Gentle Reader,
This past weekend was spent largely in a sweaty van... first going through numerous tunnels, then travelling on roads under extreme construction, and then traversing over roads that were more road surface hoping to be roads. We all hung onto armrests, trying not to fall out of our seats, while the driver negotiated hours of potholes and un-roads as we journeyed far out into the countryside. Keep in mind that Guizhou is the poorest province in China, and as you head out into the very rural areas, the poverty is much more noticeable. We headed south and west, exploring extremely remote areas. We explored two Dong villages and one Miao settlement.
The drum towers were a major feature at the villages. These are elaborate structures used for gathering spaces, special announcements to the village people, and ceremonies throughout the year. We observed the people of these villages going about their lives in a very self-sufficient manner. They grew their own vegetables, made their own clothing, prepared dyes for the fabrics with natural elements from their surroundings, etc... We were even treated to a country dinner at the first Dong village, with fish fresh from the stream and eggplant just picked. They used a great deal of bean sprouts in their cooking... and an immensity of garlic, too. No holding back on the red chile peppers, either.
Here are some photos to capture the essence of the weekend experience...
Namaste,
Bai Ling/ Marianne
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