I hope this works... actually a really neat program to use called Dropbox.
I wish I could make comments to explain pictures but at least you can see them, enjoy!
My arrival/Train ride: http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/2688277/1/Beijing-Kunming?h=d95750
Kunming (Green Lake Park where I live), Botanical Gardens, Shirlin (Stone Forest): http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/2688277/1/Kunming-Stong%20Forest?h=236118
Camping Kunming (including Robotman!!!), Bamboo Temple: http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/2688277/1/Camping%20Kunming?h=74916b
Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau: http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/2688277/1/Hong%20Kong-Macau?h=10c444
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Hong Kong Adventure
Adventures with Napoli…
With the visa that I was issued, I am required to leave the country every 30 days. This will all change once I get my working visa but for this first month I decided to head to Hong Kong since I’ve been dying to go there and it is relatively close.
I first met up with a friend from PLNU, Brandon Napoli, who has been working on his MBA in Guangzhou (a large city about an hour away from Hong Kong). He planned on joining me for my trip into HK and I was excited to have someone to travel with over my birthday. I arrived in Guangzhou, after spending all night on a train from Kunming, and made my way to the subway station to meet Brandon at the stop nearest his apartment. It was nice to see a familiar face and I was excited to see a new side of China. We went to the markets to do a little shopping, of which I refrained from purchasing anything although I needed to find a nice winter jacket. After shopping and touring the city a little, I crashed in on Brandon’s evening Mandarin class and met some very nice foreigners. We all enjoyed each other’s company but had to split to get some sleep for the adventure into HK the next day.
Brandon had a final in the morning, so I was able to get some rest. Therefore we didn’t leave until the afternoon but got into HK with enough time to walk around the city as the sun was setting. It was my birthday and what better way to celebrate than to enjoy a McDonald’s McFlurry while watching the city light show across the bay on HK island. There are several buildings that participate in the nightly event that simply show off a Vegas style light show that lasts maybe 15 minutes; nothing to wow the masses but none the less a beautiful sight; so vibrant and full of life. The same feeling I had when I first visited New York had come back to me. And even though both cities are very unique from each other, they also possess several similarities.
We explored HK Island the next day traveling to the south side at Stanley Market. It was fun to finally visit some of the places my Dad had talked about for so many years as a pilot traveling here. Now I know where all the DVD’s and North Face knock-offs come from. After a morning in Stanley, we came back to Central and hiked Victoria Peak. The tram ride would have taken 50 minutes after waiting in line; we hiked it in 45. As the lactic acid poured through my legs from the climb, I couldn’t help but break out the biggest smile for I have been anticipating this view for the longest time. I was ecstatic to see the birds-eye view of the city in person. HK is a fascinating place that stems from British rule and has now grown into its own being. If you think HK is China, think again. Although Beijing claims ‘one country, two systems,’ HK is clearly an international city that has advanced in many ways passed not only large cities in Mainland China, but also those in the US. One example is the Octopus Card. This is a card that can be used primarily on the subway but also at 7/11, McDonald’s, parking meters, etc…. How genius is that idea, one card that can pay for just about everything you need in the city but isn’t a credit card. Too bad the US is already owned by credit card companies and a system like this may never emerge in our greater cities.
Anyway, back to the view… The sun was setting and the lights began to flicker as we hiked back down the hill. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to see one of the largest/busiest cities in the world; this is China’s New York. Once down the hill we headed back to Kowloon. We had some dinner and walked the Temple Street Night Market where you can find just about anything you need. We were tired from walking so much and crashed out around 8 that night watching the Deadliest Catch as the Z’s overcame us.
The next day we headed out for Discovery Bay where we would meet and stay with my Dad’s friend for the night. We took the ferry over to this amazing community that reminded me a little of Avalon Bay. There was lush vegetation and a nice x-pat community plaza with restaurants and outdoor seating that would appeal to anyone who likes to socialize. We met Mr. Swofford and headed up the hill to his extremely nice pad overlooking the bay. It was a beautiful day, finally warming up into the 70’s. Brandon and I set off on some trails that go around the island (Lantau Island). We enjoyed a good 4.5 hour hike to the nearby town of Mui Wo and back again. We saw a snake on the trail and some impressive views from the top peak. We hassled a crab on the beach at Mui Wo and enjoyed being back in nature away from the city. After the long hike we showered up and headed down to the plaza for a surprisingly delicious MEXICAN meal. Who would have thought that some decent burritos were lying right there in HK. We picked up some chocolate and goodies and headed back to finish the night with a movie. What a day it was. And the best part was we had the most comfortable bed I had slept on since I left home!
