Journal Entry #24: Sunday, June 6, 2010

The next morning came with a renewed vigor.  I popped out of bed like a piece of toast! I was back!  Everybody in my group that saw me that morning even commented on how much better I looked, and how much pep I seemed to have back in my step. I slept very well.  The air conditioning was not cut off in the middle of the night.  When I commented on such, I discovered that my roommate Hoasn had spoken to the Hotel management the evening before explaining that I was not feeling well and could they not cut off the electricity to our room that night – something for which they obliged! ​

Unfortunately, breakfast wasn’t any better food wise, but because I had eaten very little the day before I was really hungry.  I ate until they said, “Steve, we have to go now!” After checking out of the hotel we loaded the bus with our luggage and we settled in for what I thought was a long ride home.   It was then announced that we had one more tourism stop.  I wanted to go home, or what had been my home for almost a month now.  However, he Southern Great Wall was on our agenda.  I am so glad we made this peaceful and enlightening stop.

In the south of China, there is another ancient Great Wall, one section of which is in Fenghuang County and was about 10 kilometers from where we were located. Not to be confused with the Great Wall of the north, this Southern Great Wall is about 190 kilometers long and it was discovered in April 2000. The Southern Great Wall is close to Huangsiqiao Ancient Town.  It has similar defensive functions and structures as the Ming-dynasty Great Wall in north China. Located at the border of Hunan and Guizhou, the Southern Great Wall starts at Xiqueying Village of Guzheng County and ends at the Tingziguan Pass

The Southern Great Wall was first built in 1615 at a tremendous financial cost. Mostly constructed on high and precipitous ridges, 4,000-5,000 soldiers used to be stationed along this section of the Southern Great Wall. This Southern Great Wall has over 800 batteries, watchtowers and gates of passage.

This was as close to the Northern Great Wall that most of our group was going to get - so they were very excited.  I was excited too, but I knew that I would soon be at the Northern Great Wall. I also knew that I was recovering nicely from being sick and weak the day before and I did not want to push myself into a set-back, so I chose not to climb to the top.  When I announced that I would wait at the bottom for everybody else, Edwin and Gary chimed in, “Me too!”  There was plenty to see at the bottom.  Other than the view from the top, the photo opp's were probably better where I was located. After we climbed a very large set of ancient stairs we had a view of a wonderful plaza-looking scene. There was a very small wall section that was easily accessible, plus there were some shops and other venues of tourism mixed with historical and cultural significance.  It was a very peaceful morning and just the sight of the rest of the group climbing up the stairs to the big wall was almost as pleasurable as the fun they seemed to be having.

Among other interesting items of this particular venue was the large, outdoor, human Chessboard.  This was a location where international Chess games were played using live, dramatic, Kung Fu fighting-styled players used as the Chess pieces.  The two contestants would perch themselves in a tower and call out the position where the next position player would be moved, and if it meant capturing a piece of the game, the two players would commence to have a martial arts-type battle with the captured player going down in defeat and eventually being removed from the playing board.  There was not a game being played while I was there but just imagining the event was pretty cool.  This was the largest outdoor live playing board in the world.  This was also the most famous venue of this sort.  My dad collects chessboards and players so I am anxious to get him a large framed photo of this board.

Once back on the bus I knew that other than lunch the next stop was the University of South China, in Hengyang.  As much as I had seen and done, and even as much as I wished I had been able to see and do, I was ready to get back.

Lunch at the travel station was interesting in as much as I took the opportunity to try to mix with some of the local workers at this restaurant.  I could tell when we were eating that a lot of the staff and kitchen workers were coming out to the dining room just to get a glance at us, the American visitors among them.  After I finished eating I walked over to them and introduced myself with my energetic, “Ni Hao China!”  They laughed, and giggled while some retreated back and some stepped out to interact with me.  I introduced myself and in Chinese I told them the food was good.  I held my hand out to each one of them that would shake my hand and converse with me.  I felt like a politician working a room.  It was all I could do to keep from saying, “Vote for me!” “Vote for me!” “Vote for me!”  It was fun for me and I think entertaining for some of them.  As I was about to get on the bus I heard one of the kitchen workers calling my name.  I turned around and she had gone to get her camera when I headed toward the bus. She wanted somebody to get her picture made with me!  Of course I obliged.  I mean, who loves people more than me?

Soon after we loaded the bus I got a phone call from Mia and Jessie.  They were on the way to Hengyang to spend some time with me.  I wasn’t expecting them until the next day! “May guan xi,” I told them: no problem.  I told them they would get there before me but I would get there when I got there.  If they got there first they would just have to wait. They were happy to do so and assured me they were Chinese and they would survive until I got there.  Of course they would.  These two young ladies are bright, independent and very capable of doing anything they wanted to do.

Even though we were all ready to get home, the school wanted to buy us dinner before taking us home.  We went to a very nice restaurant that was crowded and loud.  The food was great.  I never fear crowded restaurants because I figure there must be a reason it’s crowded – good food!  This restaurant was known across the city for their Turkey Soup, and I have to say it was worth the accolades they were receiving for this scrumptious dish!  The only drawback to this venue was the two tables next to us.  It was a group of about 20 people together over the two tables and they had been drinking too much!  They were loud and boisterous. About every minute or so were they holding up their glasses for another round of toasts followed by cheers and the downing of the next round of their liquid gold.  It would have been culturally amusing had they not been so disruptive and obnoxious, essentially diminishing our dinner together.  We finally made it back to my temporary home.  I called Mia and Jessie and we made arrangements to meet them across the campus and walk back to my apartment.