tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3714884181378997622024-02-20T03:49:08.000-05:00New Perspectives...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-15918425035609675122012-10-01T21:54:00.004-04:002012-10-01T21:54:52.378-04:0018 Months...a Whirlwind Tour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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18 months since I last posted on my blog <a href="http://www.watchorlive.blogspot.com/">www.watchorlive.blogspot.com</a>! So. Shameful. How did that happen? I don't have access to Blogger when I'm in China for work (80% of the time) and until this month, I didn't even pay for wireless in my apartment in Michigan! But now, I've re-joined the world, and all of you.<br />
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What's been going on, you ask? Last year I started a new job with my same company! I've been at it for 18 months now, launching a new plant in Shanghai. It's challenging. Boy, is it challenging! But such a valuable experience, (not to mention a resume-builder). I have another 6-12 months on the project before I need to move on to my next step.<br />
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This past year and a half have been exciting and very eventful! A brother got married, my boyfriend came to Asia for the first time, I bought a house, my car burned down, I went to a couple new countries, grew to love a new city (obviously I'm referring to Shanghai here, and not Jackson, MI), and most importantly: I finally got to my 1K status on United Airlines! Well, maybe not the most important, but definitely makes the trips a bit more comfortable.<br />
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It's time to share a couple of the highlights of what's been going on via photos! Why don't we work backwards!?<br />
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August 2012: Mom and Soeren made it to China! Here we are at Tian Tan (The Temple of Heaven)<br />
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We also got to stay in Yang Shuo (Guilin) for a couple of nights and the scenery was fantastic! Just what we needed for a few days out of the city.<br />
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July 2012: I took a long weekend for the 4th of July and got to see Soeren in Europe. We did our weekend in Vienna (because tickets were cheap to that airport) and got to dip over to Bratislava, Slovakia for a day ask well!</div>
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May 2012: A trip home to go to my little brother's wedding! He married a gal named Kera and they are in the middle of living happily ever after with their furry child, Cyrus.</div>
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April 2012: I had a special 3-day weekend away from Shanghai in CAMBODIA with my favorite new gal, Kate! We hit up Phnom Phen and Siem Reap and had a weekend full of beautiful sights, lots of sweat and many, many cheap massages.<br />
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Christmas 2011 and New Years 2012 in Beaufort, SC, spending time with the people I love!<br />
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December 2011: Right before I went home from Asia for Christmas, I stopped in Seoul, Korea to see my little sister!<br />
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November 2011: A weekend in Florida doing all things coastal!<br />
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Sometime in fall 2011: Visits to Beijing to see some of the best buds! </div>
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AND we bumped into Ai Weiwei while boating in Beijing's Chaoyang park!<br />
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September 2011: Visit to see Soeren in Germany with visits to castles, Stuttgart, and Heidelberg!<br />
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July 2011: Summer in Beaufort, SC with some of my favorite people visiting! It was Soeren's first time on a wind surfer. Show-off!<br />
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June 2011: Visiting those same buds in Pittsburgh was like a little piece of heaven. Definitely good for the soul!<br />
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March 2011: I started my new job and the JW Marriott in Shanghai became my new home-away-from-home, and I started really exploring the city!</div>
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I'm gonna call that whirlwind tour through the last 18 months a wrap! Hopefully I can get into more knitty gritty topics later on now that the update is out of the way! I missed you all- it's been too long! Good to see you again :)</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-30014403413983653632010-04-08T04:36:00.001-04:002010-04-08T04:37:50.341-04:00OK, so it's not the end...I don't live in China for the time being, so it felt strange to write on a blog address called "Experiencing China." Here's where you can read all my posts, both new and old!<br /><br /><a href=" http://watchorlive.blogspot.com/"><br />http://watchorlive.blogspot.com/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-59017969739865193502009-05-17T12:58:00.006-04:002009-05-17T13:26:33.045-04:00The End!I've left Beijing and I don't know when I'll be back...and that is so hard to say out loud. Leaving Beijing was one of the toughest and most emotional things I've done in a long time. An intense outpouring of love from my friends made me realize how much I loved the city, the people I met there, and how I had more friends in that city than in any other single location in the world. As Rory reminded me, <span style="font-weight:bold;">"Don't be sad that it's over, just be glad that it happened!"</span> We are all made of different chapters, and they open and close with the flow of life. My Beijing chapter has just finished, but I know that China will always beckon me back and I will find time for it again and again. Thank you, thank you, thank you to China, Beijing and every person that I have grown to know and love there! I can't wait to see you all again!<br /><br />For now I am closing the "Experiencing China" blog, as I would be doing it injustice because I am no longer living there. I graduated with an International MBA degree and accepted my first job in the United States. However, it is with a global company so I will definitely be able to enjoy various cultures and seek out the new perspectives that so often drove this blog. As an ending note, I've included some of the graduation pictures. So long for now, it sure has been fun sharing life with all of you! 再见朋友们!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHjPPQQeVojQQxOtKl-EhCTHSACF1SFCtlobo9bt4r03DGjOzXP7d-8uxPJc9ZtgeuD1urLEP4TOWyefpq5TmxqvMEzXTHPFUvBJDhGTcf-Loc-s8e3skP44jzfYTYf3fuQH2JtrPvM-0/s1600-h/Chinese+trackers.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHjPPQQeVojQQxOtKl-EhCTHSACF1SFCtlobo9bt4r03DGjOzXP7d-8uxPJc9ZtgeuD1urLEP4TOWyefpq5TmxqvMEzXTHPFUvBJDhGTcf-Loc-s8e3skP44jzfYTYf3fuQH2JtrPvM-0/s400/Chinese+trackers.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336841773231210642" /></a><br />These are most of my classmates that did the Chinese track of the IMBA!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHr59YtUYdxtwhWpQp9wLW5Rc_3mNdBV1QvFB7n2ilFjcc6Uxuai8__q7LRuAdBWx9wPxsm59nYpW6ZJ1_gSfnwtIeVD0KereqiiYZyWcNl60w-XqlnuJ912_vh_NmOQ9BayQdIunIlQJ/s1600-h/DSCN0818.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHr59YtUYdxtwhWpQp9wLW5Rc_3mNdBV1QvFB7n2ilFjcc6Uxuai8__q7LRuAdBWx9wPxsm59nYpW6ZJ1_gSfnwtIeVD0KereqiiYZyWcNl60w-XqlnuJ912_vh_NmOQ9BayQdIunIlQJ/s400/DSCN0818.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336842313766281314" /></a><br />My Family (minus Kelsey)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizW1xAx5PKpXsMfI-aXeWoVeN3sCV_sgrcv5Cge_xm8tIfjMHgLHDqa6Nj0XplDG9qPS9jbaIpuVMOXskkpcakZARiuL5hyeL5jLuRxVADVxCh3Fuk1564CEfkL_h7IZ4udAXGdd5whkce/s1600-h/DSCN0802.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizW1xAx5PKpXsMfI-aXeWoVeN3sCV_sgrcv5Cge_xm8tIfjMHgLHDqa6Nj0XplDG9qPS9jbaIpuVMOXskkpcakZARiuL5hyeL5jLuRxVADVxCh3Fuk1564CEfkL_h7IZ4udAXGdd5whkce/s400/DSCN0802.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336842576182616482" /></a><br />And my Aunt and dear friend Courtney that also trekked to Columbia to watch the graduation!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-25050988526849865082009-05-13T20:31:00.011-04:002009-05-13T20:53:10.909-04:00End of April 2009 in BeijingThe end of April in Beijing brought with it beautiful weather and fun outside! First stop: Boating with Rory and the gang!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5riZXk2l7Ok0w7IJIfx5CjULNcHuTQkTpPVdLZIk1hssasjtru61TUm02vVdCea5s0EnDzeN2eajkkt90OW8_yAfmjAJ8bdB9dZOVBJhGNMSHRsDPN1cbmRuLRFHFClW_FY3yFDL0JmVD/s1600-h/SM_2_boating.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5riZXk2l7Ok0w7IJIfx5CjULNcHuTQkTpPVdLZIk1hssasjtru61TUm02vVdCea5s0EnDzeN2eajkkt90OW8_yAfmjAJ8bdB9dZOVBJhGNMSHRsDPN1cbmRuLRFHFClW_FY3yFDL0JmVD/s400/SM_2_boating.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335472622868265554" /></a><br />We got 10 people on the electric boat!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vJQlr6v0eBuD5XMwrZDKLa8JX_OTuU9P2o56lA9fEK7o3mx_bDls2EwW5y1Yw7g84l8_fu24odlPcn3sOjfF9KrZnQkyTEKJQI3fP70-C_CcMhGSIi1at_4Wmk8fEmvZdzkYGQNNTm-m/s1600-h/SM_2_boating2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vJQlr6v0eBuD5XMwrZDKLa8JX_OTuU9P2o56lA9fEK7o3mx_bDls2EwW5y1Yw7g84l8_fu24odlPcn3sOjfF9KrZnQkyTEKJQI3fP70-C_CcMhGSIi1at_4Wmk8fEmvZdzkYGQNNTm-m/s400/SM_2_boating2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335472927198422754" /></a><br />And puttered around the lakes in Houhai, all is green in Beijing!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGd2AoC6s0QmlT3pbqrSZwYjNe2_rvTB19wmXLzQM9DF3JwXplkZllHrDRnNLx7_9nxlF2SukpdMlMC4KeREcunYtfv3ki8pBcKCeBRweMgDP3adxYJ7M-zN2RFTBVKlzOUZjaCFFKXeU/s1600-h/SM_2_houhai.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGd2AoC6s0QmlT3pbqrSZwYjNe2_rvTB19wmXLzQM9DF3JwXplkZllHrDRnNLx7_9nxlF2SukpdMlMC4KeREcunYtfv3ki8pBcKCeBRweMgDP3adxYJ7M-zN2RFTBVKlzOUZjaCFFKXeU/s400/SM_2_houhai.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335473224804522354" /></a><br />It was also my last month to enjoy some of the favorite Chinese foods! This is what a typical spicy soup for Hot Pot looks like! You cook the raw meat and vegetables in the red pot, dip it in the peanut sauce in the front and enjoy! Mmmm.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUAHWUieaNRLPYde5LxpwRZCf7qNzI4UWsSJf6Yzx_mZx9jTXmxpOLhh8eZqk2__97xt9UWmvlux4xvcUgbke0eXMXS3Jj2ak1gW1ECugqigStHEc7XJN7uOcmK5t8i9vda1WOS_KsG6_/s1600-h/SM_2_hotpot.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUAHWUieaNRLPYde5LxpwRZCf7qNzI4UWsSJf6Yzx_mZx9jTXmxpOLhh8eZqk2__97xt9UWmvlux4xvcUgbke0eXMXS3Jj2ak1gW1ECugqigStHEc7XJN7uOcmK5t8i9vda1WOS_KsG6_/s400/SM_2_hotpot.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335473922805914594" /></a><br />Rory's adopted Chinese family also invited us for a lovely homemade dinner!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbdMx9ibhcY6rhJ4jFkG4BI01sgazQnZc-7uYKaSaHujYUajR4x33VznSRN-EtoSoBawgqNVmCaPTRWROveymox2fm5gWlZi3kEQQIt5l-i9Y-SeX-NbCut8LBfUBLJBuGOwKNg13sKvt/s1600-h/SM_2_chinesefamily.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbdMx9ibhcY6rhJ4jFkG4BI01sgazQnZc-7uYKaSaHujYUajR4x33VznSRN-EtoSoBawgqNVmCaPTRWROveymox2fm5gWlZi3kEQQIt5l-i9Y-SeX-NbCut8LBfUBLJBuGOwKNg13sKvt/s400/SM_2_chinesefamily.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335474515339506898" /></a><br />And last but not least...flowers! Everything started blooming so it was time to trek out to the many parks in Beijing and take pictures with the flowers!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQc1HSUzEcbChHwgV1yqvKRZ3ZaZP6B6M10hSDtWfcrPYyItGYENfWnjJeZn2acGMrLsxJ6v23b76a583POGjV7ar8VhgCMDHQOTeA7MlEjTSVSrqiOxBUPFtXACoUvxiJToMJYgyxZAos/s1600-h/SM_2_flowers.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQc1HSUzEcbChHwgV1yqvKRZ3ZaZP6B6M10hSDtWfcrPYyItGYENfWnjJeZn2acGMrLsxJ6v23b76a583POGjV7ar8VhgCMDHQOTeA7MlEjTSVSrqiOxBUPFtXACoUvxiJToMJYgyxZAos/s320/SM_2_flowers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335475866019877186" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyiQo38vZ9vE1Zm18XWOZ7OCCO96WgnXn4K4F9ZAQHsHGQ8pUYtckMlP1CT-az5_OufFu1Ng3TRx-Tgq7O46Wqvsp6RUixeelZWuaPUEY12EaAkUUsP6aznWbnwfCacpkEqTBjykWK-Cp/s1600-h/SM_2_park.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyiQo38vZ9vE1Zm18XWOZ7OCCO96WgnXn4K4F9ZAQHsHGQ8pUYtckMlP1CT-az5_OufFu1Ng3TRx-Tgq7O46Wqvsp6RUixeelZWuaPUEY12EaAkUUsP6aznWbnwfCacpkEqTBjykWK-Cp/s320/SM_2_park.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335476181734577282" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-3884916771029730992009-04-17T03:44:00.013-04:002009-04-17T05:05:35.123-04:00Guests in Beijing!In the beginning of April, two friends came to Beijing. John- a first-timer and Adrian- a returnee. I spent the first part of the month seeing Beijing again through the eyes of a newbie. Here are some of the adventures:<br />The group at brunch on Sunday:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRL9BUXiMeLKRo14fa7iv1i4zovfoKcYMiWF9FeEL03BaQy8B9hdsb_itNu5PtKAKROYoRSajr9sHFbTZf4LlKo_JX9S8E5HW2m4LzP1e9mkisRkQ4y2hXTSY0wts-cgn_bHjwCfY05vv/s1600-h/SM_group.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRL9BUXiMeLKRo14fa7iv1i4zovfoKcYMiWF9FeEL03BaQy8B9hdsb_itNu5PtKAKROYoRSajr9sHFbTZf4LlKo_JX9S8E5HW2m4LzP1e9mkisRkQ4y2hXTSY0wts-cgn_bHjwCfY05vv/s400/SM_group.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325563440980292194" /></a><br />With Adrian and John at the Saddle:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nfY5MCGFqHx9QP-06eHFwWsIHrdu7qruqqdLTlx76hyphenhyphen4iNxwDdh8HLvvl895TUsLlAr5hYmT8ugUJwBcRjO1nLx7tQKScJzg4mbCiAlHbQtSyV8G6pGuMAkDA0HfhyphenhyphenIWdme0LRc6LAAG/s1600-h/SM_saddle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nfY5MCGFqHx9QP-06eHFwWsIHrdu7qruqqdLTlx76hyphenhyphen4iNxwDdh8HLvvl895TUsLlAr5hYmT8ugUJwBcRjO1nLx7tQKScJzg4mbCiAlHbQtSyV8G6pGuMAkDA0HfhyphenhyphenIWdme0LRc6LAAG/s400/SM_saddle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325570286832400722" /></a><br />Back at Mutianyu section of the Great Wall:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5IiYr5_mai8z1QEEhuFH4enQ1h-KImkzGQ5-rpf4l3bKO4HIpxNOoMjPAjGAbEwSXDt24wQigiQX3Ufu0l3-_Q9XfKRdG3VTTOgn_AGtzEv4u6yT4Gc_8y_QUGj_Y__HRt9-OhPBGbo3/s1600-h/SM_wall.