Hey Hey and a Big G'Day toya
 
What can I say?
I really do love this city so much already.
It is so full of life.

The streets are full of people, wonderful smells, colour and energy. Everyone should come to Kaifeng. Why go to Shanghai when you can go to Kaifeng! When the Good Book (LP) states that it is a charming city that offers gastronomical delights it isn't telling lies.
 
It is that and so much more.
Oh yeah, I met a wonderful girl today and we will spend tomorrow together!
Slow down, slow down, more about that later...ha ha!
 
I began the day in a little eatery just around the corner from my hotel. I was so hungry that I piled two plates full of crispy green vegetables and juicy meats and whilst eating I chatted to the eatery guy who's English was enough to easily communicate with little help. He has come home for the summer from his studies in Zhengzhou University.
 
While eating we sipped his favourite green tea.
 
After promising to return soon I began my search for a photo shop to download my photos and to do a duplicate burn. Easily found as there was one right across the road. I then continued on towards my chosen destination, the Dragon Pavilion. I decided to do what I do best and zig zag my way there through the little back streets.
 
I was soon standing out front of what is called the 'Shan Shan Guild Hall' which can be found somewhere just off Zhongshan Lu between Sihou Jie and Xio Dajie. What a beautiful place it was. It wasn't a temple but housing for two huge models of Kaifeng. One is Kaifeng as it stands today and the other is Kaifeng as it sits nine meters below the city today. I tried to take pictures of the models but all I got was reflections of the lights on the glass.
 
Bugger!
 
From there I found a few lane ways to follow and soon I was making my way along Xi Dajie back towards Zhongshan Lu and a cheap coffee at KFC near the two white elephants that stand before the tourist 'Song' Street that takes you to the square out front of the Dragon Pavilion.
 
After my coffee I was soon at that square paying my 30 Yuan entrance fee.
 
Soon I was walking between Yangjia Hu and Panjia Hu which are the two huge lakes that surround the Dragon Pavilion. The pavilion itself was awesome. When I reached the top of the stairs I had a great view of everything around me. Sadly a tour group was inside and I had to duck and weave and push people out of the way to get a couple of photos.
 
Everything was covered in gold which shimmered through my camera lens.
Kind of cool at the time!
 
After descending the stairs I headed behind the pavilion where I found a strange garden full of trees that had been shaped into rather strange animals and objects. They were pretty amazing to see. I then made my way through a small maze of creepers to a small pagoda without a view and several elderly people sleeping there to escape the day's heat.
 
After heading here and there I found that I had to pay another 30 Yuan to continue my way along through the huge park. Why not, you only live once and you can't take it with you!
 
The first was a temple called the Tibo Temple or Taibo Temple. It was full of ancient weapons and the next was a temple full of scriptures. I have no idea what this one was called. It actually reminded me of walking through the part of the cemetery that houses people that have been cremated. There was thousands of stone engravings and nothing much more.
 
Needless to say, I didn't' stay long and made my way across to the third part of what my ticket entitled me. This was like a family park that had peddle boats, a huge man made mountain and several other fun and happening things to do with Mum and Dad and friends. The mountain seemed to suck the suns heat in and everyone who was silly enough to climb it left totally soaked in sweat.
 
That included me of course!
 
Not long after I left the park and walk back along the lakes edge where I stopped to chat too many old men who were fishing and catching nothing but bait. They were happy together so maybe that's what it was all about.
 
Soon I was walking up Beidaomen Jie towards my second goal which was the Tie Ta Gongyuan (Pagoda Park) when I came across a new Christian Church that was still being built. I stopped to have a look and all the workers stopped working and led me inside to have a look. Though it was beautiful it really is going to be a hot place to be due to the huge tin roof. We spent about ten minutes together trying to chat about Churches and what I thought of it.
 
I continually pointed to the roof and wiped the real sweat from my brow.
They all laughed and done the same.
 
After passing a very ugly mosque covered in China's ugly white tiles I spotted a beautiful girl across the other side of the road. She was pushing her bike along and as our eyes locked she stopped walking also. We both smiled and after not knowing what to do I happily crossed the road hoping that she knew even the slightest bit of English.
 
How happy was I when she burst out with near perfect English!
 
She is from Kaifeng but lives in Xi'an. She was home visiting her family. Her friends gave her the name Amigo because she is the happiest person they know and she loves her friends dearly. Within seconds we had decided to spend the day together and we were soon walking her bike back to her home that she shares with her mother.
 
When we arrived her mother greeted me with a huge smile and we sat to get to know each other.
 
After waving good bye to her mother we headed across to the East Wall and were soon walking through the old Kaifeng University campus. She then took me to a temple and told me how she was raised in a tiny poor village temple for most of her younger years. She 's so full of respect for the monk that her raised her and loved living with the other children who were also living being raised along side her.
 
We then spent the next few hours happily walking and chatting our way through the night market while stopping to sample small snacks here and there. After walking aimlessly we found ourselves back at the Dragon Pavilion and spent many hours sitting beside the lake chatting about everything this and that whilst the graceful Dragon Pavilion set a romantic scene before us.
 
Before parting we made plans to meet early the following day and head to Zhongzhuo.
What a perfect day indeed!
Life Huh!
 
Beers N Noodles toya.....shane
PS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAUTIFUL AMIGO!
What a wonderful day to meet!

Raised in a temple, she has an air of Wiseness about her.
Something that (for those whom have spent alot of time in China would understand) is hard to find in many under the age of 25-30. This is not meant as a 'put down' as it comes from being locked into Education and Schools for most of their years prior to 25/30.
It makes any sort of Life Experience impossible to gain.
_________________________ 
 
The soundtrack to this entry was Marillion
The album was 'Tales From The Engine Room'

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