I have returned to school in order to get my Bachelor of Education (After) degree, so it may cut down on my posting to this site.
I have been busy getting all of my paperwork in order, meeting profs and fellow students, looking for a place to stay, and on and on. It has been an exciting but at the same time stressful time.
Stay tuned.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Reasons Why
I was reading Eve's post about the 'Boycott American Women' website. There were some good comments made about it, and even I had something to say. I said that the reason I boycott women is because I am painfully shy. I am an introvert. I've always been an introvert, but the way I lived my life made it a stronger part of my character than perhaps it should have been.
My folks moved around a lot. In the 90's, I bought one of those books where you fill in your family history, and the pages that described where we lived were completely filled in. This was before I went to Korea. I need another book for those.
I had a couple of good friends in elementary school, when we were living in Deadmonton. After I had finished grade 6, we moved back to Calgary, where we moved a coupla more times. In junior high and high school, I was the new kid. A new kid who's shy is not going to be part of a crowd. I had a few friends (never at the same time), but they sort of petered out, and by the time I graduated, I was close to no-one.
And girls?
Forget about it!
In junior high, I was interested, but could not bring myself to let them know it. I was too scared of what might happen. I learned to build a wall around my feelings and bury them deep.
That's been the pattern throughout my life. I can talk to women upon occasion, but any attempt on my part to take it beyond a certain point causes a complete brain freeze and I turn into an incoherently babbling idiot.
I mean, more than usual.
So I've come to a point in my life where I know that it's just not going to happen for me. I'm learning to be comfortable with myself, because I know that that's all I will have.
A posting on Facebook alerted me to a book about the subject, called The Introvert Advantage by Marti Laney, PsyD. It's a pretty good description of what I'm like.
I don't talk until I have something to say.
I need a reason to talk.
I've given up on trying to find something to say, just to be part of the conversation. It has to come naturally.
I like having few friends, because most people aren't worth my time. I'd rather have one Flint as a friend than a hundred of them.
I'm happy in my Batmancave, because mooks can't figure out the entry code.
I can think clearer without their noise.
I'm not interested in what is popular, or hearing about it from other people. I've got my own shit to think about.
Like Popeye says, 'I am what I am.'
My mom is driven to despair sometimes, because I don't perform well (for her) when she introduces me to her friends. She thinks I'm rude. I tried to tell her about this book, and explain why I do the things I do, but she still doesn't get it. Most people won't, but I don't worry about them anymore.
Flint's post about how Korea prepared him goes for me, too. Learning to deal with the stress of living and working in the Land of Morning Calm (and Afternoon Confusion) makes that as easy as pie.
My folks moved around a lot. In the 90's, I bought one of those books where you fill in your family history, and the pages that described where we lived were completely filled in. This was before I went to Korea. I need another book for those.
I had a couple of good friends in elementary school, when we were living in Deadmonton. After I had finished grade 6, we moved back to Calgary, where we moved a coupla more times. In junior high and high school, I was the new kid. A new kid who's shy is not going to be part of a crowd. I had a few friends (never at the same time), but they sort of petered out, and by the time I graduated, I was close to no-one.
And girls?
Forget about it!
In junior high, I was interested, but could not bring myself to let them know it. I was too scared of what might happen. I learned to build a wall around my feelings and bury them deep.
That's been the pattern throughout my life. I can talk to women upon occasion, but any attempt on my part to take it beyond a certain point causes a complete brain freeze and I turn into an incoherently babbling idiot.
I mean, more than usual.
So I've come to a point in my life where I know that it's just not going to happen for me. I'm learning to be comfortable with myself, because I know that that's all I will have.
A posting on Facebook alerted me to a book about the subject, called The Introvert Advantage by Marti Laney, PsyD. It's a pretty good description of what I'm like.
I don't talk until I have something to say.
I need a reason to talk.
I've given up on trying to find something to say, just to be part of the conversation. It has to come naturally.
I like having few friends, because most people aren't worth my time. I'd rather have one Flint as a friend than a hundred of them.
I'm happy in my Batmancave, because mooks can't figure out the entry code.
I can think clearer without their noise.
I'm not interested in what is popular, or hearing about it from other people. I've got my own shit to think about.
Like Popeye says, 'I am what I am.'
My mom is driven to despair sometimes, because I don't perform well (for her) when she introduces me to her friends. She thinks I'm rude. I tried to tell her about this book, and explain why I do the things I do, but she still doesn't get it. Most people won't, but I don't worry about them anymore.
Flint's post about how Korea prepared him goes for me, too. Learning to deal with the stress of living and working in the Land of Morning Calm (and Afternoon Confusion) makes that as easy as pie.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Hillbilly Handfishing
I was watching David Letterman the other day when he introduced the topic of Hillbilly Handfishing, a new show on the Animal Planet channel. This show would be right up my brother's alley. If you've never seen it, check out this clip. Be prepared to scream "HOLY SHIT!' when the mook pulls up the fish. I know I did.
Since my brother arrived from Texas, a lot of the shows that are watched on the TV have changed. Where I like shows on HBO or Showtime like Boardwalk Empire, Game Of Thrones, and The Wire, my brother likes watching shows on Animal Planet and Discovery like Billy The Exterminator, Mighty Ships, or The Deadliest Catch.
