travelling day thirteen - where the ancient art of Chinese camponology is explored

Camponology is bell ringing.  Nothing to do with the great outdoors.  Today we saw lots of bell ringing.  We went to the Wuhan museum today which involved a very long taxi ride to get there - we chose a taxi with an even-ended number plate and he was not allowed to cross the number one bridge as it was an odd day.

Pines on the steps at the Wuhan Museum

At the museum there were many many ancient artifacts, including a complete set of amazing musical instruments that were preserved in a tomb from an emperor thousands of years ago.  They had created some replica instruments and we went to a performance at the museum - which the girls really enjoyed.  Thankfully.  Because before that there was serious museum fatigue happening.  There was a set of two toned bells - very impressive.

the bells the bells

bells in performance

China is also the place for very random sculptures from the ancient world - a crane sculpture with antlers took my eye.

 After the museum we went to the nearby East Lake - very much like a botanical gardens.  It was a beautiful clear day for Wuhan and the perfect temperature.  So we decided to go for a paddle on the lake in a ducky boat.  Of course.  Accompanied by icecreams.  We paddled all over the lake - the girls loved it.  Mucking around in boats is much better for young things than looking at old things inside a museum.

And check out what I had a turn on this afternoon (thanks to new friends up the street).

vrroommm vroommmm vroooommm.  If I lived here I would totally get an electric scooter.

Chris' cultural tips: Never forget tissues.
Tissues are handy things.  They are handy for blowing your nose, wiping mouths, cleaning up spillages, and a myriad other uses.  But they are even more prevalent here in China.  Especially the little pocket-sized packets.  In Australia the tissue section is dominated by boxes.  Here it is dominated by pocket-sized packets.  And there is a good reason.  There is no toilet paper in public toilets.

Apparently it sometimes gets stolen.  Or businesses are stingy.  Or something.  Whatever the reason there is no toilet paper in public toilets.  There is sometimes even no toilet paper when you visit people's apartments.  Everyone is expected to have a handy pocket sized packet of tissues for all toileting needs.  And if you think of the 1.3 billion bums in China that is a lot of tissue packets required.  So it is VITALLY IMPORTANT that wherever you go, never forget tissues.