Long time no write

Hello there!

The current location for few hours more is Nanchang. Quite insignificant city between Shanghai and Guilin. But we had such a great time here as we met a Chinese girl (English name Jungle) in a train on our way here. She wanted to practice her English and make new foreign friends. The chat lasted 3 hours (train journey 10h). We changed thoughts and ideas and were making many questions. It was very interesting though at some moment I needed to take a nap cause it was getting so intense.

We arrived in Nanchang and she took us to the hotel, by taxi. Though the taxi cost only 1,50 euros we think that for her it's much more money than for us - but she payed and refused to take any money from us. We also set a date for the day after, which was yesterday.

In the morning Jungle and her friend (English name Fish) came to pick us up at the hotel. We took two taxis to visit the city's major sight, an old house that looked like a temple but was used for political things for hundreds of years ago. Tiina took the taxi with Fish and Tiina payed. And as Tiina had payed the taxi Fish insisted paying Tiina's entrance. Good deal for Tiina.

They gave us a small tour and were telling us something bout the history. It was interesting and useful as all the signs and text was in Chinese. We happened to be there at right time as there was a performance going on: old, traditional Chinese dance and music.

Lucnh we had on a restaurant where Jungle had eaten when she gratuated. And we really didn't want anything fancy. It was a nice, normal restaurant but for them bit more fancy than normal. They ordered and in the end payed again. Chinese hospitality is incredible! We had eight different course, it was quite a lot of food.

We wanted to drink a cup of coffee so they took us to a nice restaurant-coffee shop. It was more expensive place than what even we normally want (here in China I mean - compared to Finnish prices it was still cheaper). I had Irish Coffee and Suvi Cuba Libre and later we took Cider. And you know: there was (almost) no alcohol on our drinks. Normally I would get 'drunk' already after one Irish Coffee but not this time.

The night ended with a walk along the river and watching a music-light-water-show at a spring. It lasted 20 minutes and was really nice.

Those were the things that happened yesterday. I will tell you later what kind of cultural things we really learned during the day spent with hte Chinese. I learned and experienced much more during one day than during the last three weeks. Tiina and Suvi might feel different about it but I let them tell their own opinions.

Erika

p.s. as soon as I have time (hopefully tomorrow) I will also add cities Hangzhou and Nanjing on the list of cities. That way you have more to read for bed time story or at work when you're getting bored at the desk. Take care!