tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23906303908986238302024-03-13T08:09:44.398-07:00Niceness NowNicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-61930911586100643282011-04-11T09:49:00.000-07:002011-04-20T12:21:46.413-07:00Java wrapper of GDALThis blog is about to become a tech blog in addition to everything else. This is for my benefit and the benefit of all the other intrepid voyagers journeying through the vastness of the techscape. <br /><br><br />This post describes the setup of the Java bindings of GDAL. The basic idea was that I wanted access to other image formats, in particular ENVI, without writing a bunch of code to slice and dice the binary blobs in which ENVI stores image data. There are a lot of ways to wrap the GDAL binaries from scratch. For some examples, see here: <a href="http://trac.osgeo.org/gdal/wiki/GdalOgrInJava">http://trac.osgeo.org/gdal/wiki/GdalOgrInJava</a> <br /><br><br />Call it laziness, but I just did not want to deal with SWIG and having to re-compile everything. I suspected there is an easier way and there is. Good tech samaritan Tamas Szekeres maintains this list of pre-compiled binaries, including wrappers: <a href="http://vbkto.dyndns.org/sdk/">http://vbkto.dyndns.org/sdk/</a> <br /><br><br />So I downloaded this one, for my Windows XP 32-bit operating system: release-1600-gdal-1-8-mapserver-5-6 which is compiled with Microsoft Visual C++ 2010. In the install directory is a GDAL/java/gdal.jar file. I would like to make use of this from within the Eclipse IDE. So I add gdal.jar to the class path and try to <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">gdal.AllRegister();</span> </span> But I get an exception like: <br /><br><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">Native library load failed. java.lang.UnsatisfiedLinkError: C:\Program Files\GDAL\gdaljni.dll: Can't find dependent libraries</span> <span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><br><br />So I add the following to the VM arguments:<br /><p>-Djava.library.path="C:/Program Files/GDAL" </p><br />This got me a little further but still threw an UnsatisfiedLinkError. Tamas suggested that I download the Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package: <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=a7b7a05e-6de6-4d3a-a423-37bf0912db84">http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=a7b7a05e-6de6-4d3a-a423-37bf0912db84</a> <br /><br><br />Once this was installed, <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">gdal.AllRegister()</span> runs without an exception, even if I remove the virtual machine argument. The GDAL test code also runs (GDALtest.java, GDALTestIO.java) no problem (given the data types that are checked in the code). I have now made a similar installation on a Windows 7 64-bit OS that works. However, I did discover that if GeoTools 2.7 is installed (with imageio-ext 1.0.6), GDAL and GeoTools will not play well together. As soon as I took GeoTools off the classpath, everything worked fine. Otherwise, I got an UnsatisfiedLinkError. Out of superstition, I also added the location of the GDAL binaries to the system "path" variable, just in case windows starts hunting around for something.<br /><br><br />The other thing that I have experienced on both XP and Windows 7 is that the JNI wrapper broke, possibly after a recent update. After some gnashing of teeth, a reinstallation of either the VC++ redistributable or GDAL, everything started working again.Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-25541343397130163172011-03-23T11:24:00.000-07:002011-03-23T14:07:56.183-07:00Chinese BourgeoisieFrom the Communist Manifesto:<br /><br />"The bourgeoisie, by the rapid improvement of all instruments of production, by the immensely facilitated means of communication, draws all, even the most barbarian, nations into civilisation. The cheap prices of commodities are the heavy artillery with which it batters down all Chinese walls, with which it forces the barbarians’ intensely obstinate hatred of foreigners to capitulate. It compels all nations, on pain of extinction, to adopt the bourgeois mode of production; it compels them to introduce what it calls civilisation into their midst, i.e., to become bourgeois themselves. In one word, it creates a world after its own image. "<br /><br />"The bourgeoisie has subjected the country to the rule of the towns. It has created enormous cities, has greatly increased the urban population as compared with the rural, and has thus rescued a considerable part of the population from the idiocy of rural life."<br /><br />"The bourgeoisie keeps more and more doing away with the scattered state of the population, of the means of production, and of property. It has agglomerated population, centralised the means of production, and has concentrated property in a few hands. The necessary consequence of this was political centralisation."<br /><br />"Subjection of Nature’s forces to man, machinery, application of chemistry to industry and agriculture, steam-navigation, railways, electric telegraphs, clearing of whole continents for cultivation, canalisation of rivers, whole populations conjured out of the ground..."<br /><br />Sound familiar?Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-53675398472810707512008-11-10T03:35:00.000-08:002008-11-10T04:08:33.932-08:00奥林匹克公园Now that the Olympics dog and pony show is over, the cameras are gone, and the commies got their phony message out, the Olympic park is opened to riff-raff like me. My buddy Yang Jun showed me around the other day. I admired the tower, but he poo-poo'ed my accolades on based on the price of the damn thing. While I do agree that the money could have been spent better elsewhere (like providing heat or fresh drinking water to Chinese people), what's wrong with a nice tower? As I pointed out, how many nice towers could we have gotten for all the money that got spent in Iraq? Probably one in every US city, was Jun's estimate. Another interesting thing we noticed was that the signs have three languages, Chinese, English, and French. French? I said. Why? (Sorry, Mom, but really...) Could it be that IOC president Jacques Rogge is Belgian? Can there be any more shameless example of blatant ass kissing? You can almost smell the shit on the collective nose of BOCOG. Anyhooo, I diverge.<br /><br />The park itself is very striking. (Jun claims it was designed by American landscape architects. Why don't we get nice parks?) Here are some photos.<br /><br />The main promenade by day. I just love those lights.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58VunKsPAnfeqMJYNpwpxMkDrcN-Tb1hniLQs_CnRkYPkpF70U3fGV19RpQPjMqCnRl1DpfkcCwEN4aCNzNrIlTw4dhZxUctIpoptTQ_cRcG4MCyPvogiNtpHhiAf4Cov2bMp0XcpKDA/s1600-h/PB080025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58VunKsPAnfeqMJYNpwpxMkDrcN-Tb1hniLQs_CnRkYPkpF70U3fGV19RpQPjMqCnRl1DpfkcCwEN4aCNzNrIlTw4dhZxUctIpoptTQ_cRcG4MCyPvogiNtpHhiAf4Cov2bMp0XcpKDA/s400/PB080025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266995451810645970" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The promenade by night.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7exueTi4_xp7E1tBEEWzS7ZGXWWVyCACXI9r_OGcJTE6exqHRSPOIUqiP3svN0zBMl4DrepqDF37-HQrHyM9yhhNewuEj2hhnc0yeyj3CV8OEYztws0vkmuB3GIX2ZHA3aoO_4yjGgCs/s1600-h/PB070004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7exueTi4_xp7E1tBEEWzS7ZGXWWVyCACXI9r_OGcJTE6exqHRSPOIUqiP3svN0zBMl4DrepqDF37-HQrHyM9yhhNewuEj2hhnc0yeyj3CV8OEYztws0vkmuB3GIX2ZHA3aoO_4yjGgCs/s400/PB070004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266995462542040402" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The tower. I don't care how much it cost, it looks fucking cool!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNr6LkShlYJKnGEp6iZWAdji6GOwI63SkUsSDRi-anM9FvCH9MySxZfrY5B51uAEIP3xBXBUxF-NftPJwaDoZcVjatqvdFdBC2VR6iOxl6LVVY46Zq9v4lE-SHGFPkuKg7OIWUvUxUpIE/s1600-h/PB070011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNr6LkShlYJKnGEp6iZWAdji6GOwI63SkUsSDRi-anM9FvCH9MySxZfrY5B51uAEIP3xBXBUxF-NftPJwaDoZcVjatqvdFdBC2VR6iOxl6LVVY46Zq9v4lE-SHGFPkuKg7OIWUvUxUpIE/s400/PB070011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266995469020704242" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Rubberneckers at the Bird's Nest.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9chGj5tuYxAoii1QAK_L3HmAXpnokpxCQjN4hQDQ8W4f9NoyOKOBNjtPgPFc_2nZ-h3qyxyUVP3GCSU3cZKRi0T_97XJaSMa04OAT2etp-i6Y3NHFPRgHhoRRtwnwiTO15E8W_DKcheE/s1600-h/PB070016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9chGj5tuYxAoii1QAK_L3HmAXpnokpxCQjN4hQDQ8W4f9NoyOKOBNjtPgPFc_2nZ-h3qyxyUVP3GCSU3cZKRi0T_97XJaSMa04OAT2etp-i6Y3NHFPRgHhoRRtwnwiTO15E8W_DKcheE/s400/PB070016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266995484436033730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I love this statue. I'm not sure what it means to balance a sailboat on the leg of a humanoid with no arms, but I generated some amusement of the onlookers by mimicking this bizarre pose. And it makes for a great photo!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JxGnRa3AK5HTtKmDFSDCTrnewx_hXU2Jw14Lq6m4vs4UTND_zqHioIPouJOkk7v9xfJmV9Xs77LR148OCTZ_x46LyYy3zuCNapmm5vMM83i94nbjmzoK90u2RC9mWU5yUxw3k-60czQ/s1600-h/PB070023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JxGnRa3AK5HTtKmDFSDCTrnewx_hXU2Jw14Lq6m4vs4UTND_zqHioIPouJOkk7v9xfJmV9Xs77LR148OCTZ_x46LyYy3zuCNapmm5vMM83i94nbjmzoK90u2RC9mWU5yUxw3k-60czQ/s400/PB070023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266995486927028962" border="0" /></a>Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-22403536288094557232008-11-07T03:32:00.000-08:002008-11-07T03:50:38.761-08:00爱北京The Olympic park, for all its stark beauty, dramatic shapes, and post-modern contours, is basically deserted. I'm told that the bird's nest will become a mall, and eventually shops will move into the buildings along the promenade, but for now, it is eerily empty. There is a subway stop quite close to my place (奥林皮克公园) so I decided to investigate the convenience of taking the subway home. I was greeted with a big surprise: an empty train! For anyone who has never taken the subway in Beijing, you get used to squeezing in with a shitload of people, at virtually ever hour of the day. So it was quite odd to switch to the Olympic park line and find myself sharing an entire train with two other dudes. Shortly before I took this shot, one of the other guys was also getting a photo, in appreciation of the weirdness of it:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRBfw-waoDDS60hpNvdgScCV5TTqAWeWg2Azb2gDBDhG1dWRGU73Jpw3kRZODDH3syyV27_GfPpjPS8DEZrvn_595k36_zQ9mONhbSJZyoOWpp87Qvn2idKgOn1HSYquRBhruE6-HqtE/s1600-h/PB040008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRBfw-waoDDS60hpNvdgScCV5TTqAWeWg2Azb2gDBDhG1dWRGU73Jpw3kRZODDH3syyV27_GfPpjPS8DEZrvn_595k36_zQ9mONhbSJZyoOWpp87Qvn2idKgOn1HSYquRBhruE6-HqtE/s400/PB040008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265877609022884434" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A random building outside Bei's house. A street scene in Beijing. Note the cluster of guys playing Chinese checkers:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrHTDMxN-wB3spkmLp3anlQJnw2XOinZAjoiFXSP__TcYBa9Unyuq9FLSHLs4gWxAkjcbtrE8MTU_I37-PmBIqoD7YCjG_oe0lQzc-YkOBEqIAXnrehFoVVIZqFYlC3sUs52o4zj2vK8/s1600-h/PB020003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrHTDMxN-wB3spkmLp3anlQJnw2XOinZAjoiFXSP__TcYBa9Unyuq9FLSHLs4gWxAkjcbtrE8MTU_I37-PmBIqoD7YCjG_oe0lQzc-YkOBEqIAXnrehFoVVIZqFYlC3sUs52o4zj2vK8/s400/PB020003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265877612894040642" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I love this one. We were in a really cool little bar in the Hutong, the old part of Beijing. Really good German beer on tap. Cute couple, eh?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjlDm0sIf5TEDS3J7_JH-LuRhfW3678roPvJlVvy4grBEjhZXBt0gIYHcvmN2ODU7POKPKkNtOgfDEcK7mbdyjad1k9a0Cn3PGz6BzifVXe2O99DECpget-fBRBNbxxsPhLwqYjut1tA/s1600-h/PB050011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjlDm0sIf5TEDS3J7_JH-LuRhfW3678roPvJlVvy4grBEjhZXBt0gIYHcvmN2ODU7POKPKkNtOgfDEcK7mbdyjad1k9a0Cn3PGz6BzifVXe2O99DECpget-fBRBNbxxsPhLwqYjut1tA/s400/PB050011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265877619061703970" border="0" /></a>Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-31684591823579741262008-10-30T20:41:00.000-07:002008-11-07T03:58:38.366-08:00中国Greetings from Beijing! I never thought I would find myself here again so soon, but girls can make you do all sorts of strange things. Bei met me at the airport and as soon as I saw her, my heart just melted. It was the nicest reception I ever had. She's awesome!<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPUzs2RfIPPG-xCCOYNu2GMLcZYTMoXK5DFKXvs_Iy65BMkUxJSlKiYcGpDjABPE9-idkrvikYeDKft1zFP44tSVshdjA4MUAWZNhwu4f7t-NUkutwjZIbOKZT997dQ6Fl4W5GpuiFFA/s1600-h/GEDC0262.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPUzs2RfIPPG-xCCOYNu2GMLcZYTMoXK5DFKXvs_Iy65BMkUxJSlKiYcGpDjABPE9-idkrvikYeDKft1zFP44tSVshdjA4MUAWZNhwu4f7t-NUkutwjZIbOKZT997dQ6Fl4W5GpuiFFA/s400/GEDC0262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265883530350343826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Anyway, Beijing is the same, yet not the same. All the gates, roads, restaurants, etc. that were closed during the Olympics are now open again. The air smells like China, there is more traffic on the roads, everything is back to normal... and I love it! This whole place had taken on a sort of Disneyland like feeling during the Olympics. Today was a gorgeous, blue sky, fall day in Beijing. I ate 茶鸡蛋 (cha ji dan, or eggs cooked in tea. Sounds gross, but they are delicious) for breakfast and drank instant coffee. Mmmmmm!Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-49695364291674738632008-10-01T18:03:00.000-07:002008-10-01T20:43:42.450-07:00Maltese Falcon中国朋友,你们好!我要给你门看看几张照片所以你们能知道住在加州怎么样。 我对不起我的语法很不好。我希望我的意思明白。<br /><br /><br />这是大学的学校。从我的大厦的门你能看到我们的时钟塔。<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHIWTHBx0yAIjsq4LyNfcR8JqafQeeTFGrXyeYrLiOMfvC_HEi0pj6TfbkNqzTwjl0wrG7m72_PtUbUMLU9vRAKRpEEQVgZ2emu4wW9czpPByBRZi13wH9uHcptwvYamR8YHGSptfu-A/s1600-h/P9180006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHIWTHBx0yAIjsq4LyNfcR8JqafQeeTFGrXyeYrLiOMfvC_HEi0pj6TfbkNqzTwjl0wrG7m72_PtUbUMLU9vRAKRpEEQVgZ2emu4wW9czpPByBRZi13wH9uHcptwvYamR8YHGSptfu-A/s400/P9180006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252380808903062002" border="0" /></a><br />这个人是我的老朋友叫Dan Stark。我跟他很多年以前学林科学。现在我们常常一起喝酒。<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEePcNe58MuHFXxJN_tCKvBXRKObMjJvs27WanWwFDkC-yD7flUyKG8wBH30Juao8nKH13zgygP4GBTwS0BdPe46CNM24-y1pxA_HWyAdmdt7qw0nLhFmc486ysTvcBiz2mQhZv2MuUc/s1600-h/P9180004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEePcNe58MuHFXxJN_tCKvBXRKObMjJvs27WanWwFDkC-yD7flUyKG8wBH30Juao8nKH13zgygP4GBTwS0BdPe46CNM24-y1pxA_HWyAdmdt7qw0nLhFmc486ysTvcBiz2mQhZv2MuUc/s400/P9180004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252356713906275122" border="0" /></a><br />在Berkeley大学,有一个学生酒吧叫The Bear's Lair (熊的家)。这个酒吧只有啤酒。你能看起来他们有很多种啤酒。可能有二十多种啤酒。很好喝!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxj5PiSBUoka5Y4Bp72_CECaErkIUxrYhQkfzGs_k5o0TMpeZjSTaGbH4yCr5Kx19KSnObbwbyRjrd3RvXJmo5zEIQbxS6tLKBiyrM2KEPRppYir6tkYSYXqSySA_gZKikN6B_FAL4-g/s1600-h/P9180001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxj5PiSBUoka5Y4Bp72_CECaErkIUxrYhQkfzGs_k5o0TMpeZjSTaGbH4yCr5Kx19KSnObbwbyRjrd3RvXJmo5zEIQbxS6tLKBiyrM2KEPRppYir6tkYSYXqSySA_gZKikN6B_FAL4-g/s400/P9180001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252356716758415682" border="0" /></a><br />这是别的酒吧,可是真的一个酒吧。他们卖很多种酒。 在中国,我没看到这个酒。<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaPeNA7L8m12QoMI-wgsBwsuNrz1vBzp_gFQe_OmvtKpxxd9lRnPA38chmZieRfYwkiMT2C6X5BPF_B3KT1TjLDxmhnDyzJTb9YtMxOzLvpQ-vFjyKpiVjVhTYeqYC4MRUlH7IrcGmFg/s1600-h/P9180007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaPeNA7L8m12QoMI-wgsBwsuNrz1vBzp_gFQe_OmvtKpxxd9lRnPA38chmZieRfYwkiMT2C6X5BPF_B3KT1TjLDxmhnDyzJTb9YtMxOzLvpQ-vFjyKpiVjVhTYeqYC4MRUlH7IrcGmFg/s400/P9180007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252356723805610754" border="0" /></a><br />在下个告诉你们的酒吧,哟一个人我要给照张像。可是他不要我给他照张像,所以我得跟他说话说的很久。最后,他让我给他照张像,可是他要拿起来这个危险的刀。我不知道为什么他要那个刀。<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-Luy91dfeR0WjOYQoHyCtkqO7h9Z2LhjMUwVCrbXV-RMgzuFC9_KdtCXkAdc0y39iSdQfwYx7l8r_OHcPJ4dnVQs9FMexf-IEji7Uaf9DFmHtOknfqMzla4FA4pU0znpA5LyHRetvgU/s1600-h/P9180008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-Luy91dfeR0WjOYQoHyCtkqO7h9Z2LhjMUwVCrbXV-RMgzuFC9_KdtCXkAdc0y39iSdQfwYx7l8r_OHcPJ4dnVQs9FMexf-IEji7Uaf9DFmHtOknfqMzla4FA4pU0znpA5LyHRetvgU/s400/P9180008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252356724853023554" border="0" /></a><br />这个女孩子是我的朋友叫Kristen。其他的人是她的男朋友。她说中文说得比我非常好。以前,她在中国工作。在中国,她有一个公司给中国人在河船的旅行。<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUy5vT0yeT0X_lSdUhxQtrb6CLtEQf9vnJ5bOdMUD9Gdcna2Gps9UKVXUsJw3qYzbtLLJWN5F-d9Bi_IotqehfLmVAeVor8z1XvhCKZ1L039eYCoGxtWs3c3AyGygm9piZTHq3_GTll3k/s1600-h/P9210021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUy5vT0yeT0X_lSdUhxQtrb6CLtEQf9vnJ5bOdMUD9Gdcna2Gps9UKVXUsJw3qYzbtLLJWN5F-d9Bi_IotqehfLmVAeVor8z1XvhCKZ1L039eYCoGxtWs3c3AyGygm9piZTHq3_GTll3k/s400/P9210021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252375758248798802" border="0" /></a><br />在帆船好完!在这个录像里,我们练习说西班牙语。<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxc1Rk1yEkm9XwhHBWajglzuKk3Se0C-3M1fAa3bLrlwP6Z2ItYle3XiO61QLWADpBW3RYqp1p55yhcJpM' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>我们回来船港口以后,喝酒,聊天以下。这是我住的地方。<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihdghKTKA_DIL4SL2iQfxdbLBKKAxSNYili9rOtombKw82Taqfri8WTNRrcSc2Nq2FQ0HUIWmgzKG1RLOzAJFU03zKWTI1nq_4HXeKuLNUy-jYrvdk8gov8VXCOia1a8rE0EYh6Lfq3k/s1600-h/P9210055.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihdghKTKA_DIL4SL2iQfxdbLBKKAxSNYili9rOtombKw82Taqfri8WTNRrcSc2Nq2FQ0HUIWmgzKG1RLOzAJFU03zKWTI1nq_4HXeKuLNUy-jYrvdk8gov8VXCOia1a8rE0EYh6Lfq3k/s400/P9210055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252375768242239202" border="0" /></a><br />下个周末,我自己开船到旧金山。在这张照片你能看起来旧金山很近。从到旧金山开船要三个多小时。<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLaq9xBM57zlraWVgetmsovsClj4BZPq36_9EffTy7D8F63QRdYubOxnifn9TMBO8Zheo_54HplMjyvVckKaWP-Sqh5SJGbulNqJUuQZYu-J5DUAbG2E4ZgLoBYw9HNPyF-Uple9kSjLE/s1600-h/P9260002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLaq9xBM57zlraWVgetmsovsClj4BZPq36_9EffTy7D8F63QRdYubOxnifn9TMBO8Zheo_54HplMjyvVckKaWP-Sqh5SJGbulNqJUuQZYu-J5DUAbG2E4ZgLoBYw9HNPyF-Uple9kSjLE/s400/P9260002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252375767002587426" border="0" /></a><br />在旧金山,我停放我的船在旧金山城市的港口。从我的停放的地方我能看了到金门桥在后面。<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4xKNBVjwefiFhZoYs6hju8TjW5_DcbXdI28_uEueUkXw1l3DYbVfikfmKdVLjSWk8u4_bJTfKMj6iPnywbavM47CRsU3302GBA2bahp0il9yPKndZpDY9k-t7AJqB9g6WrO6nS1c4Dg/s1600-h/P9260007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4xKNBVjwefiFhZoYs6hju8TjW5_DcbXdI28_uEueUkXw1l3DYbVfikfmKdVLjSWk8u4_bJTfKMj6iPnywbavM47CRsU3302GBA2bahp0il9yPKndZpDY9k-t7AJqB9g6WrO6nS1c4Dg/s400/P9260007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252375771629644930" border="0" /></a><br />在停放的地方的对面有一个帆船俱乐部。这是加州的最大的最贵的帆船俱乐部。<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjKVb7qLJY8w1oQIuSuVLT8wP-TyOoBN7JrG3FLhJBUqdBdM4awvySIbyXXm6qpmHtybi2nx1npCiy3KOUSFIActZIAhRYDnnLraGDoEyDq3AMdnUGZ_oY1S8-PVmRxD5Yvp52MmCJUQ/s1600-h/P9260008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjKVb7qLJY8w1oQIuSuVLT8wP-TyOoBN7JrG3FLhJBUqdBdM4awvySIbyXXm6qpmHtybi2nx1npCiy3KOUSFIActZIAhRYDnnLraGDoEyDq3AMdnUGZ_oY1S8-PVmRxD5Yvp52MmCJUQ/s400/P9260008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252375776927877186" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">星期六我跟我的朋友开船。