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5IiYr5_mai8z1QEEhuFH4enQ1h-KImkzGQ5-rpf4l3bKO4HIpxNOoMjPAjGAbEwSXDt24wQigiQX3Ufu0l3-_Q9XfKRdG3VTTOgn_AGtzEv4u6yT4Gc_8y_QUGj_Y__HRt9-OhPBGbo3/s400/SM_wall.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325564226084104850" /></a><br />And coming down the great wall on the toboggan slide:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNT7GIEkEMdbeZW1gLGS-JzAxCOniun5iH2flyRqcMLr__yBlUQdKqvhEBh-0QaW8GpGVnJ3SR3pea9iStu7z3bMmTxeTOW7BDKH3gFnlvIiqzkeZvyJp3OOPtOOQtv4WmK-cihXck2qFx/s1600-h/SM_toboggan.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNT7GIEkEMdbeZW1gLGS-JzAxCOniun5iH2flyRqcMLr__yBlUQdKqvhEBh-0QaW8GpGVnJ3SR3pea9iStu7z3bMmTxeTOW7BDKH3gFnlvIiqzkeZvyJp3OOPtOOQtv4WmK-cihXck2qFx/s400/SM_toboggan.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325564402017552098" /></a><br />At Korean BBQ with Zhangyi:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzEwMr86_CJNbZ0mGhfX83I58VR0G12LsjEk6A3OR2-qPgSPnfKkfZqR8CcQmcmsldVH9npJrlq9ufSDJE1W7GoULb2pAbF9OjNHUIRb8ys1QrjdFcLjk1N9zZfgqTyHd4af5UUPMzlAC/s1600-h/SM_korean+bbq.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzEwMr86_CJNbZ0mGhfX83I58VR0G12LsjEk6A3OR2-qPgSPnfKkfZqR8CcQmcmsldVH9npJrlq9ufSDJE1W7GoULb2pAbF9OjNHUIRb8ys1QrjdFcLjk1N9zZfgqTyHd4af5UUPMzlAC/s400/SM_korean+bbq.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325564750829212114" /></a><br />On Jingshan hill overlooking the forbidden city:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmQfZAvtgKZLsLhZxyIx71hzrSHARqGeLSm_h0-9My_c6WBxUwM2y2neA39L8qxp0ov1Lws92FupoC92hfNRJqicxvJOYoHM_X9vC1y4SCV34A2_tB4zV5lG3l8tOGRGSaqZSWrSOmYFG/s1600-h/SM_forbidden+city.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmQfZAvtgKZLsLhZxyIx71hzrSHARqGeLSm_h0-9My_c6WBxUwM2y2neA39L8qxp0ov1Lws92FupoC92hfNRJqicxvJOYoHM_X9vC1y4SCV34A2_tB4zV5lG3l8tOGRGSaqZSWrSOmYFG/s400/SM_forbidden+city.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325565049805929986" /></a><br />The classic Chinese baby pants...how do they do that potty training so early???<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzss_xmLx9dzdR31NGFfUmPpO-4WUYNcwUqZRK0bFPgjwHLDy75lTCoGLvLWtqb0glbugg7gnfGEejgNoB2zVVlfGAMzhw_nVw_GOxgjqnvG_w6aWE_H-HCI9N4mWBOHqnitxmuB258is/s1600-h/SM_baby+butt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzss_xmLx9dzdR31NGFfUmPpO-4WUYNcwUqZRK0bFPgjwHLDy75lTCoGLvLWtqb0glbugg7gnfGEejgNoB2zVVlfGAMzhw_nVw_GOxgjqnvG_w6aWE_H-HCI9N4mWBOHqnitxmuB258is/s400/SM_baby+butt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325565285260348146" /></a><br />At the 798 Art District, which one am I?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlqhey7FmvV3TnCiskLpZ5yXW8BsZl1w0gS31dfihKmBqmHNqmZyOWTmGG7WXjGzAq2zgRmfk0GPS7tnpbZVHFlGqYFRqUngkAWuK31ajyG6UT20_014owDcAs9UnmnqQq2hCQeaadS0e/s1600-h/SM_798.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlqhey7FmvV3TnCiskLpZ5yXW8BsZl1w0gS31dfihKmBqmHNqmZyOWTmGG7WXjGzAq2zgRmfk0GPS7tnpbZVHFlGqYFRqUngkAWuK31ajyG6UT20_014owDcAs9UnmnqQq2hCQeaadS0e/s400/SM_798.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325565486000428898" /></a><br />The Panjiayuan Antique Market:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQscm9iFGGAPRhn13X4IOlHMEtFATqZH-GMnCu8sumgovUunTG_PlcRAa1kSfc9wYDNhRsOiCXt6Us8vrLYx5tKsVqF4T04xv1ijVtjNLUwUNO-bXBKCG0t8ZfJ8V1EmCfnvLg5lMWud6/s1600-h/SM_teapots.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQscm9iFGGAPRhn13X4IOlHMEtFATqZH-GMnCu8sumgovUunTG_PlcRAa1kSfc9wYDNhRsOiCXt6Us8vrLYx5tKsVqF4T04xv1ijVtjNLUwUNO-bXBKCG0t8ZfJ8V1EmCfnvLg5lMWud6/s200/SM_teapots.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325581699777731026" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6pLKG3Rz2Z7w9G5WT81hcIQvck3kegnENZELrTpJ0D91D7mZyAE-hLsMFyQB7Q4wthYw8yPMPzFvMwdaanPWVE3VrMX4MrgNKo_QYGIBKOi0YvouSFbmT3XiVSbkn7gs2i36rAh7EP9d/s1600-h/SM_pots.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6pLKG3Rz2Z7w9G5WT81hcIQvck3kegnENZELrTpJ0D91D7mZyAE-hLsMFyQB7Q4wthYw8yPMPzFvMwdaanPWVE3VrMX4MrgNKo_QYGIBKOi0YvouSFbmT3XiVSbkn7gs2i36rAh7EP9d/s200/SM_pots.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325582064646177058" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKqlHt-rsYE6-oFPh8P9joGa13MEyFtuCUcuBuhyphenhyphencG70em0_XvXTkb5Qf60DSKOEy2dSeu175QvjgfVh13ch4ypEVaQbPRyzjEkQNOLDpJEB08eeffVreWFcod1hBYfiV3_l4j-ufDU71/s1600-h/SM_antiques.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKqlHt-rsYE6-oFPh8P9joGa13MEyFtuCUcuBuhyphenhyphencG70em0_XvXTkb5Qf60DSKOEy2dSeu175QvjgfVh13ch4ypEVaQbPRyzjEkQNOLDpJEB08eeffVreWFcod1hBYfiV3_l4j-ufDU71/s200/SM_antiques.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325582252949157426" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCx_wG7zE7qYHUDQ8NBF_DbFtn0Up_M0OUAX7YkRnfB6l1YTW6qCpFIM7BtjbTPzECUS8nGD_ePB1TZUte_FdQFlZNt2ovVz1TGjK2CDRMrArBK8oWbwhaELH-jJOi1PXhiI0Ai4oxR4W/s1600-h/SM_baby+boy.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 148px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCx_wG7zE7qYHUDQ8NBF_DbFtn0Up_M0OUAX7YkRnfB6l1YTW6qCpFIM7BtjbTPzECUS8nGD_ePB1TZUte_FdQFlZNt2ovVz1TGjK2CDRMrArBK8oWbwhaELH-jJOi1PXhiI0Ai4oxR4W/s200/SM_baby+boy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325582621414416658" /></a><br />And the good ole Chinese acrobatics!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcffv4IU_Oih1ItjLDqb-AR-IWUSe-Ed5jBAjc6XKrFGb1QUCYIuPktIG4zB7-59upF4RWRe4clHgPjg1BF8a1wG1KhioMGvs60e5vvZDdEw3c-53J043wCYEtUDx4DAaTWTCNkCGUtVbI/s1600-h/SM_acrobats1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcffv4IU_Oih1ItjLDqb-AR-IWUSe-Ed5jBAjc6XKrFGb1QUCYIuPktIG4zB7-59upF4RWRe4clHgPjg1BF8a1wG1KhioMGvs60e5vvZDdEw3c-53J043wCYEtUDx4DAaTWTCNkCGUtVbI/s200/SM_acrobats1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325583308617245410" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSzeryaAcJGzkDkHksjVV2s2VqhyWNMgnWP9DKsoy-1JOn_3O_kiilSXXAIq8iQXg6i36gKUD2250HaeC9Un5guEVVgIJBfUL-Lbx8mPZz49Sj7Y3d7W8HdemFUOqev-I84RBZx15Wsmy/s1600-h/SM_acrobats2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSzeryaAcJGzkDkHksjVV2s2VqhyWNMgnWP9DKsoy-1JOn_3O_kiilSXXAIq8iQXg6i36gKUD2250HaeC9Un5guEVVgIJBfUL-Lbx8mPZz49Sj7Y3d7W8HdemFUOqev-I84RBZx15Wsmy/s200/SM_acrobats2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325583464915089474" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAB5YDj5GI77FAXhGlYWy_3Aea93l10PlZW8lgrYJIZO9jphHZLqZwLfUpPDKMwxco8R2VzuUoq7kJS2gRLYCphgl6dLqJnE0cruaJDXGZn5-EmLjXdu4GAyphO_NUR1LR0-wqDET5NZ1L/s1600-h/SM_acrobats3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAB5YDj5GI77FAXhGlYWy_3Aea93l10PlZW8lgrYJIZO9jphHZLqZwLfUpPDKMwxco8R2VzuUoq7kJS2gRLYCphgl6dLqJnE0cruaJDXGZn5-EmLjXdu4GAyphO_NUR1LR0-wqDET5NZ1L/s200/SM_acrobats3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325583606424510402" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5AFkaFjJJ0yHZkgY2iR_mQh9bA_S9CRIR8iqcuPnQYFWVFVjgV0VSk4NsWTbobmP9_XqfIcEOfona0u0v6w6XCZ9sQKVLmagF8lwn3ey6RSnKJJCJH-7CCeqpLZsOvbz7DU0br1Pyz4c/s1600-h/SM_acrobats4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5AFkaFjJJ0yHZkgY2iR_mQh9bA_S9CRIR8iqcuPnQYFWVFVjgV0VSk4NsWTbobmP9_XqfIcEOfona0u0v6w6XCZ9sQKVLmagF8lwn3ey6RSnKJJCJH-7CCeqpLZsOvbz7DU0br1Pyz4c/s200/SM_acrobats4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325583782436937362" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-13823664146991612822009-03-30T20:21:00.005-04:002009-04-03T07:08:45.114-04:00Good Times in Seoul!<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fsabrown06%2Falbumid%2F5320413313787327169%3Fkind%3Dphoto%26alt%3Drss%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCLXn8qX3-rLiNA" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><br /><br />I went for a long weekend in Seoul to visit my cousin Laura and to add one more Asian place to the list before I move back to the States in May. We did lots of fun stuff, so instead of narrarating it, I like lists! 16 things we did in Seoul:<br /><br />1) Visited Gyeongbokgung Palace: <br />(I realized how much the Koreans borrowed from Chinese as all of the buildings looked just like Beijing's Forbidden City and the titles of each were in Chinese characters.)<br />2) Watched a changing of the guards at the palace<br />3) Ate traditional Korean BBQ: (Mmm Mmm Good! Done over coals in the middle of your table)<br />4) Walked along Insadong street, (fun art and culture pedestrian area)<br />5) Bought great street jewelry! (I like the street jewelry much better than in China. It is original and inexpensive!)<br />6) Ate Korean pancake and powdered rice cubes from the street vendors<br />7) Met up with an old Korean friend that I studied with in Beijing.<br />8) Spent a night at a fancy wine bar. (We don't really have these in Beijing. The wine list was a book!)<br />9) Went to the Dr. Fish cafe where fish give you a pedicure by eating at the skin on the bottom of your feet. Weird!<br />10) Enjoyed Turkish, Thai, Indian and American delights at various restaurants throughout the trip.<br />11) Walked along the Cheonggyecheon Stream that runs south of the palaces while sipping Lattees.<br />12) Went to the large COEX Aquarium (saw my first two-headed turtle)<br />13) Took silly pictures in one of the crazy Asian photo booths<br />14) Enjoyed the plethora of cafes and donut shops on every corner! <br />(No, even more than that, multiples on every block! Who knew the koreans were so into coffee, donuts and belgian waffles?)<br />15) Went to the top of N Seoul Tower to gaze upon the city.<br />16) Toured the National Museum of Korea<br /><br />In summary, a good time was had by all! And thanks to Laura for all the hospitality!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-22892429688638320942009-03-19T08:30:00.010-04:002009-03-22T20:45:14.220-04:00Trip to Guangxi III: Final ThoughtsI wanted to include the last thoughts or pics on the trip to Guilin before I move onto the next thing. Yangshuo's foreigner-hangout and really the only interesting strip in the city is called Xi Jie, or West Street. We went a couple of times for shopping, coffee, etc. Xi Jie at night:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGxYvFosk1K9fwhMKrdgAodXoBLqceUCpxo1-q64zU3UQCDGs1IfJV_SyNOfO71_gWPS_AO_oka6blBQvIE8Jk_IsywBncnZy79VBYNrr5JzaQRXpqWO_u3blVR_l6qBaTaMno7yFpJn3/s1600-h/SM_xijie.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGxYvFosk1K9fwhMKrdgAodXoBLqceUCpxo1-q64zU3UQCDGs1IfJV_SyNOfO71_gWPS_AO_oka6blBQvIE8Jk_IsywBncnZy79VBYNrr5JzaQRXpqWO_u3blVR_l6qBaTaMno7yFpJn3/s400/SM_xijie.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314877865472517490" /></a><br />When you get out of the big cities, you see a lot of interesting vehicles in China. Like these old trucks with exposed engines. They make quite the clanking as they putter down the street and are really only used for trash, landscaping, etc.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzG8LB3FPPAKwtwqKnw2RiKQCaXm0ZXYnkeFtkRF4h7DRfODcV5SjzHiWbKlaX9DwYPW2XNny_lIyC16K9IrR5Cytk6Ki8JDMc-m8miOm5_DRIDwohY4vviqmmIJ4wL14DoBOCBvED5G6/s1600-h/SM_old+truck.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzG8LB3FPPAKwtwqKnw2RiKQCaXm0ZXYnkeFtkRF4h7DRfODcV5SjzHiWbKlaX9DwYPW2XNny_lIyC16K9IrR5Cytk6Ki8JDMc-m8miOm5_DRIDwohY4vviqmmIJ4wL14DoBOCBvED5G6/s400/SM_old+truck.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314877504035950130" /></a><br />Back in Guilin we visited the Elephant Trunk Hill. Apparently to Chinese people, this is a symbol of this city. Of course, I had to demonstrate where the hill got its name:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwoHQpqwxCl5P1P5LhaV906ONX8-tSwtAKZVTFrUPJQd79psqXTdnmMrsS15dTQMk5XgSLzDP19_FUDLwR9H27RpTG3x1DttuxfrKaiaKtDa22f_PISQfd7I4gNgNPCYx4avAufkZIBz8/s1600-h/SM_elephant+hill.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwoHQpqwxCl5P1P5LhaV906ONX8-tSwtAKZVTFrUPJQd79psqXTdnmMrsS15dTQMk5XgSLzDP19_FUDLwR9H27RpTG3x1DttuxfrKaiaKtDa22f_PISQfd7I4gNgNPCYx4avAufkZIBz8/s400/SM_elephant+hill.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314877086488726018" /></a><br />Around the mountain were photo ops with various local cultural outfits. I chose to go the fisherman route. These are my fish-catching birds:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgCsr2xuwKc38FoFZhbxMt3v63HPF5_lGrPFVX-l_yudxHs8ZtZJior-VeZGEBDTQadwCSg76XOGX4DXmUH77IT0eQ13qSuEe1eVYIlmYC9XlLCfRpI0Tw0YCRMtDfyfYLPIp-9QMahwy/s1600-h/SM_birds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgCsr2xuwKc38FoFZhbxMt3v63HPF5_lGrPFVX-l_yudxHs8ZtZJior-VeZGEBDTQadwCSg76XOGX4DXmUH77IT0eQ13qSuEe1eVYIlmYC9XlLCfRpI0Tw0YCRMtDfyfYLPIp-9QMahwy/s400/SM_birds.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314879799283158498" /></a><br />I couldn't find many specialties in Guilin except for Mifen, or "rice noodles." I'd say this is one province with relatively few offerings when it comes to food. These noodles are served up with a little meat and pieces of vegetables and then you add as much pickled vegetables and spices to the soup as you can handle. It's OK...but pretty uninteresting compared to other Chinese foods.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2jN7QLaY4wbq03sHx_LxAgDRJb94ObK4LPeZS_CWdUDgz3wvK5CZ0aVIinisr8syWphm_gWKsA1EuOIeoyidfFAJvhZDs-jr-luFcEAkD31dyGGKcxwjF__HzCFcqAQN6TcH9mxbjUPb/s1600-h/SM_mifen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2jN7QLaY4wbq03sHx_LxAgDRJb94ObK4LPeZS_CWdUDgz3wvK5CZ0aVIinisr8syWphm_gWKsA1EuOIeoyidfFAJvhZDs-jr-luFcEAkD31dyGGKcxwjF__HzCFcqAQN6TcH9mxbjUPb/s400/SM_mifen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314875467402310130" /></a><br />However, rice wine and corn juice were both new to me on this trip! Rice wine was not so good...I just wanted to try it because I was amazed they had found yet another way to eat rice. Corn juice, however, is fabulous. It is served warm with a bit of honey...like a thin, sweet soup. We ate it practically every day we were down there, so this was definitely a good culinary find.<br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zzTJEvfE4EuoWPy58pwaXaNAclX4CBz_4S95C6OgWnTJDI2guoGT1emVIHcXkrcv38jDuBdJaK7JSCtNVVUtHXie-_PFgoWgq53dL-RDELzgoqDUztG6fyBnsLLpeeFwmL8aO-uonXvL/s1600-h/SM_rice+wine.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zzTJEvfE4EuoWPy58pwaXaNAclX4CBz_4S95C6OgWnTJDI2guoGT1emVIHcXkrcv38jDuBdJaK7JSCtNVVUtHXie-_PFgoWgq53dL-RDELzgoqDUztG6fyBnsLLpeeFwmL8aO-uonXvL/s200/SM_rice+wine.