Jazz Festival

It was before 7 am when I woke up on Saturday, strangely enough eager than ever over the week to start the day. I had a sleep over at some friends' place... the morning sun was paving the floor through the large window. I picked a book, it was China Travel Guide... I opened the Tibet page. Hope to go there one of these days.

We did some yoga, following the women on the tape, laughing half way, since the translation into Russian was quite funny - too direct... and still sweating stretching our bodies. It's killing... the yoga... especially if you do not stretch for ages... I should do it more.

We were off into the city after breakfast, heading to the tea market. On the way in taxi I had time to let my imagination grow and make a picture of the tea market life. Chaotic and maybe unorganized, huge souks with green leaves and old ladies thrusting in their fingers to get a handful of what will go into the teapot for a probe.

It was completely different though, as many things in China that I tend to underestimate. Many separated rooms, clean, well thought, equipped with all necessary tools for pleasant and long tea testing. It is quite time consuming, I would say, one bunch of leaves can last for 10 times of brewing and it gives slightly different taste every time. Sellers like to talk about their type of tea and it is quite interesting to listen if you know Chinese or have someone who can translate. I had, so we went through several rooms, drinking maybe 20 cups in total.

I like tea ceremony, I have never thought of doing one myself. Well, after this visit to the market I am proud to admit I have everything for a basic amateur tea ceremony.

Since Monday I was dreaming of Jazz Festival. It started on Friday and is going for three days in the park not that far from where I live. We walked there, watching streets and people, feeling the energy tea gave us. The tickets were sold out. Ha? How could that be, there should be one left for me, or three left for us, since we really wanted to go... Well, the music was heard outside the park, so we walked around catching the smooth sounds. And then we have found it. The entrance that did not require the tickets. Just a fence, low and unguarded, it was just impossible not to jump over it. So we did. Heading towards the lights of the stage I was thinking that this was a perfect cooperation of initially contradicting facts which makes me happy and does not make anyone else unhappy - since they got all expected profits anyway.
The place was crowded, but not as much as at Natura concert in Iceland when the Bjork was announced to sing. People set on the grass, some danced.

There were Chinese bands, playing instrumental jazz first, followed by female solo singers.
Very deep, again unexpectedly nice voices. The light was soft under the lantern we set. My friend pulled a book by Richard Bach. I watched the fireworks behind the stage. A girl on stage swing softly with the rime, her voice hanging in the night air.