Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster

We drove up to a lookout (free that day due to the UNESCO opening ceremonies) and took lots of pictures. The square one was built first they are easier to build but take more material and provide less light thru the roof. As the builders got more skilled more round and oval ones were made.

This link below has the best information. The Wikipedia can give you a much better history of each cluster than I can. I was too busy taking pictures to pay attention to all the history stuff I quickly read on the signs and heard.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujian_Tulou

We got to see the first 5 listed on the Wiki page. We saw the Chuxi tulou cluster, Tianluokeng tulou cluster, Gaobei tulou cluster, YuChang lou. And many other ones I don’t know the name of.

Fujian Tulous

On July 8 2008, 19 new cultural sites were added to UNESCO World Heritage List with the Fujian Tulous being one of them and we were there! Also we were really lucky to see these sites before they become too commercialized. The whole county was lined with balloons, flags, banners, and lanterns. Even though it was not a convenient trip getting there and back it was the best part of our Fujian Province trip.

We rode a crowded bus about 3 hours when the bus driver let just Cynthia and I off on a barren section of road where we waited in the rain for the boss of the hotel/tulou to pick us up on motorcycles. Yes! Motorcycles! No helmet, narrow mountain roads with lots of evidence of landslides and with me juggling my backpack, purse and an extra bag. Obviously we made it safely to the tulou, but we immediately asked the boss to hire a car and driver for the next 2 days.

There are thousands of these tulous still occupied by family 'clans'. They have survived earthquakes and bandits. Some were built as early as 1400 some as late as early 1900’s. Interesting side fact is that during the cold war the Pentagon, when looking at satellite photos of the area, thought the round tulous were missile silos.

Can you see the heavy rain in the picture .... the long uncomfortable bus ride, the motorcycle ride, and the rain - it was still worth it!

Fujian Province

Fujian Province is south of Zhejiang province and slightly resembles Georgia in that it and a few other southern provinces seemed to be a dumping ground for prisoners and dissidents. It is very mountainous even along the coast. Xiamen is a small coastal island in the south of Fujian Province. Xiamen seems to be noted for their egrets and seafood. (I don’t eat seafood in China because I have been spoiled by American seafood. Here there are too many bones, heads, shells and other body parts to deal with).

In Xiamen we took a ferry across the harbor to a smaller island called Gulang Yu that had colonial type houses and plants that could have come from Sea Island. We did the typical Chinese activity of climbing to the top of the hill to taking pictures. After ferrying back we shopped and found my favorite Singapore brand of meat called Bee Cheng Hiang. I bought enough to get us through the next couple of days in the country.

Cynthia and Katie Slept Here

This part of our trip was the highlight. We slept in a 400 yr old earth packed roundhouse called a Tuluo. More information and pictures later - I just wanted to give you a idea of the stories and photos to come. Don't worry I have already narrowed down the 300+ photos I took to a semi-reasonable number.

Packing Light?

And remember they had already sent home 4 suitcases with their family that had visited in late April. Who will come and visit me so I can send home some stuff.........

Kris's Last Text

You really learn to text a lot over here. Generally people of our generation are not addicted to texting as some of the younger generation are. But here you live by the text. They are free (or just about free when comparing to talking on the cell) and it eliminates any problems with vocal communication between the Chinese speaker and the Native English speaker. Another plus is that you can do it on the bus - where hearing is near to impossible. Jim 'encouraged' Kris to handle all their cell phone duty so now Kris is a master of the quick text.

Side Note: - I had to finally turn off their phone (they left it here for one of the next foreign teachers) because their devoted students kept wanting to get in one more farewell wish hours and days after they had left.

Hard to Say Good-bye

Haven't heard from Kris & Jim yet - But I assume that they all got back safely and with all their luggage. Jim is going to join the Georgia teaching profession and do his student teaching this fall in HS Biology. After seeing how he taught his Chinese/English Classes, the school that finally gets him will be very lucky. I really miss them and it was very hard for me and many students to say good-bye to them. They touched the hearts and souls of many of us.