Back from China from 22 Oct to 30 Oct 2011. Was great to re-vist there once again. The first objective is to follow my mother and grandmother for relatives' visits, then rest and relax will come in play.
Went to Xiamen, then Raoping line at Teo Chew city for a night, before visitng the village ( there. Most of them are down there (Fuo Shan Zhen, Jun Pu Chun). Not much changes. Many kids had grown up, while most of the thing there are still the same. We went back Raoping for dinner. Alot of stalls offer dog meat and lamb. Then we headed to Swatou, and stayed the other night. Safety not that good, that was what we heard. However, roads and shops are bound to have. We then headed to Quanzhou, a city cheap in goods and services, good for business opportunities there to embark with. Then you can spent the money at Xiamen, a bustling city as nice as Singapore, but with expensive things and properties. From there we stayed 3 nights at Fujian Province, Anxi, where my grand father's side lives. Our granduncle and his wife passed away, so now left an empty rock house at the mountain top. Visiting there now and 14 years ago was so different. Was so lively with teens 14 years ago, now most of them grown up and started their family, work or got married to other cities. Very soon, the mountain (Peng Lai Zhen, Peng Ge Chun) will diminish to the extent that the old house will be preserved by their younger generations, and back on only special occassion. Who knows, it may become a heritate area in a couple of centuries time? There are still 3 houses when my china uncles and their family lives in the mountain top. One of them has been operating his show and keys making business at Xiamen for years. Eventually we went back to Xiamen for the last night, and i had initiated to visit the 2nd uncle who is doing his key making business.
It is also an open secret to be working in the government side that corruptions is inevitable. Therefore priviledges and high earning is no suprise to anyone who got into jobs related to the government sector there.
As for food, my comment is that most of the food are oily, with the element of Lards are being use. However, with china's natural food resources, their food are no doubt much fresher than ours in Singapore. And fish and seafood are vast, while pork and duck are their popular food. As for chicken, I hardly has a chance to see. What curbs the fats, oil, and cholestrols? Their habitual way of drinking teas in china. Almost practically, all household has a tea set with big trays for water to be poured onto the wide tray. As for our Anxi, the root of the 'Tie Kuan Yin' tea, they have the best production and grade for the tea.
There were many more dramas and happenings during the 8 nights, 9 days trip. But to summarize overall, it is a fruitful and wonder trip. Cheers.
Regards,
Kenray
