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| Stone carving inside Xiamen Museum |
Day 4
We left Wu Yi Shan and went back to
Xiamen. If I remembered correctly, we
went to the silk factory first. It was an
interesting process pulling out the silk
strand from the cocoon. It was like
cotton but softer and has
more connecting “fibres”.
At the end of the tour, we were
pestered to buy far too expensive
products once again. It was rather
awkward actually as went out not
Xiamen. If I remembered correctly, we
went to the silk factory first. It was an
interesting process pulling out the silk
strand from the cocoon. It was like
cotton but softer and has
more connecting “fibres”.
At the end of the tour, we were
pestered to buy far too expensive
products once again. It was rather
awkward actually as went out not
buying much.
I was rather excited and nervous at
the same time. According to my uncles’ description, the small town was run
down and horrible with no hot water
and flush toilet. But that was 10 years
ago. What could have happened in
10 years?
the same time. According to my uncles’ description, the small town was run
down and horrible with no hot water
and flush toilet. But that was 10 years
ago. What could have happened in
10 years?
It was a 2 hours journey and I spent
the time listening to music on the iPod
and staring out of windows watching
pigs passed by in a big truck.
We reached Yong Chun at 5 something,
the moment when it turned dark.
the time listening to music on the iPod
and staring out of windows watching
 |
| Shop selling shoes in Yong Chun |
We reached Yong Chun at 5 something,
the moment when it turned dark.
I was AMAZED.
There were shops EVERYWHERE,
shoe shops, bags and heavy traffic on
the road with vehicles honking, which
was a relief to me.
Noisy vehicles = City centres.
We were told that we got to stay in
one of the best hotels around.
shoe shops, bags and heavy traffic on
the road with vehicles honking, which
was a relief to me.
Noisy vehicles = City centres.
We were told that we got to stay in
one of the best hotels around.
 |
| Lee Family Ancestral Hall |
It was certainly grand but I personally
thought nothing could beat
Wu Yi Shan’s transparent bathroom.
was actually dreading we had to
sleep at motels which was RMB100
a night with only one fan and 20 years
old toilet bowls.
thought nothing could beat
Wu Yi Shan’s transparent bathroom.
was actually dreading we had to
sleep at motels which was RMB100
a night with only one fan and 20 years
old toilet bowls.
Apparently my dad and uncles were
pulling my legs with the horror story.
pulling my legs with the horror story.
 |
| 800 year old Dongguan Bridge |
Dinner was mind blowing and the
best meal so far. Never in my life
have I ever eaten at such a large
table that can sit 20 people. I took
photos of every single dish that
was served. We had a good
dinner, walked and shopped
around a bit and then retired early
to energize ourselves for the
highlight of the next day.
best meal so far. Never in my life
have I ever eaten at such a large
table that can sit 20 people. I took
photos of every single dish that
was served. We had a good
dinner, walked and shopped
around a bit and then retired early
to energize ourselves for the
highlight of the next day.
 |
| The house great grand father stayed in |
Day 5 - VISITNG DAY.
This was the main point of the whole
trip, to visit our relatives in Yong
Chun, or long lost relatives I should
say. First, we had NO idea about
the address and second, that place
might be demolished. It was 10
years since some of us visited
their place.
My big aunt and cousin went off to
visit their own relatives in Dehua.
We went to visit a pottery factory
but sadly it was closed. It was a
pity cos uncle said that it was a
main attraction.
visit their own relatives in Dehua.
We went to visit a pottery factory but sadly it was closed. It was a
pity cos uncle said that it was a
main attraction.
We then decided to visit our
relatives first, and then visit the
local attractions later on. First,
we visited grandma’s
Lee Ancestors Hall “chi tang”.
We had to find Ah Gong’s
relatives after that.
relatives first, and then visit the
local attractions later on. First,
we visited grandma’s
Lee Ancestors Hall “chi tang”.
We had to find Ah Gong’s
relatives after that.
After turning up at the wrong village and a few muddy lanes later, it was
already 2pm. The day turned dark
at 5.30 and we had to hurry up. We
FINALLY got to right kampung
which had fairly decent roads and
were easy to walk on.
Cigarette smoke engulfed us when
we walked in, a popular but horrible
culture in China, I noticed.
We were warmly welcomed by our
relatives and it was a happy reunion. We visited their houses, which were
all linked together. The houses
seem to be undergoing some
major extensions and renovations.
Only the Century old house my great
grandfather stayed before remain
untouched.
The extensions and renovations had
a surprisingly modern feel
to them. For instance, one of the houses we
went to had marble floor, modern
toilet, leather sofa sets and plasma
TV on the second floor. The contrast
with the ancient ground floor was like
heaven and earth.
Behind the houses we could see
vegetable plots and an orchid farm
and there was a goat/sheep bleating somewhere nearby. The relatives
told us that the government intend to build a new highway through the
village in 5 years. I thought that it
was a pity since they have been
staying there for centuries?
Before we went, we prayed at the
“chi tang” and took a group photo.
They gave us a whole lot of
mandarin oranges too.
We arranged for a reunion dinner with
them at our hotel that night. 16 of our
Chinese
relatives came and we have a good session getting to know them better
and about life in China in general.
Apparently drunk driving gets you
in 3 months jail at China. Money
solves almost anything in Malaysia.
in 3 months jail at China. Money
solves almost anything in Malaysia.
My cousins and I bonded well with
our Yong Chun cousins. Apparently
one of them run a shop selling baked
fish and we invited ourselves to his
shop for supper. He proved to be
great host and cooked us such a
big fish that we needed all the
people in the shop to help finish
it. It was an interesting night.
our Yong Chun cousins. Apparently
one of them run a shop selling baked
fish and we invited ourselves to his
shop for supper. He proved to be
great host and cooked us such a
big fish that we needed all the
people in the shop to help finish
it. It was an interesting night.
mun-lin
15 December 2012
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