The following morning we got cleaned up and said our good-by’s. Brandon and I had decided to check out Macau for the heck of it. We barely made our boat that left from central but got it just in time. It was a large catamaran that jets across the bay to nearby Macau. We had to go through the whole exit/entry of countries thing and exchange money AGAIN for Macau is its own entity. Once there we were a little confused… we kept saying to each other, “It looks like… but just isn’t.” The city sort of looked like Vegas (as it’s suppose to be modeled after) but just isn’t. Truthfully, it’s very dirty, old, and a poor man’s version of Vegas. HK actually did something with their independence from Mainland; Macau is simply lost. There are large hotels like the MGM, Venetian, Sands, Hard Rock, and Wynn. But all of them are scattered about. Without a central strip, it just doesn’t feel the same.
We made the most of it however walking around and seeing old forts and what-not. We saw an old fort that seemed like it belonged in Europe and we also saw San Paulo’s ruins which were neat. Macau stems out of Portuguese rule which was actually convenient. Knowing Spanish helped in understanding the Portuguese street names and directions. The best part of Macau was actually trying to find a buffet we had spotted on a billboard coming into the city. We ended up taking a taxi back to the billboard to find out where it was (frustrating because the meter kept running despite being stuck in traffic), then a free shuttle all the way across town to the City of Dreams. We found the buffet and did work on it. Stuffed from the Asian buffet we walked around the Casinos and then made our way back to the Sands Casino on a free shuttle (it was close to our hostel). I taught Brandon craps and proceeded to lose 200 MOP which is like 25 bucks… no big deal. Tired, and broke, I was excited to head back to the hostel and pass out. We’ve been going hard for awhile and I’m in need for a rest!
We woke up early the next morning anticipating and 4 hour bus ride back to Guangzhou. We successfully managed to get through customs, which looked like the border crossing from TJ to the US, and were glad to be back in Mainland. I was glad to have had Brandon on the trip and am anxious to get back to normalcy after having traveled quite a bit. If you've never been to Hong Kong, I highly recommend it. If you do it right, you can see a lot even on a budget. I hope you enjoy reading my adventures :) Stay tuned for more to come early next month.
With the visa that I was issued, I am required to leave the country every 30 days. This will all change once I get my working visa but for this first month I decided to head to Hong Kong since I’ve been dying to go there and it is relatively close.
I first met up with a friend from PLNU, Brandon Napoli, who has been working on his MBA in Guangzhou (a large city about an hour away from Hong Kong). He planned on joining me for my trip into HK and I was excited to have someone to travel with over my birthday. I arrived in Guangzhou, after spending all night on a train from Kunming, and made my way to the subway station to meet Brandon at the stop nearest his apartment. It was nice to see a familiar face and I was excited to see a new side of China. We went to the markets to do a little shopping, of which I refrained from purchasing anything although I needed to find a nice winter jacket. After shopping and touring the city a little, I crashed in on Brandon’s evening Mandarin class and met some very nice foreigners. We all enjoyed each other’s company but had to split to get some sleep for the adventure into HK the next day.
Brandon had a final in the morning, so I was able to get some rest. Therefore we didn’t leave until the afternoon but got into HK with enough time to walk around the city as the sun was setting. It was my birthday and what better way to celebrate than to enjoy a McDonald’s McFlurry while watching the city light show across the bay on HK island. There are several buildings that participate in the nightly event that simply show off a Vegas style light show that lasts maybe 15 minutes; nothing to wow the masses but none the less a beautiful sight; so vibrant and full of life. The same feeling I had when I first visited New York had come back to me. And even though both cities are very unique from each other, they also possess several similarities.
We explored HK Island the next day traveling to the south side at Stanley Market. It was fun to finally visit some of the places my Dad had talked about for so many years as a pilot traveling here. Now I know where all the DVD’s and North Face knock-offs come from. After a morning in Stanley, we came back to Central and hiked Victoria Peak. The tram ride would have taken 50 minutes after waiting in line; we hiked it in 45. As the lactic acid poured through my legs from the climb, I couldn’t help but break out the biggest smile for I have been anticipating this view for the longest time. I was ecstatic to see the birds-eye view of the city in person. HK is a fascinating place that stems from British rule and has now grown into its own being. If you think HK is China, think again. Although Beijing claims ‘one country, two systems,’ HK is clearly an international city that has advanced in many ways passed not only large cities in Mainland China, but also those in the US. One example is the Octopus Card. This is a card that can be used primarily on the subway but also at 7/11, McDonald’s, parking meters, etc…. How genius is that idea, one card that can pay for just about everything you need in the city but isn’t a credit card. Too bad the US is already owned by credit card companies and a system like this may never emerge in our greater cities.
Anyway, back to the view… The sun was setting and the lights began to flicker as we hiked back down the hill. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to see one of the largest/busiest cities in the world; this is China’s New York. Once down the hill we headed back to Kowloon. We had some dinner and walked the Temple Street Night Market where you can find just about anything you need. We were tired from walking so much and crashed out around 8 that night watching the Deadliest Catch as the Z’s overcame us.
