The Trip....

Jul 28 – Depart Edmonton/Calgary for Beijing via Vancouver with Japan Air Lines

Jul 29 – Arrive into Beijing in the evening with arrival transfer to the Grand Mercure Xidan Beijing Hotel. No 6 Xuanwumen Nei Ave – Xicheng District – Beijing Tel: 010-66036688 Fax: 010-66031488

Beijing has also been known as Peking and Yanjing. Just west of the city a tooth was been found that dates back 300,000 to 500,000 years, which, is how old I anticipate feeling with the heat and humidity. The fossil has been named the Peking Man.
Many different groups have captured Beijing. It has been ruled over by the Jin, the Mongols, and the Kithan, and soon Olympic tourists.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing

Jul 30 – Full day tour of Beijing visiting Tienanmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace.

Tienanmen and the Square (this is not a spelling or grammatical error) translates to Gate of Heavenly Peace and once marked the outer boundaries of the imperial domain. The Emperor would rarely venture past the gate. When the Emperor would travel through the city all the shops and windows along his path would be shuttered and closed so that no commoner would see him. Now, Mao’s tomb lies here so that all the commoners can see. Traditionally this space is political rallies and proclamations occur, but not so much anymore. I will keep my mouth shut here, and hopefully Treesa will be able to accomplish her dream to fly a kite in the square.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tienanmen


The Forbidden City construction began in the early 1400’s and lasted about 14 years. It was easier to build a city in those days. They were able to use over 700,000 “volunteer” labourers and 100,000 artisans. I needed that power when I was getting my place ready to sell. By the way Bill and Tim… have you sold it yet?

I’m excited about seeing the Summer Place. It is almost 3km square and includes Kunming Lake. The Palace was twice looted and ransacked by Franco-Anglo troops. What they couldn’t carry off with them they smashed with abandon. The Empress Dowager tried to rebuild it after the Boxer Rebellion when it was destroyed by the international soldiers. She is often vilified in Western histories. Many use this rebuilding of the Palace as an example saying she did this at the expense of the Chinese Navy. Of course they ignore the fact that she actually had little power at the time as the Manchu court has been hijacked by isolationist princes. The Empress is also rumoured have her eunuchs swim around the Marble Boat, built in the middle of Kunming Lake on the palace grounds, and have them attach fish to her fishing line.

Jul 31 – Full day tour to Great Wall ( Badaling entrance w/ cable car ride ) and Ming Tombs via Sacred Way with lunch. Evening Peking Duck dinner.

The Badaling entrance to the Great Wall is situated amongst small hills and trees. Mao is credited as saying that “there is no great man who has not been to the Great Wall”. I guess we will be coming back to Canada with two great men and one great boy. Who knows what effect it will have on Treesa, Aisha, and I. The wall started as a series of small protective walls built by different states in about 7BC. The Qin emperor, who was the first to unify China, added to the wall until it ran about 10,000km. The Wall wasn’t much of a protection though. Since it was built China was overrun by Mongol Yuan dynasty and the Manchu Ming dynasty. Both came over the wall to establish their rule of China. It is wide enough for five horsemen to ride abreast atop it. So the helicopter I am going to need to get down shouldn’t have a problem. Up until this year there has been a Starbuck at the bottom to “welcome” travellors. They are everywhere those Starbuck’s guys.

The Ming Tombs, know as Shisan ling (Thirteen Tombs) are the tombs for thirteen of the sixteen Ming Emperors. Evil spirits are said to be able to fly only in straight lines. So, the road through the Tombs and gardens is curved to confuse them. The path is lined with carved columns and giant stone animals. By now we will probably all be in evil spirits. Hopefully the curved road won’t through us.


Aug 01 – Flight to Datong. Visit Yungang Buddhist Caves, Nine Dragon Wall. Continue on to Taiyuan visiting the Xuankong Suspended Temple. Overnight at Yuyuan Hotel – 148 Kaijua St. – Taiyuan

Datong is said to be the most polluted city in China and therefore the world. Dad brought us all small respirators, but I may be too vain to use it. I guess I will just blow sooty boogers for a while. Datong was once the center for trade with all of Mongolia and as it is on the border of the traditional Chinese kingdom it has been overrun frequently in its history.

There are nine Dragon Walls in China. The Datong one is the oldest and the biggest. It was originally built to obscure the view of a Ming palace. The palace has since burned down, but the wall still stands.

http://www.worldofstock.com/closeups/ADT4777.php Can you smell photo op?

