Saturday, October 07, 2006
Road Trip... Day One ...Part 2 in Zhuanghe
We arrived in Zhuanghe mid-afternoon and Mr. B found for us a very comfortable and inexpensive guesthouse. We checked in, settled in and then asked Mr. B. to help us find the beach which was a ways out of town. There we spent a couple of hours picnicking and exploring the waterfront.
Our picnic took place in a waterfront park where we were immediately surrounded by locals and carefully observed. There was some attempt to communicate with us, but mostly we were just observed as a rare oddity. It made picnicking on apples, peanut butter and crackers very awkward and abbeviated.
The beach walk took us along beaches littered with garbage and boats in various states of decay. The boats served as a great playground for a group of children and a troupe of ducks. We then hiked along a high bulkhead and looked at the rock formations that protruded from the water beyond the tide flats. The hike back took us through a small farming village where we could see the harvest close at hand. We were hailed with many a "Hello!" and we returned kind with many a "Nihao!"
Back in Zhuanghue proper, we took to the streets to explore and find food. Down the street from the hotel, we wandered into the local fresh food market. Table after table was piled high with fresh seafood, fresh vegetables, bulk seasoning, bulk grains and many, many unidentifiable piles of food.... fresh and dried. The sights and smells were exotic. There are obviously few westerners who wander the streets and markets of Zhuanghe because we were met with much curiosity. The people in the market were particularly amused as I took pictures of piles of food and really laughed when I took a movie of the silk worms that were dancing in a tray. Dinner, anyone? Silkworms are a very nutritious, healthy and low cal meal.
Out of the market, we made our way to a large plaza that was lively with people hanging out and visiting. We soon became a big plaza attraction, so we went on our merry way. Being the designated navigator, I was being very careful to make sure that I could get us back to the hotel. More wandering took us into a street that narrowed and became a very hutong feeling neighborhood. We took lots of doorway pictures and did a lot more "Nihao" greeting as we strolled along. Local Zhuanghens were mightily surprised as we made our way through the area. We meandered deep into this neighborhood before I found a main street to turn right onto and then another long way before I found another right turn and shortly there we were back near the market street which we knew was near the hotel. Whew! After this much walking and adventuring we had worked up an appetite. Our noses pressed against eateries, we soon found a dumpling shop. Two plates of dumplings and a tall TsingTao apiece later, we waddled our way back into the streets. More walking and 'sploring and we rewarded ourselves with .... you guessed it .... ice cream! More waddling, I mean walking and finally we headed back to the hotel for a good night's sleep. Oh, is that the local public toilet across the alleyway from our hotel room window? OOPS... good thing the place is only $4 a night and we're only here one night.
Our picnic took place in a waterfront park where we were immediately surrounded by locals and carefully observed. There was some attempt to communicate with us, but mostly we were just observed as a rare oddity. It made picnicking on apples, peanut butter and crackers very awkward and abbeviated.
The beach walk took us along beaches littered with garbage and boats in various states of decay. The boats served as a great playground for a group of children and a troupe of ducks. We then hiked along a high bulkhead and looked at the rock formations that protruded from the water beyond the tide flats. The hike back took us through a small farming village where we could see the harvest close at hand. We were hailed with many a "Hello!" and we returned kind with many a "Nihao!"
Back in Zhuanghue proper, we took to the streets to explore and find food. Down the street from the hotel, we wandered into the local fresh food market. Table after table was piled high with fresh seafood, fresh vegetables, bulk seasoning, bulk grains and many, many unidentifiable piles of food.... fresh and dried. The sights and smells were exotic. There are obviously few westerners who wander the streets and markets of Zhuanghe because we were met with much curiosity. The people in the market were particularly amused as I took pictures of piles of food and really laughed when I took a movie of the silk worms that were dancing in a tray. Dinner, anyone? Silkworms are a very nutritious, healthy and low cal meal.
Out of the market, we made our way to a large plaza that was lively with people hanging out and visiting. We soon became a big plaza attraction, so we went on our merry way. Being the designated navigator, I was being very careful to make sure that I could get us back to the hotel. More wandering took us into a street that narrowed and became a very hutong feeling neighborhood. We took lots of doorway pictures and did a lot more "Nihao" greeting as we strolled along. Local Zhuanghens were mightily surprised as we made our way through the area. We meandered deep into this neighborhood before I found a main street to turn right onto and then another long way before I found another right turn and shortly there we were back near the market street which we knew was near the hotel. Whew! After this much walking and adventuring we had worked up an appetite. Our noses pressed against eateries, we soon found a dumpling shop. Two plates of dumplings and a tall TsingTao apiece later, we waddled our way back into the streets. More walking and 'sploring and we rewarded ourselves with .... you guessed it .... ice cream! More waddling, I mean walking and finally we headed back to the hotel for a good night's sleep. Oh, is that the local public toilet across the alleyway from our hotel room window? OOPS... good thing the place is only $4 a night and we're only here one night.
# posted by Sidney @ 3:24 PM 
