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It is already the first here in China. We had a more relaxed day planned for the last day Becca and Ryan were here. Becca liked the work of the tattoo artist for our family tattoos and decided to get her other one she was thinking about. The first is also a bit less here for the same quality work.

We started out the day with the last run before Becca leaves. We ran a little over 4 miles on Ershadao. I’ll miss my running buddy.

After the run, we made breakfast here in my apartment. I made Vietnamese egg coffee, one of my favorite. I have to confess that I was supposed to become an expert in making the drink before becca and Ryan arrived but I kept putting it off. It is my first year of teaching again. Here is our breakfast. Egg coffee, sweet potato hash and an omelet.

Egg coffee originated when milk was scarce in Vietnam and whipped eggs were used as a substitute. Now the drink is made with sweetened condensed milk and eggs white into a froth and piled on top. I bought Vietnamese coffee when I visited in October. To date it is my favorite place for food.

Back to the story. The best part is that our favorite restaurant is in the Buddha temple in Beijing lu and it is not far from the tattoo parlor.

We had more great dishes for lunch that day. It will take some time to work through that menu.

Dumplings with a mushroom filling.

Baked squash with filling, what we thought was fried tofu but think it was taro, and a yummy dish made with coconut milk.

After lunch, I walked around the other side of the temple.

I have heard “welcome to China” often, especially with head scratching events. Such as driving your car onto the sidewalk then yelling at the pedestrians in your way. It sits not happen often but entertaining when it does.

Afterwards we came back to the apartment to relax before going to the Mexican restaurant for dinner. We tried to stay awake for the new year, but needed to get up early to get to the airport. I actually woke up 8 minutes before midnight and because it was cold, stayed under the covers. I thought I would get up to see if there was a light display. I feel back asleep and awoke at 12:30. Oh well, no one seemed concerned of missing out.

Some time ago I wanted to get a simple tattoo like bamboo.

Even though Rebecca and I got matching tattoos (infinity symbol with the word “run”) before I left the states, I promised Ryan I would get one with him too.

I wanted something that would remind me of China and not just that I got a tattoo here. I like my Chinese character as I was born in the year of the dragon so it seemed fitting to get our respective animals. Ryan would get the dog and Becca the goat.

Ryan was not keen on that. Instead we decided on a minimalist bamboo design which is pretty much my style anyway.

One of my colleagues knows a person who had a tattoo here and swears by this shop. I love we chat. You can send your designs to them, give earnest money, etc. They were located in an area we had explored just a few days before.

They were very professional and are lot of fun. They had 3 people available to work on us at the same time so took very little time overall.

Here is the end result:

They also made a little video during the session.

https://youtu.be/yRzm_rjVFGY

They were a lot of fun and with some broken English, use of a translator app, and expressions made for a very fun afternoon.

Their we chat id is: wenyifantattoo-3

Instagram: acantattoo

We started the day hiking up Baiyun mountain. It means White Cloud Mountain and is also the “lungs of Guangzhou”.

We have been taking the metro so often and in directions I have not previously gone that I am becoming much better at getting around the city. I also greatly appreciate how the metro is laid out in this city. It is done well.

The west entrance to Baiyun.

These flowers remind me the flowers from the Lorax.

The climb up.

The weather this morning is cooler with some rain. The fog has not burned off as of yet.

At Shanding square below the summit there was entertainment and a TV crew. We watched for a few minutes. The music and dancing was wonderful to listen watch.

At the Square we took in the views.

At the west gate of the mountain.

Lots of walking these last few days but it has been great fun exploring areas around Guangzhou with Becca and Ryan.

Even though it is almost winter, we decided to go to the botanical gardens anyway.

The place is beautiful even without everything in full bloom. We started at the Palm garden.

We followed some trails then went to the bamboo garden.

It is great to see Darwin revered here. The are statues of him also in science city where I work.

The bromeliad garden.

I just loved how vines were wrapping around the trees.

These trees are striking with their white trunks.

The medicinal herb garden was interesting with all of the species that are on display.

Near the ginger garden.

It is getting cooler today. Poor butterfly.

At the Neolithic garden.

Along the water with the water plants.

Though not everything is blooming it was still a great time to enjoy nature and get a break from the city

Shiji Village, Bazhou Street, Xingang East Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, China

We took the metro and walked some distance to this village. Becca, Ryan, and I were searching for souvenirs and street food for lunch.

Ryan tried vegetarian steamed buns and flatbread. We also bought candied ginger, sesame candies, dried sweet potato, dried mango, and dried figs. At one of the restaurants, we ordered a veggie dish (fried morning glory? Or some variety of spinach) and stir fried squid with vegetables. Yummy.

This place is getting more commercial but you can still find residents who sell their wares on the street.

After exploring, we walked up from the Zhujiang River to the mall of the world. We walked around Parc Central. This place is the epitome of consumerism and is one large underground mall for miles extending to the buildings on both sides for several floors up in each.

Outside the Pandora store.

Inside the mall that attracts a younger clientele.

At the entrance, you can sit in steroids and watch Tom and Jerry.

On the walk back to a favorite store for snacks, we took pictures in the pedestrian area which is also an ecocorridor. It is a great place to walk.

Tomorriw the plan is to go for a run with Becca and then see the ancient village and maybe another site.

Becca wanted to visit the Bruce Lee ancestral home (especially since the star walk and Bruce Lee statue was under construction in Hong Kong.)

We traveled to Shamian Island. It was an important port in guangzhou up through the Qing dynasty. It was given as a concession to the British and French after the opium wars which were fights over trade and governance. The term gunboat diplomacy was given to how the problem was handled with naval force. They dug a river on the northern side, creating an island.

From shamian we walked into Liwan to the Bruce Lee home.

As we were headed to Beijing Lu pedestrian area, we decided to walk through Shangxiajiu residential and commercial pedestrian streets.

The residential streets have so many stores and shops.

By the commercial market…

The commercial market had tents with dried fruits and vegetables and another for meats. Of course we bought a bag of assorted dried fruit.

From there we worked our way to a metro stop to go to Beijing lu and found the cultural park. There were small museums explaining the history of Liwan and Shamian and the significance of buildings known as the Thirteen Factories.

At Beijing lu, we walked around the insane number of stores and malls. It is overwhelming and a bit concerning with the level of consumerism.

I took Becca and Ryan to the rebuilt temple.

I was told there was a great vegetarian restaurant inside. When we arrived, they were performing prayer so we walked around and looked at the Buddha statue.

The food was great. All tofu and vegetables… On the left is dim sum. You turn the bun over to place the veggie filling inside. I want to know what it is made of… It is so delicious. On the right is fried seaweed.

Below is tofu (left) and sweet and sour vegetarian meat and dragon fruit.

After the metro ride back, they were tired. Might be an early night…

Hehe… In the elevator…