When I was in Tongren Wendy introduced me to Taylor. Taylor, named after Taylor Swift, is moving towards her second marriage and is newly pregnant with her first child. Surprisingly to me, divorce is quite commonplace in China, and it seems, quite easy to obtain.
When I met Taylor, we exchanged WeChat and have kept in touch occasionally, she is keen to learn new English, particularly contemporary phrases and slang. I am pretty good at teaching those! Anyway, on Thursday, I was planing a river swimming trip but could not remember the name of the place, so I pinged her a message and she sent me the details. She also said that she knew a better place to go swimming where there were hot springs, and that she would take me there on Saturday! Wow! What an offer!
Saturday morning Taylor pings me a message...the Hot Springs have metamorphosed into a swim and a BBQ. I have no problem with that..."Well pick you up at three o'clock! Okay?
Quarter past two and they are downstairs in the car and ready to go. Taylor and her Friend Rong. We drove off to the place I had swum the other day. We stopped, went for a walk to the river, got back in the car and drove off. After about half an hour and one stop to ask directions, we were there, but not sure where 'there' was!Perhaps it was Fangingshan Village, Taiping town*
Anyway we got there and Taylor and Rong wandered around looking for somewhere to do the barbecue. I didn't quite know what was going on, so I asked. Apparently the little restaurants around this swimming place rent out a barbecue table and they were trying to find one. Eventually Taylor told me to go and swim and her and Rong would join me later.
I wandered down to the river. There were people paddling but no one swimming. I changed into my trunks, and then the men appeared. They had badges!
Not sure what it meant but they seemed to be telling me to stay out of the water. Yup! I wasn't allowed to swim. I pointed to all of the others people paddling in the water and asked why. By this time there was a crowd. They laughed. Apparently you don't ask '"Why?" in China. He had a badge. That was enough. But I pleaded in English and he gave in . He said I could have a minute in the water. I joked an pointed to my watch. He laughed and indicated two minutes. I swam a while and then got the "T" time up sign. I came out. I laughed and went to get my camera I tapped him on the shoulder and asked for a photo. He looked pleased. I took a bad selfie, and then he then got his friend, who was also wearing a badge, to take a photo of us all together. The men with badges then went. As soon as they had gone, everyone was back in the water. Apparently their job was to keep people out of the water for some environmental reason. So when they are there you get out and when they have gone you get back in!
 |
| The men with badges. |
By this time Taylor and Rong had found me. I was where the crowd was and some Chinese guy was trying to explain to me what had happened. Anyhow it was time to play!
 |
| Taylor and Rong |
 |
| Taylor |
 |
| Rong |
 |
| Taylor after I had just 'saved her life'! There was a really strong current and I caught her as she went past me and dragged her to shallow water! |
|
The current was really strong and some people had inflatables. I went to my bag and took out a dry bag, filled it with air and sealed it. Ideal for a float! We took it in turns, alone, together etc.
 |
| me and Rong and the dry-bag |
 |
| Me and Taylor and the dry-bag |
So we played a while, took a few photos and it was time for the barbecue. It also looked like it was time for rain. I wasn't wrong!
We went up to the veranda that overlooked the area in which we were swimming. There was a small barbecue table there, and a fair bit of carnage from earlier barbecues! Taylor too k out the food she had brought and started to cook it.
It was ticking over quite nicely when it started to rain, big tropical rain, but Taylor was not giving in. "I'm eating for two" she said. But the rain came bigger. Eventually she moved to cover, but not before getting the boss of the restaurant to move the table with her! This gave way to the best shot of the day!
 |
| Taylor, newly pregnant, with umbrella barbecuing in the rain. A true 'beast' of a woman! #respect |
Rong however had decided to get changed and stayed inside!
 |
| In case you are wondering about the bars on he window. This is the norm in China! |
Eventually the rain lessened and Rong came out to join us!
 |
| Taylor and Rong. |
 |
| Taylor and Rong |
 |
| Taylor and Rong |
 |
| I knew I'd find a use for the poncho! Looks quite daft, but two days on the run it has been indispensable! |
|
|
Well,all good days must come to an end, and so did this one. We all got changed and Went back to the car. Taylor drove us both home!
 |
| Rong and Taylor on the way back to the car |
 |
| A view from the road of the restaurants aroungd the place where we went swimming! |
 |
| Me on my way back to the car. Concentrating hard on taking a selfie and tyring not to get knocked over by passing cars! |
As they say, that was a cracker. Thanks Taylor and thanks Rong!
I wandered down to the river. There were people paddling but no one swimming. I changed into my trunks, and then the men appeared. They had badges!
It was ticking over quite nicely when it started to rain, big tropical rain, but Taylor was not giving in. "I'm eating for two" she said. But the rain came bigger. Eventually she moved to cover, but not before getting the boss of the restaurant to move the table with her! This gave way to the best shot of the day!
Comments
Post a Comment