China 2018

About My Journey

People ask me all the time what it’s like to go to China so I thought I would approach it a little differently with this blog and share aspects that made this trip so memorable with the hopes that it will give you a little insight through my eyes. Perhaps one day you will join me on this crazy adventure I call life.

For me, China is sort of like a love hate relationship. I hate it as much as I have love it. The trip is long and arduous, communication in all forms is challenging and for the most part, I don’t love the food. (Let it be known I prefer Americanized Chinese food. I do realize that makes me the epitome of an American.) Once I am there, there are many things that are really great. I have seen and experienced things I will never be able to anywhere else in the world and my trips continue to expand my view of the world outside of my bubble, good and bad.

he most beautiful day

My goal for this trip was to visit the Great Wall of China to check off another bucket list item. And though our plans were loose, somehow we chose the absolute most beautiful day. This day the weather was the best it had been since we arrived. we were given a little reprieve from the heat and humidity with clouds and an amazing breeze. It was like mother nature was giving us a little kiss everytime the breeze kicked in.

From Beijing there are many places where the wall is open to the public, the most popular places are the ones closest to the city. Even before the experience at the Forbidden City, I knew that the site I wanted to visit to be further away where there are still original, non-reconstructed Wall. This pick would put us 2 hours out of the Beijing where the tourists were sparse and the sites were amazing. I can not imagine a better location for our trek.

Arriving on the site and seeing the Wall up close was one of the most overwhelming experiences of my life. The Great Wall was more than I could have ever imagined. Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. My breath was literally taken away and I almost started crying. I can not even begin to describe what it was like; I am unclear I even know how. People say you can not understand the Grand Canyon until you are actually standing at the edge and looking down into it. Having been to the Grand Canyon I would agree with that statement. And the experience at the Wall was similar but in a bigger way. Perhaps it is because at the GC you CAN get a sense of how big it is. Whereas the Wall was absolutely Unbelievably large. Looking in both directions as far as the eye can see is about 12miles (so they say). And standing there imagining FIVE THOUSAND MILES! Mind blown.

The Great Wall of China was more than anything I had ever hoped for. A once in a lifetime experience. Check!

A Perspective

This trip would prove to be different from my previous travels as I gained a new perspective on so many things. My travel companions would show me that perspective. Enjoying my surroundings in a different manner than I have before. Taking more time out to just sit and to be in our space but with a drink became something that I would actually enjoy. As much as we had a schedule, I was relieved to know that we did not have to fill every waking minute. Despite the schedule we were not obligated to fulfill every aspect of it. Mind blown!

Interactions with locals is another reason why I travel. From these interactions I continue to gain more insight to the world beyond what is reported on the news and what we see on the internet. It is in these conversations that things come to life and are real. Some of the most memorable conversations were with our translators. Jocelyn who seemed as interested in us as we were in her and was completely star struck when she found out that she had met someone who worked for NASA (Emily), that she squeeled in delight, truly. She was so impressed, saying that she had never met anyone from NASA before.

Another was with Rafi how was born and raised in Hong Kong yet he was not really a Chinese citizen because his parents were immigrants. These kinds of conversations about foreign government just absolutely spins my idealist American perspective. As much as I am critical of some of these kinds of policies, hard to believe it took going out of the country to learn about some American policies. Like the weird rule that says an Australian traveling through China to the US needs a Visa! Had they traveled directly to the US, they don’t need a visa. What??

Bonzai trees at Chi Lin Nunnery

I never know what I will discover on a trip. What I do expect is that I always come home a little more educated. My world view is a little wider.

Some Quieter Spaces

Orchid Garden

I guess these 3 found a "quiet" place for a nap. They were sleeping for about 30min!

Despite it all

On this day, Sunday, lined up, very orderly along one side of the pathway were women. Hundreds of women on cardboard boxes seemingly just hanging out. This is a public walkway in Hong Kong used to get across busy intersections. I was told that they were homeless, but it seemed so odd, they were ALL very clean, on cell phones, put together and looked like working people. Some were grouped, eating, conversing, playing cards, simply communing. While others were on their own in spaces that were delineated by the size of their cardboard box. Just hanging, primping, talking on the cell phones doing fairly innocuous things.

Who were these people? Why were they here? I just couldn’t accept the fact that they were “just” homeless people. ?. Not only were they in this passage but they were on the sidewalks below for several blocks.

And the local government tolerated this every night? Didn’t seem right. I was even more confused when we returned a few days later and there was not a single person on the ground. This could not be right.

So when I got home I did a little research on the internet and discovered that they were immigrant home workers on their day off. Sunday is a regulated, mandatory day off for these workers. And in a sense, they ARE homeless, because during the week they live in people’s homes taking care of the household and children. But with no home of their own, every Sunday these people gather in these corridors, parks and streets for respite. If only for a few hours.

I am in awe.

Dumplings Anyone?