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314878437527600978" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskjUdLwai0RMbCbDJBsHoYG5cCMHxkQmtUAPgx_Ov6bTlNbKE09ksGl2z6bXB3rxDKfvX0ZjqV9UHm9HyVPFWuw8BmKNnwVBBS2rm2wM_7NfNq4QCNCS6Ft3QuCMqx7d1NZwWTWAUYrC7/s1600-h/SM_corn+juice.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 152px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskjUdLwai0RMbCbDJBsHoYG5cCMHxkQmtUAPgx_Ov6bTlNbKE09ksGl2z6bXB3rxDKfvX0ZjqV9UHm9HyVPFWuw8BmKNnwVBBS2rm2wM_7NfNq4QCNCS6Ft3QuCMqx7d1NZwWTWAUYrC7/s200/SM_corn+juice.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314878627731439218" /></a><br />That's all for the Guilin trip. Next stop: Seoul.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-86545618533715299332009-03-19T08:08:00.008-04:002009-03-19T08:30:27.845-04:00Trip to Guangxi II: YangshuoThe village of Yangshuo is the launch-pad village for the trips to Lijiang River, which was my last blog. We stayed 2 nights in this town, set in a background of those beautiful pointy mountains. This was the first night, as we waited for a bus to a show.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3BYnZzsEaVGi52kTkbItBIf-S8YBxymTJSmdNKm9R7CDOLYB8QNUprf8PSOkLItARtFwFOXMVK1T0NfwXdbG2TEMsKJws2D08KNMRaD-Q0TPlx1Nj7pfthI8RA-5nEux4tsqluhTFuDp/s1600-h/SM_ys+at+night.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3BYnZzsEaVGi52kTkbItBIf-S8YBxymTJSmdNKm9R7CDOLYB8QNUprf8PSOkLItARtFwFOXMVK1T0NfwXdbG2TEMsKJws2D08KNMRaD-Q0TPlx1Nj7pfthI8RA-5nEux4tsqluhTFuDp/s400/SM_ys+at+night.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314870543105614146" /></a><br />Besides the river, a must-see is the show by famous director Zhang Yimou. (Many popular movies and most recently, the Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony Creative Director) The show was based outside, and this was the audience as we waited in the moonlight:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJS5lfbAC12Gj3nGwjuNlFz9U2tpZ0aQJxrMYNrWNDW2sTzACMxLYw6byOVyWvfBFMNcpMVDPgPDKMosIQAOTShSPYRZjl8Yge4XpAUhuxtfgsWpqgA5dE7beOIXM8yNMkMpD-eWU57EQ8/s1600-h/SM_audience.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJS5lfbAC12Gj3nGwjuNlFz9U2tpZ0aQJxrMYNrWNDW2sTzACMxLYw6byOVyWvfBFMNcpMVDPgPDKMosIQAOTShSPYRZjl8Yge4XpAUhuxtfgsWpqgA5dE7beOIXM8yNMkMpD-eWU57EQ8/s400/SM_audience.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314871500566077394" /></a><br />The show started with a vocalist in the lake and mountains lit-up in the background.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3ZSs6lYgfvSWDJM_pwUbNmKpwWsH9mDHAcwP5cx9jt2L3i4Vpscn-Mp8mm2qQCnA8qGhHzfgyWhFIaAnm13c4XY2v4eSUHChNmp6PJeTNvmqQNVfg8iipCtf59QV5H3_PTFQFUKX1dHL/s1600-h/SM_boat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3ZSs6lYgfvSWDJM_pwUbNmKpwWsH9mDHAcwP5cx9jt2L3i4Vpscn-Mp8mm2qQCnA8qGhHzfgyWhFIaAnm13c4XY2v4eSUHChNmp6PJeTNvmqQNVfg8iipCtf59QV5H3_PTFQFUKX1dHL/s400/SM_boat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314871881317468466" /></a><br />The torches lit up all around the lake as the minority peoples sang from all directions...first men then younger girls:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKa4NuwNRpXtOA8FUC0ggPnba9C662zhrEZSYBbaU3ecUDkrOUGpmBm0OfPl4PV5-j2572bLEP2xwoTu13XVLWNLNGI__i5H1SCknT6G2mwFyzsM76zcBpl671LkafATxp06B_1xUcGpfP/s1600-h/SM_fire+show.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKa4NuwNRpXtOA8FUC0ggPnba9C662zhrEZSYBbaU3ecUDkrOUGpmBm0OfPl4PV5-j2572bLEP2xwoTu13XVLWNLNGI__i5H1SCknT6G2mwFyzsM76zcBpl671LkafATxp06B_1xUcGpfP/s400/SM_fire+show.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314872381904014994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRg-05mZDOSCVxVd6u_aQR4Y5UJpRSVunTXZsE9WpZqDvPLcap_VjwPt9VzO8JNgqV4_-nO8M_lFfrHRgdjCexiqWzh_yz5Xt4vVE5UxhAGT6uwo9FRuAsK7OcA4AU1aJ0jroy-7witeBH/s1600-h/SM_vocalists.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRg-05mZDOSCVxVd6u_aQR4Y5UJpRSVunTXZsE9WpZqDvPLcap_VjwPt9VzO8JNgqV4_-nO8M_lFfrHRgdjCexiqWzh_yz5Xt4vVE5UxhAGT6uwo9FRuAsK7OcA4AU1aJ0jroy-7witeBH/s400/SM_vocalists.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314872687184874578" /></a><br />There were all sorts of creative dance and props on the water, representing various parts of this Southern China culture...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Jiwh9FbvZYsGPOBW6oLrgetrq5W6IazL_aKb_sbHG0BJLNyB5GqUoaVtRhySdFOdj9kJPyKjwldTaigi-yvV33v3eaa8I_qLjx1decpvE9hzHnrAM764zX8bjgHNiiUerV2NtmN0pIb7/s1600-h/SM_moon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Jiwh9FbvZYsGPOBW6oLrgetrq5W6IazL_aKb_sbHG0BJLNyB5GqUoaVtRhySdFOdj9kJPyKjwldTaigi-yvV33v3eaa8I_qLjx1decpvE9hzHnrAM764zX8bjgHNiiUerV2NtmN0pIb7/s400/SM_moon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314873262014529906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXkxUgfs1g6otcnV4RlcyM4BRicQYkgj7CSlOJa00igAhcbVaL7q8z0JcBD126sWis58c9ASPZSlVtfD2l8HSwodyMNFNoFzTxi6Qmx5hQszSXge0I9ZI3RzAiRGdifRdhHzK4odPWyx9/s1600-h/SM_boat2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXkxUgfs1g6otcnV4RlcyM4BRicQYkgj7CSlOJa00igAhcbVaL7q8z0JcBD126sWis58c9ASPZSlVtfD2l8HSwodyMNFNoFzTxi6Qmx5hQszSXge0I9ZI3RzAiRGdifRdhHzK4odPWyx9/s400/SM_boat2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314873444581808610" /></a><br />Then the show ended with hundreds of singers linked hand-in-hand walking across various platforms over the water in lit-up outfits. With impressive coordination they turned the lights on and off creating patterns and rhythms with the music.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJYTEWLEE8c1RwRYor0a7eGe9vLmHGBcVzJWp5nGsdQFLFu9e826Pg1-48oDp99tzCBrHLYbzwYvfRGP2ynPDxwd7UkNdqu4nj_RjreSkMqegaQ2lX83K9AMFOv_hdQ03xrkskaFbwRY6/s1600-h/SM_lights.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJYTEWLEE8c1RwRYor0a7eGe9vLmHGBcVzJWp5nGsdQFLFu9e826Pg1-48oDp99tzCBrHLYbzwYvfRGP2ynPDxwd7UkNdqu4nj_RjreSkMqegaQ2lX83K9AMFOv_hdQ03xrkskaFbwRY6/s400/SM_lights.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314873913227887474" /></a><br />Zhang Yimou certainly does an amazing job of creative directing as well as creating art with large numbers of people. I was very much reminded of the Olympics opening ceremony as I watched this show. It's called "Impression Liu Sanjie" if you are ever down there and interested in going!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-38482256007585614942009-03-16T02:53:00.015-04:002009-03-16T03:27:57.221-04:00Trip to Guangxi: The LiJiang River<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGo3BOdmJNx2gutFdzfYm65qs-3ly0MYdHXZEW-JWbmtsPRLSMoFuioCyAcEuikB-Qm10IKfXC5NNGe4ZMzWMKGwUUhHttfn4Sjp8QpGHcKwZ26FZ4j7dbmlGBDq56vNx1neeE_78dHoP/s1600-h/Yangshuo+Map.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 156px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGo3BOdmJNx2gutFdzfYm65qs-3ly0MYdHXZEW-JWbmtsPRLSMoFuioCyAcEuikB-Qm10IKfXC5NNGe4ZMzWMKGwUUhHttfn4Sjp8QpGHcKwZ26FZ4j7dbmlGBDq56vNx1neeE_78dHoP/s200/Yangshuo+Map.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313683225414828994" /></a><br />I'm on a long weekend trip to the Southernmost part of China to a province called Guangxi. This province that borders Vietnam (as shown on the map) is famous for its scenery that appears in the classical Chinese paintings, songs, etc. A must-see for any long-term China traveler. I'm not going in order here but I will skip right to the LiJiang River and Yangshuo, where we went on our second day. These peaks that jutt out of the water are the most unique mountains I've ever seen, and the same ones that I've always seen in images of China.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTg_XwmvrAS6N4MyyVuVE_yy-GfwE8B5D4sSGrQq7387o2CiIOoy0QlVWvR1_P9d8yp_N4khFLTjfiTyFRPMYMVxyMYaGfW17QaOuA5sKU4U_zBAIvfX1tvYPgmjJVRKvwlwpusOPKYOAe/s1600-h/SM_yangshu.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTg_XwmvrAS6N4MyyVuVE_yy-GfwE8B5D4sSGrQq7387o2CiIOoy0QlVWvR1_P9d8yp_N4khFLTjfiTyFRPMYMVxyMYaGfW17QaOuA5sKU4U_zBAIvfX1tvYPgmjJVRKvwlwpusOPKYOAe/s400/SM_yangshu.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313678357627794786" border="0" /></a><br />In fact, the place where we were initially dropped off to take a boat was the exact image from the 20 RMB bill...(as I'm trying to show you in this picture. But you can click it for a larger image)! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7xwWpUWzyr9Hnwmg-ALlESmFEO7wg_px8ETdfYsZyG64tryINbG7YEHWiIeOTNnSOSOpBrJI59Jx1FrBe3K2ytQMXrLJ-orpqpdhlplUq5gUicRjXGIMCNXsY8CbwGK4VHm4cJGLc0yh/s1600-h/SM_dollar+bill.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7xwWpUWzyr9Hnwmg-ALlESmFEO7wg_px8ETdfYsZyG64tryINbG7YEHWiIeOTNnSOSOpBrJI59Jx1FrBe3K2ytQMXrLJ-orpqpdhlplUq5gUicRjXGIMCNXsY8CbwGK4VHm4cJGLc0yh/s400/SM_dollar+bill.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313679336653965954" /></a><br />The locals live off of the land as it is green and full of life. These guys had two very different methods of fishing...One with a bamboo boat and the other with a trained bird:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQGFlhlFgzq5LYKzcsizUKC4hBpeNI4BJgLoX6AjbLeKDxyDIZOo1EuLa1Lxwee1UNOfqYBw9h-VpjFSq05nm5RkluDf7TTKQj6uczAoqNpBC0lCXe8cLUY87X7RwiqZK4N7-pxSYsKzV/s1600-h/SM_fishing+boat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQGFlhlFgzq5LYKzcsizUKC4hBpeNI4BJgLoX6AjbLeKDxyDIZOo1EuLa1Lxwee1UNOfqYBw9h-VpjFSq05nm5RkluDf7TTKQj6uczAoqNpBC0lCXe8cLUY87X7RwiqZK4N7-pxSYsKzV/s400/SM_fishing+boat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313680772169625954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaWL0u_wG-FUznCuWGx11mO0X_AN4-EkxxhtpetA2UH3X5BDMfxsY__tVQNASkYRdHFQlIT_fqeCoqxNS1kKNZylo8hN2sySdt79LqZ1BUs73MHE5BtyZXoGunDgrq5F5NxmLERG2cYXi/s1600-h/SM_fisherman+and+bird.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaWL0u_wG-FUznCuWGx11mO0X_AN4-EkxxhtpetA2UH3X5BDMfxsY__tVQNASkYRdHFQlIT_fqeCoqxNS1kKNZylo8hN2sySdt79LqZ1BUs73MHE5BtyZXoGunDgrq5F5NxmLERG2cYXi/s400/SM_fisherman+and+bird.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313680882355507106" /></a><br />Then we ate some of their catches as we got to our half-way point. The crabs and fish were fried whole so we ate them that way. Quite tasty actually!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dcGpW5snkbsJ-aKd6K2xy7_ln5Pn79stnioVHKRCjiiVrRWnsLrvx6sMFJopB31z_-qhLJte03ETJ68T2Skg1JTqP_x0a8CeINB3YG1tZRjMwoZXWuPQ1Bf7_rrbopNjg-5tDbHcmA1y/s1600-h/SM_fish.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dcGpW5snkbsJ-aKd6K2xy7_ln5Pn79stnioVHKRCjiiVrRWnsLrvx6sMFJopB31z_-qhLJte03ETJ68T2Skg1JTqP_x0a8CeINB3YG1tZRjMwoZXWuPQ1Bf7_rrbopNjg-5tDbHcmA1y/s200/SM_fish.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313683776222480082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9cXKXDyj7MRDckJZ8lLqkPP765mqyMVirSTj7BILwBdOksajChOVDeUlMbkHZEkb9CrRzglaf7aRneakkvZSCKiYPyc6oKmNizT3iAhAaG5FFhLHX8SNIMMazQM8MQ28mzUiDhBKKWYwW/s1600-h/SM_crab.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9cXKXDyj7MRDckJZ8lLqkPP765mqyMVirSTj7BILwBdOksajChOVDeUlMbkHZEkb9CrRzglaf7aRneakkvZSCKiYPyc6oKmNizT3iAhAaG5FFhLHX8SNIMMazQM8MQ28mzUiDhBKKWYwW/s200/SM_crab.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313683969334394066" /></a><br />That's all for the Lijiang River. I'll share more from the town of Yangshuo and the city of Guilin soon!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQMRxp0WxGQbypAngrWTgxSf6s_NxzsKilKOKwqmlbgsghEbVoeC1VWu9K0CQstt_JieNzmlMmLYzlT95NLlLcvuGltw0GvpT8Js1jmGOOBf_D0X1psXvrD8bFOy6GLlF0U6RkJDs9RZ-/s1600-h/SM_me+and+zhangyi+at+mountains.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQMRxp0WxGQbypAngrWTgxSf6s_NxzsKilKOKwqmlbgsghEbVoeC1VWu9K0CQstt_JieNzmlMmLYzlT95NLlLcvuGltw0GvpT8Js1jmGOOBf_D0X1psXvrD8bFOy6GLlF0U6RkJDs9RZ-/s400/SM_me+and+zhangyi+at+mountains.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313682106761035698" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-72514875877660396982009-03-10T07:00:00.017-04:002009-03-10T11:08:30.260-04:00Beijing Birthday + Weekend BrunchThis was my third birthday in Beijing and they have all been wonderful so far thanks to great friends! We had a lovely steak dinner (first and probably last in Beijing this year) followed by a party hosted at my friend Chris's house. These are some of the peeps from the party!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vGGGoiaanGj56xKq_h0lBwcnaymSHKZ80YSuRueYypBLSYGGRPVy0ra_d4mFgQHq6-T1mUpSQllnfNg9bINpgsS-33mcuND0XyaWPDhlqkvB8ZdBL8TfHcLNEc1_5fLxRGqyYHjkHPyV/s1600-h/SM_rory+and+HL.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vGGGoiaanGj56xKq_h0lBwcnaymSHKZ80YSuRueYypBLSYGGRPVy0ra_d4mFgQHq6-T1mUpSQllnfNg9bINpgsS-33mcuND0XyaWPDhlqkvB8ZdBL8TfHcLNEc1_5fLxRGqyYHjkHPyV/s400/SM_rory+and+HL.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311519618739798674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ixZi4wSTD9JOKQO2cEdWX220HGBk-7BW-TydEX24pyvdZbXjRsCwoaq_JFzhUt9N7ySTdhrcw1VaTaFteKI54y_Po_LngMW_6gToz34EU_JhpmE3aUGAZWBARnyArpbHqwjEu-HED9oE/s1600-h/SM_boys.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ixZi4wSTD9JOKQO2cEdWX220HGBk-7BW-TydEX24pyvdZbXjRsCwoaq_JFzhUt9N7ySTdhrcw1VaTaFteKI54y_Po_LngMW_6gToz34EU_JhpmE3aUGAZWBARnyArpbHqwjEu-HED9oE/s400/SM_boys.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311519914880610658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVj4Op6zyizFJoAVUEwHKPFfWvFJ_hqB-EmcgKaJU-SZg5cfLOxKRJFNxmGjk48nHZRpADSt5L4wWZDBeVMjGYG5yr7Cp16vdN4MixDNLTw_-ltwiPHe3b-ANewkpzO1sCnRUCjlOWMjxo/s1600-h/SM_dujian+and+darren.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVj4Op6zyizFJoAVUEwHKPFfWvFJ_hqB-EmcgKaJU-SZg5cfLOxKRJFNxmGjk48nHZRpADSt5L4wWZDBeVMjGYG5yr7Cp16vdN4MixDNLTw_-ltwiPHe3b-ANewkpzO1sCnRUCjlOWMjxo/s400/SM_dujian+and+darren.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311520089608525634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQKSxX5m7GyIJ9mzZSxZwlPjGyN1yxT9AkOq_9cOoY-Njc8nfH_SZfaAh3NyEVT1xzZqS7X6NZmHkkGwWAAxvZX0JoKXf2LgGec5FcastB8Fzj-aOnMAQOQMSSEU1DWGKwLUTeNxDlHce/s1600-h/SM_claudia.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQKSxX5m7GyIJ9mzZSxZwlPjGyN1yxT9AkOq_9cOoY-Njc8nfH_SZfaAh3NyEVT1xzZqS7X6NZmHkkGwWAAxvZX0JoKXf2LgGec5FcastB8Fzj-aOnMAQOQMSSEU1DWGKwLUTeNxDlHce/s200/SM_claudia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311570612128871906" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWV575HG9slJpoDaNKJWkXKmEOQfGjWQMCjV8RAKVfi_T24oOyPCSATjP8td2ev1gEcZGB9Rbsmtcd-fDRyMKGnnMvtqJ0KTMEsdR8aZoenMjlg-kfu3JEKOkgTkPDkGMzHpAsXIFNTpU/s1600-h/SM_ivan.