Hey Hey and a Big G'Day toya
 
Shoes!
Today I put on shoes!
 
For the first time since the dreaded colds of last winter I actually put my feet into shoes. I have worn out both heel of the sandals I purchased prior to my summer adventure and they are now giving me very sore feet.
 
I guess you could say I have two flat tyres!
 
So today I had to resort to wearing actual shoes and like each year (usually after winter begins) when I put shoes on for the first time I feel like a bloody doofus (not a word out of you Anthea!). I can't actually feel anything and it is like walking on air.
 
I then begin tripping over all the debris that lays scattered all over Chinese footpaths;
 
Rocks, stones, spit, coughed up lungs, rubbish, boogers, tissues, holes in the path as deep and ancient as the Tiger Leaping Gorge, woks, people, babies, dogs, cats, chickens, cows, goats, geese, market stalls, entire market places, people sleeping, people playing mahjong, old people playing Chinese checkers, cars, motorbikes, taxi's, tuk tuks, pedi cabs, rats, mice, signs, Elvis, Jim Morrison, Sarah Jessica Parker's entire shoe collection (well, exact copies of Elvis, Jim and the shoes anyhow. This is China!), cruise missiles, pandas, kung fu pandas, terracotta warriors, houses of flying daggers and crouching tigers and hidden dragons etc
 
You know, just the average stuff you find on all footpaths (not).
It's like a war zone out there sometimes!
 
The city is very much what I was hoping for and it reminds me very much of Tianyang town which was where I lived and taught for a year and a half in Guangxi Province. I guess there are probably less water melons and baby tomatoes here though. The city is built along a main road and sits beneath large green mountains on both sides. It is very narrow and a rather long city which is exactly what Tianyang is like. So I felt very much at home from the time I arrived.
 
The city is obviously a very poor city in a very poor are of China.
 
It is just beginning to make itself into a more modern city such as Shaowu in Fujian Province where I lived for the past year and a half. It does have a 'main street' where you can find some of the latest shopping labels but directly behind that road you find a normal poor Chinese rural city.
 
Broken paths are lined with umbrellas and stalls selling anything to survive.
Just as it has been for a long, long time!
 
At night these stores pull down their umbrellas and close their ancient and warn doors and vibrant night food markets can be found. Here you can satisfy almost any food desires and wash it down with a cold beer. Also happily for me I found a Lanzhou Noodle Eatery tonight on my way home from my walk. I was going to actually walk a different way but out of the corner of my eye I spotted what I thought were several scull caps moving too and fro so I raced across the road to find out they actually were!
 
I nearly kissed the wife of the man who was hand making some noodles!
I then thought it wouldn't be a good idea if I wanted to return again and again and again!
 
I started my walk by heading to the cities main bus station and across from this I found the river that the city follows. Across the river a new part of the city is being constructed which blocks out the views of the mountains in parts which is a pity. I headed east along the river and when the walk finished I then headed back into the old city streets and as I slowly walked I snacked on different breads and meats. When I arrived near my school I decided to simply continue on the dusty little street my school is on.
 
This actually took me all the way to the west of the city and where it ends.
It was actually like visiting a small village that for some reason never stopped.
I found it hard to believe that behind the old houses there was actually a main road.
 
Once I reached the very end of the city I chose between walking the one hundred and seventeen kilometers to Xian City or to enjoy the tree lined river walk back to the middle of Shangzhuo City.
 
I chose the latter!
 
Beers N Noodles toya.....shane
 
PS: Today's walk and photos are only from the 'River' side of the city. I haven't ventured across to the other side of the main road yet. Maybe tomorrow or maybe next week sometime.
 
PSS: Mr Fixit continues to visit me during the day, opens the fridge, puts his hand in and puts his ear to the side of the fridge and when he hears the motor working and leaves saying that everything is working. I actually didn't hear from him today, which is a bit scarey for me and my warm beer! He is actually a very funny man and would pull the roof off the building and rebuild it if he was asked to!
PSSS: I have now covered the powerboard in the bathroom with plastic and it continues to remain hanging not far from the shower head. But this is normal here in China, the fact that the two most important things on the list remain unchanged and have been forgotten about is just normal. I think it is the fact that to 'us' what is important and dangerous is not thought of in the same way by the Chinese who mostly drink warm beer, milk, orange juice and water etc. Most houses in a region such as where I am now also wouldn't have a fridge and everything would be brought fresh and cooked that day.
 
When it comes to the powerboard!
 
Mate, when you have been here as long as I have and have travelled the places I have in China a power board hanging on the wall in the general direction of the shower head is considered 'Very Safe'.
 
But not by me!
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The soundtrack to this entry was by my favourite Chinese singer Wong Faye.
The album was 'Heart of Glass Live'
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