We took an afternoon to learn how to make dumplings. This informal class at a local's apartment not only gave us a taste for homemade dumplings, but an insight to life in Hong Kong. I am never happy to have to share my time with other "tourists". I was happy to be wrong about these people I assumed were tourists. (Right? Why would locals take a dumpling class?) We were joined by a Hong Kong immigrant, Indian family. It turned out that one of the sons was home from London on holiday and wanted to do something fun. Especially since his mother failed at making dumplings just weeks before. In the end, they gave more insight on the Hong Kong culture as the sons were both born and raised in HK. They were happy to converse with on such diverse topics as politics, culture and food. It is moments like these that I continue to travel. To be able to enjoy the diversity in the world.

The Wet Market

As part of the dumpling class we visited a "wet market". Basically an outdoor market where you can get groceries.

Why the difference in carrots? One is locally grow and one is imported.

Tofu vendor

So Many Temples, So Little Time

After my trips to Thailand I thought I have had enough of temples, but for some reason temples are still seductive to me.

I had no idea there were so many temples left in China. The main difference between temples in China and those I have been to before was the scale. Every temple we visited were on properties that were sprawling and vast. Additionally all of the properties had multiple temples on them unlike others I have seen. The most uninteresting fact, between the temples seemed to be a consistent architecture, art and design; they were all seemingly the same. Which gave me a bigger appreciation for the diversity of temples in Thailand.

After about 4 temples, the challenge for me was to find temples that would separate itself from the “standard". And though they were so similar, I am still drawn to seeing as many as I could.

Fang Xexuan Temple, Beijing

Fang Xexuan Temple, Beijing

Temple of Heaven (I think, they are all looking alike.)

Temple of Heaven, Beijing

Temple of Heaven, Beijing

Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family, Guanzhou

Tian Tan Temple, Hong Kong

I Travel to Eat

There is a lot of truth to that statement. When I travel I take advantage of what I am lacking in Ohio, culinary diversity. Though they say that Cleveland is one of the most diverse cities in the country, it does not mean that the food is any good. Yes, you can get everything from Indian to Polish food here, but it is all so watered down. And even though I may not love Chinese food in China, I do enjoy the food that choose to eat there.

My love affair with noodles, dumplings and snails were all fulfilled on this trip. Some better than others. Disappointingly was the lack of street food on this trip, though I did find some. Most importantly was they got in my tummy!

Like all trips I have taken overseas with my friends, at some point they find their limit with the local food and at some point we will find ourselves at a more “continental” restaurant. I am just happy to report that this time fast food chains were NOT involved. Phew.

The Show

The Hong Kong Gem and Jewellery show is considered the 2^nd largest show of its kind in the world. Because of its size it is held in two venues 40 minutes apart (Asia-World Expo and Hong Kong Convention Center). Without much expectations we headed for the Asia-World Expo where there is supposed to be Gems and Pearls. And well, let me just say, wow. Having been to the Bangkok show (3^rd in the world) I did not expect this show to be so big. It is one thing to read about it but it quite another to be there.

The big difference between this show and Tucson (the largest show in the world) was the quality. The Hong Kong show was a huge step-up in quality. Here we found piles and piles of high end pearls; and Rows and rows of diamonds and fancy gem stones some worth over a million dollars for one piece. Among all of the loose gemstones for sale were finished jewelry pieces and giftware. One of the best things we found but didn’t buy were cashmere scarves. It was one of the most amazing things I had ever touched in my life. It was definitely the Rolls Royce of cashmere, I think I have been ruined for life. Then there were the tools; you know the ones that cost about $10k, take up an entire room and we all drool to have but can’t seem to justify, yeah, those tools. At least was allowed to play with one.

We walked away with very little by way of product as most of the show was order only. But I would do it again for the experience and exposure to a whole new world I never imagined.

Impressive temporary "showrooms" on the show floor.

The Crush

I am pretty sure I had already come to this conclusion previously, but again by day 2 of the trip I concluded that I could never live in such a place. Holy cow, the possibility of a peaceful sanctuary just seemed impossible.

The crush of people was sometimes maddening. Despite being in China already for some 13 days, finding ourselves in the middle of rush hour in the Hong Kong subway system was completely suffating. I actually surprised myself when I found myself not handling it well. I simply don’t remember ever feeling so crowded despite this being my 7^th trip to Asia.

Popular tourist sites were so overwrought with people. The fact that I was able to get shots without people in them is a testament to my patience and the ladies I was traveling with, as they were willing to hang around until I got my shot. Everywhere we went people were fighting for their shot and unabashedly so. It was unbelievable seeing the rush of people across the courtyard at The Forbidden City when the gates opened. I could only assume that these people were running to be the first there to get their picture.

How everything changes in time. This time, there were less bikes than before and public rental bikes were all over the city.

Night life in Hong Kong.

My Obsession with Flowers

If you have been following me long enough, I am pretty sure it has become clear that I am obsessed with taking pictures of pretty flowers. Why? Because I don't have to ask them to stay still or smile nice. But mostly because I have this crazy idea that IF I am ever going to capture the most perfect, professional image of my life it will be with a flower as my subject.

More Images

I had so much fun playing with my camera trying to get the perfect shot. I was able to pull some off while others were just meh.
Have a look here.