This day we left our hotel early and drove to about one hour to a village in Basha. This village is the only village in the whole country that is allowed to have guns. They are really old guns but I was really surprised when I read about our trip that anyone could legally have possession of a gun in China. This village was not my favorite....a little too "touristy". However it was still interesting to hear about their traditions.
In most of the villages we visited it was the woman's clothing that was most interesting. At this village it was the men that were intriguing. At first glance it looks like they are wearing plastic clothing. However this is really fabric that is dyed with indigo and then a mixture containing egg white is brushed onto the fabric and pounded with a large wooden mallet for hours. After it is pounded it has a shiny surface.
We entered the village and they demonstrated how they use their guns. The village is very peaceful and we were expecting to have a nice quite hike. Unfortunately there was a large tourist group ahead of us and the tour guide had a loud speaker that she insisted on using to blast her voice through out the village.
Cute girls in their traditional clothing.
The men with guns did a dance for us that was really funny. It looked like a really bad choreographer had been to the village and staged some sort of show. I am pretty sure that is not how they really dance.
We walked on and tried to stay far away with the lady and the mega voice box.
No mater where we go in China we love the kids.
Tim took these pictures. These little guys are about 3 or 4 years old.
Here they are writing in their notebooks.
This was the picture of the day. What cuties!
The men in this village still wear their hair in a "top knot" that was popular back in one of the old dynasties. It is maybe hard to tell but this guy is getting his hair cut with a sickle. Yikes!
The little kids work really hard....
This little guy was about 4 years old.
These are the rice farms for the village
This is a pig pen...see the pig sticking his head out of the top
The lady in the yellow is the microphone lady. AARRRGGGG!This village or "clan" worship trees. The villagers are kneeling down to the tree. When someone dies they put the body in the ground and then smooth the earth flat so it is not apparent that there is a grave there. Then then plant a tree at that spot. They believe that the spirit of the body goes into the tree. They also believe that if you cut down a tree you could be cutting into someones soul.
More dancing...
The women's skirts are made with fabric that has been pleated with tiny tiny pleats. Here we saw the skirts drying on top of baskets.We were invited into one of the villagers homes. Just outside of their home a little neighbor boy (about 3 years old) was setting off firecrackers. He had a punk in one hand and firecrackers in his pocket. He was throwing them onto the walking path in front of us. We were sure he was going hurt himself. Ah...us westerners are so protective of our children.
These are glutinous buns that are dried and then fried like bread.
This is their cook stove and heat for the house. They were cooking rice in the bucket that is on top of the fire.
This is the lady of the house and her children. BTW, minority groups are allowed to have more than one child.
This is the million dollar view from their balcony. Many of the homes in this area have balconies. The ladies use the balconies for sewing.
Poster in the home.
Loom on the balcony
I think this is their bathroom
Bedroom
Bamboo forest
Another view from this village.All in all we were pretty happy to leave this village. It was a little too "enhanced" for the tour groups. Our guide told us that usually when he visits this village it is very quite because everyone is out working in the fields. This was a special program that they do for holidays when they have a lot of visitors.
We returned to ChongMing for lunch and then drove two hours to another village.
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