CHINA 2010 SUNDAY 18th

Capt. Mao had mentioned to Keith yesterday about going out today. Thanking him he asked if we may have a day of rest. It was no problem and whatever he had in mind will happen next weekend!

According to the weather forecast we were due a thunderstorm at 11am. It never happened although I have to say the cloud in the distance looked awfully black and yet we had blue sky directly above us. The plan was to have lunch and then go to the Conference Centre area and fly our kites.

Just to be on the safe side I packed our umbrellas with all the kite equipment before setting out for the number 3 line on the ‘Rapid Bus’. The journey takes about 15 minutes and as we had already visited the area during our first week in Xiamen we knew exactly where we wanted to be. Once again under the shade of the trees was a kite seller whilst on the field there was other activity taking place today. I say ‘field’ because it is in too rough a state to be called a lawn. A team of gardeners were directing a mobile crane that was delivering a number of trees to be planted, the holes and supports already done. By the time we walked across the field the last of the trees was being dropped and the crane began to move away. Over in the right hand far corner a basketball game was taking place, each team very smartly turned out. In the top left hand corner were some men flying model aeroplanes and helicopters.

We got our kites airborne and I had hung my bag on the nearest tree support when a young man came over towards us. We thought he was a gardener as he began to remove several long thin tubes tied to the tree trunk. I assumed these were something to do with the mobile sprinkler system that was in operation but with the number of knots I wondered how the water was going to pass through. Keith offered to move the bag but the man said “it was okay”. He tied the tubes to the adjacent tree and set off across the field picking up a very fine line as he went. When he had almost reached the other side he picked up a large model glider. We watched him and then noticed the tubes were in fact large elastic bands beginning to stretch as he launched the radio controlled glider.

A mum and her young son and even younger daughter came close to us struggling to get their small kite in the air. I had brought mine down as the wind began to drop so I offered to help. We tried and tried but the wind was now almost non-existent. Mum thanked me and I left Keith still flying his kite to go and sit in the shade on one of the marble seats by the promenade.

I hadn’t been there very long gazing out to sea when I sensed someone close by. Hearing a rustling sound I assumed he or she was collecting empty plastic bottles for which they get so many yuan at the recycling centres. Looking round I saw a man washing his hair using one of the water points. Having done that I could not believe he was taking off his trousers and turning up the water pressure began to take a bath! As I returned to Keith he put his trousers back on and packed away his shampoo.

By now the sky looked very threatening and we really didn’t want to be in this exposed area should it start to rain so decided to call it a day. Another kite seller had arrived setting up a pitch a short distance from the one under the trees and flying a small purple version of Keith’s bright orange octopus. Before we left we went to have a look at his display. He tried to entice us to buy a dolphin but we explained as best we could that it was too small – we wanted bigger kites. Walking back across the paved area in front of the Conference Centre more kite sellers were arriving. Catching a glimpse of their kite bags we noted that most of the kites had spars but then most of their kites are for hire rather than sale.

We made time for a cold drink before returning to the Bus Station. It was 5.30pm when we got home and so dark we had to put the lights on, but no sign of the rain or thunderstorm.