Hello for the last time from China:
I'm leaving on a jet plane....
As I sit and write this from the VIP lounge at the airport (Business Class has its privilges), I take a moment to reflect on my visit to China.
All in all a very good trip. A bout of Traveler's stomach, a couple of clausterphobia attacks due to all the people, traffic, noise, lack of queueing, etc. I would have enjoyed it more had I been with someone else, so start submitting your applications now for the next adventure!
As for the validity of the stereotype of certain parts of the Chinese male, the answer is no. No as in I did not find out. While being surrounded exclusively by Asian men I had the opportunity to determine whether certain features were attractive to me, that was not one of those features. You see, the hygiene in China is not something I'm comfortable with. Oh I don't mean using your personal chopsticks to pick from a communal bowl or anything like that. I'm referring more to things like the fact that people walk down the street drilling in the nose, and not only spit but generate a big hock-tooey before doing so. And of course there's the squat toilets. Considering a guy can barely hit the toilet bowl when he's got a built in scope, the ladies rooms were less than stellar. I still can't figure out how someone can take a dump in one...
The food, however, has been great. Of course I can't order a known entity like moo goo gai pan or anything like that because it's Cantonese and everyone here speaks Mandarin. I miss things like salads as all food needs to be cooked as the water is not potable, but the meats and vegetables have been so fresh. No chemicals, preservatives, or anything - it really makes a difference. It's been kind of an adventure in itself, as I'll recognize dumplings on the menu but not really know all the ingredients inside until I take a bite.
I will be nice, however, to be surrounded by the familiar. Few things are recognizable in China - it seems they get almost no products from the US. I think as Americans we forget there's a big world out there and not everyone needs the US to live and breathe. Of course this goes in the face of the fact that at many points in my trip I pretended not to speak English to shield myself from the hawkers.
Time to get ready to fly. Another 12 hour trip - I'll hopefully be in a blissful Ambien sleep. Links to pictures to follow after I get myself situated back home.
Thanks for traveling with me.
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