Author: jricketson

China – Day 8 – Arrival in Xi’an

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By Lachlan B and James M

 

 

While some began the day at what has now become a refreshing 7:15 am wake up call, several others had their day begin with a revitalising 6:15 am exercise session in the hotel gymnasium. After this, we enjoyed a buffet-breakfast consisting of foods such as fried rice, bacon, noodles and ‘quicksand buns’. Next, we had an hour to pack our bags and get ready for our 8:45 am bus-ride to the Guiyang airport. During the bus ride, one of our guides, Charles, informed us of the importance and cultural significance of our next destination, Xi’an. We learnt that it had been the capital of China for 400 years, from 1000 A.D., and therefore it is the home of many ancient monuments and artefacts. At the end of the ride, we said an affectionate goodbye and gave a gift to our local tour guide, Billy.

 

Once we landed in Xian airport, we were amused to come across a series of temporary sleeping compartments for napping, which was paid for by the hour. They were designed much like a smaller single hotel room with only a bed and a mirror. This service seemed odd, but it was likely an efficient and convenient way of utilising unused space. On our next leg of the trip, to the Xi’an Museum, Charles told us that Xian has a population of 8 million and is the end of the Silk Roads. Out of the 650 cities, Xian is considered to be a secondary-to-tertiary level city, compared to the primary megacities such as Shanghai and Beijing. Inner-Xi’an is encased by a 13.7-kilometre wall that is 600 years old, with a bell-tower at its centre. As for the culture of Xi’an, it is greatly influenced by its northern location, with many of its dishes, including its famous dumplings, being a result of a large amount of wheat farmed in the region. Even Marco Polo, after arriving in Xian, took these wheat-based foods and Westernised them into what we now know as pizza! In addition, the relatively large Muslim population (around 80,000 today) impacted the amount of beef, lamb and pork eaten in the Xi’an diet.

 

Once at the museum, we had the opportunity to observe the history of Xi’an through its incredible array of ancient artefacts. The museum had five main rooms that chronologically explored the rich history of China. We were in awe of the amount of history and physical objects on display. Apparently, there are 171,000 treasures in the museum! The first artefact that caught our eye was located in the main foyer and was a reproduction of a larger-than-life stone lion dating back to 690 A.D. from an Emperor’s tomb.

 

Whilst going through the first section based on early human activity in China, we came across many primitive tools, and even a life-sized Neolithic man, believed to be one of the oldest hominids in Northern Asia. Throughout the museum, we discovered numerous jaw-dropping artefacts, many which we’re sure that we will show you in the hundreds of photos we took once we return home. Some of our personal favourites were:

 

  • A large Bronze Chariot, consisting of over 3,000 parts
  • A tiger-shaped emperors seal, consisting of two parts that, when joined, could be used to validate an order, or transfer military power to his ministers
  • A Buddha statue, that signified the rise of Buddhism in China;
  • A 56 gold-leaf stone couch that had markings that criticised the affairs of foreigners in China

 

After the museum, we took off to dinner in a local restaurant close to our hotel and enjoyed time-honoured local dishes. Later, upon returning to the hotel we had a quick Armistice Day service for the centenary of the end of World War 1. Once in our rooms, parents will be happy to know that we got the chance to get our clothes washed, and then went off to bed for a good night’s sleep.

 

Lachie B

Dear Mum, Dad, Tom and Benny,

I’m having a great time in China, I especially liked the tour that we got of the Miao village which gave me an insight into the lives of the rural Chinese people. I’m missing you all but I but I’m probably missing my bed the most! I am looking forward to the rest of the trip and seeing Granny’s puppy once I get back. Love, Lachie.

 

James M

Dear Family,

You’ll be happy to know that I haven’t broken anything and don’t plan to. I am loving China and getting deep into what it is as a country. To Dad, I expect a full report of all Arsenal games played and a hug on my return home. To Mum and Kit, a hug will suffice.

