CHINA 2010 THURSDAY 8th

All go at home as at last we have got round to putting a clothes line across the centre of the fixed rail so I can hang out the bed linen. Having bought the line I have noticed my neighbours have several very long coat hangers on which they are hanging their duvet covers. My idea may not look as tidy but I think they will dry quicker.

Since we have been in Xiamen the weather has been hot, sunny and at times humid. Today it feels quite pleasant so when Keith finishes work around 4pm we will go for a walk. Whilst I had been shopping this morning someone had left a note stuck in our door frame. Of course it was in Chinese and included a telephone number. At lunchtime I asked Keith to get it translated. It turned out to be an enquiry about buying a house!

Late afternoon and armed with our map we set out to find Zhongshan Park. My feet were blistering badly with the heat and heavy sandals I had brought from England. So the first stop was in a small shoe shop where I purchased a very comfy pair of lightweight leather sandals for 59 yuan. Keith said I should have bartered – at that price! Keith has not brought any shorts and so a few shops further on he came to a stand with an assortment for sale. He began to barter ringing the price down from 29 to 24 – every little helps!

We found the park which was quite busy at this time of the day but it is in the city centre and there are many large apartment blocks in the immediate vicinity. In the landscaped area there is a nice small lake with boats for hire and several bridges to cross. I have noticed that there are no ‘Pavilions’ only the shade of trees where roots hang down from the lower branches forming a curtain around the trunk and no one seems to play a musical instrument or practice singing. Perhaps this happens later in the evenings. A few older people perform Tai Chi. Following the path around the lake we came across another island where a building was in the final stages of demolition. The sound of a large machine breaking up the brick and concrete disturbed the peace in an area where grandfathers were enjoying a game of badminton with their grandchildren. Toddlers practiced walking in their ‘sqeaking’ sandals and one young boy in front of us moved along on a two piece skateboard joined together by a large metal hinge. The only time he needed help was when he fell off and Mum had to hold him upright until he had it moving again. He could turn in any direction quite easily as the board only has two wheels and once on the move needed no more propulsion. Much heavier than a traditional board we had seen these in the stores in Dalian two years ago.

By now the sun was beginning to set so we made our way home by a different route. We walked down some narrow streets and a narrow alley to reach the familiar overhead road on which the ‘Rapid Bus Transit’ runs. As we began to climb the steps of a footbridge I thought I had found a fishmongers but on closer inspection saw it was one of the many street eating places. The layout of the various types of seafood was first class. We discovered yet more eating places but for tonight we shall dine at home.