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Post by douglaslam on Nov 23, 2013 11:21:13 GMT -5
Saturday 23rd. November, 2013
Lolly. I neglected to give Andrew's mother's name to our village official from Sing Sze. I am not sure which is the family name and given name. I reminded Ming to mention both names for a confirmation when the official calls again. We left both our mobile numbers to the official, but I suggested that Ming be the person to call because he knows the local scene and protocol better.
I'd like to add to Helen's piece on a baby's first month celebrations. As I understand it, nursing mother of a new-born babe is not supposed to be out in the open. She is not supposed to wash her hair for the first month,not to do laundry(by hand,)in fact anything that exposed herself to the elements. At the end of the first month, it is then time to introduce the baby to the world.
Lachinatown, our county Chungshan is now proclaimed a city, Zhongshan City 中山市,my village is in a cluster called Dachong Zhen 大涌镇. Zhen 镇is a provincial centre. Lolly's village Sing Sze belongs to Sa Kay, Shaqi( Sandy Creek) Zhen 沙溪镇. Yes lolly, you were born a Pang of Jeung Kok or Sing Sze now, therefore it is your ancestral village too.
Shekki, Shiqi 石岐 is the biggest centre. Many of you would remember my past posts of childhood memories of going to 石岐 on the back of a bicycle or steam-powered bus travelling on an unlit dirt road, and how I was mesmerised by a whirling ceiling fan. Shekki was the big smoke, it had electric lighting and a few other modern trappings. It was always a big thrill for a country boy going to town.
This morning we set off for Sam Heung, Sanxiang (Three Villages) 三乡. Sam Heung is a zhen comprised of three main villages, with a large number of their sons and daughters overseas. Last year my party was able to find our Peruvian member Carlos alias kaluosima's family link there. It also tells sad and poignant tales of life-time family separation , for which Carlos' was one.
The Ma family village Tong Gum in Sam Heung is a branch of Sa Chung which we called on two days ago. My party was made very welcome in Sam Heung last year, and I decided to return the hospitality by inviting the Ma family connected to Carlos, to lunch. Carlos could not get leave to come with me to China. But we are in frequent email and telephone contact. Carlos' cousin here, whom I called Maggie, is our common link.
We arrived early, well before lunch time. We sat for an hour and a half before the Mas got to the restaurant. There were seven of them including a two year old child. We had a really long lunch. All up my party was in the restaurant for about four hours.
Then, it was down to the business of finding member Brad Powe's great-grandparents' background in the village of Oo Shek, Black Rock. Maggie took us to the custodian of the genealogy books. From the information given to me by Brad, it wasn't enough to get a clear idea. There are eighteen volumes to the geneaolgy record. Photo of the old home did not register with the record keeper. So much of the old village was knocked down and rebuilt. The record keeper promised to inform me or Maggie if a link is found to Brad's great-grandfather.I took many photos, but could not find the Black Rock.
I kept my promise made last year and treated my party of seven to the Sheraton for a buffet dinner. We had a buffet dinner last year also, at one of the older hotels. I said we'd go one better this year to the Sheraton. It cost 205 RMB per person X 7. The meal did not come to expectations. At best it was mediocre, it just didn't have that five star ambience to the ground floor restaurant whereas the older hotel (Fuhua) has a revolving restaurant and much higher up. It was also a good deal cheaper. There was a Malaysian theme to the buffet, which I found very ordinary and unimaginative. Perfectly forgettable, poor value for money. Not again.
In all, today has been the most costly one in my entertaining expenses so far, at over RMB 2k. I can do an inclusive trip to Guangxi for less.
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Post by lachinatown on Nov 23, 2013 12:38:29 GMT -5
Thank you douglaslam & tyuti1668 for the information. This map shows best the Zhen 镇's mentioned with color outlines: Close up map of Sam Heung, Sanxiang (Three Villages) 三乡, where Douglas visited.
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Post by lolly on Nov 23, 2013 23:58:16 GMT -5
Thank you everyone for all the great info re the baby tradition. I have only a quick moment right now to check in and see what the latest updates contain as I am currently enjoying a few days at Halls Gap in the Grampians in western Victoria. Both my sisters are here plus other extended family and friends, and they are all being drawn in by all that I am able to relate to them from "My Excellent Adventures". I look forward to investigating the recommended sites for further info on the tradition. It is quite new and fascinating for all of us. Douglas, Andrew's potential history is getting more and more exciting each time you post. I am able to check in briefly daily .... have told everyone that it is an absolute necessity! ..... so will not be missing or even delaying too long reading your every word! Thanks again all! Lolly
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Post by douglaslam on Nov 24, 2013 8:34:58 GMT -5
Lolly, I didn't leave the village today. But I wasn't idling. I called on a few people. A fellow villager in Sydney wanted to know about his family. The only thing he knows is his father's name and where the family home used to be. I found a neighbour of his last year. The three of us called on the neighbour. He remembers my Sydney friend well when they were little boys. Whatsmore he knows my Sydney friend's older cousin who comes often from Hong Kong. That cousin can no doubt help him fill in the gaps.
