Faces of Jiu Feng

Impromptu Meeting, Main Street, Jiu Feng

Jiu Feng is a small town in the mountainous Northern Guang Dong Province in China. The main street is the only road winding through the town, littered with everything a small farmers' town would need.  And if there's anything not in the regular shops, for sure they will be available in the early morning unofficial congregation along the bridge here. Though we can not see the faces in this picture, we can presume every person knows every other person in town. 

Bungee cord skipping

Early in the evening before dinner, these little girls made good use of the parking lot outside the hostel where we stayed.  This girl was likely still in her "school uniform" as her badge was still hanging at her front. Life was simple there, so was the toy.  I spent a good 15 minutes watching them playing the very same game my school mates once played.

Noodle Vendor

Seven o'clock and the street was still quiet, but she rather lose no time with prepping the store for the busy day.

Breakfast Table

 Here's a glimpse of the breakfast table -- noodle with pig's guts, ciggarettes and rice wine.   

"You've never seen a breakfast like this?"

 Actually I had the same for breakfast, sans the cigarettes and rice wine.

Laughing man with a cigarette

Talking about cigarette, there's hardly a man who didn't smoke (or wasn't smoking while we were looking".  Oh, the butcher on the right, he just finished his.  Don't believe me?  See for yourself....

Butcher on the street

Man on bike with cigarette

The man on the left was from out of town, in case you can't tell. But I think it's pretty obvious.

Butcher in front of the 24hrs ATM

In case you're not seeing enough pig carcasses, here's another.  Apparently he was not in the best of times -- was it because he didn't look closest to a butcher?

Butcher awaiting

 

 

Live chicken and fish slaughter house

Livestock is the best means of food storage, right?  Beats the freezer for freshness, for sure.  I like her puzzled look.

Serving the little customer

Well, not all things here on the street were either running, slithering or dead.  These steaming bamboo cages sure looked enticing, at least what's inside were for sure hot and steamy.

Cigarette sharing

Offering a cigarette is a deep-rooted culture of friendliness.  Refusing is a sign  of impoliteness. No wonder Chinese find it hard to quit smoking.  

 A friendly villager in town

Just finished delivering two little children and couple of boxes, he was stopping in response to a question from a passer-by.  

Coming to town with Mom and Bro

Looked like everyone was coming to town.  Little dolly was a little scared by the man wielding the big black camera while sitting on the back of Dad's pickup.  Fortunately there's Mom's sweater to hold on to.

The seat with the best view

 A little cramped here at the back of Dad's motor bike, at least she had an unobstructed view throughout the ride.

Me and my cat

"And he thought I would share my snack."

Lost?

My companions are right behind

"Have we met?"

"Have we met? Yes, we have -- last night outside the hostel at the parking lot."

Inside the village house with the old dog

She was too young to go to school, and spent the day roaming the house and the enormous space around.  The old dog was too shy to come out of the dark corner.....

"I'm bored"

She was also too young to go to school, and stayed with Granny, and looked bored after exploring everything here in the remote farming village.

"Am I cute?"

Yes, absolutely.  You are sooo cute..........