Sightseeing day 2

Next morning they picked me up promptly and Rose asked if I wanted to go anywhere else? I said to the Linglin Palace Temple. Ok, no problem. Simon invited his friend “Ward” and wife and child (Betty and the Beave, I think) and he drove us all there. Once again the traffic was terrible, but we got there OK. Funny thing happened, on the road to the temple, people on the sidewalk would RUN up to the car jabbering and yelling. Happened once, twice, then on the third time, I asked what they were doing?

Rose told me that they try to intimidate car drivers into taking them to be a guide for "the best parking, the best sites, the best food, etc. They would charge alot of money. Capitolism at its best.

Linglin Temple was very still a tourist attraction, but a little more reverent. Once again, I was the only white dude around. Lots of people (from the countryside) stared at me, and I had two people ask if they could take a photo with me. I said Okay. The stares I met with a smile, and they usually smiled gleefully right back.

Lots of stores and venders here with the usual tourist prices.

At each temple, incense is burned and bowing to the gods is the norm. At this site, there is the Largest Buddha Statue carved out of wood.

However, after 50 years of religious discouragement, most have limited knowledge about religion, and they go through a ritual just to do it.

After the sightseeing, we went to lunch. That was at 3:00pm.

And we got ready to go to Rose’s home. I had bought some gifts for her in - laws, and for the baby. The only problem was that we ate lunch at 3pm, and In-laws wanted to eat at 6pm. Hmmm, anyone got a Tums?

But Rose’s apartment was spacious, more than adequate and very cute. Three bedrooms, it was bigger than most Manhattan Apts. We took a walk around the block before dinner, and took some baby photos ( that means "strange me, the foreigner" with babies). But the neighborhood, away from city center, had its own vibration, not nearly as busy as Hangzhou city center. And they hardly ever see foreigners.

We ate a very nice vegetarian meal (of something and something... bamboo, I think), and they wanted me to drink Chinese made Snow beer. Light beer-6%., No Problemo.

We ate and talked and gestured and mimed, and Rose tried to keep up with interpreting both Mom and Pop talking at once. It was a real experience. I think I made an impression, caused they asked if I wanted to stay over. But I declined. They only had one bathroom.

I understand a little better how a typical Chinese family lives. Not too far from an American family, I suppose. Similiar daily routine, same dreams and aspirations, same typical complaints. Very similiar indeed. How peculiar.

We looked for a taxi, but there were none to be had. We had started to take the bus, which I would not have ad a problem with, but rose called a "car service". I got to the hotel safely.

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