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWV575HG9slJpoDaNKJWkXKmEOQfGjWQMCjV8RAKVfi_T24oOyPCSATjP8td2ev1gEcZGB9Rbsmtcd-fDRyMKGnnMvtqJ0KTMEsdR8aZoenMjlg-kfu3JEKOkgTkPDkGMzHpAsXIFNTpU/s200/SM_ivan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311570783364072594" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisahdwphTlfxpDHu9ShKe_qJzsg5uGuSaKfYQHhlyONrGI8MW50SCyO8XIUAund-U1AzfLrqYXcOkxJVRz8iRifjoMSJ_tKv4LuvlIiRcnGTnMer7kuBQt_gPpAowGGrL5axkEY7OZsdOE/s1600-h/SM_dancing.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisahdwphTlfxpDHu9ShKe_qJzsg5uGuSaKfYQHhlyONrGI8MW50SCyO8XIUAund-U1AzfLrqYXcOkxJVRz8iRifjoMSJ_tKv4LuvlIiRcnGTnMer7kuBQt_gPpAowGGrL5axkEY7OZsdOE/s200/SM_dancing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311571207271532146" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Thennn...comes Sunday brunch! We have set out to be connoisseurs of the Beijing champagne brunch offerings. This week's offering: The Intercontinental Hotel.<br />Major plus: Pork ribs and other BBQ imported from Texas, USA and cosmopolitans included in the buffet.<br />Minus: Service not as good and poor live music doesn't meet up with the Westin's jazz singer from New York. We enjoyed ourselves immensely as another "Sunday Funday" came to an end.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Attendees line-up:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-u940lVw1mndCqfF5TxRL6DoC9qXhBSKiDXy5koC6VmwOUNgeuFyBhusjsBvpPFd5vaYh4Vd3IQJZNSbwma4TUU9Hi13KcBk3PCRfb-5nMnFvPxo1dp8FdHjvXBhw7sbHGJU1_xPBCkU/s1600-h/SM_darren+dumpling.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-u940lVw1mndCqfF5TxRL6DoC9qXhBSKiDXy5koC6VmwOUNgeuFyBhusjsBvpPFd5vaYh4Vd3IQJZNSbwma4TUU9Hi13KcBk3PCRfb-5nMnFvPxo1dp8FdHjvXBhw7sbHGJU1_xPBCkU/s200/SM_darren+dumpling.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311572661110560594" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh14LbPn8viHt4N30ZzreJ3A09suihYMBmLiyhRuBtwSkGriBFsO2_vnAUHGEq8rqUnYeUMuH__SvJoZG8Iv0K2Vy5NtbxxbAhBOxZ8cev1x97cUo5pSE5h8hBggbTJkvfyo6N62xmpJ_6/s1600-h/SM_dessert+plate.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh14LbPn8viHt4N30ZzreJ3A09suihYMBmLiyhRuBtwSkGriBFsO2_vnAUHGEq8rqUnYeUMuH__SvJoZG8Iv0K2Vy5NtbxxbAhBOxZ8cev1x97cUo5pSE5h8hBggbTJkvfyo6N62xmpJ_6/s200/SM_dessert+plate.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311572806944311538" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYD3u8FedVdhq1B1bV1UW_OJRHH4PFm1o4zDmHdPubJp7Aeouf0EzlGj7Bpjs_PUOgfAN3ke4SylpU1rQJhcYlZwqybv8xFG3t98rHjOsZLErPecvg8MGG3li0fslP7Jr7mN217rwu1YE/s1600-h/SM_chris+with+noodles.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYD3u8FedVdhq1B1bV1UW_OJRHH4PFm1o4zDmHdPubJp7Aeouf0EzlGj7Bpjs_PUOgfAN3ke4SylpU1rQJhcYlZwqybv8xFG3t98rHjOsZLErPecvg8MGG3li0fslP7Jr7mN217rwu1YE/s200/SM_chris+with+noodles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311573395772719794" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsAnc-krLdfa2ZTdmdFtLPUMSef-YVjO-Hoez1KJjqlTeAhx9OgeNYKV6G6BEeaO-wHTyCWd_6dZ2TAn1s6yOOJgUq_5VvE4xfRm5KhwtMFMI6K9ZBkB0Ve4y0igCEuhn0hGeJA4LHbo3/s1600-h/SM_megan.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsAnc-krLdfa2ZTdmdFtLPUMSef-YVjO-Hoez1KJjqlTeAhx9OgeNYKV6G6BEeaO-wHTyCWd_6dZ2TAn1s6yOOJgUq_5VvE4xfRm5KhwtMFMI6K9ZBkB0Ve4y0igCEuhn0hGeJA4LHbo3/s200/SM_megan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311573595969369810" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppzia3cU5dT6QjiifH5syDNo81_G4Zpchdm_BXWDim8ERgqOiwYhY91fEu7CnatfyTrkwPiqyZC6K8gCbqTXlOme6xbkRIBMN43wA4egkGeIxLqJX5673EORs8TCX5E-Nr_qKWwDRrYj6/s1600-h/SM_HL.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppzia3cU5dT6QjiifH5syDNo81_G4Zpchdm_BXWDim8ERgqOiwYhY91fEu7CnatfyTrkwPiqyZC6K8gCbqTXlOme6xbkRIBMN43wA4egkGeIxLqJX5673EORs8TCX5E-Nr_qKWwDRrYj6/s200/SM_HL.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311573808429725714" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Group shot of everyone after they came around with loads of cotton candy:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikET-dPUPsC_1igDpYwoHpg6R6NcaQOKHdOhZvJUGsgwOsCTlpTJabw7f-RZ9wNUCDXSspx18F2L7yuBfVcR3sNIsFE2Wfy3-J_a_s8f9Dkz-TCqIDkr4QNO68D1CZxRVG0Qbo3G_fZzJi/s1600-h/SM_group.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikET-dPUPsC_1igDpYwoHpg6R6NcaQOKHdOhZvJUGsgwOsCTlpTJabw7f-RZ9wNUCDXSspx18F2L7yuBfVcR3sNIsFE2Wfy3-J_a_s8f9Dkz-TCqIDkr4QNO68D1CZxRVG0Qbo3G_fZzJi/s400/SM_group.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311574684086739186" border="0" /></a><br />The evening continued at a friends nice pad back on the East side of Beijing. Altogether a good day and an enjoyable birthday weekend.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczWUfYhd_nhRZ_lJh2rOklpAc2y-HNthhbdZQ-wTOOUtKlYETS_dmR-yf4vgbhfn-c5e_G6uDfjA3s_3kPdakuyw6o7tNTm0CDM1ljhdezt_EokgVzCaUzHlp8woCasvPIQ8MVAoOP2jq/s1600-h/SM_on+the+balcony.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczWUfYhd_nhRZ_lJh2rOklpAc2y-HNthhbdZQ-wTOOUtKlYETS_dmR-yf4vgbhfn-c5e_G6uDfjA3s_3kPdakuyw6o7tNTm0CDM1ljhdezt_EokgVzCaUzHlp8woCasvPIQ8MVAoOP2jq/s400/SM_on+the+balcony.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311575030378587234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-K_TBbovR_qLPXGVXeSGrJKi0JzB1vhS_8kTVaSvHRdEvmoPzlmzyxpmLJsjYPmHy9kSdG1ypLzx7CaQ_oj1hx0WF-L3zwgDSpPfat8uZ49vvfhGRIa8a4ucy7aHKZ2A4h3NlFCHNRGY/s1600-h/SM_me+and+the+boys.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-K_TBbovR_qLPXGVXeSGrJKi0JzB1vhS_8kTVaSvHRdEvmoPzlmzyxpmLJsjYPmHy9kSdG1ypLzx7CaQ_oj1hx0WF-L3zwgDSpPfat8uZ49vvfhGRIa8a4ucy7aHKZ2A4h3NlFCHNRGY/s400/SM_me+and+the+boys.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311575174147958946" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-39314179969041654372009-03-02T05:22:00.006-05:002009-03-02T06:02:27.646-05:00Cuandixia Village, Day Trip!Every now and then you just gotta get out of the city. And when that time comes, I'm oh-so-thankful for the occasional friend that owns a car in Beijing. We chose a page out of a Beijing day-trips excursion guide and decided to roll out on Saturday morning for a deligtful day of driving, exploring and blue skies in Cuandixia village, 2 hours West of Beijing.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbaTpYlY1F9PA85Srdd19Wbov3G05dPXjo4uMdsQKO88kV3e8T0QlfycV83C6q5ExXyyA3KspkIDQVircAC-6ysRUrMjx5JKp2XqHQwNMOObhCFQzb9KuG4FeR4UUQ8rR0LpHarChwyia/s1600-h/SM_village.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbaTpYlY1F9PA85Srdd19Wbov3G05dPXjo4uMdsQKO88kV3e8T0QlfycV83C6q5ExXyyA3KspkIDQVircAC-6ysRUrMjx5JKp2XqHQwNMOObhCFQzb9KuG4FeR4UUQ8rR0LpHarChwyia/s400/SM_village.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308540140413761986" /></a><br />This village was built during the Ming Dynasty (some 500-600 years ago) and still stands in a quiet valley with little temples, mountain paths and numerous family-owned inns and restaurants.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcgj1uDkj9uAUMBwm7Il2lsA9-z8LmMG7Ff_d0RCDEDpyrxIEnTzWvy-pI2Nuij0737OCAHUdvXxLb6lkt9W690nU5rxxi5lVeT581NuvGTpdx4ujveTkVpHkoxk7zb-c4h3SyI5TV64y/s1600-h/SM_village2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcgj1uDkj9uAUMBwm7Il2lsA9-z8LmMG7Ff_d0RCDEDpyrxIEnTzWvy-pI2Nuij0737OCAHUdvXxLb6lkt9W690nU5rxxi5lVeT581NuvGTpdx4ujveTkVpHkoxk7zb-c4h3SyI5TV64y/s400/SM_village2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308541116545218418" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjLYL0uy7D2_g74E_ffRPcFMfAemOF5lwpgYQxuVNDeIUrv5Pnt0_O_Tyn88dOx37E_yxEJ4nYUAzw5D5yUnpMvNTYHTLebXgAeGoMTXwGXrWwaucxCLclpQLjl-nj5CQ2unwZah155Fg/s1600-h/SM_village+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjLYL0uy7D2_g74E_ffRPcFMfAemOF5lwpgYQxuVNDeIUrv5Pnt0_O_Tyn88dOx37E_yxEJ4nYUAzw5D5yUnpMvNTYHTLebXgAeGoMTXwGXrWwaucxCLclpQLjl-nj5CQ2unwZah155Fg/s400/SM_village+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308541458045145970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpCB0tij4j2c90cpOHorcRyHiJczJGAjSaunBXja0oQ-39MeQaakkTM-Owao1dSKjCLFPUrwImH2LxNi2oxghYQK5KMXAQRprVktd5orsN2MK29vHCLOIRf_kfH9Io4QsozF99_GRwQLY/s1600-h/SM_village+4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpCB0tij4j2c90cpOHorcRyHiJczJGAjSaunBXja0oQ-39MeQaakkTM-Owao1dSKjCLFPUrwImH2LxNi2oxghYQK5KMXAQRprVktd5orsN2MK29vHCLOIRf_kfH9Io4QsozF99_GRwQLY/s400/SM_village+4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308541645404014274" /></a><br />A charming day trip. Although there is certainly not much along the lines of entertainment in these little villages, I highly recommend it for the walk, blue skies, local cuisine and just recharging your batteries again before Monday!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-66312706408422234252009-02-22T22:28:00.008-05:002009-02-22T23:36:53.244-05:00Weekend BlissBubbalicious! After 2+ years of living in Beijing, I FINALLY went to the infamous Bubbalicious brunch at the Westin Hotel in Beijing. It is 4 hours of eating scrumptious international selections and enjoying free-flowing champagne. This was the entrance to the brunch:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuqKN0Vw1MgP0pD7JLtBltK0YW24H12Pc0ONMqHQ8tE4BP2fLcmnoOiSI2x2oFKr1QwhdP_oBQT6PpE4AUGi-Hdsw7Zt2nJFnNHxJdBw07psSFpRLzhWhyrFPZ8tRmbxY6RCEufOYuh14/s1600-h/SM2_bubbalicious+bubble.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuqKN0Vw1MgP0pD7JLtBltK0YW24H12Pc0ONMqHQ8tE4BP2fLcmnoOiSI2x2oFKr1QwhdP_oBQT6PpE4AUGi-Hdsw7Zt2nJFnNHxJdBw07psSFpRLzhWhyrFPZ8tRmbxY6RCEufOYuh14/s400/SM2_bubbalicious+bubble.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305842679901801714" /></a><br />The dining room<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiE1OZCvjJ8dBKsM3HVLubo525tlwQKiP9Q781kz2EoKJHSCe3IGcjnRX1_nLr2eMwKMEW9qAXlfm56z3TD1QoH4zyZTeJfn2x2nLIzMWNN0L1fIIp2xGLJ9O3CrawqBmtDxDMijYypSdZ/s1600-h/SM2_westin.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiE1OZCvjJ8dBKsM3HVLubo525tlwQKiP9Q781kz2EoKJHSCe3IGcjnRX1_nLr2eMwKMEW9qAXlfm56z3TD1QoH4zyZTeJfn2x2nLIzMWNN0L1fIIp2xGLJ9O3CrawqBmtDxDMijYypSdZ/s400/SM2_westin.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305842262983880018" /></a><br />Rory and I got there first and started brunch with sushi, sashimi and champagne! This of course was followed by selections of Belgian waffles, eggs benedict, Indian curries, seared Foie Gras, lamb chops, French cheeses, caviar, Chinese dumpling soup, and anything else you could possibly dream up. (Yes indeed, 1 brunch = 1 week at the gym)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDH7z9TfT6JSdjx5KdceS5UkZMrjOL4sVRduHzrQAR3ilyU-Qe2OvvSIvmvAidIiadvS6_eyiXtjSPsGvl0E19nqrE43d9ftqWy0JZ6HhX2jM7r-MV2k9hloshU8M4uj2wrRqbq4H4doxN/s1600-h/SM2_rory+and+I+at+brunch.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDH7z9TfT6JSdjx5KdceS5UkZMrjOL4sVRduHzrQAR3ilyU-Qe2OvvSIvmvAidIiadvS6_eyiXtjSPsGvl0E19nqrE43d9ftqWy0JZ6HhX2jM7r-MV2k9hloshU8M4uj2wrRqbq4H4doxN/s400/SM2_rory+and+I+at+brunch.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305829875076087202" /></a><br />The whole group:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8nMKVBKIX748t46U8SLCHa-aIuJas1ClJd8MAYql06NYHNbL72OvqaUO53TW4VwLXwG1iBoZOziE08zZ9V2TTj67EHRGLLpXp_Qm-yF4jxeQ8_BF1F1UOr37q8IpATAj38wQ2MmeAZvw/s1600-h/SM2_brunch.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8nMKVBKIX748t46U8SLCHa-aIuJas1ClJd8MAYql06NYHNbL72OvqaUO53TW4VwLXwG1iBoZOziE08zZ9V2TTj67EHRGLLpXp_Qm-yF4jxeQ8_BF1F1UOr37q8IpATAj38wQ2MmeAZvw/s400/SM2_brunch.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305843284466690194" /></a><br />My favorite section: desserts. Yes, that is a chocolate fountain. My personal best dessert award: hot sweet-bread pudding.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87gs3Rg6Y2jbybs-_k9AGIVvr2S14lHd9sXnUJQneED3FFp5s4zsa0v-k75qIIwkBfvhjiUcoJH2xDKB_v6nLy6Hf85kPecA1K6g2fbfMS8hG8OK7h7rN6tQ5CkkpAiXfklDmq4pRMPkL/s1600-h/SM2_dessert.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87gs3Rg6Y2jbybs-_k9AGIVvr2S14lHd9sXnUJQneED3FFp5s4zsa0v-k75qIIwkBfvhjiUcoJH2xDKB_v6nLy6Hf85kPecA1K6g2fbfMS8hG8OK7h7rN6tQ5CkkpAiXfklDmq4pRMPkL/s400/SM2_dessert.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305843500537022498" /></a><br />And it was family friendly! Kids were all around, entertained by clowns and a kid's section. They had an ice cream and candy bar just for them. I was amazed to see how many families managed to spend the entire 4 hours enjoying the food and drink without kids getting restless. Heck, even I was entertained!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6pAkyx2nbiknOv-LJ05MIL3JUVrkFF4lItyDOuzTPpKjIm1CrwXEEkeI-duxM5IJG4C4MiQyn7xNZymiNivFFD4-Rv8HqNerBIaiPr8lr-qboE3Ix3T45OTQ_dM1yHEq6CCy0fb7P-MM/s1600-h/SM2_clowns.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6pAkyx2nbiknOv-LJ05MIL3JUVrkFF4lItyDOuzTPpKjIm1CrwXEEkeI-duxM5IJG4C4MiQyn7xNZymiNivFFD4-Rv8HqNerBIaiPr8lr-qboE3Ix3T45OTQ_dM1yHEq6CCy0fb7P-MM/s400/SM2_clowns.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305843875586092002" /></a><br />Other memorable weekend times were crazy karaoke on Friday night...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBD9fBYRg0jd8xmeXOD60NzKcTxUlfNQDjhBRKMehED-Lye05vGzjla1BRO4RQGa3u1FnDoLWVIrG7-IczZoSyX05U-UxCUzwpgUgGpHyaZtb8v85AoR5b0tQmJOQDmw-_tEcD8lEns-c/s1600-h/SM2_karaoke.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBD9fBYRg0jd8xmeXOD60NzKcTxUlfNQDjhBRKMehED-Lye05vGzjla1BRO4RQGa3u1FnDoLWVIrG7-IczZoSyX05U-UxCUzwpgUgGpHyaZtb8v85AoR5b0tQmJOQDmw-_tEcD8lEns-c/s400/SM2_karaoke.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305845428004115810" /></a><br />and hanging out with some good-lookin homeboys from USC on Saturday night! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cmFbggAcHZxo9kalqeFgkk6rRl8ZYFVCulKh_ZvxnfxEH9KymYZKknI-uhp7veD_SYqPHII5g8noULJ1c4kO_EHmaWu4MQDGvVaJwDH7gxsv6YR8TgKKSMrRloHcw2UsPFTQ3Li_r-8v/s1600-h/SM2_at+tun+with+the+boys.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cmFbggAcHZxo9kalqeFgkk6rRl8ZYFVCulKh_ZvxnfxEH9KymYZKknI-uhp7veD_SYqPHII5g8noULJ1c4kO_EHmaWu4MQDGvVaJwDH7gxsv6YR8TgKKSMrRloHcw2UsPFTQ3Li_r-8v/s400/SM2_at+tun+with+the+boys.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305844498721531650" /></a><br />So do I really have to start classes next week? The thought of joining the real world after a weekend like this can be painful.