Zhou Zhuang-Kirsten Style

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It seems so ironic that somewhere as traditional and just plain old as Zhou Zhuang would have such an emphasis on tourism. I mean I don't know how much tourism they've had because we still got stared at like we were a bunch of white elephants, but we had to pay to walk into places, ring bells, and do just about everything there (including taking a piss over a squaty potty with no soap afterwards.) But fortunately the city by no means felt touristy and when we stepped into temples and ancient houses, we were usually the only ones in there and could really soak up the smells and sights. There's nothing like allowing you and China to get to know eachother one on one. The drive there and back, while long, was just as interesting as the destination itself. We really got to see the backroads of Shanghai and the more rural side of China. Complete with straw and mud huts and people plowing fields by hand, I spend most of the two hours each way staring out the window wide eyed asking Cai (our driver) sporatic stupid foreigner questions. But all in all the city was wonderful and (I feel) our own little discovered piece of old China.

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Photos

This really cute REALLY bundled up kid
Little kids here are like walking marshmallows...if they can walk. They are really and I mean REALLY bundled up.

family and tiny alley
So you can get some visuals of who your narrators are and what these tiny alleys look like. (just thank God you don't have to know what they smell like)