China Men

Hi everyone... Our first four days in China have been amazing.

Highlights:

* Melon's former student BoBo / Smiler's TV in Shenzen (a former fishing village on steroids)...the best TV we've ever seen, a huge flat LCD in an amazingly good apartment. Smiler was one of the most bubbly people ever, great value. As was the Chinglish outside her apartment block lawn "Show mercy to the green lives under your foot" (8 culture points)

* Getting invited to dinner in Jingdezhen (a chilled out "town" of 1.5 million people) by guys from the local high school while in the internet cafe. These guys had minimal english but this was great, everyone in China is amazingly friendly. New foods tried here: sea snails, pig heart (far better than they sound). When we played bball and Hengel jammed it the locals almost lost it (1750 culture points)

* Hot Pot with locals in Quzhou. The Chinese do food like no one else...wow... hot pot will be taken to the next level when we return... close runner-up was Melon's former University twice daily eating spot - I am considering moving to Quzhou for this

* Massage in Quzhou (you know it Rafter). This was the best $2.50 we have ever spent, also getting told we are beautiful and "I love you" can't do the ego any harm. Although, Melon's teaching mate back in the day, The Captain (holds the record of worst guy in the world, ever), also was apparently "beautiful" too...not to worry (10 culture points)

Also I'm going to have to award 1200 culture points for the amount of stares we've received over the last 4 days... 1 point per stare... Hengel has had most of them, the blond giant is freaking people out (Westerners seen over last 4 days: 2 (Melon, Hengel))

Finally 350 points for our death defying taxi rides in Quzhou (Again, Rafter, you know it). Lanes are negotiable, overtakes are kamikaze-esque and horns highly prevalent (accidents seen: 0). As I write this in Quzhou, all 3 of us are hoping that we will win the lottery. This is that the locally-renowned crazy leadfoot driving Citroen taxi #0437 will pick us up next... then we will have a video to share. We wait in hope

Morto

Top 5 Karaoke Tunes in Quzhou
1) Ben - Michael Jackson (Hengel in falsetto)
2) Everything I Do (I Do It For You) - Bryan Adams (Morto)
3) Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John (Melon)
4) Rhinestone Cowboy - Glen Campbell (Hengel)
5) Some crazy Chinese power love ballad (Gonzo, a friend of our guide, Melon's friend Lovonne)