Den's No Holds Barred World Tour. Shaoyang and Changsha

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Hi All

So we hosted the first leg of Dennis Williams' world tour. It could of been Robbie's from the screaming young girls we encountered and all the photos he had taken by young girls!!

It was great to see him and I know he enjoyed himself but I think he may of been a little freaked by all the staring. Three foreigners together here in Shaoyang is a novelty!

We had a day visiting the two temples here in Shaoyang. Two taoist temples, one old from the tang dynasty, at least that's what we could make out from the monks who lived there, one brand new, big shout must go to the young lady who was playing the flute and who really wanted to talk to us. She did the old writing chinese characters on her hand, because we all know it's easier to read chinese than to speak it don't we boys and girls!! Dany wrote on her hand " Non capiamo una mazza" which translated means "we don't understand bugger all". After a lovely lunch of Hunan beef and rice we went on to the East Pagoda and the buddist temple next door. The weather was really lovely, as you can see from Den's shorts.!! Then we went on to a scenic area across the river from the North Pagoda. There were lots of young girls doing some dancing. After we had had a look round we encountered said girls and were greeted with screams and shouts. It was like being in the Beatles!!

After a day of chilling out we went on to Changsha. We visited the city museum where there is the most impressive statue of Mao that we've come across. We had a walk throught the antiques market and then had a look around the museum. The front of the museum is decorated with the communist flag with a youthful Mao. We also had a quick look around the house that Mao used in the 20s for the CPC HQ. We walked all the way to the Provincial museum but unfortunatly it was closed. As you can see from the photos the weather had turned and it was bitterly cold. In the evening we tried to find a restaurant that was in lonely planet but there are some major works going on in Changsha at the moment so it was shut so we found a hotpot restaurant and had that instead. It was a good choice as the really spicy soup warmed us up after a cold walk.

So Dennis has completed the Asian leg of his tour and has gone on to Oceania. I don't think girls will scream and take his photo in Sydney as much as they did here!!

The photos are not all from the same days. Me and Dany had already visited the temples so most of the photos are from our first visit, hence the buddist temple is decked out for New Year with lanterns, which it isn't now. The photos then go on to Changsha.

Enjoy the photos and may Jah bless you all

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Comments

[den]

i am the fifth beatle
yes, the attention was a little unsettling, but it added to the visit. thankyou big tomo and dani for all you did for me, it were awesome. see you in vietnam:-)