We met TC and Kaoru at the New World Vegetarian Restaurant in Oakland
before the show. TC just had jaw surgery so he could not eat anything more
solid than tofu. We started off with soup and Mushroom Delight (which TC
skipped since it was fried instead of soft and squishy). For entrees,
we ordered Bok Choy and Mushrooms, Eggplant, and Vegetarian "Fish". I offered
TC my portion of fish since he couldn't chew the Bok Choy and Mushrooms.
The vegetarian fish flaked like normal fish and a taste reminiscent of
the ocean. We asked the waitress what it was made of. She claimed that
it was soy and wheat gluten. The oceanic hint must be from the seaweed
which wrapped the "fish" cakes.
We barely made it to the show in time. Randy and I have seen the
Peking Acrobats before. Their acts vary each year with some favorites remaining
as stables. The show started off with a lion dance that ended with performers
flipping into the "saddle" of the lion. Other acts include a performer
doing somersaults while balancing a tall flag pole, a lady balancing bowls
on her head and twirling rings on her arms and one foot while riding a
unicycle with the other foot, a pagoda of chairs with a performer doing
handstands on top, and another pagoda of benches. Contortionists wriggled
themselves grotesquely in and out of long thin tubes. In the bicycle peacock
act, more than a dozen people piled on top of a moving bicycle (we figured
this is what people normally do for mass-transit in China - kidding!).
The finale had one performer (the hub) holding up more than a dozen people
in an accordian formation. Even if they think they have to warn us, I doubt
if any of us will ever try these tricks at home!
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