I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien

…I'm a white stranger in Xiamen!

When we enter a shop, we’re followed by three or four saleswomen/men, people stare at us all the time or ask us if they can take pictures: locals seem to find white people extraordinary. This might sound strange, but even on the traditional tourist spots, we saw but Chinese people.

Today we planned to visit the famous University of Xiamen(left) and the Nanputuo temple(right) nearby. Earlier Pauline wrote about the beauty of the university, and she wasn’t lying, it was.

The discovery of the buddhist Nanputuo temple and the 10.000 rock botanical garden took us a much more time and effort (proof: Barbara’s face) than we had thought. But the result are these beautiful pictures (top and below).

After the laborious work we treated ourself to a nice steak with French fries which was accompanied by garlic bread, salade, minestrone soup, tea, water and red wine, preceded by spring rolls and a Cesar salad. Not only was it way to much, there was something odd about the timing as well(See facts)

So as promised, new facts:
1. Chinese supermarkets sell living toads (padden) per kilo (yes, to eat them, mjammie)

2. It’s forbidden at Xiamen University to play the trumpet

3. Chinese restaurants don’t understand the difference between appetizers and main dishes, they just serve everything all at once. Result: your ice cream isn’t ice cream anymore when you finish your steak

Tomorrow: first sailing classes!

Greets from China,

Babs en Thieu