China May 2010 part I: Shantou |
In the first half of the 20th century, Aric's family emigrated from China to Malaysia. They are Teochew and have their roots in the eastern, coastal region of the Guangdong province. The region must have been rather poor in those days. Now it is a prosperous metropolitan area with Shantou and Chaozhou as big towns, and an estimated population of more than 13 million.
His family has never been back to their roots. His father did not even know the name of his ancestral village, until Aric discovered it during Cheng Beng on the tombstone of his grandfather! Aric's favourite uncle, the husband of Aric's auntie, knew a bit more, at least he had an address and a telephone number of relations in a small Teochew village, not far from Chaozhou.
So, for a long time already it had been Aric's wish to organise a trip for his parents and his favourite uncle and auntie to their roots. Booking flights and hotels, searching for interesting places, he had been busy for weeks. Food would be no problem, the Teochew region is one of the famous culinary heavens of China!
We left on May 4 from KLIA, and after a a transit in Guangzhou (Canton), we arrived in the Happy Hotel in Shantou. Where we got three splendid rooms for ~ RM 70 pp, including four (4!) buffet meals daily. One of the many surprises Aric had prepared..:-)
Shantou is a modern town, the interesting old center is unfortunately falling apart, but there were enough tourist attractions to keep us busy for several days. We spent the first three days there and came back at the end of our trip.
Have a look at the pictures, several of them (indicated with a *) have additional text.
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Our group, without the leader * 2 comments |
The Happy Hotel, VFM! |
Interesting Chenglish in the elevator 1 comment |
The Buffet Lunch |
Buffet food |
Wet market 1 comment |
Lots of seafood |
Helpful hotel staff 1 comment |
Shi Pao Tai * |
Inside the fort |
Cannons |
And ventilation shafts |
Entrance of the Zhong Shang Park 1 comment |
More Chenglish |
Peaceful location |
One of the many bridges |
The main bridge of the park |
Rare in Malaysia, common in China * |
Nice flowers |
Good place to take a rest |
Touching the turltle brings luck |
This brings luck too |
We try ourselves |
Pork intestine with sticky rice * |
Sweet potatoes |
Modern apartment buildings |
Window grilles everywhere 1 comment |
Shopping! |
A nice tea tray |
Tau Fu Fa, really delicous * |
The local MacDonalds |
The Han river |
Grey, foggy weather |
Leaving the ferry |
Aric's uncle as trishaw driver |
Entrance of the Bai Hua Jian Da Miao |
Inside the temple complex 1 comment |
The pagoda in the clouds |
Detail |
Main temple |
Burning joss sticks |
And candles |
This is an active temple 1 comment |
Pay and you can have a tile with your name |
Many statues |
The pagoda |
Free lunch! * |
Hao Jiang gate * |
Part of the old wall |
Father and son |
The local barber |
Detail of a temple facade |
Time for a drink. |
Que Shi Area |
Laughing Buddha * |
Cable car to the top |
Entering the clouds |
Shantou barely visible |
Up, no view, down again..:-) |
Interesting rock formations |
Walking down * 1 comment |
The Han river with a ferry |
Back to the hotel * |
Goat transport |
One church |
And another one |
Narrow street! |
Center of the old town |
Once a famous department store |
Now decaying |
Must have been a beautiful building 1 comment |
Another remnant of the past |
This one is still in good condtion |
Sign of the Fire brigade 1 comment |
What to choose for dinner? |
So much choice! |
Beer and food! |
Our dinner * 1 comment |
Our farewell breakfast |
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lightlingmk2 wrote on May 31, 2010: I notice a place in old town Ipoh having the same thing. Why ? They told me to prevent suicide jumper. |
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wrote on May 31, 2010: That cartoon sort of spoils it. |
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wrote on May 31, 2010: A facelift and you would have a heritage building. |
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wrote on May 31, 2010: any idea how this unlikely emblem came about? /stephen |
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wrote on May 31, 2010: send from left got to be aric's auntie. ;) /stephen |
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wrote on May 31, 2010: Oeps, sure... corrected..:-) |
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wrote on May 31, 2010: Check out that pink pack. |
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lightlingmk2 wrote on May 31, 2010: Where got kampong chicken in China - it's called " choi gin kai" lah |
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wrote on Jun 1, 2010: Pre-World War II eclectic commercial and residential buildings! Decorative eclectic architectural style is the heritage of China and Malaysia, with local variations, of course. To me, the church buildings display the kind of confidence I see in the people in China today. No pix of a classic Chaozhou temple? |
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wrote on Jun 1, 2010: Lovely. |
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wrote on Jun 1, 2010: Were they chanting to the drum? Would be interesting to listen to that. |
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wrote on Jun 1, 2010: Can be a scene from a video game. |
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wrote on Jun 1, 2010: haha, interesting wet market. |
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wrote on Jun 2, 2010: I won't laugh, I keep thinking 'I can't even translate ANYTHING into Chinese!' |
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