Yesterday for wellness Brandt, Sunny, Sonia and I decided that we needed more photos of Xizhou. So we went out and walked around Xizhou taking pictures. We first went to Sufanjie and took a lot of pictures of the square. Sadly to the square was crowded and we were not able to get a lot of good photos. Hopefully, we can go back and get more pictures because the square was lovely. The ample open space with the big gate is the superb place for a public space. After that, we went downs a thin alleyway with a lot of cool shops placed at the sides.

Yesterday, we visited Yang NaiNai again. This time, we brought two cameras: one for the interview and chat, the other for B-rolling. My job was to capture some scenery footage, some street footage, some tie-dyeing footage, and some pedestrain footage.

Today, Sarah R. and I went to Mr. Wang's to take some photos for her inquiry project final product. It was a 15 minute bike ride and when we got there Mr. Wang's daughter and son in law were very open to us looking around and taking photos. They had a variety of baskets in many rooms connected to their court yard. Some baskets, I could probably fit in. After a while of us asking questions, they offered to let us try weaving a part of an unfinished basket.

I decided to take a full tour around Xizhou and perhaps get some good and beautiful footage for my inquiry project. First, I explored Mr. Du's hotel all the way to the top floor. He had a beautiful overhead view of all the architecture of Xizhou. It felt like we could see all of Xizhou. The effects of modernization could also be seen from up there. On top of every traditional roof, there was a huge power box (not sure what it was) with huge coils of wires sticking out from it.

Spending 20 days with a group of people that you are not related to is truly a unique experience. 

Going into this, I thought everyone was being dramatic when they said that Microcampus created a new family for them; but it is not hyperbolized at all. 

After getting my hands back on the violin again, I began to realize everything that I was missing out on.

Firstly, I realized my violin skills were taking a dive. Paganini's Caprice #24, which I had begun to work on before my violin back split in half (Do not ask), was abysmal. The theme already sounded awry, with my fingering too high. The variations sounded even worse, as my usually smooth fingering turned into a frantic shuffle. My Intro and Rondo Capriccioso was even worse, with Camille Saint-Saens probably rolling in his grave...

Last night, the entire Voyagers group earned the right to go to Dali Old Town for dinner. Dali Old Town is a large tourist destination in Dali. The town was full of bustling people with cameras around their necks and wide gaping mouths. Once we reached the town, we split off into groups and went to our own ways. The whole town was lit with lights from many restaurants stalls and cafes, each one serving a different dish or drink from a variety of different places around the world.

The day comes when the bright yellow flowers start to disappear. What is only left are green healthy canola beans. The day comes that the canola fields nearby the highway are empty. No tourists are in the fields taking a selfie. I am very grateful that the canola flowers bloomed right when we arrived at Xizhou. Now that these bright yellow flowers are starting to disappear, I wave them a goodbye. I do not miss these flowers, nor do I want to get rid of them. The time has come and it has come at the right time. I can imagine when we leave Xizhou that all of these flowers are gone.

Foreigners. English menus. Loud streets. Dali Oldtown was the polar opposite of what Xizhou is. Unfortunately, we were not able to bring our cameras with us just for the sake of keeping our valuables safe. Another thing we need not worry about in our home. Eager to get our bellies full before another other group takes over a good restaurant, we settled for the first restaurant that caught our eyes. There, I got my first bite of pizza for the first time in nineteen days.