Here's something interesting: getting a haircut in China. I went in for one yesterday here in Shaoxing.

(I was hoping to undo some of the damage of the previous cuts, and get rid of the choppy chinese look, but no success... Although I kept saying to the guy that I want then all the same lenght, and he even repeated it and said, ok ok, i want layer the that much then, he still did it. But that's the style here and I guess he just couldn't conceive of the fact that i'd want something totally different from all the other cuts he's done in the past few years... so i gave in and just went for the Chinese choppy choppy look)

The fun part of a haircut is everything else that comes with it. First, you get a really nice shampooing (sitting in the barber's chair) and a head massage, for a long time. Just love it. And then, I was treated to a full head massage (even ears!!), followed by a shoulder, arm and hand massage. And then, get this, she even cleaned my ears!! I was glad to have cleaned them just before myself though, how embarrassing would it have been to have her find out how gooey foreign ears can be...

Today, for the umpteenth time I was again reminded of the wonderful warm-heartedness of the people here. I decided to head out to do some sightseeing at a lake here. On the bus, I met a university student, who first took me to her home and then helped me find the way to the lake.

At the lake, I met the sweetest old Chinese couple from Hangzhou, both retired teachers. We talked and walked together at the lake, and then they invited me to go together with them to another famous spot, this temple area, built for a famous historical figure (a guy who designed some canal and flood projects hundreds of years ago). And so I did, and we spent a lovely afternoon together, exploring the place, eating biscuits, cakes and fruit and talking about this and that. And as the husband used to be a Chinese teacher, he was testing my Chinese skills and teaching me some more.

It's funny though, the language here is *COMPLETELY* different from the Chinese spoken in the north (Mandarin, that is, in English). I really can't understand a word of what they are saying. today, the wife couldn't speak mandarin so the husband actually had to translate for her. He spoke mandarin perfectly, of course, being a Chinese teacher and having studied in Beijing.

I'd love to post some pictures, but the site isn't working so it will have to wait.

Tomorrow I'm probably off, heading up north-west, thinking of going to visit a sacred mountain in Anhui province, to get into the peace and quiet of the countryside again. But then again, I might change my mind on the way ;)

Will write again, whenever I have the chance. Not sure when that will be though...Here's something interesting: getting a haircut in China. I went in for one yesterday here in Shaoxing.

(I was hoping to undo some of the damage of the previous cuts, and get rid of the choppy chinese look, but no success... Although I kept saying to the guy that I want then all the same lenght, and he even repeated it and said, ok ok, i want layer the that much then, he still did it. But that's the style here and I guess he just couldn't conceive of the fact that i'd want something totally different from all the other cuts he's done in the past few years... so i gave in and just went for the Chinese choppy choppy look)

The fun part of a haircut is everything else that comes with it. First, you get a really nice shampooing (sitting in the barber's chair) and a head massage, for a long time. Just love it. And then, I was treated to a full head massage (even ears!!), followed by a shoulder, arm and hand massage. And then, get this, she even cleaned my ears!! I was glad to have cleaned them just before myself though, how embarrassing would it have been to have her find out how gooey foreign ears can be...

Today, for the umpteenth time I was again reminded of the wonderful warm-heartedness of the people here. I decided to head out to do some sightseeing at a lake here. On the bus, I met a university student, who first took me to her home and then helped me find the way to the lake.

At the lake, I met the sweetest old Chinese couple from Hangzhou, both retired teachers. We talked and walked together at the lake, and then they invited me to go together with them to another famous spot, this temple area, built for a famous historical figure (a guy who designed some canal and flood projects hundreds of years ago). And so I did, and we spent a lovely afternoon together, exploring the place, eating biscuits, cakes and fruit and talking about this and that. And as the husband used to be a Chinese teacher, he was testing my Chinese skills and teaching me some more.

It's funny though, the language here is *COMPLETELY* different from the Chinese spoken in the north (Mandarin, that is, in English). I really can't understand a word of what they are saying. today, the wife couldn't speak mandarin so the husband actually had to translate for her. He spoke mandarin perfectly, of course, being a Chinese teacher and having studied in Beijing.

I'd love to post some pictures, but the site isn't working so it will have to wait.

Tomorrow I'm probably off, heading up north-west, thinking of going to visit a sacred mountain in Anhui province, to get into the peace and quiet of the countryside again. But then again, I might change my mind on the way ;)

Will write again, whenever I have the chance. Not sure when that will be though...
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