Day 2:
Stretch and get out of bed with a yawn, feeling refreshed from a good nights rest at the Linden Centre. After witnessing a section of the fields surrounding the Linden Centre last night, you decide to go for a nice walk along the fields. As you walk along, you feel the gentle breeze blow through your hair, and feel as if all is right in the world. Greet the farmers as you walk by them, and maybe even stop for a chat about harvest season if you are feeling particularly social today. Then, stop for a while, and just stare out into the fields. During this time, simply sit, and think about life (which may sound totally boring, but is actually very refreshing for the mind).
After you have your quiet time, pack a pleasant lunch for your trip to Lake Erhai later on. When you are done, go to the Linden Centre, where your horse cart will be waiting for you. Get on the horse cart, and sit back to enjoy the scenery. Watch Xizhou flash by you in slow motion as you are transported from village to a place of nothing but fields, the lake, and the occasional farmhouse. When you reach Erhai, thank the driver, and then walk along the Lake. Stop when you reach the Tongue of the Lake, a peninsula stretching into Lake Erhai. When you get there, locate a boat driver who will take you to see to cormorants fishing, and then you are off. On the boat, watch the Cangshan mountains tower above you, and realize that in this great big world, you are but a dot in the midst of everything else happening. Then, you will reach the cormorants. Watch them spread their wings and catch fish after fish for the local Bai people. Feel the sun bearing on your body, pleasantly hot. Smell the fresh air, and hear the splashing of the lake and the people on it. Take a mental image of this serene sight before you, and store that somewhere safe, because one day, you will wish that you were once again back here. Since all good things must come to an end, your trance will be broken when your boat driver announces that you are back on shore once again. Relax as long as you like at Lake Erhai; this is your break after all.
Feeling revitalized from your time at the Lake, take a car or a tuk-tuk to a mosque located in Meiba village. The mosque is one of the biggest in this area, and is a magnificent structure of green glass windows and white, sturdy walls. You are welcome to visit inside the gates, as long as you respect the Muslim customs, including wearing long sleeves and taking off all hats and sunglasses. Once inside, you are permitted to wander around, but you are not allowed to enter the praying room. However, they do set out plastic chairs outside for those interested, so you may watch them pray if you wish.
After you finish your self-lead tour around the mosque, walk downhill until you reach the base of a small mountain. Look for a well-worn gravel path that should be on your right. Do not fear; this is not an intense hike. This simply a nice walk uphill, until you can catch the wonderful birds eye view of Lake Erhai and Xizhou village. On your way up, you may notice numerous tombstones, some facing Lake Erhai, some facing another direction. An interesting fact you may want to take note of is that you can actually determine if the person lying beneath the tombstone is of Bai minority or Hui minority by the direction the tombstone is facing. The Bai people face their tombstones towards Lake Erhai because they think their deceased would enjoy the view, while the Hui people, who are Muslims, face their tombstones towards Mecca. Snap a few photos to reminisce over later, and then head back down.
By now, a nice, steaming hot bowl of noodle probably sounds like something heaven to your belly. Now smile, because you are now back in Sifang Jie, sitting in a noodle shop (清蔄芳食店 qīng màn fāng shí diàn) with a heated bowl of ersi right in front of you. The owner of this shop is Mrs. Ma, who is Hui, making this a Muslim noodle shop. Ersi is a type of noodle made of rice, as you previously observed in the noodle factory. The chewiness of the noodle is paired with soup, which can either be ordered spicy or with soy sauce. When you are done, head out and walk down the Muslim street. Find a shop that sells erkuai, and order one. Erkuai is basically a Chinese burrito. The skin is made the same way the ersi is made: with rice. Inside the skin, sweet or spicy sauce is spread onto the skin, paired with your choice of a sausage or a youtiao (fried dough). This treat is nice and warm, and warms you down to your toes.
