Sensory Overload!!!!!!

  I am sending this post out a day after the last, because I am still trying to get caught up on my weekly blog.  The reason I am behind is because for some reason the Chinese do not want us to blog or Facebook.  I don't quite understand why they don't want information to get out, since almost all of the stereotypes and ideas about China and the people that live here are incorrect.  The biggest misconception is that the Big Brother Chinese government and the iron fist of Communism are holding these people down.  So far in our experience we have not seen any government control over anything except for Facebook and Blogging.  Even though this is restricted, you can tell by this blog that there are ways to get a message out.  As a matter of fact in many ways I would say that these people are freer than us.  It is refreshing to experience a people that are encouraged to be personally responsible for their own actions.  We have seen and actually been the cause of a couple of accidents since we have been here.  Nobody was seriously injured and nobody jumped out of their vehicle feigning a back or neck injury.

Claire touching something interesting, probably Crocodile.

Piranha for dinner anyone?

Getting ready to order fresh beef for dinner

  As far as capitalism goes, these people have a completely free market.  We experienced the most amazing open market that I have ever seen in my life.  There were clothes, backpacks, shoes, tools, honey and pretty much anything else that you might want.  On top of that they had a fresh vegetable and meat market that left a sensory impression that I will never forget.  The vegetables and fruit had vibrant greens and brilliant oranges and reds.  Cecelia actually bought carrots, mushrooms, cabbage and green beans.  The meat market had almost anything you could think of to eat and other things that you would never think of to eat.  There was shrimp, crabs, puffer fish, carp, goose neck clams, oysters and fresh water crocodile in the seafood section.  The regular meat section had your typical pork, beef and chicken.  The only thing about eating a chicken here, is that they are very fresh.  The butcher pulls the live chicken out of the cage, chops the head off, guts it and then pulls the feathers off while you wait.  At least by ordering a chicken this way, you know you are not getting rat.  The more exotic things that we have seen are Herons, Seagulls and hide the children, kittens.  Yes, I said kittens.  Apparently they are a delicacy here.  By the way, Paul and I did get brave enough to buy some fresh beef and eggs.  One morning we had quail eggs and chicken eggs for breakfast.  Taylor likes the quail eggs the best.  I tried the blue eggs here.  Don't try the blue eggs, you have to acquire a particular taste for them.  They are dark and mushy.  Not my style.  

  The most amazing thing about this place is that your senses are definitely put on notice.  Your eyes are overwhelmed with colors and patterns.  Your ears are bombarded with the din of people bartering and hocking their wares. The smells vary from putrid to exotic.  The tastes of the different items that one can try vary dramatically.  One minute something that you expected to taste delightful was very bland and then something that you thought would be mild was amazing and spicy.  Finally, the textures of the different items that we have touched has been unique to say the least.  We expected the crocodile to be rough, but it was rather smooth and supple.  The Koi in the ponds we thought would be smooth, and yet they are very scaly and feel like they have plate armor on their bodies.

  The people live by the philosophy of yin and yang.  The purpose of which is life in balance.  You see and feel it in so many different ways here.  It is also very infectious.  We especially like the part that they focus on work and peace.  Work hard, but take your leisure time away seriously.  I guess that is why they start early and take a two hour lunch in the middle of the day to relax and nap before the afternoon grind.  We could sure learn a lesson from them in this area.  Until next time, Bon Apetite.