Venturing into the Village

Everything I said regarding Linyi previously now need some editing!!

I went for a walk today and stumbled upon my local market. This market is very close and convenient and it is about a five minute walk from the apartments where I live. I was walking around in this market still amazed at the state of these places and the variety of products they sell. It is not by all means clean but it is a sight you need to see. As I was walking through this market I came to a vendor with meat. All sorts of different kinds of meat that you can imagine. But there, on the table in front of me were three skulls of what looked to me like dog. I have been saying that I want to eat dog but when my eyes caught sight of that my stomach started doing strange things. With the dog in mind I walked further down the road looking for a place to eat something.

You remember what I said about Linyi being developed and advanced. Well, I think that has to be according to Chinese standards. I was walking down the main road looking into the side roads. It is amazing that just off the main road you still have 17th century dirt roads right in the center of the city.
I trust that you have eaten before reading this!! Walking further on the main road I saw a scene I will not forget. There right in front of me was a couple of goats just lying around. I couldn’t understand that they weren’t walking or anything. But then I saw the big picture. The goats' legs were all tied and they were lying there ready to get slaughtered. As I looked up there he was with knife in hand slaughtering away on a piece of goat that was hanging from a piece of rope right there on the sidewalk. Four heads of what used to be goats lying just under the man’s feet. That is how you do it in China!

I still didn’t have any food, but with all that in mind I needed to eat quickly before I saw something that will make me lose my whole appetite. Just across the road I saw something that looked familiar, “Bao tsi”. The reason I know this is because they cook it outside and it makes a lot of steam. It is like smoke signals in the fresh cold air. I made my way to the shop and pointed “Bao tsi” I said. She nodded and said something. I just nodded and said yes. Didn’t know what it was but a couple of seconds later she came out with some “Bao tsi” and something else I didn’t order, but apparently I did. The food was good and I started heading back to the apartments, but decided I need some nuts from the market. Passing through the market after buying the nuts I decided to go back to the… what I thought was dog meat stall.

Walking towards the stall, now I had a better look where I was heading and there it was! A big poster with a golden retriever on it hanging right above the shop. I was lost for words! Walking past the shop I saw four skinned dogs hanging in the stall with a hook through the mouth. I still want to eat dog some or other time, but I must say this came to quick for my liking. It will probably be easier to eat dog if you don’t know what it is you’re eating.

(Linyi City, Shandong Province, China)