Guangzhou
I took to the streets and found the humble house of the Father of
Chinese Railways down a narrow pedestrian lane. The union for actors
playing martial arts and acrobatic roles in Cantonese opera was in the
adjacent street. Interestingly, the house next door was the ancestral
house of Bruce Lee, not surprising, as his father was a Cantonese
opera actor.
The most exquisite ivory (albeit politically incorrect) carvings were
displayed at one of the temples. Whether or not one approved, you
couldn't help but be in awe of the incredible detail. Sadly, my
photography didn't do the carvings any justice. I further learned ivory
trading in China wasn't open to all. At the beginning of that year, the
government destroyed more than six tons of illegal ivory. Ivory
trading was legal, provided it came from a government-registered
dealer. In addition, each carving had to carry a certificate of
provenance.
My next stop was the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, built by the
French after the Second Opium War. It was made entirely of granite
and featured two massive towers, each 48 metres high.
Returning, I stopped at the supermarket but shopping remained
challenging. While already standing out like a sore thumb, taking
pictures was equally challenging. Still, at times, it felt like I was only
different once. After that, everything you do (acceptable or not) is
written off as you being a foreigner.