Missing you all lots,

Love yas,

James M

 

China – Day 7 – Corn Husking, Sweet Potato Farming, Guiyang

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By Akshaye Ghela and Max Kerr

 

We started the day with a soft morning wake-up knock at 7:15 am! We then packed our bags to leave the Xiao Ju guest house. Next was breakfast, which was a hybrid of Chinese and Western cuisine (corn flakes, toast with jam or fried eggs and Chinese noodles). After a short bus trip to the village, we arrived at the mountain where the local Miao village resides. We then began the 45-minute ascent up the pathway leading to the village. It was an invigorating morning walk and we drank lots fluids to keep hydrated and energised.

 

On arrival at the village, we rested for a short time at the house of the wonderful and hospitality of Mr and Mrs Li, who have been so gracious to host us these two days. We then embarked on another walk further up the mountain, where we would gain further insight into local agricultural practise through corn husking and sweet potato farming. We split into two smaller groups of 14 each, and practised each activity for 45 minutes each before swapping. The sweet potato farming involved utilising hoes and sickles in order to harvest the crop buried in the soil. The sickle was excellent at clearing away the knotted stems and leaves. The potato digging involved a special technique where the farmer would dig around the root of the plant in a circle formation, surrounding the root in a trench of soil, before pulling the potato from the soil. The first group managed to collect 85 kg of crop!

 

The next activity was the corn husking. In a house above the sweet potato field, we sat around oversized metal bowls, collecting corn cobs that had been threaded together. Wearing our protective gloves, we proceeded to husk the corn into smaller individual bowls, before pouring them into a large rice bag. The work was intensive but hugely satisfying, as the empty husks piled up. Though tiring, the work was ultimately rewarding as we understood what a small part of the daily lives of Miao farmers might be like – we are starting to learn about the reality of other lives.

 

Later, we returned to the Li household and prepared the table and chairs for a sumptuous lunch of fresh village food. The feast consisted pork with peppers, chicken with carrot, cauliflower, green lettuce, steamed rice and scrumptious chips. Once the lunch was over, we heard the noise of firecrackers, which is a long-lasting traditional practise for foreigners entering and leaving the village. Through our departure we then began our decent down the hill to reach our bus which would eventually take us back to the city of Guiyang. The walk was punctuated with astonishing views of great valleys and crevasses through the mountains.

 

After a lengthy bus ride lasting some 3 ½ hours, we reached our destination in Guiyang, The Regal Hotel. We quickly received our room keys and had ten minutes to freshen up before dinner. Dinner included sweet and salty pork, chicken with beans, beef with tomato, spicy potato and pork, fries and tomato sauce, rice noodles, pork spaghetti, steamed rice and for dessert a well-earned chocolate cake with strawberries. Dinner was well deserved and ultimately ended the day on a positive note before going to bed.

 

 

 

Max:

 

Dear family, hope all is well and that you are enjoying a peaceful household without me. I am feeling okay – don’t have too much fun watching all the Riverdale I am missing out on! The views and experiences I have had so far have been amazing – especially the pandas! I’ll be home before you know it with many photos to share. Love Max.

 

Akshaye:

 

Dear Family, I miss you guys very much and can’t wait to see you all. I hope everything is all okay at home and I am enjoying myself very much with all the experiences that I am having so far. I am still excited for all the places that I am going to for the rest of the trip in Xi’an, Shanghai and Beijing. My highlight of this trip so far has been the pandas and I am still looking forward to the terracotta warriors. I am enjoying the food and there has always been an opportunity for me for have some sort of meat and not just eat a vegetarian meal all the time. Can’t wait to see you all!

