Started the day with a stop at Lei(2) Feng(1) Ta(3), where I got a spectacular view of the HZ Xihu (west lake) from the top. The cab driver drove me around the lake, and brought me up the Long(2) Jin(3) Shan(1) Zhuang(1), where I insisted on visiting as I wanted to visit the tea plantations! HZ is known for their Long Jin Xi Hu Tea, and I was determined to get some authentic tea! However, I was disappointed to only a small village at the top. Nevertheless, a "kind" village lady brought me to a small tea plantation by the back of the village where I got a spectacular view of the vast tea plantations on the Shi(1) Feng(1) hill in a distance. I was told that this is where the real quality tea leaves are picked, better than the ones around the Xihu area. We chatted for a quite a long time as she explained to me the tea picking seasons and how to pick the right leaves, then invited me to her place for some tea. Her family supplies tea to some of the tea houses in the city, so I thought I would buy some tea from her. I spent more than S$250 buying high quality tea to give to boss, family, relatives and friends. But realised later from my Sales manager that I can get daily drinking tea leaves for about S$25 for 250g at the wholesale market in the city. Thinking that I got cheater and determined to recoup my losses, I bought more "low quality" tea at the wholesale market the day after! But thought I could taste a difference in the different grades of tea, or maybe its all psychological!
For dinner, I wanted to try the reknown dishes at teh Lou(2) Wai(4) Lou(2), so I set out on foot around the lake to the resturant. I could not resist ordering the "Jiao(4) Ji(1)" - beggar's chicken, and the "Dong(1) Po(1) Rou(1)" - stewed meat with fatty layers! The people at the next table was staring at me, probably shocked that I alone ordered 3 dishes, certainly I did not get to finish all the food, since they did not allow for orders of half-chicken! After dinner, I took more stroll around the river, wanting to enjoy the night views of the lake. Beautiful!
Early the next morning, I jumped onto a boat which cruised around the lake and also the oppotunity to explore the various man-made "islands" in the middle of the lake. It started to drizzle a little, but added a very Shi(1) Qin(2) Hua(4) Yi(4) feel to it! I imagined days of old when people playing qin(a Chinese music instrument) and writing shi (poem)!
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