10:00pm Shanghai Railway Station, The day before..
My plan was foiled yet again. I didn't have time to visit hooters! I think God is trying to tell me something. Keep your experience in China spiritual. At the Railway Station, there were so many waiting rooms, i couldn't figure out which one to get into. A man saw me walking back and forth and offered help. I showed him my ticket and he pointed to the right directions. The thing is, i had no way of knowing if he was telling me the truth or just getting me lost. I had no options so i decide to trust his directions and waited in that room. Luck would have it, i sat down next to a guy i knew later as Robert. I flipped through my language assistant book and after 15 minutes of sweating, I finally knew how to say "Am i at the right place?". I couldn't believe it. He replied to me in poor english. But english is english. At least i had communication.
Robert or Mr. Yee grew up at Hefei at Anhui province which was our destination. He knew a LOT about Anhui history. He pratically gave
me a whole background on the Honor of Baohe. More commonly known to malaysians as JUSTICE BAO, the tv series years ago aired on malaysian tv.
10:30pm On the way to Hefei, Anhui Province from Shanghai
It was too dark to see anything outside, plus i was tired from all the walking and preparations the day before. I thought i had purchased seat tickets but apparently i had a cabin that i shared with three other persons. All three of them snored. I couldn't sleep. Half an hour later there was a knock on my door. I opened it and there was Robert standing in front of me grinning. He really was a history buff. I spent the next hour, standing at the train corridor exchanging our two countries history. He was excited that i chose such a place as Hefei for few travellers go there. I was worried he was a con artist or wanted to rob me like how the lonely planet warned. But he looked like a businessman and GEEK stamped all over his forehead. He could speak exnglish because he was in Chicago Illinois 3 years ago. Eventually i realized that i shouldn't have had
such suspisions from this man. Soon, i cooked myself some maggie cup and went to bed with my passport and money tucked beneath my underpants.
7:00am, Hefei, Anhui Province.
I expected a small town but this town is about twice the size of IPOH man. It looked exactly like Shanghai only without the skyscrapers. I was disappointed. Still, i had to make my trip here worth it. So i visited the Baohe tomb memorial with Mr. Robert and took a few pictures unfortunately Mr. Robert did not want his photo taken, the Mingjiao temple which looked exactly like the Jade Buddha Temple i visited before (by this time i was already by myself) and finally, while walking around town and already started feeling homesick. I saw some chinese muslims and greeted them "assalamualaikum". They greeted back and suddenly i didn't feel all alone anymore.
1:30pm, The only Mosque in Hefei.
I had Garlic Chicken, Soy Sauce Beef with rice. YUMMM.... But i couldn't finish the chicken. The cook put too much garlic in it. When i said "dwo sau chien (how much does this cost)" she got extremely angry and started creating a scene. She took all the
chicken, shoved it into a plastic bag and FORCED me to take it. I complied to her demands grinningly and politely. I didn't want to piss off the only friends i have in this town. I think she hates me despite me taking the chicken back. I went behind the muslim restaurant and proceeded into the mosque. I was greeted by the imam there. Although we couldn't understand each others language, we understood each other perfectly. He prodded me into the Wuthu' room, i took my wuthu' and prayed zohor with 5 others. It was really really nice. I felt safe. And plus, these people don't cultivate phlegm in their throat like the rest of China.
2:30pm, I boarded the bus to Bhozhou.
The bus was surprisingly empty. Only I and two others was in it. On the way there, the scenery was much the same as the rest of china so i didn't bother taking any pictures. I wanted to get to BhoZhou to visit the home of Fa Mulan, China's favorite heroin. But unfortunately when i got there at 5:30pm, the sites are closed and now, after purchasing tickets to Beijing, i sit at this cafe and
wait for 10:00pm to come. Theres not much to do in this town. It looks just like the town before. I dont want to get a room because it'll cost too much and not worth it. But waiting sucks. I better have better planning next time. In Beijing i have a friend waiting for me. His name is Aik Keong. Khadines friend actually. I contacted him a couple of times on the phone and he sounds more than happy to have me. I can't wait to see the great wall despite the temperature in beijing being more than 36 degrees. I cant post any pictures but i will be sure to add it in as soon as i reach Beijing.
For those of you who have been asking me to take a photo of those people walking backwards, i ask you this.. Would you be able to tell if they really are walking backwards from a photo? Anyway i think the reason why the backward walkers walk that way is a form of excercise i think. I don't know if its tai chi or what. All i know is it made me laugh till my belly hurt. Okay guys..
See you in Beijing..
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vinod
non-member comment
you make me proud man!!!!
From Blog: Muslims in Hefei..