turf! by Jake

Before going to China we had several people tell us that there is not a lot of turf grass in China and the grass that is there is off limits. When we arrived, I was expecting to see two blades of grass locked up behind a fence the whole trip. It turns out there is plenty of turf in China and most of it is heavily guarded. Usually by a sign that reads, "don't trample the grass" or "affection deserves greenness." Or, on instance at the People's Park in Shanghai, a security guard waits along the edges of this huge open space full of turf waiting until two foreigners try to take a step on the lush green grass. Within 3 steps on the grass he blows his whistle and signals us to get back on the path. What fun are paths anyway.