Boardwalk Empire takes place during the Prohibition Era, and highlights the rise of criminals in Chicago (Al Capone) and New York (Arnold Rothstein, 'Lucky' Luciano), as well as Atlantic City, where most of the action takes place. Steve Buscemi stars as 'Nucky' Thompson, the boss of A.C., and shows how the various criminal organizations sometimes co-operate with each other but mostly try to come out on top of the vast illegal marketing of alcohol.
Game Of Thrones is a medieval fantasy based on a series of books by George R.R. Martin. Most of the story takes place on a continent/island loosely based on England. The various lords of the land struggle with each other for power in a scenario that reminds me of the Wars Of The Roses, which took place in England during the 15th Century. Sean Bean stars as Ned Stark, who is kind of like (to me, anyway) Richard, the Duke of York, as he suffers the same grisly end.
I'm very much looking forward to the continuations of these stories, as well as The Walking Dead (coming soon) and The Wire (which is over, but I'm only on the first series).
I like shows with a good storyline and acting. I'm not into too many reality shows, except Survivor and Hell's Kitchen.
My brother loves reality programming, and when he isn't working, will sit and watch these shows endlessly.
Billy The Exterminator features a mook driving around and taking care of various critters infesting people's homes and backyards. Some of the animals are interesting, but the most fascinating part of the show is Billy's hairstyle, which I can only describe as a spiky sort of mullet, coloured sometimes black, sometimes yellow, and sometimes both. Arguably the worst haircut on TV.
Shows like Mighty Ships and The Deadliest Catch are interesting enough on their own, but what distracts me from enjoying them is the narration, especially on Mighty Ships. The voiceover is done by a female with the most unctuous tone imaginable. Every situation described on the show is taken to the worst case scenario. Every little chore that the crew has to undertake, from docking to making the beds is described as having earth-shaking consequences if it isn't concluded successfully. The crew members always perform their tasks well, and disaster is always averted.
Not only is it BORING! but it gets exasperating after a while to hear this voice constantly going on and on about dire circumstances that never, ever come to pass.
Well, I know how to PVR/download the shows I want to watch, so there's never any of the kind of conflict like those that occured when we were younger. Back then, there was no such thing as VCRs or computers, and you had to watch one channel at a time. It was a constant argument about whose turn it was. I remember once my bro got so mad at me that he picked up this toy rifle we had and swung it as hard as he could. If I hadn't rolled out of the way, I'm sure he would have debrained me.
Ah, memories...
I like to joke with my family that I'm the only one who should have the remote. But it's true. No-one in my family knows how to watch TV. My folks don't even mute the commercials, which drives me fucking crazy sometimes.
But the worst is how they watch movies. One of their favourites is Patch Adams, with Robin Williams. It's been on commercial TV twice in the past month or so, and my folks watched it both times. It seemed to me that the network showing it would air five minutes of the movie, and then ten minutes of commercials.
It wouldn't be so bad, I guess, but MY FOLKS HAVE THE DVD. They can watch it anytime they want, and they don't have to sit through endless commercial breaks. But they'll find it on commercial TV, and watch it that way. This is why I say I'm the only one in the household who should be allowed to have the remote.
October 1, 2012 Update
My mom was watching TV yesterday, and recording a coupla programs at the same time: "The Mentalist" and "The Good Wife." Now, if you're recording two programs at the same time on the PVR, you can't watch anything else. My mom was looking at the guide to see what else was on (and why wouldn't you?), and she found an airing of "Notting Hill." This is a film that is on practically every other day, but my mom felt she had to watch it THAT VERY SECOND. She called me in to figure out how to watch the film while recording two other programs.
I went to her DVD collection, pulled out her copy of Notting Hill," and said she should try that for a change.
She didn't want to do that. She wanted to watch the one that was on the TV. She refused to allow me to put the DVD in.
Pastafazoola!
I am the ONLY ONE who should have the remote!
Since my brother arrived from Texas, a lot of the shows that are watched on the TV have changed. Where I like shows on HBO or Showtime like Boardwalk Empire, Game Of Thrones, and The Wire, my brother likes watching shows on Animal Planet and Discovery like Billy The Exterminator, Mighty Ships, or The Deadliest Catch.
Boardwalk Empire takes place during the Prohibition Era, and highlights the rise of criminals in Chicago (Al Capone) and New York (Arnold Rothstein, 'Lucky' Luciano), as well as Atlantic City, where most of the action takes place. Steve Buscemi stars as 'Nucky' Thompson, the boss of A.C., and shows how the various criminal organizations sometimes co-operate with each other but mostly try to come out on top of the vast illegal marketing of alcohol.
Game Of Thrones is a medieval fantasy based on a series of books by George R.R. Martin. Most of the story takes place on a continent/island loosely based on England. The various lords of the land struggle with each other for power in a scenario that reminds me of the Wars Of The Roses, which took place in England during the 15th Century. Sean Bean stars as Ned Stark, who is kind of like (to me, anyway) Richard, the Duke of York, as he suffers the same grisly end.
