I went down for breakfast about 10.30 and Maria was there with her friend John. We decided to wander off to the the artisan district together. So off we trotted. We went under the bell tower and down south street to the wall and turned left. Suddenly we were in this Oxford market, trinket street. Full of traders selling all kinds of stuff, from old fashioned Chinese musical instruments, which were first crafted over 7000 years ago and are still being made and played today. ( They look like eggs. you blow down them like a flute and put your fingers on holes like a recorder.) to calligraphy brushes and scrolls and artwork and jade.
It was fabulous.A great way to spend a Sunday late morning , afternoon. I bought some goodies and Maria helped me to bring the price down. She was very good, telling me which things were fake and which were real. but to be honest,I could tell too!
We went to her friend's trendy Tibetan hippy shop and hung out there and had tea made for us. Again very delicious. tthe shop was beautiful and I bought some earrings, unfortunately they didn't have any rings.
I practised my calligraphy skills with a trader. he told me how to hold my brush and the strokes I could do. he said (via translation) that I had style but i was no good because calligraphists can't be left handed here!
Then we wandered off for lunch. Suddenly Maria tells me it's her birthday when she hands her ID card over to the women at the front desk of the massive restaurant we went to. in China in certain restaurants when you hand over your ID and can prove it's your birthday you get a free meal. I paid for johnand myself. ( It was true too, I checked her ID.) Funny!
So we ordered the all you can eat buffet and in we went through the swinging doors!!!......
OHMY GOD.....I had never seen a buffet place like it in my life. Aisle upon aisle upon aisle of all types of Chinese food from all areas of the country. I had river shrimps again! I was in shock. Total food shock heaven! It was almost too much. They even had their own brewery in the corner churning out beer through valves and pipes and tanks in the background..which I could see as well. Just so cool!!!
It was a food paradise. It was full of families all hanging out and buffeting together. It really made me wish my family could have been here.You would have loved it. Especially the beer and bacon!
We ordered the BBQ because John and Maria are students and don't get much meat. To eat meat is important to Chinese people. I watched John tuck away nearly a whole pigs worth of bacon. And Maria really appreciated the quality of the New Zealand butter on the BBQ ( which she had taken from the breakfast table that morning!)I must admit it ws better quality than the local butter. The BBQs are integrated into the table and you have to cook your own fresh meat, fish, vegetables and seafood.
Anyway, I stuck to my fish, mushrooms, quail eggs , dumplings and BBQed duck. Along with lots of noodle soup, hot pot, rice cakes, kebabs , local beer and local fruit. delicious! We were hanging out here for hours. A true Chinese Sunday lunch I think. I was very lucky to have such an experience and all for under 7 quid a head. I found out that this restaurant has won many awards inchina. And is known as the biggest and best buffet in the province, if not this corner of China.
We then wandered back into the artisan district because Maria wanted a calligraphy brush. I have since found out tht she is not studying astrophysics but aeronautical engineering. She studies plane engines. We discussed the Malaysian missing aeroplane for a while. her friend John,who could speak no English, was studying renewable energy systems for car engines. Both very industrial young people. But her favourite thing to do is calligraphy and mountain climbing. She said that is why she left her province to study here because both are far more recognised , and easier to do here in her spare time. V. Interesting.
Right I am off to meet up with Ingrid and her two daughters for a drink. They re three women I met on the tour yesterday to The Terracotta Army, and they have invited me over to their hostel this evening.
Tomorrow I won't be blogging because I will be on the soft sleeper train to Beijing. YES, I am going by train! it's 11 hours and will be an over night adventure. I'm going high class so hopefully nothing untoward will happen to me! ( but maybe there will be wifi on the train,who knows!) I have also booked my last 4 nights in Beijing and also a tour for the great wall on Wednesday. It looks likea. Good one from what I can see.
Right back in a few days in Beijing.. Night
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