First impressions of Yangshuo, China

April 4, 2014 at 7:16 am • Posted in China, Education, Learnings by Otto

I thought China would be the most like Europe or America, with McDonalds, Starbucks, and Pizza Hut, but I was wrong, although they do have McDonalds. China is arguably the most different from the West. Africa is definitely the hardest travel we’ve had on the trip, but not as diverse as Yangshuo, China.

Supermarkets. The supermarkets here consist of one thing, dehydrated food. When I say dehydrated food, it’s not like you can rehydrate it or anything, it means every thing is processed. The only thing that is refrigerated or wet, is the soda and energy drinks. And kids, this might sound like a junk food wonderland, but it’s not, someone at our B&B handed me and Jones these small peanut pellets. Jones popped them right in his mouth and his taste buds immediately rejected and he spit it on the floor in front of the girl who gave it to him. I just slipped them in my pocket after Jones candidly spit them out on the floor. Though the supermarkets do have Dove Bars, which are in fact heavenly, you are better off not making your own food in Yangshuo, because the restaurants here are far better than having to make a trip to the covered produce market.

Our local supermarket where we bought ginger candy and Dove Bars

Cleanliness. Unlike Vietnam or Morocco, when you walk through the streets of Yangshuo, it’s like walking through the pristine Alcazar of Seville, Spain. All around Yangshuo there are posters of anime diaper babies. Sam told us that they said “keep Yangshuo clean” or something like that. I don’t know, but whoever came up with the diaper baby posters is a manipulative genius. This campaign has triggered a spic and span, immaculate culture in the town of Yangshuo. Every time you take a cruise around town you see at least three guys outside trimming a hedge or sweeping up every little crumb off the ground. If you are in Hanoi, you might get the occasional apple core or mystery water land on your head from an apartment overhead!

Yangshuo is truly zen. If zen were a place it would be Yangshuo. After Vietnam, we had shifted our pace to something much less zen than the average person, so arriving in Yangshuo was like plunging into a 105 degree hot tub after a long ski day; pure relief. During my meditation classes, I get the same sensation of taking a dip into a hot tub as all my tensions begin to fade and I start to lose track of reality. I plan to carry this vibe along with me on the rest of our journey, and plan to carry it along with me for the rest of my life.

Me zenning at Mood Food

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Mouni / April 17, 2014 at 7:46 am /

#zenning – I need to adopt this state of mind! great post Otto!
- Otto / April 21, 2014 at 2:56 am /
  
  Hey Mouni, it’s going to be hard to be zen with all the dogs around, maybe you should try it when we get home!
Cari Johnson / April 17, 2014 at 9:07 am /

Great writing Otto! Although I can’t imagine Yangshuo is zen after experiencing the biking. However, as Tuck says I have my nervous face so maybe if I was zen I would have been able to manage the turn about! LOL
Cliff Sharples / April 17, 2014 at 10:43 am /

Zen Master Otto!! Have you become a vegetarian on me?? Love your post, and it’s a great description of life in Yangshuo. The biking is totally zen as well if you let yourself just go with the flow and pulse of traffic
- Otto / April 21, 2014 at 2:59 am /
  
  Of course not, we’re going to get a big steak together in bali right!?
Judith / April 18, 2014 at 2:02 pm /

Fascinating observations and comparison of cultures, Otto. It was a pleasure to read your post. Your reflections tell me you’re already on your way to becoming a zen master. Breathe.