 

 

 

 

               

China – Day 6 – Hiking, Baibi School

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By Tom and Sophie

 

Our day started later than we were used to at this point. A knock on the door at 7:45 am interrupted our sleep. We headed across the road for a more western style breakfast, consisting mainly of jam toast and corn flakes. At 9:25 we began a 4-kilometre hike across the valley to the primary school where we would trek down one mountain slope and up another. We passed an abundance of rice fields and learned that the rice was to be harvested mid-October. Once the fields are cleared, ashes are made from remains in the fields to make fertiliser. The fertiliser was also made when rice straws were kept with animals as the manure and rice straws combine. It is estimated that 100 square metres of fields produce 1500 kilograms of rice. New rice sprouts in July or August and the festival of new rice celebrates the regrowth with a gargantuan feast. A family receives an average rate of income of 400 yuan per year from selling rice. The water buffalo is a sacred animal and it is symbolised in a lot of buildings and structures because it helps with ploughing.

 

Our arrival was celebrated with the firecrackers, lemonade and a special bamboo and fir tree instrument called the Lusheng Pipes. Traditionally, guests would be fed rice-wine by hosts, but we received Sprite instead. We were introduced to the host and hostess, Mr and Mrs Lee. Billy (our local guide) informed us that traditionally, houses were divided into three floors, the first for animals and bathrooms, the second for bed and living rooms, and the third for storage. Mrs Lee was wearing customary daily-wear, consisting of a wildflower headdress, silver jewellery and a black velvet jacket embroidered with flowers. While lunch was being prepared, Billy took some of us on a small tour of the village. The first thing we saw were some notices from the county government, telling people to use fire carefully, especially in winter, because the village is located in the midst of a forest and many of the houses are constructed from wood. Next, we were shown the dancing court of the locals, where they worship nature, not gods, and are known as Animists. We saw the oldest house in the village, with a history dating back more than two hundred years. Outside was a big wooden box or cart that was used when harvesting to aid the families carrying rice back to their homes.

 

Lunch consisted of rice, beef and greens, egg and some exquisite potatoes covered in delectable spices. Some of us were challenged to taste the local chilli – one of the spiciest, Billy informed us – according to everyone, it was very hot! After eating, together we tidied up our mess and gave a huge thanks to our hosts as we left.

 

When arriving at the school, called Baibi, we were all incredibly excited. Sophie was able to speak on behalf of the school, telling the locals about our home life back in Australia. The school has 50 students, 6-year levels and 7 teachers, including one English teacher. The children started off with some exercise and we joined in, but we weren’t very good at picking up the choreography. We were then split into six groups, one per class. We attempted to teach them English, some us being very successful and others not so much. After this, we were able to sit in with one of the English classes, where the students were learning parts of the face. Mrs Marshall had the opportunity to take the class towards the end and teach the students verbs. Although we had trouble communicating verbally, it was a learning experience for everyone.

 

Following that, half of us were able to participate in some sports and games with the students, while others helped sort out donations. Some people joined in on a game of basketball and some played badminton. The funds raised by us all from the walkathon contributed towards buying winter jackets, pants and boots as well as a computer for one of the classrooms. A leftover 2000 yuan was donated to the school and Rebecca, who had raised the most, made a quick parting speech to the school. Her Grandma, Joan Schoch, knitted a family of soft toys for the village, Rebecca proudly gifted them to Mr and Mrs Lee’s child who was 10 months old. It was invigorating and transcending to see the kids’ faces light up as we handed over their gifts individually, to be able to explore the village and immerse in the culture.

 

Soon after a short walk to the bus, we made it back to our lodging. We had a wonderful dinner with potatoes, bacon, noodles, beef, egg and, most importantly, duck. We sang Happy Birthday to Reilly and then all headed back to the guesthouse.

 

Sophie:

 

Dear Mum,

 

I hope unpacking is going well. I love you and miss you, Daisy and Pablo. Please give them both a big hug from me. Thank you so much for this opportunity. All my love, Sophie.

