SUZHOU: Me As A Photo Attraction

After this less exciting experience, I continued walking down towards the North temple Pagoda.

I decided to get in and check out the view from the top of the pagoda. At the entrance, a Chinese family asked to take a picture of me. I thought at first they wanted me to take one of them, but then they said, “no, with you”.

Every single family member took one picture of me and one with them together. I felt like a very special person! This does not happen in Europe and it made you feel like you were on a totally different planet.
This did not happen once, it happened many more times in Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou whereas in Beijing tourists are common and therefore less of an attraction. Also they greeted us whenever they saw us. Even old men said “hello” or “hi” and smiled when we said “hi” back. 

In the evening, I decided to go into a restaurant where they serve hot pots. The staff was very friendly, offered a waitress who could speak English and explain the procedure to us. So you decide which kind of soup you want. I took the tomato-flavoured one and then you choose some vegetables and meat. They heat the soup and then you slowly put the vegetables and meat into your pot.

You can turn the heat up or down, as you wish. Part of the service was also a noodle dance. A waitress danced with a huge noodle piece and put it into our pot afterwards. Very tasty I have to say – it had a slightly sweet taste.

Next we walked towards the Chinese silk research institute and I bought a nice traditional Chinese dress. Walking towards the train station in the evening is very romantic with all the lights on the bridges. Very pretty!