06.25.09 Hangzhou
One entry for Hangzhou. The least culturally vibrant of the places we visited in China. I’d associate it with the equivalent of the American upper middle class suburb, in the sense the architecture and environment reflected a concern with money and artificial beauty, rather than quirkiness and the embrace of organic culture. The temple area was rather pretty, but the city in general had that kind of vibe going for it.
People sure do like getting their pictures with Westerners.
She was taking a picture of me. I just shot off from the hip.
Oh Steve.
Our eats for lunch.
This area was a sort of sanctuary. Had a rock path up into the hills and a Buddhist temple.
We climbed a big ol’ rock.
So glad the light held – more than half the days in China were cursed by boring, flat, overcast light. Didn’t see the sun all that much.
For burning incense.
Those monks like their basketball.
Got caught up in a 3 way.
I’m on a boat!
The body of water is called West Lake.
More meta.
Was at a pond where you could feed the koi. People would pour out bags of popcorn and the fish would go nuts.
I unfortunately couldn’t take my exploding briefcase under the subterranean crosswalk. Which is another point of confusion, they use underground tunnels to cross the road, but call ‘em subways, so I’m always half expecting a subway entrance somewhere . . . but no.
I believe they were commenting on how dumb tourists are or something, then proceeded to point and laugh.
Bought some green tea leaves.
This guy was rather curious about the swarm of westerners crowding the tea shop.
You know the chicken’s fresh.
A mix of the 20-35, 50, and 85.
