June 30th Good morning world, it’s a brand new day! I felt a lot better this morning. Her Majesty said she felt better but still had phlegm and a croaky voice so I left it up to her whether or not we went out and if we did where we would go. She was very brave. We took the #2 bus to the edge of town and headed into the countryside via the kindergarten route.
I should point out that at every turn I let Huan decide which way to go to make sure that if she started feeling a bit worse we could head on home. She took the longer route every time.
Soon we were into the village and over the bridge.
There are times when we really miss getting off the beaten track and fighting our way through the forests and the streams, exploring places that we didn’t know whatsoever. However, we can still take pleasure in getting away from traffic and being as close to nature as possible.
Sometimes nature can be very small.
Huan was getting into the swing of things again and her peepers were back on form.
Sometimes the director is also the photographer and sometimes, even with just her phone, she does a grand job. Just look at this bird where we stopped for water.
Before we reached the bus stop for our return trip the boss managed to find me more lizards.
Back in town we had dumplings for lunch and almost forgot to photograph them.
At home naps were a vital part of the rest of our day, both of us needed them. Just like the last few days the rain came along in the afternoon but not enough to worry us. We could still go out for dinner sans umbrellas, well I could. Huan did carry one for her. Having walked eight kilometres this morning we didn’t go far this evening, just the buffet restaurant.
July 1st Today was an admin day, or maybe we should say a maintenance day. What was being serviced or maintained? Why, my weary bones of course. First the usual BP tests, we had just walked there and up the stairs so the figures are not worrying, at least for me they’re not.
Dr. Shen wasn’t busy today so we were in to see him very quickly.
Next was the cashier followed by the pharmacy, no queues to worry about today.
And then off to the mainline room we went. First I had to hand over my liquids and the receipt for services to be rendered than I waited, alone in the big room. Well, Huan was there too.
The nurse came along, with a student in training. I reminded them that I was a big baby!
I was then left to my own devices.
Huan was busy on her phone; I had forgotten my book, as usual. Soon enough the nurse came along to unplug me and set me free again.
It was time then for a little shopping, before stopping for lunch. We had ròu jiā mó with a dish of cucumber to which we added some vinegar and I also had a tea egg.
On the way home Huan found a bird and I found a lizard, she was happy.
We enjoyed our lazy day and didn’t go too far for dinner in the evening.
July 2nd Because it is nearly a month since Donald last went out to play, when we
came back from
Inside we were a little disappointed. In fact we turned round just after the corner you see here, road works were in progress. Looking on the internet later there may well be something to see, we will try again when winter arrives.
We continued on down the road and turned off for Baoting. We had never visited the seven fairy mountain park before so that was our destination. The second photo shows the fairies as seen from the car park. I’m not sure how you count seven though.
This is the visitor centre and also where you buy your entrance tickets. As you can see we did not have the best of the weather with us today.
I think Huan wanted us to go inside and up the hill. I managed to talk her out of it, partly because she had been coughing up phlegm all morning and partly because I really did not fancy going up and up and then up some more! If you check the map you will see that to reach the end of the hike, the ‘Immortality Altar, you actually have to use your hands to climb. Too much for me!
We may well try again in the future, with the right footwear and carrying some drinks and sandwiches. Making a day of it might make it a little easier. Meanwhile, in the square Huan was bust snapping a butterfly. I had forgotten the camera today so we were stuck with phones.
Speaking of the square, here are some views for you.
This is the way in, the start. Huan made me climb all those steps just to come down again!
And here is a final look at the seven fairies just before we left the car park.
It was just as well that I talked Huan out of going up the mountain because within just a few minutes the rain started. It would now have been fun at all.
Lunch was sandwiches at home and despite no walking this morning we still ended up napping for nearly two hours. How do we do it? For a change, a nice one for me, we went to the burger place for dinner. The double beef burgers were off so Huan had a fish burger. I had a chicken wrap, some chicken strips and we both had some chips.
