It is a great pleasure to read your blog. It reminds me of the travelling days with my late husband, he also said the similar words: The food price in China is so cheap.
I like the word "ostensibly" so much. True, it is ostensibly communist nation. Only by experiencing such a huge pain, I understand how I was "cheated" by my own nation and culture.
I believe that it is very difficult to change or accept another kind of culture. In Han nationality's culture system, there's a long history to eat dog. Maybe in western culture, it is a sin.
The world is so big, like a labyrinth.
But it is absolutely wonderful for people to experience the different cultures or religions.