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-48446842794255493552009-02-21T03:40:00.008-05:002009-02-21T04:04:36.552-05:00February and The First SnowSnow came down for a few days in Beijing and was the first precipitation this city has seen in a long time. It was only miserable for one morning as everything was slush and mud. After it warmed up a bit, it just added a nice touch to the trees and buildings in the city. These ladies were walking like me in the first few hours, trying not to slip!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiXdVPkg8kjnyAu-SHDlhQbgc2_NEsJXZS8j9W1tLwHwP2uGKHPZ07wyjiuvgKnrb4YQEC3-v_niy4DS8xbbBUvkYsNL5lv9o9k1nFv7endjuJp4tlcVkwzt72yGr2koxEA1ASgkwDcZt/s1600-h/SM_snow+snow+snow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiXdVPkg8kjnyAu-SHDlhQbgc2_NEsJXZS8j9W1tLwHwP2uGKHPZ07wyjiuvgKnrb4YQEC3-v_niy4DS8xbbBUvkYsNL5lv9o9k1nFv7endjuJp4tlcVkwzt72yGr2koxEA1ASgkwDcZt/s400/SM_snow+snow+snow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305170094061234738" border="0" /></a><br />The same afternoon I went to orientation at Tsinghua University, where I will be doing the last credits of my MBA. This is one of the main buildings on campus:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlLTnud6Iuhh3lRgvgP6j691CKPBzA-8pv8QqfmUygyK-jIlYKyMxcm9TDw2v2TWzsn6yFySD3oQO2aKIaT2yM-0j1l8Mk6v9Az4NUgvJMnZY6Z4dJhSpiQSXb0emI8T1fYlc1KnwiP9m/s1600-h/SM_Tsinghua.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlLTnud6Iuhh3lRgvgP6j691CKPBzA-8pv8QqfmUygyK-jIlYKyMxcm9TDw2v2TWzsn6yFySD3oQO2aKIaT2yM-0j1l8Mk6v9Az4NUgvJMnZY6Z4dJhSpiQSXb0emI8T1fYlc1KnwiP9m/s400/SM_Tsinghua.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305171055514318626" border="0" /></a><br />Other notable events were a trip to the Olympic Water Cube to see some Chinese pop music awards:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgba9yabFs1eo2UWhvfF0KWY6y0Mj0APYZMQqOCG93XzyX2qUOXfvWLDG4WXCys-gFgxfTpUopxsVswCgoUxNRHHENrAYmyzB2tKXDtl0taJpjHCipTOZxleI1c4zRFl77r8h45J5Rf2xL8/s1600-h/SM_water+cube.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgba9yabFs1eo2UWhvfF0KWY6y0Mj0APYZMQqOCG93XzyX2qUOXfvWLDG4WXCys-gFgxfTpUopxsVswCgoUxNRHHENrAYmyzB2tKXDtl0taJpjHCipTOZxleI1c4zRFl77r8h45J5Rf2xL8/s400/SM_water+cube.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305171852415889106" border="0" /></a><br />The stage was built out over the swimming pool and commercial breaks were occupied with fountains and syncronized swimming. Impressive.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tVJSMDIh6ThwkLj97uK_jXvgQATIcdgnRAt4W7uSqIQUp7yJ6elEmt6MAvONqbEmCZ4XPnj4S7qWI44oXCbBtDbnwOQg9psT4f3GF10OQm1uAPizQ7hS4MuFcwXlQzWjcM8Kry_5Lc-3/s1600-h/SM_concert+in+water+cube.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tVJSMDIh6ThwkLj97uK_jXvgQATIcdgnRAt4W7uSqIQUp7yJ6elEmt6MAvONqbEmCZ4XPnj4S7qWI44oXCbBtDbnwOQg9psT4f3GF10OQm1uAPizQ7hS4MuFcwXlQzWjcM8Kry_5Lc-3/s400/SM_concert+in+water+cube.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305172197749434738" border="0" /></a><br />There have also been costume parties and dress-up:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBo5bMs06N32VDE-ukhpcY0IxVGBP9zQVBE7BxOTJo8jPQWmxbBYzqv9XZkyvH9fT2npkj6CtXxLzcQC3SfsbEI-BMlaxibsEvGVqGepLLl4MUfWPdhnCw7yWR-lmJFmTMUMAcq60okfR8/s1600-h/SM_costumes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBo5bMs06N32VDE-ukhpcY0IxVGBP9zQVBE7BxOTJo8jPQWmxbBYzqv9XZkyvH9fT2npkj6CtXxLzcQC3SfsbEI-BMlaxibsEvGVqGepLLl4MUfWPdhnCw7yWR-lmJFmTMUMAcq60okfR8/s400/SM_costumes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305172479855399794" border="0" /></a><br />Spa days for newcomers to Beijing:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGTxzwpfN_PjUY7YW_j0x8n7IgM_MUlSg9hBvlaPEGyoeRyIXgFNqnRWDzuQ5oHRmY7qnwviIwnLlOdrlfEksuAquZcKQ8j8Znoln0MDVJCZRKXElEtwaDhMaipKauxG55eXO99d5uJfx/s1600-h/SM_manis+and+pedis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGTxzwpfN_PjUY7YW_j0x8n7IgM_MUlSg9hBvlaPEGyoeRyIXgFNqnRWDzuQ5oHRmY7qnwviIwnLlOdrlfEksuAquZcKQ8j8Znoln0MDVJCZRKXElEtwaDhMaipKauxG55eXO99d5uJfx/s400/SM_manis+and+pedis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305172685731549074" border="0" /></a><br />And good eats as we get back into the swing of things with some amazing Beijing restaurants! Check out these delicious dumplings:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJ7_pwBVV3edtlqrQGeYkzr04LjcoLt48LLe8njB8OALS12fOuOioeNQjCrOaIMJjZfgihH4hGX9_A-c2hV2FWBXjuYwANlBRlPo_YpHLopUpZUrY7tumwZQL6h2tNVTiKqBWj1_Bub5p/s1600-h/IMG_4240.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJ7_pwBVV3edtlqrQGeYkzr04LjcoLt48LLe8njB8OALS12fOuOioeNQjCrOaIMJjZfgihH4hGX9_A-c2hV2FWBXjuYwANlBRlPo_YpHLopUpZUrY7tumwZQL6h2tNVTiKqBWj1_Bub5p/s400/IMG_4240.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305173473742799186" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-7186910135374181172009-02-09T21:39:00.004-05:002009-02-09T21:49:55.776-05:00Lantern Festival: Festivity and Fire<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjuOqYFzdoeOPX7tunwCnTN85fD9-BpqGBune0OSr9Mn-mWv9g805Cb_oRWhodLPtpW6DkBOx8HMh2hciKR9-N6W2QPe5VjIu_fUCCMkTkWLtvHBdKWrwZWIHFszlPoU8gvvAMB8U0eNt/s1600-h/Lantern+Festival.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjuOqYFzdoeOPX7tunwCnTN85fD9-BpqGBune0OSr9Mn-mWv9g805Cb_oRWhodLPtpW6DkBOx8HMh2hciKR9-N6W2QPe5VjIu_fUCCMkTkWLtvHBdKWrwZWIHFszlPoU8gvvAMB8U0eNt/s400/Lantern+Festival.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300993220333376242" /></a><br />Yesterday was the Chinese Lantern Festival. It is the 15th day of the first month of Chinese traditional calender and it marks the end of New Years festivities. It is now the year of the Ox, which I am proud to say is my year. There are images of the Ox all over the city and have been fire works every day, with major displays all over the country on the first day and last day of the New Year period. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7arKR8_Ny1ES5gCg181MuLymye_9ZhCzv_WQ2YsYDSya4HeEk0gWwOQvmguu7ubsEd3P5ocLKWElYCMF0XhG4EZAx3XpST3PXYxZMrlUnrjGMsoY-QPw2pRVVCNof0MFbG_OQjTs9XnG/s1600-h/year+of+cow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7arKR8_Ny1ES5gCg181MuLymye_9ZhCzv_WQ2YsYDSya4HeEk0gWwOQvmguu7ubsEd3P5ocLKWElYCMF0XhG4EZAx3XpST3PXYxZMrlUnrjGMsoY-QPw2pRVVCNof0MFbG_OQjTs9XnG/s400/year+of+cow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300993374907062082" /></a><br />Last night being the last legal day the Chinese could set off fireworks, the dangerous displays began. As I was walking with friends to a favorite Mexican restaurant, we felt like we were in a war zone with shells flying all around us. Later that night, I heard that the new CCTV building was on fire and almost cried. Thankfully, it wasn't that building (it's brand new and an amazing feat of architecture as the two towers are leaning towards each other to meet in the middle). But it was the adjacent, also newly constructed and unopened Mandarin Oriental Hotel.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFuxNmgfzu7s2WaBTUB5xCF4eMUh3R7SJLE_Y8zhVwSz8QGPx9wP1Dlcs7hYOy419GH87G-msLvxiZgbiVf4AC8AQ-owaP2EAmL5IUMeK_pr1omr6PP7uFRNGqSE_GBaIXKFDfgBJCDa5/s1600-h/building+fire.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFuxNmgfzu7s2WaBTUB5xCF4eMUh3R7SJLE_Y8zhVwSz8QGPx9wP1Dlcs7hYOy419GH87G-msLvxiZgbiVf4AC8AQ-owaP2EAmL5IUMeK_pr1omr6PP7uFRNGqSE_GBaIXKFDfgBJCDa5/s400/building+fire.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300994395600697794" /></a><br />Some lives were lost, many people injured, and traffic shut down for miles. It is so sad to see such a large and new building in the heart of Beijing burn down because of the idiocy of fireworks that go on during New Year. Hopefully this will introduce some new regulation and control for next year's festivities.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-57209216108286399662009-02-05T00:57:00.010-05:002009-02-05T01:46:16.020-05:00Bangkok III: A Cultural ShowOn our last night in Bangkok we went to see Siam Niramit, which is a big show and culture exhibition for tourists...a little like a mini-Disney. I enjoyed it nonetheless because it was quite elaborate and showed a lot of traditions, dances and costumes from Thailand!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iR0Sp3T4X2c82manPv2imSmrhjk0V44YUUSv5LTMUz4AHvnzXErxNcts8KiZBU7ItExm8mO7TY0Nezv-iolYaaijBl6RuR5IoHuIFKRrA2xbXde2DUHSb4vzDPZAwHlIaSCMiY5iG_vt/s1600-h/SM3_dancers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iR0Sp3T4X2c82manPv2imSmrhjk0V44YUUSv5LTMUz4AHvnzXErxNcts8KiZBU7ItExm8mO7TY0Nezv-iolYaaijBl6RuR5IoHuIFKRrA2xbXde2DUHSb4vzDPZAwHlIaSCMiY5iG_vt/s400/SM3_dancers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299190165320279122" /></a><br />I loved the intricacy of these ancient Thai-style costumes. Dressed like this they looked like the images of the gods in their temples. The dances were also very beautiful.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpP_FO-C_PbtYqXZbxemdmO_TvhBlBLXg9RwA8gc9G3PlTvPXoKG8BFe5KnLAhR5Z7ThAYMqoRwPmtFSuSfb9FARL9dUPW3cKRqKfaQCO1kfYdvYP0PsoBEwBJWMWB13zfED14T1KVQGfq/s1600-h/SM3_dancers2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpP_FO-C_PbtYqXZbxemdmO_TvhBlBLXg9RwA8gc9G3PlTvPXoKG8BFe5KnLAhR5Z7ThAYMqoRwPmtFSuSfb9FARL9dUPW3cKRqKfaQCO1kfYdvYP0PsoBEwBJWMWB13zfED14T1KVQGfq/s400/SM3_dancers2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299191812394493586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeBk6Knm62tGbKKRpGle73DysOd3i-7ilmGYPGC0PUI2-wMYy0q9r2Bd6BWiSyoukWO0eUElMtkz0plGKOAWN34W1JUUQ8jPS1zpwvts0UJ3pYf3iSi-72kQN6cPMy4duJeXzyn4yv94a/s1600-h/SM3_dancers3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeBk6Knm62tGbKKRpGle73DysOd3i-7ilmGYPGC0PUI2-wMYy0q9r2Bd6BWiSyoukWO0eUElMtkz0plGKOAWN34W1JUUQ8jPS1zpwvts0UJ3pYf3iSi-72kQN6cPMy4duJeXzyn4yv94a/s400/SM3_dancers3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299193449603709954" /></a><br />They had also built a traditional Thai Village to walk around before the show. They had people performing and making Thai snacks for people before we went in. This one was a coconut treat, very yummy:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2lEk4PMtAx233mJdbdWRdnsLe0x0JTMKMaps1HsfCfYzehobNv7HlikhDAdWA7MDuK2nREoy851pXd5M9lfYPaS-zx8tjR5A5a-ncQqBLYi7Jh-vF8zByM6_E2x2UXtIwck3dqOyUPbL/s1600-h/SM3_food+samples.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2lEk4PMtAx233mJdbdWRdnsLe0x0JTMKMaps1HsfCfYzehobNv7HlikhDAdWA7MDuK2nREoy851pXd5M9lfYPaS-zx8tjR5A5a-ncQqBLYi7Jh-vF8zByM6_E2x2UXtIwck3dqOyUPbL/s400/SM3_food+samples.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299194383666202210" /></a><br />Posing with one of the performers after the show:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDz6g-ibai_5q0_W7u3wFeId8JRRVU_udwF1HajR0_wC44PbgkXFzbM9m7kltTIU1W6IyOjlE85V7uQN0UM8z0mVDJQd-UVeWui9Kb-zYumAV3MozZeo0Gm3hMv73xLHBqkxXmguAHLrG/s1600-h/SM3_posing+with+performer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDz6g-ibai_5q0_W7u3wFeId8JRRVU_udwF1HajR0_wC44PbgkXFzbM9m7kltTIU1W6IyOjlE85V7uQN0UM8z0mVDJQd-UVeWui9Kb-zYumAV3MozZeo0Gm3hMv73xLHBqkxXmguAHLrG/s400/SM3_posing+with+performer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299195315710688050" /></a><br />Before I end the Bangkok blogging, I wanted to throw in a few miscellaneous pictures from events over the last couple of days. One night we met up with some old friends from China. Two Thai and one Japanese classmate that I studied with in Beijing were in Bangkok. We all got together for some Thai food and catch-up time:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhg4rEK-EXvnDQa4tAf6AoiH4AEZ_L7SQNCnUP5GvsuzyypGOOQXalqzKaWivOK96TxtA7qd0DK-CtZ8kVwL7DFbVDmUpzR0lO_5RU1W4GQbFZCjPSXyGj_z-hUHe8W1IXmYnUz-mi83qB/s1600-h/SM_friends+from+jingmao.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhg4rEK-EXvnDQa4tAf6AoiH4AEZ_L7SQNCnUP5GvsuzyypGOOQXalqzKaWivOK96TxtA7qd0DK-CtZ8kVwL7DFbVDmUpzR0lO_5RU1W4GQbFZCjPSXyGj_z-hUHe8W1IXmYnUz-mi83qB/s400/SM_friends+from+jingmao.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299196770612553554" /></a><br />We also went to the Bangkok aquarium. Here's ZhangYi checking out a Sting Ray:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRLERLrmIG08HCio7LGjPn14z1caCo0GZa50DeYulIvAj3B-MzmK3XfT3e526XFPPe7YNGqMHonuvUveEbscEG06PLKZZdXS1nxwjiGQSEeBxb60fWws54pmrn98Qu-6eJWv0OgOrW-3e/s1600-h/SM_stingray.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRLERLrmIG08HCio7LGjPn14z1caCo0GZa50DeYulIvAj3B-MzmK3XfT3e526XFPPe7YNGqMHonuvUveEbscEG06PLKZZdXS1nxwjiGQSEeBxb60fWws54pmrn98Qu-6eJWv0OgOrW-3e/s400/SM_stingray.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299198018853066930"/></a><br />This is just me trying to imitate an enormous ugly fish:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyGEo12m8wxZDzKtkYo8Px_aPkSEpNB72PRF8TagugVGbck3kqpvPZVupALsqEcjyJz0OTzG1KRKYvBbUx8QBn1e18HqaxCE8OtBvdvHszH1jvTSg79Pmq2Qnr-Tzep25VCUgylZy1C11/s1600-h/SM_imitating_fish.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyGEo12m8wxZDzKtkYo8Px_aPkSEpNB72PRF8TagugVGbck3kqpvPZVupALsqEcjyJz0OTzG1KRKYvBbUx8QBn1e18HqaxCE8OtBvdvHszH1jvTSg79Pmq2Qnr-Tzep25VCUgylZy1C11/s400/SM_imitating_fish.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299199485004532018" /></a><br />Well, that's all from Bangkok folks! I'm leaving to go back to Beijing. Time to get back to the real world. It will be much colder and a lot less beachy,...but somehow I still miss it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-56272903990876424762009-02-04T23:01:00.007-05:002009-02-05T00:51:06.441-05:00Bangkok II: A River TripOne afternoon in Bangkok we did a highly recommended river trip. We rented a Thai-Style "long boat" for two of us and did a two hour trip around the large river and smaller canals. The river houses are very lively with people washing, cooking, etc. along the banks and little boats with wares and foods for sale.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYC1CBpKjQGGjkDQIWLne-LSkRIBt-vRY3zgRRrfh0OdoqS1DrSFZQcF6DX-mIr5jxA7lJICeacuwwOolIyC7lP-9yZNq4fD8nQ0inUhxaujBP9cRqkzBIUVL0x0ij3bOtxhJEBjpBiQ1c/s1600-h/SM2_boat+ride.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYC1CBpKjQGGjkDQIWLne-LSkRIBt-vRY3zgRRrfh0OdoqS1DrSFZQcF6DX-mIr5jxA7lJICeacuwwOolIyC7lP-9yZNq4fD8nQ0inUhxaujBP9cRqkzBIUVL0x0ij3bOtxhJEBjpBiQ1c/s400/SM2_boat+ride.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299169651052265138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptVNprtQCx3br5gz_1VE3LYqBcQYe7iqBXgfcOKHXLf9qXpGkhgXe07t8DyiH8zugvQH-8mb0YuLILNXU1SJb8O5Xd1i24Ow-mP02VG7i8YO27r1daixZQiN5FT7SVyfhShkVd9_0RqVY/s1600-h/SM2_river+houses.