Hey Hey and a Big G'Day toya,
 
The plan was to meet Chung Ru and Xie Xiao Lin at one so I decided to zig zag my way slowly towards Jinshan Gongyuan where we were to meet . We all arrived pretty much at the same time and I paid my 50 Yuan entry fee. The girls had a 'Local Peoples' entry card that allowed them free entry into all sites in Zhenjiang. Now why don't we have that back in Australia? Local Peoples free entry into all of Melbourne's sites and Local Peoples entry into all of the Gold Coast parks.
 
HHhhhmmm, somehow I can never see that one happen!
 
The grounds were crowed and the entrance to the first building was filled with the thick aroma of incense that was being burned by the hundreds of Chinese who were doing their 'North, South, East and West' thing. After leaving the first building the three of us spent a hysterical time trying to feed stone dragons coins for good luck. They were mounted high on the rear stone wall and watching Cheng Ru was the funniest thing for everyone watching. She really had no co-ordination at all. Xie Xiao Lin and I got several in but poor Cheng Ru continued trying time and time again. In the end her coin finally landed on the dragons head and the crowd that had gathered to watch decided that was good enough .
 
We left with a cheer for poor Cheng Ru whom bowed to the crowd as we left.
 
Strangely after paying 50 Yuan to get in you still have to pay a further 8 Yuan each to climb the beautiful pagoda. What do you do, you're already there and half the reason you came in the first place was to climb the pagoda. The buggers really know how to cheat you! So after paying a further 8 Yuan each we all headed to the top of Cishou Ta the seven storey pagoda.
 
It was so hot inside and when we reached the top we were met by a beautiful cool breeze.
Needless to say we stayed seven storeys high for sometime.
 
After the pagoda we spent a few hours walking around Jinshan Si and its very beautiful gardens. We sat on the grass chatting and getting to know each other more. How happy was I when Cheng Ru invited me to dinner at her parent's house later that evening where she promised to wok up a tasty feast for us all.
 
After a several more hours of happy walking and talking we caught a bus to her home.
 
Whilst Cheng Ru wokked up an extraordinary meal in the tiny brick building her parents lived in the rest of us sat drinking beer with her parents and soon with her brothers and some of their friends . Her brothers and I got along very well from the beginning and we were soon singing English songs that he had on his mobile phone. The food was amazing. I can't believe what most Chinese can wok up if you give them ten minutes.
 
She wokked up about eight different dishes that included fish, vegies, pork and other assorted innards and outards!
 
After a few hours of party it was time for everyone to go home. Cheng Ru gave me a lift home on the back of her little scooter and after saying goodbye I headed across to the night market for another beer and some bbq sticks. Xie Xiao Lin called to tell me they had somewhere special to take me tomorrow and to stick around for another day.
 
How could one leave!
 
Beers N Noodles toya.....shane
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The soundtrack to this entry was Judas Priest
The album was 'LIVE'