The Accidental Tourist

Somewhere off the coast of Xiamen, there’s a little island called Gu Lang Yu. It’s one of the major attractions of Xiamen. On Gu Lang Yu, no vehicles are allowed. Only bicycles. Colonial style bungalows pepper the island. The French and American Embassies used to be on the little island. It’s also a hotspot for wedding pictures (think beach, couple sitting in a big heart marked out in the sand, sunset, crashing waves). You get the drift.

But the reality?

Gu Lang Yu. the shopper’s paradise. Tea, dried scallops, seacumbers at bargain prices and of course a Macdonalds. Can’t get around because there are no cars? No problem! Pay RMB$50 for a ride in a buggy around the island.

Or you could even rent a bungalow for a month or two!

You know you’re in for a kitschy moment when your family ask you to take pictures of the re-enactment of the Zheng Cheng Gong battle scene that plays to the tune to Huang Fei Hong. AHH!!! My eyes!!!

Note: For the equally ignorant like moi, Zheng Cheng Gong is a Chinese General who drove the Holland folks out from Taiwan.

I am never alone. Hordes of tourist trample into my grounds and I can’t run away. You guys used to wait in line but now, you just pass by without acknowledging my pressence.

Go on. Blind me with that flash of yours. What happened to being in the moment and enjoying the scenery?

Excuse me but I’m going to look at the city now. That is my job after all.

I’ve been warned. Not once but at least three times, don’t do the Statue of Liberty Tour. Friends equivalent it to Singaporeans going to see the Merlion.

But I was tasked by my friend, YH, to bring her a Statue of Liberty fridge magnet, who by the way has a VERY VERY impressive collection, and so far I couldn’t find a decent looking Ms Liberty. Plus, I owed her a birthday present.

So on a grey and overcast day, i hoped on to the crowded tourist ferry that does a loop to the Statue and Ellis Island. It was frigging cold but us, being tourists, we have to go to the deck ‘coz we must take pictures even though we are still at the jetty and the ferry hasn’t started moving.

The whole Statue of Liberty was ran like a factory. First in, first out. Input and output from the rear. My bad. I got my crappy overpriced made in China magnet that would probably cost RMB$10 but sold for USD$5, snapped some pictures of Ms Liberty from the the front and got out of there.

Still freaking cold but everyone was still hanging out on the deck.

On my way back at Battery Park, I saw the Statue of Liberty that made my day. So kitschy that it hurts!