...we were off to Zhou Zhuang, an ancient water village which is about 90 minutes outside of Shanghai. (That doesn't mean we got there in 90 minutes with all the traffic on Saturday!) If that name doesn't sound familiar--try this: This is where the last part of Mission Impossible Three was filmed when Tom Cruise runs down the little streets of ancient shops and houses with all the canals crisscrossing like Venice! It was absolutely the most interesting little village, and we had a fantastic day.
It began with about 15 Chinese men waiting for us to pay to get past the gate. We wondered why, and then discovered they wanted us to ride in bicycle carriages for a "great price"! However, at the end of the day, we all felt taken because they jacked up the price about 10 times what they said they were going to have us pay, and many times WE had to help them up the hills! Oh well, I guess for most of the day and for about $24 for each bicycle pedaler, that wasn't so bad. It's just that compared to everything else that involves labor, I think they saw a bunch of Americans coming and got really excited! 
It was quite a distance into the city through little farming areas and a huge waterwheel. We toured one of the wealthiest men of China's home who lived centuries ago. It wasn't much by today's standards, but it was very interesting. 
We finally got to the city where the canals were and boarded a boat with a little woman who paddled the boat with one huge paddle. 
She kept wanting to sing to us. She actually had a pretty good voice and she sang ancient Chinese songs to us. Finally, as we were about at the end of the tour, we realized why she kept asking us in Chinese (thank goodness Alison could understand her) if we liked her singing. Alison had kept telling her we loved it. Then we finally realized that was the way she got her tip. We couldn't wait until the end of the boat trip, or her boss would probably have gotten it. So, of course, we obliged and paid her right then. 
We finally got to the city where the canals were and boarded a boat with a little woman who paddled the boat with one huge paddle. She kept wanting to sing to us. She actually had a pretty good voice and she sang ancient Chinese songs to us. Finally, as we were about at the end of the tour, we realized why she kept asking us in Chinese (thank goodness Alison could understand her) if we liked her singing. Alison had kept telling her we loved it. Then we finally realized that was the way she got her tip. We couldn't wait until the end of the boat trip, or her boss would probably have gotten it. So, of course, we obliged and paid her right then. 
She let Parker steer the boat and he did a great job. However, when George tried it, he rocked the boat and the reason you don't see the little lady in his picture is because she nearly fell in the canal! She let out a little yell, but finally got things back in order. The water police was yelling something at us, she nearly lost her job over the incident, and another canoe almost hit us, but we didn't understand a thing and we all had a giant laugh over the whole incident.
Walking through the streets really felt like Venice, too. The streets were so narrow with little shops on both sides. 
You could see the ladies doing their embroidering, painting the inside of glass containers (inside and upside down sometimes. How do they do that?), women stringing pearls, men making items of wood, women pulling silk and spinning, and little restaurants everywhere! 
The smells were horrendous! I took a picture of their delicacy--we couldn't figure out what it was. Well, it was barbecued pigs' hooves! 
Thank goodness, we had made sandwiches and rented a little table by the river to have our own picnic. Alison wasn't sure we could trust the food there, so we opted for that. You should have seen the Chinese people talking about us and some even coming up to see what we were eating. I guess they had never seen a sandwich before! 
You could see the ladies doing their embroidering, painting the inside of glass containers (inside and upside down sometimes. How do they do that?), women stringing pearls, men making items of wood, women pulling silk and spinning, and little restaurants everywhere! The smells were horrendous! I took a picture of their delicacy--we couldn't figure out what it was. Well, it was barbecued pigs' hooves! Thank goodness, we had made sandwiches and rented a little table by the river to have our own picnic. Alison wasn't sure we could trust the food there, so we opted for that. You should have seen the Chinese people talking about us and some even coming up to see what we were eating. I guess they had never seen a sandwich before! One of the most touching incidents was when a little women came up to George to sell him some postcards. They were 10 whatevers which amounted to about $1.25. George gave her 20 and she started trying to get out her change. She was quite crippled over with only three teeth in her whole mouth. She was so sweet and friendly. When George told her to keep the change by nodding "no" when she tried to give him the money, you would have thought he gave her a hundred dollar bill. She just grabbed his hand and smiled and smiled. The pictures really are special for that occasion.
After a stop at the factory that makes suits to fit Parker in his new Sunday suit and get one made for Tyson, we got home. 
Alison's housekeeper had the baby all bathed, fed, and ready for bed, plus our dinner was all made, the house was immaculate, and our laundry was all washed and folded on our beds. Can we all bring one home? These people are amazing! Such hardworkers and John and Alison probably pay her more than most do for all this--$300 a month for six days a week! Well, that's another wrap-up. Hope all of you are doing well. Please e-mail us and let us know how everyone is. We miss all of you and wish you all could be here.
1 comment:
George,
I must say you look very good in just a long sleeve shirt with no collar and your blazer. Way to be in the now with fashion. Great entries Laura, wish I was there.
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