China Special News Magazine -June 2009.pdf - The Belvedere ...

DearBelvedere…Rice, rice, rice is the staple food of the Chinese and we’ve been eating it in abundance here.Having expected to be eating dog or chicken feet, the meals have been more like what we’reaccustomed to in Britain, although unfortunately, there’s been no crispy duck pancakes. Wevisit two different restaurants each day and sit in groups of ten around big, glass, round tableswith a moveable round glass plate in the middle. About ten dishes are normally brought outto us; there is an abundance of food. Most people are getting the hang of using chopsticksbut it can be infuriating when you’re trying to serve yourself and pick up a fragrant piece ofpork and it keeps on dropping off, much to the glee of the waiter standing by.Our first hotel was quite comfortable but we all immediately noticed the smell of smokeeverywhere. Evidently, there isn’t a smoking ban here in China and they even smoke at thedinner table and the corridors and rooms have a lingering smell of nicotine...