Relly rally

[Lotus Eater]

2 of my cousins came to visit - so I have been playing tour guide for the last week+ and naturally taking them to my favourite places. This is the dirst time we have been together since we were young and having Christmases together - what a chance to catch up on unknown bits of family history etc. We have had a ball and as they don't leave until Monday aftrenoon, the circus continues. We decided the only way to fit everything in was to ban sleep - so we have come pretty close to that. We have decided that the Chivas Regal, the Cointreau, the Bundy Rum liquer etc are cheapie brands - they tend to evaporate very quickly once the bottles are opened!


So here are a few of the photos of the times we have had so far:

Fishing in the moat.



And we found the rubbish collection point!



I took them out to my favourite friends in a village for an afternoon of entertainment- corn and husks drying on the road.



Lending a helping hand! Musical soiree.



Local opera singers and musicians entertaining us



But after lunch was secret men's business time.



Persimmons drying in a bedroom



Local embroidered inner soles



Erhu



Ah - central heating for us!



Some sweeping anyone?



Local market



Spice rollers



Local street wander - it's been a hard day! (Chinese mattresses are so soft after this!)



Dinner time - mutton cooking



Chef chopping onions with double knifed action - don't mess with him!!



I will add more as we go!

[Ruth]

Looks like you have managed to find fabulous places to take your cousins to give them a flavour of the China you love.

[Dr. Gonzo]

Great camera work Lotus. Not that I'd know, but I like them!

[George61]

Luuuurrrve the fishing pic!!

[Lotus Eater]

More relly rally photos.

Sleepy babe:



Naturally we visited the Warriors - shadow of Warriors.


Warrior ranks - I have been so often that I now know each one by name. But they still blow my mind!



The laoban at the official Warrior factory is a mate of mine - so we get to wander around watching production. Moulds of the Warriors.



Worker adding the details



Warrior heads - details are amazing.



Glorious chrysanthemums at the Warriors



A few more to come!

[Lotus Eater]

Next tranche:

University at night: badminton players and the rest.



Reading the newspaper.



City Wall marathon - this year I was out of the placings - but my cousin made it - so the family honour was upheld.



City Wall all dolled up for the marathon - including some luuuvveerrly guards.



Watch tower through the crenellations




More dolling up



Local style pram - are thewwe used elsewhere?



Muslim food for lunch - jiaozi soup



Dessert maker - jiangguo



More snacks



My favourite dried fruit shop - great dried fruit.



Can't be too many more - they leave tomorrow and I also ahve to teach!!

[Ruth]

Oh, I just want to pick that baby up and cuddle him. Haven't seen any prams like the one in your photo. What we get here are the colorful plastic ones. They are kind of like tricycles, with a handle on a pole at the back for parents or grandparents to push with. Kids can pedal, but are mostly too young to do so.

[Jollyjunklass]

I love these pics, Lotus.

They are pretty amazing and depict some things that are soley Chinese. Very nice.