Live from Hangzhou (hung-joe)!
Departed my house in San Diego Saturday @ 9am.
Arrived in Hangzhou hotel, alongside West Lake, Sunday eve, 11:00pm.

It’s quite quaint here, a very clean, lush city. The sun comes up early, around 5am, and everyone gathers around the lake for exercise in the form if walking, biking, jogging, dancing, tai chi, you name it.

I made my way along the well-groomed trails by the lake’s edge, and here is what I saw: ducks in bags (for sale), azaleas, a chihuahua frantically running after its owner on a motorized bike, fisherman, an elderly man sitting on a bench with his iPad, lots of people gathered in groups stretching and/or performing some form of dance. There was a lot of music along the way, seems that every other person had a portable radio. Couples were dancing to the communal music and sharing the morning glories. Oddly enough, seems that clapping to the music is quite popular! A little bit of exercise is apparently good for the soul.

Posted on 22 April 2012