Living in China: Stories and Photographs: Hong Hu: 3 Gorges: Jing Zhou: Beijing: Puqi : Chibi.
Part 3: A Story about Hong Hu
(These are just a few shots I took today in Hong Hu. I was going to the supermarket to get some things, but deviated a little to get some photos of Lotus park. Then I decided to complete the circuit by coming down off the Levee road to walk the block down to the Long Ke Duo supermarket. I hope you like them.)
This is the town landmark. If you go straight ahead it will lead you to the bridge which will take you the four blocks up to the Long Ke Duo supermarket.
This was the view you got when you entered town from the direction of Wuhan. The Bus Station is up the street to the right of this building. The Cibiao is now apparently up on the Chang Jiang - Yangtse River Bank [Dec 2008]
Between the school and the roundabout there are a couple of houses. If you are unhappy with your life in the West, and things aren't going so well, Spare a thought for these poor people.
This photo is taken directly in front of the school. This lady is collecting water for the road gang, and it comes from the same pool as in the above photos.
It's hard work but there is still time for a smile.
So just how hard do women work in China? This next photo captures 'women' working. Shoveling rocks into a truck. No mechanisation here. Women in China.
Life in China for most people is very poor. On an average of 400 yuan a month (US$50) they can't afford much. But home is always 'home'. This picture is taken just one block from the main road and parallel to it. It is halfway between the two ends of the modern Central Business District. This is both a home and a business and there are hundreds of them in the central business district.
Do you like Chinese Takeaway? Well here is the real thing. Within two hours this lady will be inundated with customers.
Hong Hu is a developing city. Since my arrival in February of 2003, I have seen new streets created, and many many buildings pulled down and replaced with more modern varieties.
The work of demolishing these buildings by the way is done by hand (by men and women) and it is not until the whole thing has been leveled that the heavy equipment comes in.
The following shots are of Lotus Square. It sits ON the old river. There is a sluice gate at the other end to stop the river from being affected by the Chang Jiang (Yangtse). This is the view of Lotus Square taken from the Northern End and facing south toward the Chang Jiang river. You can see the levee road in the Background. In the foreground you can see steps that lead down to the river.
This next picture was taken from between the columns that can be seen in the photo above.
This shot is taken from up on the levee road and that is rice that you can see in the foreground. It has been laid out in the sun to dry. This is actually a special preparation of rice, for it is mixed with presumably peppers.
Long distance shot of the lotus.
From this vantage point I headed west on the levee road, walking one block before turning into town. The following photos are taken from the Levee road. This first photo gives you some indication of how high the levee is.
From the Levee road you have a good view of the Chang Jiang River (the Yangtze).
This is another shot with more scenery.
The Long Ke Duo supermarket is only a block away, but what a different picture of China it presents. This first shot is taken as I come 'down' the road.
This shot is taken back toward the levee.
This next shot is about halfway along and is on level ground. It always amazes me that these photos present the scenery is such a 'sanitary' way. It neither looks nor smells as pretty in real life.
Right in the middle of the street you can purchase fresh meat in the fresh air.
And don't let a little cigarette ash spoil anything.
At the end of the block you hit the beginning of the Central Business District. This next photo of Long Ke Duo supermarket is actually taken from down the block and looking back toward the levee. I have read on the internet about the 'political correctness' debates on the issue of Santa Claus and Reindeer, not to mention Jesus and Nativity Scenes. Well don't you good people in the West worry about Santa and his reindeer. They are alive and Well in China. If you want to know my impressions of this bowing and scraping to Islam, check out the Yahoo Religion Forum link in the Media Watch section of King's Calendar.
This photo was taken facing south toward the river.
If the politically correct idiots manage to kick Santa out, he will always be welcomed here, and a home will be provided him, Even if he speaks Russian.
Across from the Supermarket is the new department store. It used to be the 'small' supermarket, but that has quadrupled in size and has relocated four blocks away.
Who is that dummy on the footpath?
Looking back across the road to the Long Ke Duo, you can see the new park to its right. Nine months ago it was a cesspool.
China is certainly changing.
I've mentioned the river upon which Lotus Park sits. These next photos are taken from two of the bridges. The first and second look south toward Lotus park and the other to the north. The river is dry in winter and full in summer. There is a photo of it in an earlier section to this article, in which it is full of water. Rubbish can be found everywhere in China, and the river is no exception. This photo I've entitled: 'Junk in the river'. This is taken from the next bridge up river from the Pink Bridge at Lotus Park.
These next two photos are taken from the main road leading into town, but in opposite directions. The first is looking south towards Lotus park and the Chang Jiang.
Having commenced this tale with the beginning of my journey to town, it is fitting that I end it with the END OF THE ROAD. I have mentioned that Hong Hu is rapidly changing and modernising. In June they commenced a widening of the road that ends at the school. Since then they have installed street lights, some form of sewage works (?) and begun to extend the road. At the moment it appears to go nowhere.
R.P.BenDedek is from Brisbane Australia and is the author of 'The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran' at http://www.kingscalendar.com His academic articles set forth Apologetics for and results of his discovery of an "artificial chronological scheme" running through the Bible, Josephus, the Damascus Documents of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Seder Olam Rabbah.
He writes photographic 'Stories from China' and social editorial commentaries, both at KingsCalendar, and as a contributing newspaper columnist. He currently teaches Conversational English in China and in addition to his English Lessons at KingsCalendar, he has created specific sites for Students of English.
Nice to hear from you Gary. Yes I love China and intend spending the rest of my life here. I hope you enjoy the next few years in Australia. Maybe you won't want to come back to China, like I don't want to go back to Australia?
