My Footstep: Hainan Homecoming Nov 2012 (part 1)

My last visit was about 20 yrs ago, so it is a good time to revisit to see the development. Another aim is to bring the kids and spouse to have some village experiences. Make the visit with sis and mother, total 6 of us.

The plan is to go back to the village for 9 days, in the midst also taking a tour round Hainan for 5D4N. After some recce, found a reasonable land tour package at only S$58. Upgrade it with $100 for prenium 5star hotel and meal. Compare it to a $650-$700 quote by people in Hainan. Even if adding in $200 at the end for some optionals, it only come to $358.

Preparation:
This is in expectation of the many kids we will meet along the way.

Day 1: SGP to Huiwen, Hainan

The day start at 4 am, as our flight is at 0715 am, on Jetstar. Reached Meilan Airport at 11:15am. Picked up by relatives and stop along the way for lunch. The dishes was almost the same for the next 9 days on the trip.

We arrived at Huiwen and was greet with firecrackers. It is a custom to light them whenever anyone goes back. In olden days, the whole village will gather and you have to then distribute goodies. Luckily, the custom had die off.

That was my relative place. It is just along the main street in Huiwen. Our hotel, the best hotel in town, is hongta hotel. No cocroaches until the last night when we have 2 and a black hornet.

I also noticed that the kitchen has an fridge like this.

Our hotel room in Hongda:

After checking in and settling down, its time for a walk around town.

Jun xian has his Gongcha fix in town.

Oure sugarcane for sucking.

Local market fish stall.

Dinner is usually around 630 pm. quiet affair with just our hosts and us. You will noticed regular feature like the chicken.

After dinner, our nite entertainment are usually gossip or fireworks. A box of about 100 shots costs about 80 - 150 yuan.

On the way back to the hotel, we stop for supper: BBQ chicken wings, and local dessert of sweet potato soup and another make of "chicken shit fern"

Back in hotel at 10pm.

Day 2 : Huiwen

This day present the most eventful day. 4 major events line-up: visit to fish-farm, my grandfather village, a local wedding reception and a local university.

Start off with a hearty local breakfast.

Next was a visit to the fish farm owned by our hosts.

Our main aim for the trip is to bring the kids back and see their ancestral homes. The drive back was not as bumpy as I expected.

The village only consist of a cluster of 3-4 houses; one new one and the rest are in pretty bad shape.

There is no toilets in the old houses. Any small business is done here. For big business, you will have to find a bush outside.

The usual welcoming feature.

'Our' farm...as far as the eyes can see.

They have a pig sty now....something I did not see on the last trip...20 years ago.

These piglets are only 2-3 days old.

Back to Huiwen for lunch.

Next it was to get ready for the wedding dinner reception. The gals want a hairwash, so I followed them for a haircut. 10 yuan for a haircut and 20 for a hairwash.

On the way back, we stop for coffee and snack in another little coffeshop.

Then, its time for dinner. The location is just a short walk away.

On the way to the dinner reception. We can hear chatters over the bushes.

This is the kitchen. Like cooking for the pigs.

It is a 16 course dinner.

Custom in the village dictate that the bride need to be pregnant before the wedding. If the bride is unable to conceive, the wedding is off.

They even distribute plastic bags at the end for you to ta-pao. Better practice as there would be no wastage.

That nite, we took the local bus to Wenchang. it is a city, and yes, they have mcdonald and KFC. Our aim is the local institute of language study where our hosts daughter is studying.