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptVNprtQCx3br5gz_1VE3LYqBcQYe7iqBXgfcOKHXLf9qXpGkhgXe07t8DyiH8zugvQH-8mb0YuLILNXU1SJb8O5Xd1i24Ow-mP02VG7i8YO27r1daixZQiN5FT7SVyfhShkVd9_0RqVY/s400/SM2_river+houses.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299182651313329250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHxKnISETdPiInWBeSGm565jhIOKaeZFCreS2HybkkVLj11rnbVxiavpIqn_TcClwZNpEfWXq4mS6CQp4qF50MvNPE9WX9taRpWuGYZH-k6ipYX8Mm6gcjej5a2WOeLL655ARg9Dmi57_/s1600-h/SM2_river+houses2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHxKnISETdPiInWBeSGm565jhIOKaeZFCreS2HybkkVLj11rnbVxiavpIqn_TcClwZNpEfWXq4mS6CQp4qF50MvNPE9WX9taRpWuGYZH-k6ipYX8Mm6gcjej5a2WOeLL655ARg9Dmi57_/s400/SM2_river+houses2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299183455610186690" /></a><br />We were a little surprised to see this enormous lizard along the banks near the boat. He was the size of our alligators:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxQ5mCOlks5LdMqB3qsZpuuCxE3yy-jQvOeTKO209HgHRsEFwuUNfaGbr50eBvhmG1mkCKe8K_bb6lxG4CDUw4a4hYlJkryONSr7QkiJqpUOqxMmgV2O9saKL_pUwlfJh1qEh1bFUE7sp/s1600-h/SM2_reptile.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxQ5mCOlks5LdMqB3qsZpuuCxE3yy-jQvOeTKO209HgHRsEFwuUNfaGbr50eBvhmG1mkCKe8K_bb6lxG4CDUw4a4hYlJkryONSr7QkiJqpUOqxMmgV2O9saKL_pUwlfJh1qEh1bFUE7sp/s400/SM2_reptile.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299185113025481906" /></a><br />This guy didn't seem to mind that tourists were passing by while he was doing his morning fishing in his underwear:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvqU8Pe9cE6KsYoqPPOimjStgogDti9YyYtDcfKR21_DjuiDazUQS7D2fJb4rIR_oRZqcTYTCz9n7_zDSSLrWRSylYzWKU3RThmco4NDaqJFwL6RbT5RdqlmaUtEEkq-rh9HrSvZQLX3p/s1600-h/SM2_fisherman.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvqU8Pe9cE6KsYoqPPOimjStgogDti9YyYtDcfKR21_DjuiDazUQS7D2fJb4rIR_oRZqcTYTCz9n7_zDSSLrWRSylYzWKU3RThmco4NDaqJFwL6RbT5RdqlmaUtEEkq-rh9HrSvZQLX3p/s400/SM2_fisherman.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299186277778716610" /></a><br />A woman selling snacks out of her boat:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvf1PbcLpwOBWPSoOSjp2OaeCnGPHFQM1Epdco2MfI0iotyufKeqMDlis_RVys5r6IDX-e2M-34aZlOiTeOzGRGwKDNSR0_VOJZ1uV-FTS4-iAqvE56ArH9cxHl2KbZYq1JNIMsV1c_Yb/s1600-h/SM2_boat+vendor.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvf1PbcLpwOBWPSoOSjp2OaeCnGPHFQM1Epdco2MfI0iotyufKeqMDlis_RVys5r6IDX-e2M-34aZlOiTeOzGRGwKDNSR0_VOJZ1uV-FTS4-iAqvE56ArH9cxHl2KbZYq1JNIMsV1c_Yb/s400/SM2_boat+vendor.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299185548257705362" /></a><br />Bangkok by boat is definitely a different feeling from walking along the streets. I highly recommend it for those of you that are going to visit!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-47960766373491863282009-02-04T22:17:00.009-05:002009-02-04T23:00:30.394-05:00On to Bangkok! The Grand PalaceAfter 3 more nights in the Patong area of Phuket Island, I finally left the island that was my home for 3 weeks and went with Zhang Yi to Bangkok. We'd spend 4 nights there! On the first day we went to the Grand Palace and adjoining temple:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73aeWKCoE2ADg31NaEcsfg8qtpKPPzIL-Uv3VZsSbZNtYyUKXIBeFBhnSQL43glYRuFvKDiDNBcHHPvNAfyoucF19xZ-ZkncWfaHYrSWi6WpBP6DpHrQFQ3i10ivK6VwqHBQ6imh_VtDN/s1600-h/SM1_grandpalace.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73aeWKCoE2ADg31NaEcsfg8qtpKPPzIL-Uv3VZsSbZNtYyUKXIBeFBhnSQL43glYRuFvKDiDNBcHHPvNAfyoucF19xZ-ZkncWfaHYrSWi6WpBP6DpHrQFQ3i10ivK6VwqHBQ6imh_VtDN/s400/SM1_grandpalace.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299148915702336226" /></a><br />The Grand Palace...is quite Grand!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KKuZAWXp_fC5eNnfd9F7dVFVi5kmF3pEqsP80sy2y0LttTCERMmYKFyILrgHTogy492WcRK-Vn_O06vgqq8oaPh4AOOh59lbq7qeZcfqTLaKnB-U24qulQ1_dFTNeHdebt-RaQZZFdZD/s1600-h/SM1_grandpalace2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KKuZAWXp_fC5eNnfd9F7dVFVi5kmF3pEqsP80sy2y0LttTCERMmYKFyILrgHTogy492WcRK-Vn_O06vgqq8oaPh4AOOh59lbq7qeZcfqTLaKnB-U24qulQ1_dFTNeHdebt-RaQZZFdZD/s400/SM1_grandpalace2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299149607518111122" /></a><br />The decorations on every wall, pillar and statue were very ornate and mostly mosaic work. Sometimes images of flowers or graphics and many were images of Buddha or other gods.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvBOs-8zR9DRrn51ZVDtu3iIdkaymShj7jE5_f5Ip3anz_HsdhpJSwtJK1bdkF30vMeDAKDmVo0bk2U2HG8hnoNBTojkBht8wr6g02EBhyphenhypheneX2wioGoPhl3bsABQp0trGtn1Z19lKM7Wz6/s1600-h/SM1_decoration2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvBOs-8zR9DRrn51ZVDtu3iIdkaymShj7jE5_f5Ip3anz_HsdhpJSwtJK1bdkF30vMeDAKDmVo0bk2U2HG8hnoNBTojkBht8wr6g02EBhyphenhypheneX2wioGoPhl3bsABQp0trGtn1Z19lKM7Wz6/s400/SM1_decoration2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299151300356184930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiYlE8b6pDLSq8whESWGLJXfR4PhLoCor9z9tGVAiVE_2ys18h1KHToTQUQ_ZMWaRLfjjz0ievFFRyoKMSmLJiMOtBq2bI_BaeOIi2w2ePQq3FXR4UudHoxb6ZrHw2q5-i9Ud7k-LI0TT/s1600-h/SM1_decoration.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiYlE8b6pDLSq8whESWGLJXfR4PhLoCor9z9tGVAiVE_2ys18h1KHToTQUQ_ZMWaRLfjjz0ievFFRyoKMSmLJiMOtBq2bI_BaeOIi2w2ePQq3FXR4UudHoxb6ZrHw2q5-i9Ud7k-LI0TT/s400/SM1_decoration.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299152761062942226" /></a><br />Exiting the palace we met some eager and cheerful street vendors. Zhang Yi...the shopoholic that she is, always stops!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96hrRM45A4PXws_5LM9n550c4Y4vTFtvZNPMPUVcFtO1LKGDCH1198j_YrB2lOGTBW7-9bQQtys0DpwVegwZL6gYuqq29HvXMdrZuatnlJdHgifreBu0s4wMthn_OhftTem3vxvWxHxct/s1600-h/SM1_street+vendors.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96hrRM45A4PXws_5LM9n550c4Y4vTFtvZNPMPUVcFtO1LKGDCH1198j_YrB2lOGTBW7-9bQQtys0DpwVegwZL6gYuqq29HvXMdrZuatnlJdHgifreBu0s4wMthn_OhftTem3vxvWxHxct/s400/SM1_street+vendors.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299153527472857586" /></a><br />More shopping. Thailand has gems and silver galore, and at cheaper prices that China!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0yg7O6dSzz99VZPJjJw3xrzQsq5zshY5KpzdE2fwaazZcRv14YQI5sVXVRsp4Suarmhu1R3OFULYUYsTBvYntxIp38eQJqD4wlkXe0QCI_ausQ-pk2dngK4SlrhLjaqx5zOdEZsFLj94/s1600-h/SM_jewels+and+gems.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0yg7O6dSzz99VZPJjJw3xrzQsq5zshY5KpzdE2fwaazZcRv14YQI5sVXVRsp4Suarmhu1R3OFULYUYsTBvYntxIp38eQJqD4wlkXe0QCI_ausQ-pk2dngK4SlrhLjaqx5zOdEZsFLj94/s400/SM_jewels+and+gems.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299154697287889058" /></a><br />Later that night we wandered along KhaoSan road, where we were staying. Every square inch is full of people selling something or some street food. We stopped for fresh mango in coconut juice. Mmmmm.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2IoEROJV7_mcf676IHHZjehXRM7Sbn_ttrCUpRTe3tHls3p4CG-rxy_FuCrON8afiA2z23sdw4c7lrex_tcQPYVdoWMRJgeqp2B8X_D6D0MHKiirJ1YCiv01fOsSZnzNT5ZTJ2VRrE6y2/s1600-h/SM_mangowithrice.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2IoEROJV7_mcf676IHHZjehXRM7Sbn_ttrCUpRTe3tHls3p4CG-rxy_FuCrON8afiA2z23sdw4c7lrex_tcQPYVdoWMRJgeqp2B8X_D6D0MHKiirJ1YCiv01fOsSZnzNT5ZTJ2VRrE6y2/s400/SM_mangowithrice.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299155874158049170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmakMvylqVA6Oj9CgWjues4zZhrnnVAj9X94wgv2AL5aO3LGQjaXQU-P-7FJ574fkN6ehBNq6Bro6pEJIiqM6_9vb8fdaAxlX-TW7xOe_0p3o5xysQICk7ZykCRuv754DsRscXq2oChoV/s1600-h/SM_khao+san+road.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmakMvylqVA6Oj9CgWjues4zZhrnnVAj9X94wgv2AL5aO3LGQjaXQU-P-7FJ574fkN6ehBNq6Bro6pEJIiqM6_9vb8fdaAxlX-TW7xOe_0p3o5xysQICk7ZykCRuv754DsRscXq2oChoV/s400/SM_khao+san+road.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299157704714276050" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-70381504986405917392009-01-29T22:18:00.004-05:002009-01-29T22:34:33.847-05:00Moved to Patong, Zhang Yi comes to town!After the fast I did raw foods for a bit and then broths and cooked vegetables. Day 17 I finished something like 20+ pounds lighter and feeling very good! I moved to a hotel in Patong, another area on Phuket Island and went Wednesday night to pick up Zhang Yi (Jenny) at the airport. We'll be in Thailand together for one last week before we head back to Beijing.<br /><br />After she arrived, we had coconuts on the first lunch! How typical, right? This lunch was the first time in my life that I've ever eaten raw oysters,...and I must say that they were fabulous! The Thai served them with a little lime and chili sauce and it was perfect! (Yes, I'm eating seafood, fruit and vegetables now! Nothing else though. It's not hard to keep to that at all in Thailand!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2keSUg10nACim3mXyvFihK852rA7O6QMS7gNb9gBaMiR9kKDNLqEngaYm_wdOoSavWLMMR64WAL-Jh8wpSk5JYxRAb-ETXCvtGs_qqW6jhFVOVS0Pnv2s7xK_DA-xDU3d4RJNAptSqIb/s1600-h/SM_coconuts+on+first+day+with+zhangyi.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2keSUg10nACim3mXyvFihK852rA7O6QMS7gNb9gBaMiR9kKDNLqEngaYm_wdOoSavWLMMR64WAL-Jh8wpSk5JYxRAb-ETXCvtGs_qqW6jhFVOVS0Pnv2s7xK_DA-xDU3d4RJNAptSqIb/s400/SM_coconuts+on+first+day+with+zhangyi.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296921856008631538" /></a><br />After lunch we went elephant riding with a third friend from the fasting center. Also a first for me! Our elephant was 32 years old, and the guide was 22.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehpINdkDkyzkUF5wyJGSJu8DtZSFYLu1yJoPdbWih4tLdAAAgtrs_iwHP8Rj2T8L1Qujb-vpJ8i0GgOkeG0php_pQTxhfH3WioRsmh3WbT9CSu3itHXWxcKSmlj3fHcNU9TTZ8b9-foar/s1600-h/SM_elephant+riding.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehpINdkDkyzkUF5wyJGSJu8DtZSFYLu1yJoPdbWih4tLdAAAgtrs_iwHP8Rj2T8L1Qujb-vpJ8i0GgOkeG0php_pQTxhfH3WioRsmh3WbT9CSu3itHXWxcKSmlj3fHcNU9TTZ8b9-foar/s400/SM_elephant+riding.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296923102061259346" /></a><br />Saying goodbye was hard! He was such a cute creature...but a bit of a beggar when it came to bananas :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMluT7w41aQv-Vr492DWCMdxQEfSmu0BdGaJvmM-sys5yw2zDudrxa5Yzxx73XKCteeSZoiemo9YOjzpO0yk6jekiZXb-pHDSkfQ6vG4WvFBZO_xjt4vSfn3YCXnSU9tM6itQd2O7bLM_/s1600-h/SM_saying+goodbye+to+elephant.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMluT7w41aQv-Vr492DWCMdxQEfSmu0BdGaJvmM-sys5yw2zDudrxa5Yzxx73XKCteeSZoiemo9YOjzpO0yk6jekiZXb-pHDSkfQ6vG4WvFBZO_xjt4vSfn3YCXnSU9tM6itQd2O7bLM_/s400/SM_saying+goodbye+to+elephant.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296923429152650818" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-65011933180144107092009-01-25T07:10:00.006-05:002009-01-25T08:28:22.310-05:00Thai Fast: Day 13, 14: Food Tomorrow!!!That's right, day 14 is the last day of the full fast. Tomorrow morning I get to slowly begin "breaking" the fast. For three days I will be allowed 2 green salads, 1 plate of fruit and 2 fruit drinks for the day. This raw food should be spread out over 6 small meals. Your body has trained itself to be in "starvation" mode as it has not had food for two weeks. Small, frequent, raw meals get your body accustomed to the fact that it will have food coming on a regular basis and does not need to store everything. It coaxes the metabolism up to a normal level. Only after a few days of raw can you slowly start adding other things and seeing how you feel. One shrimp here, a few nuts there. Anyway, the thought of starting to eat a little tomorrow is exciting. Lord knows that is all that we sit around and talk about all day!<br /><br />Saturday, Day 13, we went for a morning walk on the beach. It was a beautiful morning. Lots of folks were exercising and there was a big group of folks training in Thai Boxing.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJArb8dYaK7SKbHZSS7L5LVRhE82ALs6HgrQ0tXctZrsBQ6qKZUe7N-QLTluNox8o4psvLQ5e5CWJ62MZfxGXfzHDkqK0YnafuGjdMAp_ZaXDiBJYhyphenhyphenXbtYH6J7c8tq_OPRenKfqZzKpfB/s1600-h/SM3-+sailboats.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJArb8dYaK7SKbHZSS7L5LVRhE82ALs6HgrQ0tXctZrsBQ6qKZUe7N-QLTluNox8o4psvLQ5e5CWJ62MZfxGXfzHDkqK0YnafuGjdMAp_ZaXDiBJYhyphenhyphenXbtYH6J7c8tq_OPRenKfqZzKpfB/s400/SM3-+sailboats.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295204344478776034" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwTalm2aY3knlUHnRoUUWB-1NIFrZZn_phDQ4-uNhm3CfcLr2qTSFzbSvp_tQ-Td_77iV_Q5nwF_hecMeWn9xam2qtupFiidMXbpU5uLxaogqKIU4LgmW7kDcT03fab0l1lbJKy8ZO-AN/s1600-h/SM2-+thai+boxing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwTalm2aY3knlUHnRoUUWB-1NIFrZZn_phDQ4-uNhm3CfcLr2qTSFzbSvp_tQ-Td_77iV_Q5nwF_hecMeWn9xam2qtupFiidMXbpU5uLxaogqKIU4LgmW7kDcT03fab0l1lbJKy8ZO-AN/s400/SM2-+thai+boxing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295204733942455858" /></a><br />The evening of Day 14, Sunday, we went on a sunset trip. Wasn't much of a sunset with the clouds, but it draws quite a crowd nonetheless. And it is never painful to look at all of these beautiful islands.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4i9IcVRtdsiClNSUiQud092BgUCKWkMxMsJnHP_eYPepHiSL1jjSpCV0Yvk7pBBfa67l1rlS7dyxJ6uQLG1LylK9_pFue34fa-_yBatqKJSH1EOBqOobbqzO4m6wH4S3siPQykeVMNcWn/s1600-h/SM_palm+trees.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4i9IcVRtdsiClNSUiQud092BgUCKWkMxMsJnHP_eYPepHiSL1jjSpCV0Yvk7pBBfa67l1rlS7dyxJ6uQLG1LylK9_pFue34fa-_yBatqKJSH1EOBqOobbqzO4m6wH4S3siPQykeVMNcWn/s400/SM_palm+trees.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295222217355798882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-H-e7VyzRaohDK8mOQSB-kwW9J-dwjNSxtuf1tQqfo5Zqwjzu5Qxui5eNZhQNX1-B67ZYeczexXvh_S1gLsn1GazvEweksaLEBcB22P9XTpMWEnoszHJWTORSnC2eIFWMpwaQTJ6ah57K/s1600-h/SM_sunset+night.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-H-e7VyzRaohDK8mOQSB-kwW9J-dwjNSxtuf1tQqfo5Zqwjzu5Qxui5eNZhQNX1-B67ZYeczexXvh_S1gLsn1GazvEweksaLEBcB22P9XTpMWEnoszHJWTORSnC2eIFWMpwaQTJ6ah57K/s400/SM_sunset+night.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295222012222655682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsg-m-FT7YCa4ucn-dVOZV3oqLDGgdx96LS8TNe3uV31GdZw5lwdlwa9iskcrzEsHT1eTIPzbR2Ii5r2tBmLWR_g8LWLx7FdSr3QxRXqxz5ugWITVVQntJ7Y32D7d3Ai62ZkhDy3xdO-iD/s1600-h/SM_sunset.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsg-m-FT7YCa4ucn-dVOZV3oqLDGgdx96LS8TNe3uV31GdZw5lwdlwa9iskcrzEsHT1eTIPzbR2Ii5r2tBmLWR_g8LWLx7FdSr3QxRXqxz5ugWITVVQntJ7Y32D7d3Ai62ZkhDy3xdO-iD/s400/SM_sunset.