E21S: July 2016

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Guangzhou Part 12 - A simple meal

A simple meal purchased from Aeon Supermarket. It is a local lotus leaf glutinous rice with pork. Cost about RMB 7. It has strong lotus leaf taste and is delicious. I ate this together with some noodle and a Japanese rice roll with nori and down with pineapple beer. A satisfactory dinner at this price.

I like the taste of this pineapple beer at a price of RMB2.70

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Guangzhou Part 11 - 新会陈皮 (Xin Hui Orange Peel)

Guangzhou city of 新会 is famous for 陈皮 (citrus orange peel). When I was a small child, my grandmother used to prepare orange peel through drying . The local orange is however not the same species as the 陈皮 of 新会. As a young boy, I was always wondering what my grandmother was doing.

There was a story that a Southern Chinese had won the praises of a China Empress through the use of orange peel from 新会 as a medical treatment for the Empress sickness. Upon consuming the product, the Empress sickness has improved. This event created a demand and agricultural expansion for growth of this special orange called 茶枝柑。

陈皮 is a famous product in Guangzhou. Even the local museum has a preserved specimen of this orange. According to the display, "the drug (陈皮) is used for moving qi (the inner energy), fortifying the stomach, drying dampness, resolving phlegm, down bearing qi and reliving vomiting."

陈皮 specimen in Guangzhou Museum

The local supermarkets have this product easy available.

The citrus peel or 陈皮 available in a Guangzhou supermarket (right cabinet)

I have chronic sinus problems for many years. My nose would get infected easily and there would be nasal discharge due to the mucus produced. This mucus would drain down my throat causing irritation and cough. Normally, I would need anti-histamine and anti-biotic to treat this illness. However, recently, I found that common antibiotics is of not much effectiveness, probably due to resistance from the bacteria causing the infection.

On the last second day prior to my departure from Guangzhou, I made an impromptu stopover at 体育西路 station, just a station before the station of my hotel. There is an Aeon supermarket just next to the station. I was just casually looking around when out of a sudden, a local lady was speaking to 2 Asians. From the conversation, the local lady who was speaking in Cantonese, vouched to the 2 Asians that the 陈皮 displayed at the shelve was a very good product and solved her sore throat ailment for many years. The 2 Asians, a young gentlemen from Thailand and his girlfriend from South Korea, was replying that they are looking for a gift to buy for their parents. He was replying in mandarin (Thai Chinese). In the end, I bought a bottle of the 陈皮 with some skepticism. From an after thought, it was quite an unique situation; a local Guangzhou resident speaking to a couple of Thai and South Korean, with me (another foreigner) purchasing the product.

To my pleasant surprise, the 陈皮 is good in treating my cough. My nose is still infected, but it soothes the throat and reduce irritation of the throat. There is less cough and phlegm. Being a natural product, it should not have side effects if there is no over-consumption. A piece of the 陈皮 a day is sufficient for its medicinal properties to take effect. Do note that this is an authentic aged 陈皮. A highly recommended product for a person who has ENT ailment. Just hope that I could buy another bottle.

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Guangzhou Part 10 - Luo / Law / Loh Ancestors Hall 良溪罗氏大宗祠

Following my earlier post:-- http://e21s.blogspot.sg/2016/07/guangzhou-part-6-luo-law-loh-ancestors.html

Some more photographs taken from within 罗氏大宗祠.

Photographs are all rights reserved.

History and Introduction to Liang Xi Village

Natural Lightings

Bricks and Walls from Year 1707

History of 罗氏

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Guangzhou Part 9 - Interesting Bronze Sculpture

These Sculptures are located in Shamian Island and I found them interesting. First sculpture shows a street hawker selling malt candy to 2 children. I used to enjoy the sticky malt candy when I was a child. It is interesting to see the container of the malt candy. Second piece shows a Chinese using a abacus (珠算) sitting with a foreigner. The abacus is an unique calculator used in trade and sale of goods. The last interesting sculpture is the transformation of the modern Chinese lady. The artist seems to feel that the modern lady has shorter pants and a tighter blouse.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Guangzhou Part 8 - Shamian Island

Shamian (沙面） Island - It is an island because of a 30m width canal that separates the main land and this parcel of land. The island is connected via bridges.

The island is unique as it was considered prime land given to the British and French under concession during the 19th and early 20th century (under Qing dynasty). A great dishonor to the Chinese as the island was of strategic importance during the Opium wars with the foreigners. A reflection of the weak Qing dynasty, which was subsequently over thrown by Mr Sun Yat-Sen. The historical lessons had thus taught many Chinese of the need to protect herself against foreign intervention and bullying, which could be seen from current China strategic positioning in foreign affairs and policies involving territorial disputes. Since the Opium wars, what a reversal of fortune for the British and French. Vice versa for the Chinese.

There are many historical bridges and buildings in Shamian Island. The most interesting is the British bridge built in 1861. The buildings are also of architectural significance showing British/French design dated back to 19/20th century. They were well preserved and treated as Gazette buildings when the rest of the cities redeveloped. There are also many old trees along the canal. Now, we can see the local residents dancing and practicing Taichi in several locations around the island. Shamian island can be reached by using the Guangzhou subway train line 1 or line 6 and alight at 黄沙站 (huang sha station). Get out of the station from Exit F and walk about 10 minutes south to the island.

The former British Bridge built in 1861. The overhead structure is now an expressway.

Shamian Island on the left

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Guangzhou Part 7 - Chinese Game 陆战棋

陆战棋

Terrain Map of the Game

When I was a Primary School student, I was good at this game (literally means Army Game) . Each piece can represent a Captain, Lieutenant, a hand grenade, a mine, a Commander, a foot soldier etc. Each piece is placed in the printed box on the plastic terrain map provided. Back then the pieces was carved out of wood. Now it is in plastic.

I am so glad that I purchased this game set in a supermart in Guangzhou China for RMB24 (S$5.10). The objective of the game is to secure the State Flag (which is also represented in piece). The games pieces are placed downward so that each player does not know the placement strategy of the soldiers and explosive. A referee will look at the pieces of the red and blue sides to determine who will be the winner in each move. The State Flag is secured by pushing the soldiers forward to overcome the enemy force. For example, a Captain of the blue side will win against a Lieutenant of the red side. However, only humans and hand grenade can move. A mine and State flag will not be able to move. Humans can be killed by hand grenade or a mine, regardless of rank.

There is a strategy to win the game as many young players will simply put their junior soldiers in the frontline. Of course, there is an element of luck too.

I will keep this game in excellent condition as a memory of my childhood.

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Guangzhou Part 6 - Luo / Law / Loh Ancestors Hall 良溪罗氏大宗祠

Entrance to 罗氏 Great Hall

The statue of the Founder - 罗贵

The red poster shows the donations made by various members of 罗氏

The Hall was built in year 1707 during the reign of Emperor Kang Xi. The Hall was built using bricks and timber. There are 13 beams in the Hall. The Hall is a cultural preserved building in Jiang Men city since 2004. The Hall is well preserved.