It's not everyday you see your wife with a Kalashnikov in her hand but yesterday, I did !
I was told that we were going shooting after breakfast so as normal we headed off in a convoy to where? as usual ,I wasn't too sure. As we approached the Chinese military base I though to myself that this is just not going to happen. Me a westerner with automatic weapons inside a Chinese army base highly unlikely to say the least. When we stopped at the gate and watchtower the guards where visibly nervous once they had worked out that I was in one of the cars. Everyone got out to stretch there legs while the guards made a few phone calls, I felt it wise to stay in the car! The gate opened and everyone was issued inside apart from me who was put in the back of the Chinese version of a hummer. While our party where given AK 47's to play with I had to stay firmly on the back seat and watch out the window. It was still an experience but when I produced a camera it was most defiantly a no no.
Then it was off to lunch. This time in a farmhouse out on the grasslands. In all there was 15 off us and I was led into a small stone enclosure and shown a very fat sheep that was to be killed for our lunch. The time was at hand for said sheep and I was ushered to the front to watch the beast being dispatched. Now I'm the sort of guy who goes to the shop and buys nice fresh joints of meat and not the type who likes to see his next meal breathing it's last. The deed done I was given an expert class in how to skin and butcher a sheep. I was thoroughly impressed by the skill theses guys showed, obviously not the first time they had done this. Made me think that if civilisation were to collapse for whatever reason these peoples way of life would still go on much as it is now. Nothing went to waste everything had a use. Then I hung out in the kitchen to see how the meal was prepared. The farmers wife was maybe in her 30's and was one of those very capable women incredibly fit and with a very infectious smile. She had bowls of hot sweet milk tea for everyone and cooked the entire meal on a stove powered by dried dung.
Then it was sit down and start eating time and I tried not to thing about the poor animal from a few hours ago. As normal out came the white spirit and before long the first singer got to their feet. As the afternoon progressed it became a mix of feasting drinking and singing even the farmer's wife sat down with us and boy could she drink,no way I could hope to keep up! Then she had to check on the flocks of sheep out on the plain so she fired up an old motorcycle and disappeared, to say I was impressed by her would be an understatement. Her husband arrived not long after and joined us in the laughter and songs, it was a really good afternoon and when it came time to go there was lots of hugging and a few tears where shed. Once back at the hotel I fell asleep watching the TV while the rest of them carried on drinking until the early hours.
This morning it was off to see.....? all I really new was that horses were involved, possibly the army and the number 100. What's new, why would I want to know the details anyway? We set off across the plains again until we met up with a fleet of military 4x4's and joined up behind them. I was starting to get a bit nervous after yesterdays morning spent peering out of the back of a Chinese military vehicle! Still this time went better and I was introduced to a General no less and he seemed quite pleased to meet me so that was quite a relife. I still had no idea what was going on or why. We waited on this dirt track for maybe 20 minutes and then we moved off. My wife's cousin pointed ahead at two rows of Chinese cavalry caring red flags lining each side of the track, they then proceeded to escort us slowly down the road and into a military parade ground. This was set up with various things for the horses to jump over or go around and straw dummies for what I could only think was going to be target practice. Nobody seemed phased by me being there and I was even allowed to take pictures! the next 90 minutes we where given a spectacular display of horsemanship attacking with both sabers and rifles. Then I had my own chance to ride one of the horses! Ok I didn't stun them with my riding skills, in fact I was led tamely around the ground by a soldier who looked about 14 years old. I was introduced to one of the other guests who I was told was one of the top police guy's in Beijing, looked like a member of some Colombian drug gang to me!
Off for another lunch but this was in a very upmarket restaurant and we had lamb dumplings mmmmm. As none of my wife's cousin's drinking buddies where there I had my first alcohol free lunch and it was fantastic! Tomorrow we are off to another town and no I don't know where it is, why we are going there or what we will do when we get there. From there we are going to drive back to Baoding I think!