The Wei, a fervent Buddhist trukic group, started the process of carving out the Cave Temples just outside of the city. There are fifty cave temples and they were carved out the sandstone wall starting some time around 450AD. According to history five Indian monks, who also happened to be accomplished sculptors started the work and it took about 15 years.

The Xuankong Suspended temple was built in the 6C. It contains 40 rooms and caves and houses over 80 Buddha statures from that era. Treesa is going to have a difficult day this day. Vertigo will be everyone’s enemy here.

http://www.china-on-site.com/pages/travel/1424.php take a look.

Aug 02 – Transfer to airport for flight to Xian with arrival transfer to Tianyu Gloria Plaza Hotel - 15 North Yanta Road – Xian – Tel: 029-8786 8855 Fax: 029-876 4577 ( www.gloriahotels.com/gloria_en/plaza/xian.asp ). Afternoon tour of Old Xian

Xi’an translates as Western Peace. It was the capital of China for most of the Han, Sui and Tang dynasties. The ancient city spread far beyond its modern boundries. In 1937 the Communist Party established is headquarters here. The book Confessions starts in this city. It is sad to think of all the history and architecture this area lost during the cultural revolution. Chaing Kai-sheck would often come to stay at the hot springs in the area.

Aug 03 – Full day tour visiting Terra-Cotta exhibits with lunch. Evening Xian Dumpling dinner followed by Tang Dynasty show.

The Buried Army is one of a number in the area. There about 8,000 terra cotta warriors in the first pit. The faces of the warriors are each individually modelled. There are archers, spearmen, infantry men, and chariots. The warriors were outfitted with swords, spears, halberds, axes and crossbows. Taking an army to heaven with you seems a little antithetical to heaven’s mission statement.

Aug 04 – Flight to Chengdu with arrival transfer to Louman Grand Hotel - No 22 Section 2 – Renming Zhong Road – Chengdu 610031 – Tel: 86-28-82929999 (www.lmdjd.com/doce/page1.htm ). This afternoon visit the Wuhou Temple, built in the 6th century followed by visit to famous teahouses in the area.

This is my type of town. It is know for its tea houses and being laidback. The waiters fill your teacup by pouring hot water from large kettles over your shoulder into your teacup on the table. So watch your hands. Often performers gather in the teahouses and you can catch an opera while sipping your tea at your table. While the rest of China seems to be quickly modernizing, Chengdu holds proudly to their reputation as relaxed and sophisticated. The relaxed reputation I will try to uphold, but I’m not sure the sophisticated part will apply.


Aug 05 – Full day tour to Woolong Panda Sanctuary with lunch.

You can see what we are seeing today. Remember that we are 12 hours ahead of you so tune in in the evening. If you see me in the camera, something has gone terribly wrong. They may be cute, but I think they would make a snack out of me.

http://www.oiccam.com/webcams/index.html?/panda/

Oh yeah. And having gone all this way I had better see a stinkin’ panda somewhere other than my meal.


Aug. 06 – Full day tour to Leshan to visit the Leshan Great Buddha, the biggest Buddha statue in the world, over 900 years old, via cruise.

Tonight we will need some pain relievers. The Buddha we are seeing is enormous. The locals have a saying “the mountain is a Buddha and the Buddha is a mountain”. His ears are 7 meters long. The legend has it that the monk who started this project gouged out one or both of his eyes to inspire potential donors. I don’t know if that dedication would inspire me or scare me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leshan_Giant_Buddha


Aug 07 – Flight to Kunming with arrival transfer to Golden Dragon Hotel – 575 Beijing Road – Kunming – 6000011 – Tel: 86-871-3133015 ( www.gdhotel.com.cn ). This afternoon visit the Flower & Bird market.

Kunming is know as the “Spring City”, and is the capital of the Yunnan province. It has only been “recently” brought into the Chinese empire. It joined China during the Mongol Yuan dynasty (1279 – 1386). The French were the first western power in the area. They built a narrow gauge railway to connect Kunming to Hanoi. If you travel by rail to the area you have to change trains at Kunming because of the different rail gauge.

Aug 08 – Full day tour to the Stone Forest.

The Stone Forest covers an area of more than three hundred square kilometres. Scientists believe that the area was once a seabed and that for some reason the sea drained away leaving an exposed seabed that resembles stone trees and peaks thrusting from the ground. The legend has it that a strong immortal moved the stone forest here with a divine whip. The immortal planed to use the stones to block floods, but the whip failed and the stone stopped in their steps and decided to “live” here. I want a magic whip. Imagine…

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.uh.edu/~jbutler/kunming/stoneforest2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.uh.edu/~jbutler/kunming/stoneforest.html&h=316&w=470&sz=50&hl=en&start=3&sig2=ZmoFfG8eYUxXY7ExZ104tg&um=1&tbnid=RYm7iuYHRH9feM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=129&ei=J0WkRoCbBaH8gQOti6XaDQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dstone%2Bforest%2Bchina%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26sa%3DN

Aug 09 – Full day tour visiting Yunnan Minority Village, Grand View Park. Visit Western Hill Park and ride up the chairlift for a panoramic view of Dianchi Lake.

