Hello world!
It’s weird to be back to the social media of the western world. As I landed in China I caught a bus to the train station, then hopped on a train to Sanya. For two hours I was delighted with a beautiful scenery, palm trees mixed with farm fields and farmers with large port animals walking in plain harmony on open fields or swimming on the side of a river. I have no words to describe that train ride but I will be sharing the footage later with you.
At the arrival of Sanya train station I met Wendy and a school instructor, from Wanmei Kitesurfing waiting to drive us to the local village of Hou Hai Yoita. A small fishing village with hard working people as the wrinkles on they faces revealed no other. Astoundingly happy people living a simple life. Even though I do not speak their language, it did not stop them from trying to communicate with me and 90% of them would kindly offer me cigarettes as ice breaker. The kite center is located at a small hostel with a shop both owned by the locals and probably the most well known kiter in China A-Guang.
When I first connected my laptop to the internet I realized straight away about a few diferences… my browser would not open Google, YouTube, Facebook or Twitter the only social apps working where Skype and whatsapp and even then the application prohibits sending video or voice.
This was a good reality check allowing me to understand that our western reality is not the only one. It made me aware and open to what is different and unknown. As someone once said “Open your mind, open your life”. A few months ago Fu Sumsion, who is responsible for Best Kiteboarding in Asia social media, told me to download WeChat the China’s equivalent to Facebook. I created an account, added some friends and learned that youku is their youtube. The stuff they post is exactly like our stuff but following the adventurous Chinese cultural style.
99% of the people I met while in Hou Hai Yoita are kitesurfing fanatics. In spite of kiteboarding being a young sport in China they love it. No matter if it’s old school or new school. While kiting I pulled a simple back roll and I had someone ask me if I was going in the water because she wanted to see a back roll again. Never in my life have I been cheered after landing a front mobe. Later that night was approached by someone who shared how impressed they were with me riding the waves with a GoPro in my hand, pretty basic stuff but I guess something you don’t see often on a Chinese beach.
At the end of the day I got to experience a bit of Chinese social media as my WeChat started to receive notifications with pictures from the day at the beach. The wind was light and most people were out with their 14m, I was out with the 12m Roca using the low end potential of this awesome kite. The Chinese beach reminded me of the Portugal beaches as the sand is equally fine. The only difference is Portugal has no palm trees and the color of the sand is slightly whiter. My last night in China was fascinating, after I imported the footage from the last two days, and packed my belongings for my early flight. I decided to join the Chinese only to find a lively group of people eating, dancing and singing till sunrise.
I left Hou Hai Yoita at 5 AM and I am now in Phuket Thailand where I will stay for four days then move up to Hua Huin.
Peace
Pedro
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