 

Tom:

 

Dear Family,

 

I miss you all so, so, so much! Thanks so much to everyone who donated for my fundraiser and to those who paid for my trip. It has been incredible so far and I am so glad to be here. Mum, I hope you’ve stopped crying now ;). Dad and Ben, I hope Survivor has been good, you better let me recap when I get home. The pandas have been my highlight so far (as expected) and I got to clean the cages and see them! I’ve seen a lot of dogs and cats running around and, as you guys told me to, I have refrained from petting them. Please don’t worry about me, the nuts have not been a problem (I haven’t had to eat the chicken noodles yet). Give the cats a hug from me and I will see you in a few more weeks! Love, Tom

 

China – Day 5 – Chengdu to Xi Jiang!

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By Brodie and Reilly

 

Awakening to the hotel phones ringing about the floor at 6:30AM, we gradually begin our descent to the breakfast buffet. Our minds fixated on the food we’ve known and loved for the previous four days, our understanding of what food we enjoy is clear.

 

As we depart from Cheng Du City for the final time, our 8-hour travelling journey begins and so does the next chapter of our China trip. The first part of this journey involves making our way through customs, which saw the demise of Mrs Marshall’s beloved fruit-peeling knife. We arrive at our destination roughly at 8:15 am, allowing us plenty of time to swiftly move through security and search for shops that would grant us our wishes of Western cuisine. The result of this expedition saw the purchase of an overpriced grapefruit juice and lots of skittles. We return to our seats, eagerly awaiting the arrival of our bullet train which can travel up to 300km/h. As we slowly board on to the train, which resembles the interior of an aeroplane, we begin our four hour trip to the village of Xi Jiang through the rural Chinese countryside to the sound of high-pitched teenage squeals as to who sits where. To pass the time, we partake in a heated game of ‘Cards Against Humanity’. This provided plenty of laughter and PG-13 entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.

 

After the train came the bus ride. The bus ride through the Rural areas of China was quite amazing. It was extremely mountainous and very green. This bus trip also enabled us to take a look at some of China’s remote farmland and deepened our understandings of how privileged our lives in Australia are. After four more hours on the bus, we finally arrived at Xiao Ju guest house. After learning who would be rooming with us, we unpacked our bags and jumped on our beds, that were tougher than expected. We swiftly learnt that some rooms were hailed with an additional story, and some were not. Outrage began.

 

Hungry and full of energy, we leave toward our much-anticipated dinner at the Banquet of Long Tables. The weather was absolutely freezing. On the way to dinner, we learnt about the heritage of the Miao people with our new tour guide, Billy. The dinner was at the Banquet of the Long Tables. We all sat along a long table and shared many dishes including sweet and sour pork, stir-fried rice and lemon glazed sweet mashed potatoes, which was an experience. At the end of the night, we all celebrated Jack’s 16th birthday. For his birthday, we all got to eat boiled eggs. We were told to smash the egg on our foreheads for good luck, this was the highlight of my day. The yolk was green – but that’s okay.

 

Though this day may have been filled with plenty of travel, the celebration of Jack’s birthday and the cracking of open an egg on your forehead certainly proved to turn today into a great one that we won’t forget any time soon, and we look forward to tomorrow.

 

Reilly: S’doin Parentals. Hope everyone’s alive. Tell Darcy I got him a lit panda toy at the panda enclosure. I haven’t run out of money yet, still holding strong. It’s been amazing so far especially the day with the Panda’s but there’s LOTS of travelling. It’s my birthday tomorrow so eat cake for me. Use the Nutribullet you got for me as well. See you in 13 days.

 

Brodie:

Hello family that is too long to individually mention… I’m hoping that everyone is fine and doing well as your favourite son is no longer in Melbourne. So far, saying that China is great would be an understatement. Yet, I’m still looking forward to seeing you all in 13 days.

