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A Far, Far East Adventure
text and photography by Kathy Saenz

Supplement to "A Far, Far East Adventure" travel journal appearing in the June/July 2005 issue of Decatur Magazine.

While "touristy" sites were extraordinary, everyday encounters throughout China also made our trip a true adventure.

Communication. Smiling is a universal language and that alone opened many doors. We often turned to our translation book, and also resorted to pointing, drawing, acting, and even placing telephone calls to Chinese friends we had met along the way.

Food. Delicious! Rarely did we eat anything we didn't like. Fresh fruits and vegetables were abundant at every meal, and even meats were always prepared fresh. We also tried octopus, eel, rooster foot, lotus root, shark's fin soup, and birds nest soup. We never ate dog or cat. Although they occasionally appeared on the menu, they were always very expensive.

Toilets. In public tourist locations, all toilets are rated similar to hotels — five star to two star. Chinese toilets are long, oval shaped, porcelain-lined holes imbedded in the floor, and required a unique stance! Pack your own toilet paper, too.

Traffic. Drivers careen through the city, honking at everything in their way, and taxis, cyclists, electric scooters, buses, bicycle taxis, cars, and trucks all share the roads. Drivers pass on solid lines, make illegal U-turns, drive up sidewalks, cut in front of each other, and pass within inches. At intersections, crowds of pedestrians slowly inch into the street and cross together; safety in numbers, literally.

Numbers. Most Chinese can have only one child (sadly, most prefer males), and three is considered a very lucky number. So, as a family of foreigners with three boys, we were an oddity and delight. At least ten times a day, people would stop us and ask permission to take a picture with the boys. When Christopher, our youngest, finally said, "Mom, I wish I wasn't so cute," I knew it was time to come home!

Particularly helpful references included: China, The 50 Most Memorable Trips, A Frommer's Guide; National Geographic Traveler, China; and websites oriental-list@xianzai.com and Sinohotel.com

This is an online supplement to an article which originally appeared in the June/July 2005 issue of Decatur Magazine.
It may not be reproduced or redistributed in whole or in part without the publisher's consent.
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