Being Domesticated

Thursday 30th November 2006 Even when travelling you need to be domesticated some days. As the sun is shining washing is drying within half a day so a load goes in, this is a relief after Chengdu washing. I won’t need my hairdryer this time around. Even when travelling you need day to day food so a trip to the supermarket was experienced. I went early after a free breakfast at the hostel consisting of toast and apple – seems to be the “in” thing here in China. The fruit was a godsend that for sure. My trip to the supermarket passed on a couple of hours, on one floor was a maze of everything – from electronic goods, to clothes to household goods to toys. I bought a couple of christmas presents along the way, spending all of about 20p. Oh so generous! Will probably cost me 100 x that to post them knowing China Post. The supermarket even had christmas cards and decorations which I found amusing. Watch out you may get a chineese christmas card off me. On the second floor was food, lots of it, not just lots but lots and lots. I bought some juice, fruit (bananas are about 3p each, apples a bit more expensive at about 12p each), often delights that I wouldn’t even think of touching beckoned me, but being sensible I stuck to the things that looked edible (strawberry bread – hmmmm – not so keen to be honest). Most importantly I picked up some more tea (english breakfast) and some proper milk, along with my 6p yoghurts. Armed with shopping bags I ploughed back to the hostel dodging the many bikes which I am now getting accoustomed to. The free internet is a little dodgy, but its free so no complaining please. Its a nice atmosphere here, with rooftop terrace to catch the sun. Ample supplies of tea are keeping me at bay. Chatted to a chineese guy for the afternoon whilst soaking in the sun and drinking tea. He wanted to practice english with me – trying to explain how to pronounce the sound “th” as in “thing” or “thank” and talking about the “bath” pronunciation (north v’s south – it is NOT “barrrth” there is no “r” in bath, it’s B-A-T-H. Ok? Not that I am going to get one of those for a while. Showers are hot though so thats ok.