Friday, 8th October 2010

Dear Diary,

The morning was spent in a relaxed manner – having breakfast and then taking a stroll among the market stalls that are near my grandparents’ home. After a quick lunch, my aunt and uncle came to take us (Dad, brother and I) to Zhangzhou Seaside Volcano Geological Park. It would be my brother’s first time there, but my second time to the park and I was wondering how much it could have changed in the past few years.

Uncle told us that we were going in the afternoon because we had to wait until low-tide before we could see the inactive volcano. Because we arrived in the area before expected, we went to visit aunt and uncle’s new home near the sea. There wasn’t really much to see as the building was still being built. Even though the final storeys hadn’t been built in yet, but from what I could see, the buildings were already rather high, especially since it was in the country-seaside.

Our next stop was at a Buddhist temple opened by Singaporeans. It just so happened that on the day that we went to the temple, there was a prayer festival for health, so it was very loud and the whole temple was filled with chants. Exploring around with my brother, we saw many countless gold fish about the length of two hand spans swimming in a massive pond. If it had not been for uncle to come looking for us to inform us that it was time to go, I would have fallen asleep just looking into the calmness of the pond and its swimming fish.

After about three quarter of an hour’s drive, we finally came to a stop at the car park of the Geological Park. Stretching out our kinks and muscles, we also bundled up in warmer clothing, preparing ourselves for the cold, sea wind.

Walking and picking our way from the car park to the summit of the volcano, we met many of the country villagers on their hands and knees, trying to find crabs, shellfish, etc. to sell to others. All along the way, the villagers would come up to us and ask if we would be interested to buy some off them. Declining their offers, we continued on our way to the volcano, finding life in every rock pool. There were little fish swimming, crabs hiding among the seaweed and shells glued tightly onto giant volcanic rocks. I even saw a blowhole at one point!