Zhengzhou Chinese Family and Shaolin KungFu

Journey update: .. Datong > Hohhot > Huitengxile > Hohhot > Taiyuan >
Zhengzhou > Xi'an

It was a long train ride from Hohhot to
Zhengzhou. No direct train, so
we went via Taiyuan and there bought another ticket.
We left Hohhot on the overnight train, arrived at Taiyuan early in the morning, bought another sleeper ticket for Zhengzhou. On the train we went a cute and
curious 9 year old girl. She spoke great English and we chatted, long
story short, she invited us to stay with the family in Zhengzhou!
Amazing luck and what a wonderful chance to experience first-hand
Chinese life. We accepted gratefully not sure how to proceed.

The family's apartment was on the 7th floor, with no elevator, we hiked
up the stairs in the stinking heat, sweating and giving off a pungent
stale smell (with 24 hours on a train behind us with nothing more than
teeth brushing!). I for one was ready for bed and hearing they had
aircon was feeding my enthusiasm. However the flat was humid, warm and
the little fan went on. Luckily I'm a man (I've had this thought
countless times in my life!) and I removed my shirt. Kate however had
to suck it up!

Quickly enough we left for a meal. It was a big and delicious fare, too
much for everyone to eat and I was pressured into drinking too much
liquor which was 45%. I struggled, with a stretched belly with all the
food, drinking too much of this foul liquor and being massively tired
and runny-nosed. Of course we didn't pay, but went through the motions
of wanting to do so. We always debated when to offer and when to just
say thanks, a social minefield! Anyway, great food over we settled for
the night in the coldest room in town, if it's suitable to even moan, it
was freezing. The family switched on the aircon but left the remote
hidden! But their hospitality was amazing and I was refusing to get
uptight.

Early start and breakfast made for us, fried eggs, flat bread and sweet
lentil soup.
We walked around town together, Apple (the 9 year old kid) and her
father (No English name). We went to the Renmin Park. Amazing little
park, like the city, clean, open and friendly. Only good things to say
about the park and the city as a whole.

Zhengzhou City


Great place to bring up a family and the transport hub of China. In
fact the train station is bigger than any other, even Beijing.

The park had a London Eye equivalent, great views. I refrained from any
fast moving rides, after the night before I was in no mood for stomach
churning loops. Then we entered the ice festival, in the middle of
summer. Considering we were sweating just walking around and felt tired
in the heat we were excited by the prospect of getting a little cooler.
Great idea. I'm bloody English, the cold is a way of life. Let me in.
So we pay and enter, the little Chinese man hands me a coat. I shrug,
thinking "no need mate". He opens the freezer door and shit I nearly
cough in surprise at the cold. It's a giant freezer warehouse, full of
ice sculptures and I'm in a thin shirt and shorts. Damn, I'm going to
get a cold in here! The cold, dry air blast around me. I struggle to
get the coat over my bag. Kate helps before my fingers and lips turn
purple. We go on an ice slide and look at the Russian, Japanese and
Chinese inspired carvings. Castles, whales and other cool things. We
eventually leave and as we get outside I start to warm-up again.

We were also invited to the grandparents for duck and vegetables. A
wonderful meal. More beer of course! Our adopted father loves the
stuff! In the evening we chatted and looked at photo albums. We ate a
meal in the house again, another chicken delight with various things
including bitter cucumbers that tasted like coffee.

Up early in the morning, our hosts insisted. A sadistic down-side to
our great family! Shit I was getting tired again! We left for the
Shaolin Monestary bus, the main reason for coming. The Shaolin monks
are famous for their pottery and basket weaving.... hehe... their
martial arts and its the birthplace of KungFu.

Long story short, we got on a long tour. We left at 9:30am and arrived
home at 8:00pm. We say loads of groovy China history stuff, including:

• A Temple


• Confucious Academy


• A Confucious quote:
  

  "When you see a good man, try to emulate his example, and
  when you see a
  bad man, search yourself for his faults."



• Mini Shaolin monastery


• The Shaolin monastery



Built in 495, the Shaolin monastery was originally designed
to house Batuo,
a celebrated Indian monk, who, after many years of spreading Buddhism,
was later known as Fo Tuo, or Grand Monk. In 537, another famous Indian
monk, Boddhidharma, settled in the monastery, and as legend has it,
created
a sort of primitive bare-hand combat routine called “xingyi boxing”
after he had sat meditating in a cave for nine years.

The Confucious academy was great too, but really just looked like many
other temples.

The thinking man himself, Confucious


We saw these dudes jumping about doing manly things. One guy
threw a nail through a plain of glass!

Shaolin Monks


The next day we were hoping for a lay-in, not to be... as usual our
adopted father woke us up crazily early and we ate breakfast and did our
regular question asking with big smiles saying how great everything was.
We even had a small debate over Taiwan and China..... oh no! Well I
said I'd travelled Taiwan for two years and plan a year in China. Well
that was it.... NO! You are travelling China for three years.... I just
smiled and said nothing. No reason to work him up, and not his fault
the media had brain-washed him with the same answer we hear from every
Chinese person. Only those who've left the country, maybe to study,
consider the idea of independence! Well this is small progress, but not
at this house on this issue. No worry.

So we left that day around 9:30am ready for our 11:30 departure. We
said goodbye, tired from the constant rushing around and straining to
make conversation but pleased and humbled to have been let into their
lives for a brief moment.

So here I am in Xi'an, ready to update the other bits
we've done.
A list for those on the edge of their seats:

1. Terracotta warriors


2. Hot Spring


3. Student business boys


4. Kate's Birthday (guess how old!)

MC