Part 2

The tall modern version of a Chinese building at the opposite end of the small street was built in 1988 and looks passed its use by date.  (Photo)   Buildings seem to be a disposable commodity here.  If you need an old style, just build it; don’t worry about keeping one just in case.  Build it again if you need to.  That’s how it seems anyway.

 The area behind that building is an original old world Chinese market street complete with dirt, grime, animals, people, a variety of salable items in addition to people just passing the time.  (Photos)    I did buy a pillow there on a previous occasion.  The things which look like inner-soles are inner-soles. (photo)   People embroider them.  Not sure if it becomes a “too good to use” type item or goes into daily use.  Unadorned inner-soles are everywhere.  It is so hot and then so cold that guess you need something to soak up the sweat and to insulate from the cold roads and footpaths.   The vegetables in the tricycle looked like they were picked 5 minutes beforehand.  (Photo)  Unlike some I’ve seen in open air markets which have been seconds from almost complete purification.  The man with the microphone had absolutely no interest shown in him.  (photo)  Thought it must have been a spray cleaner. When I passed it on my return I looked closely and saw the container had pictures of mosquitoes on it. The woman in the dark in a shop is rolling cotton wadding for quilts.  (Photo)    She has a stall on the street selling drinks.

I did pat a couple of cats, one of whom wanted a pat but was also interested in tasting Aussie blood.  The other was a clean, healthy, pregnant black cat who was not too interested.   The dog with the really stumpy legs was friendly looking but the owner told it to keep away from me after calling it out to show itself.  (Photo)  It had 2 bright eyed companions tied up inside.   There was a song bird is hanging from a power line.   They get taken outside and to parks for some air while the owner chats with friends.  (Photo)  I have seen  one of the college residents with about 6 bird cages attached to his bike on their way out  of the college.

There are several pictures of a man making bread.  He and his neighbor were very obliging. (Photos)

 On my walk to the next bus stop I passed a laden bicycle.  (photo)   The building in the background has the arch I walked through to reach the market street.   In the same photo you can also see a woman on a bike wearing one of the cover-ups available in the market street.  The Chinese are keen to avoid the sun.  It’s a class issue. If your skin is dark it means you work in the sun and are poor.  Shelves groan under the weight of products designed to lighten skin.

The return bus trip was an exercise in sardine management.  Was a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils; risk falling off the step or being mashed by the opening or closing door.  The driver soon decided not to stop and open the door for quite a few stops. It was hot but fortunately not stinking hot so I didn’t leave too much sweat behind.

I returned via the little shopping centre just past the college in order to collect some photos and to find tea.  I stopped at the first place cooking lamb kebabs, just outside the shop.  The photo shows the cook and waiter.   (Photo)   I sat on a tiny stool at a small table, was offered cigarettes by the other patron and shared his soy beans while we waited for our kebabs.  I’ve had better lamb kebabs and I’m still not convinced that my favourite kebabs are chicken. That particular kebab seller disappeared for parts unknown after the block near her spot started redevelopment and the dirt and dust started flying in earnest. I bought some soy beans to take home.

Pity I can’t intersperse the photos with text but that seems to be how it is. It’s a bit longwinded but it’s China & there’s much to see even when out for 5-6 hours.  Not like Mum’s visit to Canberra in 1977 where she said “Where’s the pedestrians?”

If anyone has some ideas of how I can write in Paint program without it looking like I have the DT’s I’m happy to hear them.  Need to do a few more maps before I forget where I’ve been.