Suzhou (Venice of the Orient)

Biggest mall in Suzhou

The ancient infamous scholar, Tong Pak Fu was best known as a flirt. Many tales, some probably untrue, were told of him and his. He came from Suzhou, a province of many canals. I was tickled pink, some fifteen years ago on my first visit to Suzhou, when I saw men in little boats floating down canals so small it looked like monsoon drains. As I gazed around me in wonderment, I tried to picture Tong Pak Fu's bewilderment had he had the misfortune to traverse a worm hole or portal of some sort from his century to this. How utterly awed the man would have been.

Suzhou is, as Suzhou was. Charming, quaint, almost metropolitan but not quite. Despite the passage of time, the old charm is still prevalent. The same provincial dust still clothed the vehicles on the street. The same white ring and ropes still entwined around the trunks of trees. Locals still greet you with smiles on their faces.

View from Helipad at the roof of
the shoe-shaped Building called
Suzhou Modern Media Plaza

The skyline had changed. Bigger buildings and shopping malls mushroomed from available spaces. The large swarm of cyclist, once an intimidating sight had diminished. They are replaced by cars driven in haphazard direction with no apparent regard for road safety.

Taihu Lake, a large freshwater lake shared by Suzhou and Hangzhou, among others. The ferris wheel in the background wasn't built when I was last there.

Several bridal entourage, some in bizarre costume crawled over the lawn outside the church, tailed by photographers seeking the perfect shot. Inside the church, hymns in Mandarin played in the background while curious visitors paced between the pew.

Not far from the church, was an old dilapidated temple situated along a scenic canal. I wondered if this was the same temple Tong Pak Fu met  and flirted with his dearly beloved.

At this temple, we found two odd looking object.

Speculation - This could be a bin containing human waste recycled as fertilizer. Or not!

A hexagonal contraption on the temple ground.

We opened the lid.

Behold! An ancient well.

TROUBLES WITH CONSTIPATION

Some time in the past, I went for a complete blood test in one of the local health-screening laboratory. I had several issues. The healthcare solution offered by Mr Man-In-Charge was between 7 to 8 bottles of herbal supplements, which he opined, was all I needed.

Although the recommended dosage was reduced by half, I ended up with constipation. ~~~ And piles! (better known as hemorrhoids)

Man, did I curse Mr Man-In-Charge! He initiated my unhappy relationship with hemorrhoids.

On my first trip to Suzhou fifteen years ago, I was introduced to something called "Crossing the Bridge Noodle".

The noodles weren't agreeable for I ended up with diarrhea and in its wake, piles. I was a long way from home and it will be a long time before I get home so I was in dire strait. I spilled the beans and asked Ken for help. (Ken is a family member.)

Mr Pan (who was Ken's driver) went to the pharmacy for their recommendation and returned with a box with Chinese written instruction and no pictorial guide. I had expected a tube of hemorrhoid cream so was suitably astounded to see a plaster with a minty smell.

A couple of awkward questioning ensued. The plaster was to be plastered over my BELLY BUTTON! (I was gobsmacked!)

So I proceeded as instructed and went to bed. I could feel some tissue movement at the other end. It was followed by flatulence. The dubiety of the experience soon coaxed me into slumber.

On the morrow, well ....what do you know? My hemorrhoids were gone!

That was some fifteen years ago.

Anti-Hemorrhoid Plaster 2018

On my current trip to Suzhou, among the first few things I did was to look out for the anti-hemorrhoid plaster. (Picture: left) This time, the package is friendlier with English instruction and pictorial guide. Each package contained two plaster and the selling price ranged between RMB 32 to RMB36. It wasn't as effective as the one I used some fifteen years ago but it still worked.