Originally we were going to eat dinner and shop here for inexpensive souvenirs. Plans changed however (more explanation in Chapter 8- Lounging in Times Square...).
Earlier I mentioned we accidentally found a Buddhist Temple in search for a bathroom. After the bathroom, we entered the temple. It was a red and gold room. At the entrance, you can receive your fortune for a dollar donation and you are greeted by a gigantic gold-plated Buddha towering above atleast 12 feet high.
There was a long vertical rectangular table with chairs at the center and on the sides, chairs and kneeling cushions were interspersed. On the side walls were the illustrated story of Buddha. Oriental flutes was played in the background, and a faint smell of incense continued to drift- reminiscent of an ancient ceremony. It was a peaceful sanctuary that kept the city noise out.
Before leaving I asked the temple worker if we were allowed to take pictures (I didn't want to be disrespectful). He said it was fine. We exited the temple. In the hallway across from the exit to the streets while I put on my coat, scarf, hat and gloves, this old Chinese woman bowed with folded hands to the entrance of the building and resumed her walking. We continued our search for the metro.
In our amble, we found the bronze statue of Confucious with an inscription of his teaching about harmony and responsibilty. We passed by a park where some Chinese were doing meditation or some type of t'ai chi. Of course we saw plenty of Chinese signs but what stood out in our minds the most was the Chinese McDonald's we saw- what orientalized it was its facade, which was similar to a Chinese Friendship gate (except its color scheme was the garish colors of plastic classic McDonald's).
I read in the guidebook that in this Chinatown, there was a store which would be the closest thing to attending a Shanghai Bazaar without going to China. The book also said that they had tons of trinkets for tourists near Bloody Angle (an alley aptly named for it history; this was where dead bodies were dumped in the olden days). Unfortunately, we didn't get to experience this side of Chinatown. But it was okay because there was next time.
Posted by Michael Diezmos at January 8, 2006 8:11 PM