Blogs from Henan, China, Asia - page 6

The Chinese Grandfather works at the zoo. Today we are in for a treat because he is taking us for a VIP tour. Before we leave, I successfully heat up some dumplings from a previous meal he cooked for us and made the dumpling sauce myself (it was /ok/ ). After a short cab ride, we arrive to meet the Chinese Grandfather and his girlfriend. Neither of them speak English so it’s going to be a day of pointing, hand signs and smiles. The zoo is actually also an amusement park but more importantly, it is the epicenter of the wildly popular Peony Festival held annually. The whole city is busy preparing for the onslaught of tourists. The zoo has already created some large sculptures of dragons and peonies that are several stories high. There are ... read more

We start off with another trip to visit baby Eris. Julie and I venture out on our own to successfully call a cab, communicate the destination, and navigate the complicated apartment complex layout. Then it’s a venture up 7 flights of stairs to the Chinese Grandfather's apartment. We are told that buildings are either 7 stories or a giant high-rise since the law is 8 or more stories require a lift. After our necessary injection of baby wonderfulness, it’s off to the store to investigate the baby products we want to recommend to the new mom. The department store is like any upscale store in the USA with departments organized by floor. We start to notice the inordinate amount of employees. It seemed there were just as many customers as patrons even though the store was ... read more

Off to Luoyang with my friend Julie to visit her son, his wife and their new grandbaby. The flight (Boeing 777) was 14 hours to Beijing, a 4 hour layover and then a China East flight (Airbus 321) into Luoyang. Aside from being seated next to Harry Halitosis, the trip from Dulles Airport to Beijing went off without a problem. Beijing airport is huge, as you would expect with lots of show-off technology and eye candy. Everything was neat, clean and best of all had western facilities. Hazy and chilly, the most notable detail to me was the smell of Beijing once we got out of the international terminal. I am instantly thrown back into my childhood being raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where coal was king and all the Renaissance-ing hadn't quite completed. Checking in for ... read more

We were ushered out of the hostel very early thank god, however we were hearded into KFC for breakfast, something we were not expecting and not particularly happy with, especially as one of the boys on tour is a coeliac and a diabetic meaning that a KFC breakfast was not great for him. After a sprite for breakfast and many miserable faces, we headed on our trip for the day which was to the Longmen Grottos, which are huge caves in the sides of the mountains right by a river. It was a lovely place with hundreds of caves carved into rock with huge buddha statues carved into the rock face. It was an impressive sight especially as it has not been restored and is claimed to be thousands of years old. Our visit concentrated on ... read more

I only spent the day in Nanjing and didn't even go and see the famous porcelain tower. Did have a slightly interesting run in with a soldier, funny and scary all in one. Then off I went to Kaifeng, eh ya; I didn't really feel either place so I didn't stay that long at either. Just short stops before making it to Luoyang.... read more