大家工作开船。很好完!<br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGZ-Hp2lyBIJJg8gLiI8q-A0sJZP10bP7mfiOKCL_pdl1OfOK_pLCjc9agLohk3nAarFuLNnCaQdKd13OdpIigFv_gmNv2RVRfIBWKoXku9pX37gz3Aef0gFoEq25CUAdWV3EnfYQcYk/s1600-h/DSC01953.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGZ-Hp2lyBIJJg8gLiI8q-A0sJZP10bP7mfiOKCL_pdl1OfOK_pLCjc9agLohk3nAarFuLNnCaQdKd13OdpIigFv_gmNv2RVRfIBWKoXku9pX37gz3Aef0gFoEq25CUAdWV3EnfYQcYk/s400/DSC01953.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252379586122149426" border="0" /></a><br />两点钟,我们去出旧金山,在金门桥下边等最大的帆船叫Maltese Falcon。天气非常好,暖和。<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfN3y-UQrv18ZegH3lQdm8s6w3VICVW8B0Xiiknh9WlbJ7f9ORVJ7fcFhaP1WnmB6yeChYXp87FDwza2yfI91jWYXOqL8rK4hUWJN_rxp4g2wkVkvqBXtGXcjumtnXZDcePaMIxIFKTBU/s1600-h/DSC01958.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfN3y-UQrv18ZegH3lQdm8s6w3VICVW8B0Xiiknh9WlbJ7f9ORVJ7fcFhaP1WnmB6yeChYXp87FDwza2yfI91jWYXOqL8rK4hUWJN_rxp4g2wkVkvqBXtGXcjumtnXZDcePaMIxIFKTBU/s400/DSC01958.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252379585285623266" border="0" /></a><br />大的船来了!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTckXv_FhFi91ZOnKwNYHhxYV_C-Zh7nXp8QxDwtLojLduPLlHM7ZO0K2zDuRJhF59O5tWveX45Eb7IX66Nq9pNjABJ0geUBwrAdl_vwCjs6bSWiECVGvrMGbLsrMly3oz9_Ai5EJ4UIg/s1600-h/DSC01990.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTckXv_FhFi91ZOnKwNYHhxYV_C-Zh7nXp8QxDwtLojLduPLlHM7ZO0K2zDuRJhF59O5tWveX45Eb7IX66Nq9pNjABJ0geUBwrAdl_vwCjs6bSWiECVGvrMGbLsrMly3oz9_Ai5EJ4UIg/s400/DSC01990.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252379590896800978" border="0" /></a><br />很多别的船也去出找Maltese Falcon。<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxgtIu6KieORwJgWjJ6-2l_rrJu3u0Ax0IdKln5TFjm779Jn4fC6tzTd9NUtQjEdZtMd2v4FB28cVRbkgkPAXZWYjajCwu6nrOUSLXeDHerEIolYA5Tu_IlB06AA1TQ-RfUzznVmTuys/s1600-h/DSC02016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxgtIu6KieORwJgWjJ6-2l_rrJu3u0Ax0IdKln5TFjm779Jn4fC6tzTd9NUtQjEdZtMd2v4FB28cVRbkgkPAXZWYjajCwu6nrOUSLXeDHerEIolYA5Tu_IlB06AA1TQ-RfUzznVmTuys/s400/DSC02016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252379593961509906" border="0" /></a><br />在大海上热闹!都要欢迎Maltese Falcon!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhckLR-aqMBspjuLhzi-0bZ5WDABjzsKB0W72KrjqOx-fQ5THn4DkJMq6X4ynxCXkKB_Fy3iSSqiPvcjT96elA5Iv5-kw0GOc4mSo9hfmOjWqHHAJ36xufnDIJ0sZLIzco6SLq3JACWX0/s1600-h/Maltese+falcon+4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhckLR-aqMBspjuLhzi-0bZ5WDABjzsKB0W72KrjqOx-fQ5THn4DkJMq6X4ynxCXkKB_Fy3iSSqiPvcjT96elA5Iv5-kw0GOc4mSo9hfmOjWqHHAJ36xufnDIJ0sZLIzco6SLq3JACWX0/s400/Maltese+falcon+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252379596557366306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYzKF7ZvaicnQnZ8MfM9AJJU5A_ZhptxwA3NH7e1IrBKTVQf018_7sFOd-a6Ppz6u3UgsKa1pSSKMAp-oSvIT9b-0rtwSJkb__fXI-i23AYFt3YAZx3H7P0-7VTo37EjQGwtwCatiqh8/s1600-h/DSC02038.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYzKF7ZvaicnQnZ8MfM9AJJU5A_ZhptxwA3NH7e1IrBKTVQf018_7sFOd-a6Ppz6u3UgsKa1pSSKMAp-oSvIT9b-0rtwSJkb__fXI-i23AYFt3YAZx3H7P0-7VTo37EjQGwtwCatiqh8/s400/DSC02038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252380428113544130" border="0" /></a><br />那个帆船真大。<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Bck62CfklPrKNYxThZUq4keSn6DQVffm4aXM94C6EPGnfoCV8PqPjP0SjMaC5h8QYvITn6ZtMkiz-sgdKi7CRvC1b-wX7N41A3WuEB-wAQsbJBmyouFOo6meG0qK8mn7q3L-h8NPE4M/s1600-h/Maltese+falcon+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Bck62CfklPrKNYxThZUq4keSn6DQVffm4aXM94C6EPGnfoCV8PqPjP0SjMaC5h8QYvITn6ZtMkiz-sgdKi7CRvC1b-wX7N41A3WuEB-wAQsbJBmyouFOo6meG0qK8mn7q3L-h8NPE4M/s400/Maltese+falcon+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252380432935942034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzdg8cNLk2yAA-TnaebQXS0Lf3SM_OP6Ckhy4f9pZztfIYfrGEZ6wkTAu7S3PeoMMkui4bmGPkSycf21dXt4jIUu3x0OosmjbHsGVs8Y1fQziNUARjl0Qk7vM5Us8pffO1RdMAhUU4TA/s1600-h/P9270031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzdg8cNLk2yAA-TnaebQXS0Lf3SM_OP6Ckhy4f9pZztfIYfrGEZ6wkTAu7S3PeoMMkui4bmGPkSycf21dXt4jIUu3x0OosmjbHsGVs8Y1fQziNUARjl0Qk7vM5Us8pffO1RdMAhUU4TA/s400/P9270031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252380429719760114" border="0" /></a><br />Maltese Falcon 太快了!我们不可以跟那个船坐帆船去。开船的人是我的老朋友叫Sam Herrick。我们一起在中学。<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fl_jvXSfx-TyCyJGja0jUkJnTcQdE8ba-xpSRC-GqQV4MRROuGtesjgLTtmSXfAbmaRIEEX3dOupWjzdIUFYK1ZVvlourXOnW42d5GkmX9VIwn0YE0lhAV2Zj0VevdLqSvErKyosRDo/s1600-h/P9270029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fl_jvXSfx-TyCyJGja0jUkJnTcQdE8ba-xpSRC-GqQV4MRROuGtesjgLTtmSXfAbmaRIEEX3dOupWjzdIUFYK1ZVvlourXOnW42d5GkmX9VIwn0YE0lhAV2Zj0VevdLqSvErKyosRDo/s400/P9270029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252381395478311794" border="0" /></a><br />没有多!写汉字太麻烦了!Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-22994082554865973302008-09-07T15:01:00.000-07:002008-09-07T16:53:23.796-07:00Back in the USA我在美国!现在,我用中文写我的日记。我想给我的中国朋友美国的活动的看看。我的特别的朋友,张蓓,让我放一些帆船的里边照片。(她让我做什么,我就做!我很想他。。。)这些照片,我给张蓓当介绍我的住的地方。<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />这些照片是帆船的厨房:<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFulL1D7IThZF2iJ_yspzeLXXFuQgcakn6R0_0IondYVdwzQcf4lt8dXApA7yvmkPWce0wwQahYGvxfZckVU5WazJvYNnFKuk6Bsu_tZnPisOXjLTZ48hwb0yanCeFs5wNq_DIUC3-EWg/s1600-h/P9040001.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFulL1D7IThZF2iJ_yspzeLXXFuQgcakn6R0_0IondYVdwzQcf4lt8dXApA7yvmkPWce0wwQahYGvxfZckVU5WazJvYNnFKuk6Bsu_tZnPisOXjLTZ48hwb0yanCeFs5wNq_DIUC3-EWg/s400/P9040001.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_dVWDyz4989emHc5nJsqT9X0GXdigRAlURmoQ-C15f5StNDxMsrwNGa_8fZ8Z-RwlEfMm1Ij_oYYk-2EdQkLKvENMmReEk2tFBdV_cT9ssI4VqjueZcZgz9OcBauO8nLqu1Jrfe48E8/s1600-h/P9040002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_dVWDyz4989emHc5nJsqT9X0GXdigRAlURmoQ-C15f5StNDxMsrwNGa_8fZ8Z-RwlEfMm1Ij_oYYk-2EdQkLKvENMmReEk2tFBdV_cT9ssI4VqjueZcZgz9OcBauO8nLqu1Jrfe48E8/s400/P9040002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243411140560015522" border="0" /></a><br />这是船的客厅(后面看):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYM3gN8GvC7mjne6DgWrX-H6dXa-hc0EcWBQpRljYJRV_c5E6-05v8M5gfAVlaC1TLKVFnEDl2tGJTUogN5fKXLT5iB5KzzmLrk9GHv9E7zwv7b2z9J3Ibhg2p7InZ4OeB_S9v-CNbSc/s1600-h/P9040009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYM3gN8GvC7mjne6DgWrX-H6dXa-hc0EcWBQpRljYJRV_c5E6-05v8M5gfAVlaC1TLKVFnEDl2tGJTUogN5fKXLT5iB5KzzmLrk9GHv9E7zwv7b2z9J3Ibhg2p7InZ4OeB_S9v-CNbSc/s400/P9040009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243413610031624034" border="0" /></a>(前面看):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrA0j8QBomoFqoi8B4EcjCp4b777qdNKx3U7lusVLNWZ0Xd-ViU-DdrE0Ws3tv33HxaPjzM1N-6-XUqBv0SOOvBP7YFA2eLuMHLXDOmTCgQQFcUKv8O7b9LFJ0ON9qyxO2OFm344FnI8/s1600-h/P9040003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrA0j8QBomoFqoi8B4EcjCp4b777qdNKx3U7lusVLNWZ0Xd-ViU-DdrE0Ws3tv33HxaPjzM1N-6-XUqBv0SOOvBP7YFA2eLuMHLXDOmTCgQQFcUKv8O7b9LFJ0ON9qyxO2OFm344FnI8/s400/P9040003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243411147030530738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSL1sh1vW6pzdT89lvnjZ0hsZ_zFmc1Gn_x0Y6nsFVdcQD_o2z89SXxJAcudt0G4aPSWRhwiHzYqs0XPL6eun4AfPKWOuaMDpI8woYToFoq-c64AZ1zH3YPYKpDQbP_TaZALPRuvLyk54/s1600-h/P9040004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSL1sh1vW6pzdT89lvnjZ0hsZ_zFmc1Gn_x0Y6nsFVdcQD_o2z89SXxJAcudt0G4aPSWRhwiHzYqs0XPL6eun4AfPKWOuaMDpI8woYToFoq-c64AZ1zH3YPYKpDQbP_TaZALPRuvLyk54/s400/P9040004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243411151631327170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyrEdfelh9a0NyF8AMwv2s7_j6QKTBTmG8TzMakObvrvPyV_asTd1oy_QuGhf-nqVVDhOEnJhl7UGQ3_IJhNXkRFM9UGhMJhIFz2Z6CvU57xcan_k0ee-8pEzvCkURmxuPwRhTcSfoF4/s1600-h/P9040005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyrEdfelh9a0NyF8AMwv2s7_j6QKTBTmG8TzMakObvrvPyV_asTd1oy_QuGhf-nqVVDhOEnJhl7UGQ3_IJhNXkRFM9UGhMJhIFz2Z6CvU57xcan_k0ee-8pEzvCkURmxuPwRhTcSfoF4/s400/P9040005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243411159764242226" border="0" /></a><br />这是船的双人床 (非常舒服):<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLetUMP_Em-l8mcC-297v4Ytr6ENJp36H_5QJu8qUC7xYvE7p2it28_DJYhkdji2GKWMKjdxj6a6HQMjPOdn2xgwnKyUU1a4mLQoLGTgeffF0o5PqwjZf8TPLueeXbM5bVUu3VZJJIqWQ/s1600-h/P9040006.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOt5zoBdbviqMFB5LkHvodUue8A0OhdrfCtLHTyTA_HOr5ARnvWDcm4WvI3hbSk6liMKwvSBp3KRzBOqi5UBbuETpthAS_Xy2uRFdDpMOtpThgZrsXJw1Vp5fG_rjtMISG0BsZ7HiArEY/s1600-h/P9040007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOt5zoBdbviqMFB5LkHvodUue8A0OhdrfCtLHTyTA_HOr5ARnvWDcm4WvI3hbSk6liMKwvSBp3KRzBOqi5UBbuETpthAS_Xy2uRFdDpMOtpThgZrsXJw1Vp5fG_rjtMISG0BsZ7HiArEY/s400/P9040007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243413595897861986" border="0" /></a><br />从卧室,后面看:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEqs4KvShoply7wHSA0aMaoD8gyaijymMi1e_hRyrzSnBRI6oQ9snCxGk5rsH2zuC8GbYxUVua0tAmJMHnlGhyphenhyphenY42G4RyjjJARf2a47Zb8Su_38AgMjnVwLmBD7MViWDJAPapF8GS0uw/s1600-h/P9060061.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEqs4KvShoply7wHSA0aMaoD8gyaijymMi1e_hRyrzSnBRI6oQ9snCxGk5rsH2zuC8GbYxUVua0tAmJMHnlGhyphenhyphenY42G4RyjjJARf2a47Zb8Su_38AgMjnVwLmBD7MViWDJAPapF8GS0uw/s400/P9060061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243413612023662274" border="0" /></a><br />厕所:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalxFrBuj_UvB_oYa1oZuGdr3lyJHiLi0GzCJu7mWlchizYnWkmoQe0yY2-hqLZK5YIrezme4gXRrRVpedya2MkrBqDiP6VcNkSMcfxqEiY8P3KbLLYhwWYRGnrtfszPNF70OlOJJnwmY/s1600-h/P9040008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalxFrBuj_UvB_oYa1oZuGdr3lyJHiLi0GzCJu7mWlchizYnWkmoQe0yY2-hqLZK5YIrezme4gXRrRVpedya2MkrBqDiP6VcNkSMcfxqEiY8P3KbLLYhwWYRGnrtfszPNF70OlOJJnwmY/s400/P9040008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243413605487454866" border="0" /></a><br />前天,我去出开帆船!我有两个月没开帆船, 所以我回来美国以后,这是第一次。因为我没有找到人帮忙我,我得自己开船。自己开船有一点难,可是很好完!我去出的时候,这个人进出。他好像很高兴,对不对?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7K9OhWoBeMLeRACTZeyKbmsbevvjZKE-cx8O6cu6c8p-kSL6ll8YGtNqTG_Xq1JHUtfkKOCzOfome-AGVaNJhKAjKcTt95uPY3ZWoJNajFD6I-gREkK7V2qlKDSJnWMT_8iMf3g2moZ4/s1600-h/P9040010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7K9OhWoBeMLeRACTZeyKbmsbevvjZKE-cx8O6cu6c8p-kSL6ll8YGtNqTG_Xq1JHUtfkKOCzOfome-AGVaNJhKAjKcTt95uPY3ZWoJNajFD6I-gREkK7V2qlKDSJnWMT_8iMf3g2moZ4/s400/P9040010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243416835706576034" border="0" /></a><br />在大海上:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0uRGm8OhMTJeqU05Jazdq7rzjYmteBO5ihP_noJ8eeY9GL_RmLNm6VrRplthmeCDLNZ5b-q-T6QQOMKxMtF5YJsm3969ZL2rqNFpziJhMnf5APfJYm1r9ZWC4cU3sUkAZ1CELTpjd1M/s1600-h/P9040011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0uRGm8OhMTJeqU05Jazdq7rzjYmteBO5ihP_noJ8eeY9GL_RmLNm6VrRplthmeCDLNZ5b-q-T6QQOMKxMtF5YJsm3969ZL2rqNFpziJhMnf5APfJYm1r9ZWC4cU3sUkAZ1CELTpjd1M/s400/P9040011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243416838197094354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnjOvSx3dWgpz3UG7GyKkC293VPt7zam5b5eqSE2j1mZMm9CWd988m5MPzMdBgeO35o7n8nJq5SIV4vp-lEkjDDtEcv_Xj69eyEW-VCh0zIwaq_gbEV-7d3HAdC1kjuPcB996PqmL8l0/s1600-h/P9040014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnjOvSx3dWgpz3UG7GyKkC293VPt7zam5b5eqSE2j1mZMm9CWd988m5MPzMdBgeO35o7n8nJq5SIV4vp-lEkjDDtEcv_Xj69eyEW-VCh0zIwaq_gbEV-7d3HAdC1kjuPcB996PqmL8l0/s400/P9040014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243416847616064610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkiYetX-C7fcmQPhyo0LtJfxQsIntUDbNUWivw3S5h7PdA5wHPNPZd1sSlLikKVMBrJair60wBcptWkaW3u9ITnxiyH8ZZU66_-jiZn3K8dWbDxQCIcCuwv0_xsodsXfFlO0z3ipKWe4/s1600-h/P9040017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkiYetX-C7fcmQPhyo0LtJfxQsIntUDbNUWivw3S5h7PdA5wHPNPZd1sSlLikKVMBrJair60wBcptWkaW3u9ITnxiyH8ZZU66_-jiZn3K8dWbDxQCIcCuwv0_xsodsXfFlO0z3ipKWe4/s400/P9040017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243422487930819986" border="0" /></a><br />我夕的时候去了。<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1O6gw-yFbbmsdhm0wJhSGjlIqv2OcBGUT7BlsdkxEzJ9TdRS6u30B6sBwUGY2ddiUkxyDN3L83tvW7aVLYggu6LPzWfjN2NWBDNX3sVya16nPVKrWZFxX3UypKZ_uuBgGvDdxjFgUYo/s1600-h/P9040020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1O6gw-yFbbmsdhm0wJhSGjlIqv2OcBGUT7BlsdkxEzJ9TdRS6u30B6sBwUGY2ddiUkxyDN3L83tvW7aVLYggu6LPzWfjN2NWBDNX3sVya16nPVKrWZFxX3UypKZ_uuBgGvDdxjFgUYo/s400/P9040020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243424680482696562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sdiPpNP7pNzql-d9T0Tfqh7aoQ35wXAUqEr-IcW-aSELdzluYV5FkZzlvqgFq7mEnfSBqTJ7fWiFUmlZt0BMjMdtDzAge4JNqmILkw_ehPP9kzHmPlHzlWlhp8pyHiavrkKB9rib6mc/s1600-h/P9040019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sdiPpNP7pNzql-d9T0Tfqh7aoQ35wXAUqEr-IcW-aSELdzluYV5FkZzlvqgFq7mEnfSBqTJ7fWiFUmlZt0BMjMdtDzAge4JNqmILkw_ehPP9kzHmPlHzlWlhp8pyHiavrkKB9rib6mc/s400/P9040019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243422491823984178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2O7o5wyKgxlWceLxZ7uwGys5tXf1isJN5CWBTHuYEtDGiIktUW-_A5qwqKoMO7fcP85mMDwGpaOy4vIh-6zgK7a4pPjRyIvb4rdmy13EzdDE957E01lAd-849OCEbnWAqs0i3kNJipfA/s1600-h/P9040026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2O7o5wyKgxlWceLxZ7uwGys5tXf1isJN5CWBTHuYEtDGiIktUW-_A5qwqKoMO7fcP85mMDwGpaOy4vIh-6zgK7a4pPjRyIvb4rdmy13EzdDE957E01lAd-849OCEbnWAqs0i3kNJipfA/s400/P9040026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243422497699516738" border="0" /></a><br /><br />这个东西是一个开船的自动的机。(Sorry for the English. It's a machine that automatically steers the boat. So I can do other things (put the sails up or down) while it steers).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjHnj3QK-qhO4lzZc9_goCAuPVYpcgJZ_KexLk6v0JoxHwOJ9cS4tggXIKyqdCI8RaV2llGRyLjtSMRh2j-Q9GYeLNwMlpTJ06Kytbab4r8UJ4YlLiQrbo91p6qnVCzf_9Mws7orzIK0/s1600-h/P9040016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjHnj3QK-qhO4lzZc9_goCAuPVYpcgJZ_KexLk6v0JoxHwOJ9cS4tggXIKyqdCI8RaV2llGRyLjtSMRh2j-Q9GYeLNwMlpTJ06Kytbab4r8UJ4YlLiQrbo91p6qnVCzf_9Mws7orzIK0/s400/P9040016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243416853022098498" border="0" /></a>这些照片,我回来港的时候祚照张像:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PLV5VR13qrsSqHMYL9WnyDPZwYzEheq5ebr7yjsdRskFvdCekokEa_lQfD9LAAFl51a4pInO8c0u4MYSxuotFOOSmnvGlSG0K-pYwi9O4fpkKuy0uD6QubnxvToHSodM7BmVeSr9HXU/s1600-h/P9040030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PLV5VR13qrsSqHMYL9WnyDPZwYzEheq5ebr7yjsdRskFvdCekokEa_lQfD9LAAFl51a4pInO8c0u4MYSxuotFOOSmnvGlSG0K-pYwi9O4fpkKuy0uD6QubnxvToHSodM7BmVeSr9HXU/s400/P9040030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243422501809901026" border="0" /></a>旧金山:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcvWRDHyLT92sLBgWGybw1or2ATnrtbqTNwvif14kAN-w4Sjou1ZEpuyezpoggY2NxvO_10Ys8fgwYpLa1AK-K5hxueVUUvO2S1dT_QroXKRe6FGcVZrMQnknWzPO8qzQvDWhmzyKIa4/s1600-h/P9040042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcvWRDHyLT92sLBgWGybw1or2ATnrtbqTNwvif14kAN-w4Sjou1ZEpuyezpoggY2NxvO_10Ys8fgwYpLa1AK-K5hxueVUUvO2S1dT_QroXKRe6FGcVZrMQnknWzPO8qzQvDWhmzyKIa4/s400/P9040042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243423919608840354" border="0" /></a>金门桥 (Golden Gate Bridge in English):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFu2OOsI5sjM7_FcGXsiowAY7QMaL1XPMvbAV1dwDY9Q33apIUpxVzyFNBAsPKpJGhW40FCGQABO7EndO35ZHhgexP3HKYKC1l55JB3hhIbeXuEFs4ipEQ_oSBGFCSeXiB4wgDGIF66U/s1600-h/P9040043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFu2OOsI5sjM7_FcGXsiowAY7QMaL1XPMvbAV1dwDY9Q33apIUpxVzyFNBAsPKpJGhW40FCGQABO7EndO35ZHhgexP3HKYKC1l55JB3hhIbeXuEFs4ipEQ_oSBGFCSeXiB4wgDGIF66U/s400/P9040043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243423928825598306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mUALVO3yxQ47inm-mRt8TCsuuzB0wtsnCeJ-OkLLkqgs-d6rdl9_ZY_uZgh-g9hYCWmF0tdUz4Lx5k-t6dg2HgWh5MCi_kQGReTIBr2Y_R7E8ThySmcQhtpeObvTN6-tHRxlJxiI7tc/s1600-h/P9040046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mUALVO3yxQ47inm-mRt8TCsuuzB0wtsnCeJ-OkLLkqgs-d6rdl9_ZY_uZgh-g9hYCWmF0tdUz4Lx5k-t6dg2HgWh5MCi_kQGReTIBr2Y_R7E8ThySmcQhtpeObvTN6-tHRxlJxiI7tc/s400/P9040046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243423934551965410" border="0" /></a><br />I really like this next picture. I took this from the bowsprit on the way back. I like the way the motion of the boat is somehow captured by the appearance of the water. You can see the windlass, dock lines, bumpers, hardware and a nice piece of flapping rigging tape as well (whoops). Anyway, when I look at this shot, I can almost feel the boat carrying me somewhere.<br />最后的照片. 可能,我更喜欢这张照片因为你可以看起来这是一个动的船.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQ5b2mPalwhKtA9RdbLTo6uUaWhUYyqYiRBMf8vgj3KGmCMN5GhnByABrak11bInSHYNYyWJ6SCgOAH4CAb82ANklAUKv9R2xn4SNk7QQ38I_hrSW6-YkwrLsZcGxmK1O8lJufDfwaCI/s1600-h/P9040053.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQ5b2mPalwhKtA9RdbLTo6uUaWhUYyqYiRBMf8vgj3KGmCMN5GhnByABrak11bInSHYNYyWJ6SCgOAH4CAb82ANklAUKv9R2xn4SNk7QQ38I_hrSW6-YkwrLsZcGxmK1O8lJufDfwaCI/s400/P9040053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243423940404107186" border="0" /></a><br />我欢迎你跟我开帆船!Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-58015414782654103722008-08-29T19:39:00.000-07:002008-08-29T20:05:48.142-07:00最后的午饭Yesterday, I gave a little presentation for the students here about some data mining and image segmentation software. Afterwards, Chen Xiao and Li DanDan took the Gong group out to lunch. It was buffet style and a tasty mix of Chinese and Western food. The trouble started when we realized that part of the buffet included serve yourself draft beer. Of course, this being a celebration of sorts, we started drinking. At some point, Chen ShaoQing told me of a Chinese tradition, drink one beer to everyone, then drink another beer for every person in attendance, making a toast to that person, then drink a final beer to everyone. There were twenty people there. Not wanting to break with tradition, I eventually acquiesced, though I found a small glass to use, so I wouldn't throw up in the restaurant. Long story short, I drank twenty two times, plus a couple full mugs before, plus one full mug, chug-a-lugged, when I toasted Lao Guo, who insisted that I drink the entire thing. After the Lao Guo mug, I almost went down. They had to help me back to my seat and everyone told me to rest for a minute. I made a big show of being super sketchy and about to pass out, then sprang out of my seat, James Brown style, grabbed another mug, and kept toasting. It made quite a sensation. Before long, we were all roaring with laughter and the waiter had to come over and tell us to be quiet and everything. It was a big success.<br /><br />Chen ShaoQing taught me this proverb, in keeping with the spirit of things:<br /><br />酒逢知己千杯少。<br /><br />"When you come across a very good friend, 1000 glasses of liquor are too few."Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-54390445264918258422008-08-25T21:45:00.000-07:002008-08-26T00:38:54.260-07:00野长城 2What follows is my account of the finding of the wild Great Wall of China. This is a very special place of power and lives in my mind along with the most mystical spots I have ever been. It is one of the seven wonders of the world. The adventure began when my friend Ying Qing quietly knocked on the door to my office. She then told me that her friend the tour guide (who I had met on the evening of the opening ceremony at Peng Gong's house and is totally gorgeous) was going to the wild part of the great wall and was inviting me to come. My heart skipped a couple beats, and, upon my recovery, told her I wasn't sure but would contact her friend and find out more. On my way home, I decided I was going, no matter what. I called the lovely Miss Zhang Bei (张蓓) and she said meet tomorrow at the subway station, wear "sport" shoes and bring food and water. The next morning, we were on our way. We took a taxi to the subway, the subway to the bus station, a bus to the country, and then rented a mini-van to take us to a small village near the wall, where we would stay at a farmer's house. When we got there, the enchantment began. It was a very tiny village, the likes of which I had never before seen. Old stone houses, animals, gardens, and courtyards, all surrounded by fields and mountains. I had somehow stumbled into the real life set of Lord of the Rings. Over the next couple days, this analogy would prove more and more apt.