This area has 75% off all China’s minority groups. The Minority Village is a live ‘Small World” scene. I will have to leave my cynicism in my luggage today.

Aug 10 - Flight to Chongqing followed by tour of Chongqing with lunch & dinner. After dinner, transfer to Victoria Cruise ( www.victoriacruises.com ) terminal to begin your Yangtze River Cruise.

Aug 11 – Yangtze River Cruise
Aug 12 – Yangtze River Cruise

We have a number of shore excursions here. This area I have done no research on. It will come as a complete surprise to me. Luckily I have a cabin with a deck, so I will be able to read and watch China float by. And, I hear they teach a fruit carving class on the Lido deck. I’ll be making fancy apples when I get home. Radish roses anyone???


Aug 13 – Morning tour of Three Gorges Dam at Yichang followed by disembarkation. Transfer to airport for flight to Shanghai with arrival transfer to Bund Hotel, No 525 Guang Dong Rd – Huangpu District - Shanghai – Tel 021-63522000 Fax: 021-63522777 (www.bundhotelshanghai.com ).

Aug 14 – Morning half day tour of Shanghai. Evening Acrobat show.

Aug 15 – Free day. Don’t tell anyone, but I am going to try to get them all to go see Zhouzhuang City. It is one of the best preserved examples of “old China” and is the Chinese answer to Venice. Luckily none of my fellow travellor will be reading this. They will be part of my audio tour. I’m sure that won’t get tiresome.

Aug 16 – Transfer via minivan to Hangzhou with enroute stop at Wuzhen, visiting its two-thousand-year history in its ancient stone bridges floating on mild water, its stone pathways between the mottled walls and its delicate wood carvings. Arrive into Hangzhou in the evening with transfer to Zhe Jiang Grand Hotel – 595 Yanan Road – Hangzhou 310006 Tel: 86-571-85056666

In 1860-62 the Taiping rebellion razed this city. Luckily there are a lot of accounts of the city’s past. Marco Polo called it the finest and noblest in the world, and who does trust imperial explorers’ descriptions of places.

Aug 17 – Full day tour around Hangzhou incuding cruise on the West Lake. Vist the Lingyi Temple with lunch.

The city was built with wood and the buildings are very close together. It has reconstructed and deconstructed many times. It was an important port city until the Ming dynasty when the port silted up. Luckily at that time it became an import silk city. There are “tourist” maps that were made from block printers dating back to 1200’s. They show ten and twelve story houses in the city at that time.

Aug 18 – Free day.

Whatever shall we do with a free day.

Aug 19 – Transfer to airport for flights home via Tokyo and Vancouver. Did you miss me???

China Reads

I am heading to China this week. In my usual, slightly crazy fashion, I took this as an opportunity to read books that could inspire me while I was there. Here is a list of what I have read.

Blue Guide - China
When China Ruled the Seas - Louise Levathes
Confessions - An Innocent Life in Communist China - Kang Zhengguo
Dragon Lady - Sterling Seagrave
The Soong Dynasty - Sterling Seagrave
Private Life of Chairman Mao - Dr Li Zhisui
The Adventures of Marco Polo - John Day
The Wisdom of Confucius - Lin Yutang
War Trash - Ha Jin
Waiting - Ha Jin
Lost Horizon - James Hilton
Journey to War - Christopher Isherwood and Auden
and a biography of Chiang Kai-sheck whose author i have forgotten

I now have a jumbled history of China that I wil try to apply to some of the places I will see. The books have inspired and awed me and made me realize how little I know of or understand the country I am going to see.

Oh yeah, and all the blogs I have read about the public toilet system there scare me a little. I am not a naturally tidy person, but i do like a clean bowl.

So stay tuned for my travel plans and dates.

What kind of traveler are you? I know what type to traveler I would like to be. I just saw the traveler breeze through check in.

My travel preparations are complicated. First I worry about what to pack. Questions run through my brain like a ticker at the bottom of a cable news channel. How many days am I going to be away? What temperature will it be where I am going? Do I need a “good” outfit? What bag should I pack? I need to remember to take my lip-gloss out of my purse, leave some lights on, and feed and water the cat. Who should I ask to look in on the cat? Does anyone need to look in on him? Will he bite anyone who comes in? Will they sue me if he does? Does he have rabies or is he just that bad tempered? And this is all on the way to the airport.

