Tianjin is very impressive. Yesterday's tour was fun and the city is beautiful. Today I grabbed a cab (solo) to the Drum Tower. The Drum Tower and accompanying area of vendors selling antiquities was quite taking. The colors and designs on the Drum Tower were vibrant and very interesting. The numerous vendors were colorful too. I noticed that each vendor had his/her entire family crammed into their little store area, the size of my closet at home. It appears the chinese family is very close and they all live, work and eat together...all generations too.
It turned out to be a hot day with a slight breeze, and walking around the Drum Tower and vendors was the perfect afternoon to move slow and nod at those staring at me. I really enjoy the Chinese people. So non-adversarial, content and calm. It is infectious!
I spent $2.00 for a cab to the Drum Tower. This was the first time since I have been in China that I had a female taxi driver. The taxi driver's are crazy here. Most of the time I shut my eyes and pray. They come within inches of other cabs, bicycles, rickshaws, mopeds and walkers. Darn scary!! Nobody stops at a light, and a right or left hand turn does not require slowing down before making the turn. Pretty unbelievable.
Drew was unpacking at his dorm and doing some shopping. He suggested that we meet later for dinner..."hot pot". I was game...I remember Drew talking about it last year.
Drew also suggested that after the Drum Tower to take a taxi over to the Chinahouse. This is a house made out of porcelain. I think every broken plate in China was collected to put this house together. Very interesting! Again, the colors and textures were beautiful. After touring the porcelain house and taking pics, I snagged a cab back to the Westin. Again, a female taxi driver....second one in the same day!!
Dinner was at 7:00 o'clock about a mile from my hotel. Drew was on the other side of town. He and his roommate Ricky took a taxi and met me at Haidi Lao Huoguo at 7:00 p.m. The place was packed, but the boys had made a reservation. Drew suggested wearing something dark because you spill/splatter a lot, which ruins your shirt. Thanks Drew!
The hot pot type cooking is similar to fondue except the hot pot in sunken into you table and it is boiled in a vegetable stock or you can spice it up to the point that you start on fire....haha. The boys ordered lame, beef and pork, two types of mushrooms, tofu, noodles, cabbge and potatoes. Threw it into the pot and let it cook away. Amazing!! They also ordered a fried roll that you dip in condensed milk, yes, you heard me right, condensed milk. Wow, I could have eaten these all night!! The whole dinner was very good and except for the fried rolls, it was quite healthy.
Drew starts class tomorrow, so we parted ways about 8:30. I walked back to the hotel and the boys took a taxi.
I loved "hot pot" Sunday!! I can certainly see why Drew loves it!!
Tomorrow I am off to Beijing via speed/bullet train!!
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