I'm very much looking forward to the continuations of these stories, as well as The Walking Dead (coming soon) and The Wire (which is over, but I'm only on the first series).
I like shows with a good storyline and acting. I'm not into too many reality shows, except Survivor and Hell's Kitchen.
My brother loves reality programming, and when he isn't working, will sit and watch these shows endlessly.
Billy The Exterminator features a mook driving around and taking care of various critters infesting people's homes and backyards. Some of the animals are interesting, but the most fascinating part of the show is Billy's hairstyle, which I can only describe as a spiky sort of mullet, coloured sometimes black, sometimes yellow, and sometimes both. Arguably the worst haircut on TV.
Shows like Mighty Ships and The Deadliest Catch are interesting enough on their own, but what distracts me from enjoying them is the narration, especially on Mighty Ships. The voiceover is done by a female with the most unctuous tone imaginable. Every situation described on the show is taken to the worst case scenario. Every little chore that the crew has to undertake, from docking to making the beds is described as having earth-shaking consequences if it isn't concluded successfully. The crew members always perform their tasks well, and disaster is always averted.
Not only is it BORING! but it gets exasperating after a while to hear this voice constantly going on and on about dire circumstances that never, ever come to pass.
Well, I know how to PVR/download the shows I want to watch, so there's never any of the kind of conflict like those that occured when we were younger. Back then, there was no such thing as VCRs or computers, and you had to watch one channel at a time. It was a constant argument about whose turn it was. I remember once my bro got so mad at me that he picked up this toy rifle we had and swung it as hard as he could. If I hadn't rolled out of the way, I'm sure he would have debrained me.
Ah, memories...
I like to joke with my family that I'm the only one who should have the remote. But it's true. No-one in my family knows how to watch TV. My folks don't even mute the commercials, which drives me fucking crazy sometimes.
But the worst is how they watch movies. One of their favourites is Patch Adams, with Robin Williams. It's been on commercial TV twice in the past month or so, and my folks watched it both times. It seemed to me that the network showing it would air five minutes of the movie, and then ten minutes of commercials.
It wouldn't be so bad, I guess, but MY FOLKS HAVE THE DVD. They can watch it anytime they want, and they don't have to sit through endless commercial breaks. But they'll find it on commercial TV, and watch it that way. This is why I say I'm the only one in the household who should be allowed to have the remote.
October 1, 2012 Update
My mom was watching TV yesterday, and recording a coupla programs at the same time: "The Mentalist" and "The Good Wife." Now, if you're recording two programs at the same time on the PVR, you can't watch anything else. My mom was looking at the guide to see what else was on (and why wouldn't you?), and she found an airing of "Notting Hill." This is a film that is on practically every other day, but my mom felt she had to watch it THAT VERY SECOND. She called me in to figure out how to watch the film while recording two other programs.
I went to her DVD collection, pulled out her copy of Notting Hill," and said she should try that for a change.
She didn't want to do that. She wanted to watch the one that was on the TV. She refused to allow me to put the DVD in.
Pastafazoola!
I am the ONLY ONE who should have the remote!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
The Great Wall
Korean Adventure (February 21, 2003 Chautauqua)
My trip to see the Great Wall was a full day trip outside the city of Beijing that took in two other sites, the Ming Tombs and Long Qing Gorge.
The road system was fairly up-to-date. The gas stations are something to see. They combine the usual amenities with a circus tent-like appearance, to attract customers, I imagine. One of the things that amused me was seeing a road sign forbidding horse and buggy traffic on certain parts of the highway.
The Ming Tomb
The Ming Tombs lie in a valley where 13 of their emperors are buried. There are also six other tombs for imperial concubines and one for the princes. On the way leading to the tombs is a stone archway, a great red gate, a stele pavilion, a sacred path flanked by stone statues of generals and ministers, and a dragon and phoenix archway. The tomb precincts are covered with ancient pines and cypresses.
The stele at the Ming Tomb
As for the Great Wall, there are three sections within range of the city that are open to tourists. The farthest afield is at a place called Jinshanling, near Gubeikou, where you have the wall more or less all to yourself.
The second site is at Mutianyu, and is rarely visited by tourists, too. It has a cable car and offers spectacular views similar to that of the most popular site, at Badaling (where our tour was scheduled to visit). Badaling has been much built up, and could be termed overly touristy. The highway makes it the most convenient site to visit.
Cable car up to the wall
There are endless pay toilets, souvenir stands, peddlers, tourist buses and a cable car, but the view from the top is striking. The wall and the strategically placed towers climb and swoop along the crests of the mountains that has to be seen to be believed.
The entrance to the stairs up to the top of the wall
It is amazing when you consider the fact that the wall was built more than 2,700 years ago, to protect Chinese territory. These walls had a total length of 50,000 kilometres, which ran across an area as large as 16 of today's provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. You can see it from space.
After getting off the cable car you come down to a rest area where they sell refreshments and souveneirs before climbing up to the top
After being carried to the wall by the cable car, there is a short walk to the entrance. This is a fairly small door leading to the stairs up to the top. It's a little crowded. Once you are up top, there is a variety of places to go to take in the views.
