Fuddland

Time seems to have slipped away recently and I’ve gotten behind on writing about a couple of things, so here they are in abridged form.

Doctored

Completely slipping my mind until a copy of my certificate arrived in the post the other day, on the 13th of July 2006 my name was read out in a big hall with lots of smartly-dressed people—it’s possible some people clapped at this moment—and I was, finally, officially, anti-climatically, a PhD. Why are degree certificates always so dull-looking?

Tong Li

A few weeks ago I went with some friends to a satellite town of Suzhou named Tong Li. It’s a very traditionally-built water town [that is, based on a network of canals, much like Suzhou but much smaller], and enjoys protection from modern developments in an effort to preserve its heritage. The simply-constructed buildings are no more than two stories tall; the shopping streets offer the usual array of silks, paintings, fans, teas and tea-pots, and small family-owned restaurants, at which we enjoyed a varied meal including my first sampling of fried eel [very salty, but I think this was the soy sauce].

The newest addition to Tong Li is the Museum of Ancient Sex Culture, detailing China’s long history of [sometimes devious, some might say] sexual practises, including scary-looking foot-binding tools—the shoes were just impossibly small. Some interesting statues, old and new, were dotted around the grounds, but the most interesting objects were inside, where unfortunately photography was banned. So-called “trunk bottoms” look like innocent ceramic ornaments in the shape of a fruit, but open them up and you find a tiny sculpture of a young couple in flagrante delicto: this was passed from mother to daughter on her wedding night [placed at the bottom of her suitcase, hence the name], and was the single piece of sex education imparted to the new couple—the groom has been told nothing by his parents.

[Photos in the Tong Li Flickr photoset.]

#1

Jann | 2006 / 08 / 20 – 06:27

I’ve not seen your new assistant yet but I maintain that you’re much more interesting than Christopher Eccleston ever was (even with your suspect meteorological dalliances)

#2

Daisy | 2006 / 08 / 21 – 03:19

Congratulations Doctor!

The Museum of Ancient Sex Culture sounds fascinating, shame that photography is not allowed indoors - although I enjoyed the outdoor statue, one in particular… ;-)

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