Home in Hangzhou

Xi Hu (West Lake) was beautiful.

And after much discussion, I agreed to meet Lu at 3:30 PM in the city. But 3:30 rolled around and I was still on the boat back to shore (West Lake is pretty large). So I texted Lu that I would be a few minutes late, and he texted back: "I ate you". Uh-oh.

What did he mean to write? I didn't really know him that well, maybe my lateness set something off in him and he just decided to hate me? It was a tense ride back to shore, but when I finally arrived, Lu was there to greet me with a smile and a nice word about Hangzhou. All was right in the world again; he had meant to write that he was waiting for me. We took a walk around the lake, took a cab to his house, and I met his entire family, including his wife, parents, and very cute 12-year-old son.

I tried some nuts that were tasty but too hard to open, so they weren't worth the hassle. And then when I went into the kitchen for a second, I saw a slippery fish writhing around on a plate. Lu's wife laughed and shooed my prying Meiguoren face away, but I knew that my main course for dinner was as fresh as could be. Thanks to the Lu family for their food and hospitality. Much obliged.

Off to Hong Kong today.

(Kingspawn got me on the typo)