Tagged With: China
Impressed With China
So did my year in China have me looking back with appreciation for its history and spirit? Or were the pollution and big government detractors of my enjoyment? Yes. Days before I left to go to China a liberal-minded friend said he was interested to see if my political views might change upon being in … Continue reading
Wild Monkeys
It was my last day at the Wu Dang Shan Tai Chi Academy. I was leaving at four o’clock that afternoon. And the anticipation of my exit provided a new vibe to my remaining hours. One thing I wanted to squeeze in that final day was to explore a creek that flowed in the valley … Continue reading
Tai Chi: Fantastical Reality
Initially, I chose to come to Wu Dang Shan (rather than other sights in China) because I wanted to participate in the culture—by way of doing tai chi. But let’s not neglect the fact that sight-seeing is part of the appeal here, too. Come along and enjoy the scenery that is also the history at … Continue reading
Tai Chi 2: The Lifestyle
Last time we looked at the practice. This time it’s about the place and the people, about what life was like there on Wu Dang Shan. First the setting: life there is encased in a sea of mountain tops and valleys, adding to the ambiance in ways only thought possible in movies or imagination: When mist provided … Continue reading
Tai chi: Practicing the Present
My trainer and I arrived at the tai chi school mid-morning. Last time I showed you a few pictures of what this mountainside martial art boarding school looked like. After dropping my stuff in my room, my trainer took me back outside to begin. Not wasting any time. On the other side of the street … Continue reading
Up the Mountain
I had a decision to make. After the small-town experiences in Henan province, was I going to travel north to sight-see the Longmen Caves? There, centuries ago, Buddhist monks decorated hundreds of caves with a museum of sculptures. Or was I to head south, into the adjacent province of Hubei? I read about a beautiful … Continue reading
A Little China Choo-Choo
China train travel. Hmm, whats that like? Well, that depends on where you are. On my train trip from Zhuhai to Guangzhou–one city in Guangdong province to another–the train was brand new and the ride pristine. Elsewhere I went , not so much. These rides were the stereotype of Chinese train travel. And when I went … Continue reading
Beijing: On a Day of Worship
Howdy, Readers! Day two of my trek through China had me getting to know some lesser-known, but more personable aspects of China’s capital, Beijing. Having gotten in late the night before, I reserved this day for what I was taught Sundays to be: the Sabbath and/or lazy days for whatever. It was a real walk … Continue reading
Yangshuo: Grateful for Rain
Yes, that’s right. I was grateful for the “bad” weather during my time there. Crazy, huh? Well, normally I’d wish for blue skies just like the next fella, but something about this place made the rain feel appropriate. In fact, sunny weather would’ve been a bit lacking. Day two ends my three-part series about this … Continue reading
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