Now, since it should be around 7:30 or so, head down to the activities center opposite the Linden Centre, which is the central gathering spot for the old ladies of Xizhou. Now, what do they do there? They dance. No, not the crazy, drunk dancing that teenagers do these days, but a type of Chinese dance that they perceive as good for the body. Walk into the square, sit down, and watch them dance. They do not mind you watching them, so take all the time you need to learn more about local dancing here in Xizhou. Since yesterday was a long day, you decide to take an early night, and settle into bed.
After you have your quiet time, pack a pleasant lunch for your trip to Lake Erhai later on. When you are done, go to the Linden Centre, where your horse cart will be waiting for you. Get on the horse cart, and sit back to enjoy the scenery. Watch Xizhou flash by you in slow motion as you are transported from village to a place of nothing but fields, the lake, and the occasional farmhouse. When you reach Erhai, thank the driver, and then walk along the Lake. Stop when you reach the Tongue of the Lake, a peninsula stretching into Lake Erhai. When you get there, locate a boat driver who will take you to see to cormorants fishing, and then you are off. On the boat, watch the Cangshan mountains tower above you, and realize that in this great big world, you are but a dot in the midst of everything else happening. Then, you will reach the cormorants. Watch them spread their wings and catch fish after fish for the local Bai people. Feel the sun bearing on your body, pleasantly hot. Smell the fresh air, and hear the splashing of the lake and the people on it. Take a mental image of this serene sight before you, and store that somewhere safe, because one day, you will wish that you were once again back here. Since all good things must come to an end, your trance will be broken when your boat driver announces that you are back on shore once again. Relax as long as you like at Lake Erhai; this is your break after all.
Feeling revitalized from your time at the Lake, take a car or a tuk-tuk to a mosque located in Meiba village. The mosque is one of the biggest in this area, and is a magnificent structure of green glass windows and white, sturdy walls. You are welcome to visit inside the gates, as long as you respect the Muslim customs, including wearing long sleeves and taking off all hats and sunglasses. Once inside, you are permitted to wander around, but you are not allowed to enter the praying room. However, they do set out plastic chairs outside for those interested, so you may watch them pray if you wish.
After you finish your self-lead tour around the mosque, walk downhill until you reach the base of a small mountain. Look for a well-worn gravel path that should be on your right. Do not fear; this is not an intense hike. This simply a nice walk uphill, until you can catch the wonderful birds eye view of Lake Erhai and Xizhou village. On your way up, you may notice numerous tombstones, some facing Lake Erhai, some facing another direction. An interesting fact you may want to take note of is that you can actually determine if the person lying beneath the tombstone is of Bai minority or Hui minority by the direction the tombstone is facing. The Bai people face their tombstones towards Lake Erhai because they think their deceased would enjoy the view, while the Hui people, who are Muslims, face their tombstones towards Mecca. Snap a few photos to reminisce over later, and then head back down.
By now, a nice, steaming hot bowl of noodle probably sounds like something heaven to your belly. Now smile, because you are now back in Sifang Jie, sitting in a noodle shop (清蔄芳食店 qīng màn fāng shí diàn) with a heated bowl of ersi right in front of you. The owner of this shop is Mrs. Ma, who is Hui, making this a Muslim noodle shop. Ersi is a type of noodle made of rice, as you previously observed in the noodle factory. The chewiness of the noodle is paired with soup, which can either be ordered spicy or with soy sauce. When you are done, head out and walk down the Muslim street. Find a shop that sells erkuai, and order one. Erkuai is basically a Chinese burrito. The skin is made the same way the ersi is made: with rice. Inside the skin, sweet or spicy sauce is spread onto the skin, paired with your choice of a sausage or a youtiao (fried dough). This treat is nice and warm, and warms you down to your toes.
Now, since it should be around 7:30 or so, head down to the activities center opposite the Linden Centre, which is the central gathering spot for the old ladies of Xizhou. Now, what do they do there? They dance. No, not the crazy, drunk dancing that teenagers do these days, but a type of Chinese dance that they perceive as good for the body. Walk into the square, sit down, and watch them dance. They do not mind you watching them, so take all the time you need to learn more about local dancing here in Xizhou. Since yesterday was a long day, you decide to take an early night, and settle into bed.