Clean Ears

One legend about Dujiangyan is that the flood control and irrigation system meant that the people of the Sichuan plain could depend on a source of water and that meant their lives became easier.  This led them into a relaxed lifestyle, particularly to a life of drinking tea.

Waiting for the train back to Chengdu, Onions and I took some time to drink tea and then were approached......

...to have our ears cleaned.

Onions always complains that my ears stink, so I went for it....even though I was a bit apprehensive.

This is what came out.....(it's an ashtray for perspective).  GROSS.

The tools needed to clean your ears.

First step, which feels really nice is that you get the hair around your ear shaved off.  Then he goes in and scrapes around and loosens any wax.  After that, he uses tweezers to go in a pick out what needs to come out.

Then with a fluff ball, he dusts anyway anything that is particle size.

Lastly, the fluff ball goes back IN and he hits a big tuning fork and then sets it on the wire and the ball vibrates while he spins the ball of fluff.  It feels weird.  But, I do have to admit that my ears felt distinctly clean when all was done.  I could definitely tell that my ears were colder and more air was getting inside.

Lastly, Sichuan cuisine.  Notice that EVERYTHING has a red sauce.  They like their food SPICY.  I don't like spicy food. 

Let's just say that when I see red, I eat with caution and ever meal in Sichuan (other than western cuisine) I took small, tentative bites.