Its pronounced "show-men", not "zee-a-men"

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  Xiamen, Fujian, China
Friday, July 31, 2009

I had read that this town might suit me.  So I needed to see if I would want to work/live here.  Met some older expats on the the mainland of Xiamen that really liked being there.  I really liked the island of Gulangyu.  Its mostly a touristy-place.  Called Piano Island because when westerners in colonial days lived there, they built mansions and many played pianos.  Most of the mansions are either run-down, or museums, but there is a piano museum and many locals still play.  Met a really nice girl that works at the hotel I stayed at.  She showed me around some sights of the island.



After staying on Piano Island for a couple nights, I then stayed at a hostel in the city of Xiamen.  Met one of the guys working there named Oscar.  He and his friend showed me the main beach of Xiamen.  It wasn't like the Atlantic Ocean, and I didn't trust the water being clean enough, so I did not go swimming there.

I also met a couple of Americans staying at the hostel.  Om (as in boat) and his brother Kosmo.  We went downtown for a night out with another Western traveller.  Checking out the nightlife.

Did not get the feeling that I could see myself living there.  So I moved on.

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On the cheap, hot, crowded, slow local bus.	locals taking pics of me on the ferry to Gulangyu	A ship in the channel between Xiamen and Gulangyu.	Knoxinga statue overlooking the ocean.
Very fresh seafood.	cheap local meal for a dollar	Night view of Knoxinga statue on Piano Island.	Knoxinga statue at night.
Locals pushing carts up a hill on Gulangyu.	Architectural charm of the colonial era.	Elegant building on Piano Island.	Fancy hotel on Gulangyu Island.
Interior of colonial era building.	No autos allowed on the island.	Many entrances are occupied by vendors.	Girl selling fans.
Oppulence of a bygone era.	Fancy roof decorations.	Hard work by the locals.	Photo op.
Man, they really let this place go, huh?	Fish anyone?	The ghosts of Gulangyu.	The busy, restaurant & shops center.
Some kind of snail pizza...	Wedding photo.	Professional wedding photography.	Gulangyu (Piano Island) is great for wedding pics.
The piano museum on Piano Island. Seriously.	View from peak of Gulangyu.	birds at the sanctuary (aviary?)	peacock
white (albino?) peacock	bird	other kind of bird	bird riding a bycycle
bird on unicycle	bird show directed by unsympathetic trainer	A downtown street of Xiamen.	Small, cute, furry animals for sale.
dinner snacks	Me eating as the locals do...sort-of.	Me and Oscar, he works here at the hostel.	Xiamen beach.
The most expensive, classiest Pizza Hut anywhere.	Great menu at this Pizza Hut.	Look at those desserts!	Lots of menu options.
Mmmmm, salmon & asparagus pasta!	The University of Xiamen. Well-kept grounds.	Palm trees of Xiamen University.	Tranquil pond on University grounds.
A skate park.	They even have bumper-cars!	Back in the main city of Xiamen, a nightclub...	Westerners drinking at Xiamen hostel.
Night on the town in Xiamen.	Checking out the popular Honey Bar.	Nightlife of Xiamen.   Comments!	Drunk man stopping a large spinning rock.
Kosmo set the rock spinning again.	One of our group preparing to ride the bull.	Still drinking on tiny Chinese stools.	On my last day, I had a sushi lunch here.
yummy sushi with tubes of toppings for it	Silk Ice Cream	Silk Ice Cream	Xiamen Airlines building at the airport.

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