Xixian, China
So far, I think my favourite city in China has been Xixian, and it’s entirely because of the incredible family that hosted us crazy foreigners. I think back to the blur of days that were Chinese New Year, and I smile. Giant boxes of fireworks, being taught how to make dumplings, getting challenged to chug a half-liter bottle of beer by an auntie, sleeping in everyday, absolutely delicious food, random firecracker explosions in front of store-fronts. Smoking lanterns in the field and red (and red and red everywhere).
I am in Hong Kong now. I thought I would be in China for a lot longer, but I severely overestimated my capacity for withstanding the cold as well as how grating the lack of diversity in China can be (it’s when people won’t stop staring/take tons and tons of photos without asking that it gets to me). I really, really can’t wait to head south and hang out on the beaches of Southeast Asia and eat Thai curries. I’ve got awesome friends to visit first, though!
I think I’ve finally gotten rid of the fever I picked up in Guangzhou…will venture out to find some sort of soup to test this theory in a few hours time. Or maybe I can find a sandwich, since I *am* in Hong Kong. If you spend a long enough time in China, you will never, ever take a good and proper sandwich for granted again (at least I won’t). No way that I’m getting up for the Couchsurfing Superbowl party, though. Pesky time zones mean that the Superbowl starts at 7.30 am here. Hell to the no.
The Search for Cookie Mountain 
Hi Mary! So, in the fifth picture from the bottom, what is that fruit in the top left corner that is a bit yellow?
loved reading your post!
em
The Mandarin word for it is 柚 (Yòu), but in English, it’s pomelo. I’ve been told another name for it is Chinese grapefruit. I’ve never seen one in the States!
Apparently, grapefruits are a hybrid of pomelos & oranges. The ones we had in Beijing were pretty juicy but further south of that, they haven’t been as good. Maybe it’s not the right time of year for them? Thanks for following along!! I always appreciate your comments! :)