Home watering hole of the dragon.  This is actually the beautiful entrance to a small “shopping mall” in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.  On this day, it was raining so hard that there were zero tourists – just me and my friend Dandan’s father who was taking me to lunch.  I came close to dying here in central China as I inhaled the spices from my mapo tofu and since not one person in the restaurant spoke English, it was some time before I was given rice help me get my breath back – teaching me the valuable lesson NOT to use water next time, but rice when in distress!  I did see my entire life flash before me and thought it ironic to die in such a happy circumstance.  I DID continue to finish my exquisite meal once recovered.