View from the top
Getting from one place to another is the trick, though, as the wall gives new meaning to the word steep. An appreciation for what mountain goats must go through is instilled in everyone.
Care must be taken to avoid becoming part of someone's picture. The wait for the pose to be captured on film makes for a welcome break from climbing. There are towers, as I have said, but these are not accessible to the public, except to go through to the next section. You can walk back down, but there was no time allowed for our group.
One of the dams at Long Qing Gorge
Before we knew it, we were back on the bus, headed for Long Qing Gorge. It was a bit of a ways from the wall, and the group took the opportunity to commandeer the tour guide's microphone for some karaoke. Each singer introduced himself, and sang what I guessed was some traditional Korean song. They were nice enough to invite me up, and I gave them a few verses of the Beatles' "In My Life."
A typical boat - very snug!
Long Qing Gorge is the site of a lake, created by a dam, upon which "dragon boat" tours carry approxiamately 100 or so people up to a recreation facility and back. There are pretty spectacular cliffsides on view. There is also an escalator, that carries you up to the boats, built inside a giant plastic dragon (below).
This was the impression that I brought back from China with me. There was some very ancient, undeniably spectacular scenery, surrounded by the modern day trappings (both good and bad) of garish capitalism.
... that's very steep
Sometimes it was hard to appreciate what I was seeing, the tour moved so fast. But I think my background in history gave me enough insight to put things in their proper context. I hope these stories have been entertaining, informative, and shown just a little bit of what the world has to offer.
----------------------------------
I took this tour in October 2002, just after Korea's amazing performance in the World Cup of soccer. We heard a chant from that time, "Daehan Minguk!" from one of the other boats on the lake. The trippers in my boat were so pleased with this that they yelled it at every other boat we passed. Some of them responded, and some of them just stared back blankly.
Being part of a package tour has its advantages, in that you cram a lot of stuff into a short time. But if you're not pressed, it's better to find your own way to these places.
My trip to see the Great Wall was a full day trip outside the city of Beijing that took in two other sites, the Ming Tombs and Long Qing Gorge.
The road system was fairly up-to-date. The gas stations are something to see. They combine the usual amenities with a circus tent-like appearance, to attract customers, I imagine. One of the things that amused me was seeing a road sign forbidding horse and buggy traffic on certain parts of the highway.
The Ming Tomb
The Ming Tombs lie in a valley where 13 of their emperors are buried. There are also six other tombs for imperial concubines and one for the princes. On the way leading to the tombs is a stone archway, a great red gate, a stele pavilion, a sacred path flanked by stone statues of generals and ministers, and a dragon and phoenix archway. The tomb precincts are covered with ancient pines and cypresses.
The stele at the Ming Tomb
As for the Great Wall, there are three sections within range of the city that are open to tourists. The farthest afield is at a place called Jinshanling, near Gubeikou, where you have the wall more or less all to yourself.
The second site is at Mutianyu, and is rarely visited by tourists, too. It has a cable car and offers spectacular views similar to that of the most popular site, at Badaling (where our tour was scheduled to visit). Badaling has been much built up, and could be termed overly touristy. The highway makes it the most convenient site to visit.
Cable car up to the wall
There are endless pay toilets, souvenir stands, peddlers, tourist buses and a cable car, but the view from the top is striking. The wall and the strategically placed towers climb and swoop along the crests of the mountains that has to be seen to be believed.
The entrance to the stairs up to the top of the wall
It is amazing when you consider the fact that the wall was built more than 2,700 years ago, to protect Chinese territory. These walls had a total length of 50,000 kilometres, which ran across an area as large as 16 of today's provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. You can see it from space.
After getting off the cable car you come down to a rest area where they sell refreshments and souveneirs before climbing up to the top
After being carried to the wall by the cable car, there is a short walk to the entrance. This is a fairly small door leading to the stairs up to the top. It's a little crowded. Once you are up top, there is a variety of places to go to take in the views.
View from the top
Getting from one place to another is the trick, though, as the wall gives new meaning to the word steep. An appreciation for what mountain goats must go through is instilled in everyone.
Care must be taken to avoid becoming part of someone's picture. The wait for the pose to be captured on film makes for a welcome break from climbing. There are towers, as I have said, but these are not accessible to the public, except to go through to the next section. You can walk back down, but there was no time allowed for our group.
One of the dams at Long Qing Gorge
Before we knew it, we were back on the bus, headed for Long Qing Gorge. It was a bit of a ways from the wall, and the group took the opportunity to commandeer the tour guide's microphone for some karaoke. Each singer introduced himself, and sang what I guessed was some traditional Korean song. They were nice enough to invite me up, and I gave them a few verses of the Beatles' "In My Life."
A typical boat - very snug!
Long Qing Gorge is the site of a lake, created by a dam, upon which "dragon boat" tours carry approxiamately 100 or so people up to a recreation facility and back. There are pretty spectacular cliffsides on view. There is also an escalator, that carries you up to the boats, built inside a giant plastic dragon (below).
This was the impression that I brought back from China with me. There was some very ancient, undeniably spectacular scenery, surrounded by the modern day trappings (both good and bad) of garish capitalism.
