In May of last year, for example, my travel-mad wife and I, together with friends, took a trip to Szechuan. The fact that I agreed to, indeed spearheaded, this insanity in a fit of daring can only be ascribed to my kind-hearted nature and any faded remains of a certain sense of responsibility for the woman betrothed to me. Not even the suddenly emerging, frivolous longing for an authentic China, linked with the hope of finding it in its furthest province found any remonstrance from me, as the harmony within our personal relationship suddenly increased manifold during the frenzy of our travel planning.
Where exactly is this authentic China?
For my travel companions obviously in a romantic land to be found only on their illusionary map. In any case, this authentic China is beyond a doubt a country in which travelers accept dirt and bad behavior as charming simply because it is so genuine. In the real China, this idea saves the locals from washing their dishes, taking their thumbs out of the soup or changing the bed linens.
I, on the other hand, appreciate clean plates, good service and fresh sheets on my bed. I can be authentic on my own time; in this case, however, much to the regret of my valued wife. She is obviously very much under the spell of a perceived authenticity, whose influence on my fellow travelers I assessed completely incorrectly at the time.
Unfortunately, by the time this began to dawn on me, the time had long passed for an honorable retreat.
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SHREDS & Leftovers (english)
RandomA Failed Project Collection from past to present
