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So I have decided at least thus far in my travels that Yangshao is my favorite little country city! It is smack dap in the middle of karst mountain screnery, and lies beside the Li river. When I finally get the photos up I'm sure you'll see.
The first day, we took a cooking course where we learned to make three dishes. One of which as beer fish. (Basically it's what it sounds like) It was really good, except for the fact that here, the chinese don't really believe in seperating the meat from the fish, instead they just take the whole fish and dice it up. I was in chrge of frying the meat and the fish head was staring at me the whole time! With it's mouth hanging open and it's little whiskers curling up! (Don't worry everyone! I have the recipie so I can make for you when I get back and you can share in the experience)
After that we went on a coromant night fishing trip. REALLY COOL!! The cormorants basically follow along beside the boat and catch the fish for the fisherman. They have a cord tied around there neck (not as badas it sounds) just so they can't actually swallow the whole fish.
And as a side note...they have BIG bats here, we got to see them in the sky flying around at dusk. (picture the crazy bats from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and that's what we got!)
Ok and now for today...we decided to rent some bicycles and do some trails around Yangshao....
Then we got a wee bit lost...and headed in the opposite direction of where we were planning to go. (Stupid traffic circles that aren't really traffic circles) Anyway, we ended up heading on this huge trail route through various villages and feilds in the general direction back home. Now for anyone who does any form of biking, you know that going down muddy, stone encrusted trails on an old bike, that has no shock absorption, for about five hours is not a pleasant experience. (Kaitlin was NOT amused... as those who also read her blog www.offexploring.com/kaitlin can tell) Sitting right now is not a good idea.
But, the actual trails and so forth today were great! I loved the scenery and actually liked being lost for a bit. (need to embrace the Aimlessness for this trip) Again Kait was not a happy camper... But it was well worth getting to see the countryside...even if i can't sit down.
Oh and we finally somehow made it to our original destination of a 1000 year old Banyan tree. ( it just took a small 5 hour detour)
... and as an aside about biking etiquette here....
The back trails are pretty self explainatory, you try not to fall (probably will) but you TRY not to. Now the city biking that is another thing entirely. JUST GO! In the middle of the street, across the street, in front of traffic, through red and green lights, even around traffic circles that aren't really traffice circles...
You are both a pedestrian and a vehical, so no laws apply to you. Unfortuantly no laws apply to anyone around you either. Whatever you do,do NOT swerve! Pick a path, look confidant and assume everyone else will go around you. (sounds bad but some how it works when everyone else is doing it too)
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