<br /><br />The "farmer's house" was not what I had imagined. It was actually more of a "guest house," or even hotel. It was quite plush given our location, with nice little rooms adorned by beautiful photos of the Great Wall covered in snow, TV's, comfy beds, and a communal shower room with solar hot water. They had a wonderful little courtyard, a big kitchen with which they would prepare a sumptuous dinner for us, cold beer from an earthen cellar, and home made bai jiu (白酒, literally "white liquor," the Chinese fire water that has fueled many a drunken escapade in the past. I had sworn off it until I got a taste of the farmer's home brew. I wound up buying two bottles of it and taking it with me...)<br /><br />Some scenes from the village:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkecIp2yddWFiRAQ8kpUeUfIoDvkTfZNhHN1wCP5p6PqwBr89FWJ7XlDpACm3yUAevzqshyxYBQwD079BT1fzXY4_hzmnp5qMDoU2c8IR8jRNHtBzyqfEnayxBv14hNsDnG9lgnCua7I/s1600-h/P8210004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkecIp2yddWFiRAQ8kpUeUfIoDvkTfZNhHN1wCP5p6PqwBr89FWJ7XlDpACm3yUAevzqshyxYBQwD079BT1fzXY4_hzmnp5qMDoU2c8IR8jRNHtBzyqfEnayxBv14hNsDnG9lgnCua7I/s400/P8210004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238686754147815282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14fEo6C5wYOCPnUR6Vz1trLF6aRJSGmMdNrCVuE89o_SEOjSlpGmLvqAK7oIucO09o6c0HT_WRBed6OE3Z94H02D8lZCTMUUX6C7OvR7_rLuJWkcpy5fq9F4J29XEja3g2_dYV1cF6iI/s1600-h/P8210011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14fEo6C5wYOCPnUR6Vz1trLF6aRJSGmMdNrCVuE89o_SEOjSlpGmLvqAK7oIucO09o6c0HT_WRBed6OE3Z94H02D8lZCTMUUX6C7OvR7_rLuJWkcpy5fq9F4J29XEja3g2_dYV1cF6iI/s400/P8210011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238686755036981970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Fuwjn-xxAlBpwUcx2RMfjCAVaRm9PCFj_IGpQkQhJ-162xFS5sWKK6wnTXB6JSO9_NXfn6N9hsZRx6zodWWpEH78U7VI5PAs3BLnShP2wMrZ8KvSmf92ycUX1izp5HdzKmx0tnVrvfM/s1600-h/P8210056.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Fuwjn-xxAlBpwUcx2RMfjCAVaRm9PCFj_IGpQkQhJ-162xFS5sWKK6wnTXB6JSO9_NXfn6N9hsZRx6zodWWpEH78U7VI5PAs3BLnShP2wMrZ8KvSmf92ycUX1izp5HdzKmx0tnVrvfM/s400/P8210056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238686762988293650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnisnYl49zbwsTaHrak2EN4NGjS11emg_0sTb-XcBmeKb3HXWWOSvdZmRLHWooa05t9J7-3lF0NoE3ySi9zuFsU1xASMqssKZ7q65XqDa-thQZUrgG98lNnZ8uKszJNuk55RsyL74gZ8/s1600-h/P8210058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnisnYl49zbwsTaHrak2EN4NGjS11emg_0sTb-XcBmeKb3HXWWOSvdZmRLHWooa05t9J7-3lF0NoE3ySi9zuFsU1xASMqssKZ7q65XqDa-thQZUrgG98lNnZ8uKszJNuk55RsyL74gZ8/s400/P8210058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238686764057881506" border="0" /></a><br />In the background are our rooms. In the foreground, you can see a tank of fish that they kept, one of which we ate for dinner!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6W8YdqaVBVeF0paNP0PqhVzNVa7GjCtknzxnaRZ2MXcr_Blp-L3_VodaUphhKtElo97O3Bbtmg0OOddTDaaFRABNW8GEEzCgGDxl92y9azpSH5R-P1gtwfT8ra3yS0GUzb8FLQyvMFtE/s1600-h/P8210005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6W8YdqaVBVeF0paNP0PqhVzNVa7GjCtknzxnaRZ2MXcr_Blp-L3_VodaUphhKtElo97O3Bbtmg0OOddTDaaFRABNW8GEEzCgGDxl92y9azpSH5R-P1gtwfT8ra3yS0GUzb8FLQyvMFtE/s400/P8210005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238692718667590594" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And we're off! Scenes from day one:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9jtYKFns2eKBTMGMKI2Ekx2kV5k6V-nvLEu27h8xPziaArNgBjly-OmA2IbXa0MbnSWgsec-qLSP3_3LoPCtDXbSaR8KVlrZoEZdUYeMvzggHh98MIWobmXumZL-80KoTyr4Ueaucs4/s1600-h/GEDC3915.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9jtYKFns2eKBTMGMKI2Ekx2kV5k6V-nvLEu27h8xPziaArNgBjly-OmA2IbXa0MbnSWgsec-qLSP3_3LoPCtDXbSaR8KVlrZoEZdUYeMvzggHh98MIWobmXumZL-80KoTyr4Ueaucs4/s400/GEDC3915.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238692724225095346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kYOmgKM_sAGsgbhGTEnJZlE6kHJfNxjC1a9c5ZAMqQe-VCMPiqqM80gTnWC5RjcL0Dlb4v30rnqbxsyRgS2JFlk9EXIsmaCxJZFygpysuWdmIOk83cZs_dG13B7smcyOIxlEjKCVJKI/s1600-h/GEDC3936.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kYOmgKM_sAGsgbhGTEnJZlE6kHJfNxjC1a9c5ZAMqQe-VCMPiqqM80gTnWC5RjcL0Dlb4v30rnqbxsyRgS2JFlk9EXIsmaCxJZFygpysuWdmIOk83cZs_dG13B7smcyOIxlEjKCVJKI/s400/GEDC3936.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238692725564080402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIutHloJRjASOYHQnKZL_0TNuNl6_-FrpXRTUz1AZcDo-vdJQAPUph4-G0aPFPsfUTSqe2IKea5avodVFevjkz6TcvRbqFTVAzvBLO95t2rkmIvZy7psc40oknERfvX8Navj8DclNspZ4/s1600-h/P8210028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIutHloJRjASOYHQnKZL_0TNuNl6_-FrpXRTUz1AZcDo-vdJQAPUph4-G0aPFPsfUTSqe2IKea5avodVFevjkz6TcvRbqFTVAzvBLO95t2rkmIvZy7psc40oknERfvX8Navj8DclNspZ4/s400/P8210028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238692732513560786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWURaodcvEuxoDVIRMGWd8AAH9aBEHU-VDbg1MghfOa6UKmcRERF2-tlS-YRkkagOcoSYkUEV9I2Q70YMUnTXCUKvC2IBlXPFDVRTFZ3y3VEkGKa-NAOvpVndXC96jCJT5GAjeqvg5pAg/s1600-h/P8210030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWURaodcvEuxoDVIRMGWd8AAH9aBEHU-VDbg1MghfOa6UKmcRERF2-tlS-YRkkagOcoSYkUEV9I2Q70YMUnTXCUKvC2IBlXPFDVRTFZ3y3VEkGKa-NAOvpVndXC96jCJT5GAjeqvg5pAg/s400/P8210030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238696442925591442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1Sd1jK7XcZCcr4O93fD2M5dcBwwcIgT8-znN-rut_LnWvNiKzmHoaketClRhSsCcMnjA3EiN9LtSwUEUOKM1O-nDlzr3PaSHOeL2pQtiQU0jNHVjXd_5gP8IX3eboZXXzN9yzS-Jeac/s1600-h/P8210029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1Sd1jK7XcZCcr4O93fD2M5dcBwwcIgT8-znN-rut_LnWvNiKzmHoaketClRhSsCcMnjA3EiN9LtSwUEUOKM1O-nDlzr3PaSHOeL2pQtiQU0jNHVjXd_5gP8IX3eboZXXzN9yzS-Jeac/s400/P8210029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238696446307037826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWtrx7UVIUJ1nV_YJewRr_kofEZeXW2CVCxFKuXo3FSd8ttqUNlR94QsGnfIRQuyBRVxfxin0uqk8Qb6QvyVamSObX9D4lYN_bTw7jrvTYbNc_MXsJWR72WceDvYMpJTPYyvZkKHhOMo/s1600-h/P8210044.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWtrx7UVIUJ1nV_YJewRr_kofEZeXW2CVCxFKuXo3FSd8ttqUNlR94QsGnfIRQuyBRVxfxin0uqk8Qb6QvyVamSObX9D4lYN_bTw7jrvTYbNc_MXsJWR72WceDvYMpJTPYyvZkKHhOMo/s400/P8210044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238696448831203106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMPw7lTvMoYDHmtVB010uMP17i8D2OvU5C62GAmsEwfDv0j4qwtsJ7mgLIhNR4iZMImQBr0Cv1XqYwImItM_WgyXKAOiZVWxRG711t3N1MyBOeYWMIfFtDOMWrFRv10Lx4N_1Zzen7VE/s1600-h/GEDC3970.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMPw7lTvMoYDHmtVB010uMP17i8D2OvU5C62GAmsEwfDv0j4qwtsJ7mgLIhNR4iZMImQBr0Cv1XqYwImItM_WgyXKAOiZVWxRG711t3N1MyBOeYWMIfFtDOMWrFRv10Lx4N_1Zzen7VE/s400/GEDC3970.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238696455275042802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08KF4JAD3jYGOMUm4looz6bYGPNQk9pluQYyNdiRRTqrztpwQJZpIdnHERuxS4y5JC-7cAllnNh5EuDfFxAJ1RVHr_4mZqh_Do4OXp_xX5etKA0QOUXeKe8rsw_2qZ3H-9wdJGWSQijg/s1600-h/GEDC3996.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08KF4JAD3jYGOMUm4looz6bYGPNQk9pluQYyNdiRRTqrztpwQJZpIdnHERuxS4y5JC-7cAllnNh5EuDfFxAJ1RVHr_4mZqh_Do4OXp_xX5etKA0QOUXeKe8rsw_2qZ3H-9wdJGWSQijg/s400/GEDC3996.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238697836430227554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwukiHfFI_3MUD4NbE95wuPV_2qFwPgxsGGzQGjCcDlwJka_6u4HdUR12jIxyVKsyLvFli3vASknlfbJJWMlrUZrH7axZTZH81Cfv8sehLQdCmId3DnERFtEpoFgmbXfUYIO7cyGt0s6s/s1600-h/IMG_0946.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwukiHfFI_3MUD4NbE95wuPV_2qFwPgxsGGzQGjCcDlwJka_6u4HdUR12jIxyVKsyLvFli3vASknlfbJJWMlrUZrH7axZTZH81Cfv8sehLQdCmId3DnERFtEpoFgmbXfUYIO7cyGt0s6s/s400/IMG_0946.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238697841188320626" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The first day was pretty easy. I carried a walking stick that looked like a wizard's staff. Two old men I encountered along the way asked me where I had gotten it (a man in the village loaned it to me), declaring it to be a special "lion's head stick." We found the wall, had a picnic, then then climbed up and started exploring. It's hard to describe how amazing this place is. It is magical views, crumbling staircases, haunted watchtowers, dark paths through dank shrubbery, sheer cliffs, and stone roads built high in the sky, all mixed together. Around each turn is something new and even more fascinating. They maintained a network of intervisible signal towers on distant peaks, using dried wolf dung to start bonfires in order to send messages along the wall (sound familiar?). Little did I know that the relative ease with which we tackled the first section would lull us into a false sense of security with regard to the trials that awaited us on the second day...<br /><br />That night, we enjoyed being at the village. We talked with a photographer who lived in this little place, making his living off imagery of the wall (he showed us his very impressive collection), ate, drank and made merry. Later, Bei and I would lie on the roof and stare at the stars. It was my first experience of this kind in China, being out in nature, and it made a big impression on me. I fell in love.<br /><br />Photographers on the roof, getting shots of the wall in the fading sunlight.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jHO0-T9mwv0tlGV3tRC9RkVmWqJfIWWVrtSgJOOpXgio67aKFK7H_g09zS4YW4iCVW5PmcSJCESvuCU1q9SUeXITgpK5nTs2vk8mFrURTt7lU4lvkQjIlDHeXR7BA6vDYLhJ3tQG2rM/s1600-h/P8210069.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jHO0-T9mwv0tlGV3tRC9RkVmWqJfIWWVrtSgJOOpXgio67aKFK7H_g09zS4YW4iCVW5PmcSJCESvuCU1q9SUeXITgpK5nTs2vk8mFrURTt7lU4lvkQjIlDHeXR7BA6vDYLhJ3tQG2rM/s400/P8210069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238700702921834418" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Dinner time. When you order a chicken, you get the WHOLE chicken.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SwKGcdHSi63W_fK2pCjdfIXZf2ym4vA8GdmAeCOtXXACItmL0quc46h_nTc7ISfbahxwg7mRam90SHco-272KejgL_OP9mnKTTLWcb80wzmlSpEufwf76LsIBBSUDOkb_nOjTrCacyw/s1600-h/P8210081.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SwKGcdHSi63W_fK2pCjdfIXZf2ym4vA8GdmAeCOtXXACItmL0quc46h_nTc7ISfbahxwg7mRam90SHco-272KejgL_OP9mnKTTLWcb80wzmlSpEufwf76LsIBBSUDOkb_nOjTrCacyw/s400/P8210081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238700716205185682" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We drank bai jiu made in these jars...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqElCgbOL-iXDqF1awbfGtmx0OdqQPU_l2VTJIKZA_QxGeOEVSzW8aL0N9qbwZH1BAOsDsyaJgcSL6_FpDPRwkGSUxN-0QagWPxVqG4ELKxyKvtMyhE9eNS9-bMRAXTgRckAMrAOmZuU/s1600-h/P8220084.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqElCgbOL-iXDqF1awbfGtmx0OdqQPU_l2VTJIKZA_QxGeOEVSzW8aL0N9qbwZH1BAOsDsyaJgcSL6_FpDPRwkGSUxN-0QagWPxVqG4ELKxyKvtMyhE9eNS9-bMRAXTgRckAMrAOmZuU/s400/P8220084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238700718910643810" border="0" /></a><br />Stored in this cellar:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KxxxUwE69Mv49Ks3LXoZu5gLF2N1mR4G4yOGqNL7wMKKHjbyb4kXOmv3fZf1bker9nMkK0W_fzS0hMG6MNxNsDpDbJF5t1YAjiUWsDu2uMhqpPkbsxYDhFCOJrLHboTvTHGhyhxBtKE/s1600-h/GEDC4106.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KxxxUwE69Mv49Ks3LXoZu5gLF2N1mR4G4yOGqNL7wMKKHjbyb4kXOmv3fZf1bker9nMkK0W_fzS0hMG6MNxNsDpDbJF5t1YAjiUWsDu2uMhqpPkbsxYDhFCOJrLHboTvTHGhyhxBtKE/s400/GEDC4106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238703734475151954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92YsFbMnToOzZusaqEt_xTkhsPeofBvPHO7SCg37Gw7NfDcoxFUAAzyvbnSw580UjqVlKZ0UJu830rhqcKVR-0I1d5jF9wDh1EnhVmpn-HHTZ6CzyxjfAQwsDBWddPuk08SWUdob8HVc/s1600-h/GEDC4109.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92YsFbMnToOzZusaqEt_xTkhsPeofBvPHO7SCg37Gw7NfDcoxFUAAzyvbnSw580UjqVlKZ0UJu830rhqcKVR-0I1d5jF9wDh1EnhVmpn-HHTZ6CzyxjfAQwsDBWddPuk08SWUdob8HVc/s400/GEDC4109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238703740908333138" border="0" /></a><br />And dispensed from these taps, which emerged from a garden behind the dinner table.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LhqIWmmDtCK1H9mG7H5WVjpISBAbtBJWgs6XclLCaVt1cTDNnqwtRLqX50_VETSoxgYXYBeswQkvqqs1uIVS-SsCbJcJOJQ6zZM_AgTwtSM7-vQynHzaqC1EqzA1vKZi5zEGDDZ8JJw/s1600-h/P8210080.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LhqIWmmDtCK1H9mG7H5WVjpISBAbtBJWgs6XclLCaVt1cTDNnqwtRLqX50_VETSoxgYXYBeswQkvqqs1uIVS-SsCbJcJOJQ6zZM_AgTwtSM7-vQynHzaqC1EqzA1vKZi5zEGDDZ8JJw/s400/P8210080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238703746349365122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Is she hot or what?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEUglfqEAHP821yJ8cf5oCtNUG59RQHifW6mNquA0ffGflw6vqVwdN_KKtBapHU07ZPz_wWW-x1U00bPwb2b0gAynJ9Xlj2VqwObEUMRRfwfclk8K2wGkr0lq24g1jUE2x-RBgcMXkIM/s1600-h/P8210072.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEUglfqEAHP821yJ8cf5oCtNUG59RQHifW6mNquA0ffGflw6vqVwdN_KKtBapHU07ZPz_wWW-x1U00bPwb2b0gAynJ9Xlj2VqwObEUMRRfwfclk8K2wGkr0lq24g1jUE2x-RBgcMXkIM/s400/P8210072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238700710548417138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The next day, we set off for good from our little home, bound for the Eastern section of the wall. Our day got off to an interesting start when the guy who liked my lions head staff the previous day tried to charge us to use the ladder we used for free the day before. Two yuan each (about 30 cents). But, deciding that we could not pay the man, based on principle, we climbed up a little wall instead of using his stupid ladder (he was not pleased). And up we went. Our destination: the highest watchtower on the wall, at about 1300 meters. Right away, it was steep and sketchy. This was no cakewalk and there were plenty of you-fall-you-die places. A foreigner was killed there in the previous year. Strangely, the Chinese seemed much less concerned than I, frequently posing for photos in the places I felt should be quickly navigated in order to get out of danger. In one spot, I saw a guy (from another group) nearly slip off a 100 foot cliff when he casually stepped to the sandy brink to have his photo taken. It didn't seem to bother him in the slightest. I felt sure that I was going to witness a grisly plunge onto rocks, but it never happened.<br /><br />Day two found us surrounded by cliffs:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhTfXk5qcArxuytST5jMOT1r7Mn1T3fakul1I_QJjCfFP0knIgBi-s6tfMI6nzX1gkXwuVo1iYOao8ghYFsX97yRCBrjDP7YzGQGroTJvbm3JIQkGdSiAIj9GrF2JTwN6XQw5W39IP3U/s1600-h/P8220103.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhTfXk5qcArxuytST5jMOT1r7Mn1T3fakul1I_QJjCfFP0knIgBi-s6tfMI6nzX1gkXwuVo1iYOao8ghYFsX97yRCBrjDP7YzGQGroTJvbm3JIQkGdSiAIj9GrF2JTwN6XQw5W39IP3U/s400/P8220103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238708414163183762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaamJlUSuXdFTegbTbTUJa35Vd00qll-UttEZQTJGkC37XkiItmBI3m5bO39oaMHnY03YmjcoWEx0vsjfe5Z9YvZitFuxp_6ZDe3egDeuuvBAkc4VQBQwp28gIL7DXug2bLuTug26acog/s1600-h/P8220106.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaamJlUSuXdFTegbTbTUJa35Vd00qll-UttEZQTJGkC37XkiItmBI3m5bO39oaMHnY03YmjcoWEx0vsjfe5Z9YvZitFuxp_6ZDe3egDeuuvBAkc4VQBQwp28gIL7DXug2bLuTug26acog/s400/P8220106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238708418301850018" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is where I expected to see someone plunge to their death at any minute. People seemed completely oblivious to the precipice inches away as they snapped photo after photo.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDMX0yujI4ba8QJAxZb2zu5whQVdslu3ZEB1Ses5LW_ExislgtD7DffI8P6_FcBTFtqS-FX1Dc4orbAeplVR1xTnQy1CzkLAnaHfVAhFCfZH8aCv0Yp6p3K_YLsXiVbU929mldZsuorI/s1600-h/P8220110.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDMX0yujI4ba8QJAxZb2zu5whQVdslu3ZEB1Ses5LW_ExislgtD7DffI8P6_FcBTFtqS-FX1Dc4orbAeplVR1xTnQy1CzkLAnaHfVAhFCfZH8aCv0Yp6p3K_YLsXiVbU929mldZsuorI/s400/P8220110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238717188475190370" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The first part of day two, already covered. You can see the village where we stayed in the background, far below.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5r5jIzre_ujNNrs8IXIwIRGlXsQ610G0EbcN3j9OLoyxOi7RJEFxkWy0Pst_FkYDM1FXhCfvqK2qI5MM6bVxM8IOScQc3SPhBsKQ5YXR2H4zo9AsINSj7Bi3NJEAqLnb5SPoNhVOlE8/s1600-h/P8220113.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5r5jIzre_ujNNrs8IXIwIRGlXsQ610G0EbcN3j9OLoyxOi7RJEFxkWy0Pst_FkYDM1FXhCfvqK2qI5MM6bVxM8IOScQc3SPhBsKQ5YXR2H4zo9AsINSj7Bi3NJEAqLnb5SPoNhVOlE8/s400/P8220113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238708424232089970" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is the part where Lily thought we should think of something to say to each other, before we died:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9p2wxdvJfkX0n9FvZmcBcn4z71O5kq8CWFGbDZpakM68YsksSAuJqKJjVk09wqfpDFKMZsqK1sy7yPutd-tp42AYYLgXF7De8TsS4BwTnVQAAXpZJjgxd3pTzRqWxuz_LHmBC98_-rI/s1600-h/GEDC4164.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9p2wxdvJfkX0n9FvZmcBcn4z71O5kq8CWFGbDZpakM68YsksSAuJqKJjVk09wqfpDFKMZsqK1sy7yPutd-tp42AYYLgXF7De8TsS4BwTnVQAAXpZJjgxd3pTzRqWxuz_LHmBC98_-rI/s400/GEDC4164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238708428771997490" border="0" /></a><br />In the first really dangerous part, we were confronted with a section that required a bit of bouldering to navigate a cliff around which the wall had been built. Before we went up, Lily, Bei's cousin, suggested that in case we die, we should all think of something nice to say to each other, before the end. We all laughed, a little nervously. The most dangerous part, I thought, was a rusty metal ladder that had been arranged over a 50 footer. The bottom anchors of the ladder had pulled out of the rock and were dangling over thin air. The top of the ladder had broken as a result of the bottom coming out, and had been repaired with bailing wire. Furthermore, it was necessary to bust a couple moves over the cliff just to get a foot on the bottom rung. I was gripped with fear. I went up the ladder as quickly as possible, my heart thumping. To my utter and complete horror, my companions were stopping on the ladder for pictures: one foot on, one foot off, "look Ma, no hands!" etc. When we finally moved on, I was not without a considerable sense of relief.<br /><br />The infamous ladder. You can just make out the bottom anchors, dangling over the cliff.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTD8skUN51V3r7esXnur_4VruaBZEcRuw5jWZ6-0MGbdarRu8A69vtkDF327w0HBrqCt7a_vg55VYBCoMAEhPf3z8VNR4UHDAj4BIvpbNBXBn37ZkSNaRa6ghSEE56SZOONkMOGW-hAc/s1600-h/GEDC4178.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTD8skUN51V3r7esXnur_4VruaBZEcRuw5jWZ6-0MGbdarRu8A69vtkDF327w0HBrqCt7a_vg55VYBCoMAEhPf3z8VNR4UHDAj4BIvpbNBXBn37ZkSNaRa6ghSEE56SZOONkMOGW-hAc/s400/GEDC4178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238717169364084178" border="0" /></a><br />For me, it was get up and off that ladder as soon as possible.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnU4mz0UdVcXKL8F9KDtkZzNofiEJROkjAQddvnEiSuoH1O19KaNIAAkF06uFxOeZ1Tq0miNMtaGeJeZbpFQzEKJTa_0OukcxPG8FeFIiDIUt84WlbHtOFq72eeOUC_PlCCemuKlPrwQ/s1600-h/GEDC4186.