 

 

China – Day 4 – Chengdu Panda Research Base

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By Lachlan O’B and Daniel:

 

Day Three was all about pandas! For some, this would be the highlight of the trip. First, however, we had to tackle the feat of getting up at 6:30, a task that some are still struggling to accomplish. After a hurried breakfast we boarded the bus for an hour’s drive to the Qing Cheng Mountains, home to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

 

On arrival, we were ushered to lockers, where we stowed our belongings for the day and donned glamorous cyan full-body outfits, the uniform of the “panda husbandry learners”. We then drove in 12-seat golf carts to the panda enclosures. We were met by glass fences with signs reading: “I am responsible for being cute. You are responsible for being quiet.” These surrounded various climbing apparatus containing a gutter, which acted as an effective depository for ‘panda matter’. Then, we got straight to work cleaning the enclosures, which were cluttered with panda poo, slyly obscured by leaves. One of the pandas had been taken from the wild, having suffered life threatening injuries, necessitating the amputation of a leg. The panda’s misfortune revealed how hard the staff work to help the animals and demonstrates hardship that pandas can encounter in the wild. Motivated by the presence of the fluffy pandas we cleared the enclosures quickly, then toured the sanctuary, learning that the facility uses the panda’s waste, which is largely composed of bamboo, to produce paper and fertilise tea.

 

Our lunch break took us to a restaurant with a contract. All visitors are required to sign a piece of paper, saying that they will prevent waste by finishing all the food that they put onto their plate. After lunch, we filed into a viewing room to watch a short documentary on the panda and conservation effort to save it from extinction. We learned that, while pandas once ranged in large numbers from Beijing to the Himalayas, habitat destruction has resulted in wild populations dwindling to a meagre 1500. Some areas are too steep for logging, meaning that the remaining pandas live in isolated pockets where the terrain is mountainous. This can limit the genetic diversity of a breeding group within this area, confined to similar or the same bloodline. As in other species, inbreeding can have detrimental health impacts which contribute to the decline in population that has put Giant Panda at risk of extinction.

 

Conservationists and panda experts alike are fighting to prevent this outcome through extensive and innovative breeding efforts pioneered by Dr Zhang, affectionately known as “Papa Panda.” The breeding trials have not been without complications, however. The researchers have struggled to encourage the pandas to breed, but after learning that female pandas are only capable of mating for two days out of every year and making efforts to simulate the pandas’ natural environment, they began to succeed. Another challenge has been incubating pandas when they cannot be with their mothers. Early on, two-thirds of all incubated baby pandas died within eighty days of their birth, but after discovering that baby pandas require help to relieve “colonic congestion”. There are now 170 pandas in Dr Zhang’s sanctuary, but the biggest problem has been introducing the pandas to the wild. When raised in captivity, they do not learn the instincts necessary to survive in the wild. In particular, they don’t learn to evade predators. Work has been done to train the pandas to live in the wild by giving them extensive enclosures, limiting human interaction, and simulating the threat of predators.

 

China’s government has emphasised the protection of pandas and their habitat. The country replants four million hectares of trees every year, topping the efforts of all other countries combined. They have also negotiated with farmers to rehouse away from panda habitats. The farmers whose homes and farms have suffered heavy damage from the 2008 earthquakes are willing to exchange their land for housing which will be in the valleys, away from the habitat.

 

There is a misconception that pandas are like koalas: they only eat one thing. However, although they eat up to 38kg of bamboo a day they are also fed carrots and “panda cakes” among other things. They are actually omnivorous, eating birds and mice occasionally in the wild. The “panda cakes” are a specialty mix of rice, soybeans, corn and a bit of sugar and help to balance the diet of the pandas.

 

Hot Pot is a local specialty in Chengdu and so on the final night here we had to go and try it. Various meats are assembled on platters while the central hot pot bubbles away with tomato and mushroom soup and assorted accompanying vegetables. A condiment station allows you to pick herbs, spices and sauces for you to customise your meal and create a dipping sauce for your meal. The circular tables allowed for thriving conversation and the preparation of your own meal was very enjoyable. This week we are celebrating the birthdays of Rebecca, Riley and Jack the former having been celebrated today with Chinese happy birthday playing through the restaurant speakers and celebratory cake shared after our meal. Tomorrow we head off to Guiyang and then to the rural village, but our time in Chengdu will definitely be remembered.

