Summer in Nanjing

Relaxing, a photo by hallucygenia on Flickr.

Nanjing is too hot at the moment (over 30 degrees centigrade every day), but fortunately our air conditioning is extremely efficient. Lots of watermelon and cold drinks help too!

We walked from the institute to our apartment along the lake today, and saw lots of people relaxing in hammocks in the shade of the trees beside the lake, and also lots of strolling hammock-sellers. The lake is a good place to keep cool. People tend not to go swimming, but the breeze from the water is very cooling, and there are many trees to give shade.

The lotus blossoms are out, and great stands of them grow all along the edge of the lake. The seeds are eaten, and we see people selling the seed-heads on the street. We haven't tried them yet - will report back when we do!