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My desire to see so much more of this beautiful city without the requisite ability to read Chinese signs is becoming a bit of a drama......I headed off again this weekend, map in hand, with plans to visit the area to the south from where I live. Most of my exploring to date had been in the city centre and to the north slightly.
All started well as I headed towards Xinjiekou - literally the heart of the city where I've been before but had never found the "pyramid'.....well mission accomplished, I finally found the pyramid and headed underneath to one of the famous shopping areas known as Fashion Lady - a bewildering, subterranean complex of clothing boutiques and vendors selling jewellery, accessories and lots of bling!!! Didn't actually buy anything (I know don't fall over with shock!) it was so hot and humid in there I just wanted to get out - it was 26 degrees outside!!
I wandered up and down many different streets taking in the sights. Found Taiping Nan Lu another famous shopping strip approximately 2.5 KMs long and so I walked all the way down that....and yes I did make a few small purchases. They literally sell everything from gold and diamonds to compliment your designer clothes through to the cheap factory outlets and rattan rubbish bins!! Saw several beautiful churches including a Catholic cathedral with the most magnificent sky blue domed ceiling. So different after seeing so many pagodas and temples here...churches almost look out of place.
Then I reached an area called FuziMiao. Hadn't realised I'd walked that far as I planned on spending a full day in this area to take in the sights - which I will still do - but figured I'd check out a bit of the place and get a feel for the area (didn't have my map of this area - bad move). Think of Salamanca Market on a Saturday morning spread over about 6 city blocks and you start to get the picture.....Took some lovely photos and got bailed up by many Chinese tourists who were all in tour groups and wanted their photo taken with me!!! By this time it was late afternoon and time to head home.
I should have known when I came out of the area in a different place to where I went in that I might just get it wrong.....but oh no the eternal optimist decided she could find her way home. Well I walked and I walked and I walked for hours...by this time its dark, I have no idea where I am and not a sign to be found in English or Pinyin!!! Figured I'd best keep walking in the well lit areas until I could find someone to help me or hail a taxi. Kept walking, walking, walking and then saw the sign for IKEA........I now knew where I was vaguely but it was MILES away from where I live and I had walked in the wrong direction for hours!!!!!
Felt like crying by this time (I know big sook!) but I was so frustrated with myself and still no sign of a knight in shining armour!!! Finally came across 2 old ladies who could see I was lost and they took me to the local police station. Well its more like a little box on the street where they have police set up to look after the neighborhood.... the police were rather busy arresting someone for something but they did look at my map where I could point out where I wanted to go and were very surprised I had got where I was. anyway they called a taxi for me and told them where to take me. A very long taxi ride and 20 kwai later (average cab fare is about 12 kwai around the city) I was safely back in familiar territory!!!!!
I decided I deserved a nice dinner so I headed over to the little Italian restaurant - one street away from the Uni - and treated myself to some penne al pesto and a lovely glass of pinot grigio. ended the day on a wonderful note!!!! I then went back to my apartment and promptly fell into bed, totally exhausted.
Found out today from some Chinese friends that I had walked approximately 30 KMs on my little adventure/drama/outing!!!! They could not believe it nor the fact that it hasn't deterred me from seeing more of this city - they have suggested I stick to my maps next time - and I think I'll follow their advice for a while at least....
Bye for now. xxxx
All started well as I headed towards Xinjiekou - literally the heart of the city where I've been before but had never found the "pyramid'.....well mission accomplished, I finally found the pyramid and headed underneath to one of the famous shopping areas known as Fashion Lady - a bewildering, subterranean complex of clothing boutiques and vendors selling jewellery, accessories and lots of bling!!! Didn't actually buy anything (I know don't fall over with shock!) it was so hot and humid in there I just wanted to get out - it was 26 degrees outside!!
I wandered up and down many different streets taking in the sights. Found Taiping Nan Lu another famous shopping strip approximately 2.5 KMs long and so I walked all the way down that....and yes I did make a few small purchases. They literally sell everything from gold and diamonds to compliment your designer clothes through to the cheap factory outlets and rattan rubbish bins!! Saw several beautiful churches including a Catholic cathedral with the most magnificent sky blue domed ceiling. So different after seeing so many pagodas and temples here...churches almost look out of place.
Then I reached an area called FuziMiao. Hadn't realised I'd walked that far as I planned on spending a full day in this area to take in the sights - which I will still do - but figured I'd check out a bit of the place and get a feel for the area (didn't have my map of this area - bad move). Think of Salamanca Market on a Saturday morning spread over about 6 city blocks and you start to get the picture.....Took some lovely photos and got bailed up by many Chinese tourists who were all in tour groups and wanted their photo taken with me!!! By this time it was late afternoon and time to head home.
I should have known when I came out of the area in a different place to where I went in that I might just get it wrong.....but oh no the eternal optimist decided she could find her way home. Well I walked and I walked and I walked for hours...by this time its dark, I have no idea where I am and not a sign to be found in English or Pinyin!!! Figured I'd best keep walking in the well lit areas until I could find someone to help me or hail a taxi. Kept walking, walking, walking and then saw the sign for IKEA........I now knew where I was vaguely but it was MILES away from where I live and I had walked in the wrong direction for hours!!!!!
Felt like crying by this time (I know big sook!) but I was so frustrated with myself and still no sign of a knight in shining armour!!! Finally came across 2 old ladies who could see I was lost and they took me to the local police station. Well its more like a little box on the street where they have police set up to look after the neighborhood.... the police were rather busy arresting someone for something but they did look at my map where I could point out where I wanted to go and were very surprised I had got where I was. anyway they called a taxi for me and told them where to take me. A very long taxi ride and 20 kwai later (average cab fare is about 12 kwai around the city) I was safely back in familiar territory!!!!!
I decided I deserved a nice dinner so I headed over to the little Italian restaurant - one street away from the Uni - and treated myself to some penne al pesto and a lovely glass of pinot grigio. ended the day on a wonderful note!!!! I then went back to my apartment and promptly fell into bed, totally exhausted.
Found out today from some Chinese friends that I had walked approximately 30 KMs on my little adventure/drama/outing!!!! They could not believe it nor the fact that it hasn't deterred me from seeing more of this city - they have suggested I stick to my maps next time - and I think I'll follow their advice for a while at least....
Bye for now. xxxx
- comments
Ray Lovely pics Kate. Makes me homesick! Just remember when shopping, the Chinese are fantastic imitators, so what may display as "Gutchy" may not be so. Keep safe and maybe buy a bike for your travels...........oops.. forgot about their road rules............there aren't any.
Kate Hi Ray, glad you remembered about the traffic rules?!?! I cant see me trying to drive in this traffic, its hard enough to dodge them on foot!!!! Loving life here in Nanjing now that its heating up. Guess it is getting colder in dear old Tassie???