| Travel to Southern Guangdong, China | | | | China from North to South, East to West. Simple |
| When the Southern China Airliner descends for | | | | with basic utilities, enabling millions to live in an |
| landing in Guangzhou's International, we see myriads | | | | affordable home. |
| of glittering lights below us. The time is early evening | | | | Through the dark staircase we reach the third floor, |
| 1900 hours.In summer days, the air stands heavy and | | | | carrying our bags and start to sweat from the |
| polluted in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong. A | | | | physical effort. As always I don't like to carry much |
| center of industrialization, the immense amount of | | | | baggage with me, this time I blame myself for not |
| manufacturing units add its share to modern days's | | | | being persistent enough. |
| plight of greenhouse emissions. | | | | Always revenging itself, a heavy load of baggage |
| We sigh when we leave the Airport, nearly melting in | | | | adds to your inconvenience when going to distant |
| the humid, stifling atmosphere that has engulfed the | | | | places. |
| city. Millions of people work here, like in the other big | | | | When we enter we realize that we made a mistake |
| centers across China. Guangzhou is a showcase for | | | | to follow Mr. Wu's advice and lodge with him. The |
| the industrial revolution, its International Fair held | | | | place is Spartan, to say the least. Our bedroom |
| twice a year draws Billions of foreign capital to the | | | | features two beds, hard wood as the source of a |
| Chinese Economy. The official figures claim 10 Billion | | | | mattress, and a straw mat. There is lots of personal |
| Dollars are received in orders during 10 days of Spring | | | | junk from the owner lying around. We decide to |
| fair, and the same happens 4 times a year. | | | | make it through this night, (anyway we do not have |
| Our contact man Mr. Wu is expecting us at the Exit | | | | much of a choice). Mr. Wu is in high spirits, and he |
| with a signboard exhibiting our names clearly. After an | | | | wishes us a good night before retiring. |
| initial welcoming ceremony we tend to the waiting | | | | No one can find sleep, we are too tense, although |
| cab and speed off towards the main bus terminal. | | | | very exhausted from the trip. When we doze off it |
| We will continue the journey to southern Guangdong | | | | is close to 0500 hours in the morning. |
| without a rest in the capital. Buses in China are | | | | We awake to sounds of birds singing, the windows |
| plentiful, we depart from the southern terminal near | | | | open and we can see rice paddies in front of the |
| the railway station. | | | | building. It's a lovely scene and we feel better than |
| Along the highway the familiar sights of China, as in | | | | the night before when we arrived. Looking for a |
| every province the huge signboards lining the roads, | | | | bathroom we find a basic, bare concrete floored |
| to lure customers to displayed merchandise, the | | | | shower and toilet room, enough to make you run |
| modern capitalistic features of are everywhere visible. | | | | back to where you came from. We look into the |
| I wonder how many times I must have seen the | | | | kitchen and see a heap of unwashed dishes, signs of |
| "HAIER" advert, written in huge letters on the | | | | Bachelor's life, and a rice cooker. Beside it a note, |
| billboard that we pass. Familiar scenes cross my mind. | | | | inviting us to have our breakfast consisting of rice |
| China, a gigantic country by all standards, a society | | | | congee. Two bowls and 2 pairs chop sticks lay beside |
| which is diverse, unique in its size and its | | | | the rice cooker, the congee is hot, the cooker was |
| achievements. Nothing will stop China from achieving | | | | left on 'warm'. We are hungry and taste some |
| superiority status, there is no other nation where | | | | congee, the common breakfast in China, 'Xi Fan' as it |
| people work as hard as in this progressing Nation. | | | | is called. |
| The bus speeds through the night, leaving the capital | | | | The note also says he had to attend to his class and |
| behind us, turning towards the southern parts, our | | | | will be back around 10 AM. We have made up our |
| destination unknown except for the name. We are | | | | minds, we will leave at the earliest opportunity, trying |
| anxious to see where we shall end up. Along the | | | | not to offend the host. Hard to understand without |
| road huge Banana plantations which cater for the | | | | knowing the mentality of Chinese People, they offer |
| whole of the Chinese market, Guangdong's climate is | | | | you their home and you do not want to accept it. |
| ideally suited for the growing of fruits. | | | | When Mr. Wu finally arrives we are ready to leave, |
| Where we will end up this night ? We wonder, and | | | | he looks surprised. He is of the opinion that his house |
| Mr. Wu tries to elaborate on some scenic spots along | | | | is more convenient than a Hotel, however he agreed |
| the road. Since months have we prepared to reach | | | | and calls a Taxi. Again I carry the unnecessary weight |
| this part of China, and now the time has come to | | | | of our luggage down the stairs. |
| see the 'fruit city', famous for its Longans and | | | | Do to the remote location it takes almost 30 minutes |
| Lychees, throughout the dynasties Emperors in | | | | till the 'Taxi' arrives. A Motorcycle with sidecar, and |
| Beijing demanded the best fruits from here. | | | | the luggage is all stowed away. Rattling through the |
| After four hours we finally reach, the Terminus looks | | | | suburbs, we now fully realize how far the place is |
| typically provincial. Lots of characters linger around | | | | from the center of town. |
| here, which I dislike. One should be careful at night, | | | | A hotel is quickly located and we now settle into a |
| always watch your bags. | | | | somewhat more familiar surrounding. Mr. Wu has |
| A Taxi in form of an 'Wulungxie' the Chinese version | | | | accompanied us and helps us to settle in, with |
| of a Minibus takes us to Mr. Wu's residence, he insists | | | | instructions to the chamber maid the 'Foo Yuan' in |
| he wants us to stay at his home. Mr. Wu is a teacher | | | | Pinyin. We need rest, for the night we spent without |
| in the Gaozhou 'Normal school', a Middle school with | | | | much sleep and ask to be excused for a few hours. |
| approx. 5000 Students. | | | | Mr. Wu leaves and promises to return in the |
| His residence is far outside, we cross rice fields, | | | | afternoon. |
| typical Chinese village like structures, and I regret not | | | | We drift into a deep sleep and I wonder, like so |
| having insisted on staying in the city center. When | | | | many times before, what will wait for us here. . |
| the house is reached we recognize the residential | | | | Next : The gardens of Eden. |
| structure of an apartment building, the ones covering | | | | |