Datong 大同

In an effort to go somewhere OTHER than Harbin, I went to Datong for a quick weekend vacation. Datong is located in Shanxi province...not to be confused with Shaanxi province...if Chinese wasn't confusing enough.  Datong is located near Xi'an, and while it doesn't have any warriors, it DOES have a hanging temple, and over 1000 carved Buddhas in a wall.  AND, most importantly sneaky Chinese people who kept trying to take my photo and calling me 大娃娃 (Da wawa) translated: Big Doll.

So yeah...all in all another interesting trip in China.  Here are some photos of the more historical parts of Datong.

The Buddha caves, all in all there are thousands of Buddhas carved in the caves. They were hand carved by monks over thousands of years. 

The largest Buddha in the caves, and depending on who and when you ask the largest in China, but then again EVERYONE says about each and every Buddha. 

9 Dragon Screen, Apparently there are only 3 of them, and one is in Datong, there is another one in Beijing. So I've seen 2 of the 3. Wonder if I win a prize?

Hanging Monastery in Datong. Was built by monks hanging from the top of the gorge and the stilts are only to make people more comfortable about talking around up there. They serve no structural purpose. One tourist a year ago actually knocked one out just to see....how much you want to bet that guy was Chinese and not a westerner....

Restaurant in downtown Datong, it looks old but its actually new!  

And of course, the Chinglish at the Hanging monastery. I personally like #'s 6 and 9...no pyramid sales people, be respectful!

I'm eating what??

So since I was going to Harbin for the 3rd time in 8 months, I decided to focus on more important things this time....the abundance of Chinglish. Everywhere I looked there were signs that were just not quite right, or menu items that just sounded off.  But every once in a while (or all in one elevator) you get the perfect storm of Chinglish and "interesting" Chinese dish.  I wonder if anyone has ever ordered these items or if they are just on the menu to freak out the westerners...anything is possible here in the Middle Kingdom.

Yes, penis slices with Green Onion...I did a double take as well. 

Shrimps... I think Bubba left this off his list of "Shrimps"..

I don't even know what this is made off...but I'm guessing some type of hoof meat with gelatin. Even the Chinese doesn't specify what type of meat..which is never a good sign.

I don't know what "sead of Job's tears" is...but perhaps its an homage to the Bible?

Stirfried Pig Sliver....mmmm...

French Style Crocodile Palm...makes me wonder what "British Style" or "American Style" would be.

Ikea: Furniture Store or Theme Park

Unlike in other countries, Ikea in Beijing is NOT just a furniture store, its a weekend theme park complete with areas for sleeping, dinner and even a date..but only if you are lucky girls.  I feel that my words can not do this justice..so let me show you the pictures.

Why buy the bed if you haven't tried it out first?! 

You can't see it, but there are also two kids in there under the covers both sleeping.  Family nap-time..yes please!

Hottest date place in Beijing. I particularly like that this guy brought his own tea in a thermos too.   And the family in the back left corner had snacks.

Just because you are strangers doesn't mean you can't all hang out in the fake living room.  The guy in the chair was watching a video on his phone.

These people are actually asleep...not just laying around 

Its not cold till your eyelashes freeze...

And that is EXACTLY what happened to me this weekend. I went to the COLDEST place I've ever been, and frankly can't imagine a place that is colder.  Harbin, China: home of the world famous Harbin Ice Festival where this weekend the highs were -24 C and the lows were -34 C.  While it may have been COLD, it was also one of the most amazing things I've seen. They have created HUGE ice palaces the size of four story buildings that are filled with neon lights. They have recreated the Great Wall in ice, as well as the Emerald City from the Wizard of Oz, and many other beautiful snow sculptures or "snow culptures and ice culptures" as the locals translated them.  There was a mixture of the Chinese culture and their interpretation of western culture, but all around it was amazing.

Harbin "ice games", sitting in a crappy wooden seat and push yourself on a frozen lake.  Who knew...the Chinese are easily entertained in cold weather?

Neon lights frozen in Ice. Cold, but really fun to walk around in huge neon ice palaces. 

Bad ass officially means swimming in negative 33 degree C  weather. 

"Snow 'Culpture" (as named by the Chinese) of various Disney and Pixar movies.  Madagascar, Shrek, Ice Age....Nemo is on the other side. 