July 3rd Are we getting old? Neither of us fancied going out this morning so we stayed in. Huan did the weekly wash and I did my Chinese lessons. It wasn’t quite bliss but it was a peaceful day. Typhoon system is now officially upon us; the first one is called ‘Maysak’ and will be passing the south of the island tonight. We don’t foresee anything to worry about.
As usual, we went out for dinner, across our little island bridge.
The irrigation canal was quite empty so families were collecting something, maybe snails, crabs or shrimps, we couldn’t see inside their containers well enough. Two guys had found a lot of small fish; I guess they were unable to escape.
Looking at the river further on, I wondered if the authorities were preparing for the possible Maysak rains. The level was way down; no doubt because the gates were wide open.
I had three choices lined up for Huan, the first place was closed, the second and third places were almost next door to each other. She chose the third, Uncle Ma’s Spicy Hot Pot. Here she is out of shot collecting her freebies and then the freebies on the table. PS The rice was not free.
Finally, our two dinners, Huan’s has the seaweed.
The skies didn’t look too ominous as we walked home but the rains did appear before we went to bed. As is often the case, we are on the fringes of the typhoon. Well, although it is being called a typhoon it is only at the level of a tropical storm so far.
July 4th The river may have been running low yesterday but it certainly wasn’t this morning. In fact rain stopped play again.
And that was our Saturday, no market walk either, but we did at least get out for dinner.
I did chat to a pooch on the way home so Huan had to get that on record!
July 5th Did I ask where the rain was last week? Well my questions have been answered, it is here now, the rainy season has begun. It may be late but it is still wet. Last night’s weather forecast said rain for a short time at nine this morning so not long after nine we went out.
We did check the sky so didn’t plan to go too far, just from the end of the #2 bus route and back home along the riverside. Huan found a lizard when we got off the bus; he didn’t seem all that bothered by the rain. Mind you it had eased off a bit.
Today we chose the middle path hoping to find some birds.
We had limited success.
Looking back towards the last road bridge we could see that the
dragon boat train had been lifted out of the river. I guess that was
precautionary in case of possible typhoon damage. Maysak has passed by now, the
next one, Bavi, is still a long way east of the
The rain didn’t miss us though and we got quite wet on our way home. I really should have worn something other than sandals on my feet! Carrying umbrellas may also have helped but at least the rain is not cold here!
Lunch was sweet potatoes with boiled eggs and some baked beans for me. For dinner we went to the new noodle place where the chef told us that rice dishes were now also available.
The chef was asking Huan if I spoke any Chinese. Well my Chinese is still nowhere near what I would like it to be and my listening skills are even worse. However, I answered him by saying that I do speak some and then asked him why there were no potatoes on my dish, the second one above. The answer was as expected, “that’s only a photograph”!
July 6th Well wouldn’t you know it, rain stopped play again today. Mind you, the bug had returned and both of us had severely congested sinuses when we woke up this morning. After Huan had finished her breakfast and I my coffee I introduced Huan to the ‘stick your head over a bowl of hot menthol’ method as taught to me by mother dear. It seemed to work better for me than it did for her, no idea why.
In the evening we still had to eat which meant we still had to go out. Our destination was the Lanzhou Beef Noodle restaurant where we started with some fried bread. That could possibly become a lunch time snack with a plate of salad.
Huan’s dish was a beef noodle soup; mine was a spaghetti type of noodle sans soup.
I expected mine to be much drier than it was, just look at the oodles of soup there. Also it is on a shallow plate and not in a bowl. Add that to the fact that the noodles are nigh on impossible to eat successfully with chopsticks and you have a recipe for disaster!
It was very yummy though, if I have it again I will be sure to ask for a bowl! So we end another week with both of us well below 100%. I will be taking the bowl and towel treatment as soon as I have finished this post. Huan has bought antibiotics for herself, despite my protestations. Wish us both luck, we’ll see you all next time!