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295222426321121762" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-27568048444745364912009-01-24T00:34:00.014-05:002009-01-24T06:08:00.813-05:00Thai Fast: Days 11 & 12: Big Buddha and Patong TripDay 11 we went to see the "Big Buddha" project that is on one of the highest spots of Phuket. The Buddha is enormous and can be seen from almost anywhere on the island.<br />A man gazing at the Big Buddha:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfiFdziehsydxgHxZ-0BZMETZAGX1mNn89HiL6GZ1yPN58NhdarZv3L5yqLMKpuq9d5H99HZ1KPP68MhXmJIW4gm6yI7eJPF1cSetCwOe4pZOOS5nklicuz40JJ5ovbCwN6uhfktIiqUg/s1600-h/SM2-gazing+at+big+buddha.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfiFdziehsydxgHxZ-0BZMETZAGX1mNn89HiL6GZ1yPN58NhdarZv3L5yqLMKpuq9d5H99HZ1KPP68MhXmJIW4gm6yI7eJPF1cSetCwOe4pZOOS5nklicuz40JJ5ovbCwN6uhfktIiqUg/s400/SM2-gazing+at+big+buddha.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294729717552821778" /></a><br />There are monks that live on the premises. This one had the public rotation where he sits and blesses the visitors that come in:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwZRjbtG4qHbztVPEJW81gIXMg79zCM87CC5VRfzuhtVmFf1eM1vtKcOwPDt2M2DNHfJF-FHt6b9uFmyeHbgYrFAlgJUrrFBUGcdlEOVA-f_QzYrlsx294vCiXH0P0NgiBV0KCuM3xxq5/s1600-h/SM2-+monk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwZRjbtG4qHbztVPEJW81gIXMg79zCM87CC5VRfzuhtVmFf1eM1vtKcOwPDt2M2DNHfJF-FHt6b9uFmyeHbgYrFAlgJUrrFBUGcdlEOVA-f_QzYrlsx294vCiXH0P0NgiBV0KCuM3xxq5/s400/SM2-+monk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294809888030975042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGtkwMC8Y-YCbVkKLHUvJjtLI4kqep8xSAtaPsll5SzdmaBzQDm3FKJtRAJ8blId01gp7iPOBeRdse9C61aoXQUInzd97yoHD-iMKF3siMMh9gkKo9EpQRmiAh8UYpYhysTLpSznmyIml/s1600-h/SM2-+bells.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGtkwMC8Y-YCbVkKLHUvJjtLI4kqep8xSAtaPsll5SzdmaBzQDm3FKJtRAJ8blId01gp7iPOBeRdse9C61aoXQUInzd97yoHD-iMKF3siMMh9gkKo9EpQRmiAh8UYpYhysTLpSznmyIml/s200/SM2-+bells.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294762709066312018" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMl4MLibnk6EO2CR2A507gAEvsvmXE8Av2zJdd780QRPwfUyV1YK6uWYaCdxUV8aIa-J2XAQ5oQqw1YLOFhAQUbfK_X-w7piSLb-rQjIvAPMlfN_dkd-WiKQmnqvMXhZLSfraBoT06ExJ_/s1600-h/SM2-+elephant.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMl4MLibnk6EO2CR2A507gAEvsvmXE8Av2zJdd780QRPwfUyV1YK6uWYaCdxUV8aIa-J2XAQ5oQqw1YLOFhAQUbfK_X-w7piSLb-rQjIvAPMlfN_dkd-WiKQmnqvMXhZLSfraBoT06ExJ_/s200/SM2-+elephant.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294808160474243234" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxGjYPGk8qlZOundjEa2Rmz7E2ZX7PF_x5FykoS3EBr3ILjwNfUmeFYx_ZjE6YKm7rXNCpSrYboBVXVSMrfWYMoXwivMlWrQtFpXIlilmqq2Eh2dTA8L-JIWgtUpgCTl6DoF5kIEblEqY/s1600-h/SM2-+misc.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxGjYPGk8qlZOundjEa2Rmz7E2ZX7PF_x5FykoS3EBr3ILjwNfUmeFYx_ZjE6YKm7rXNCpSrYboBVXVSMrfWYMoXwivMlWrQtFpXIlilmqq2Eh2dTA8L-JIWgtUpgCTl6DoF5kIEblEqY/s200/SM2-+misc.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294808521025509842" /></a><br />A Coconut Juice break...again. Can you tell this is the ONLY treat we are allowed? :-)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqDgtsp_0JPbmmoPOivgLNjgiYLq06ffyiZxunTRJJqNnOekiSPqlvxlTYx-vpFU9q4LCaCi3atGEB8bYvAQFKQPN7v4G2LK1Km57Ke_4YQh90Qb3OzlGM5Iy6bI4lB9p4eGgbnA71FEO/s1600-h/SM2-+coconuts.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqDgtsp_0JPbmmoPOivgLNjgiYLq06ffyiZxunTRJJqNnOekiSPqlvxlTYx-vpFU9q4LCaCi3atGEB8bYvAQFKQPN7v4G2LK1Km57Ke_4YQh90Qb3OzlGM5Iy6bI4lB9p4eGgbnA71FEO/s400/SM2-+coconuts.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294808996491550514" /></a><br />Evening of Day 12 we went out to Patong. A crowded area full of shopping, lights and night activity. Incedentally, it is also the better place in Phuket for seeing Thailand's infamous "Ladyboys."<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqslaDYI7kkgzjeiSWSgpH-rXpnaMk3DlFtZOkJWMhebYvORlR3BsiUgGnl_PfUONQe5V6C4ipYCO6r_f4Mxb_a2X6cG8ieAlHWSXvFpNaiYk-n6J7lI26ynJ_Q2fMWGLxjHDf_hjsi-Br/s1600-h/SM-+welcome+to+patong.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqslaDYI7kkgzjeiSWSgpH-rXpnaMk3DlFtZOkJWMhebYvORlR3BsiUgGnl_PfUONQe5V6C4ipYCO6r_f4Mxb_a2X6cG8ieAlHWSXvFpNaiYk-n6J7lI26ynJ_Q2fMWGLxjHDf_hjsi-Br/s400/SM-+welcome+to+patong.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294811120181044450" /></a><br />Nicole and Myself with two of the Ladyboys. Yes, transgenders. They were born men and then made the transformation later in life:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46Nk-yxaEyjlCZdWrmRxjjBagUMUn6Uo88L-E1s3QEtm1BOxTOpKfWCnyfHjkNnjbTgJ20VuSmzoQ_bRSDSsq6j5D5gYzPMDWy_G5h-cZ-uzHjRuXFuYqdGljul_rvqXqDSNMcSwsugUs/s1600-h/SM2-+ladyboys.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46Nk-yxaEyjlCZdWrmRxjjBagUMUn6Uo88L-E1s3QEtm1BOxTOpKfWCnyfHjkNnjbTgJ20VuSmzoQ_bRSDSsq6j5D5gYzPMDWy_G5h-cZ-uzHjRuXFuYqdGljul_rvqXqDSNMcSwsugUs/s400/SM2-+ladyboys.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294813098971587778" /></a><br />Check out the size of this seafood! The restaurants all put it out on ice to show you what you are getting before you agree to come in:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYy_86vNTw6H465fgm23QneILiZTMz6R1S6hrdIKpVwjktvmQwBSoRmDNqqxRY3uVSJjwO5qK4GpebVORVyVVVWQI9k_mrTk9wxEq2991FSudZneHLrtYju8l6zhXFWyA0KxmRxmtDrzC/s1600-h/SM2-+seafood.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYy_86vNTw6H465fgm23QneILiZTMz6R1S6hrdIKpVwjktvmQwBSoRmDNqqxRY3uVSJjwO5qK4GpebVORVyVVVWQI9k_mrTk9wxEq2991FSudZneHLrtYju8l6zhXFWyA0KxmRxmtDrzC/s400/SM2-+seafood.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294813753175106626" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-11959912216025611752009-01-21T07:33:00.009-05:002009-01-21T07:58:42.359-05:00Thai Fast: Days 8-10Days 8 and 9 were relatively uneventful. Evening activity on Day 8 was a bit of Tai Chi and Day 9 was a nutrition talk and coaching on how to break our fasts. We also got to look at lots of lovely pictures of stuff that should be and is coming out of us! You wouldn't believe the stomach plaque and parasites that everyone is seeing leave their bodies. It's downright scary. <br /><br />During evening activities, around 7pm all the creatures start to come out. Frogs, crickets, geckos, and mosquitos, (Mossies as the Australians here call them), and probably some more unpleasant things. I love the lizards that hang out near the light. I took a picture of one on Tai Chi night. Thanks to Geico I always imagine them speaking in Australian accents!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VBiBh4L1L2Ui2PHimpmCZsn-9tHXfTzaEr6W3sunX_cenboVs9jqaasR_MTBHxedtY0BGTwE_bnbi6NSFt1J-2r2VW-7PAUstkJoXO_q-e7RRQlCAfLbxmTi0JXLCAODXXS3EgOyiZnE/s1600-h/SM_gecko.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VBiBh4L1L2Ui2PHimpmCZsn-9tHXfTzaEr6W3sunX_cenboVs9jqaasR_MTBHxedtY0BGTwE_bnbi6NSFt1J-2r2VW-7PAUstkJoXO_q-e7RRQlCAfLbxmTi0JXLCAODXXS3EgOyiZnE/s400/SM_gecko.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293724800259672706" /></a><br />Day 10 we went on a "moutain walk" which was really just an uphill walk on a road. We went up to a peak that overlooks a little section of the island. On the way we ran into Dha doing her morning exercise. Dha is my favorite masseuse...she really takes care of us! (And yes, hide your disbelief, Stephanie is getting a tan!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhq5XLj5TveNNdwItQzMvEb0w54CBHlxcOkrIVGg4uzw8mQWPruRhRqlJpb-yLl9SLWIgoLO8OU3pkQDsbvvZeJgEpGdoXmr8npIt-kowK_Xr9G66RRoyDRNSU08D7_IG06Qqa0XhVkkj/s1600-h/SM_me+with+Dha.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhq5XLj5TveNNdwItQzMvEb0w54CBHlxcOkrIVGg4uzw8mQWPruRhRqlJpb-yLl9SLWIgoLO8OU3pkQDsbvvZeJgEpGdoXmr8npIt-kowK_Xr9G66RRoyDRNSU08D7_IG06Qqa0XhVkkj/s400/SM_me+with+Dha.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293726710867508786" /></a><br />A view of Nai Harn beach half-way up the hill. This is the only beach I've actually been to on Phuket, and there are lots!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUs46YFcrZsuIUI1eFXCQ0FUwBUSMwTySwQXykApTXdzF_vJmq2l81wEhcBF4S0GAbwvitaKy_dDIUmrGvi8sdftBEakd7n554mRFyfu-xwODnOmrk82J1Y_KV9BJ42L9aES1JWqTYR4sl/s1600-h/SM_naiharn+beach+from+above.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUs46YFcrZsuIUI1eFXCQ0FUwBUSMwTySwQXykApTXdzF_vJmq2l81wEhcBF4S0GAbwvitaKy_dDIUmrGvi8sdftBEakd7n554mRFyfu-xwODnOmrk82J1Y_KV9BJ42L9aES1JWqTYR4sl/s400/SM_naiharn+beach+from+above.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293726144352707250" /></a><br />On of the views from the top, check out that water and coral underneath!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1dBsp7Qk_55xzhi2rzoPQ-vHnyoX1k7mZU5qXEkxkm645GxLIVZ_17dqTgxW7aoGRX4HI0s-CqCc8WwsBmc_KLjzw8cdIeVHiQ4sYx-1nBGrnnaKS1qi9goR14DuUf1vqSKGnoz2j7rN/s1600-h/SM_looking+at+the+beach+below.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1dBsp7Qk_55xzhi2rzoPQ-vHnyoX1k7mZU5qXEkxkm645GxLIVZ_17dqTgxW7aoGRX4HI0s-CqCc8WwsBmc_KLjzw8cdIeVHiQ4sYx-1nBGrnnaKS1qi9goR14DuUf1vqSKGnoz2j7rN/s400/SM_looking+at+the+beach+below.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293727430120898194" /></a><br />A few from the group resting at the lookout over a nearby island:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDvcIX0RJHzQlp_hdbEIIAM84cGCuzBw4iKTHEQsmuSfvGv4FlsBofyIKbDGle6-VGTC0-ad2-N7Po53_1bvrTCL5rp-4Mv3lv8zRQmVdpoz_lN-PBPhk7GZ9xZjuL234iCdrGzhkXSq5/s1600-h/SM_resting.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDvcIX0RJHzQlp_hdbEIIAM84cGCuzBw4iKTHEQsmuSfvGv4FlsBofyIKbDGle6-VGTC0-ad2-N7Po53_1bvrTCL5rp-4Mv3lv8zRQmVdpoz_lN-PBPhk7GZ9xZjuL234iCdrGzhkXSq5/s400/SM_resting.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293725700979987410" /></a><br />And for all of you that don't believe I'm actually there:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTjFYlzHJe8vockHhpF6DJmCNp6Uo-Ahwp13r3392k13SJNuXRrVWHSypNFoz00x-tFHl5fVh7ynHOLHAkf3PILu3YRwj7R-aaLJ53AzihlWlLOx6uA57C5echuohSogJde80mjMgzf2h/s1600-h/SM_me+at+the+top+of+the+cape.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTjFYlzHJe8vockHhpF6DJmCNp6Uo-Ahwp13r3392k13SJNuXRrVWHSypNFoz00x-tFHl5fVh7ynHOLHAkf3PILu3YRwj7R-aaLJ53AzihlWlLOx6uA57C5echuohSogJde80mjMgzf2h/s400/SM_me+at+the+top+of+the+cape.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293728031544087698" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-7640101583009059372009-01-19T04:03:00.001-05:002009-01-19T04:03:53.077-05:00Thai Fast: Day 7, Trip to the Night MarketAround 6pm we taxied to the night market in the middle of Phuket Town. There were people everywhere, and surprisingly a lot of locals. The outer ring of stalls were all food items and fresh local snacks, and the inner rings were shopping, gifts, etc. Just a few pics and a quick video for you:<br /><br />I had to watch as she arrange the kabobs and dribbled the amazing tangy/spicy sauce all over them! I'll have to come back for the tofu kabobs after the fast! No meat allowed that soon!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNAZ3lAQW-jqDU_HaojnfEjNS-1PnJG67ozOVYoBOfmXefxE6IVZzD1GZlj0puVb-TUDPhYVptxYv1IZGxsNs1P1mw4wCKP5oUYkqIjh_XgQVRNOF2s3kQS4JyMphUCSoFfOEntLkLJxD/s1600-h/SM+muslim+woman+with+kabobs,+phuket.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNAZ3lAQW-jqDU_HaojnfEjNS-1PnJG67ozOVYoBOfmXefxE6IVZzD1GZlj0puVb-TUDPhYVptxYv1IZGxsNs1P1mw4wCKP5oUYkqIjh_XgQVRNOF2s3kQS4JyMphUCSoFfOEntLkLJxD/s400/SM+muslim+woman+with+kabobs,+phuket.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292842245944233138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wmLJpuEGrG_AMHBLOzwyoogbFbUBYFM1Cv4xY_2EyJou5y-rFui7qLvV5HmYHxNKqjALtKCv9Upb5jgoCxg-UkiAdMsH0rTCIcgBCGhaeEZWcRUMHQlfJvjBu-2MNuevD7qs7V0fP3oO/s1600-h/SM+kabobs+in+phuket+market.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wmLJpuEGrG_AMHBLOzwyoogbFbUBYFM1Cv4xY_2EyJou5y-rFui7qLvV5HmYHxNKqjALtKCv9Upb5jgoCxg-UkiAdMsH0rTCIcgBCGhaeEZWcRUMHQlfJvjBu-2MNuevD7qs7V0fP3oO/s400/SM+kabobs+in+phuket+market.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292843461888364194" /></a><br />Selling flowers and knick-knacks.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vFP_1TPc39pwOl7JRRwf7EADSK2Sl-_WmyRcLxlVsvyc1Hn67VGyQS9iXf32fheool9b_ehV-rpisnz9wVMQTdAK5MZPM1pUqhl_FPZZTkeegOyhROsIqBYENoqcAI61IkXU5CC3UkDI/s1600-h/SM+flowers,+etc+in+phuket+market.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vFP_1TPc39pwOl7JRRwf7EADSK2Sl-_WmyRcLxlVsvyc1Hn67VGyQS9iXf32fheool9b_ehV-rpisnz9wVMQTdAK5MZPM1pUqhl_FPZZTkeegOyhROsIqBYENoqcAI61IkXU5CC3UkDI/s400/SM+flowers,+etc+in+phuket+market.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292844352688601298" /></a><br />Finally, a quick video of a small section of the food market:<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xIt5pjEz2Cc&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xIt5pjEz2Cc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />The shopping was pretty uninteresting at the market. Pretty cheap with a lot of knock-offs. Not much of anything I couldn't find in China. However, we all agreed that we would want to come back after the Fast for the variety of local snacks and treats!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-32360495818904865662009-01-17T05:56:00.009-05:002009-01-17T06:39:57.069-05:00Thai Fast: Days 4-6Days 4 and 5 were relatively uneventful. I spent the time letting my foot recover and didn't leave the wellness center as I was weaning off of crutches. Day 4 was definitely the low point of the fast. I was nauseous all day and slept most of the day and night. Day 5 and 6 I was back and feeling good. Always a little hungry, but had plenty of energy and stayed awake during the day.<br /><br />Day 6 was an excursion to Coral Island!! First we bundled up in a two row taxi truck sitting shoulder to shoulder:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREjqKqCL3LKk6pRzX5JvM0bwDO9mK0V9yKKMQGsB6UhOU1s0fYJmK356jw9FBRhGeOV0rsPYpcZB8ZPnJPfSGmuXahR4baTaxKaRaxDGaw2UYqN62SOFMPnHnBY1flJNVWnyCZ_0yPSgh/s1600-h/SM+in+the+bus.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREjqKqCL3LKk6pRzX5JvM0bwDO9mK0V9yKKMQGsB6UhOU1s0fYJmK356jw9FBRhGeOV0rsPYpcZB8ZPnJPfSGmuXahR4baTaxKaRaxDGaw2UYqN62SOFMPnHnBY1flJNVWnyCZ_0yPSgh/s400/SM+in+the+bus.