My first morning in the park and my first ride on a three wheeler, a haircut, and yet more tea!

Today I woke at 6 am.  I decided on the spot to go to the park because Sherrie had told me that stuff happens there.  I got there about twenty to seven.  It was already in full swing.  People exercising and two groups of 'aunties' doingtheir morning square dance.  I sat around for a while then joined in until the dancing got too complicated.  It's much easier to dance in the morning when it is not so hot!  I then watched a while and left towards the underground supermarket.  My plan was to pick up breakfast on the way.  I'd seen boiled eggs there and fancied a couple.  They were already shelled and cooking in savoury water along with some beef and pork 'bits'.  They a
tasted good.  I was still hungry so I went to a noodle store and got some beef nodles and a fried egg.  Lovely. 

Breakfast.  I'd already eaten the freid egg!

Afterwards I went to the supermarket and bought a few small items.  As I walked off home I noticed a small stall selling erm some kind of dumpling.  I asked the guy what it was and he told me.  Then I forgot the name.  I bought some.

The outside was a light dough and inside was  slightly savoury rice.  Very nice. I eventually had them for my lunch, but not before my first ride in a three-wheeler!  a
I decided to walk home and go past the place where a few ladies that I know hang out.  They sit there in the morning and I sometimes chat with them. (see previous post).  But no sooner had I got to the road to walk back than this small three wheeler pulled up alongside me.  It was turquoise and had a canvas roof.  The driver then started to talk to me.  However his accent/dialect was too strong for me to understand.  I told him about me and why I was in Jiangkou.  He seemed t understand.  I gathered that he was trying to offer me a lift.

We talked a while but didn't understand much of what each other said.  I said bye bye and he went as if to drive off.  He then stopped again and asked where I worked.  I told him and he indicated that I should get in his car.  I did.  He drove off up the road.  Several times he had to stop for various reasons, and each time he started off again, his three-wheeler did a wheelie!  Guess it was not used to having 100kg in the back seat!  As we passed his home he pointed it out to me, it was just where the ladies lived!  We drove on and he eventually dropped me off at the school.  What a nice guy!

My view from the passenger seat in teh rea of th e three wheeler.

After doing a few smal things in chool I went back home the long way and called into the local barber/hairdresser.  We chatted price: 25rmb.  Cheaper than town, and it was also one of hthelocal shops.  I am enjoying visiting tashe 'very local shops' rather than the big shops, this is all part of it.  Haircut was fine.

The cape with the window for mobile phone use.

left to right:  The main hair washer, me, the barber and another hair washer.

 They were happy to see a foreigner.  See the red cape?  It has a clear plastic window in it so you can use your mobile phone whilst having your haircut!
After my haircut I popped in breifly to the woodshopman's shop.  There were two new guys there.  A university philosophy teacher and a local government official.  Collecting my guanxi (Brownie points).  Home to sleep.