Another fake apple store in China ?
In the month of July, 2011 a fellow blogger ‘ BirdAbroad’ posted some pictures of an apple store in Kunming Yunnan province, China. Which turn out to be a fake apple store ! Her blog post was mentioned in different international news. I am sure you follow that news.
Last Sunday ( 25.September.2011 ) I walk passed an ‘ apple store’ in Kaili, Guizhou Province, China. Kaili is a very small city in Guizhou province. It’s a prefecture of Miao and Dong. According to wikipedia : Kaili has a population of only 50,000 . That’s a very small population for a city in China. As I saw this ‘apple store’, I remember reading on a blog ( BirdAbroad ) ” Apple never writes “Apple Store” on it’s signs – it just puts up the glowing, iconic fruit.” But this ‘apple store’ had written SMART STORE besides the apple sign. As I walked in, i saw ipad, iphones, Macbook, Macbook Pro but I did not see MacBook Air. And there was plenty of apple accessories. All the workers were wearing blue t-shirts. I wonder if this is just another fake apple store in China !
The entrance of the store
Inside the store
I was hesitate to take an obvious photo!
This is taken from the opposite store
A street of Kaili Guizhou China
Golitha Falls
Golitha Falls are situated near the famous Bodmin Moor. The name Golitha derives from the old Cornish word for obstruction. It is an area of old woodland, the famous Fowey river runs alongside it. As you walk through the wood and beside the river, the fresh air will refresh you. It’s not a very long walk, but it’s definitely worth walking.
Trees and stones are covered with moss
A typical village kitchen
He was about to fry eggs
These pictures are taken in a remote BUYI village, in Guizhou province China.
Bullfighting Festival : Bull Vrs Bull
Bull fighting competitions are a part of the Miao ethnic minority culture in China. Normally bullfight competitions are held during the bull festival in the 25th day of the first lunar month. But it’s also common to hold bull fight competitions at different times throughout the year especially in surrounding villages in Kaili city in Qiandongnan prefecture in Guizhou.
I am sure you have heard or seen the Spanish ( Latin American ) bull-fight –tauromachia–corrida de torso : where one or more bulls are baited in a bullring for sports and entertainment. In which a matador will kill a bull by the end of the game.
But this Miao Bullfighting is very different. Its not a combat between man and a bull; it’s a bull and a bull fighting each other.
The crowd
Ancient paper making preserved
Shiqiao is a small village in the Danzhai county in Guizhou Province, where traditional hand-made paper is still preserved. They make it by using tree barks. Throughout the centuries Miao people have made this special paper. But because of modern technology this kind of paper making is disappearing rapidly, only a handful of families continue this handmade paper making today.
Venice of The East : Old Town of Lijiang
We are sitting in a house ( bar ) which was built in the SONG DYNASTY ( 960 – 1279 ), Indian chicken curry and Italian expresso was served; LADY GAGA music played in the background ! Many people claimed that Old Town of Lijiang in Yunnan Province, China is ‘ VENICE of THE EAST‘ ! Maybe i can’t make a fair judgement since I have never been to Venice in Italy; however this place is THE VENICE Of The EAST for me ! :-) 800 years old–Old Town Lijiang — UNESCO World Heritage town is one of the most romantic places I have ever been to in China. The cobblestone in the streets, clean water that runs through Old town and beautiful SONG DYNASTY architectures ; and of course the fascinating NAXI ( Nakhi ) ethnic cultures and traditions that still rule this touristic town.
Prayer Tag : You can write your own or you can use the readymade and put it here
An overview of Old Town of Lijiang
A walk to a park
The other day I took a walk to a small park, about 30 mins walk from where we live. It was surrounded by chinese-architect pavilion and small bridges.
A visit to the largest Miao village in China : Xijiang Guizhou
Xijiang is a Miao village in Qiandong nan Miao and Dong prefecture, in Guizhou province. Its only 45 minutes bus ride from Kaili the Qian Dong Nan capital city. There is around over a thousand households, which amounts to a populations of 5500- 6000. But, in recent years many young people have left for higher study or to work in other provinces and cities.
Most of the houses are traditional Miao-wooden houses. The village is near Leigong Shan nature protected area, so its surrounded by beautiful mountains and rivers along the village.
Last week I went with my friend Jim, as soon as we arrived we hiked around to the rice field area, where there is a lot of wet-terraces. To me this side of the village is more beautiful than the actual village.
We were trying to capture the most amazing landscapes, but the weather was not at it’s best; cloudy and misty.
There are plenty of Miao Family guest houses, which are traditional wooden houses. The price range per bed will be from 30-50 RMB. We stayed at The Village King’s Guest ( in most of the villages in China, they would call him: cun zhang -village Chief which is not heredity. But in this village it is heredity, if he has a son, the kingship will go on to the son, he is called Miao Wang -Miao King ) house, the room was nice and clean!
And the King was very friendly, my friend Jim chatted with him for about 1 hr.
Rice ready to plant
Performance ground
Miao men playing their traditional musical instruments called Lusheng.
Miao ladies performing their traditional dance
Dried-corn ( maize )
Night View
A view from where we stayed
John Fanai