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnU4mz0UdVcXKL8F9KDtkZzNofiEJROkjAQddvnEiSuoH1O19KaNIAAkF06uFxOeZ1Tq0miNMtaGeJeZbpFQzEKJTa_0OukcxPG8FeFIiDIUt84WlbHtOFq72eeOUC_PlCCemuKlPrwQ/s400/GEDC4186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238717172751069922" border="0" /></a><br />For Bei, no problem! Check out the bailing wire:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJMPjqfiHDBJoQ13x__4gBAmR5PPUycjed95HAqqVm5CtZEJvTZHPUWWW02CBtKdKHkqNOPQRUtGGrjIfuSEoPxANTCgl2aYcvi36jz6yXxYZySXIco7G64AFkmDt3fnXTBbmf5Wyabg/s1600-h/IMG_0966.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJMPjqfiHDBJoQ13x__4gBAmR5PPUycjed95HAqqVm5CtZEJvTZHPUWWW02CBtKdKHkqNOPQRUtGGrjIfuSEoPxANTCgl2aYcvi36jz6yXxYZySXIco7G64AFkmDt3fnXTBbmf5Wyabg/s400/IMG_0966.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238717176686410354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />We finally made it to the watch tower, where we had a picnic. At this point, we were getting a wee bit low on water, and I was a little concerned, because it was hot, sunny and I was damn thirsty, already not drinking as much as I would have liked. To my astonishment, some old guy had carried coolers up to this tower filled with ice cream and beer which he was selling to the hikers!! A beer never tasted so good.<br /><br />Picnic in the guard tower:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwRW4va51B5BXHZYOKj1oI638ko8ym9oTmZ70xZpYMbzWa4YiLU5d89h7stYLHFXebKYqqtrGvGYaxsJdWs7srxu7Ngma_axBEVME8tOF6RDL8oZWGNmXu-0fI34InKnsLKk4diwEcBk/s1600-h/IMG_0987.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwRW4va51B5BXHZYOKj1oI638ko8ym9oTmZ70xZpYMbzWa4YiLU5d89h7stYLHFXebKYqqtrGvGYaxsJdWs7srxu7Ngma_axBEVME8tOF6RDL8oZWGNmXu-0fI34InKnsLKk4diwEcBk/s400/IMG_0987.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238724156730757938" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At this point, we had done the hardest part of the wall, but the worst was not behind us. I was pretty hurting and was looking forward to getting off the mountain and buying a cold drink. Ahead could be seen the cable car that would take us quickly down to a fleet of mini-vans waiting to carry us away to food, beer and comfort. Alas, it was not to be. We encountered a place with a dirt trail bearing off to a cliff infested area on our right, into uncharted territory. A brief conversation ensued, followed by a couple phone calls. I was informed that we were going to take the trail, in order to avoid buying tickets for the section of wall near the cable car. Supposedly, this trail would somehow lead around the ticket gate and back to the wall. Personally, I was in favor of staying on the wall and buying the tickets. After descending to the point where impassable cliffs blocked the route back to the wall, it was readily apparent that we were not going in the right direction for the cable car and were in fact getting deeper and deeper into the steeps. I cast my vote to go back up the trail, back to the wall. Another conversation in Chinese, and more phone calls. I was informed that we would continue down the trail: so be it. I was resigned to my fate. Oh! had I only stated my case a little stronger. The trail quickly became a hellish nightmare of muddy cliffs. In some sections, some good samaritan had lashed sticks together along the edge of the trail in a sort of rudimentary railing attached to rotting roots. This was our only security from tumbling over the edge into thorns and boulders far below. It was not fun. And we had no idea where we would end up. Everyone was hurting and thirsty. I was filthy dirty, from head to foot, and soaked in sweat. Not a single photo was taken on that trail!! When we finally got to the bottom, we found ourselves in a small town dominated by massive fish tanks built into a river, and fish restaurants. It was like Shangri-La. There was a sign saying that foreigners were not allowed on the trail because it was too dangerous. Why couldn't they have put that sign on the TOP of the trail?<br /><br />The fish tank town:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtweM5Adr2WctE_BWjWjfH3NfvpgggqAzQ1w-FZRbnf1I2VYRmaTATM1V1UtdQAnkg0Ov6D5rus4KCpYMb5p50adNHlKrbAWt1aZ0-6sTc8EwyR6dTyQlCnAcobAsGIszpr3Xfovyx8E/s1600-h/P8220142.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtweM5Adr2WctE_BWjWjfH3NfvpgggqAzQ1w-FZRbnf1I2VYRmaTATM1V1UtdQAnkg0Ov6D5rus4KCpYMb5p50adNHlKrbAWt1aZ0-6sTc8EwyR6dTyQlCnAcobAsGIszpr3Xfovyx8E/s400/P8220142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238724149435855170" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And that was that. I had to save the top of the wall camp out for next time. It was definitely the best thing I have ever done in China. Better than all my previous trips combined. I made a promise to return to this place, and I eagerly look forward to my next visit. But the best part of trip was meeting Bei:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiyYzZYQtW4lUBW_npJyDqs9VSuKSo4RtIgRZAib6LWih5RgejlGJQplHn6M45fy9StJbbRXHpBLncwUmzGSniv2gYEQEUg1KyaDipA428AomYWQLtzHrFKYhFEa3c9r5TcikLX4c3jA/s1600-h/P8220102.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiyYzZYQtW4lUBW_npJyDqs9VSuKSo4RtIgRZAib6LWih5RgejlGJQplHn6M45fy9StJbbRXHpBLncwUmzGSniv2gYEQEUg1KyaDipA428AomYWQLtzHrFKYhFEa3c9r5TcikLX4c3jA/s400/P8220102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238724154690680706" border="0" /></a>Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-54296407943450552972008-08-23T22:31:00.000-07:002008-08-23T22:49:09.584-07:00野长城<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOGkm4IfnuH1a_Lc1ckUL_smlOgtbFOhbPomRaX5k8gV-rEohDDlZToH3XHVTA9W529yEn2RDi6gzikkz7vBX2HqPbBiczipwqNtJ9CWX765DMiGdclJH1Ag_9b6jQIwHBiO5ZY_718c/s1600-h/P8220118.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOGkm4IfnuH1a_Lc1ckUL_smlOgtbFOhbPomRaX5k8gV-rEohDDlZToH3XHVTA9W529yEn2RDi6gzikkz7vBX2HqPbBiczipwqNtJ9CWX765DMiGdclJH1Ag_9b6jQIwHBiO5ZY_718c/s400/P8220118.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237954625505621474" border="0" /></a>"Green grass never looked so good, I fell in love today"<br />-Ween<br /><br />(more to come on my epic journey to the wild Great Wall...)Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-22198339848568389872008-08-23T21:52:00.000-07:002008-08-23T22:18:11.685-07:00奥林匹克 2-自行车I finally made it to the Olympics! My friend from SuZhou, JunQiang came to Beijing with two tickets to see BMX!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEsEKHLH8-QX53nr9Rk7WWCdZriqCnL8qNSjgD8W0pqWCoSzH2gyzthIREZgN91cogrfhpA0jirm0smG6eS50M4ouV_WraiCsyfPedqphSswf4IAXq5ncmDprqTdqqOhZj3uk92FodsI/s1600-h/P8180001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEsEKHLH8-QX53nr9Rk7WWCdZriqCnL8qNSjgD8W0pqWCoSzH2gyzthIREZgN91cogrfhpA0jirm0smG6eS50M4ouV_WraiCsyfPedqphSswf4IAXq5ncmDprqTdqqOhZj3uk92FodsI/s400/P8180001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237943831251828722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is probably the one sport that I really was excited about, because the crazy jumps and crashes make for great spectating, because I like biking, and because this is the first time that BMX was in the Olympics. So I was pretty stoked to go see this one. We got up early, traveled to the venue in the South West part of Beijing, got breakfast, and began our Olympic escapade. I knew this would be a great day when I found these two characters outside the venue, getting ready to go in. Yes, they are drinking beers at 8 AM. My kind of crowd!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaktxmvXnUFhRhYWFFWbK5UN23V-jJipCtip5MyoxbrWs_8nVsXQH-62txv2Rwgl2ojA-wbAM37yOGzooUqpFUL_bkR15gW43qoFDCJnxb32Xvbj7Iv9YhizAbJic_2Jg1kKIxkz81YsI/s1600-h/P8190003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaktxmvXnUFhRhYWFFWbK5UN23V-jJipCtip5MyoxbrWs_8nVsXQH-62txv2Rwgl2ojA-wbAM37yOGzooUqpFUL_bkR15gW43qoFDCJnxb32Xvbj7Iv9YhizAbJic_2Jg1kKIxkz81YsI/s400/P8190003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237943843782167234" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Inside, it was a complete circus. Not an annoying one, but quite a scene. The course itself looked quite promising. As usual, the Chinese went all out to put on the correct image for the cameras.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1J69MoLAjz0HtIbhqFPoFfIZ2s-uiWcEArBD39uDvvm4AGNyMu_7e17Bk6P4_HGSHsb1kxPQsWLGAITNFh-bZAxBQAmMqrrFQONYz80W26RoGt0A1NrBZEX251C1bCIQ1jGdWfmJBuCM/s1600-h/P8190007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1J69MoLAjz0HtIbhqFPoFfIZ2s-uiWcEArBD39uDvvm4AGNyMu_7e17Bk6P4_HGSHsb1kxPQsWLGAITNFh-bZAxBQAmMqrrFQONYz80W26RoGt0A1NrBZEX251C1bCIQ1jGdWfmJBuCM/s400/P8190007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237943849894538098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We took our seats and enjoyed the competition. A good time was being had by all and there was definitely an air of festivity and leisure.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_f0CyfJk8Li4VtLe8n0JRVMfmNjcCOFhbNqD7ZdvDgOngOKxst2ubWvmS380qkiYSMSNhqTEcKtwGaMF2hwMlU_02IUPEa0s9CoR9X93VCR2dm4eTUJOGPJasizI7UgCaK6VL1PUIjJs/s1600-h/P8190011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_f0CyfJk8Li4VtLe8n0JRVMfmNjcCOFhbNqD7ZdvDgOngOKxst2ubWvmS380qkiYSMSNhqTEcKtwGaMF2hwMlU_02IUPEa0s9CoR9X93VCR2dm4eTUJOGPJasizI7UgCaK6VL1PUIjJs/s400/P8190011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237943854440972674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3oplMzcHcNT-MWrqjGNEK5-R0xZ5WDsETaRWOH1QIkpYRI5Fr-nNP12uGprfvrd-MgBsb162DpCCk2MKQCrPIUHQAMv8uViGzdBQs_rxs8DLFvjcz7ILz9EO25C7C0Vugz_bCb7L5PY/s1600-h/P8190024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3oplMzcHcNT-MWrqjGNEK5-R0xZ5WDsETaRWOH1QIkpYRI5Fr-nNP12uGprfvrd-MgBsb162DpCCk2MKQCrPIUHQAMv8uViGzdBQs_rxs8DLFvjcz7ILz9EO25C7C0Vugz_bCb7L5PY/s400/P8190024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237943870728106178" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The competition itself was really amazing and over way too soon. Unfortunately, it was only the semis, but Americans were, of course, dominating. I got no good shots of the action for a couple reasons. Mainly, I got all set up on the first run, aimed my camera at the right spot, was eagerly staring at the viewfinder trying to get that perfect shot, and wound up missing the best crashes of the whole day. It was also really hard to time the shutter to the riders. This is the best I got:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVHKQskOgwYQfQymAxRU5SzaTdPPtipM0lQzgAn7b3NDBxZdhTyekyABirPn6mlqQT4ss219ZkeLrV5b3oo2_WxkeAN30BNg2hWe6OUKdr_KZPk8ARkfwWDnA-OJ-QqYISRHvreuMEC8/s1600-h/P8190023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVHKQskOgwYQfQymAxRU5SzaTdPPtipM0lQzgAn7b3NDBxZdhTyekyABirPn6mlqQT4ss219ZkeLrV5b3oo2_WxkeAN30BNg2hWe6OUKdr_KZPk8ARkfwWDnA-OJ-QqYISRHvreuMEC8/s400/P8190023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237947501452817170" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After that, I really stopped taking photos since I didn't want to miss anything. Instead, I took photos of the cheerleaders who came out between heats. (And I wasn't the only one!) By this time, I had a nice buzz going and much to the amusement of the other spectators, enjoyed yelling random things in English at the cheerleaders, who didn't seem to mind the attention.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9S5u89J0-q6avLSin-kWjxbfNnnIY4LxKbP0ozVe_qS9ccsk7R_4T_un0cbgBlb__A7iwk43LPlrFDwU6GDzGgTJWaYm2ds8cq6IpWQYAANkwlwa906EDJug-ajNfHhgls8VIE1onWA/s1600-h/P8190021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9S5u89J0-q6avLSin-kWjxbfNnnIY4LxKbP0ozVe_qS9ccsk7R_4T_un0cbgBlb__A7iwk43LPlrFDwU6GDzGgTJWaYm2ds8cq6IpWQYAANkwlwa906EDJug-ajNfHhgls8VIE1onWA/s400/P8190021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237947512433361314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzFlUDMan3AsKxurO_R6yPsibBj2Po5kvJqWrMDgcPev_s4lxyOFZrlCZ1MY1wV_5_2Wttriu1ahvBgm5cYWFJLmxTXRB_xC3yDwqnlIVC4Tn2-9Vd2L9AlnBCYOnAb8HVeiXHy5L4BM/s1600-h/P8190029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzFlUDMan3AsKxurO_R6yPsibBj2Po5kvJqWrMDgcPev_s4lxyOFZrlCZ1MY1wV_5_2Wttriu1ahvBgm5cYWFJLmxTXRB_xC3yDwqnlIVC4Tn2-9Vd2L9AlnBCYOnAb8HVeiXHy5L4BM/s400/P8190029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237947517164150914" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I saw this festive dude on TV later that same day:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYS7-r-UzlcT8VkHOshjHqPA5tnNbc6j1WFbnWUPXr2eDkAFB95s7y0wj7bMGOLv1vFdmH2MGCmS3TZVj9NP-QuVbvR9wHcEFSyhd894rGke-G-znBvnnTuGgvP2e0ndYyKAtuahVJHc/s1600-h/P8190031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYS7-r-UzlcT8VkHOshjHqPA5tnNbc6j1WFbnWUPXr2eDkAFB95s7y0wj7bMGOLv1vFdmH2MGCmS3TZVj9NP-QuVbvR9wHcEFSyhd894rGke-G-znBvnnTuGgvP2e0ndYyKAtuahVJHc/s400/P8190031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237947524657344018" border="0" /></a><br />Thus concludes my Beijing 2008 Olympics experience. I was there!!Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-58514157620687403342008-08-16T02:23:00.000-07:002008-08-16T02:48:19.274-07:00黑龙江省This post is about my trip to <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">HeiLongJiang</st1:place></st1:state> (<span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family:SimSun;">黑龙江</span>, "black dragon river") province in North East China. I have never been anywhere like this, even the other rural places in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region> I have visited. The ostensible purpose of our trip was to visit wetlands, an increasingly rare ecosystem that is being replaced by agriculture and development. According to our host, Jiu Laoshi, approximately 80% of Chinese wetlands have been destroyed in the past 50 years, severely impacting the habitat of migratory species such as the Asian Crane. Our mission was to visit the remaining vestiges of this imperiled ecosystem. We flew into <span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family:SimSun;">佳木斯</span>, a northern coal mining town. Right away, I knew this was uncharted territory. Skirting the north of the town as we instantly departed by tour bus for an area near the Russian border, I was struck by industrial flavor and otherwise dumpy nature of the surroundings (I later saw a much more modern and entertaining part of <span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family:SimSun;">佳木斯</span>, complete with bars, stores, restaurants, hotels, etc). This was no picturesque country village as I had seen in <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Hunan</st1:place></st1:state> province. It looked more like the small villages I had seen in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Baja</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place>: trashy, rundown and poor, but not without a peculiar charm.<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br />On our first day, we encountered <span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family:SimSun;">兴凯湖</span>, a largish lake. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNGj9HEcpBeNTvqLP7oXfipzs2_VGw9oz4veKg3iO7w_EvwUleWjJoJ7o7OJuYL6WIGvUOaoKoc2E43UcHbagrbGlbqCUJW-uNngjaH6RHQTvsKN_e1LgpR_JMy8yvLTJCYv07GjW-mc/s1600-h/P8110063.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNGj9HEcpBeNTvqLP7oXfipzs2_VGw9oz4veKg3iO7w_EvwUleWjJoJ7o7OJuYL6WIGvUOaoKoc2E43UcHbagrbGlbqCUJW-uNngjaH6RHQTvsKN_e1LgpR_JMy8yvLTJCYv07GjW-mc/s400/P8110063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235045162209626738" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">Skirting the edge of this lake, we made our way to our first destination, a demilitarized area bordering <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Russia</st1:place></st1:country-region>. As we passed through a gate with multiple signs in Chinese, Peng Gong informed me: "You have now entered an area prohibited for foreigners!" Great. "Will that be a problem?" I asked. "I hope not," was the non-reassuring response. A short time later, the bus became stuck in the mud at an army checkpoint. I was told not to get off the bus.<span style=""> </span>I decided it was best if I temporarily hide, as it became apparent that some soldiers were being summoned to help dig the bus out.<span style=""> </span>I quickly drew the curtains, put sunglasses on, and lowered myself in the seat, whilst maintaining a lookout through the cracks.<span style=""> </span>I heard some official sounding Chinese, some marching, shoveling and then the bus roared into life and got underway again.<span style=""> </span>As we retraced our route on the muddy road, I breathed a sigh of relief.<span style=""> </span>Peng said it was probably a good thing I hid, as they were able to avoid some potentially unpleasant explaining.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our first night was spent in a sketchy hotel with no soap and a foul stench in the communal bathroom.<span style=""> </span>Peng Gong’s son Edward and I made a night time trip to a little shop in the remote village to get soap, shampoo and <span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family:SimSun;">花露水</span> (HuaLuShui, or literally “flower dew”), a pleasantly scented bug repellent for which I have developed an odd fondness.<span style=""> Scenes from the town where we spent our first night:<br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xKsApKlSD4ygChB_TXnYYvDn3LxFlS_ONRbSwwYGtqkudbC0W8FHjspSTMBrxbnAEHcYiCO0Tr04BML-AgpTMTQOi9EW5EbPBK30pqmZ95pKv8WpXHl_gnrzyxshM7B1K33h6eZSsrk/s1600-h/P8100048.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xKsApKlSD4ygChB_TXnYYvDn3LxFlS_ONRbSwwYGtqkudbC0W8FHjspSTMBrxbnAEHcYiCO0Tr04BML-AgpTMTQOi9EW5EbPBK30pqmZ95pKv8WpXHl_gnrzyxshM7B1K33h6eZSsrk/s400/P8100048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235045140518897650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFzEqg6lKVsU2AYfYR8tCIQS4c4EHMCO0pCKg0VKSNUxBD15VLqLUS2Bcgk1JuSNXWCf2JzIaRCci-asnwpfFVCt-LcHL9pZ-0d_PoUqPNC5vtDB8_fZseZKsYvI5Io3xAWlr3zCiGXA/s1600-h/P8100051.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFzEqg6lKVsU2AYfYR8tCIQS4c4EHMCO0pCKg0VKSNUxBD15VLqLUS2Bcgk1JuSNXWCf2JzIaRCci-asnwpfFVCt-LcHL9pZ-0d_PoUqPNC5vtDB8_fZseZKsYvI5Io3xAWlr3zCiGXA/s400/P8100051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235045145842787810" border="0" /></a>View from the hotel room window:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxR1ha18LqeNEA9WkmXAqdYzuCvrYGJi3karKXmWqif70sU_TTXopJkf8N-RV5lFt2VY9NF197KWrmaTVKYNOs4ZYyuyKVqdv3XAn35IEZFMfD76-gAV3QfeJFABLwEd4x-RyWms-Lr4/s1600-h/P8100057.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxR1ha18LqeNEA9WkmXAqdYzuCvrYGJi3karKXmWqif70sU_TTXopJkf8N-RV5lFt2VY9NF197KWrmaTVKYNOs4ZYyuyKVqdv3XAn35IEZFMfD76-gAV3QfeJFABLwEd4x-RyWms-Lr4/s400/P8100057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235045149971626242" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The next day we were on the road again.<span style=""> </span>This time, we actually saw some wetlands.<span style=""> </span>Wow.<span style=""> </span>It was so cool.<span style=""> </span>I saw an owl and cranes galore!!<span style=""> </span>It was like being on a safari.<span style=""> </span>A tour guide, all dressed in camo, came on our bus and guided us through the wetland.<span style=""> </span>He was interested in me.<span style=""> </span>Upon learning I was American, he asked if I was rich.<span style=""> </span>I told him, no, I wasn’t.<span style=""> </span>We stopped at some cages where we could check out some cranes up close.<span style=""> </span>They were afraid.<span style=""> </span>Some swans were in there with them for some reason.<span style=""> </span>As I took photos, one of them “aggressed” me as Peng said.<span style=""> </span>It was fun.