Another action packed day starting in Zumiao which is an area in the middle of a city with a Taoist temple.  Beautiful old artifacts and a feel of the taoist tradition which forms the root of acupuncture, it felt like coming home and I could have spent days there, despite the slightly disney tat that has gone up around it.  It was also Hazel's birthday and I forgot....Then we went to look at an old kiln which is a giant version of my mates, Catherine's. A long mud and stone construction which was fired by wood and stoked day and night until complete.  Took loads of photos's for Catherine as I know she will be fascinated.

Then on to Seven Star Crags which is in a mountainous region, but surrounded by sprawling city and development, very beautiful all the same. Travelling along the motorways you really get a sense of growth and change of the country. You don't just see one new bridge under construction, you see several, and this was just within an hour or so of driving. 

It's a bit late, but happy birthday Hazel....x

It's a bit late tonight, we have had a long day visiting a world heritage site called Kaiping Diaolou and a couple of villages, one with an old market, as always people are fascinated to see us, we have had our photos taken. Hazel and I ere asked by a few teenagers if they could take our photos, fab. These were very traditional and humble places, rice fields, and old traditional ways> Chikan Old Town really is special, although it does get some tourists we felt like a novelty, so they don't get many. Market stalls line the river, with old fishing boats and street food. I bought my nieces little trinkets made at the stall with little chinese engravings on rice grains. The big hit with us, having had virtually nothing sweet  all week, was a couple making seed and nut brittle with ginger, utterly divine.  I am not so keen on bamboo juice, but watching the fresh bamboo getting juiced was a novelty. 

Getting back into the mighty metropolis od Gungzhou ws almost painfull as the many laned traffic was slow, a late supper and then a couplle of beers down our local who are always pleased to see us.

I am very excited about tomorrow... more of that tomorrow..

neh ha from China

J

It's odd what you miss from home, I thought it would be coffee, but today I wanted buttery toast for breakfast and I have only been away for a week.  This morning was spent in a Tui Na lecture and demonstration, pushing and grasping, I am really interested in this and feel there are certain things I can add to my practice which would be really beneficial.

My back that was walked on yesterday feels like it has been hit with a sledge hammer, I drew the line at being worked on any more today.

Tonight we go straight from class on our river cruise, very excited about this, I cannot believe how well we are being looked after...our weekend begins very soon and then we are into our clinical week. 

These are lovely lovely people

Neh Ha

And a little bow to you