 

Lachlan O’B: Hi Mom, Dad, and Alex. I hope you guys are well. I’m actually enjoying the food and I’m managing to get enough sleep. I’ve loved the trip so far, but I look forward to seeing you guys when we get back.

 

Daniel: Trip’s been great. The group is getting along fantastically. I am having a bit of a dairy crisis and have had fried rice at every meal thus far.  First culture shock was at the equivalent of the botanical gardens where they had old school tinder, parents writing spiels about their son or daughter and why they might be the perfect match for you on laminated pieces of paper and sticking them around the place. Hope you are doing well. A highlight is the pandas who act exactly as you’d expect them to. They’re very uncoordinated. See you in 14 days.

 

 

 

China – Day 3 – Leshan Giant Buddha

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By Lachlan and Noah

We woke up today at the pleasant hour of 6am, to the harmonious chorus of an overly aggressive telephone. Half an hour later, we wandered downstairs to breakfast, which for some was a spread of dumplings and spicy noodles and for others, a bowl of rice bubbles and some tasteless Starbucks coffee. We finished breakfast and got ourselves ready for for an 8amdeparture, beginning a two-hour bus journey to the Leshan Buddha.

The bus ride was our first real look into Chinese lifestyle outside of the densely populated city and provided a stark contrast when compared to the bustling inner-city. We saw an area that was used for farming as well as for housing, showing that even 2 hours out of a mega-city like Chengdu, the urban sprawl is still prevalent. We entertained ourselves with cards and music until we arrived at the confluence of the Min and Dadu Rivers.

 

 

We then boarded an open-top boat that took us out onto the Dadu River to view the giant buddha. We stopped directly in front of the 71-meter-tall stone carving of Maitreya, who is the future ‘enlightened one’ in the Buddhist religion. The views of this amazing red bed sandstone carving were breath-taking and we were all very eager to get photos. Our local Chengdu guide, Penny, also informed us that the Buddha was constructed between the years of 713 and 803AD and that it was the biggest stone carving of a Buddha in the entire world.

 

Lunch came after the boat trip, and was classic Chinese cuisine consisting of fried rice, all types of meat, vegetables cooked in bizarre yet tasty ways, and tea that strangely smelled and tasted like bread, it was still of course, very delicious. When eating lunch, we reflected on our previous Chinese meals, and how the “lazy Sally” (the spinning table) was commonplace in most Chinese restaurants. This created an atmosphere where we found ourselves sharing both food, and raucous laughter. Overall, lunch today was an introduction to the sharing culture of Chinese society.

 

After lunch, we walked for about 45 minutes, up steep stairs to get to the top of the buddha where an amazing view was waiting for us. We spent 25 minutes walking around the top of the Buddha, taking many photos and admiring the sheer size and craftsmanship of this carving. Walking down from the top of the Buddha, we admired the vista, and the scarlet red writing that contrasted stunningly with the soft green flora.

 

Upon returning to our hotel, we admired the complex array of neon lights that earned Chengdu its badge as China’s ‘hipster capital’. For dinner, we visited a restaurant that was similar to the one we ate lunch at. After filling our bellies, we returned to the hotel where we settled down for a good sleep in preparation for a big day with the pandas.

 

Noah: Dear Mum and Dad, China is incredibly interesting, I’m finding all the culture fascinating and I’m sure I will remember this trip forever. I am having lots of fun, can’t wait to tell my stories to you.

 

Lachie: Hi Mum, Dad, Daphne and Lulu, I’m having a great time in so far and am actually adjusting really well to the Chinese cuisine. Thinking of you and wishing Lulu good luck in her choreography comp from China. Love you