<span style=""> </span>Next stop: another wetland!<span style=""> </span>Great views of wetland, birds on the wing.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Professors with agriculture in the background:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYJrhTVmjo2IHd3zZr4pf_-uVDCutclANUV_r6ymLtC-S0C5vpjYx5EYJA1CC0KWblbppDGGM6F8tCHnGWB5h7Jocm-q55qmEsP414fkgxabMMFqZkltcsZ4GvAcFm4qwRxAEbpKRvnM/s1600-h/P8120075.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYJrhTVmjo2IHd3zZr4pf_-uVDCutclANUV_r6ymLtC-S0C5vpjYx5EYJA1CC0KWblbppDGGM6F8tCHnGWB5h7Jocm-q55qmEsP414fkgxabMMFqZkltcsZ4GvAcFm4qwRxAEbpKRvnM/s400/P8120075.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235046849693019138" border="0" /></a></p><br />Gate to the first wetland:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_SSD2ZB5t9duNb-jKsUf50KyrToOLSEoDRqG8DWQlqfpmhXQhwpqJhwWhA0xHgjIzcpXbi7IKySZuo00DCjiLl0_9RZ4V6a_a-7eqP7C6mIu8muloOzylSrnf9z7_SnJMapSwr3kF74/s1600-h/P8120082.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_SSD2ZB5t9duNb-jKsUf50KyrToOLSEoDRqG8DWQlqfpmhXQhwpqJhwWhA0xHgjIzcpXbi7IKySZuo00DCjiLl0_9RZ4V6a_a-7eqP7C6mIu8muloOzylSrnf9z7_SnJMapSwr3kF74/s400/P8120082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235046851638630722" border="0" /></a><br />An "agressing" swan:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmP3as0Ix9-5yFVlrhZtkioxLQVOA5wC3DZGEIx7sZ-veLcrYfFn4dQb0duyHTiGn_0xD0q68k3wmTP6H8gdrbrR6JYQOHCYS4scVEu5O0WqdmCzelNtswfUje-SOGm1Rxa8JrXSb9Yo/s1600-h/P8120093.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmP3as0Ix9-5yFVlrhZtkioxLQVOA5wC3DZGEIx7sZ-veLcrYfFn4dQb0duyHTiGn_0xD0q68k3wmTP6H8gdrbrR6JYQOHCYS4scVEu5O0WqdmCzelNtswfUje-SOGm1Rxa8JrXSb9Yo/s400/P8120093.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235046858394323218" border="0" /></a><br />A captive crane (it's BIG):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3CEQm1cghtleoFhoIhrdaMEx5fHz-5t3vzd4_ifTOVBPXcndV37y-8QNCm7-48IApt3WN8ujuhm6znbZkzwAO9VD0XKs9qBABLBNgPq0k5So8kFAQKqv1HIco8xHYu6tHh_kHun93As/s1600-h/P8120095.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3CEQm1cghtleoFhoIhrdaMEx5fHz-5t3vzd4_ifTOVBPXcndV37y-8QNCm7-48IApt3WN8ujuhm6znbZkzwAO9VD0XKs9qBABLBNgPq0k5So8kFAQKqv1HIco8xHYu6tHh_kHun93As/s400/P8120095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235047871660295154" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">On safari:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SiqlDoPcg-ylkPWupLrQ5fW8yNAwxiPePudkBORfcVxiY4BZbGJ5Ycc-Le7858uYTak7GEeauxuIT8eDgmqjTwTvhICw4XVL6BjBT2eDvVX-68THlxQRGM2QDUlPdK3RyQiZDFRLlIs/s1600-h/P8120115.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SiqlDoPcg-ylkPWupLrQ5fW8yNAwxiPePudkBORfcVxiY4BZbGJ5Ycc-Le7858uYTak7GEeauxuIT8eDgmqjTwTvhICw4XVL6BjBT2eDvVX-68THlxQRGM2QDUlPdK3RyQiZDFRLlIs/s400/P8120115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235046863467343010" border="0" /></a></p><br />Gong Laoshi and wetland in the background:<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dcBguONn-s3208xttMVRi4hXp75DviMO79pSBmokCqgCV0Mg2j4AGDk_-0AlI-mkezEDd5ojTpVRteD9ceNIyVu2IRmdT0a9ocyGLiv4Qm6H6IRJGisR2ILsA90DV3x3IYSB91qyUwc/s1600-h/P8130119.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dcBguONn-s3208xttMVRi4hXp75DviMO79pSBmokCqgCV0Mg2j4AGDk_-0AlI-mkezEDd5ojTpVRteD9ceNIyVu2IRmdT0a9ocyGLiv4Qm6H6IRJGisR2ILsA90DV3x3IYSB91qyUwc/s400/P8130119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235047875674111986" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The trip was mostly driving.<span style=""> </span>I was possibly entertained more than anyone else and slept little compared to my companions.<span style=""> </span>I was very surprised to find the vegetation and landscape quite similar to <st1:place st="on">New England</st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>There were times when, if I hadn’t known otherwise, I could have though we were passing through a rural or agricultural area of <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Maine</st1:place></st1:state>.<span style=""> </span>Of course, much of the agriculture was once wetland.<span style=""> </span>Engineers were charged with draining this ecosystem, bringing it into production, then pumping groundwater to feed the farms.<span style=""> </span>It’s all rice, watermelon, and other crops, now.<span style=""> </span>I was also very dismayed at the level of development in these remote areas.<span style=""> </span>There are houses literally made of mud, with roofs of grass.<span style=""> </span>There is no running water (maybe a hand operated pump outside), no showers, no internet.<span style=""> </span>Dirt roads, maybe electricity if you’re lucky.<span style=""> </span>So obviously the commies have put the $43 Billion spent in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Beijing</st1:place></st1:city> for the Olympics to good use.<span style=""> </span>It sure did these poor people living in dirt houses lots of good.<span style=""> </span>I’m sure their national pride is just swelling with joy right now.<span style=""> </span>I saw a foreigner on TV the other day saying, “People who would criticize <st1:country-region st="on">China</st1:country-region> should come to <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">China</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">China</st1:country-region></st1:place> is this beautiful park [indicating part of the Olympic complex].”<span style=""> </span>Indeed.<span style=""> </span>What a jackass. This is also China:</p> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUzUUEVTOb8eRjKvX16WJCTgaMnzHxn2HXqkTkPf8Qe3WlRQ7IX_SK2xHhxGKp7fnmbpY3J-YfgCWKJblYHTL9weYN5yQ14lcXqcj_S8c9lEIBp2q4MZx1pQdOxltRdpRRvXB5wM4AFI/s1600-h/P8130131.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUzUUEVTOb8eRjKvX16WJCTgaMnzHxn2HXqkTkPf8Qe3WlRQ7IX_SK2xHhxGKp7fnmbpY3J-YfgCWKJblYHTL9weYN5yQ14lcXqcj_S8c9lEIBp2q4MZx1pQdOxltRdpRRvXB5wM4AFI/s400/P8130131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235049457621164322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQccrwENCJ9wywVlY1Kk8gI7wK4fKu04nYKmKLsAz0eiP3IpaTUYk1L6xwtSXozx2gnnYdYmOtmd69cmUVg8dg7nxXTNv5AMNSvBa4_gAqjwdLhb76c9ZZBxSIj11CoRst8X278tfhlXI/s1600-h/P8120079.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQccrwENCJ9wywVlY1Kk8gI7wK4fKu04nYKmKLsAz0eiP3IpaTUYk1L6xwtSXozx2gnnYdYmOtmd69cmUVg8dg7nxXTNv5AMNSvBa4_gAqjwdLhb76c9ZZBxSIj11CoRst8X278tfhlXI/s400/P8120079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235049461441201266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WtL4EDbKO29YWmt0agdFkZyPFQalO0CQyVj6xHBZWrCRdEDf8BiPsA-3bpKl4JYaa8ZuEemNmFHW2GKFENmF_2LdV3W6FyB4UzbTf__0AFfJGqcejt9S_JoMxBwQC3ZOk_8AAtUCppU/s1600-h/P8130138.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WtL4EDbKO29YWmt0agdFkZyPFQalO0CQyVj6xHBZWrCRdEDf8BiPsA-3bpKl4JYaa8ZuEemNmFHW2GKFENmF_2LdV3W6FyB4UzbTf__0AFfJGqcejt9S_JoMxBwQC3ZOk_8AAtUCppU/s400/P8130138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235049469271198066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAHvbOP6xa6nuETJCA-2jmzqYk5_arAHcG7cWXEyfQi-y-1qYCF_O_2FBDeVGbcqlUbXSfx3Jwk_U_o1Q8hXHhb_wtEQa3C_ukd0O3oFBi92O4dEip3YPIDCs4rYnXvv6pvL1FMmnbTI/s1600-h/P8130142.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAHvbOP6xa6nuETJCA-2jmzqYk5_arAHcG7cWXEyfQi-y-1qYCF_O_2FBDeVGbcqlUbXSfx3Jwk_U_o1Q8hXHhb_wtEQa3C_ukd0O3oFBi92O4dEip3YPIDCs4rYnXvv6pvL1FMmnbTI/s400/P8130142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235049473052870818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoU4xwaXPmSxhQLFtecNKdWy_0w8cdauiU9LCaJ4Q-RCrw4IrLKPlOODBCYM8LOeoTNy_q1hOdtEG4crmI4RZrTPtSGCFFYYOm-OF9Z2mkgGc0Lx540HJem_sTg5M9wysP0QRoDt6qo8/s1600-h/P8130143.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoU4xwaXPmSxhQLFtecNKdWy_0w8cdauiU9LCaJ4Q-RCrw4IrLKPlOODBCYM8LOeoTNy_q1hOdtEG4crmI4RZrTPtSGCFFYYOm-OF9Z2mkgGc0Lx540HJem_sTg5M9wysP0QRoDt6qo8/s400/P8130143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235049479236482178" border="0" /></a>Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-74658454369587613172008-08-10T04:48:00.000-07:002008-08-23T22:30:00.047-07:00奥林匹克<div>The Olympics got underway yesterday. What a complete and total cluster-fuck of the first order. Needless to say, I was unimpressed. First, they blocked all the streets near the Olympic compound, including mine. This necessitated my walking way, WAY out of the way for no apparent reason other than for a show by the authorities who were out in force. Every street corner was manned by police and army officials, looking important, blocking our way, and generally harassing anyone who was misfortunate enough to express any interest in the Olympic festivities. What a field day for the establishment, and what a joke for the rest of us.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5STHkzVEheoFxmC_LNEK7_DjMHXR5rCj0X_DrR8eO4jAf2-mt1mBaFbtTf3l-XQl1URaeRaNUyHoBspBFKo3Xw3J0UyljORBu4nmXFME96XRDYHT6XNNwguZ4zhVxSIKzZwoD2heXtPo/s1600-h/P8070002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235021892609239026" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5STHkzVEheoFxmC_LNEK7_DjMHXR5rCj0X_DrR8eO4jAf2-mt1mBaFbtTf3l-XQl1URaeRaNUyHoBspBFKo3Xw3J0UyljORBu4nmXFME96XRDYHT6XNNwguZ4zhVxSIKzZwoD2heXtPo/s400/P8070002.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHD4QgLXCLRP5cLG_ToW5XzqJ2oJ7WHB1l__AhkuKA0wxgTccYBq_z_oIbwFS5ew6PfqaM6rl2S8BnZx_uaDW2-jdHdqOfemUMtvfiP8TSWdH1gueynRte1gBXwvBdu_MwC2sknZCVI9c/s1600-h/P8070008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235021896997966514" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHD4QgLXCLRP5cLG_ToW5XzqJ2oJ7WHB1l__AhkuKA0wxgTccYBq_z_oIbwFS5ew6PfqaM6rl2S8BnZx_uaDW2-jdHdqOfemUMtvfiP8TSWdH1gueynRte1gBXwvBdu_MwC2sknZCVI9c/s400/P8070008.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqX79jaHU44ZIILxC3eWR4kRJtTWSUBnXO99lGq3ponpFza42Pk2Q2onhQ8qUjatqdZOCC6jcmc2zfUjywCSuS3gK7CPW6d3JlpKSA21IiZFHMQlz24-j59OiNm515Xh3vvMXpmIFAi7A/s1600-h/P8070019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235021901705162690" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqX79jaHU44ZIILxC3eWR4kRJtTWSUBnXO99lGq3ponpFza42Pk2Q2onhQ8qUjatqdZOCC6jcmc2zfUjywCSuS3gK7CPW6d3JlpKSA21IiZFHMQlz24-j59OiNm515Xh3vvMXpmIFAi7A/s400/P8070019.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JNfjkM0e1O-niLD9hMdmJa_SmTKEjQpqvskY9AlqJxD5RlK3XJgQ9ofycHTa69WpFgp-L6-3HiBJbvsICOj2MGw2aQlu7dw8HW1olxDy0L7-fkNb0YpWq2icT3mnjSfkpWA6puAzWi0/s1600-h/P8070030.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235021910412667618" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JNfjkM0e1O-niLD9hMdmJa_SmTKEjQpqvskY9AlqJxD5RlK3XJgQ9ofycHTa69WpFgp-L6-3HiBJbvsICOj2MGw2aQlu7dw8HW1olxDy0L7-fkNb0YpWq2icT3mnjSfkpWA6puAzWi0/s400/P8070030.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The pigs were everywhere. We couldn’t even get across the street in some places. Some of my friends got stuck in their dorms for 12 hours because they weren’t allowed to leave. The air was muddy with haze. Since we couldn’t get close enough to the bird’s nest (茑巢) to see what was going on, we watched it on TV in Peng Gong’s house, who was gracious enough to invite the whole posse for the occasion. My opinion is: that was it? All the hype, all the build up, all the security, and that was it? I’m sure it was great for those wealthy enough or powerful enough to be IN the stadium, but what about everybody else? What about all the people of Beijing who weren’t even allowed to leave their house, much less get within three blocks of the stadium? Even the fireworks were a disappointment, and we had a prime view from the roof. We waited up there for HOURS and that was it? (I later learned that the reason the fireworks looked better on TV than they did from Peng Gong's roof was because CGI fireworks were added to the broadcast by the Chinese). It seemed to me to be a grotesque show-off, an orgy of pomp and circumstance designed to impress the visiting dignitaries and fuck the Chinese people in the streets. Typical bull-shit from the regime that cares more for its own survival than the people of China. I have to say, I rarely, if ever, agree with Bush, but I thought his comments on the issue quite correct: the government owes it to the people of China to give them the freedoms they deserve if they really want to be respected as a global superpower. Some highly choreographed, made-for-TV, overdone, military goose-stepping spectacle is not sufficient.<br /><br />To prove that I’m not just sour grapes, here are a couple articles to get you started:<br /><br /><a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gGtTrBpkUffPzYAENMTtc8HAqaBgD92EPP6O0">http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gGtTrBpkUffPzYAENMTtc8HAqaBgD92EPP6O0</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-dissident-olympics-perspective,0,6274823.story">http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-dissident-olympics-perspective,0,6274823.story<br /></a><a href="http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1144279/index.htm"><br />http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1144279/index.htm</a><br /><br />It’s easy to find this kind of articles, and all I had to do was a simple news search for “olympics dissidents” or “olympics oppression” from a Chinese IP address. It kind of makes you wonder how, with such ready access to this kind of news, the intelligent Chinese people can abide this sort of thing. Either they are all afraid of “disappearing” also, or they actually believe that this treatment of their fellow countrymen and women is somehow an acceptable form of human behavior. It really makes me feel sick at heart, and wonder how much I, myself, dare to do for this cause.</div>Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-74618023197793628692008-08-09T00:48:00.000-07:002008-08-16T01:23:27.814-07:00玉婷, 苏州, 南京Where to start? So much has happened since my last post. The dominant occurrence of this interval was a trip to Shanghai, Suzhou, and Nanjing, my old stomping grounds in JiangSu province. First, I got all dressed up at the crack of dawn and got on a plane with Peng Gong bound for Shanghai and some mysterious business meeting. Little did I realize that I would somehow figure into this plan. We were picked up by a very nice friend of Peng, taken into downtown Shanghai, and ushered into a fancy building. To my surprise, I was not left on the street to fend for myself for several hours (something easily accomplished in Shanghai), but instead lead into a fancy meeting room in a fancier company and seated in a position of honor across from my hosts. At this point, I still had absolutely no idea what was going on. This confusion was compounded by the fact that that the proceeding conversation was conducted in part Chinese, part English and part Japanese. I resolved to play it cool and keep my mouth shut. I was obviously there for show. Long story short, I remained wisely silent, having a white guy at the meeting seemed to serve everyone's purpose, I got a free lunch and coffee, and everyone came away quite pleased. Next stop: the famous garden city of Suzhou. It is said that "there is heaven, and then there is Suzhou," placed here on Earth for the enjoyment of us mere mortals. This was destined to be an interesting stop: a reunion with my dear friend Emma. She is a girl I met in Nanjing years ago, and there is some history between us, not without an unhealthy dose of drama. I was nervous about seeing her again after so much time and feeling had passed between us. Upon first laying eyes upon her, I felt my fears to be allayed. She has grown into a beautiful and wonderful woman, accomplished, intelligent, and kind.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4goIKzAOq1dfVrkexyOho2svIy8LbSQa61f5cQtel7sITpgpS2t7Ebu-6X4Dytn47mnb5jsywpYoeT2qYmT80OkwUES7Huseg-fspqz_Qul9sg0ZvRJuhLISysWDKAeawv6-7yeot0Ig/s1600-h/P8010034.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235013719432798514" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4goIKzAOq1dfVrkexyOho2svIy8LbSQa61f5cQtel7sITpgpS2t7Ebu-6X4Dytn47mnb5jsywpYoeT2qYmT80OkwUES7Huseg-fspqz_Qul9sg0ZvRJuhLISysWDKAeawv6-7yeot0Ig/s400/P8010034.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Emma whisked me away from my would-be business associates to take care of me on her own and I can not say I wasn’t grateful for her attentions. Our first visit was to the charming city of ChangShu, just northeast of SuZhou. ChangShu is an interesting place, rich and modern, yet having an ancient history, with abundant 小巷 xiao xiang’s or “small alleys” to prove it. It is possibly my favorite place in China. It was not my first visit to that city. We enjoyed ourselves with a pleasant interlude at a tea house nestled into a beautiful park, then a grueling stroll up the wall and over the hill to the other side. Here are some views of our excursion.<br /><br />Views from the teahouse:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbc3vlIzHFrQ_wJ0_B78MkpN9bXeMfGpcQr-iWf7oSxwxjeMUJ1s_PO0ddXIiHiLErjpLnWiCOXSPsnEy1qJhx_jYmG49pj6dEdgwI8DTvQfF__UZluHQnUB_J4F6OsYNcg_WtYU0K5g/s1600-h/P8010024.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235013727294050290" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbc3vlIzHFrQ_wJ0_B78MkpN9bXeMfGpcQr-iWf7oSxwxjeMUJ1s_PO0ddXIiHiLErjpLnWiCOXSPsnEy1qJhx_jYmG49pj6dEdgwI8DTvQfF__UZluHQnUB_J4F6OsYNcg_WtYU0K5g/s400/P8010024.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdD1oH0CL9mLw8S8fc-pc-Mjo2MR5TstriU4z6Z4Nq8uYbT9SQ2ydDaMN1LhaTtqduBcDShM1W3gwdcrBTUjsvaD1jcbhAV40rnxSWefl0Jto76FCFcI_0vQA5wRQgSygoY7_ZwjxUaY/s1600-h/P8010025.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235013730247079922" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdD1oH0CL9mLw8S8fc-pc-Mjo2MR5TstriU4z6Z4Nq8uYbT9SQ2ydDaMN1LhaTtqduBcDShM1W3gwdcrBTUjsvaD1jcbhAV40rnxSWefl0Jto76FCFcI_0vQA5wRQgSygoY7_ZwjxUaY/s400/P8010025.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />你可以看到常熟在后面:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJy48WpUs3oonTGKfXJgRoStG1_kNL4_3EpXD9Qx-AfLpQ9v0WR9m-s_pFHNb_OI7nj2W_AjYgYRfVFYo6dSzY6obd6zcJJzZinQ2anEwJMPsw0FPldgtQAeGUWSjsCc-lkYdRgQw02Y/s1600-h/P8010038.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235013739648738834" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJy48WpUs3oonTGKfXJgRoStG1_kNL4_3EpXD9Qx-AfLpQ9v0WR9m-s_pFHNb_OI7nj2W_AjYgYRfVFYo6dSzY6obd6zcJJzZinQ2anEwJMPsw0FPldgtQAeGUWSjsCc-lkYdRgQw02Y/s400/P8010038.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Upon my urging, we ventured into the小巷 area for some exploring of these mysterious and somewhat sketchy passages lined with tiny shops, restaurants, houses, and one room “hairdressers” with scantily dressed 小姐’s (this term once meant simply “miss” but has come to include a variety of other meanings as well) hanging around looking bored and waiting for business. We agreed to each other that this was not a place either of us could safely venture alone. Emma claimed some guy was following us for a while through this labyrinth of passageways, and I admit to readying myself for an encounter, but he seemed to me to be simply sharing our route.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3chkHpmK6jVo8cESMyAZIfVW6frjAVPfVxQ2AZrKTH0n1Y5zd3PB0ij0Rc1XoBbXmlPoOZap5eWwVM2X_y3rAYhwJHgVd4EKObJL8iDbj0PkipRlQ2QScySwM-8kQ3JhijcOw263QfwY/s1600-h/P8010046.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235017055912942050" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3chkHpmK6jVo8cESMyAZIfVW6frjAVPfVxQ2AZrKTH0n1Y5zd3PB0ij0Rc1XoBbXmlPoOZap5eWwVM2X_y3rAYhwJHgVd4EKObJL8iDbj0PkipRlQ2QScySwM-8kQ3JhijcOw263QfwY/s400/P8010046.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHOrwjhsFqpII_FsajkdxrqItV3FiJA0ZsrrtebHnesbMh8mFtLRRQ0VnZBLzpzEWcTmjY_GtMmbcmqa-1ze5FDxHVXDScyTz7kYxqMnci23tWburXSsbz_nQWp_5q9aSoTINB20_bys/s1600-h/P8010049.