Bicycle Touring Checklist   About Bicycle Touring   Contact/Feedback   Table of Outdoor Checklists (Home) | << | 30 | 31 | | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | | >> | Guangzhou: 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Xian: 12 | 13 | Beijing: 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Other's Pics Bicycle Tour Adventure #32: China Page 2 Day 2: Touring China by Bicycle, Today we Visit a Grade School and a Temple ZhaoQing Government #2 Grade School and Kindergarden. Buddhist Temple. Day 2 Begins Above Left: Breakfast and View. Inga and Iris in the foreground. Above Right: We're going to School! this is the ZhaoQing Government #2 Grade School and Kindergarten (of Gaundong Province). Different than western schools, my understanding is that this school is for children aged 3-7 years old (maybe up to 8). For the three year olds, going to school is a socialization process, kids still wear diapers and teachers take on many parental roles. All education is moved up a year or two when compared to western education practices. Above: This looks like any grade school in the USA, UK or English speaking school, except this is in China. This is a first class school and maybe a bit of a show case, but even when we were in the remotest places in China, I could hear a five year old kid, yelling Hello from 200 meters across a rice patty or corn field. China is serious about teaching rudimentary English in all grades and granting college tuition for studying English (for students that excel in college English entrance exams). Above Left: Outside Classroom for 3 year olds. Above Right: Four year olds, my apologies, we're interrupting class and one young boy wants to show us his work. Above Left: Another Classroom of 4 or 5 year olds. Above Right: We're going up the stairs, but CHECK OUT the COOL EMERGENCY SLIDE for kids! Above Left: This is the head teacher for this classroom and there are two dedicated assistants for this classroom. It is hard to tell in the picture but the students are about to sing a Chinese childrens song to us. This is too cute, even to Dennis Above Right: Now the kids are singing a kind of children's round song where they are using hand gestures, and these students are conspiring to each take a Western Visitor by hand to the singing circle. I was pulled into the circle, so no pictures. I did follow along with the hand gestures as best that I could. The entire thing really pulled on the ol' heat strings. Above Left: Old McDonald in Chinese. BTW: Mao means Cat in Chinese and Mao is the sound that a Cat makes. Above Right: Backpack storage stations. Above Left: These are pictures of colorful outfits made and worn by older grade school students. There is a LOT of Talent here. Above Right: Color Stations. Above Left: Color Art. Above Right: One of four, private music rooms (for individual or small group lessons/advancement). Above Left: Brush Stroke Character Lesson Guides. Above Right: Brush holding position. Above Left: Vince wrote out numeric characters (at top and upside down) and Sam is doing a good job of copying the Chinese characters. Above Right: Commerce Classroom: students learn economics, money management, and inventory management using play money and ledgers. Above Left: Physical Activities on the playground. We really liked the aqua color scheme. Above Right: This student group was waiting for us to pass by. The little boy that is closest ran up to my back and tagged me and then rejoined his friends. I'm sure that it was a dare and it was kind of brave of him. I admire the mighty feet. Above Left: Group Pictures. I think this was more for the school than for us, but it was a pleasure to see the inner workings of a grade school at work. Above Right: Children at Free Play on the Playground. BTW, every school that we later saw, in China, had two armed policemen at the only allowed entrance/exit. We had a great time; can't go wrong with letting adults see, sing, and spend time with kids. Above Left: We bike to lunch and park. Above Right: Lunch (Gordon standing). Above Left: We are walking to a temple. The truck driver for the bikes will guard the bikes in our absence. Quick shop store. Above Right: Herbs and Spices. Above Left: Walkway along the creek, leading to the Buddhist Temple. Above Right: A resting gazebo, before turning up hill on the steps. We are at 98% humidity in the tropics; one can see light beams coming through the leafy trees. Above Left: About halfway up is a gateway. Above Right: This is the formal stone carved gateway at the site of the temple. There are some curious similarities between Chinese stone totem carving and north-west Native America carvings and symbols (as in the North-America continent). Above Left: Carved panels of stone convey one of many Buda adventures/stories. Above Right: Stone Carved Dragon Tale. Above Left: Incense vault and statue of Buda and other historical figures. Above Right: Vincent explains with a lot of detail about differing religions and the government tolerance for religion. Above Left: On the way down from the Temple, we come across this tropical paradise. Above Right: Upon exiting the Temple area and walking back to our bikes, we come across wood cutters and this example of their work. Above Left: This is a typical looking Squat Toilet. While most westerners prefer a seat, it is easier to maintain a Squat Toilet for more use over time, more sanitary for a higher volume of business. Of course the average westerner can't squat because those muscles are rarely used. Above Right: We're getting ready to bike back to the hotel. Above Left: Common Sight. People on bikes, scooters, and sometimes little cars or trucks often get into their left lane with the intent on turning left, in order to avoid heavy vehicular traffic or unfavorable signal lights. One must pay attention, this scooter will turn left at the next intersection or driveway. This is very common. China drives on the Right-Side of the road, just like mainland Europe and the USA. Above Right: Dinner at the Hotel. Above Left: Toile! Above Right: Travel Knowledge/Experience Our first key slot that used the plastic room number tag. This is the "I'm home" position and is the only way that electricity will be activated for outlets, fixtures, and appliances within the room. The "I'm home" insertion is the only way that a computer or battery will get charged - hint, hint. We are used to using magnetic key plastic cards where one sticks the card in a slot in order to unlock a door. China also has magnetic coded keys where they only have to be swiped near the door and it will unlock the door (found in better hotels). Previous  Top  Next