The next day we headed out for Discovery Bay where we would meet and stay with my Dad’s friend for the night. We took the ferry over to this amazing community that reminded me a little of Avalon Bay. There was lush vegetation and a nice x-pat community plaza with restaurants and outdoor seating that would appeal to anyone who likes to socialize. We met Mr. Swofford and headed up the hill to his extremely nice pad overlooking the bay. It was a beautiful day, finally warming up into the 70’s. Brandon and I set off on some trails that go around the island (Lantau Island). We enjoyed a good 4.5 hour hike to the nearby town of Mui Wo and back again. We saw a snake on the trail and some impressive views from the top peak. We hassled a crab on the beach at Mui Wo and enjoyed being back in nature away from the city. After the long hike we showered up and headed down to the plaza for a surprisingly delicious MEXICAN meal. Who would have thought that some decent burritos were lying right there in HK. We picked up some chocolate and goodies and headed back to finish the night with a movie. What a day it was. And the best part was we had the most comfortable bed I had slept on since I left home!
The following morning we got cleaned up and said our good-by’s. Brandon and I had decided to check out Macau for the heck of it. We barely made our boat that left from central but got it just in time. It was a large catamaran that jets across the bay to nearby Macau. We had to go through the whole exit/entry of countries thing and exchange money AGAIN for Macau is its own entity. Once there we were a little confused… we kept saying to each other, “It looks like… but just isn’t.” The city sort of looked like Vegas (as it’s suppose to be modeled after) but just isn’t. Truthfully, it’s very dirty, old, and a poor man’s version of Vegas. HK actually did something with their independence from Mainland; Macau is simply lost. There are large hotels like the MGM, Venetian, Sands, Hard Rock, and Wynn. But all of them are scattered about. Without a central strip, it just doesn’t feel the same.
We made the most of it however walking around and seeing old forts and what-not. We saw an old fort that seemed like it belonged in Europe and we also saw San Paulo’s ruins which were neat. Macau stems out of Portuguese rule which was actually convenient. Knowing Spanish helped in understanding the Portuguese street names and directions. The best part of Macau was actually trying to find a buffet we had spotted on a billboard coming into the city. We ended up taking a taxi back to the billboard to find out where it was (frustrating because the meter kept running despite being stuck in traffic), then a free shuttle all the way across town to the City of Dreams. We found the buffet and did work on it. Stuffed from the Asian buffet we walked around the Casinos and then made our way back to the Sands Casino on a free shuttle (it was close to our hostel). I taught Brandon craps and proceeded to lose 200 MOP which is like 25 bucks… no big deal. Tired, and broke, I was excited to head back to the hostel and pass out. We’ve been going hard for awhile and I’m in need for a rest!
We woke up early the next morning anticipating and 4 hour bus ride back to Guangzhou. We successfully managed to get through customs, which looked like the border crossing from TJ to the US, and were glad to be back in Mainland. I was glad to have had Brandon on the trip and am anxious to get back to normalcy after having traveled quite a bit. If you've never been to Hong Kong, I highly recommend it. If you do it right, you can see a lot even on a budget. I hope you enjoy reading my adventures :) Stay tuned for more to come early next month.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Camping Kunming
For those who haven't wiki'd Kunming yet, it is very similar to Denver and is actually considered a sister city (along with nine other cities around the world). Just like any normal weekend in Denver, my friends and I set out on a camping trip some 20 miles into the foothills/mountains to the west. We had borrowed sleeping bags and tents but had all we needed for the one night we were going to be out of the city. We prepared food for cooking and made sandwiches for back-ups (didn't know what the fire situation would be like). With all the gear packed and ready, we were set for exploration.
Now the girls had bicycles and were really stoked on riding there so we gentlemen agreed to lug a majority of the gear on our backs. They set out ahead of us while we made some last minute stops for only the necessities (bottles of rum and whiskey :) yarrr!). Ben (my roommate), Tai, and I all caught a bus to take us up into the hills and drop us off at the Bamboo Temple, our meeting point. Surprisingly the girls made it in only 2 hours while our bus decided to lolligag its way up taking about an hour. Seriously, we would stop at one place, the driver would shut off the engine, and we would sit there for like 5-10 minutes as the driver tried to entice people to hop on our bus. They wouldn't budge until we filled that thing! I got over it but I knew we were only going a short ways and it should have taken only half the time if we'd gone directly. Owell.