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235017064623552850" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHOrwjhsFqpII_FsajkdxrqItV3FiJA0ZsrrtebHnesbMh8mFtLRRQ0VnZBLzpzEWcTmjY_GtMmbcmqa-1ze5FDxHVXDScyTz7kYxqMnci23tWburXSsbz_nQWp_5q9aSoTINB20_bys/s400/P8010049.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTUPwHvbG2wzRgD41xMQ2bqVGYNPM9LYQMSz8a8RR8C2l4Mu0ondM4Ec84-Cszdq8mFjBs7BByWGDW2So4fS0tNad7TkJM22nrceuODB4HDHSI6epGiC1LeSuodmzTriQgvs0YLQfPcA/s1600-h/P8010053.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235017070554923938" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTUPwHvbG2wzRgD41xMQ2bqVGYNPM9LYQMSz8a8RR8C2l4Mu0ondM4Ec84-Cszdq8mFjBs7BByWGDW2So4fS0tNad7TkJM22nrceuODB4HDHSI6epGiC1LeSuodmzTriQgvs0YLQfPcA/s400/P8010053.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At any rate, this town has such areas in stark contrast to the upscale shopping districts, clean, opulent parks and bustling, modern streets. Here is a view from the town square, which somehow unites these disparate elements of society into a not unpleasant mosaic of past and present.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfQ3Ak0dOLF371PoG0N-dCrr9WlvMvXyootfpECGESFhyMA-CS60kNz-60uZeEsrKLk-znlXLGz7bp17AhDFAZid4f9afqsHOBKgfpXlnF4XzEsHRZPmXTDt8gbSdjeDO7Gy2q5wTDVA/s1600-h/P8010016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235017082956174482" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfQ3Ak0dOLF371PoG0N-dCrr9WlvMvXyootfpECGESFhyMA-CS60kNz-60uZeEsrKLk-znlXLGz7bp17AhDFAZid4f9afqsHOBKgfpXlnF4XzEsHRZPmXTDt8gbSdjeDO7Gy2q5wTDVA/s400/P8010016.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My original plan for this trip was to spend equal amounts of time in Suzhou and Nanjing, returning to Beijing directly from Nanjing. For a variety of reasons, this plan was altered to be spending merely one night in Nanjing, then returning to Suzhou for a day and leaving for Beijing from there. I was somewhat disappointed by not having nearly enough time in Nanjing, but made decent use of what time I did enjoy there. First, I hooked up with my best friend in China, Wu YunZhao. He is a first rate guy and I would trust him with my life.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxei1vZj8kToaTVvr9TU8Rzw-LZe8Ju4LmbbzL6yZEy8xUG2v8jRmxJwU7WTlVFi4uXZGd6QkA4IdySNtxkbJcRfY7-aVVFkFJpzmucrWEUWNJ0mc2lOK2G5KP-Dzb18sUFnOrXg8uDg8/s1600-h/P8030085.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxei1vZj8kToaTVvr9TU8Rzw-LZe8Ju4LmbbzL6yZEy8xUG2v8jRmxJwU7WTlVFi4uXZGd6QkA4IdySNtxkbJcRfY7-aVVFkFJpzmucrWEUWNJ0mc2lOK2G5KP-Dzb18sUFnOrXg8uDg8/s400/P8030085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235026125883123250" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Guys night out:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1VFy9ywkrH6tIxav2AvUDgOH37wVFq6NRFzRFvXEUqX8FAeupcw095IYQlfsbN6dDx8-PmL6g8Z05amV4WDFgwVet6fXo3yoBciMEzJtBgXVdFVYEBHM3Q5y_BS9kVsr1-21tdCgEt8/s1600-h/P8030092.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1VFy9ywkrH6tIxav2AvUDgOH37wVFq6NRFzRFvXEUqX8FAeupcw095IYQlfsbN6dDx8-PmL6g8Z05amV4WDFgwVet6fXo3yoBciMEzJtBgXVdFVYEBHM3Q5y_BS9kVsr1-21tdCgEt8/s400/P8030092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235026140304290226" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On my first and only night in Nanjing, he took me to the new bar street in town and led me up a darkened staircase to an unmarked doorway. Pushing open the door, I was confronted by the coolest, best bar I have ever seen in China: hot girls, live, loud Chinese hip-hop being performed with commendable flavor from what appeared to be the bar surface itself. What was shaping up to be a long night of utter debauchery was thankfully averted by Wu YunZhao before I was able to get into trouble. Before I got a single drink, we left the bar to get foot massages instead. Good call by Wu YunZhao. We all went to sleep with very relaxed feet. The next day, I visited some of my old haunts. It was weird to be back in Nanjing. There is a new subway, and a massive new skyscraper, yet the small streets and shops are as I remembered them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFFzH5_7H-JoJmizUkT8RAMHUYyD8jEnb9E3g6Mzr5oGWSw3RKKTSrEfH7K4WLK6q-WwCfK3R93Q4KMoJK9PbJPYzlsz8bBY-X0mdLzCOduZY02x4h3tPreRObc7pH0rsGD3p_F0fAzM/s1600-h/P8040098.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFFzH5_7H-JoJmizUkT8RAMHUYyD8jEnb9E3g6Mzr5oGWSw3RKKTSrEfH7K4WLK6q-WwCfK3R93Q4KMoJK9PbJPYzlsz8bBY-X0mdLzCOduZY02x4h3tPreRObc7pH0rsGD3p_F0fAzM/s400/P8040098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235026146063705314" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Upon my return to Suzhou, I was somewhat anxious about the fact that I had severely underestimated my ability to spend money in this ritzy town. I had burned through most of my cash and foolishly (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) had neglected to bring my credit cards on this trip. The parts of Suzhou where we were hanging out are like a shopper’s paradise. The level of consumption was truly staggering, and infectious. From the Babylon of the city center, to the ritzy mall along the lake (think Newport Beach Fashion Island), Suzhou is a place for conspicuous spending. This is the town where government officials entertain their小姐’s (often more than one) with shopping and 花酒 (literally flowers and wine, but 花 can also mean “to spend” so this term carries the connotation of lots of money spent on booze, flowers, food, women, etc.) Good times. Fortunately I was with Emma. This place is like the wealthy suburb of Shanghai where the rich and powerful go to play. Here, Emma has made her home.<br /><br />This is shopping Babylon:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cq1U91ONSavIADJGYFA92hh0rLMpe_L0MwlkIHrqbvFhIYec-3jUd6UcsUh6Ddbnris0BD3FzZZfrOXX8xgr-hDEfJCSNiZtNtWENwpwVMIQ_FyAyUv5ND8YeuL79DT4rdXeIrbqqbY/s1600-h/P8020082.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cq1U91ONSavIADJGYFA92hh0rLMpe_L0MwlkIHrqbvFhIYec-3jUd6UcsUh6Ddbnris0BD3FzZZfrOXX8xgr-hDEfJCSNiZtNtWENwpwVMIQ_FyAyUv5ND8YeuL79DT4rdXeIrbqqbY/s400/P8020082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235027687862953986" border="0" /></a><br />And this is the fancy shopping area next to the lake:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyq_F7I97_LmtauampDfZ_WUXKT2Zz4xsnCKT_jLDRKpGXApHEMp3DmYxd89ZEP4gEcJ_LaI-wk6KHJRo6S4xManv7XmikTjSkFEDt2KMbbqJ7Y1YYIPEt__OBJIjAaDWRMayqUru8pKc/s1600-h/P8050106.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyq_F7I97_LmtauampDfZ_WUXKT2Zz4xsnCKT_jLDRKpGXApHEMp3DmYxd89ZEP4gEcJ_LaI-wk6KHJRo6S4xManv7XmikTjSkFEDt2KMbbqJ7Y1YYIPEt__OBJIjAaDWRMayqUru8pKc/s400/P8050106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235027695976222754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlbWILIPkfmOvjnPTJCSJ4ME1P5vJpLY7FTwr7LW_HU4qk-VSDf62-_OnHbthCnlzc3wp7Xof2x-m-dixjRU4A8Z2IIdL4HrsNGC3AVSpIaetmTE4wLrfyWcpL-0yjdEBW5ah7oZVLDM/s1600-h/P8050110.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlbWILIPkfmOvjnPTJCSJ4ME1P5vJpLY7FTwr7LW_HU4qk-VSDf62-_OnHbthCnlzc3wp7Xof2x-m-dixjRU4A8Z2IIdL4HrsNGC3AVSpIaetmTE4wLrfyWcpL-0yjdEBW5ah7oZVLDM/s400/P8050110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235027703940035154" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Not bad, eh? No sailing on the lake though. I resolved to establish a sailing school in this place, in order to provide a healthier, more environmentally friendly alternative to the gaudy shops for the disposal of income. This place is a gold mine of opportunity, but the wheels of bureaucracy are not always well lubed. I told Emma my plan for getting some lasers and/or other small boats onto this lake and she said, “Typical American: too much freedom. It doesn’t work like that around here.”Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-43227773589594277612008-07-29T20:10:00.000-07:002008-07-29T20:57:20.399-07:00胡同I did a search on the internet the other day for "Beijing Sailing." Well, as it turns out, there is no such thing as sailing (that I could find) in Beijing. There is, however, the Beijing Sailing Center, some 3 hours away on the coast. An organization called NLGX (for NanLuoGuXiang, 南锣鼓巷, http://www.nlgx.org/) recently sponsored an outing to this sailing center. Upon a little further investigation, I found that NLGX is devoted to, among other things, the preservation of the ancient HuTong's (胡同), or small alleys, that were once widespread in Beijing and are now being destroyed in the name of "progress," meaning large, disgusting, western style monstrosities. Anyway, I resolved to visit this NLGX, and in the process, discovered another charming part of Beijing: the HuTong's. The NanLuoGuXiang area is mostly converted into trendy little shops and bars, mainly catering to westerners, judging from the style and prevalence of English. So Angela and I went exploring and I found myself absolutely delighted. I would love to own one of these little places, though I am led to understand they are actually quite in demand and fairly expensive as a result.<br /><br />This is the view into one of the many little alleys. Along many of these little spots could be observed people sitting, drinking beer, playing games, chatting, hanging out. It really looked like a wonderfully enjoyable place to live, though hot in the summer and cold in the winter to be sure.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdjr0jSNSgSaSq-kHFvNtyYRbHdff51_81mo-0vFLDXvkHzB9tprGd1h5JKZnIIxMZQRGkLRIwjMW_whnK1YrF0-_HCXlr_i21TLOuSl56V6dic13awftoYJwX_pxQdLJGs8pQQWvwtE/s1600-h/P7280001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdjr0jSNSgSaSq-kHFvNtyYRbHdff51_81mo-0vFLDXvkHzB9tprGd1h5JKZnIIxMZQRGkLRIwjMW_whnK1YrF0-_HCXlr_i21TLOuSl56V6dic13awftoYJwX_pxQdLJGs8pQQWvwtE/s400/P7280001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228643626435089266" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A clandestine shot of Angela.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv85Pl4y2BE-OaKi0ztYjKy0scXWTpQ6ZYKXj435ble04QNsFlghI1SsgTFWsKF1LpMbsj1gPg5XaJHAhUCwU3PUGbgmBWFmWHNvtJL5KSUgtIUVb2iti5ScA5I6hHw0AZVdHnPz5i7cs/s1600-h/P7280004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv85Pl4y2BE-OaKi0ztYjKy0scXWTpQ6ZYKXj435ble04QNsFlghI1SsgTFWsKF1LpMbsj1gPg5XaJHAhUCwU3PUGbgmBWFmWHNvtJL5KSUgtIUVb2iti5ScA5I6hHw0AZVdHnPz5i7cs/s400/P7280004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228643644523813090" border="0" /></a><br />View down a side street.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nbnoGUxKun5I2Qgt_JandED1TpXoIXfGbijCBZ2FPuwoB35B1M-Q9IvR46mizil1kTTpLzL9j-rRFCAZdNgDGNzZvkO-CgTug4690ob8GIQMHERAPEnHvz-ojHo5wuc7OgkBDsVRaM0/s1600-h/P7280008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nbnoGUxKun5I2Qgt_JandED1TpXoIXfGbijCBZ2FPuwoB35B1M-Q9IvR46mizil1kTTpLzL9j-rRFCAZdNgDGNzZvkO-CgTug4690ob8GIQMHERAPEnHvz-ojHo5wuc7OgkBDsVRaM0/s400/P7280008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228643659998134690" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The HuTongs are quite trendy nowadays. These people were filming or something.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZt9vyonuakZo79yeJ0euK5yD3bgaTG0qxlW1hwwppNcGacyEFbgciz3sd9pINJq46zw8F2Zp0wM0LKtymIcOPNIjYfg8Q9NsQOs-xcOnmaK1_bGZeDbu_B0jqqVBllCP8nQX11TxQkg/s1600-h/P7280012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZt9vyonuakZo79yeJ0euK5yD3bgaTG0qxlW1hwwppNcGacyEFbgciz3sd9pINJq46zw8F2Zp0wM0LKtymIcOPNIjYfg8Q9NsQOs-xcOnmaK1_bGZeDbu_B0jqqVBllCP8nQX11TxQkg/s400/P7280012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228643670304237090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This one is for my Dad. Chinese made, with an opposing twin-cylinder engine like a BMW. I saw a couple of these in the HuTong.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7sffc4rvRI8oXWdlOHaOWNU_oUjad1YcQDn6Kkd34khfRY7gXMjgE1yo4FggSqILtt6RaA9hBjrFrvK_0tSQc3bMotwvzCs2TBl9oEvxG3EdN0vd1AR1EKRZEk-C-M0Z6UzRu04bS5w/s1600-h/P7280006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7sffc4rvRI8oXWdlOHaOWNU_oUjad1YcQDn6Kkd34khfRY7gXMjgE1yo4FggSqILtt6RaA9hBjrFrvK_0tSQc3bMotwvzCs2TBl9oEvxG3EdN0vd1AR1EKRZEk-C-M0Z6UzRu04bS5w/s400/P7280006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228643674652163794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And now for my favorite pastime, photographing hilarious Chinese signs in English! The next two I got for obvious reasons. I have never seen anything like this in China, before. I guess that's a poppy in the lower left of this one?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NBVLn6FDqN7iKLvVnM5ma_w8xRfOD0ih8YphmaSzqWorZlmSDavsWkzCbePKjiJqZsgZo_Cg6W3jEbJ1sMvctrv0h7yhASJIsrgrImtreD7YeCLjRrYl_CFOTrcT4kBNuzoAtWvepiI/s1600-h/P7280007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NBVLn6FDqN7iKLvVnM5ma_w8xRfOD0ih8YphmaSzqWorZlmSDavsWkzCbePKjiJqZsgZo_Cg6W3jEbJ1sMvctrv0h7yhASJIsrgrImtreD7YeCLjRrYl_CFOTrcT4kBNuzoAtWvepiI/s400/P7280007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228650307656063186" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Check out the little cartoon cop in this one. How are you supposed to take this seriously with the ridiculous caricature giving a thumbs up and the tongue sticking out? I laughed long and hard about this, I believe to the consternation of my companion.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyUhxySe-Ub9iUb0yHROhTXLorWDs1Wy3LpY5yzeGiGVjdONEpfuyb6aGhyphenhyphenrQrOWlI9Dr_KPQIzUX-K1MB6fqEf5MVZg8-YbvGjIAWTSac4lcCQSsofLtyfTXzDqbaUpzh1zLZVIPrNk/s1600-h/P7280015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyUhxySe-Ub9iUb0yHROhTXLorWDs1Wy3LpY5yzeGiGVjdONEpfuyb6aGhyphenhyphenrQrOWlI9Dr_KPQIzUX-K1MB6fqEf5MVZg8-YbvGjIAWTSac4lcCQSsofLtyfTXzDqbaUpzh1zLZVIPrNk/s400/P7280015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228650317885004690" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Breath coffee? Yuck. I think I'll pass. Angela assured me it was a very nice name in Chinese.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNLj_lBIhUIBVbw-Ofr0ou79FIQUPV4J2xGiALOnxlOmBX6CzQA7f1tvQp5JZebFzedx0kGMsktwLRNhf0FCLNYMrq5iQgCD7MMsEHwqCEuA5a0e-RP4sInimxz5pYSQyg42y8en1KfA/s1600-h/P7280003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNLj_lBIhUIBVbw-Ofr0ou79FIQUPV4J2xGiALOnxlOmBX6CzQA7f1tvQp5JZebFzedx0kGMsktwLRNhf0FCLNYMrq5iQgCD7MMsEHwqCEuA5a0e-RP4sInimxz5pYSQyg42y8en1KfA/s400/P7280003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228650323828080898" border="0" /></a>Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-50636210146317695622008-07-26T23:11:00.000-07:002008-07-27T19:15:09.654-07:00垂柳The title of this post is Chui Liu, or "drooping branches willow" which is the Chinese translation for the 柳树 (willow tree) we know as the weeping willow. My translation as the 哭树 or "crying tree" was pretty far off the mark in this case. Oh well. I have been getting pretty lazy with the Chinese since everyone around here speaks such good English so I'm trying to devote a little more energy to language study.<br /><br />In the meantime, I have been visiting parks with my new blog muse, Angela. Unfortunately, she won't let me take her picture very often (I have no idea why because she's totally hot), but I managed to get this one off after a good amount of coaxing.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6jQpj6Mg8PxmHHNVryLflujpGmsnCaA5Keez5Rrt732w1NGyfpMwTlnGBVX3D5OwIWHln2Izkgj4RTWTwpTkM3oFl1tPNzx82nMuXopGurBFBZiP_RgC82h3hCxiAG3MBjYvnjva2MU/s1600-h/P7220007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6jQpj6Mg8PxmHHNVryLflujpGmsnCaA5Keez5Rrt732w1NGyfpMwTlnGBVX3D5OwIWHln2Izkgj4RTWTwpTkM3oFl1tPNzx82nMuXopGurBFBZiP_RgC82h3hCxiAG3MBjYvnjva2MU/s400/P7220007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227577799162292338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The viewscape of this park is dominated by the CCTV tower, which I found quite fun to photograph for some reason. It looked really amazing at night, the lights reflecting in the "deep pool" of the lake for which this park is named. Here are some other night sights from YuYuanTan park:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kZtKC9zQ5alLXESy47ZLlFbqg5ojfnRPqBgEnwqpcQKOkJXv5xfE2Kb2Lu-JS73L9PzyG4CHPbeY2E-m0sArSVq0l65uTdM9F571GW9KgVWWBWh5nE0ffqdpGIZXO8Fjs85M3ubxHEo/s1600-h/P7220015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kZtKC9zQ5alLXESy47ZLlFbqg5ojfnRPqBgEnwqpcQKOkJXv5xfE2Kb2Lu-JS73L9PzyG4CHPbeY2E-m0sArSVq0l65uTdM9F571GW9KgVWWBWh5nE0ffqdpGIZXO8Fjs85M3ubxHEo/s400/P7220015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227577810256968818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGIuSO7rhQv5DBo0pS4tlJUKShiBoLj_ZntCcGF-1F9gdZyRwxH26hZAHlSxPA8j-oVstBCgKEQvtxbI4Xsvk9F70K93M4SVCaXbzB7vzRDc-UZSUTCZPild983iXt247mAA1WsTCTzE/s1600-h/P7220022.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGIuSO7rhQv5DBo0pS4tlJUKShiBoLj_ZntCcGF-1F9gdZyRwxH26hZAHlSxPA8j-oVstBCgKEQvtxbI4Xsvk9F70K93M4SVCaXbzB7vzRDc-UZSUTCZPild983iXt247mAA1WsTCTzE/s400/P7220022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227577814117670482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaBlq1i3kxJkTlD2JfFKzAoHB5UkbNDwYWWnVaYzaH6z-Sz4sryaaxO1Qb9EdwfZ5dGtz95eoA5ApEmjhbsBacCoN1dhF3S94casUg5bTKUTDXJ_JvJE66gU3XZuRXSwnaHfmmq-up-E/s1600-h/P7220023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaBlq1i3kxJkTlD2JfFKzAoHB5UkbNDwYWWnVaYzaH6z-Sz4sryaaxO1Qb9EdwfZ5dGtz95eoA5ApEmjhbsBacCoN1dhF3S94casUg5bTKUTDXJ_JvJE66gU3XZuRXSwnaHfmmq-up-E/s400/P7220023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227577818089375266" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Another interesting feature was the small Metasequoia plantation I found near the main gate of the park.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjxWD_zGiIGQ0JfAcpToZBwbt0udq9RybiGCoQRFjICHrEKgZeDx2O45UKUNs-FIi3nXS5BZaBFWalrat6vrBUV1XVdje2fsTdhim5Lm0JxaN5GlvxDS3XkKsrqTJJa6ETmcSG7Z-DoI/s1600-h/P7220001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjxWD_zGiIGQ0JfAcpToZBwbt0udq9RybiGCoQRFjICHrEKgZeDx2O45UKUNs-FIi3nXS5BZaBFWalrat6vrBUV1XVdje2fsTdhim5Lm0JxaN5GlvxDS3XkKsrqTJJa6ETmcSG7Z-DoI/s400/P7220001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227577795542840050" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here are some photos from the Yuan Dynasty Wall Relics park. Apparently, they incorporated a river into the design of the city in order to more easily keep the barbarians out. It's now little more than a cement channel, but there is a nice park along side it and it is beautiful in the evening.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjy7vu6khWQNK6z3CEvTvTzfWXjO_9SiMyYRdSkJwhtxAKO0WIKUXhApwtZRG1u8o6kHwgM7V1hftGuY264ckXtUtAVhJVd3yCUs-8X68nKUafwRD8LsoN-d_pGg7ohTmeOrID7-3FnQ/s1600-h/P7250035.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjy7vu6khWQNK6z3CEvTvTzfWXjO_9SiMyYRdSkJwhtxAKO0WIKUXhApwtZRG1u8o6kHwgM7V1hftGuY264ckXtUtAVhJVd3yCUs-8X68nKUafwRD8LsoN-d_pGg7ohTmeOrID7-3FnQ/s400/P7250035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227582057759965474" border="0" /></a><br /><br />While there, I learned a beautiful saying:<br /><br />黑夜给了我黑色的眼睛。<br /><br />"The dark night darkens my eyes." With dark eyes, I had a truly beautiful evening there I will never forget.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fQCUgITMmV1r_lDkRJbqpCsowCoZq1P0kVYO7wgqhwujRgwtEDIjG4rfZcqm8Joh8cAjDZQTaeROE5V4VDOtlW4ZdZrp0k7duSqR6Ca5ahRtFmfp7cmTk0gdStVSEQOf-fBhLbu9yME/s1600-h/P7250038.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fQCUgITMmV1r_lDkRJbqpCsowCoZq1P0kVYO7wgqhwujRgwtEDIjG4rfZcqm8Joh8cAjDZQTaeROE5V4VDOtlW4ZdZrp0k7duSqR6Ca5ahRtFmfp7cmTk0gdStVSEQOf-fBhLbu9yME/s400/P7250038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227582061121737090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lastly, my friend Jun Yang (of Joe McBride lab fame) took me out the other night for a guys only style session: meat and beer! We had a draft beer drinking contest while brainstorming ways to get rich and eating spicy bar-b-que lamb on sticks. Good Times!