Today I fannied about on the internet trying all kinds of combinTions to move photos across but there are just too many variables. I just wish I had put the VPN on the work notebook before I left the UK and then I wouldn't have had this hassle. I would have just swapped my ipad for the work notebook. Anyway, I cHatted to Lily and Daniel over breakfast. both of them are studying hard for their IELTS. When they are not serving customers they have their heads in IELTS past paper books.
I then decided to go to my first museum. I went by taxi. With my bilingual map, which all tourists get at this place, it's a doddle and all taxis are so safe here. They even issue receipts, have a standard fare and tips are definitely not to to be given. Tipping here is seen as an insult. Like you feel sorry for them They are proud of the service they give and don't want 'charity'as they see it. I kind of like this attitude because it takes the pressure off me and I feel totally safe. Infact tipping is not done in Chinese culture at all.
So my first museum was expensive, over £8 to get in. So it was dead, dead posh and full of dead classy people swanning around. tthe building was enormous and the layout was spectacular. I learnt lots about the Shu, a local civilisation which were a round the same time as the Greeks and Babylonians. They only started excavating in 1994 but have found lots of graves, jewellery, ebony, elephant tusks etc. the layout was impressive but a bit too severe and formal for my taste and everything took a bloody age to walk to! Signs were in English but at the information desk no one spoke English and I never saw a single westerner there. Highlight was the temporary display on masks in Chinese opera and all the drawings done by Kids.
After this I went off to the Wuhou temple. This was a temple dedicated to a great military leader during the three kingdoms of 220-280 AD. Lots of great calligraphy, bonsai gardens and fat fierce looking leaders. No Buddhas, this was a shrine to a revered commander who also invented the first paper money.
I then wandered off into the Tibbeted district. really interesting shops and monks and different looking people around. Really interesting prayer flags and the Tibetan language on shop fronts. I couldn't stay long though. I needed to get back.
I then got a bus back to the hostel, right through town in rush hour. It was mental watching all the motorbikes, expressionless tired faces on the bus, everyone crammed in like sardines. Totally rammed to the extreme.
Got stuck in a jam opposite a funky looking pie, cake shop place where all the young staff were dressed in colourful clothing and handing out free small pies. It must have been a new store but it was unfortunately called MANUAL TARTS. Funny image!
Got back just in time for the opera. I was picked up right on time in a van with just me in it. Nice smiley driver , who changed into a completely aggressive driver shouting expletives ( I presume) out the window at traffic and driving like a loon. When we arrived, he returned back to this sweet smiley guy again. Funny.
I had a VIP seat with tea, peanuts and comfy seat one from the front. I went and watched the actors get ready with their makeup and costumes. It was such a relaxed affair. The show was an hour and half and I loved it all!So much funnier and more interesting than other Asian operas I have sat through. This was bright, colourful, funny, clever, and even kids would have loved it. In fact quite a few were there. I loved the music, the puppets, the shadow puppets, the acrobats and especially the mask changing at the end. if you canwatch Sechuan opera mask changing on YouTube. it is something to behold. how the hell do they do it??Was brilliant! MR. Smiley was waiting for me at 10pm and he had some gifts for me: Information on Sichuan opera, bookmarks and a key ring. I was very happy and my cheer must have been affective because he didn't drive like a crazed beast on the way back.
Again on the way back a sign caught my attention. It was huge,on a massive building, Written in enormous Chinese characters and roman ones too. it was the ANORECTAL hospital. Oh dear, poor Sechuan people must have issues from all the chilli they eat! Right off to pack, I have a fligh tomorrow morning to Xi'an. Night.
I took my ipad out with me this evening. Check out the tables we had with tea. a guy kept refilling my glass from a tea pot with the longest spout. Similar to the teapots the girls in red are dancing with.
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