Gentle Reader,
Still backtracking and trying to catch up on blog entries for when we did not have access to internet... This entry continues our Li River Day.
After we exited the Li River Cruise, we walked through a little town that had obviously been constructed for tourists. Overflowing trinkets, which often included hats, shirts, backscratchers, purses, shoehorns (Scott's favorite!), sandals, cell phone holders, wax paintngs, batik paintings, etc... At the end of the block was... drumroll.... a Kentucky Fried Chicken! Whether we are in China or Turkey, whenever Scott mentions he teaches in Kentucky, people always respond with "Kentucky Fried Chicken?" So, of course , we had to get a KFC photo. The only restroom in the area was in the KFC, so the line was frustratingly long. I have learned to carry tissue paper with me for these squat stops. Leg muscles still going strong!
After the KFC restroom stop, we headed off into the countryside. Stephen is still our trusty guide. This is a vastly different world from the touristy areas, always rooted in agriculture. Very quickly as we left the town, we began to see more and more people transporting vegetables and various other daily sorts of needs on bicycles. We stopped at an old farmer's house in the countryside...a home that had been in their family for over 400 years. At one time, it had been considered a mansion, but now it is uite reduced. The family accepts tourists into their home, but it seems that the tourists are few and far between. We spent about 30 minutes alone with the family, being welcomed by their hospitality. They showed us the altar honoring their ancestor who had first inhabited this home. Then they offered us very juicy watermelon. The old woman of the household proudly showed me her room, inviting me to sit on her bed with her. We went on a tour of their home, discovering a sitting room of sorts with a television. There were many chickens around the side of the house. In a room directly next to the food preparation area, there were two wooden coffins with artistic designs on the front end. These were for the elderly of the household, lovingly made by the family members. The eldest man of the house delighted in showing us his birds, one of whom could do many tricks inside his cave. Scott assisted in the kitchen by helping make soy milk. He pulled on a long handle connected to two stone of a milling device while one of the women poured soy beans into the top of the mill. Soy milk!
A wonderful visit, where we felt very welcomed!
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