3/7/25
There were no grand ambitions for the day. In the morning we sat outside watching our host tend to his plants. He had a beautiful garden and it reminded Jonathan of his mother. A family were also staying and took pictures with us. We sipped our coffee and decided upon a hotel in the city of Xichang, only 10km away.
Just as we were about to leave we discovered that the rear disc rotor on the green Surly was loose. Center lock brakes simply compress the rotor into the hub. Rather than securing it firmly like 6 bolt rotors. Fortunately it was easily tightened. We rode on the ‘cycle greenway’ next to the lake passing the various ‘scenic spots’. People were sitting, taking photos, walking together. After 5km we were briefly shoved back onto the busy road. There was a fenced in and ticketed wetland area next to us. It looked pretty.
In the heart of the city the tower blocks rose up. There were so many it was crazy. Our hotel was somewhere in the middle. A young girl was eager to talk English. She called Jonathan handsome a couple of times then confirmed Frankie was his wife. The bikes went in an underground carpark. There was a security guard. We figured they were safe.
Our room was almost the size of our house and the TV was twice the size of our screen at home. We couldn’t find any decent food options. No vegetarian buffets in Xichang. Instead we walked to the market about 20 minutes away. Meandering through Tangyuan park on the way. A towering pagoda and a collection of different attractions amused us.
The market was a bustling oasis of fruits and vegetables. As hoped we found a tofu seller. Ready cooked and seasoned. Vegan leek filled breads and some vegetables. Jonathan couldn’t resist buying some watermelon. We discovered that while it looks fluffy, it is in fact deliciously crisp and sweet.
We started watching a new show called Smoke in our mini cinema. After dinner we explored the nearby shopping mall. Four floors of shops and restaurants. We just wanted to have a look. It was just as it is at home. Only there were a number of gold sellers and a large supermarket in the basement. They’re either in the middle of a shift in shopping habits, or resisting the end of the fresh markets. The supermarket didn’t appear as popular as the market had earlier. We bought nuts and raisins. Struggled to buy them elsewhere. Coffee was expensive. Keen for some flavour we bought individually portioned ‘drip bags’. Not only did we buy powdered soya milk, but also ‘vanilla ice cream’ flavoured Oatly. How could we resist?!
After finishing Suspicion, we started watching The Accountant 2. It was a little silly, but humorous at least. We ate some buckwheat with powdered soya milk, cashews and the dried plums and ‘honey dates’. The latter was tasty, but we had no clue what fruit they were. We thought they might be sugar coated potatoes. A light by the hotel door was sensor operated. Each time we went to the toilet it came on and there was no way to deactivate it. Mildly annoying for nighttime.
Surly They Won't Make It 