The sweet potato menace

I'm sure you think the title is abit odd. How is the sweet potato a mennace? What wrong can it do? Is it some sort of intruisive plant species? Well, no. It's simple that i ave found myself eating about two a day. They are so warm, and the weather is so called. But i seem to continutally gorge myself on sweet potatos. Case in point, tonight i had lunch...and then a sweet potato. And guess, what. After dinner i had another one, this time it was nearly a 1 pounder. When will the sweet potato stop calling to me, begging me to eat it even when i'm not hungry? At least i suppose it's a better snack than other things, got my fiber, a bunch-o vities. Maybe if i cut it down to one a day i wouldn't feel like such an oinker.

Now on to a completely topic. Over the past weekend i went to visit the Puppet Emperor's Palace (伪皇宫）。This is the Palace Emperor Puyu (溥仪) occupied during the Japanese occupation of Northeast China during the 30's and 40's. I won't get into much of the history, both because i'll probably get it wrong, and becasue i think you all should come to China and see the place for yourself. Oh, how convenient, while you at it you can visit me too!

Moving on, i actually thought this place was more visually pleasing than the Forbidden City. Almost everything appears to be in a more original condition. You can actually get a feel for that time period in China history while you're there. It simple has not been fixed up to a point which would take away from the original feel and atmosphere.


In addition, which makes the palace visit even better, there is a pretty descent exibit onsite detailing the events of the Japanese Invasion of the North East. I have never been to a Holocaust Museum, but i believe this to be the Chinese version of a Holocaust Museum. Even upon entering you are struck with awe, not only by the rather solemn atmosphere, but also by the fact the it seems to be the only place in China with proper english translations. You realize this as soon as you walk in as there two giant characters with read "勿忘“ and it is translated (as far as i know)perfectly into 6 different languages. This is the only place in China that i have seen this sort of effeciency of translation. The rest of the transaltions are just as good, far better than those in the palace, and even the forbidden city. Although i will say the translations toned down the original message quite a bit.

This was the other interesting point about the museum, it really let you know how the Chinese felt about the Japanese at the time (i'm reserving all comments about the present situation/feelings for quite conversation over coffee). They do hold a little bit back in English, but the Chinese (from what i can understand of it) really does a good job of illustratring the sentiments of the period. I do wonder what the Japanese translation says...ｈｍｍｍ？？

eh, so to sum it up...i got to quit eating all those damn deviously delish, mind, body and soul warming sweet potatos, Changchun has a pretty cool palace you should see, and fianlly if you come to china you trip just won't be as fulfilling if you don't visit the Japanese Occupation Museum.