Today's a relaxed day. My sleeper train to Zhangjiajie only departs at 11:13pm and I woke up at a very late 9am this morning. Decided to explore the around surrounding my hotel despite the drizzle. I love walking along the streets and alleys and taking in the local scene.
As I walked alone in an alley behind the hotel, I chanced upon an interesting sight. There was a modern supermarket and a traditional wet market near each other! The supermarket was no different from our usual ones in Singapore, albeit with a dirtier 'fresh' foods section.
The highlight was entering the traditional wet market. Whenever I'm overseas, I would try to visit the local wet market. No matter in Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia or Thailand, I loved to witness and explore the realness of the local wet market. It is so full of life and it gives you a glimpse of the local life in the place. There's no sprucing up or beautifying, the bloody and dirty wet market with its sensory assault.
As I walked around, with the green camouflage goretex jacket on me and my camera in my hands, I was turning heads everywhere. Some looked at me with suspicion while others asked if I wanted to buy something from their store. Eventually, a local came up and talked to me and asked me where I am from. It was a good conversation starter and soon we were talking about the wet markets in Singapore. After a couple of minutes, a pair of policemen approached me and that local told them I'm a tourist exploring the market and they left me alone. I guess tourists usually do not visit the local wet markets in China.
The wet market was no different from the ones I visited in Thailand. The vegetables and spices section are on one side as usual, and the meat section on the other. The meat section attacked my senses as I saw rows and rows of bloodied animal meat and organs, some unrecognizable. The smell of offal and blood was in the air. The floor lined with a mixture of water, dirt, blood and animal remains. Right at the corner of the market was a row of cages where live animals were sold. They were cramped into such small cages that it was amazing that they were still alive. Nevertheless, I was really excited to have the chance to visit a local wet market, grime and all.
Later on, after checking out of the hotel, it was lunch time. I headed to a nearby shop I had seen earlier. It looked relatively clean and cheap. There wasn't much on the menu but I ordered a couple of items that were their speciality. Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings), Panfried Guo Tie (Gyoza) and Mushroom Shao Mai (Mushroom Glutinous Rice in Steamed Dumpling Skin); washed down with a bottle of Sprite and a bottle of Soy Milk. The food was really cheap, filling and most importantly, delicious! Better than whatever I had in Singapore! It costed me 29rmb for all and if in singapore, it would have been 3-5 times the price!
Walking on, i reached the train station, obtained my pre-booked tickets and left my backpack with the baggage storage counter. The train would arrive at 11:13pm, which meant I only needed to be back at the station at 10pm. Time to head to the famous Huangshan Old Street.
Since it was raining, I took the chance to ride a trishaw to Old Street. The 10minride only cost 10rmb but I decided to tip the driver another 10rmb,since it wasn't that expensive and they don't earn much for such backbreaking labour either. I realised I do not hesitate to tip my drivers 10-20rmb if they dun screw up the ride, since the rides ain't that expensive anyways and a little tip never fails to make their day.
The Old Street comprises of alleys flanked by old architecture, mostly refurbished or touched up. However it was too touristy for me. I managed to find something interesting to buy back for my loved ones but well, just like the souvenir I bought from the Great Wall of China, it'll be a challenge to pack them into my already full backpack.
Here I am not, avoiding the drizzle and passing time in the only Macdonalds I've stepped into for more than two months. I refuse to eat such fast foods during my trip in China, with the only indulgences being the Taiwanese iced milk teas..
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