I was at Ming's home watching DVDs on his trip to the USA earlier in the year. I stayed for dinner as well. I opened your very first posting to Ming. He agreed with me Andrew's name was shown as Hung Barn. It may have been Hung Pint, and mistakenly recored as Hung Barn. The similarity can't be dismissed. The village office is closed for the weekend. I am hopeful of a call from the official on Monday.
Another thing about nursing mothers; a special preparation of ginger, pig's trotters, hard boiled eggs cooked in sweet vinger is given to them. It is a great recovery and nourishing tonic, and it isn't an old wife's tale. The calcium in egg shell and pig's trotters is broken down in the sweet vinger. It is made soluble and easily ingested by the mother, and passed to the baby in her milk. What clever people we Chinese are. I never doubt our collective wisdom. Just take a look at the gold fields and the railway builders; the Chinese never suffered scurvy because of their diet.
The ginger and vinegar preparation as well as red boiled eggs are often given out to friends and relatives as a gesture of sharing in the joy. If you want to savour the concoction, come to Sydney and have yum cha lunch at The Marigold. It is the only restaurant I know of that offers this treat.
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Post by helen on Nov 25, 2013 4:42:09 GMT -5
I'm sure we went to the marigold with you Douglas. How's the heat? Is it cooling down now it's near December? Wish we were there as well.
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Post by tyuti1668 on Nov 25, 2013 5:25:33 GMT -5
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Post by douglaslam on Nov 25, 2013 8:50:19 GMT -5
November 26, 2013
Helen, The Marigold is indeed the same one that we went to with LC and Geoff a year and half ago. Let me know when you'd be coming again. I am still wearing a T-shirt only, quite pleasant actually. It will get cooler later on in the week.
Lolly, Ming and I talked over the two characters 板 Barn and 扳 Pint. Not only they look alike to the untrained eye, they also sound similar. The difference is so minute. The latter Pint is a less commonly used word. It means to hold on to something. I am not familiar with the word. My brains trust made the distinction. Barn means a timber plank. For those whose PC have Chinese enable software, you should be able to spot the difference without any difficulty.
I think we have a perfect match. As soon as the village official calls, we'll drop everything and go back to Sing Sze. I'll take notes, identify entended family members, take photos of the old family home where Andrew was born and raised. In fact anything at all that people might take for granted in the village but would mean something to those overseas who aren't familiar with the old country. Plenty of excitement ahead.
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Post by lolly on Nov 25, 2013 19:37:25 GMT -5
If I hold my breath for too much longer .... I will burst!! We visited a Chinese Heritage Museum called Gum San in Ararat, which is north west of Melbourne, on our way to the very beautiful Grampians. It was a fascinating visit with lots of information about the chinese who came from the Si Yi region and walked overland from Robe, SA, to the Victorian goldfields. This was to avoid the port entry tax imposed in Victoria. Most of the chinese had had their 10 pound fare paid for them in return for working for one year on the diggings. Ararat is now a sister city to Taishan with very close ties. The tiled roof of the Gum San was manufactured and donated by their sister city friends. Tilers came from China to assemble the roof and the building is a magnificent structure. Ararat recognises through this museum the important contribution of their early chinese population. All good stuff. Thanks again all for the "baby tradition" details. I am looking forward to following up on that when I get home. Lolly
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Post by douglaslam on Nov 26, 2013 8:34:29 GMT -5
Yes, we are all waiting for that phone call. I didn't ask to go anywhere today. It is just as well because Ming has a sore throat, and not in the best of shape.
There was a little publicity given to the sesquicentennial anniversary three or so years ago, of the walk by the Chinese from Robe River to the Victorian goldfields. Not too many years ago, people would try to hide their Chinese past. Country towns would erase anything associated with Chinese settlement. Years ago, friends in Moree N.S.W.told me the destruction of temples and other relics in the small townships of Bingara and Tingha by civic leaders. What great historical and tourism assets those same relics would be today.
The Sze Yup or Siyi people were a pioneering force in much of the New World. They distinguished themselves as diligent and hardy people. A large number of the members on this Forum are of Sze Yup origin. I visited Toishan, as it is better known to the Cantonese, thrice in recent years. Last time was to Fay Chee's home. I'd go again if my contact would join me from Hong Kong.
It is market day today at the local town market. These days market days aren't what they used to be in the years before Mao had gone beserk . Tradition still dictates the lunar calendar be followed by the traders and vendors who ply their goods for sale. I always love the experience. I have a few photos to show when I am back home.
I am in two minds whether I should get a near new tablet for about $300. The tablet, typically a Samsung or Apple, is available from a second hand shop, might have been stolen goods, at a bargain price. My daughter told me the high end features of an expensive tablet would be a waste on me. A generic one from Aldi is more suitable. I think she is right.