... that's very steep
Sometimes it was hard to appreciate what I was seeing, the tour moved so fast. But I think my background in history gave me enough insight to put things in their proper context. I hope these stories have been entertaining, informative, and shown just a little bit of what the world has to offer.
----------------------------------
I took this tour in October 2002, just after Korea's amazing performance in the World Cup of soccer. We heard a chant from that time, "Daehan Minguk!" from one of the other boats on the lake. The trippers in my boat were so pleased with this that they yelled it at every other boat we passed. Some of them responded, and some of them just stared back blankly.
Being part of a package tour has its advantages, in that you cram a lot of stuff into a short time. But if you're not pressed, it's better to find your own way to these places.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Shopping
Korean Adventure (February 7, 2003 Chautauqua)
My trip to China was an equal measure of sightseeing and shopping. The tour was organized by Koreans for Koreans. I had to shift for myself when it came to information about the various sites. This was no great hardship. I can say, without any false modesty, that I probably could have conducted the tour myself.
The shopping would present no problems for anyone. A salesman looks and talks the same in any language. If you are familiar with Ron Popeil, you can pretty much "fill in the blanks" to discover what they are saying. It all boils down to: "Give me your money."
A float in Tian'anmen Square of The Great Wall.
My first experience of Chinese shopping occurred on the very first day of the trip, when we went through the Forbidden City. There was plenty of space reserved for souvenir shops along the way, with cheesy bric-a-brac everywhere.
On the way in or out of any tourist site, I was besieged by aggressive peddlers of every description. If you wanted to bargain, you could get some fairly good looking stuff cheap. One guy was really mad at me for not haggling, though. He didn't have anything I wanted, and dropping the price didn't make it any more attractive.
The real dangerous sales reps were those we were bussed to. On the second day, we were taken to a Chinese hospital, where a doctor took our pulses, made a diagnosis, and offered to prescribe for what ailed us.
I'm sure it must be catchy, whatever it says.
Chinese doctors have an interesting way of taking the pulse. Three fingers on the wrist, subtly manipulated, offer the skilled doctor a look at the various "levels" inside the body. Supposedly they can figure out what is wrong anywhere.
After that, we were offered a foot massage, which I thought might have been fun. What I didn't know about massage is that a lot of it is real hard. The masseurs really dig into your feet; owowowowowowowOW! I was a little tender after that, I can tell you! Not too good when so much of a tourist's day is spent walking.
Our next stop was a pearl shop, offering high priced jewelry. Not too much hard sell here, as the Koreans were only too willing to fork it over.
Just inside the gate to the Forbidden City.
After that, we were bussed down to Liulichang Street, which offers a variety of traditional Chinese articles: robes, rugs, ivory figurines, cards, jewelry, and many other kinds of items.
There was a combination of shop owners and street dealers that shared an eager desire to part you from your funds. I myself got a "chop," which is a stamp made from ivory. It has Chinese characters carved on the end, and it is used to put the seal on official documents.
The garden inside the Forbidden City. Note the flags held by the tour guides, which tourists are supposed to follow or they will become lost, lost for all time.
On our way to the Great Wall, we stopped at another hospital, which offered an Herbal Sticking Plaster and Balm. There was a touch of the showman in this doctor, who rubbed the balm on his hands before grabbing a metal chain fresh out of a bed of glowing coals.
Lucky symbols on a hillside. Or an ad for Burma Shave.
Our last day in the country did not neglect one more attempt to take whatever monies we might have left. I had to give it up here, as we were shown a variety of teas. There were some interesting flavours, and I settled on some dandelion, which (I am told) is good for the liver.
In some aspects, the trip was disappointing. I was turned off by how well the "Reds" have adapted to capitalism. I could not but be awed, however, by the sights of Old China: the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and Tian'anmen Square. All of this: the good and the bad were evident in the final sight of the tour...the Great Wall.
The touristy part of the Great Wall. The Chinese have the same difficulty with English as Koreans. The sign says, " Issue the certificate of the Great Wall."
What the kimchi...er, Peking Duck?
My trip to China was an equal measure of sightseeing and shopping. The tour was organized by Koreans for Koreans. I had to shift for myself when it came to information about the various sites. This was no great hardship. I can say, without any false modesty, that I probably could have conducted the tour myself.
The shopping would present no problems for anyone. A salesman looks and talks the same in any language. If you are familiar with Ron Popeil, you can pretty much "fill in the blanks" to discover what they are saying. It all boils down to: "Give me your money."
A float in Tian'anmen Square of The Great Wall.
My first experience of Chinese shopping occurred on the very first day of the trip, when we went through the Forbidden City. There was plenty of space reserved for souvenir shops along the way, with cheesy bric-a-brac everywhere.
On the way in or out of any tourist site, I was besieged by aggressive peddlers of every description. If you wanted to bargain, you could get some fairly good looking stuff cheap. One guy was really mad at me for not haggling, though. He didn't have anything I wanted, and dropping the price didn't make it any more attractive.
The real dangerous sales reps were those we were bussed to. On the second day, we were taken to a Chinese hospital, where a doctor took our pulses, made a diagnosis, and offered to prescribe for what ailed us.
I'm sure it must be catchy, whatever it says.
