XIAMEN, FUJIAN, CHINA

You would think I was famous, but alas we were greeted as we left the boat in Xiamen with what looked to be a college class working on their journalism assignment. They gave us red scarves and red bags with gifts for the New Year – it was actually fun but Larkin had to pull me away or we would miss our bus to the South Putuo temple area. Language is a barrier in an interview! Xiamen, Fujian, China is actually an island. Our Chinese American friend, Lucy’s grandfather was born in this area and she had never been here before. She told us it was like coming home.

The area was very busy as it was a day people go to the temple to pray before the new year! The temple was built during the Tang Dynasty. During the Qing Dynasty in 1684 they rebuilt parts of it and expanded adding more temples. There was also the Minnan Buddhist College established in 1925 on the site. During the cultural revolution, it was converted into a factory but the temples were restored to being a Buddhist site in the 1980’s. It is located on the southeast side of the island and the Wulao Peaks are behind the temple.

It took us so long at the temple going with the flow of the crowd, we didn’t have much time at the museum to go in and walk around. I loved the typical Chinese man on the phone and the lady with her granddaughter in their beautiful red dresses!

The statues outside the museum were a testament to their incredible Chinese rock work which we were told is slowly dying away. Some folks walked with the guide in the museum for a ten minute quick walk, some of use used the restrooms and sauntered back to the bus. It seems on each bus trip, we meet up with different friends, today was Paul and Sherrill (who is posing with the carved stones) from Chicago. I of course, always notice my pigs! The strangest happening was hearing the song Clementine and other camp songs like Banjo on my knee from a hundred years ago in public places, as reworked with no words into instrumental songs!

The night sky lit up with buildings on the main land. Their colorful pattern was mesmerizing. But the next day was more magical! Ning and Weiwen took Larkin, Chris, Lucy and I, to a Michelin restaurant for duck congee. Larkin and I kept with the duck parts we knew!

After the congee, we walked toward the wet market. Larkin and I were the only pale faces for blocks!

There was no fishy smell despite the amount of fresh fish! I loved that the crabs are tied in pink bows. The black whatevers are called vegetable hair – I don’t want to know what the next photo shows…not something I’d consume unless its cooked in something and I didn’t know! And eggs, any color how many dozen do you need?

Fresh fruit including white strawberries…its always the season near the tropics for fresh tropical fruit and apparently any kind of fruit.

After the market we went to have noodles and a peanut rice dish…both delicious. While walking to the restaurant, we noticed a cat that looks like Mr. Ferguson! He was so fun to cat sit last summer for a week!

Its all about food…Ning waited in the line on the left to get more food. Ning and Weiwin have lived in Xiamen and knew what they wanted to take to the ship. As we got closer to the tourist areas, people tried to talk to us in English. We had a little over and hour to get back to the ship before it left, so Larkin and I tried to find where the cruise shuttle was which meant we needed to find a tunnel under the busy road which we never found. Then we happen to find Chris and Lucy again along with Ning and Weiwin and tried to get the right bus to the port. Taxi’s kept telling us its quicker by bus, but after getting on and off one bus, and the time was getting close to departure, we took two taxi…which got us right where we were meant to be in under 10 minutes for around $3.00!

Magical, just magical…a way to enjoy China that we never expected. Up next is Hong Kong and Lunar New Year….the event is celebrated by numerous cultures and we certainly enjoyed all this wonderful holiday had to offer!