Welcome to China!

We have been in a utter daze since the moment we arrived in Xi'an, our first 'China' experience...and it hasn't left us yet! After 7 months in the subcontinent (India, Bangladesh, Nepal), it feels as if we were whisked into the future in a time machine. China has been a fascinating experience so far. Once we arrived in 'civilization', it feels like we haven't escaped it for a moment in our 10 days in mainland China. An on-the-go, consumer driven society that is climbing fast has certainly captured our attention. We still opt for the small open air markets instead of the huge, flashy shopping malls. We still see the cities by foot rather than the nice, clean taxis. And we still eat at the modest eateries instead of the plethora of sleek restaurants. Chinese tourism abounds! Everywhere we go, we are the odd ones out without the tour guide with flag and megaphone in hand, matching hats and AC tour bus! Of course, the ubiquitous Chinese tour group has a bit to do with our stops in major tourist destinations...
I am still getting used to seeing everything imaginable scewered and ready to be dropped in a vat of hot oil for a quick meal--eel, snake, intestines, frog, etc, etc. Today we wandered through a market that had dog, rabbit, duck, and rat to name a few delicacies. The images seem to haunt me throughout the rest of the day, but certainly an eye-opener watching people shuffle indifferently past the small cages. I'll stick to the plant markets where there are heaps of new, fascinating veggies and fruits I've never seen before. Outside the cities, it feels as if every spare strip of land is being used for some food item--fruit orchards, corn fields, and every vegetable imaginable can be found in neat little rows proliferating in the hot, moist climate. There is a huge population to be fed, so not much land is spared. The countryside is a stark contrast to the concrete jungle of the urban landscape, but the Chinese have certainly perfected the perfectly romantic parks in their cities. And the packaging! Everything is tidily sealed in several layers of plastic, from the ubiquitous noodle soups (aka ramen) with their 10 condiment packets inside...to shrink wrapped plates and bowls in restaurants that you can be rest-assured that they are clean! As our intention behind these travels were to see how people are living in different parts of the world, China has certainly taken us by surprise and we are quite intrigued to see the big cities and explore some more! Good, bad, or somewhere in between...it is fascinating to get a glimpse of life in the world's most populous country that is on track to become one of the world's most powerful countries.