We finally met at the Bamboo Temple where the girls, Chiara (my other roommate) and Stef, had been exploring while waiting. We decided to tour the temple on the way out and got to hiking right away from there. We followed the road for maybe 100 yards before veering off into a clearing and hiking upwards. We went a little ways, found a nice clearing, but decided to keep going. It was a good hike, bush-whacking our way through a forest, climbing over mossy grounds and running into spider webs every three minutes. We would find a spot that look suitable but just kept on climbing for we wanted to reach the top. Sure enough we came to a point where solid light was shining through the thick brush. Excited, I surged on and broke through to an extremely large clearing at what seemed to be the top! Stoked on the climb and what we had found, I turned around and hi-fived everyone as they came through the clearing for it was exactly what we had been looking for (hi-fives are under-rated by the way). We seemed to be the only people there but knew we were actually in a state park sort of area. We set our packs down and realized the peak was even higher; so up we went.
The peak was epic! We could see panoramic views of not only the mountains to the west, but also the entire city of Kunming from where we live in the north, to Dianchi Lake in the south. We also made the journey on one of the clearest days yet leaving nothing but blue skies and rolling green hills for our pleasant view. After spending some time on top, we hiked back to our camp to set up the tents, read, write, nap, and enjoy Mother Nature. We were able to build a fire pit with stone and gather wood which meant a delicious meal that Chiara had put together (we ate the back-up sandwiches anyway :). As the sun set we went back to the top, except only half way up, for there were some visitors on the peak that we didn’t want to encroach on. We had fun laughing at the robot-man on a hill across the way where the sun was setting (you have to see the pictures, which I know I’m slacking at but be patient). We enjoyed the beautiful orange and reds that the sun provided that night and then went back down to start the fire. We sat around playing cards, drinking, sharing stories, and simply enjoying each others company with no distractions; no distractions from the TV, internet, noisy buses, iPhones, or anything else technology interrupts our day with. Just good ‘ol camping.
As the evening became full with darkness the fire flung its light about our camp. Likewise, the stars awoke. They came out one at a time but joined us, none the less, as we danced around the fire, full of rum and cheer. We ate noodles mixed with veggies and listened to the rhythmic sounds of Bob Marley, Sublime, and others who sing of happiness and joy. Having finished dinner, we all walked away from the fire to lie on our backs and marvel at the heavens. Although the stars weren’t as present as those in Steamboat, Colorado, it was still a sight to see. That’s when it hit me. We are young. We are free. We can do anything in this world. And at the time we were enjoying the company of friends. There were moments when I felt like I was back in the mountains of CO, camping with my boys back home; or even Julian, CA, which doesn’t hold a candle to CO but is none-the-less a fun camping spot.
That’s what I love about Nature. It has no boundaries and provides the same mystic feel whether one is in China or the US. I believe it is one thing that binds us all.
The next morning I had woken up early (didn’t sleep very well on the rock hard ground). As the others continued to sleep, I hiked back up to the peak despite the frigidness of the morning. I found a quiet spot overlooking the city and just gathered my thoughts as the sun rose. I thought about the connectedness that humans have with nature; this sort of bond that goes unseen but is surely felt. I think John Muir says it best. “Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” Even if you hate the outdoors, when you stand upon a mountain watching the sun start a new day, it is impossible not to be moved. And in this discovery of nature, we cleanse ourselves anew and remember the basics of living.
*For those who have asked about my address:
John Broyles
150 Wenlin Jie, Apt. 603
Kunming, Yunnan 650000
China
Now the girls had bicycles and were really stoked on riding there so we gentlemen agreed to lug a majority of the gear on our backs. They set out ahead of us while we made some last minute stops for only the necessities (bottles of rum and whiskey :) yarrr!). Ben (my roommate), Tai, and I all caught a bus to take us up into the hills and drop us off at the Bamboo Temple, our meeting point. Surprisingly the girls made it in only 2 hours while our bus decided to lolligag its way up taking about an hour. Seriously, we would stop at one place, the driver would shut off the engine, and we would sit there for like 5-10 minutes as the driver tried to entice people to hop on our bus. They wouldn't budge until we filled that thing! I got over it but I knew we were only going a short ways and it should have taken only half the time if we'd gone directly. Owell.
We finally met at the Bamboo Temple where the girls, Chiara (my other roommate) and Stef, had been exploring while waiting. We decided to tour the temple on the way out and got to hiking right away from there. We followed the road for maybe 100 yards before veering off into a clearing and hiking upwards. We went a little ways, found a nice clearing, but decided to keep going. It was a good hike, bush-whacking our way through a forest, climbing over mossy grounds and running into spider webs every three minutes. We would find a spot that look suitable but just kept on climbing for we wanted to reach the top. Sure enough we came to a point where solid light was shining through the thick brush. Excited, I surged on and broke through to an extremely large clearing at what seemed to be the top! Stoked on the climb and what we had found, I turned around and hi-fived everyone as they came through the clearing for it was exactly what we had been looking for (hi-fives are under-rated by the way). We seemed to be the only people there but knew we were actually in a state park sort of area. We set our packs down and realized the peak was even higher; so up we went.
