Bob and Ann in Elder Hostel China Odyssey 2004

Moxibustion

Our busy schedule before we left for Guiyang included an uninspired lecture about Ethnic Culture by an education professor from a local college, a tour of a traditional medicine hospital to see acupuncture and moxibustion treatments and an herbal pharmacy, and after lunch we bused to a local Folk Museum of costume, customs and culture of the ethnic Miao and Dong people.

Chinese Opera

Two and 1/2 hours later we checked into our Miracle Hotel to find Lynns in a luxurious 2 room corner suite on the 16th floor with a king sized bed. Having Kleenex and face cloths made this hotel over the top!. A good dinner in a private, smoke-free dining room and then we were off to the Xiaohuo School of Arts and Music to see the children perform. The first act was little girls doing a go-go dance to the Mickey Mouse Song. It was sad/funny to watch tiny 5/6 year old Chinese dolls with ringlet puffed hair dressed in lime green sequined mini skirts and sleeveless midriff tops, their faces lathered with stage makeup. Shades of JonBenet. After their dance they were normal little girls as they bounced into the audience to find their parents and giggle with their friends. The second act was older girls, 10-13, singing and pantomiming a Chinese Opera piece called “The Drunken Concubine”. These were demurely costumed and traditionally choreographed. The high-pitched atonal singing has not become music for Ann yet, though the lead singer had a lovely voice, if it was indeed hers. Another traditional Chinese dance with the long floppy silk sleeves was quite chaste and lovely. The only male performer for the night was an 11 year old cellist for whom the strain was too much as he faltered part way through his piece and finally stood up, apologized and left the stage, head hanging. At the performance end EH group left by stage door and saluted the young performers with applause as they were hustled out the door by their parents. A Night Market was set up in the street near the school but we were herded back on the bus to return to the Miracle Hotel.

Since we were supposed to prepare something for the Farewell Banquet tomorrow night, we agreed to sing 10 Little Indians in Chinese at Linda Perlmutter’s suggestion, to demonstrate our prowess in Chinese Conversation.

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