NANJING 2008 August

I like Nanjing I could live here

I felt instant peace when I arrived in Nanjing.

There is something sleepy about this town

All the cities around Shanghai are richer than the rest of China.
You can tell as the shops have more quality goods, the buildings are modern and clean and you see
less poor people. People also look more relaxed - less desperate for money.


if you came straight from the west you probably would not notice.

Nanjing was mascared by the Japanese in 1937.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanking_Massacre

They burnt down lots of buildings and and killed thousands of Chinese.
They also tortured and raped. There are lots of books and movies about this.
There is a memorial in Nanjing -- I have not been to yet.
A Chinese American woman came to Nanjing to interview the survivors
in the 1990's. She committed suicide.

I got sick on Friday night in Shanghai
We caught the train to Nanjing. felt like death. could barely walk.
My Icelandic friends helped look after me.

So I arrived yesterday and slept for at least 18 hours

Today I went to a university campus which is beautiful.

Nanjing Normal University (where we are staying)

Then I just felt so sick so went to a taxi drive and said

"I just want to look around town and return to the hotel, about 30 yuan worth"

He took me to a temple, showed me xin jie kou (shopping district) and some big ancient wall.

I don't think Nanjing is a major tourist attraction actually

but it seems really livable.

He said it has 7 million people

it seem so small and quiet to me

I deeply love China

My travels (although not far from Beijing) has deepened my love for China and I have seen some new things that I have not seen before

I have such a strong need for knowledge and experience

I have considered spending a year in many countries in Asia. I then decided against it.
I don't want to make friends and then just leave.
I feel close to my posse in Sydney and in Beijing.
I also miss my family in Australia.
I also like the sense of community that comes from staying in a place over time.