The peak was epic! We could see panoramic views of not only the mountains to the west, but also the entire city of Kunming from where we live in the north, to Dianchi Lake in the south. We also made the journey on one of the clearest days yet leaving nothing but blue skies and rolling green hills for our pleasant view. After spending some time on top, we hiked back to our camp to set up the tents, read, write, nap, and enjoy Mother Nature. We were able to build a fire pit with stone and gather wood which meant a delicious meal that Chiara had put together (we ate the back-up sandwiches anyway :). As the sun set we went back to the top, except only half way up, for there were some visitors on the peak that we didn’t want to encroach on. We had fun laughing at the robot-man on a hill across the way where the sun was setting (you have to see the pictures, which I know I’m slacking at but be patient). We enjoyed the beautiful orange and reds that the sun provided that night and then went back down to start the fire. We sat around playing cards, drinking, sharing stories, and simply enjoying each others company with no distractions; no distractions from the TV, internet, noisy buses, iPhones, or anything else technology interrupts our day with. Just good ‘ol camping.
As the evening became full with darkness the fire flung its light about our camp. Likewise, the stars awoke. They came out one at a time but joined us, none the less, as we danced around the fire, full of rum and cheer. We ate noodles mixed with veggies and listened to the rhythmic sounds of Bob Marley, Sublime, and others who sing of happiness and joy. Having finished dinner, we all walked away from the fire to lie on our backs and marvel at the heavens. Although the stars weren’t as present as those in Steamboat, Colorado, it was still a sight to see. That’s when it hit me. We are young. We are free. We can do anything in this world. And at the time we were enjoying the company of friends. There were moments when I felt like I was back in the mountains of CO, camping with my boys back home; or even Julian, CA, which doesn’t hold a candle to CO but is none-the-less a fun camping spot.
That’s what I love about Nature. It has no boundaries and provides the same mystic feel whether one is in China or the US. I believe it is one thing that binds us all.
The next morning I had woken up early (didn’t sleep very well on the rock hard ground). As the others continued to sleep, I hiked back up to the peak despite the frigidness of the morning. I found a quiet spot overlooking the city and just gathered my thoughts as the sun rose. I thought about the connectedness that humans have with nature; this sort of bond that goes unseen but is surely felt. I think John Muir says it best. “Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” Even if you hate the outdoors, when you stand upon a mountain watching the sun start a new day, it is impossible not to be moved. And in this discovery of nature, we cleanse ourselves anew and remember the basics of living.
*For those who have asked about my address:
John Broyles
150 Wenlin Jie, Apt. 603
Kunming, Yunnan 650000
China
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Shilin-Stone Forest
After spending a majority of my time here adjusting and getting acquainted with the area, I figured it was time to get out and explore a little. I had gone to the Kunming Botanical Gardens with my roommates and have explored the city a bit but this time I was headed a little further out.
Shirlin is a town about 76km (47miles) to the southeast of Kunming and is home to a fascinating natural phenomenon. Stonehenge meets Bryce Canyon in the 135 sq. mile park that displays numerous jagged stones jutting up out of the countryside. Shirlin literally stands for ‘stone forest’ and rightfully named. I had seen pictures of the place and was really anxious to get there in real life. Unfortunately, my roommates were busy that day so I decided to take on the challenge of getting there myself, using the little Mandarin that I’ve picked up.
I took a taxi to the main train terminal which also has three different bus terminals, the buses heading out in all directions. When I got out of the taxi I was immediately bombarded by locals who tried showing me where I needed to go in hopes of getting a tip. They thought I was trying to make a bus to Dali (another city close by) but then I told them I was going to Shilin (pronounced sure-lin). They did an immediate 180 and rushed me across the street. I soon found out that all of these people work together for they introduced me to a man who said he would take me there on an express bus for 80kuai (like 12 bucks). I had heard the bus can take up to 4 hours despite the short distance so I said what the heck, this might be better. We then walked back into this parking lot and he put me into his personal car, which although was very nice, definitely wasn’t the bus he told me about. He told me to wait 10 minutes and he’d be right back and then we would go.
Fifteen minutes past and my sketch-o-meter was already past max so I bailed despite their attempts to get me to stay (they were trying to round up more foreigners to maximize the car load). I politely told them to get out of my face and that I was going to find it on my own. So I headed to the train station for I knew there were trains going that direction on a daily basis; plus I was already familiar with the place. However, it took me going to three different ticket windows to get somebody to understand me. Even then they looked confused as hell so I just asked where the bus station was. All they did was point to the left; great, thanks guys! I finally found it though and was happy to have a ticket despite having wasted one hour looking for the right stinking place.
