Wayne here.
Had a strange dream the other night. The principal dancer at a major dance company took ill and the rest of the cast and crew beckoned me to step in and take over. I stated that I had no real (or imaginary) skill at this, but they insisted.
Then I woke up, not realizing the significance of it. Until last night.
We went to an acrobatic show. Turned out they added a modern twist. Western-style moves and grooves. It's kind of like going to a dumpling vendor and he offers you a pizza. Anyway the acrobatic piece and traditional Chinese opera was at times brilliant, but the modern pieces lacked the expected discipline, tightness and synchronicity of the acrobatics. It was so lame it was funny, watching the amateur choreography stumble all over the place.
Think we will stick with dumplings next time.
Just a final note about Suzhou. We went digging through some family records at the Chinese Sex Museum in Tongli, and found some familial artifacts that show a clear link to me (Wayne). Enclosed picture is self-evident.
Just got foot massages today as we prep to hit the road via overnite HARDsleeper train to Huangshan.
Goodbyes to waterworld.Favorite meal-- not many, perhaps the tiny meat filled mooncakes and boat shaped wonton at Pin Von, a 130 yr old canal side snack shop laden with dark wooden furniture and latticed windows overlooking the water.
Favorite bad translation-- slip carefully
Pet peeve--tourists (foreign) who don't haggle but abuse and act rudely to vendors making dollars a day
Won't miss---the sterility of this western bubble we stayed at tho enjoyed the computer and amenities
