There goes breakfast...*Day 10*

Day 10 Monday 25th May

Early to bed the night before as the alarm had been set for a 6am wake up and and early morning shopping trip to the wet market. We were out the door by 0630 and on the bus for our little task.

I'm slowly getting to know the area so I'm recognising more and more of the landmarks we were passing. So I'm feeling quite chuffed with myself all in all.

We arrived at our stop and J asked if I wanted some breakfast. In hindsight the right answer should have been an emphatic no. However, at the time she pointed out these wierd little dumpling things being briskly sold by the street vendors. They are little dough covered fillings of either meat or a sweet crumble. Yep, let's give them a whirl! One of each.

I must say, they were quite delicious!

Ok. No time like the present to get the shopping done. Down quite a dark alleyway, we would find all sorts of wonders.

I got about 10 steps in and that was the end of me...an horrendous stench akin to the gut of Satan after a bad lot of seafood chowder permeated all of my senses, even ones I'm not sure I was aware of. OMG! I fled. Slightly vomiting what was only moments before was a quite enjoyable breakfast. My head spinning and clutching my chest like my time had come, I stumbled back out onto the street where I was surprised to see life still continuing as normal.

'Ummm, honey. Maybe you should do the shopping.' Big, wide, innocent eyes met my red, tear-streamed ones. 'What is the matter?' she asks. 'I can't do it,' I choked. 'I'll just wait out here for you. Here's the shopping list and money.'  'Don't worry, you are allowed in there.'

She didn't understand.

'I can't do it. The smell is too much for me. I guess I am a pussy - do you know what that means?' She slyly grinned at me and said, 'Yes, that means you are scared.'

Yeah, something like that. Great I have a 10 year old now gazing at me with abject pity and maybe a little awe.

Anyhow, I paced the pavement and tried to enjoy watching the morning bustle of a a busy Chinese street whilst trying to calm my heaving insides.

A little while later, she emerged with a bad full of al the requested items.

She asked what we should do next. I suggested we head back home. You know, because we had perishables or something.

We were back in the apartment by 0730.

The rest of the day has been quite relaxing as I'm saving my yuan a for my trip to Suzhou (soo-jo) later this week. 

We did have a rather awesome dinner however:

Mixed grill with steak, bacon, fried eggs, chips, grilled tomatoes, sausages and some leftover mushroom/garlic gravy. Yummo! 

I'm very fortunate to be staying with a half-western family and getting to break up the, although delicious, rice-based diet. 

Another early night for me. I'm very excited to be heading off to to another town all on my own and have been spending time getting familiar with the area, how I can get around and what things I'm hoping to get to see. 

I have one class tomorrow afternoon and then my next after that won't be until Friday evening, so I'll have a couple of days to explore a new area.

Good night all!!! 😴