I loaded up with lunch and settled into the half empty bus that was actually comfortable. Off we went, finally! The in-flight movie… some ridiculous Chinese film that involved a breakdance fight that was just hilarious. I don’t know what it is about foreign entertainment, but this film had the same appeal as Most Extreme Elimination Challenge did; quite funny. On our way out we passed a big lake that I had seen on the map before and couldn’t help but picture Chatfield Lake, CO and the fun times wakeboarding I’ve had there. It also made me think of home and all my friends and family that I miss so much. Living in a foreign country isn’t difficult at all; it’s when you find yourself completely alone in a foreign country that your mind starts to race. And mine never stopped. I just couldn’t help thinking of the people that I wish could have been with me at that moment.
Anyway, we finally made it to the park and in only an hour and twenty minutes. I was so excited until I reached the ticket window and realized that I had enough money to get into the park, but not enough for the bus ride home… smart one JB. Fortunately, the only foreign couple I saw the whole day came right behind me to purchase their own tickets. It was difficult for me to ask for money but I did and they were very kind enough to give me a loan. They were staying close to where I live so I vowed to return what they gave me later that night even though it was only $3.00. We went in together but then I broke off to explore on my own.
My first sight of the place was incredible! Up on a little hill top, I could see a majority of the park with the sun hitting it at just the right angle (the pictures are coming soon, I promise!). I was alone for about 5 minutes until I came upon the main area of the park and ran into hundreds of Chinese tourists. I felt like I was at Mecca or something. The place was crowded and noisy. I went up to the main viewing tower where they shoved people along like a sheep heard, cramming us all through the narrow passage ways. Once down from the viewing tower I tried my best to find some isolation, and did. The park has a lot of up and down stairs leading through various passage ways where I found myself completely alone to enjoy the essence of the park. Up and down I went, like a kid at Funplex, enjoying the cool shaded bottoms, gazing up towards the heavens, and then admiring the views from the peaks. The whole park felt like a sanctuary and I was the only disciple. I sat at one narrow gateway, alone…with nothing but the sounds of the birds and silence of the cool stone walls. As I watched the sun set and took in a few moments of reflection, I finally felt a peace about being over here in China. Sure I have left many of you, my friends. But I know I will be back again soon but not without some adventure first! After rushing around with the adrenaline that exploration brings, I thought I’d better make my way towards the exit so that I wouldn’t get myself lost.
I was glad I had made the trek as I left the park… it was definitely a worthwhile adventure. I found the waiting room for buses returning to Kunming and tried to buy a ticket back. Hehe, I was 3kuai short. Fortunately a couple of nice gentlemen were able to spot me (one couple rejected my pitiful request for money, ugh I felt like a begger). But you know, people are inherently good and I’m glad Someone was watching over me to help me get home :).
On the way back I decided that even if I run out of money from traveling and have to return home earlier than expected, it would still be worth it. I’m not going to try to do that, in fact just the opposite, but it’s the discovery of new places and things that gets me up every day and is worth any amount of money (even if you run out). When we returned to Kunming I had to walk home because I was out of cash. Haha, it took me an hour but I made it and saw another part of the city while doing it. That’s it, life is just one big adventure; you never know what the day will bring you so make the most of every day!!!!
(In case you’re wondering, I grabbed the gentlemen’s business card who had loaned me the money at the gate. I went to the hotel and ringed his hotel room. His wife answered and simply told me to email him a thank you but I did at least keep my promise and tried to return the $3 :)
Shirlin is a town about 76km (47miles) to the southeast of Kunming and is home to a fascinating natural phenomenon. Stonehenge meets Bryce Canyon in the 135 sq. mile park that displays numerous jagged stones jutting up out of the countryside. Shirlin literally stands for ‘stone forest’ and rightfully named. I had seen pictures of the place and was really anxious to get there in real life. Unfortunately, my roommates were busy that day so I decided to take on the challenge of getting there myself, using the little Mandarin that I’ve picked up.
I took a taxi to the main train terminal which also has three different bus terminals, the buses heading out in all directions. When I got out of the taxi I was immediately bombarded by locals who tried showing me where I needed to go in hopes of getting a tip. They thought I was trying to make a bus to Dali (another city close by) but then I told them I was going to Shilin (pronounced sure-lin). They did an immediate 180 and rushed me across the street. I soon found out that all of these people work together for they introduced me to a man who said he would take me there on an express bus for 80kuai (like 12 bucks). I had heard the bus can take up to 4 hours despite the short distance so I said what the heck, this might be better. We then walked back into this parking lot and he put me into his personal car, which although was very nice, definitely wasn’t the bus he told me about. He told me to wait 10 minutes and he’d be right back and then we would go.
Fifteen minutes past and my sketch-o-meter was already past max so I bailed despite their attempts to get me to stay (they were trying to round up more foreigners to maximize the car load). I politely told them to get out of my face and that I was going to find it on my own. So I headed to the train station for I knew there were trains going that direction on a daily basis; plus I was already familiar with the place. However, it took me going to three different ticket windows to get somebody to understand me. Even then they looked confused as hell so I just asked where the bus station was. All they did was point to the left; great, thanks guys! I finally found it though and was happy to have a ticket despite having wasted one hour looking for the right stinking place.
