Today was the July Hash. Hash is a group of international walkers and runners who get together once a month to go on a trek around our community. A couple of organizers go out in advance and set the trailer with markers in our case we use flour to make different markings along the route.
All who wish to participate assemble at a prearranged location and set out following the markers. There are various symbols pointing us in the correct direction with the occasional marker that we have to choose which way, if you make the wrong choice you will run out of markers and then you have to retrace your steps and find the correction direction.
At the end of the trail we gather at a restaurant for lunch and down downs. Dow
n downs are penalty drinks (beer) for any infractions you may have committed during the trek. Now, the hash leaders or the “spiritual advisor” will call out all those that committed offenses and they have to drink to in sequence to this song or rally call. We also welcome all the “virgin” hashers, they have to stand in the front of the group and tell who they are and who made them come….pun completely intended. Basically, you have a group of people that are a little raunchy, a lot of fun and enjoy exercise. They say that a true hasher is an alcoholic with a running problem, they may be right.
This hash was out to an island on the Yangtze River. We met at the Olympic Stadium subway station at 830 this morning and set off to the ferry dock, about 1.5k. Once over the river onto the island we were off and running, or in my case, power walking. The trail (5k) took us through the village and into the grape fields. This island is used as a farm for grape vines. It was a mixture of farmland and homes with a number of substanti
al newly constructed homes that resembled Mediterranean villas. The weird part is that they were all vacant and only 80% completed. It was as if the builders just decided that it wasn’t a great idea, packed up their tools and left. The grapevines were in better shape than most of the islanders living conditions. I still don’t know why the grapes were in bags hanging on the vines. Derek’s best guess w
as to prevent bugs from getting to grapes, very plausible. I only saw two snakes on this hike and thankfully they were both dead. (I so don’t like snakes.)
I cannot tell you have fun it is to go into these area’s that don’t see a lot of foreigners -particularly in their little neighborhoods. It is a little odd but you get used to the people coming to a complete halt to watch the “strangers” go pass their home or business. They follow us around and try to figure out why we all are calling out when we pass a pile of flour, “On.” I am sure that when we go wandering off the sidewalks and walkways and march off into the fields or woods y
elling, “On, on!” What a freak show we must be.
Lunch today was in a Really Chinese Chinese restaurant. I know you think that is redundant but you have three different Chinese Restaurants. One, an Expat Friendly Chinese operated restaurant that features Chinese food but feels a little western. It may even have a couple familiar dishes for a wester
n to choose from. Second is the Chinese Chinese places, they feature more traditional Chinese fair in a modern setting. Third is the Really Chinese Chinese places, these are traditional dishes that are served with the heads still attached, feet too. The seasoning is salt (MSG) and Chinese vinegar. These special places also have questionable hygiene and food prep areas. For those of us that live here, we eventually get u
sed to the conditions and can always find one or two dishes that we can tolerate. My preference today was the boiled crawfish. (You can take the girl out of Louisiana but you cannot take Louisiana out of the girl.)
After lunch, several of us headed out to find the ferry dock for the return trip home. I had to stop for a pee break; I just couldn’t use the facilities at the restaurant. I ended up stopping in the two at a Chinese Chinese place to use their facilities which was not going to win any awards for cleanliness either. In our area if you need to use the potty or take a break you just walk into any establishment and do so – no questions asked, I however still am programmed so I bought a coke and had a few minutes of conversation with the staff. Back across the river, not anywhere I will be swimming, another 2k before we were able to find a taxi to take us home.
It was a great way to spend a Sunday morning and I was most appreciative of my son going out on the scooter and bring home BIGMAC’s!
All who wish to participate assemble at a prearranged location and set out following the markers. There are various symbols pointing us in the correct direction with the occasional marker that we have to choose which way, if you make the wrong choice you will run out of markers and then you have to retrace your steps and find the correction direction.
At the end of the trail we gather at a restaurant for lunch and down downs. Dow
n downs are penalty drinks (beer) for any infractions you may have committed during the trek. Now, the hash leaders or the “spiritual advisor” will call out all those that committed offenses and they have to drink to in sequence to this song or rally call. We also welcome all the “virgin” hashers, they have to stand in the front of the group and tell who they are and who made them come….pun completely intended. Basically, you have a group of people that are a little raunchy, a lot of fun and enjoy exercise. They say that a true hasher is an alcoholic with a running problem, they may be right.This hash was out to an island on the Yangtze River. We met at the Olympic Stadium subway station at 830 this morning and set off to the ferry dock, about 1.5k. Once over the river onto the island we were off and running, or in my case, power walking. The trail (5k) took us through the village and into the grape fields. This island is used as a farm for grape vines. It was a mixture of farmland and homes with a number of substanti
al newly constructed homes that resembled Mediterranean villas. The weird part is that they were all vacant and only 80% completed. It was as if the builders just decided that it wasn’t a great idea, packed up their tools and left. The grapevines were in better shape than most of the islanders living conditions. I still don’t know why the grapes were in bags hanging on the vines. Derek’s best guess w
as to prevent bugs from getting to grapes, very plausible. I only saw two snakes on this hike and thankfully they were both dead. (I so don’t like snakes.)I cannot tell you have fun it is to go into these area’s that don’t see a lot of foreigners -particularly in their little neighborhoods. It is a little odd but you get used to the people coming to a complete halt to watch the “strangers” go pass their home or business. They follow us around and try to figure out why we all are calling out when we pass a pile of flour, “On.” I am sure that when we go wandering off the sidewalks and walkways and march off into the fields or woods y
elling, “On, on!” What a freak show we must be.Lunch today was in a Really Chinese Chinese restaurant. I know you think that is redundant but you have three different Chinese Restaurants. One, an Expat Friendly Chinese operated restaurant that features Chinese food but feels a little western. It may even have a couple familiar dishes for a wester
n to choose from. Second is the Chinese Chinese places, they feature more traditional Chinese fair in a modern setting. Third is the Really Chinese Chinese places, these are traditional dishes that are served with the heads still attached, feet too. The seasoning is salt (MSG) and Chinese vinegar. These special places also have questionable hygiene and food prep areas. For those of us that live here, we eventually get u
sed to the conditions and can always find one or two dishes that we can tolerate. My preference today was the boiled crawfish. (You can take the girl out of Louisiana but you cannot take Louisiana out of the girl.)After lunch, several of us headed out to find the ferry dock for the return trip home. I had to stop for a pee break; I just couldn’t use the facilities at the restaurant. I ended up stopping in the two at a Chinese Chinese place to use their facilities which was not going to win any awards for cleanliness either. In our area if you need to use the potty or take a break you just walk into any establishment and do so – no questions asked, I however still am programmed so I bought a coke and had a few minutes of conversation with the staff. Back across the river, not anywhere I will be swimming, another 2k before we were able to find a taxi to take us home.
It was a great way to spend a Sunday morning and I was most appreciative of my son going out on the scooter and bring home BIGMAC’s!
Hashers sing with me...I heard it through the grapevines.
Food Prep Area. Notice the yellow flowers under the table, those were battered and fried. Yummy. They are flowers from a squash plant of some sort.
Special entertainment for the locals. For a small fee you can ride on the pedal boats. 
This is where they were cleaning the dishes.
Chris, professional hasher, hauling the kiddies.
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