Blogs from Tai'an, Shandong, China, Asia

After a hearty breakfast of Wifi and Cappucino, we set off for a traffic free, beautiful sunny day, 430km drive to the Confucius Temple in Qufu. I'll not go into a history lesson on Confucius because, to be honest, I didn't listen to Kevin, our guide for the day. Let's just say he (Kong Zi) seemed a pretty smart fellow 2,500 years ago and still commands a huge following both here and abroad. Lunch was slightly wierd, with dubious looking Cao Li suddenly producing a packet of Oreo cookies just as we were sitting down to eat. Then, going round the table passing cookies one by one, we found ourselves befuddled as to why on earth she would be insisting we eat an Orea cookie before a beautiful Qufu lunch. Sinclair, in a bid never to ... read more

I am conforming into the Chinese way of life so fast. I mean, I have a Chinese Mother, Father and Sister, and I play 'Instant Uncle' to almost every infant I see, whether they like me or cry because they haven't seem someone like me before. Their parent(s) or Grandparent(s) always seem to want me to say hello to the baby, whether by shaking little hand, saying or hello, or I frequently touch those baby-skin faces. I think Chinese babies/infants are some of the cutest babies in the world. There are too many of them of course, but they are the main priority in every family. And I guess they have the right to use the bathroom wherever and whenever as well, which you see numerous times a day. Babies of all ages have these crotchless ... read more

Parti de Xi'an, j'atteins la province du Shandong, dernière étape chinoise avant la Corée, après 26 heures d'un voyage somme toute confortable. Un taxi, un train, un mini-van, deux bus et quelques errements à pieds sur les bords d'une autoroute et me voilà arrivé à Tai'an, une bourgade moderne, où j'ai décidé de poser mes bagages pour trois jours. Sur les traces de Kong A une petite heure de route de Tai'an, se trouve la cité fortifiée de Qufu, qui fut la résidence durant des siècles de la puissante famille Kong. L'ancêtre de cette famille est une célébrité en Chine, et partout ailleurs dans le monde, bien qu'il y soit connu sous un autre nom : Confucius. Philosophe et pédagogue prônant le respect d'autrui et l'obéissance hiérarchique, le sage vécut il y a environ 2'500 ans. ... read more

Found it! Well maybe not. What we thought was a zoo turned out to be a tiger park with some monkeys and a couple of peacocks thrown in (not as food). The monkeys were happy to see tourists as you are allowed to feed them. The peacocks looked as indignant as they always do. The Tigers were the main attraction. As we walked slowly, oooing and aaahing at the Panthers and some sleeping tigers, a keeper approached us and as they do here started to chat (in Chinese). So politely we nod and agree, yes i see it is a big one....Hmmmm. Soon we are joined by a petite female keeper who picks up a bucket of fresh liver bits and begins calling to a tiger. Soon the big cat approaches and with the grace and ... read more

We were told a couple of weeks ago that we will be going on a picnic. All the staff from Always English School in Tai'an. Ok. That sounds like fun. Where are we going? I ask. To Yi Shui. I am yet to find it on the map. It's about 200kms west of here. Well today is the staff holiday for Tomb Sweeping Day. A Day when everyone mourns their ancestors by burning incense and (fake) money...to pay their respects (get it?). The actual day was Sunday and Tai'an was inundated with tourists. Many to hike the mountain for the luck it brings. The air around Tai'an and Taishan was completely filled with smoke and smog because of the burning ritual. The mountains were hidden behind the smoke. We found today that our day trip destination ... read more