I loaded up with lunch and settled into the half empty bus that was actually comfortable. Off we went, finally! The in-flight movie… some ridiculous Chinese film that involved a breakdance fight that was just hilarious. I don’t know what it is about foreign entertainment, but this film had the same appeal as Most Extreme Elimination Challenge did; quite funny. On our way out we passed a big lake that I had seen on the map before and couldn’t help but picture Chatfield Lake, CO and the fun times wakeboarding I’ve had there. It also made me think of home and all my friends and family that I miss so much. Living in a foreign country isn’t difficult at all; it’s when you find yourself completely alone in a foreign country that your mind starts to race. And mine never stopped. I just couldn’t help thinking of the people that I wish could have been with me at that moment.
Anyway, we finally made it to the park and in only an hour and twenty minutes. I was so excited until I reached the ticket window and realized that I had enough money to get into the park, but not enough for the bus ride home… smart one JB. Fortunately, the only foreign couple I saw the whole day came right behind me to purchase their own tickets. It was difficult for me to ask for money but I did and they were very kind enough to give me a loan. They were staying close to where I live so I vowed to return what they gave me later that night even though it was only $3.00. We went in together but then I broke off to explore on my own.
My first sight of the place was incredible! Up on a little hill top, I could see a majority of the park with the sun hitting it at just the right angle (the pictures are coming soon, I promise!). I was alone for about 5 minutes until I came upon the main area of the park and ran into hundreds of Chinese tourists. I felt like I was at Mecca or something. The place was crowded and noisy. I went up to the main viewing tower where they shoved people along like a sheep heard, cramming us all through the narrow passage ways. Once down from the viewing tower I tried my best to find some isolation, and did. The park has a lot of up and down stairs leading through various passage ways where I found myself completely alone to enjoy the essence of the park. Up and down I went, like a kid at Funplex, enjoying the cool shaded bottoms, gazing up towards the heavens, and then admiring the views from the peaks. The whole park felt like a sanctuary and I was the only disciple. I sat at one narrow gateway, alone…with nothing but the sounds of the birds and silence of the cool stone walls. As I watched the sun set and took in a few moments of reflection, I finally felt a peace about being over here in China. Sure I have left many of you, my friends. But I know I will be back again soon but not without some adventure first! After rushing around with the adrenaline that exploration brings, I thought I’d better make my way towards the exit so that I wouldn’t get myself lost.
I was glad I had made the trek as I left the park… it was definitely a worthwhile adventure. I found the waiting room for buses returning to Kunming and tried to buy a ticket back. Hehe, I was 3kuai short. Fortunately a couple of nice gentlemen were able to spot me (one couple rejected my pitiful request for money, ugh I felt like a begger). But you know, people are inherently good and I’m glad Someone was watching over me to help me get home :).
On the way back I decided that even if I run out of money from traveling and have to return home earlier than expected, it would still be worth it. I’m not going to try to do that, in fact just the opposite, but it’s the discovery of new places and things that gets me up every day and is worth any amount of money (even if you run out). When we returned to Kunming I had to walk home because I was out of cash. Haha, it took me an hour but I made it and saw another part of the city while doing it. That’s it, life is just one big adventure; you never know what the day will bring you so make the most of every day!!!!
(In case you’re wondering, I grabbed the gentlemen’s business card who had loaned me the money at the gate. I went to the hotel and ringed his hotel room. His wife answered and simply told me to email him a thank you but I did at least keep my promise and tried to return the $3 :)
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Kunming
I've been in Kunming now for about a week and a half and have enjoyed myself thoroughly! The apartment I'm living in is, and probably will be, the nicest place I will pay rent for myself over the next five years. I share this spacious three bedroom apartment (4 if you include our office) with my roommates Ben and Chiara who are awesome; they've helped me tremendously in settling in and also in learning Mandarin. We live on the sixth floor of a complex that is close to Green Lake Park, a beautiful place where the local community gathers to enjoy. Ben and Chiara are looking for jobs like myself (namely tutoring) so we've had a lot of free time to spend leisurely in the park. The weather has been consistently 75 degrees yet it is starting to turn a little cooler. The park is a nice place to jog and a fun place to kick back and enjoy a beer, or two :)
Kunming is a sister city of Denver so I feel at home despite living in the city. It sits at about 6,000 ft. elevation and is home to 5.7 million people, 3 million in the urban areas. The people are friendly and seem to enjoy themselves here. Everywhere you'll see people playing instruments, playing with their children, and flying kites. The park hosts several kite flyers who let out literally 1000+ feet of line which is crazy! Their reel looks like something off of a deep sea fishing vessel. There's even a basketball court in the park which is nothing special but fun to mess around at. It's even more fun watching the Chinese play each other, all of whom suck, but have the biggest smiles on their faces. I guess you could say that life in general is good here :)
Every meal we've eaten out has been at a new restaurant, all of which have blown my taste buds away. The other night we had hot-pot which is a simple pot, split into two sections (or as many as you'd like), each containing a different level of spice to its broth. You then order different plates of meat and veggies to cook in the boiling sauce... and the result is simply mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Even though it does a number on the old estomigo, I'll definitely be eating there again. My favorite dish though is the tower of heaven (as I call it). It puts regular french fries to shame. They string out potatoes and fry them in a way that is just delicious, killing any McDonald's french fry challenge. The food is cheap as well which is nice, and when we cook, it's like eating for free. I'm happy to be learning new recipes and to be trying these new foods for most of them are extremely healthy containing lots of veggies. Let's just say that Panda Express looks like tofu next to some of the meals I've had.
