Street Vendors Rock!

Bill is thanking this woman for the ice cream we just purchased.

When I was preparing for a three week trip to a country I'd never visited before, I read everything I could. Online blogs, travel sites, official tourism sites, unofficial tourism sites... I read a ton of 'em. And they all mention how good the street food is in China. But nothing could have prepared me for the reality... the great smell as you turn the corner off the main road; the steam rising out of pots bubbling away on cookers that look like the ones we used to make at Girl Scout camp; the vendors watching you from the rear shadows of their stalls, only to step out into the bright light with a big smile when you wave and greet them first; the shoppers with a couple of yuan in their hand waiting to pay for the giant round of fresh baked bread coming hot off the griddle; the moms and grandparents on foot, bike, and scooter waiting outside the middle school for the kids to get out of class; the men crowded around the poker table or checkers board; the women in groups of four playing mahjong. It's so much fun to walk slowly down these streets and greet the people and try their food. It's a simple way of life, food preparation, and delivery that makes US farmers markets look overly commercialized.

More practical cargo bikes!

Crosswalks are a combo of pedestrians, cargo bikes, scooters, and more.

Spicy dried ducks necks... I didn't have the balls to try these.

Spicy meat parts... couldn't name everything I was looking at!

Side street off the main road.

Elliot bought an assortment of these meat parts to share as treats with the rest of the race staff back at the hotel.

Chinese checkers.

Our journey took us down this side street.

Kids who are fighting look the same no matter where you go!

The kis in the back was determined to pry his buddy's stuff out of his hand.

Waiting for school to get out at 5pm. The kids take a two our break from noon to 2pm for lunch and relaxation, then continue in school until 5pm.

Poker game complete with betting.

This woman bakes giant rounds of fresh bread on a griddle.

Bread is sold by weight. Three large slices cost us one yuan.

You can just see the covered griddle on the right of the image.

This husband and wife shop makes and sells noodles. You can see the stacks of noodles wrapped and ready for sale on rather shelf.

Fresh noodles are sold out of the plastic bins in front.

We asked if we could sneak a peek in the back of the shop where the noodles are made. The dough is stretched into a giant ribbon and spooled onto the cutting machine. This man had just cut long noodles that looked like fettuccine noodles.

Just like pasta, the noodles are hung on drying racks.

The gear looks antiquated but is very utilitarian.

Drying noodles.

More animal parts!

Yet another meat vendor.

Beautiful fruits and veggies.

This is like the local donut shop. Fried breads are hot and tasty - we couldn't resist!

The dough is turned with a set of extra long chopsticks. Sophia said this is traditional breakfast fare, also made by her mom.

Bill can't resist flirting with the girls.

Mahjong game in progress.

This is the street we were walking down.

This shop also bakes large rounds of bread. This man is prepping the dough in the shop behind the sales counter (you can see that Bill and I poked our heads in to look).

This is the large covered griddle where the bread is baked.

His work area was stifling hot but look at his big grin! The Chinese people are so friendly.

His wife sliced the bread in half and it smelled heavenly.

This woman is selling fresh bunches of lemongrass. Look closely: you'll see the handheld scale she is using to weight out the bunches.

This woman's shop is her basket set on the back of her scooter.

This little girl is steadying her dad's bicycle while he buys lemongrass.

A typical shop front. Again, Bill can't resist flirting with the local girls!

Typical family scooter travel.

Typical side street.

I can't believe you can stack this much on one bike!

Chinese crosswalks are obstacle courses.

 

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