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIouDLT0NIwVUNb3A65enX7wmwzwN1Us0dSCyImlRs4UQY4ebgSWQF80YlEqERc9PztDsf0w3PEgjIIlyweA_srgNfmFbQZO1k6qxhhnZ3BUTybzcP8a65WxXetLisGt7EYS5iKmIWtI/s1600-h/P7240033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIouDLT0NIwVUNb3A65enX7wmwzwN1Us0dSCyImlRs4UQY4ebgSWQF80YlEqERc9PztDsf0w3PEgjIIlyweA_srgNfmFbQZO1k6qxhhnZ3BUTybzcP8a65WxXetLisGt7EYS5iKmIWtI/s400/P7240033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227582077749577506" border="0" /></a>Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-82020552870025307572008-07-21T20:14:00.000-07:002008-07-21T20:45:01.204-07:00Hou Hai 2Last night, I made a new friend. Her English name is Angela and her Chinese name is 乔彧, QiaoYu, which means beautiful, intelligent sister, who's good at writing (actually it's more complicated than that, but that's my way of remembering ;). Guess where we went? That's right, my favorite spot: Hou Hai! We rented a duck shaped boat and paddled around while I furiously photographed every other boat out there. As usual, everyone seemed to be having a great time. Here are some images of the revelry:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgepa2cXT6tESgzuExUCN-6xKQ-St48i2exUTtzq59iD048LnEhdHMvs4jkejQrWqnGuAlA59BSutBHmZ3b3CunEvSmMzfk__7x0UaC52cJgV_whyphenhyphenAGzr-3SQyY7WcdX5KLxxErH-orE/s1600-h/P7200011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgepa2cXT6tESgzuExUCN-6xKQ-St48i2exUTtzq59iD048LnEhdHMvs4jkejQrWqnGuAlA59BSutBHmZ3b3CunEvSmMzfk__7x0UaC52cJgV_whyphenhyphenAGzr-3SQyY7WcdX5KLxxErH-orE/s400/P7200011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225673601933255202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3QV8xizG4R1Fp8CWeO1HnY_xFZl0vDvV_2EB-VldzlrLkMks4Z5PweQTRpHXSknsNL4Fc8mopLWy4tePf49eKn29lcQa8yD9aMiZVyDo0MdIZk8DdS46m8u-__rliUt4Ir0UPBoD8hg/s1600-h/P7200012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3QV8xizG4R1Fp8CWeO1HnY_xFZl0vDvV_2EB-VldzlrLkMks4Z5PweQTRpHXSknsNL4Fc8mopLWy4tePf49eKn29lcQa8yD9aMiZVyDo0MdIZk8DdS46m8u-__rliUt4Ir0UPBoD8hg/s400/P7200012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225673606061885026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFvW_bxYgaFoMuC3CEF6DZBeFu3A3zqlOwR5T1SqDf7R1JnbvlQsTzV1LeT8fTuDR38bjT10rrEgZRK6VZV-qLhxMy3Z1f8Pfi6X4mIv0LSZ7RF0STr1kQmgN-UcRCEWrPO-7EbGbqZ0/s1600-h/P7200013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFvW_bxYgaFoMuC3CEF6DZBeFu3A3zqlOwR5T1SqDf7R1JnbvlQsTzV1LeT8fTuDR38bjT10rrEgZRK6VZV-qLhxMy3Z1f8Pfi6X4mIv0LSZ7RF0STr1kQmgN-UcRCEWrPO-7EbGbqZ0/s400/P7200013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225673614328857154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenN7XUdmUtrRjts4Hu5PzSWiKoYjJ_e7Ylmkqycw6-iVXYN67c6ifsgAgDdUPUNW_MC9qv3pjP-GEtIi4yjEmKPMWsYFOH3QVlE8YuYdPPbatBErEXvzR-0WsG-B0Zc168k9HmM0LRsQ/s1600-h/P7200017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenN7XUdmUtrRjts4Hu5PzSWiKoYjJ_e7Ylmkqycw6-iVXYN67c6ifsgAgDdUPUNW_MC9qv3pjP-GEtIi4yjEmKPMWsYFOH3QVlE8YuYdPPbatBErEXvzR-0WsG-B0Zc168k9HmM0LRsQ/s400/P7200017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225673620042943218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcVQmbWC8U9ObtJQUjAr8RzFzXl_RqiV_7IDu0TiH-L7wvlljxQqZJtrLhAj-0tEqlROTJCEisQIe_cD2IPZ9CVSDghSEnxdZCDJB7QzvCpcH11bkfUgRH39LTg0zD0TGOrKFWyy-f_A/s1600-h/P7200018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcVQmbWC8U9ObtJQUjAr8RzFzXl_RqiV_7IDu0TiH-L7wvlljxQqZJtrLhAj-0tEqlROTJCEisQIe_cD2IPZ9CVSDghSEnxdZCDJB7QzvCpcH11bkfUgRH39LTg0zD0TGOrKFWyy-f_A/s400/P7200018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225673629436446178" border="0" /></a><br />Afterwards, we sat at a nice bar, drank expensive beers, and learned about Chinese. On of the most interesting language tidbits was in regard to the word 帆船, fan chuan, meaning "sail boat." What I found intriguing about this word was, as Angela explained, the first character means "sail," referring to the shape of the full batten Chinese sails that resemble the things you might hold in your hand and unfold to "fan" your face on a hot day. Amateur etymology at it's best. That's what I love about Chinese, all the curious connections. Another one that I was really into was the Chinese word for pirate, 海盗, hai dao, meaning "sea thief." I like that! (Not the thieving of course. Unless it's in relation to the 4 Yuan DVD's you can purchase at various roadside stands and freeway overpasses.)<br /><br />Angela is terrific. Among her many wonderful attributes, she is the first card carrying communist I ever met. As you can imagine, this revelation caused me to completely rethink my opinion of this exemplary social institution and fine political party! Am I smitten?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy09mcD-BNW2yWeFrprpqFtwvlb-nyGN8vP5qQtSDylZIWpzNAdA3TLbTRHbuoCtOb2Ax0dnYlx1AH2oyRyl4b2W4ODlLcoGm9_qYU5MBoMOlo7pxqr1nISbu0gbcm_dyyuZjHURGUXH8/s1600-h/P7200028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy09mcD-BNW2yWeFrprpqFtwvlb-nyGN8vP5qQtSDylZIWpzNAdA3TLbTRHbuoCtOb2Ax0dnYlx1AH2oyRyl4b2W4ODlLcoGm9_qYU5MBoMOlo7pxqr1nISbu0gbcm_dyyuZjHURGUXH8/s400/P7200028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225678752290778370" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is the the ONLY way to study Chinese: a dictionary, a smart and beautiful girl at your side, and cool TsingTao beer at your chin.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTj45VwAjdM7YsULmnjQG9XVBEb501ybwEy_BkUORVt5npGPCAl25tkBXdf1C08hJxtAoXAZm-sH5CBeo0-eG0ztVVAD1O1_gKKrk4_1Zy7KJexLXS4A4_7cCKrRqmCN4oKp32aJ8Bds/s1600-h/P7200022.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTj45VwAjdM7YsULmnjQG9XVBEb501ybwEy_BkUORVt5npGPCAl25tkBXdf1C08hJxtAoXAZm-sH5CBeo0-eG0ztVVAD1O1_gKKrk4_1Zy7KJexLXS4A4_7cCKrRqmCN4oKp32aJ8Bds/s400/P7200022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225678758404563650" border="0" /></a>Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-46527416483013191122008-07-20T20:26:00.000-07:002008-07-20T21:42:46.540-07:00公寓, 北京图书大厦Well, lots of new and exciting things on this end. First, Professor Gong hooked me up with an apartment so his place wouldn't be too crowded after his sons arrived. It's sweet! It has occurred to me that the only place I have ever had my own apartment is in China. Beijing and Nanjing are also the largest cities in which I have lived. Lots of excitement. Anyway, the apartment is sort of studio-like. This is the view from the entrance:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsJiQ6RsVzazRpi0Y0NLA8iIZdX8pOhzuGtyHQAbZkhLv96TVR3_1HEuBuJs4E8iXS0Kp_AzVNkCtBJJhvS1EqpFKMG5kIT2ht8kApwutTj8mSQZWF3MhkVsx3qM25yafS0zVnl1xUhg/s1600-h/P7200007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsJiQ6RsVzazRpi0Y0NLA8iIZdX8pOhzuGtyHQAbZkhLv96TVR3_1HEuBuJs4E8iXS0Kp_AzVNkCtBJJhvS1EqpFKMG5kIT2ht8kApwutTj8mSQZWF3MhkVsx3qM25yafS0zVnl1xUhg/s400/P7200007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225306280298500322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Desk:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3jduKLr_7LBapA_5yA_a30xHrJFzEwaeREswMIYyB94JZn8nCAgVWBcp87XZSupu-CJJPjmwvL2Zxi8XyMOjsLDP7ndz-9HKpbTbkX_9N0FBeWIDbcvRU2pfPJK8Vl-naMuQayAKwgs/s1600-h/P7200008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3jduKLr_7LBapA_5yA_a30xHrJFzEwaeREswMIYyB94JZn8nCAgVWBcp87XZSupu-CJJPjmwvL2Zxi8XyMOjsLDP7ndz-9HKpbTbkX_9N0FBeWIDbcvRU2pfPJK8Vl-naMuQayAKwgs/s400/P7200008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225306293833241714" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The first actual bed I've slept on this time around. Luxury!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjuNCvmTJimZoKHsKn6cumiONC00X9OoxZ7QIUW9bogkpMRlF0AwXtmXsw0YUFgK4hl_MWlwR4lWjikelirYGzyB22_JTM_Il6qGbujCQlc6-7qaOIyUMmTWNcFN0TravxYRjq2SwQrg/s1600-h/P7200009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjuNCvmTJimZoKHsKn6cumiONC00X9OoxZ7QIUW9bogkpMRlF0AwXtmXsw0YUFgK4hl_MWlwR4lWjikelirYGzyB22_JTM_Il6qGbujCQlc6-7qaOIyUMmTWNcFN0TravxYRjq2SwQrg/s400/P7200009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225306300682218098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Views from my window. The buildings across the street are vacant, still under construction. Note the gate to my building. Everything, EVERYTHING, is gated here and there is invariably some sort of security officer manning the gate.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlAhcOkD2RKw6WbRjB-KP-Kq8a3BXrTvHPbcpt9yIU6VU2YNx3RI5RG8f_L0SoII0bV8QOkiAFHtgP5DP8lW_9Jh_3P_IzcS70mvge-VEBXWKxcOkLeE_bo5ClRdVdm40P2Wxh8C5ao7o/s1600-h/P7200010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlAhcOkD2RKw6WbRjB-KP-Kq8a3BXrTvHPbcpt9yIU6VU2YNx3RI5RG8f_L0SoII0bV8QOkiAFHtgP5DP8lW_9Jh_3P_IzcS70mvge-VEBXWKxcOkLeE_bo5ClRdVdm40P2Wxh8C5ao7o/s400/P7200010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225306304082360338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnjErMxSWiXTNf6iBf2J1LpnOreoemKmERuyxFtN2fpvgzOTVZphpi2wjELNBl5AQMPtC9DGfeOKoyG_4nfxFakXfbQPlA4_wQ_o6cImYXRW57fmxxNmb-wSj-lY_VKmFtFJmmSAeB3w/s1600-h/P7200011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnjErMxSWiXTNf6iBf2J1LpnOreoemKmERuyxFtN2fpvgzOTVZphpi2wjELNBl5AQMPtC9DGfeOKoyG_4nfxFakXfbQPlA4_wQ_o6cImYXRW57fmxxNmb-wSj-lY_VKmFtFJmmSAeB3w/s400/P7200011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225306313802871314" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Living room:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTJCdOZpZVhngVF26yJDXSlpl6ITGBRGIXn7tXu0DKEgz-1KlH3hmr4mENk0jFnKYZyR-F9YUQ3R6NlyEdPXLaXjg0h1oVVyXA5lYm7HP0i2-EVHsYgq3hFXaXV_zt78W1XHbzIg_TdU/s1600-h/P7200012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTJCdOZpZVhngVF26yJDXSlpl6ITGBRGIXn7tXu0DKEgz-1KlH3hmr4mENk0jFnKYZyR-F9YUQ3R6NlyEdPXLaXjg0h1oVVyXA5lYm7HP0i2-EVHsYgq3hFXaXV_zt78W1XHbzIg_TdU/s400/P7200012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225307701090064178" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Bathroom:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZM5mLGHWfgwpz1DfBBsS6toi5Mpdz1wyWAleH_wHtSEggByk7BsLiGEG9JRIOPF2VV0FKktxFSU4hkF1orwFH_lcij3dGzhIwMw4TIJWgN1n5rD4_4EY1XJLFSe1qwWDdiFr8FmXNNE/s1600-h/P7200013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZM5mLGHWfgwpz1DfBBsS6toi5Mpdz1wyWAleH_wHtSEggByk7BsLiGEG9JRIOPF2VV0FKktxFSU4hkF1orwFH_lcij3dGzhIwMw4TIJWgN1n5rD4_4EY1XJLFSe1qwWDdiFr8FmXNNE/s400/P7200013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225307704352373714" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Kitchen:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0-_8GfdRy3Af6A6aU383Qc_TRIXrkBu-sd2mPdMx87w_oUsMF4Y28uMGis7QIs7hx6ydWloAVyFIoCMtF1BPUKjEeIqJfhx6Oo3aDU8Smbp8EZUmMj_TTRNJ5QZxVcZHgnln3YhG4io/s1600-h/P7200014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0-_8GfdRy3Af6A6aU383Qc_TRIXrkBu-sd2mPdMx87w_oUsMF4Y28uMGis7QIs7hx6ydWloAVyFIoCMtF1BPUKjEeIqJfhx6Oo3aDU8Smbp8EZUmMj_TTRNJ5QZxVcZHgnln3YhG4io/s400/P7200014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225307713295990770" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Not bad, eh? I could get used to this.<br /><br />Next up, my adventure to downtown Beijing. As part of my immersion program, I made the decision to take public transportation to a large bookstore near Tian-An-en (天安门, or "day of peace gate", a pronunciation and meaning of which I was ignorant until yesterday) square. My first discovery was there there is a special Olympic (NOT "Special Olympics." It's not a short bus ;) bus line that goes from right outside my apartment all the way to Tian-An-Men. It costs one yuan, about 15 cents. At Chang An Jie, (Long Peace Street, on which Tian-An-Men is located), I got this photo:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnThGp9yglASwRGE6-elTCJK1exe5l4o1RS77dRTb1Xu7qdvWMX6bJCpjEsFd15tMYFE17sjSEpZP-9w4gd1qYZWZyX-qJjk47PcetfYJvjzFsacFMyhCJtOiHVJVYW9GXfb2rWrvFQU/s1600-h/P7190003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnThGp9yglASwRGE6-elTCJK1exe5l4o1RS77dRTb1Xu7qdvWMX6bJCpjEsFd15tMYFE17sjSEpZP-9w4gd1qYZWZyX-qJjk47PcetfYJvjzFsacFMyhCJtOiHVJVYW9GXfb2rWrvFQU/s400/P7190003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225307724993571282" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Everyone else was getting photos of Chairman Mao, but I thought his paranoid legacy to the people of China was interesting: all these cameras. They ain't for monitoring traffic, that's for sure. They aren't even pointed at the road. Speaking of which, security has just had a major increase around here. I'm questioned every time I want to get into the institute and forced to fill out a little card with my name, number and where I'm going. It's good character writing practice, but sheesh. What's the point? It's like the security at airports, it does nothing except harass people for no reason. Sunday was also the first day of the system whereby odd numbered license plates can drive on odd days and even plates on even days. If it were up to me, this would be instituted in the US as a permanent law.<br /><br />Anyway, once I got to the bookstore (the name of which is roughly translated as massive book building), I found it to be the largest, most crowded book Babylon I have ever been to. What chaos! I found my way to the dictionaries and "learning Chinese" section and went wild for over an hour in there. I was quite relieved to get back on to the street and buy a cold drink. After that, I tried my hand at navigating the subway system. No problem. For 2 Yuan, (30 cents) you can go anywhere in the city. It's fast, efficient and easy. BART seems fantastically overpriced and fucked up in comparison.<br /><br />So, the public transportation system I found to be quite well developed and easy to navigate. The addition of Pinyin to the signs really makes a big difference. This is one of the ways that I find China to be advanced over the US. Another excellent practice that I believe should be implemented everywhere in the US: you have to buy the bags you use at the grocery store. It's not much, but why the hell don't they do that in the US? Instead they triple bag your shit for no obvious reason. It's backwards, in my opinion, and a good example of unchecked, runaway consumption.<br /><br />Second-to-lastly, a couple notable quotes from the State run English media that I noticed on TV last night. (Can you see how this is in direct reaction the Western media?): "Qing Dao was chosen as a sailing venue due to its status as a first rate tourist destination and its clean water quality." Ha, ha, ha, ha! And this: "Chinese peacekeeping engineers [not a typo] reached three hundred and fifteen [315] in Darfur." Wow, just in the nick of time, eh guys? I wonder how many they had while the Sudanese govt. militias were running around with machetes and chopping people's arms off? Anyway, it's so transparent, I don't know why they keep it up.<br /><br />Lastly (for real this time), here is a view of the moon over the Olympic tower. It's really amazing. The lights on this tower are incredible and the other day I was treated to the loudest fireworks display I have ever heard. The Chinese don't skimp on explosions! It merely stoked my anticipation of the actual event! According to one of my Chinese friends, this tower will have a massive flame shooting out of it for the entirety of the Olympics, burning some thousands of gallons of gas in the process. I say, what better use of gas? As they say in China when cheering on competitors, 中国加油, "Zhong Guo jia you!" (China add gas). I'm not kidding!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFtIJHWF3wyp1Bw5tMWWrcijBvKuz-BsiVL9ivNykgbZaKN_wzE4gzqNdS4Ui7ok-_aPb3wkXrhPf2a038GOy2ZGFyt-j8EG0pnlLSfY07nWxmlF7mSMeKbb3_eBLH-5AK5UuvtQfgrI/s1600-h/P7170002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFtIJHWF3wyp1Bw5tMWWrcijBvKuz-BsiVL9ivNykgbZaKN_wzE4gzqNdS4Ui7ok-_aPb3wkXrhPf2a038GOy2ZGFyt-j8EG0pnlLSfY07nWxmlF7mSMeKbb3_eBLH-5AK5UuvtQfgrI/s400/P7170002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225307728899787026" border="0" /></a>Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-40831843122796637382008-07-18T05:49:00.000-07:002008-07-18T06:06:14.635-07:00Bejing Ren 2Here are just a few more day in the life sort of photos that I've been collecting. When I got up this morning, I found some soldiers in the courtyard of the apartment complex practicing their walking. Two by two they would march around, with their boss yelling various criticisms as they strutted around, arms and legs in sync. I got this one photo off before the boss came over and waved me away. Not sure why you're not supposed to be taking photos of the walking practice, but I guess the lao wai laughing and snapping pictures was a little much for this serious endeavor.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWf0NnwKdsq5q6vs9oj-p8lMGfr88_bCEeE75bLV5gFZnlutw4e0bQOWpPrtNlBrtUCU8m_8gt3fkP_hKLHz800rqkBifcZCmiVxtR-pKokrg9hne-XsiVeP1Yscwcu7wDKKWI-6D_ZiY/s1600-h/P7170011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWf0NnwKdsq5q6vs9oj-p8lMGfr88_bCEeE75bLV5gFZnlutw4e0bQOWpPrtNlBrtUCU8m_8gt3fkP_hKLHz800rqkBifcZCmiVxtR-pKokrg9hne-XsiVeP1Yscwcu7wDKKWI-6D_ZiY/s400/P7170011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224336437523039778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here are a couple of my closest friends from the institute. Chen Shao Qing is my favorite. Isn't she cute?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_R9vczTXC6ph6JW-4wzzouvvsYezkfv5K7zvUBvc3Avk4eSap1RFtE-rS-Et-WTKrdNf82NKzkuc6Mk3abYcFBApm8OEbGjEARTR_2fC4GBVx87PJsZG-kx40eMXFIIC9x8VLbxEills/s1600-h/P7170013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_R9vczTXC6ph6JW-4wzzouvvsYezkfv5K7zvUBvc3Avk4eSap1RFtE-rS-Et-WTKrdNf82NKzkuc6Mk3abYcFBApm8OEbGjEARTR_2fC4GBVx87PJsZG-kx40eMXFIIC9x8VLbxEills/s400/P7170013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224336452679587282" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Wang Lei is sort of a jolly joker. He's like the archetypal chubby kid. Everyone teases him for being fat, but I told him he was skinny by American standards (which is true!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhvWu4L5qf2zDB4vAl_W1gNFuZVgY9QCGiEPP5MDJmm7KJmxSX33mgJz69Ik-lEO_-c0sBI7H32jDBJx_KmL_uAojPXyHs3TwvYhD_lfD5w9yN9tDG4PKtQWc90b0JvBmXQHaIRJo2Og/s1600-h/P7170014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhvWu4L5qf2zDB4vAl_W1gNFuZVgY9QCGiEPP5MDJmm7KJmxSX33mgJz69Ik-lEO_-c0sBI7H32jDBJx_KmL_uAojPXyHs3TwvYhD_lfD5w9yN9tDG4PKtQWc90b0JvBmXQHaIRJo2Og/s400/P7170014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224336457653333826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lastly, here is a picture Wang Lei's girlfriend gave me of the mystical, mysterious "wild part" of the great wall. The part where you can go and sleep. After I saw the photos, I knew I had to go. It looks like something out of Lord of the Rings to me. I want to stay in one of those guard towers, build a fire at night to ward off the wraiths, tell ghost stories and drink beer. Tell me that doesn't sound fun!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAmbtZY8Z-MZd6obvPkuGjWb44fDH5YiKv2vRS15mvvagHIWJCAp-ZqIXmoSx_w72wYF3xXFQNPwVItX7qkf_VA4zX8OmpK8mBsAh60j58R1kuSU9yzupYIk_cm-JYG3R1LGF1hOq4HE/s1600-h/IMG_4347.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAmbtZY8Z-MZd6obvPkuGjWb44fDH5YiKv2vRS15mvvagHIWJCAp-ZqIXmoSx_w72wYF3xXFQNPwVItX7qkf_VA4zX8OmpK8mBsAh60j58R1kuSU9yzupYIk_cm-JYG3R1LGF1hOq4HE/s400/IMG_4347.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224336443481417202" border="0" /></a>Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-49206423903502911782008-07-17T04:36:00.000-07:002008-07-17T05:11:33.158-07:00FolksAll right, I know how much everyone like photos, so I snapped a few more recently to show a little slice of Beijing life.