Roland's Travelog: Happy Christmas

So Happy Christmas to anyone reading who celebrates Christmas. Here in China it's not such a big event, though the younger generation of Chinese who deem 'western cultures' to be cool, have been celebrating a little. I have spent the day in Nanning, where most young people seem to be just wandering the streets and eating out, especially around the street market area where a wide variety of food is available. Some are carrying balloons and wearing red Santa hats, which also seem to have been popular among restaurant waitresses and shop assistants for the past weeks. There are also a few Santas among the western style shops, hotels and restaurants and some Christmas trees around.

Despite this Christmas theme going on , personally it does not feel much like Christmas, things seem to be carrying on much as normal really, people are working, shops are open, it's around 20 degrees centigrade, so no chance of a white christmas, I can walk round in a t-shirt, it just does not feel like Christmas, but I don't really miss that.

The street market has a row of cafes and stalls selling all sorts of food, last night I had a pork and vegetable 'porridge' which is made with rice rather than oats and was very nice. Food on sticks is big in Nanning, from pieces of marinated pork, mushrooms, squid, melon, pineapple or if you fancy it, pig's penis, and many are sitting in cafes eating noodle or rice dishes. There were also plenty of other options such as woks full of fried bird, the ubiquitous chicken's feet and on one stall a dog, as well as more appealing meat and fish snacks and tons of Asian fruits.

Left: One of the many snack stalls
Centre: Selection of foods.
Right: Tasty looking chicken's feet.

Anyway, I spent my day in Nanning doing nothing special, a lazy morning, met up with Jane, visited the local police to register my address before I can extend my visa, visited a pet and plants market, followed by dinner at a "eat all you want" buffet with plenty of western food as well as local specialities. I ate far too much and have been feeling fat all evening since.. Tonight I will watch one of the DVD films I picked up at the market at a ridiculously low price.