Chinese doctors have an interesting way of taking the pulse. Three fingers on the wrist, subtly manipulated, offer the skilled doctor a look at the various "levels" inside the body. Supposedly they can figure out what is wrong anywhere.
After that, we were offered a foot massage, which I thought might have been fun. What I didn't know about massage is that a lot of it is real hard. The masseurs really dig into your feet; owowowowowowowOW! I was a little tender after that, I can tell you! Not too good when so much of a tourist's day is spent walking.
Our next stop was a pearl shop, offering high priced jewelry. Not too much hard sell here, as the Koreans were only too willing to fork it over.
Just inside the gate to the Forbidden City.
After that, we were bussed down to Liulichang Street, which offers a variety of traditional Chinese articles: robes, rugs, ivory figurines, cards, jewelry, and many other kinds of items.
There was a combination of shop owners and street dealers that shared an eager desire to part you from your funds. I myself got a "chop," which is a stamp made from ivory. It has Chinese characters carved on the end, and it is used to put the seal on official documents.
The garden inside the Forbidden City. Note the flags held by the tour guides, which tourists are supposed to follow or they will become lost, lost for all time.
On our way to the Great Wall, we stopped at another hospital, which offered an Herbal Sticking Plaster and Balm. There was a touch of the showman in this doctor, who rubbed the balm on his hands before grabbing a metal chain fresh out of a bed of glowing coals.
Lucky symbols on a hillside. Or an ad for Burma Shave.
Our last day in the country did not neglect one more attempt to take whatever monies we might have left. I had to give it up here, as we were shown a variety of teas. There were some interesting flavours, and I settled on some dandelion, which (I am told) is good for the liver.
In some aspects, the trip was disappointing. I was turned off by how well the "Reds" have adapted to capitalism. I could not but be awed, however, by the sights of Old China: the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and Tian'anmen Square. All of this: the good and the bad were evident in the final sight of the tour...the Great Wall.
The touristy part of the Great Wall. The Chinese have the same difficulty with English as Koreans. The sign says, " Issue the certificate of the Great Wall."
What the kimchi...er, Peking Duck?
Friday, August 19, 2011
The Temple Of Heaven
Korean Adventure (January 17, 2003 Chautauqua)
My second day in China started with a big western-style breakfast at the hotel before we boarded the bus and drove through Beijing to the Summer Palace. The city used to be almost exclusively a bicycle town, but flirting with capitalism has greatly increased vehicle traffic. It's still about half and half, but the combustion engine looks to be winning.
There is a lot of road work, and there is a good system of express roads to carry traffic around. One of these took us from the central area where our hotel was, out to the northwest quadrant, to the Summer Palace.
Yi He Yuan is actually more of a garden than a palace, and it was the summer residence of the Qing court from around 1860 to 1908, when the Empress Dowager Cixi died. Built in the 18th century (with slave labour) to resemble another of the emperor's retreats, it was destroyed and rebuilt twice.
From the garden on the south side to the north is the Long Corridor, a 728 meter covered walkway. Each and every beam is decorated with colorful pictures, some 8,000 in all. There are beautiful examples of Chinese gardening styles along the way, with the Tibetan Buddhist temple looming at the top of "Longevity Mountain."
Foxiang Tower of Bhuddist Fragrance (above).
Dragon boats (above) carry tourists around the lake, to the central island, where you can see the 17-Arch Bridge (below).
On the way back to our bus, we were met by a few of Beijing's poor, begging for whatever we could give. There is a lot that is shiny and new in China, but there is also a lot that is still struggling to survive.
From the Summer Palace, our next stop was a hospital, where doctors took our pulse, told us what was wrong with us, and were ready to prescribe the proper medicine (for a modest fee).
After lunch, and a visit to a jewelry shop (specializing in pearls), our next stop was the Temple of Heaven, an impressive group of buildings that was visited by the emperor only three times a year. The Round Altar (below) was for sacrifices at the winter solstice. The story is that if you stand at the centre, your voice can be heard around the world.
The triple-roofed Hall of Prayers for a Good Harvest (which stands on a similar round altar) was where the emperor presided over a sacrificial banquet for the benefit of the agricultural sector.
Qinian Hall Of Prayer For A Good Year.
From one altar to the other is a long walkway, called the Road to Heaven. There are displays outlining the elaborate rituals the emperor had to go through to ensure peace and prosperity for his kingdom. The emperors thought of themselves as divine, so it was natural for them to do great homage.
The gates to the Hall Of Imperial Heavenly Vault.
After dinner, we were taken to a local theatre to enjoy a version of the Beijing circus. There were some very talented gymnasts and performers, doing some juggling, balancing, and feats of physicality. Then it was back to the hotel to rest up for the next day's trip. The Great Wall.
My second day in China started with a big western-style breakfast at the hotel before we boarded the bus and drove through Beijing to the Summer Palace. The city used to be almost exclusively a bicycle town, but flirting with capitalism has greatly increased vehicle traffic. It's still about half and half, but the combustion engine looks to be winning.
There is a lot of road work, and there is a good system of express roads to carry traffic around. One of these took us from the central area where our hotel was, out to the northwest quadrant, to the Summer Palace.
