I'm stuck working in my room all day because its the Qing Ming (Tomb Sweeping) Holiday in China and everything is closed so families can visit their ancestors graves to tidy them up, leave willow branches, and burn paper clothes and shoes (even paper money and cel phones) to send them to their dead relatives in the afterlife. They believe they need these things there.
So last night I ate this beef blood and quail egg soup from a street cart in Dongguan...
 |
| congealed beef blood |
 |
| quail eggs? I don't know, they were small? |
 |
| choose your mushrooms, sprouts and tofu |
 |
they cook it all in their communal super hot pot so I know it kills
anything bad--delicious!!! |
so inevitably I wake up today with my usual fish sacks under my eyes. (I'm allergic to fish and most things in Asia have some trace of fish sauce in them, so its unavoidable esp with a pot that they cook everything in.)
I look around the room for something to try to help get rid of them--oh yeah! caffeine in coffee grounds shrinks swelling. I plaster it under my eyes and keep working.
Several hours later ding dong hotel staff ask if I need any laundry cleaned. I opened the door, forgetting about my face. "No thank you," I replied kindly. The poor little girl mumbled something and hurried away as fast as she could go.
Hmm. Strange. Then I caught a glance in the hall mirror as I shut the door.....
 |
| terrifying spectre with long black nails! |
I'm pretty sure no staff will return to my room during my stay........
