Another Typical Day
This morning we woke up around 8:30, had some breakfast, then caught a cab to the middle of Loudi. We had noticed a traveling circus the day before and decided to check out the festivities … for a dollar!
The show was crazy … it featured a dozen fearless children and teens who had been highly trained in acrobatics, tightrope, unicycle, horse-riding, rope swinging, and several other feats of fantasmicocity. It had one ring and was under a giant tent … and it was quite obvious that all of the equipment was decades old. Safety first!
Near the end of the show, a couple of the kids ran out into the crowd and pulled me into the ring, motioning me to sit inside a giant copper pot. They then proceeded to lift the pot onto a girl’s feet … and she literally spun me around, juggling me with her legs. You can’t see it in the photo below, but a small boy actually climbed onto the pot at one point as she spun it around!
[BARREL OF FUN, BY LANCE WEBEL]
After the exciting show, we went to the local park to enjoy the beautiful day and relax a bit in the shade. We thought about taking an electric boat ride, but decided instead to go and get an early lunch. We tried a new restaurant and were very satisfied with their eggplant, potato, tofu, and beef dishes … all for about $5.
Next, we walked a couple of miles to the bowling alley for some pin-pushing fun. We even bought some socks on the way because we were all wearing sandals … but when we arrived, we discovered that the electricity was out! Bummed, we instead took a cab to Loudi’s walking street, a brand-new shopping area with lots of upscale shops.
After walking around for a little while, I finally convinced my parents to go get a foot massage with me. So after playing a quick game of hoops in an arcade we passed, we went to the best foot massage parlor in town.
The massage I ordered was top of the line ($5) … it included a couple of foot washings, a long and steady kneading of the feet, traditional medicine, a body massage, and the highlight … a portion where they put towels on our shins, soaked them in alcohol, and lit our legs on fire! You should have seen the look on my parents’ faces when their shins went up in flames!
[Legs on fire, by lance webel]
Next, we went to a local market, where mom bought a $2 necklace and the rest of us walked around for a while admiring the piles of little shops and stores. Eventually we got tired and went back to my apartment, where I served some grilled cheese and dragonfruit for dinner. Afterwards, we watched some Seinfeld, played some Chinese checkers and darts, and talked to my sister on the Internet (Happy Birthday, Ronda!).
All in all, it was a typical day in China. And my parents are beginning to see what I mean when I say that I’ll never really be able to describe this place to people back home, no matter how hard I try!
May 7th, 2007 at 11:45 pm EST
Intereting! It’s crazy when you were pulled into the ring.
May 8th, 2007 at 2:23 am EST
That sounds so cool. Lucky:wink:
May 8th, 2007 at 2:53 am EST
Just a typical day in the life of Lance.
May 8th, 2007 at 4:04 am EST
TOTALLY FUN!
May 8th, 2007 at 7:42 am EST
My life is very boring compared to yours…but I’m not bitter…
May 8th, 2007 at 10:24 am EST
I feel the same way about India…only the two are as completely different from each other as we are from them, I think. wow, it is really hard to describe.
That barrel sounds fun. PVM should start a new camp…hmmm..yeah! A “highly trained professional monkey barrel rolling course. For kids!”
I think it would pack out. personal onion, only
May 8th, 2007 at 12:46 pm EST
Let’s see….. We travelled all the way to China to see a 1 dollar circus, end up in a spinning barrel, then have our legs set on fire….. Sounds kinda like the last Webel reunion except for the dragonfruit.
May 8th, 2007 at 4:30 pm EST
Just curious what a dragonfruit looks and tastes like???
May 8th, 2007 at 5:54 pm EST
Dragonfruit, which is also called Pataya, looks quite impressive on the outside … bright pink with green spikes. The texture inside is a little like a kiwi, but the taste is much more bland and neutral.
Me likey!
May 8th, 2007 at 11:32 pm EST
Hello,lance:smile:Long time no see!It seems that you and your parents had a good May day’s holiday in Beijing.Would you like to spare some time with us on tomorrow’s afternoon and tell us something intereting on your tirp? we’ll get to your apartment about 5:30.By the way,could you introduce us to your parents?See ya tomorrow,bye:razz:smile:
May 9th, 2007 at 9:15 am EST
Watching your son get juggled in a barrel: $2
Getting your feet tied together for a massage: $10
Watching your own legs go up in flames: PRICELESS.
May 9th, 2007 at 10:12 am EST
Winnie and Tina … the school has invited us to dinner tonight, but I don’t know what time yet. If we’re not here at 5:30, sorry! You can try again another time … but we are very busy, because my parents are only here for two more days!
May 9th, 2007 at 1:35 pm EST
HP - MVC
May 9th, 2007 at 6:07 pm EST
It dosen’t matter.:smile:How about 1:40pm on thursday?Are you free on that time?
May 9th, 2007 at 8:04 pm EST
W&T, that will probably be ok. And Paul, I agree … MVC for HP!
May 10th, 2007 at 2:07 am EST
Where’s my legs on fire picture i requested?
May 10th, 2007 at 8:05 am EST
Their legs are actually on fire in the photo above, but it’s hard to see because the flames are those hot blue-ish flames. Look right above my mom’s knee and you can kinda see it.
June 14th, 2007 at 1:09 am EST
I confirm that my legs WERE ON FIRE! Scarey, hot and unbelieveable! MOM
August 1st, 2007 at 6:22 am EST
andyou said it was just a foot massage! Having your shins on fire, just a foot massage!