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292217606574582722" /></a><br />The group making their way into the boats:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAc1UnuL5Qqj5wyXEG6gx1gPPYjI6FW8zhPwtJOeLBm_9V4E_0xyhR1XDKmgS6Y5z8Nx_JJ2ffdLv7810a61ng0B8T0z7esRPKin_M2IEGoj1F_h-dzvMsQ-GaSjAzi7Uy9hl8L7X1vQl/s1600-h/SM+walking+to+the+boats.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAc1UnuL5Qqj5wyXEG6gx1gPPYjI6FW8zhPwtJOeLBm_9V4E_0xyhR1XDKmgS6Y5z8Nx_JJ2ffdLv7810a61ng0B8T0z7esRPKin_M2IEGoj1F_h-dzvMsQ-GaSjAzi7Uy9hl8L7X1vQl/s400/SM+walking+to+the+boats.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292219532110907122" /></a><br />In the boat on our way:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGr2YezqOXHDk8ZuveUF3UmzcThqYJETfDaaGjD95FelUFxWJxKwBj_Ui-Msb0OV0nNO3FyNL-OaIR5I4NLQGhplHVDVho4DUWMjsQMfsngl8xGpKSz7CA9P8JAg-QGI9uiaYCs92MBwB/s1600-h/SM+in+the+boat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGr2YezqOXHDk8ZuveUF3UmzcThqYJETfDaaGjD95FelUFxWJxKwBj_Ui-Msb0OV0nNO3FyNL-OaIR5I4NLQGhplHVDVho4DUWMjsQMfsngl8xGpKSz7CA9P8JAg-QGI9uiaYCs92MBwB/s400/SM+in+the+boat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292221378921459842" /></a><br />Coral Island from the beach:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmb3gm4Oeq69KSCUyl4EynoYDy2YVvooBTdLaWlvnboQq4yJ1YflHvtSZXVfVRGbIuVJnsgkgaJ9w5wqxz2z9oro8s63VnAy5DpdrRSlNCbWUFWAj-KdHlBjcdGKG1ZtZVfaXsOUW3owXq/s1600-h/SM+on+coral+island.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmb3gm4Oeq69KSCUyl4EynoYDy2YVvooBTdLaWlvnboQq4yJ1YflHvtSZXVfVRGbIuVJnsgkgaJ9w5wqxz2z9oro8s63VnAy5DpdrRSlNCbWUFWAj-KdHlBjcdGKG1ZtZVfaXsOUW3owXq/s400/SM+on+coral+island.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292223738613821106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtV9U4NZjyuiKmxcxmj-YvOHpMuaX16QGJyqOfrvZjqQP-91dXaWzMOBwfFLRgyr35uOlaYhyphenhyphenjtcWdkRQKcIflqa8LV5cKhRvAY_XX8YnNsfWsnMLkgsna66PNQnnfrFH2ppC8aIx_1hm4/s1600-h/SM+coral+island+view.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtV9U4NZjyuiKmxcxmj-YvOHpMuaX16QGJyqOfrvZjqQP-91dXaWzMOBwfFLRgyr35uOlaYhyphenhyphenjtcWdkRQKcIflqa8LV5cKhRvAY_XX8YnNsfWsnMLkgsna66PNQnnfrFH2ppC8aIx_1hm4/s400/SM+coral+island+view.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292225468390381234" /></a><br />Snorkeling around the coral:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhBT0Y2XFg22vg6yNcHZLx_37eNVNBoF5DzhUrfoVGYOkmN0D1RZ4VyILvI8CmYx9XezpumMH-rrnPrOVgBKJmMM7X1438sbJZW52IaKJi6P0bZ1b4hJv8neOHrXMYVr9E5mDPdRSAmZN/s1600-h/SM+snorkeling.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhBT0Y2XFg22vg6yNcHZLx_37eNVNBoF5DzhUrfoVGYOkmN0D1RZ4VyILvI8CmYx9XezpumMH-rrnPrOVgBKJmMM7X1438sbJZW52IaKJi6P0bZ1b4hJv8neOHrXMYVr9E5mDPdRSAmZN/s400/SM+snorkeling.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292224216837017090" /></a><br />The fish went crazy around people because they were so used to being fed bread!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMLudbdgorWWgyqKCb0ApE0awr6ccRwAucN5Ko3EnT3m9JpHFrW6M_5JvnojWBgRuhgZULLQLK5FHpwv0Xu4zgnQd-NeFvj6blBOortO20kh-K7lInyCpmJTTMs3dVU8Pv9EfEohzh52m/s1600-h/SM+fish+in+the+water.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMLudbdgorWWgyqKCb0ApE0awr6ccRwAucN5Ko3EnT3m9JpHFrW6M_5JvnojWBgRuhgZULLQLK5FHpwv0Xu4zgnQd-NeFvj6blBOortO20kh-K7lInyCpmJTTMs3dVU8Pv9EfEohzh52m/s400/SM+fish+in+the+water.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292224443794960834" /></a><br />Enjoying fresh coconut juice. This was actually the first time I'd "cheated" in 6 days. Some folks are on fast + juice programs, but I'm on a pure fast program. The coconut juice was soooo sweet after all those nasty clay/fiber drinks!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7T9d6gWKRP7UhKZ_5v-MtBpBaT2g_UmV9gcXvwSBtHw4jEGTfOxyn552drF0f90x-CkrcUHD3_0pwTfHT-SWMApqgxXwsu5TP7E91nxVwQq8fvqr8CE5eKE_aLXEMTtoLnbj-AQSWYpxg/s1600-h/SM+just+got+our+coconuts.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7T9d6gWKRP7UhKZ_5v-MtBpBaT2g_UmV9gcXvwSBtHw4jEGTfOxyn552drF0f90x-CkrcUHD3_0pwTfHT-SWMApqgxXwsu5TP7E91nxVwQq8fvqr8CE5eKE_aLXEMTtoLnbj-AQSWYpxg/s400/SM+just+got+our+coconuts.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292224935258849218" /></a><br />A lovely day! I can't wait until the night market excursion tomorrow!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-5866114585168513202009-01-14T18:33:00.005-05:002009-01-14T18:46:56.848-05:00Thai Fast: Days 2 and 3.....The Good and the UglyDay 2 I got out and went on the beach trip in the afternoon. It was very pretty, cold water and white sand. This beach had a lot of people on it, but that also brought a lot of shopping and food/drink...which I was of course not allowed to partake in. I was still pretty hungry day 2, but Day 3 proved to be easier to handle.<br /><br />As you can see, there are a lot of islands right off of the coast of Phuket:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpe8EbZDtWWZYGeLXmBJsaX2-ovN4vr-whT3iYUE6P6Pev8hCF7gMpBWlrZFmW4kSpWHHdxWuVlj1gKFJP9-_wMCJNHbRctjj7Uvf-ahOJY4hJj2D3hM1vfZQxkp_TG0Rj-Ikf_Ea3Pet2/s1600-h/SM_beach+islands.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpe8EbZDtWWZYGeLXmBJsaX2-ovN4vr-whT3iYUE6P6Pev8hCF7gMpBWlrZFmW4kSpWHHdxWuVlj1gKFJP9-_wMCJNHbRctjj7Uvf-ahOJY4hJj2D3hM1vfZQxkp_TG0Rj-Ikf_Ea3Pet2/s400/SM_beach+islands.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291298046507617746" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZw-b7s9UKLJTEIZomJUqEPC24OuMtSZNEp4z6__cxsAc_Wl7qkBRhPQrfHBtuLfLwLKd0gEIpBuFNhMxG_DT7PBp6fBdsHbXFZrCMhGEibwziICkWMNSrTecswyS1B_QtnkAXwGonxc0p/s1600-h/SM_beach+hotels.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZw-b7s9UKLJTEIZomJUqEPC24OuMtSZNEp4z6__cxsAc_Wl7qkBRhPQrfHBtuLfLwLKd0gEIpBuFNhMxG_DT7PBp6fBdsHbXFZrCMhGEibwziICkWMNSrTecswyS1B_QtnkAXwGonxc0p/s400/SM_beach+hotels.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291298311000756178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4Pm4ejFLqwYTBQGijssgZdw91P1lez9TCtIQ0J_NLzPjG7elScJBypAYoUsntQH963pFmXUwPjxZRA5iIVYqaQImuOKiRrv5SW-ZGm-nIzgD4Cvg0mfVvp18woAnHTAPYSCzMcpEI87h/s1600-h/SM_beach+boats.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4Pm4ejFLqwYTBQGijssgZdw91P1lez9TCtIQ0J_NLzPjG7elScJBypAYoUsntQH963pFmXUwPjxZRA5iIVYqaQImuOKiRrv5SW-ZGm-nIzgD4Cvg0mfVvp18woAnHTAPYSCzMcpEI87h/s400/SM_beach+boats.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291298553791343826" /></a><br />After coming back from the beach and heading out the door to a massage, I mis-stepped and sprained my ankle. That put quite the damper on the afternoon of day 2 and morning of day 3. For 24 hours I couldn't put any weight on it and was hopping around my room to get things or go to the bathroom. Day 3 morning I went to the international hospital and it was X-rayed. No small fractures, just partially torn ligaments. So I got a compression wrap and crutches! Yay! Back on my feet again. By afternoon of day 3 I was already walking better with the crutches and able to put a little weight on it. It seems as if I cannot visit a country without going to its hospitals! This was my doctor:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4kkFKUNuRT9RK2n1VHRHiDd-dbl1_gBYa5HEtuzymkyeD54uWinJjqEuw4QyK8t7nHD97MvpKzTN-0KRQI621Qb72s8xGI5nmAc_U4-vGToTFEU7ACPpwm7PescntwUYpJuOR-_n84qs/s1600-h/SM_doctor.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4kkFKUNuRT9RK2n1VHRHiDd-dbl1_gBYa5HEtuzymkyeD54uWinJjqEuw4QyK8t7nHD97MvpKzTN-0KRQI621Qb72s8xGI5nmAc_U4-vGToTFEU7ACPpwm7PescntwUYpJuOR-_n84qs/s400/SM_doctor.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291299309323621042" /></a><br />And sorry if you don't want to see this, but I think it's cool!! This is the swollen and black/blue foot:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpr7xvhQr__J-f1qoY3YEbun-l8heK-qoKKm6jmwcwthwpoBdOpvVJLtDJWGult-HFhXmfnaC9QvRu7GS4otY-c1Z6jccwkEUdaVDiEmTyarbCONoqCn5UuTUfjevt_qv_9Gchn78rfS7s/s1600-h/SM_hurt+foot.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpr7xvhQr__J-f1qoY3YEbun-l8heK-qoKKm6jmwcwthwpoBdOpvVJLtDJWGult-HFhXmfnaC9QvRu7GS4otY-c1Z6jccwkEUdaVDiEmTyarbCONoqCn5UuTUfjevt_qv_9Gchn78rfS7s/s400/SM_hurt+foot.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291299466684036610" /></a><br />I'm just thankful that I'm planning on staying in this one place for another 10-12 days. If I was traveling around it would be most difficult!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371488418137899762.post-85114513795494951632009-01-12T19:06:00.006-05:002009-01-12T21:46:46.221-05:00A Thai Fast!As many of you know, I took off from Beijing a week after landing there. I suddenly decided in November that I should go south in January because it was so cold. Then i decided it should be Thailand because I've never been there. THEN I decided, wouldn't it be fun to go to one of those wellness centers there and do a fast too? So...I'm here! I'm doing a 14 day full fast followed by 3 days of raw foods to re-acclimate. I'm staying in a wellness center on Phuket Island in Thailand. As many of you know, this is the most famous tourist island with beautiful beaches, coral reefs and smaller islands off the coast for exploring. <br /><br />I am 10 minutes inland and living at the center, but they give rides to the beach every afternoon for anyone that wants to go. In case you're curious, I thought I should share some details with you about what's in this program I'm doing. this is my room, a home for almost 3 weeks:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIFVxwQdU_P5wR5HU3HDQMly1DD7Cz06Rt2hgL7c16B8UpTC7SVDiig9oB31mjza_TVwMmr-QG-13ZkjILy-m_W__w6hDs45BFBnyyjcikHUxuzwWTf3CtC5Sa4ilgkVtocdKv_lSjiOo/s1600-h/SM_my+room.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIFVxwQdU_P5wR5HU3HDQMly1DD7Cz06Rt2hgL7c16B8UpTC7SVDiig9oB31mjza_TVwMmr-QG-13ZkjILy-m_W__w6hDs45BFBnyyjcikHUxuzwWTf3CtC5Sa4ilgkVtocdKv_lSjiOo/s400/SM_my+room.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290566650739386178" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">What I "eat"...which isn't much!</span><br />7:00 am: Herbs<br />9:30 am: Fiber and Clay Drink<br />11:00 am: Herbs<br />1:00 pm: Fiber and Clay Drink<br />3:00 pm: Herbs<br />5:00 pm: Fiber and Clay Drink<br />6:00 pm: Broth Soup<br />7:00 pm: Herbs<br />9:00 pm: Fiber and Clay Drink<br />10:00 pm: Pro-biotic Tablet to replace your healthy bacteria.<br /><br />I know this sounds like a lot…but it is just a few pills and scoops of nutritional supplements. In the picture below, this is the bag we received in the morning of day 1 and the consultant said, “Here is all your food for the next 2 weeks!” Yikes.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXzNz7JgE5ElELoLU9FvKspOvk5XhvZsIYqfIrq5V2PLsO2J61t_WjMa9aNURvnknwSO03DJ2jBrea_N_608sF7Jom0oSL9f3UcxaiNVurRb01ICoU9L8jKjW7gOrqjnQsJtg7-o9lk01/s1600-h/SM_2+weeks+food.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXzNz7JgE5ElELoLU9FvKspOvk5XhvZsIYqfIrq5V2PLsO2J61t_WjMa9aNURvnknwSO03DJ2jBrea_N_608sF7Jom0oSL9f3UcxaiNVurRb01ICoU9L8jKjW7gOrqjnQsJtg7-o9lk01/s400/SM_2+weeks+food.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290566103490641794" /></a><br /><br />Now for what I do! <span style="font-weight:bold;">Activities:</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">7:30 am: Morning Ritual</span>: This can include a combination of Yoga, stretching, Tai Chi, or Reflexology. Nothing too challenging. It’s more to get your blood moving and get you relaxed for the day.<br /><br />A meeting lining up massage and therapy times for the rest of the day:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTq0Q4iK-j9A1sEAZDUod_NQXT6aQ_UF6iJuzmgXoJPHkyss3i6vG_Xn-Ihr4F1yEYxnprmfe35EFTlb8oIGERXdDnQlWzjT568C4TKUMnDDx9fMRGqjUm_BHaJxqgWgdlVsU2chr8bcAp/s1600-h/SM_morning+meeting.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTq0Q4iK-j9A1sEAZDUod_NQXT6aQ_UF6iJuzmgXoJPHkyss3i6vG_Xn-Ihr4F1yEYxnprmfe35EFTlb8oIGERXdDnQlWzjT568C4TKUMnDDx9fMRGqjUm_BHaJxqgWgdlVsU2chr8bcAp/s400/SM_morning+meeting.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290603859885175762" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">11:45 am: Morning Colema</span>: A therapy that runs water all the way through your colon for 30-40 minutes, flushing it out. Sounds gross, and is a little weird in implementation, but you’d be amazed what’s in there and how long it has been stuck in the linings of your colon.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">12-3 pm: Beach time</span>: The center’s driver will make 10 minute trips to the beach during these hours if you want to go. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">2:45 pm: 1 Hour Massage </span>(YAY! My favorite part of the day. You can choose between Oil, Thai, Shiatsu, Foot Reflexology or Face and shoulder Massages.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">5:00 pm: Evening Colema:</span> A repeat of what you did in the morning. But you can choose what types of colemas you want for various effects. Coffee, vitamin C, garlic and pure water are some of the choices. All have their advantages, and you can’t feel a difference.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">5-6:30 pm: Herbal Steam Sauna</span>: Wood-burning sauna that will run during these hours for those that are interested.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">7:00 pm: “Something at 7”</span>: This can include anything from yoga, dancing, kickboxing, nutritional classes, etc. You can chose to participate.<br /><br />As you can see, there is really only free time in the mid-afternoon and after 8:30 at night. I’m thankful for all of it, because you need stuff to take up your time when you are thinking about food. I was very hungry the first day, starting around 11am, when your body is missing breakfast. I stayed hungry throughout the day, feeling only a little satisfied when we had hot tea or the fiber drinks. At night I dreamed that I had broken my fast and was eating my Dad’s cookies. Haha…of all things to appear in the dream! I was exhausted by 7pm and went to bed, missing the evening activity. They say days 1-5 are the hardest, 6-14 should be much easier. Following day 14 I will have 3 days of raw foods to bring me back to the world of solid foods gracefully. No binge-eating. It is 3 salads + fruit juice during the day because your body has to get used to digesting and bring the metabolism back up from the fasting rate. <br />Day 1 down, 13 to go!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3