Every day now is easily blurring into the next one. Writing these blog posts though serve as a good tool to set my bearings straight (and remember what all I’ve done!).
Last night for dinner, my two friends and I walked around Lanzhou to figure out what to eat. We grabbed some baozi (steamed buns, this time with veggies in it) and I found my all time favorite Chinese treat—matuan! It’s a sesame seed bun with glutinous rice and red bean inside. So sweet, oily, and delicious. I bought four for less than a dollar.
We then searched for things to eat the next day (today) because we needed stuff for a “picnic.” We walked along a street, which had a few sad-looking beggars searching for money from the high-heeled fashionistas walking past them. It kind of reminded me of Georgetown, actually. Except some of the beggars here try to gain sympathy by having a sleeping (sick?) child or mother beside them. It was such a different sight, I still don’t know what to think.
We walked past a bunch of dried fruit in a downward sloping hallway. The hallway looked pretty sketchy, but we decided to try it out anyway. At the bottom, lo and behold, was a large underground supermarket that contained everything you ever wanted and more. China continues to surprise me.
We walked around for a good 45 minutes, extremely indecisive about what to get. I secretly wished I had been born into both American and Chinese culture—that way I would know which food to get, what I like, and what I don’t, what is expensive, and what is reasonable. That’s a pretty incredible wish, I know, but right now I feel like one of those flailing fish out of water.
I finally decided on a bun from the Angel Bakery (I visited on in Jiayuguan), a package of apples, Oreos, and a drink “Youjianmei” that tastes like Skittles. I’ve decided that it’s nearly impossible to get a meal that is light in carbs.
We went back to the hotel after that, and I listened to some Chinese TV while my friends checked their email on my computer. Half the TV channels had movie specials with people dressed in communist uniforms and a few more channels were news programs whose reporters were dressed somewhere between police officer and airplane pilot. I’m still not quite sure what look they were going for…
So this morning I woke up at 8am and got on the bus to go to Liujiaxia Reservoir. I didn’t have earphones, so no music. I didn’t have my journal, a book, or any sort of busywork. So it’s safe to say that I did a lot of thinking today. I watched as the green grassy steppe mountains passed by my window. The mountains on the way to the Reservoir were so tall, I could easily imagine Frodo and Sam traversing them to get to Mordor.
It’s only the sixth day and third city, but I’ve already learned how incredibly diverse China’s geography is. The USA looks boring in comparison (I’ve been to 32 states so I’m a fair judge).
We arrived at the Reservoir, and took a speedboat to the Binglingsi Grotto, which is easier said than done. Our first boat broke down, so it was another half hour to go back and switch to two boats. Then the second boat I was on stalled in the middle of the Yellow River. We sat there for fifteen minutes, just us 10 students with no trip leader or tour guide in sight, with our Chinese boat driver quickly moving and changing parts on the motor. We finally made it to the grotto, where we were supposed to have our picnic lunch. But our boat was an hour later than expected, so as soon as we sat down for lunch we were urged to get moving again. So I was very hungry for the most of the day.
The Binglisi Caves were created 1600 years ago and contain Buddhist statues. The largest one we had come to see was covered up because it was under renovation. It was tough not to be disappointed by that. It looked pretty cool from what I could see.
We took the speedboat back (an hour trip) and this time it did not break down! Maybe because we had our main trip leader on it. The ride was very relaxing and I almost fell asleep several times. Back on the bus, I fell asleep easily and soon made it back to the hotel.
I grabbed dinner at a Taiwanese restaurant with some friends. I had fried rice with beef! I now know how to say that—one of my major goals of study abroad is to be able to read the whole menu at a Chinese restaurant.
I was able to read all of the Chinese sentence on my Pepsi bottle, which was the first time and actually quite exciting for me. It translates, “Every change in the world comes from a small thirst for a new beginning.” Hokey, but I could translate it!
My last activity of the night was stopping by the night market for some earphones. I participated in my first haggling, which was pretty shaky at best. She wanted 15 yuan and I haggled to 12 yuan, but I forgot to say a price in the first place so I think I probably confused her. I did say “Taiguile!” which means “Too expensive!” which I know my mother will be proud to hear 🙂
Today I started coughing, and the trip leader told me that people often get sick changing towns a lot in a short amount of time. I’ve also had digestion issues, which was expected on the “Sick Road Trip.”
TBC (The Beijing Center) has a motto: “TBC waits for no one.” That means that though I am not feeling well, I am expected to deal with it and move on (if you don’t need to go to the hospital, then you don’t have an issue).
My friend is eager to leave this town because she is tired of the locals all staring at her. She is black, actually the only black person in our travelling group. People will pass by her open-mouthed. I think they are especially mind-boggled when I walk beside her. We got a whole row of sitting motorcyclists to turn their heads as we passed by. She thinks that people are ruder here than in the other small towns we’ve visited. At least they were more subtle about staring, she said.
We leave tomorrow for Xiahe. (So I’m not sure when I will post again.) Sorry this blog post is so long, but a lot happens in 24 hours! Good night
~Chopstick Chick
