Another Amazing and Random Adventure
Trip Start
Sep 03, 2007
1
14
18
Trip End
Dec 22, 2007
Tongli, China
Monday, November 5, 2007
So we hopped on the bus and went to Tongli.
Upon arrival we were still not sure where we were going, so we went to buy a map, then while searching on the map for this forest we saw that this sanliuche (three wheeled car) driver was staring at us. We decided what the hell, we have never gone been in a three wheeled car lets try it out. So we hop in. A little ways into the ride the driver turns around and offers us a cigarette. Little did we know that this forest was forty minutes outside of Tongli and the sanliuche only goes about 15 mph. However, as we are driving along this very bumpy road we get to see rural China.
We finally arrive a the forest and realize that we are absolutely in the middle of nowhere. The driver offeres to be our tour guide and we quickly accept realizing that he is our only chance to get home. The driver walks up to the gate and begins talking to lady at the gate. He then turns around and whispers to us that we cost a lot of money. And then suddenly he is telling us to run. As he scampers down the road, again he is our only ride home, so we run after him. Jess and I look at each other and pray that the gate lady doesnt do anything to his sanliuche which he left in front of the gate.
However, the all quickly leaves our mind as we realize that we are in a beautiful paradise. We can see blue sky, the sun is a normal color and we can breathe in deep without feeling the pain of pollution. We soon learn that our driver, Zhang Xiansheng (Mr. Zhang)grew up in Tongli. When he was younger he was a farmer and now he makes his living as a sanliuche driver. He has daughter in college, loves to eat eel and crab though it is a little expensive (100 kuai for one!). He showed us around the best parts of the park and told us how its changed over the last 100 years. He also thought of being places for us to pose for pictures.
As we walked around the park I could feel the stress leaving my body. I got to breathe fresh air, play on some random wooden playgrounds, and practice my Chinese. Overall it was quite a wondrous day!