Huge Ice palace in the BIG ice park. (The Emerald City...with the Great Wall around it)

Communist Christmas

Since everything is made in China, it would make sense that you can also buy rejects of Chinese export items here too, which is what I thought of when I saw many of the following Christmas items for sale in the small makeshift market across from my house.  The Chinese had set up a Christmas market on a small street where many foreigners go and sold Christmas trees, lights, decorations, plates and other not-acceptable-for-sale-in-America type goods.  It was interesting to see what they had and let me say I'm pretty sure much of this was probably available in any store in America.  However, here are some of the items that may have not been stocked on your local Target shelves..

Because everyone needs a yellow and blue Christmas tree with huge sliver pine cones.  The pine cones were about the size of my hand. 

6ft tall pink tree....If Paris Hilton only knew. 

What? You didn't have a Christmas-themed deviled-egg plate at your target?  

Yes, that tree IS hugging whiskey. Apparently the Chinese understand Americans better than we think. No holiday is complete without necessary "adult beverages". 

 What Christmas means in China: explosion of colorful, sparkly things with old men in red suits and snow. 

I like how cuts to the chase...it makes religion accessible to the masses. 

Origins of Capitalism

So although the official party line is China is a communist country, I would have to respectfully disagree. I have never in all my life seen a whole country of people who will find and use any and every opportunity to sell things.  If you go to a tourist site, you have to wait in the "gift shop" for 15 min prior to going in.  And the proprietor of said shop is not a nice old lady patiently waiting for you to buy something.  Its 5 to 7 Chinese people following you around trying to force you to buy anything in their shop.  Also, if you are walking along a street, anywhere, in any city, people will yell "HEY LADY!!!" or "HEY MISTER!!" and grab your arm trying to get you to buy things.  For a country that claims they are not yielding to the American capitalist consumer culture, I would really like to know how they explain all the Chinese people selling everything they can get their hands on...real or otherwise.

Because everyone needs a wax figure of Bush, Osama, Saddam or Kofi Annan...seriously?

This is an island on Li River.  If you notice, there is a power line strung from the shore to the Island, which is selling food (being cooked on the island) and internet on a lone computer.  You would think it would be easier to sell food and internet on the shore...not commute to an island everyday.  (FYI: there is no way to walk to this island,  must use a bamboo boat)

HUGE bugs encapsulated in plastic.  This year's top gift for dad, because everyone fears the guy with the huge bug on his desk.  

Pets.  Yes, in Beijing (around the corner from my Apt) you too can buy ANY pet you want.  Bunnies, hamsters, rats, squirrels, birds, turtles, chipmunks...and off the back of a bike. 

Yangshuo Lights

So I recently was able to visit Guilin and Yangshuo  It was incredible, beautiful and eye-opening all at once.  It was very clear that these two cities had been impacted by the tourism since everywhere you went there was always something on sale, and every possible point of tourism was open for business.  It was nice to see that so much of the area was preserved, but also a bit sad to know that the only reason it has been protected was because it brings in revenue.  Makes you hope that tourism doesn't die down so that these cities aren't "modernized" like the big cities.

Underground caves in Guilin.  Best part was when the Chinese guide would show us a rock formation he would tell us what they thought it looked like and then say "use your imagination". Many of the things required a LOT of imagination. 

"The money shot"- The picture on the back of the 20 RMB note. (seriously, that is what they kept calling it. "and if you turn around, you can now see the money shot".) 

The Chinese are the original capitalists.  This guy is on a phoenix bamboo raft, selling his hand carved wares while hanging on to our steamboat(which was still moving) with only his foot.  He didn't sell anything, but it didn't stop him from doing it to all the subsequent boats on in our parade. 

Fresh silk.  The two tall towers are drying out the wet silk, to be spun later.  The white blob on the right is silk, and the brown are the dead silk worms.  At least you have a bit more proof that you aren't getting swindled at this store. 

Yangshuo Impressions light show on the Li river.  This show all took place ON the river, and they used the mountains light up as the background.  Directed by Zhang Yimou (the man who directed the 2008 Olympic opening ceremonies) it depicts the lives of minority peoples in the area.  Most amazing show I've seen so far.