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Post by douglaslam on Nov 27, 2013 10:36:13 GMT -5
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
It is the coldest day so far. In the afternoon there is a cool breeze and drizzling rain. I am invited to the dinner reception to celebrate the first full month of the arrival of a new born babe.
Customs vary even amongst the Cantonese. I try to observe how the communities differ from each other here in the village, Hong Kong and Australia.
It is not unusual to see invitation is issued to just the wife or husband, but not both. This is certainly not done in HK or Sydney. Both cities have a greater degree of sophistication. For example, my companion Ming was invited but not his wife. But no one takes offence for being left out. It is weird, and can only happen at village level. Ming did not come because his sore throat is still bothering him.
Code of dress is also rather loose in the village. People may turn up in unbuttoned shirts, or collarless T-shirt or hoodie. But they are not being disrespectful to the hosts. It is just the way people are.
On each table, first up there are buns with sweet fillings. As well as buns, there is also a big bowl of pig's trotters, hard boiled eggs and ginger on each table. It is befitting of the occasion of a full month feast. I heard about one hundred kilograms of ginger was prepared for the occasion. The parents gave out huge quantities to their work colleague. I like that. Long may our custom last.
There is plenty of food, which includes suckling pig roast, baby abalone, pigeon, chicken, fish, and so much more. There is plenty left over to take home. I take the unused portion of the ginger dish. Without Mao, everyone eats better.
Be prepared to be enveloped by smokers' fume. Smoking indoor is supoosed to be outlawed, but like the pedestrian crossings and red lights, they are in name only.
Parties are generally noisey, this one is no exception. I am happy just to be immersed in our dialect. It make me feel I am a villager 村佬 once more. I have been living abroad for much of my life, each return visit means something to me. As usual, I forgot to take my camera to record memorable moments of the occasion.
This is a Siyi forum, do our Sze Yup members find things different in their villages?
My village is a big one. Marriage among fellow villagers of the same family name is very common. What are the chances of in-breeding happening? The geneticists and statisticians in our midst could perhaps enlightening me.
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Post by lachinatown on Nov 27, 2013 13:18:37 GMT -5
Too bad you forgot your camera. We want to see pictures Douglas.
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Post by tyuti1668 on Nov 27, 2013 19:21:34 GMT -5
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Post by FayChee on Nov 27, 2013 20:10:30 GMT -5
Hi Douglas, Sorry to hear of Mings sore throat, I just developed a rip-roaring sore throat over the last few hours....it kills me to swallow....I didn't get my flu shot yet....maybe too late now.
Tyuti, I know that I am Han, but is my dialect also sub-Minnan or Cantonese?
Thanks, Fay Chee
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Post by tyuti1668 on Nov 28, 2013 3:25:36 GMT -5
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Post by douglaslam on Nov 28, 2013 8:22:45 GMT -5
Thursday Novemner 28, 2013
Lolly,Lolly, it's 8:20pm local time, 11:20pm in Melbourne. Just over an hour ago, Ming called me and told me he has news from Sing Sze and it is all good.Tomorrow, we are setting off at 9 am, after yum cha breakfast at the nearest township Sa Kay, Shaqi(沙溪)to Sing Sze, then it is off to the village office for a briefing. I don't know what is in store. We shall see. I asked Ming if I should take a carton of imported cigs. as a token of appreciation. He said no. Can't wait.
Here is something for you lachinatown. Today I set off alone for Tanzhou (坦州,) to see if any remnant of a large floating population could be found. Because of road and bridge closure, I just could not find the bus stop. I changed my mind and went to Cui Heng Cun 翠亨村instead. Many of you would know CHC is the birth place of DR. Sun Yat-sen, the revolutionary who led the fight to overthrow the last Qing Dynasty Emperor.
I have often said Dr.Sun is our county's most famous son. We in Chungshan are very proud of him. He is universally loved and respected. My first visit to CHC was probably in 1977. Back then it wasn't developed as a tourist attraction and memorial. I can remember gun-toting militia was about because the village is close to an escaping route to Hong Kong.
Now,the village is a big national and international tourist attraction. There is a steady stream of visitors. On weekends, the numbers would be much greater. The site comprises of a memorial park, a memorial building and Dr. Sun's residence. It also serves as a place to showcase what life on the land was like for the people in South China in general.
The whole surround is so peaceful with tall trees and bamboo providing welcome shades in summer. Many old houses were restored or re-created to depict what rural dwellings were really like in South China. Old fashioned farm implements are on display. Things that were familiar to me when I was a little boy. There are even working farms on show. I love the place. It is also a moving experience for me to follow Dr.Sun's struggle and his untimely death. Lolly, Dr. Sun also joined the Chinese Masonic Society in Honolulu in 1904, perhaps about the same time as Andrew did in Sydney.
Carlos, if you are reading this,I'll take you here next year. And I can't recommend it too highly for anyone. I was here in 2011 on the centenary year of the 1911 Xinhai Revolution. I'll certainly go back again.
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