Yi He Yuan is actually more of a garden than a palace, and it was the summer residence of the Qing court from around 1860 to 1908, when the Empress Dowager Cixi died. Built in the 18th century (with slave labour) to resemble another of the emperor's retreats, it was destroyed and rebuilt twice.
From the garden on the south side to the north is the Long Corridor, a 728 meter covered walkway. Each and every beam is decorated with colorful pictures, some 8,000 in all. There are beautiful examples of Chinese gardening styles along the way, with the Tibetan Buddhist temple looming at the top of "Longevity Mountain."
Foxiang Tower of Bhuddist Fragrance (above).
Dragon boats (above) carry tourists around the lake, to the central island, where you can see the 17-Arch Bridge (below).
On the way back to our bus, we were met by a few of Beijing's poor, begging for whatever we could give. There is a lot that is shiny and new in China, but there is also a lot that is still struggling to survive.
From the Summer Palace, our next stop was a hospital, where doctors took our pulse, told us what was wrong with us, and were ready to prescribe the proper medicine (for a modest fee).
After lunch, and a visit to a jewelry shop (specializing in pearls), our next stop was the Temple of Heaven, an impressive group of buildings that was visited by the emperor only three times a year. The Round Altar (below) was for sacrifices at the winter solstice. The story is that if you stand at the centre, your voice can be heard around the world.
The triple-roofed Hall of Prayers for a Good Harvest (which stands on a similar round altar) was where the emperor presided over a sacrificial banquet for the benefit of the agricultural sector.
Qinian Hall Of Prayer For A Good Year.
From one altar to the other is a long walkway, called the Road to Heaven. There are displays outlining the elaborate rituals the emperor had to go through to ensure peace and prosperity for his kingdom. The emperors thought of themselves as divine, so it was natural for them to do great homage.
The gates to the Hall Of Imperial Heavenly Vault.
After dinner, we were taken to a local theatre to enjoy a version of the Beijing circus. There were some very talented gymnasts and performers, doing some juggling, balancing, and feats of physicality. Then it was back to the hotel to rest up for the next day's trip. The Great Wall.
Monday, August 15, 2011
The Forbidden City
Korean Adventure (January 3, 2003 Chautauqua)
On my first day in China, the sightseeing started right away. After clearing customs and gathering the tour group at the bus, we headed into the city of Beijing. The expressway was very similar to a road back home - even the trees were similar. It made me a little homesick for Calgary.
Our first stop was a hotel in the northeast part of the city for a little lunch. We had been fed on the plane, so I didn't have too much - just enough to notice the difference between Korean and Chinese food. It is greasier.
Some of the Koreans had planned ahead, though, and out came little Tupperware containers of kimchi, seaweed, and other assorted "sides." There were even some juice boxes (that did not have juice, but soju). Very clever.
From there, we went into the centre of the city, which is Tian'anmen Square. It is described as Beijing's "heart, soul, and conscience." In its present dimensions, it is a product of the 1950's. In Imperial times it was an alleyway between the ministries and the palace.
The Monument to the People's Heroes in the centre of the square (above, with the Chinese History Museum behind) was the launching pad for the protests that culminated in the events of June 4, 1989. To the south of that is the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (below), where the remains of the "Great Helmsman" lie in state under crystal (unfortunately closed when I was there).
To the east is the Chinese History Museum, and to the west is the Great Hall of the People (above), where the party and government just recently held an historic series of meetings. The old leader, Jiang Zemin, stepped down in favour of the new, Hu Jintao.
We were allowed to meander around a bit before moving on to the northern part of the square. There was a variety of people wandering around. I met a couple of Canadian tourists, and spoke with a few locals eager to try out their English. There were police and military guards liberally placed around the area, as well.
On the northern side of the square is the Tian'anmen Gate (the Gate of Heavenly Peace), the symbol of the People's Republic of China. No doubt everyone has seen it at one time or another, with its huge painting of Mao dominating.
To the left and right are reviewing stands for when the party shows off its military might. You approach from the square via a pedestrian underpass. The gate and the square are separated by one of the few main roads passing through the area.
The gate itself has been rebuilt many times. It was the main southern gate of the capital of the Yuan Dynasty. When the Ming Emperor Chengzu, Zhu Di, moved his capital to Beijing in 1420, he had the gate rebuilt, and called it Chengtian ( The Gate That Bears Heaven).
A Chimera, with the head of a lion and the body of a dragon.
Passing through this gate, and the ones that follow, leads to the Forbidden City. As a palace, it served as residence and court for the emperors of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, their eunuchs, wives, and concubines. When the last emperor, Pu Yi (or Xuantong), vacated the palace in 1924, the imperial collection of paintings, bronzes, jade, ceramics, costumes, gold and silver objects were put on display under the name of the Palace Museum.
Talke Hall Of Supreme Harmony.
Some of these objects are now in the Palace Museum in Taipei, carried there when the Nationalist government fled the mainland after the Communist takeover.
Today there are nearly 20 halls filled with works of art, and visiting them all would take two or three visits. Our guides kept us moving along pretty quickly, but I was able to comprehend that at one time, a very few people must have enjoyed a lot of incredible wealth.