Now of course there are the local x-pat restaurants and hang outs where one can order a good 'ol burger and fries but I'm enjoying the Chinese cuisine. The x-pat crew here is fairly large, all of whom were out in their best costumes on Halloween. We made a fun pub crawl through the town enjoying ourselves thoroughly as every Chinese person just stared and laughed at us. What can you say, can't deny tradition. It's fun meeting people from all over who have traveled all over. It truly is a small world, and making friends with people from all over only makes it smaller. Although some dislike seeing the foreign faces (non-Chinese) invading the city, I enjoy meeting new people regardless of where they're from.
I was hoping to have had a job by now but things don't always go as we plan or hope, as I'm no stranger to. None the less, I think I'll find something soon. If nothing else, I'm protecting my savings by living here so cheaply. Kunming is a neat place and a central hub to many exotic destinations. I'm hoping to get out and explore all that Yunnan province has to offer, as well as the neighboring countries (Laos, Vietnam, Burma, India, Nepal, Indo). I pray I get a job soon so that I can afford to make it to these places... but in the mean time, the search continues!
And I apologize for not having pictures up yet... Still working on that one but will post a link as soon as I figure it out... Caio!
Kunming is a sister city of Denver so I feel at home despite living in the city. It sits at about 6,000 ft. elevation and is home to 5.7 million people, 3 million in the urban areas. The people are friendly and seem to enjoy themselves here. Everywhere you'll see people playing instruments, playing with their children, and flying kites. The park hosts several kite flyers who let out literally 1000+ feet of line which is crazy! Their reel looks like something off of a deep sea fishing vessel. There's even a basketball court in the park which is nothing special but fun to mess around at. It's even more fun watching the Chinese play each other, all of whom suck, but have the biggest smiles on their faces. I guess you could say that life in general is good here :)
Every meal we've eaten out has been at a new restaurant, all of which have blown my taste buds away. The other night we had hot-pot which is a simple pot, split into two sections (or as many as you'd like), each containing a different level of spice to its broth. You then order different plates of meat and veggies to cook in the boiling sauce... and the result is simply mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Even though it does a number on the old estomigo, I'll definitely be eating there again. My favorite dish though is the tower of heaven (as I call it). It puts regular french fries to shame. They string out potatoes and fry them in a way that is just delicious, killing any McDonald's french fry challenge. The food is cheap as well which is nice, and when we cook, it's like eating for free. I'm happy to be learning new recipes and to be trying these new foods for most of them are extremely healthy containing lots of veggies. Let's just say that Panda Express looks like tofu next to some of the meals I've had.
Now of course there are the local x-pat restaurants and hang outs where one can order a good 'ol burger and fries but I'm enjoying the Chinese cuisine. The x-pat crew here is fairly large, all of whom were out in their best costumes on Halloween. We made a fun pub crawl through the town enjoying ourselves thoroughly as every Chinese person just stared and laughed at us. What can you say, can't deny tradition. It's fun meeting people from all over who have traveled all over. It truly is a small world, and making friends with people from all over only makes it smaller. Although some dislike seeing the foreign faces (non-Chinese) invading the city, I enjoy meeting new people regardless of where they're from.
I was hoping to have had a job by now but things don't always go as we plan or hope, as I'm no stranger to. None the less, I think I'll find something soon. If nothing else, I'm protecting my savings by living here so cheaply. Kunming is a neat place and a central hub to many exotic destinations. I'm hoping to get out and explore all that Yunnan province has to offer, as well as the neighboring countries (Laos, Vietnam, Burma, India, Nepal, Indo). I pray I get a job soon so that I can afford to make it to these places... but in the mean time, the search continues!
And I apologize for not having pictures up yet... Still working on that one but will post a link as soon as I figure it out... Caio!
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