Lessons learned in China #7

A guide book, despite being large and cumbersome, can be very useful in certain settings. Say for example that you are on a 12 hour train ride.  It's 2AM and you still have about six hours left and your friend has been rushing for the bathroom every half hour for the past 5 hours.  If you have a guide book, you find an available hostel at the next stop.  But calling ahead and letting them know that you are coming is only possible because of lesson #8....

Lessons learned in China #6

This is pretty accurate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wjZ_QcGlk4

I am trying to learn a little bit of Chinese.  Most of what I can say, can be more easily gestured (left! right! I want this one!), but I can ask someone where they are from.  I can also say that my friend is very sick and throwing up. This was surprising useful on one unfortunate train ride, which brings me to lesson learned #7....

Lessons learned in China #5

I guess those yellow lines are "more like guidelines."

Lessons learned in China #4

Chinese food is delicious.  Even "black fungus" and tofu!

Black Fungus (bottom right), also a favorite, though
the texture does take some getting used to.

 Green tea cakes (top right) - one of my favorites.  :)

Lessons learned in China #3

Cooking with friends is great!

Huang Shan and I cook together about once or twice a month.

A XiaoBaiCai inspired dish on the bottom
and a dish with potato, carrot, green pepper and pork.  

My favorite dish to cook is probably Xiao Bai Cai, which is a type of small Chinese cabbage.  We often make it with mushrooms.  This time is was sort of a soup.

Purple sweet potato and corn.  :)

Lessons learned in China #2

Always, always, always, check the peas before you eat them.

Good

Not so good. Yuck.  

Lessons learned in China #1

Always look both ways before you cross anything that at all resembles some sort of street, sidewalk, or really anything.  In fact, don't just look both ways; look all the ways.