DAY 183 MONDAY SEPTEMBER 24 CHINA TOWN

First priority today was to lighten our load for the rest of the trip by posting excess stuff home.  Many times we have been told that it would be cold in Russia, Mongolia, China and Korea.  Our experience has been that the only cold days we have had were in the United Kingdom in May and June.  So we packed our thermals and jumpers and some souvenirs into the suitcase and walked to the Post Office. As usual the staff could not manage any English but organised us very swiftly and we packed over 7kg into a strong box and paid AUD60 for presumably air mail delivery.  We emerged relieved in two senses.  We grabbed a map and followed a walking tour up the hill through China Town.

Even the street drains have a dragon pattern to emphasise the Chinese influence.

One restaurant was guarded by warriors imported from Xi'an.

We climbed a steep street and into the large park that overlooks the town.

 This is a favourite hang out for retirees keeping fit and groups having picnics.  There was a memorial to General Macarthur right at the top.

They are very aware of the American contribution in the war.

The sacrifices of the local senior schoolchildren was wel lremembered.

The horrors of war seem to haunt every country we have visited.
 The weather was quite warm so we bought a drink and watched the locals, including a group of handicapped adults on an outing.  We passed a large church on the way down the other side of the hill

and continued through China Town where we saw more dragons

and another church.

  Had dinner in the same Chinese restaurant, which was very nice but this time cost twice as much for no reason we could find, but still good value.  That left us with no local money so went to the ATM at the hotel but found it only accepted local cards. Tried the ATMs in the bank across the road with the same result.  Went to bed penniless.