Some days Facebook seems pretty mundane and boring. But then, every once in a while, a conversation like this takes flight … and keeps me coming back.
On Bolo Ties … and How They Can Redeem Facebook.
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China 2012 – Rumination #4 – On Air Quality, Cleanliness
Travelling to a developing country as populous as China, we were fully prepared to adjust our expectations when it came to cleanliness of public spaces. What we discovered in our three weeks there, at ground level at least, pleasantly surprised both of us.
China 2012 – Rumination #2 – On Freedom
At times while travelling in China, it’s easy to forget that the people here do not enjoy the same kind of freedoms as we do. But then, throughout the day, little things happen to snap you back to reality.
China 2012 – Day 16 – Chengdu to Chonqing, River Cruise, Chinese Cultural “Memory,” Population Density
Day 16 was once again a transition/travel day.  We drove to the bullet train station, and Kevin accompanied us right on to the train – an unnecessary but appreciated gesture. Before we bid him goodbye, we had the chance to talk to him about his future plans. While he expressed an interest in travelling some day, he also said he was resolved to remain in China and make the best of it, saying he hoped he would live to see it become a better place. For his sake, and for the sake of everyone else we met there, I certainly hope he’s right.
China 2012 – Day 15 – Pandas
This day was mostly dedicated to visiting the Panda Research Centre in Chengdu. I hadn’t been sure what kind of access tourists would have to the pandas themselves, but the facility is set up so that the pandas’ feeding stations are only two or three meters from the visitors, so there are plenty of opportunities for viewing their behaviour and for taking pictures.
China 2012 – Day 14 – Mt. Emei
Once again, our streak of lucky weather continued, since we woke up to clear sunny skies, a good omen for being able to see some scenery at the top of Mt. Emei, our only destination for the day (photos). Mount Emei is one of the four holy mountains in Chinese Buddhism. The day began with a winding bus ride up the side of the mountain. Kevin had warned us that the roads were very narrow, but I don’t think they were any worse than, say, the Going to the Sun Road in Waterton/Glacier. We told Kevin of the old days of riding rickety shuttle buses up the one-way roads to Sunshine ski resort. When he asked if we didn’t have cable cars in Canada, we had to confess just how many years ago that had been.
China 2012 – Day 13 Chengdu to Leshan & Mt. Emei (On Modern China, Buddhism, …)
While the street noises below us had continued fairly late into the evening, once the shops and stands closed down, the streets became amazingly quiet. Because there was no automobile traffic, the only passersby were on foot. Our bed was the softest so far in China, which may not be saying much, as the standard bed is very firm. Other than the lumpy bed, we’d had in Zhengzhou, though, we had slept just fine so far, and this night was no exception. I’m sure some would find Chinese hotel beds uncomfortable. Certainly, when we’d checked Tripadvisor.com before we’d left many reviewers there had commented on the beds.
China 2012 – Day 12 – Zhengzhou to Chengdu (On Chinese Regional Airlines, The Chinese and Rules)
After a night on a lumpy bed and mysterious Mandarin phone calls waking us in the night, insult was added to injury when we discovered our toilet no longer flushed (It hadn’t flushed all that well to begin with). We assessed the situation and decided, given that no one in the hotel spoke a word of English, our chances of getting that situation dealt with were slim to none, so resolved to stop trying to flush it before it overflowed and just make the best of it.
China 2012 – Day 11 – Shaolin Temple, Yellow River
During our trip, many of the people we met asked us if we were going to Guilin. Apparently it’s a beautiful spot. But, even though it had been on our original itinerary, we weren’t going to Guilin. Why? Because I had decided that if I only made it to China once in my life, I wanted to see the Shaolin Temple, the legendary home of martial arts in China. So Guilin had fallen victim to this addition to the itinerary. In fact, the past three days of sightseeing had all been set up because of this diversion.
China 2012 – Day 10 – Longmen Grottoes, Star Watching Observatory, Songyang Academy
Our guide had told us that many people did their morning exercise in the park across from our hotel in Luoyang, so after we were done breakfast, we wandered across the street to check that out.  What we encountered was one of those glimpses into another culture that are all too rare on these trips.  People of all ages were busy with all sorts of activities, most of them in large groups.  Some were doing traditional dances, others modern dances.  Elderly people were practicing Tai Chi, and performing routines with swords and fans.  One odd dude was even practicing his bullwhip while drawing on a cigarette. Another group was singing.  This was a neat glimpse into the social lives of people who otherwise live their lives in apartments. (photos)
China 2012 – Day 9 – Xi’an to Luoyang
This was a transition/travel day, but we still had one more stop before leaving Xi’an, the ancient city wall. Xi’an has the most completely intact city wall of any city in China. The original wall was 26 Km long and built in 194 B.C. The current structure dates from the Ming Dynasty (1370 A.D.), and its 13.7 kilometres circle the central city, with entry points at the four primary gates facing each of the four directions of the compass.
China 2012 – Day 8 – Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Terracotta Warriors, Muslim Street
The main attraction for Day 8 was the Terracotta Warriors, but our first stop on the way was the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. (And, yes, if you’re wondering, there is a Small Wild Goose Pagoda.) Â The Wild Goose Pagoda is best know as the ultimate destination for the famous monk, Xuanzang, who, concerned with that the Chinese understanding of Buddhist scripture was inaccurate and incomplete, set out to correct this by embarking on a seventeen-year odyssey to India to retrieve scriptures and relics. On his return to China, he settled in Xi’an (then Chang’an) and spent years translating the scripture. Originally built in 652, the pagoda itself was used to house these scriptures and relics (photos). Over the years it has suffered some pillaging and the ravages of earthquakes, so, much like Pisa’s Leaning Tower, it now lists several degrees off-plumb toward the west. (photos)
China 2012 – Rumination #1 – The Eight Precepts of Chinese Tourist Photography
I hope this doesn’t come across as petty or small-minded. Â I’m amused by this behaviour, but not in a bitter way. In fact, at certain times, like climbing The Great Wall, it provided some much needed relief and cheer.
So here goes:
China 2012 – Day 7 – Fly to Xi’an, Hanyang Tombs, Bell Tower
Day 7 was a transition day; we were to fly to Xi’an, the home of the Terracotta Warriors.
Most of the tourists at our hotel in Beijing were German tourists, so we hadn’t spent a lot of time visiting with other folks at breakfast. Â On this last morning, though, we happened to sit with an American professor from North Carolina whose specialty was Chinese history (“only the last 500 years”). Â He had begun his travels to China back in the early seventies, when he had brought his young family here and had returned many times since with groups of students.