hello guys.  I haven't been able to access xanga's website from where I am in China.  I think the Great firewall of China has blocked it.....so for now, I won't be able to post anything. 

My roommate, JT, is quite an interesting fellow.  He's a good writer...check him out!

www.teemingbrain.blogspot.com

I just came back from the countryside visiting my friends for Chinese New Year.  At first, I wasn't looking forward to it because of the inconveniences that came with living in the villages but I ended up having a great time.  I enjoyed the people, the culture, the food, and the time away from everything.     

This is the bus I took to the first home.  It cost about 7RMB per person. 



The countryside isn't as beautiful during this time of year.  Everything looks dead.  This is the first time I'm experiencing the different seasons. 



These are my friend's grandparents.  They look kinda old but they can squat and move like a youngster. 



Meet my friend Grace. 



The day after the New Year's Day, some people came to this site and did some kind of ritual.  They burned incense and paper, laid down fruit and meat, splashed some wine over the burning pile of paper, and bowed.  Then, they lit the firecrackers. 



After a while, they corporately bowed (about nine times...I kinda lost count) to the shrine.  After this, they brought out some musical instruments and danced around the shrine and sang a little.  I recorded a 52 second clip of them dancing so you can see what it looks like and how the song sounds like. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scrPoZaTTJc



After all the dancing and singing, we had lunch.  It felt like a hot pot picnic.  Everyone broke up into different groups and had hot pot...which the women had been preparing since I arrived in the morning.  I got to sit this group. 



Off to village #2.  I started getting lazy about taking photos so the rest is kinda random.   



To catch the fish, they let out all the water from their field.  Once the water was gone, it was easy to pick them up. 



Hanging out




Village #3

Sao Kao means Barbeque in Mandarin. 

I was recently invited to one of my friend's village to see a festival....

It took me a little less than 4 hours to arrive at this village by bus.  Before the new road was built, you have to take the bus for 4 hours and then 2-3 hours hiking up the mountain.   I was very grateful the new road was finished.   

I saw this group of men while I was walking around.  Although they seem to be unhappy and glaring at me, they're really smiling inside .  They were happy I took their photo.  To generalize a little bit, chinese people in the countryside don't like to smile for pictures (except for the guy in the middle of this photo).  
 


Most of the people were dressed in their traditional clothing. 



Some of the men won a lot of money gambling and bought A LOT of firecrackers.  It was really fun at first and then I started getting hit by rocks and firecracker pieces.   



After a long day, we went to my friend's sister's house for dinner.  This is a very traditional village and the men/boys eat separately from the women/girls.  I asked them what was the reason for this but they answered me in Chinese and I couldn't understand much.  I could only make out the word "cooties."  Haha...just kidding...but they do eat separately.