From south to north, you travel from the Outer Palace to the Inner Court. Each gate once meant another layer of security, until you arrived at the Imperial family, ruling in supreme and splendid isolation from the masses beyond their walls.
To the north of the Inner Court is the Imperial Garden, with a dozen or so pavilions located symmetrically from left to right and front to back. Ancient pines and cypresses grow among various flowers and strange stones. These stones, some as big as houses, look like sponges, and they are so fashioned as to become part of the garden.
Once outside the rear (north) gate of the palace, Jingshan Park (above), with its artificial five-peaked mountain offers a fantastic view of the yellow-glazed tile roofs of the Forbidden City on clear days. It was not clear during my time there. There was a thick haze in the air, almost like a fog. It was a great disappointment to have to deal with this haze.
As you can expect, this part of the tour took most of the day, and we did not even see all we could have. I have only touched lightly on what I was able to see.
Our group went from there to the Fengyutang Theatre and Restaurant. After a delicious meal, we watched a display of kung fu, put on by a group of Shaolin monks (just like Caine from the TV show). Then it was off to our hotel, ending our first day in the city.
On my first day in China, the sightseeing started right away. After clearing customs and gathering the tour group at the bus, we headed into the city of Beijing. The expressway was very similar to a road back home - even the trees were similar. It made me a little homesick for Calgary.
Our first stop was a hotel in the northeast part of the city for a little lunch. We had been fed on the plane, so I didn't have too much - just enough to notice the difference between Korean and Chinese food. It is greasier.
Some of the Koreans had planned ahead, though, and out came little Tupperware containers of kimchi, seaweed, and other assorted "sides." There were even some juice boxes (that did not have juice, but soju). Very clever.
From there, we went into the centre of the city, which is Tian'anmen Square. It is described as Beijing's "heart, soul, and conscience." In its present dimensions, it is a product of the 1950's. In Imperial times it was an alleyway between the ministries and the palace.
The Monument to the People's Heroes in the centre of the square (above, with the Chinese History Museum behind) was the launching pad for the protests that culminated in the events of June 4, 1989. To the south of that is the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (below), where the remains of the "Great Helmsman" lie in state under crystal (unfortunately closed when I was there).
To the east is the Chinese History Museum, and to the west is the Great Hall of the People (above), where the party and government just recently held an historic series of meetings. The old leader, Jiang Zemin, stepped down in favour of the new, Hu Jintao.
We were allowed to meander around a bit before moving on to the northern part of the square. There was a variety of people wandering around. I met a couple of Canadian tourists, and spoke with a few locals eager to try out their English. There were police and military guards liberally placed around the area, as well.
On the northern side of the square is the Tian'anmen Gate (the Gate of Heavenly Peace), the symbol of the People's Republic of China. No doubt everyone has seen it at one time or another, with its huge painting of Mao dominating.
To the left and right are reviewing stands for when the party shows off its military might. You approach from the square via a pedestrian underpass. The gate and the square are separated by one of the few main roads passing through the area.
The gate itself has been rebuilt many times. It was the main southern gate of the capital of the Yuan Dynasty. When the Ming Emperor Chengzu, Zhu Di, moved his capital to Beijing in 1420, he had the gate rebuilt, and called it Chengtian ( The Gate That Bears Heaven).
A Chimera, with the head of a lion and the body of a dragon.
Passing through this gate, and the ones that follow, leads to the Forbidden City. As a palace, it served as residence and court for the emperors of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, their eunuchs, wives, and concubines. When the last emperor, Pu Yi (or Xuantong), vacated the palace in 1924, the imperial collection of paintings, bronzes, jade, ceramics, costumes, gold and silver objects were put on display under the name of the Palace Museum.
Talke Hall Of Supreme Harmony.
Some of these objects are now in the Palace Museum in Taipei, carried there when the Nationalist government fled the mainland after the Communist takeover.
Today there are nearly 20 halls filled with works of art, and visiting them all would take two or three visits. Our guides kept us moving along pretty quickly, but I was able to comprehend that at one time, a very few people must have enjoyed a lot of incredible wealth.
From south to north, you travel from the Outer Palace to the Inner Court. Each gate once meant another layer of security, until you arrived at the Imperial family, ruling in supreme and splendid isolation from the masses beyond their walls.
To the north of the Inner Court is the Imperial Garden, with a dozen or so pavilions located symmetrically from left to right and front to back. Ancient pines and cypresses grow among various flowers and strange stones. These stones, some as big as houses, look like sponges, and they are so fashioned as to become part of the garden.
Once outside the rear (north) gate of the palace, Jingshan Park (above), with its artificial five-peaked mountain offers a fantastic view of the yellow-glazed tile roofs of the Forbidden City on clear days. It was not clear during my time there. There was a thick haze in the air, almost like a fog. It was a great disappointment to have to deal with this haze.
As you can expect, this part of the tour took most of the day, and we did not even see all we could have. I have only touched lightly on what I was able to see.
Our group went from there to the Fengyutang Theatre and Restaurant. After a delicious meal, we watched a display of kung fu, put on by a group of Shaolin monks (just like Caine from the TV show). Then it was off to our hotel, ending our first day in the city.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)