A little bit more about my time in Nanjing with school mate Matt being an International teacher. Part 2

It was great to meet up with Matt, to have a good chat to someone I know, I miss that already and also someone else to give me some guidance. Whilst Matt was busy at work, teaching, I visited The Massacre Museum. This memorial is a testament to the atrocities committed in WWII by Japanese soldiers. I had heard of the massacre but did not appreciate the extent of it until I went to the museum. Mass graves are laid out, endless photos of civilians who had nothing to do with war; details of names, English information boards explain it all. Accompanying atmospheric music makes it very moving.
A visit later to a silk museum was also interesting with working looms although I was disappointed that I didn’t learn any more about silk worms which I was interested in finding out more about. It was great meeting Matt’s friends and attending a languages meeting.Also met a guy called Miguel, from Arequipa Peru. He was over the moon to learn that I had been there.

A trip to the Confusious Temple near the Yangtze River in the dark was really nice; had a look at some tacky stalls and tried some doughy deserts shaped into ducks and things.

Everything was lit up and the temple was still open so learnt about Confusious and how he used to work with livestock before politics.
I went to see the Ming Wall ruins – not much to see but people practicing their instruments in the tunnels was really cool. I met Matt in the centre, got a bit lost but got some deep fried sweet potato chips that where incredible!!!!! Tried some of Matt's squid skewer which was chewy and a bit tasteless really, I’ll not bother with that again. There is red powder here that is called Plum Powder - now that is delicious and I will have to try to see if that is available back in the UK on my eventual return.
For all that I am enjoying my freedom there is still a reality that there are strict rules here and penalties for those that break them. Today I saw a poor girl on the Metro get a police ticket for eating – she looked so traumatised and I made a quick get-away!
Decided against going to Junan in the end so now heading off on a 4 hour train journey to Tai'an !