Jiaoshan Park and my Anti-Westlife Campaign
Trip Start
Feb 25, 2010
1
12
32
Trip End
Feb 01, 2011
Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Nanshan was a vast, semi-tamed wilderness; Jinshan was a bustling spectacle; and Jiaoshan was a serene little haven totally unlike the rest of Zhenjiang. Maybe it was the fact that Jiaoshan is still very much an active monastery that made it seem less polished and more authentic. Having said that, we did see several monks congregating outside one of the temples messing around with their phones like a group of chavs outside a Cost Cutter, the only difference being they didn't ask me to buy them fags when I walked in. As we were leaving we witnessed part of what looked like a Buddhist ritual, with a room full of monks standing round a table chanting, beating drums, and shaking incense before leaving the room in a procession. I considered reaching for my camera but something about their sincerity made me think better of it. We didn't get to the top of the hill to climb the pagoda as the sky was a bit cloudy, but we will definitely go back on a clearer day and get the most out of the experience.
Recently I've embarked on a mini mission to change my students' tastes in western culture. I realised something had to be done when I asked someone if they had heard of the Beatles and they replied "I know Back Street Boys and Westlife, and I think they're great!" To make matters worse, this horrifying statement was uttered by a straight 23 year old guy. I have therefore been using "Can't Buy Me Love" to introduce the topic of money and happiness, and am in the process of concocting other sly methods to impose my views on the nation's youth. Next week, as part of my cultural differences theme, I will be showing 'Team America' to 25 innocent 18 year-olds and asking them to comment on the way various cultures are represented. Really it's just an excuse for me to put my feet up for 90 minutes, but hopefully they will learn something in the process, even if it is what two puppets having sex looks like.
And finally, after several hours of fruitlessly trying to contact hostels in Yangzhou, I've decided to go to Nanjing next weekend after all. It will be good to have a more comprehensive Nanjing experience than our last effort, and who knows, there might even be a cheeky panda sighting on the cards.
Comments
If you see a cheeky panda, can you ask him if he has any suggestions how I might manage the bamboo in my garden. It's out of control! xx