Next day we left early in the morning to go for a city tour before our bus returned home to HK. Hau came to see us off and Joy came with us as we sat in the minibus. They drove us through a hundred years old part of the city, which probably won´t be there in ten years due to the lack of money to rehabilitate them. They are deteriorating and a looong history will disappear. They apparently didn´t want to show us this part of the city so they took us to Walmart instead! We said we wanted to see more of the busy everyday streets of Shantou and they took us there after a while – though a little reluctant and not really understanding why we wanted to see that part of town. We saw what we came for though, chaos in the streets, a thriving street packed with bicycles, motorbikes and cars and buses all of were going around each other on whatever side was convenient. Along the streets there were merchants selling vegetables, salads, meat and everything else you can think of – fairly unaffected by the busy traffic passing them only half a meter in front of them. Joy was like a shepard, making sure that we wouldn´t get run over by traffic or got stuck with a salesperson somewhere along the street. She was sweet and took good care of us. As we were departing she took out a handful of jewelry she had bought for us and they were all especially chosen to each and everyone of us and none of them were the same. We were all so grateful and surprised that she had made such a gesture to us. Next time a class will come here we will send something for her with them. Filled with all of these impressions, we entered the bus – which turned out to be a business class bus with leather seats and tv – what a contrast to what we just experienced!
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