2005-05-08 - 7:45 p.m.

…Where was I? Oh yes, we disembarked from our superbly constructed "driftage” (I used the wrong word yesterday-they didn't call it a floatage-whatever)apparatus, and were headed to the little village/bizarro carnival area. Here is Mike overlooking the valley in all its glory-

First of all, let me just say that these people know how to roast corn on a stick. Among the stands selling squid, chicken, rabbit, (yes, rabbit) and other meats, were stands selling only corn. Yay corn! I had two sticks-and I could have had 5 more, but nature would have called soon, and you know my issues with public toilets in China.
So we walked around the little square filled with several of the people-movers that I spoke of earlier. (In case you are wondering about “people-movers”, I had a kid in one of my classes once that referred to all forms of transportation as “people-movers.” Anything at all that remotely fit into the category was greeted with pointing and clapping and shouts of “PEOPLE-MOVER!” He said it about everything from roller skates to wheelbarrows. Smart kid.)
PEOPLE MOVER! # 1-

For about 3 bucks, these people would cart you around in this carriage singing and playing instruments. Again, the route was a tiny little circle. Very amusing. They didn’t seem to like their jobs much. Some of them would half- heartedly shake their instrument and mumble parts of the song, all the while picking at their booty and looking around. They held the carriage up by their shoulders, and it seemed as if they were all ready to drop it at any moment. It looked like a really bouncy ride. I guess that’s where the “fun” comes in.
PEOPLE MOVER! #2-

Bungee balloon. Fits two people. Made in China. That’s all I’m sayin.
PEOPLE MOVER #3-Here, why don’t you read the sign for this one in Chinglish-

Yes, hunting in the bamboo forestis was exciting and nervours and definitely funny.
We shot at plastic animals.
They shook a little bit and a tiny speaker sputtered out the respective animal’s call.
Again, the track was a tiny circle. I am noticing a trend in China.
There was one hut that offered traditional Chinese dancing and singing.

It was pretty entertaining. People danced across the poles while the girls on each side moved the poles around a lot. Very tricky. They let audience members give it a try but you had to be asked by a girl, and they didn’t like me, so I didn’t get asked. I was crushed.
I have saved the worst for last. This place had 2 chicken shooting ranges. Real bows. Real arrows.
Real mean, in my opinion. There were roasted chicken stands everywhere, and I honestly think you could kill and roast your own chicken. Mike saw the sign for the Chicken Shoot before I did. I was watching the people in the bungee balloon cheat death, and out of the corner of my eye I noticed Mike jogging over to me. He turned me away, saying, “Don’t go over there, Julie!” I thought, what, are they killing live chickens? Yes, as it turns out, they were.
The little village was entertaining, although I’m sure not in the way they intended for it to be. They sold me on it though-I’d go back. It’s no Great Wall, but Shuangxi is a good time.( I will be able to stand by that statement when and if I ever actually visit the Great Wall. )
To round off our heaven-on-a-biscuit-week, we went on a river cruise-here's the Pudong District of Shanghai. (Pu=river, dong=east. See, I do know some Mandarin)and it was really fun. We thought it was too short though, so we signed up the next day for a 3-hour cruise. It was the world’s most boring tourist trap ever. A 3-hour cruise from the Huangpu River to the Yangzi River. If you are a ship enthusiast or even a shipping enthusiast,

then I’m sure it was awe-inspiring. There’s a reason we had fun on the first cruise……

. Here’s how much fun we had on the second cruise…

.

I had to teach school today—SUNDAY (remember, to make up for the “holiday?” !!!! I felt funny. I kept asking the kids if they felt funny, but they never said yes. They are used to it. It happens every year to them. I wish someone would invent a pill that would cure you of the “I-just-got-back-from-vacation-and-I-refuse-to-return-to-daily-life” syndrome. You’ve all had it. At work, you sit and stare straight ahead, or hide under your desk, or the go to the bathroom a zillion times, or try to physically transport yourself into the internet, or invent reasons why you have to leave early. (“My hair is ugly.”) I’ll be back to normal soon, I’m sure……………………….xoxo, Julie

?lt;/P>

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