had helped us play ‘the game’ now showed us how to play the square stringed musical instrument. A lovely sound and I discovered just how light the rubber tipped hammers are, but I will need many, many lessons to be as proficient as my teacher. We also listened to an old man playing a Chinese violin whilst his friend sang, changing positions over half way through their rendition. A family with twins, a boy and girl, and a baby played nearby. As I walked back to the swings the little girl had followed me and was attempting to climb on one but it kept getting away from her. I held it tight until she was safely on board and then pushed it a few times for her. Guess who tired first? The father seemed very pleased that I took her photograph.

The last part of this adventure was to climb the winding steps that brought us to the road level of the bridge and the highest point of this small park. In this area we discovered several individual eating rooms in the garden area and a large seafood restaurant further along. Again pictures of several dishes were displayed around the outside of the building along with their prices, most over 150 yuan and we had no idea what the main ingredient in any of the pictures could be. This was now the easy part of our adventure – we stepped into a lift and were transported back down to the area close to the ticket office.

We had one more square on our card to fill and this would be done in the shop. Good ploy. It was not to be Keith’s day as he failed to score again but was given a consolation prize of a small packet of shortbread cookies. On the other hand I had another scoring throw and with 3 boxes won a bag of dice – now I need to buy a bowl!

We stopped for another drink by the waterfall that was now completely dry so birds were flying off and onto the large rocks. The family with their children arrived, the little girl picking a wild flower for her mother, but with the baby in one arm and a mobile phone to her ear with the other hand she could not accept the flower. Giving up the little girl threw it away.

Need I tell you we took a taxi home!

7pm we met Mander and his girlfriend Lin downstairs. We should have been joined by one of Keith’s students but he had cancelled – too much beer last night! We took a taxi to a Japanese restaurant close to Yundang Lake. For a set price we could eat as much food as we liked. So shoes off and stepping down to a low table we were able to rest our feet in a deep square well under the table and sit on legless cushioned seats. Mander had hoped to have a private room but as he said this was a very popular place especially at the weekend so all the rooms had been booked. The food was lovely with plenty of sushi accompanied by the wasabi sauce that I have now discovered is much better when mixed with vinegar. Mander asked for a tube of the paste, a much stronger taste than the one usually served. He pulled some funny faces after tasting it and then wondered why I did not want to try it! We each had a large grilled prawn on a skewer, a large prawn in batter, a small meaty fish (mine containing a soft roe which I was able to show Mander as we had been discussing them whilst sampling some fish eggs), BBQ chicken wing or thigh, a seaweed mesh in the shape of a cone and filled with shredded vegetables and crabmeat (gorgeous) and shared a plate of baby clams, and a couple of plates of vegetables, finishing our meal with an individual small teapot of fish soup that we drank from a very small bowl containing a small piece of lemon. Did we want more to eat?

Leaving the restaurant we walked a short distance to ‘Haiwan Park’ where we sat and drank more beer whilst chatting over the sound of Latin American music, played by a Russian combo according to Mander. I thought they were a bit skinny for Russians. This bar area was packed with people including a lot of Westerners. We had a few spots of rain and lots of lightning over the bay. Down the steps behind us people were paddling in the water as it was high tide and the water had covered part of the lower walkway. We were disappointed that the fountains in the park were not playing. It was getting on for midnight as we continued to walk home Mander wanting to make sure we reached our apartment safely before they left for their home.