Now that I am here I add a whole other layer to my worries. Do I have my ticket? What time is 21:10? Is it 8:10 or 9:10? Is today the 4th? What day is my flight for? What about the dog? Is this the time she goes crazy in the airport and runs away? Will she get in her crate? Will the crate make it through security? What about the time the screener found “chemicals” on it? What did that mean? Will they load her on the correct flight?

“Here is your ticket ma-am and the baggage handler is here to get your dog.”

I turn and there he is waiting for me to get the dog crate on the trolley and get the dog in it. This part goes well. I open the door and take off her leash and she climbs up into her crate. The crate door closes and the dog and I part. Now it is my turn to head off through security clearance, with the echo of the dog’s cries following me. Everyone within earshot turns and watches me walk away. They all know that I abandon my pet.

“May I see your boarding pass please?”

The traveler casually smiles at the security guard, puts down her soft leather carry-all, and gracefully juggles her belongings and pulls out her passport and boarding pass. She puts down here carry-on and it snakes its way through the x-ray machine.

“I am sorry ma-am, but you are not allowed to take liquids through this check point”

I would be wracked with guilt, but not the traveler. She reaches into her bag, pulls out the water bottle, opens the bottle, drinks the last of the water and then tosses the bottle into the recycling bin. I think I saw the security guard. The she gathers up her bags smiles at everyone and heads off towards her gate.

“Next”

“Please take off your boots ma-am”.

“Your belt as well.”

“Could you open the button on your pants please.”

“If you have a problem ma-am. We can step aside into a holding room and I can have a female screener come and search you.”

“Thank-you ma-am. I appreciate your cooperation.”

“Now we need to open your bag and do a swab test.”

“Thank-you ma-am. Enjoy your flight”

I can hear my flight being called at gate eighteen. With my boots under my arm, my belt looped around my neck, and my bag over my shoulder I run to the gate in my stocking feet. There is a lounge I pass on my way to my plane. I can see the traveler reading her novel drinking a glass of red wine. She looks up as I run by and I see her smile. There she is the traveler I want to be.

guilty pleasure

I love Costco! I can’t help my self. I know they put small independent stores out of business, they contribute to urban sprawl, encourage car culture, and ship their goods ungodly distances using up precious fossil fuel. All these things I normally find abhorrent. But, still I love to dive into my $7.99 giant bag of snap peas. And, don’t get me started about the giant bags of Cheezies, and corn chips, and the tub of salsa.

So, when you come to visit me and out of curiosity look into my bathroom cupboard don’t judge me too harshly, be comforted. Because I won’t run out of toilet paper and if you forgot your toothbrush and toothpaste, I will probably have one that you can have. Please don’t offer to replace them. Consider it my penance

Things I need to accomplish:

1 Renew Passport
2 Get dog to vet for shots / microchip / EU Pet Passport
3 Pack all worldly belongings into boxes (many boxes)
4 Find place to store all worldly belongings
5 Sell apartment (make huge profit to finance this folly)
6 Find place to stay in Portugal
7 Buy airline ticket for myself and the dog
8 Fly away to new adventure
9 Write great Canadian novel (or Harlequin Romance)
10 Have it picked up by Oprah and/or Ellen (book club or life story)
11 Rest on my laurels

Why, when I write this list does it seem so achievable? Yet, when I sit down with the forms to accomplish the first item I can’t seem to finish the task. I can watch a lot of really bad TV in an effort fill my time.

What if I go a whole year without TV and I don’t miss it?

It seems a little like breaking up with that boy. You know, the boy you know you don’t truly love, but he makes you laugh and keeps you company in bed. So. you stay with him because when you make yourself laugh people look at you oddly on the bus, and if you let the dog keep you company in bed you will end up with sand in your sheets.

I have been surrounded by change. Friends have moved, married and had babies. Some have done all three. That has brought me to this. A realization has come to me. Changes won't just happen to me. I need to make them happen. So after much consideration a snap decision has been made. Travel. Time has come explore more of the world. For a long time my dreams were for a life of moderation. My past has had many days and night of sleeplessness and worry. For me moderation was a dream. No longer.

Now I am taking inspiration from my friends and family. Even though many of them probably think I'm crazy, my dog and i are going to head to europe. This involves a lot of red tape and months for the dog to get her EU Petpassport, but i can't imagine going without her.