Hey Hey and a Big G'Day toya
 
Mist, no more bloody mist!
Mountains, villas, waterfalls, rivers, birds, monks, temples and me!
Were not shrouded by a thick white gentle grandma blanket of mist!
 
What a beautiful day it was today.
The sky was so blue that you could almost swim in it.
 
I obviously didn't leave Jigong Shan, instead I read until eleven and then headed out into the big blue and green world. I figured it was a good day to relax so instead of relaxing I figured that as it was blue why not do the adventure down the side of the mountain again and do the double Temple Adventure mainly to satisfy my curiosity as to why they built temples there in the first place.
 
Just as I thought!
The views were magnificent!
 
Halfway back up I sat to read beneath the shade of a million bamboo trees and then carried on to my next destination which was nowhere and everywhere. For a late lunch I dropped into a little eatery that was shaded by vines that had spent the last many years working their way around and around the wires provided to them for just that purpose.
 
What a beautiful idea!
 
My waitress was a student from Zhengzhou here on her summer break earning money by working for her aunt. Her English was actually not too bad but she obviously had a problem listening as when I ordered Fried Rice (both in English and Chinese) she would then point to the most expensive thing on the menu, translate what it is and tell me that I would like that instead.
 
It took some time before she accepted and understood that all I wanted was fried rice.
 
Strangely when my fried rice finally came it had transferred itself into a large plate of green vegetables with garlic and a bowl of steamed rice. I have no idea what happened as we discussed the fried rice and both of our favourites were Yangzhou Fried Rice.
 
My guess is that she had gone into the kitchen and ordered it in English.
 
The cook obviously had no idea what she was talking about and whipped up whatever sounded the closest to what he thought she was yelling in supposed Chinese. But then she didn't even flutter an eyelid when she put it on the table so my second guess is that Yangzhou Chao Fan where she comes from is actually a plate of garlic vegetables and a bowl of rice.
 
Being a huge fried rice fan somebody remind me never to visit her home town.
 
Thankfully though the vegetables were damn delicious so my third guess is that someone else had actually ordered them and had either left of didn't want them anymore and she guessed that I had been in China for only several days and had no idea what Yangzhou Chao Fan was.
 
Anyhow!
 
We sat chatting for about half an hour before my sandals then decided it was time to head somewhere else. I slowly followed them around to the Lotus Pond and the Summer Palace where I sat to read for another hour after which I decided to visit the Marshall Building.
 
Named after an American General with the last name being Marshall of course.
 
When I got to the top of the stairs the beautiful girl who worked there during business hours had just finished locking up and was about to make her way down the stairs. We said happy hellos and soon (with me jumping up and down asking her not to bother) she was unlocking everything for me and then gave me a personal tour of the Marshall Building.
 
After our happy goodbyes I immersed myself into the jumble of granite colonial homes built on the large hill near North Street. Most lay empty and decrepit and those that have people in them obviously have been squatted.
 
An hour or so later I found myself back down on South Street (the street that in a few years will be 'The Street') and waved to all those who had come accustomed to me walking by several times a day over the past few days.
 
Strangely one of the 'main happy wavers' I was soon to be sitting with having dinner!
And even stranger still the beauty from the Marshall Building would soon join us!
 
I was on my way up the stairs to Moon Lake and who did I meet, Zhang Li. She is a summer tour guide here on Jigong Shan and we met on my first afternoon. Her English is excellent but sadly I had to knock back the offer of her being my tour guide as my accommodation ate any extra monies I have.
 
BUGGER!
BLOODY BUGGER!
 
We were both as surprised as each other to have met and we headed back to her uncles home on South Street where her brother and his wife also live. I met the family and after several bowls of food came out and we all began happily eating.
 
Soon after who arrived for dinner?
It was none other than the happy girl from the Marshall Building!
 
After dinner Zhang Li and I spent many hours chatting about everything and nothing and under a clear sky and a bright full moon she walked me most of the way home. Thank gawd as most of the way there are no lights and unless you are a local or know your way around Moon Lake would be pretty much where you will spend the night!
 
So tomorrow?
Should I stay or should I go?
 
If I go Zhang Li will take me on a beautiful walk down the other side of the mountain that will take me to where I need to catch the mini van back to Xinyang City. It is supposed to be very beautiful, passes waterfalls and is very much like yesterdays adventure.
 
Not many people know about this walk so I will be a very lucky boy indeed!
 
Beers N Noodles toya.....shane
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The soundtrack to this entry was by The Black Crows
The album was the awesome 'Amorica'
Channel V really is not good!
 
Maybe I should repeat that....repeat that.....repeat that.....repeat that......repeat that!
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