<br /><br />The first one is of a bar with the ridiculous name: "Liky Bar." Sounds like my kind of place! I love these translations, which are an endless source of amusement for me here.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxErrXXsnk0RIBfGbEiauQuW4nfQg0dduFMC8UnLmgOC03hCwJpCSRkg104XXhEh_LtyA4muAzZJ10yy2CmJpzR2hCRce9pM5XNidfMXtyrJdUQBx8s4k0m4iaRAV0r2XbadAkawrvA0/s1600-h/P7080001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxErrXXsnk0RIBfGbEiauQuW4nfQg0dduFMC8UnLmgOC03hCwJpCSRkg104XXhEh_LtyA4muAzZJ10yy2CmJpzR2hCRce9pM5XNidfMXtyrJdUQBx8s4k0m4iaRAV0r2XbadAkawrvA0/s400/P7080001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223947014734396594" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This one is Miss Gao Ang. She's a reporter for the Beijing Times. Let me tell you the story of how we met. When I was standing in line at SFO, waiting to check in, a large group of Chinese guys weaseled in front of me. I was furious, but much too tired to protest. So they barged all their bags in front of me and I just waited. Anyway, I noticed that among them was a cute girl and I said to myself, "Nick," I said, "she's OK. She's cute and I'd like to meet her. I wonder what she's like?" Anyway, I soon forgot the whole thing between the baggage and airport scene. Soon enough, I found myself walking down the plank to the airplane (飞机, or "flying machine" in Chinese, one of my favorite words) then looking for my seat. As I parked my ass for the 12 hour trip, I lamented the fact that every single damn time I take a flight, I get stuck next to the fat guy. I let out a small, silent prayer: God, please let it be different this one time. And guess who it was: the cute girl from the line, Gao Ang! (Thank you, God!) Recently, she took me to an uber cool restaurant, which she claimed was owned by a Chinese pop star. Very cool.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08w0cM_z4tzpYyrR50sPrSiPQmlxBCvfQq7GROZ3JxHU0TnofhNqYNH87_XYnPMtTdPe3MAfGYMA4bcrR1-JwHL2Ueu7Ed6CFZXQLlKkXpfgiyJZjCoL7UT_iQUKBi-vMaGYTkjii2ds/s1600-h/P7080002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08w0cM_z4tzpYyrR50sPrSiPQmlxBCvfQq7GROZ3JxHU0TnofhNqYNH87_XYnPMtTdPe3MAfGYMA4bcrR1-JwHL2Ueu7Ed6CFZXQLlKkXpfgiyJZjCoL7UT_iQUKBi-vMaGYTkjii2ds/s400/P7080002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223947022230169106" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next up: Bo Yang. Bo Yang is an EECS major from Berkeley (Go Bears). He's here for the summer working on wireless sensor networks. He's one of the lucky ones who speaks both Chinese and English perfectly, having been born in China and raised in Canada. As a result, he has become the translator-in-chief around here. The rest of the kids love hearing us argue about translations, Americana, etc. Anyway, today, he had to get this sheet of aluminum painted or coated in some way, so when he informed me of his mission to a Chinese hardware store, I jumped at the opportunity to go along. On our way, we found all kinds of great stuff.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMnq6ZNJmSSqrioMpYq210x2X3HgO-KrAkAJr_no-n-q_bhCLKi6jwAsIDurT1jXkPGALSjyGxkenk2O51aOBuOaEmZWobCX-8l_O_xvYZ7Fh8hPrlX7jtTpzRsaReAXZdNWEoGXYYfk/s1600-h/P7160003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMnq6ZNJmSSqrioMpYq210x2X3HgO-KrAkAJr_no-n-q_bhCLKi6jwAsIDurT1jXkPGALSjyGxkenk2O51aOBuOaEmZWobCX-8l_O_xvYZ7Fh8hPrlX7jtTpzRsaReAXZdNWEoGXYYfk/s400/P7160003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223947028092813154" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These soldiers/policemen/rent-a-cops are stationed everywhere with these umbrellas. They are very, very good at standing stock still for hours on end. I have no idea what else they do. But I can tell you this: despite the fact that they will instantly start staring straight ahead if you express even the slightest interest in them, they are always watching...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTt1AQJnXhi95GC_dKrf_A9iIs41WlKBFAUeBTFdxnIhVhC3oQMWwN3R9SOuLdEcdVd5HucgXSJrdNqEOSYzToKWm4fTzTkEdqp1ktpBCL3oyTlEw6fyaYQrfc9SI8_q_RCNGFU_wg9vo/s1600-h/P7160005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTt1AQJnXhi95GC_dKrf_A9iIs41WlKBFAUeBTFdxnIhVhC3oQMWwN3R9SOuLdEcdVd5HucgXSJrdNqEOSYzToKWm4fTzTkEdqp1ktpBCL3oyTlEw6fyaYQrfc9SI8_q_RCNGFU_wg9vo/s400/P7160005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223947032577946274" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A motor with "diesel" written on it. My mom informed me that when I was a mere baby, upon the opening of the hood of our car by my father, I busted out with, "Mo-mo!" 'Nuff said.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOx9uYG1TMBuuXzbDjt6J__PIfHiftGM_igDvt81iWeFAsczYPBYrL9vCaHgIRAH2zxkhNKSMg91Gw2ywRWYRYGBuunMBLgPJkMb4T0u_k0vLDfVuQ6NuReB-XFsfhmd9vm393Mtae8t0/s1600-h/P7160006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOx9uYG1TMBuuXzbDjt6J__PIfHiftGM_igDvt81iWeFAsczYPBYrL9vCaHgIRAH2zxkhNKSMg91Gw2ywRWYRYGBuunMBLgPJkMb4T0u_k0vLDfVuQ6NuReB-XFsfhmd9vm393Mtae8t0/s400/P7160006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223947041577448690" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Finally, we go to the "hardware store" which consisted of these two characters in front of a storage compartment like storefront with piles and piles of power tools in it. Beer bottles everywhere. I think I could be happy with that life. Am I a simpleton?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PPvCHnNr1BFsNV_IrNt72uwgA1wvfF1cQ_aUwz1l-VEpAfNX0xzIE0SJM9MN-2Wrd97N6aLBGVCOwOBNYxsLeSEvsC6JM_teEhzGddyvF1kKpCt28co5K43a1rRwJle7Z99u-pUvVGA/s1600-h/P7160007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PPvCHnNr1BFsNV_IrNt72uwgA1wvfF1cQ_aUwz1l-VEpAfNX0xzIE0SJM9MN-2Wrd97N6aLBGVCOwOBNYxsLeSEvsC6JM_teEhzGddyvF1kKpCt28co5K43a1rRwJle7Z99u-pUvVGA/s400/P7160007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223951722903793906" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This lady was next door managing a business of... coating of metals in some way? You'd have to ask Bo Yang. All I know is that the guy he needed to talk to wasn't there. So what did she advise? Come back at 10:30 at night! Ha, ha! OK!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQQm_l2An4GB3j3zS5rhztZ28pcQSF3O5LuykPTk78GZ4cu4WGGphzaHRUbx8hNO2iiBrW35H5Xf-7DWiYd8Pqk2nueNXq41bgKVupgZRoJ7XbPaT7Nlyc-E3Yw8VkZgTz407RZnFAUI/s1600-h/P7160008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQQm_l2An4GB3j3zS5rhztZ28pcQSF3O5LuykPTk78GZ4cu4WGGphzaHRUbx8hNO2iiBrW35H5Xf-7DWiYd8Pqk2nueNXq41bgKVupgZRoJ7XbPaT7Nlyc-E3Yw8VkZgTz407RZnFAUI/s400/P7160008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223951729321971794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lastly, here is a Beijing bike shop. It is a pile of tools pulled from this dude's cart and spread out under an overpass of the highway. Why oh why can we not do this in the US? Wouldn't life be so much easier? No surprise that three thousand years of civilization has made some things so much better and more logical.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE76vEu81jhAHm-2ZzZ3O9-4-XSHPsAHXZHPNokFlyhMgSINlJ0WWyIy1I7ml9ioGkziNpdaM9-rOZbCeeVgHQoLHJjt9ui-ErSzGfgPHwqxCN60emu0i5jqDE0C9Fz2X6T4fl04_v7pw/s1600-h/P7160010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE76vEu81jhAHm-2ZzZ3O9-4-XSHPsAHXZHPNokFlyhMgSINlJ0WWyIy1I7ml9ioGkziNpdaM9-rOZbCeeVgHQoLHJjt9ui-ErSzGfgPHwqxCN60emu0i5jqDE0C9Fz2X6T4fl04_v7pw/s400/P7160010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223951735560639922" border="0" /></a>Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-2914563134008382542008-07-15T04:58:00.000-07:002008-07-15T05:39:55.947-07:00AlienWell, so much for the one a day postings. I've been pretty wrapped up in work. You know, publish or perish, right? Also, I have been reading a book called "The Alienist" which inspired the title of this post and seems appropriate, given my status here.<br /><br />Life is up and down. I have definitely been looking at this trip in a new light, after the initial excitement died down. It sucks to see characters everywhere that I know I have learned and forgotten. I'm kicking myself for not studying Chinese harder. I'm an alien here. People stare. I don't think it is even analogous to the position of minorities in the US, who, to be sure, are the brunt of all sorts of prejudices and bigotry, as a result suffering in a much more tangible way. No, in a place like China, there is certainly a degree of prejudice, but it is of a more benign variety. I occasionally get charged more for things, but unless it's really significant (which only happened to me once, several years ago, and will NOT happen again), it's more work for me to argue than to pay an extra fifty cents or whatever. But I admit the curiosity is somehow oppressive. People watch me eat. People watch me do all kinds of things. Sometimes, I catch them whispering, pointing, or laughing. I can feel it happening. If I'm irritable, I stare back until they are shamed into looking away. I frequently practice my Chinese in situations where a group of people forms to listen to me struggle, bursting out laughing at my pathetic attempts at communication. I am generally able to laugh these things off, but after a while, it becomes exhausting. <br /><br />My attempts at making friends are not going well. I've already been dumped twice and I've only been here a couple weeks!! It's hard for me to convey intelligence or really anything about my personality when I have the vocabulary of a three year old and the manners of a buffoon. Things are different here in so many ways I still don't understand. I think I loose face on a fairly regular basis. Although, come to think of it, that's not so different from my life in the US ;) <br /><br />There is no sailing, surfing, biking, or any of the other "recreational" (ahem) activities I enjoy in the US. Which was, of course, the idea: no distractions. Just do my work, practice Chinese, and that's pretty much it. But once you start down that path, you look longingly back down the way you came, back at the fork in the road, now receding into the distance and wonder, "What if I *hadn't* taken the road less traveled?" Ah well. Too late for that. Now it's time to seize life by the horns. This is all about me confronting my fears. Ideas like trying to make my way to the wild part of the great wall (where it is rumored you can sleep on the ruins, with no one around), or taking a train to Nanjing, I am ashamed to say, are terrifying propositions. Which means I must make a supreme effort to accomplish these things, or things like them. Living here is like skiing off a cliff. You can't think before you go. You have to just aim at the precipice, hope for the best... and jump.Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-73251115642689704412008-07-09T04:21:00.000-07:002008-07-09T05:00:11.695-07:00Peking OperaI first became interested in the Peking Opera when watching the Chinese New Year TV spectacular that happens every year. It's hard to describe what it is, but I'm guessing you know what I'm talking about. People say funny things in high pitched voices, have crazy elaborate costumes on, and sometimes do martial arts or acrobatic style dancing and tricks. These shenanigans are hilariously punctuated by these Chinese instruments that I don't know the name of but sound kind of like cymbals on LSD, violins on crack, and that dude on Telegraph that plays a saw. Anyway, I recently read this in "Foreign Babes in Beijing" by Rachel Dewoskin: "Television acting [in China] is the love child of the studied, exaggerated movements and vocals of the Peking Opera, and the melodrama of socialist theater." That's when I decided I had to experience it close up. <br /><br />Michelle is a drama major, so I figured she would be into it as well. I asked her and she agreed to look into it. She found the ChaoYang theater troupe (Michelle: translation?) which is quite convenient to us. We went last night, springing for the good seats, which were worth every 分 (fen, penny). What a show!! There was a little of everything, and I found myself laughing, gasping, sighing and genuinely enjoying every second. One thing I particularly enjoyed was the musicians, who sat in the front row, playing to the actors. They were a real mix of people, young and old, guys and one lady, who were casually talking and drinking tea before the show started. It really seemed as if this was a crew of old friends who were doing this more for fun than any other reason. They seemed to be enjoying the show as much as we were. Another high point was the little kid who kept peeking out from the curtain behind the stage. Each time he appeared, one of the musicians would furiously gesture him away and he would disappear behind the curtain. Michelle later told me that at those times, the musician would nervously glance back at us to make sure we weren't pissed off or anything. I never even noticed since I was too busy giggling and laughing. <br /><br />The guys were incredible athletes and dancers. They did a lot of the gymnastic style flips, looking at any moment as if they would go careening off the postage stamp sized stage and into the seats, but they stomped every single landing. There was one incredible guy who did a lot of stick twirling, throwing, juggling and the like. I remarked to Michelle that it's a good thing I didn't have one of those sticks at home, because I would surely injure myself trying to imitate that guy's crazy moves. (As I write this, I am making a mental note to find one of those sticks!) There was only one girl. Her voice was *amazing*. She had some vocal cords, let me tell you. I never really believed it would be possible to break glass with a human voice, but she inspired me to revise my opinion of that idea. <br /><br />Anyway, it was really, really cool. I didn't take any pictures because I wasn't sure of the etiquette of that in the tiny theater, so you'll just have to take my word for it. Either that, or come to Beijing and see one for yourself!Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-36630073834167020742008-07-08T18:20:00.000-07:002008-07-08T18:54:50.906-07:00Culture ShockThis is just a jumbled recap of the past few days. First off, conference Babylon. The ISPRS is not like any other conference I have been to in that everything seems too crowded. I'm not sure why, if it's the facility, the heat, or just simply too many people. I had to give a poster presentation. We were crammed into this crappy alley of sweaty academics, networking, snapping photos, BS'ing each other about software, remote sensing, publishing, etc. Babylon:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuYk2KxDybaVs7ApP3fG6S4RhvGYnFyjgNaBRhKkWY9bDvLJtkusvq_QY8UppjC8mM_P5gNRi23z5_7OrZZtAs0mMZLyfMgB3PoEP0AGgyhP_s7tiXXaasfi0WUqij_yE7DDJ5Zba0uQ/s1600-h/P7070009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuYk2KxDybaVs7ApP3fG6S4RhvGYnFyjgNaBRhKkWY9bDvLJtkusvq_QY8UppjC8mM_P5gNRi23z5_7OrZZtAs0mMZLyfMgB3PoEP0AGgyhP_s7tiXXaasfi0WUqij_yE7DDJ5Zba0uQ/s400/P7070009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220824619947078450" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next up, the Olympic park at night. What a scene. It seems there are people milling around day and night, monitoring the construction. It kind of reminds me of the Seinfeld joke about how construction sites attract rubbernecking guys. Well, there are lots of rubberneckers (me included)! I can't even imagine what this place is going to look like when the games start. Anyway, it's very beautiful at night. The massive TV's are going all the time. The aquatics center is lit with from within in blue and red. It's quite a sight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qOb9O_5PMy3_BliLQOAGvf9KtHLBlWvA31BPv5r8VC8EQ_9rOcM0isQ-qBww9U6vjd7te9zAGvl7UY0Zi86UtyS_4-9LiMkOWYE7RqYD3zOOcsixmZkmD63Y-fbzGBciLf7VVQo0D10/s1600-h/P7060003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qOb9O_5PMy3_BliLQOAGvf9KtHLBlWvA31BPv5r8VC8EQ_9rOcM0isQ-qBww9U6vjd7te9zAGvl7UY0Zi86UtyS_4-9LiMkOWYE7RqYD3zOOcsixmZkmD63Y-fbzGBciLf7VVQo0D10/s400/P7060003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220824598127357490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHxyyrIiciAY5sAl-6xSXWxctcL_aZCZHaGY23dVkdf5OsNGrLkSJMfjCakWC970C7eT8Du3SspGjHg_xkoES98W3aBSPGP3h7MSJOfshiOBwFr5s8N2KBHKMCJyxcVdkvEuinPZ4Erc/s1600-h/P7060005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHxyyrIiciAY5sAl-6xSXWxctcL_aZCZHaGY23dVkdf5OsNGrLkSJMfjCakWC970C7eT8Du3SspGjHg_xkoES98W3aBSPGP3h7MSJOfshiOBwFr5s8N2KBHKMCJyxcVdkvEuinPZ4Erc/s400/P7060005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220824605567293522" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lastly, the silliness of it all. I saw this shirt in a store and had to snap a photo. What the?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXp31jW6reIE_d8yQmn-J1TkrC7-aqgor9GplpaOhFIlJLUXov-qX-Ud4z-Pot_TXk73vxYgo_5N2PEx5eMq4DzSBEqrMmFcLXltXQWu6ZsYpJhll0cRIMPyUufYNAgrvN0foMNtdZ9U/s1600-h/P7070006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXp31jW6reIE_d8yQmn-J1TkrC7-aqgor9GplpaOhFIlJLUXov-qX-Ud4z-Pot_TXk73vxYgo_5N2PEx5eMq4DzSBEqrMmFcLXltXQWu6ZsYpJhll0cRIMPyUufYNAgrvN0foMNtdZ9U/s400/P7070006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220824615201675538" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I see all kinds of stuff like this. Do we parade around in shirts with Chinese gibberish on them? I don't even know. The other day I saw a guy with a purple T-shirt and a green "US Army" patch in the style you'd see on fatigues. I wanted to take him aside and say "No, no, no!" I don't know what the military obsession is, but there seems to be a lot of that. You'd think they could hire at least one American to proof-read all the clothes, but then it would be no fun for me!<br /><br />Stay tuned for details on my night at the Peking Opera with gorgeous Michelle Lee!Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-56876679201106261672008-07-07T18:28:00.000-07:002008-07-10T01:42:21.143-07:00Hou HaiAs promised, here is the tale of 后海 (hou hai, literally "back sea") which is a lake surrounded by bars and clubs in Beijing. The excursion was masterminded by Angie Lee, of Berkeley forestry club fame, who invited me to party with her posse for the evening. This was a very welcome development, not only because I really like Angie, but also because she is totally dialed in to the scene around here. Sure enough, she led us to what can only be considered the Shangri-La of Beijing nightlife.<br /><br />We started at a hot pot restaurant, where we enjoyed the delicious flavor of all manner of delectable delicacies dipped in boiling, spicy broth. Mmmm. Here's the crew.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRL4wM59CQrVTV7Hm-vhxa3UnMJjoGXHHgKqykq5dR1vHfaPcT0nuJwXw6ehdqbWBJpVxvu91nzqFNKe6PHGY_J4PqevnviS_S_F3pLqNsP7Xp5OsRzrP30QoKyvB8v6WyB7iZq8ihMvY/s1600-h/P1060212.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220813912025048658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRL4wM59CQrVTV7Hm-vhxa3UnMJjoGXHHgKqykq5dR1vHfaPcT0nuJwXw6ehdqbWBJpVxvu91nzqFNKe6PHGY_J4PqevnviS_S_F3pLqNsP7Xp5OsRzrP30QoKyvB8v6WyB7iZq8ihMvY/s400/P1060212.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />They are all super cool Hong Kong kids, fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin and English. A great bunch of folks. Aren't they awesome? To my delight, Angie, her sister Michelle, her friend Natalie (妞,"babes") and I climbed into a cab to continue the adventure. Nick, you're really pimping tonight, they remarked, How does it feel? It feels great.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFNcbZmjjmkWK0EiNwiZb5XAp2_Jgx1C2qH08yuRBY-foZfvugK3mZG40NV7GfFRBWembjrYMAPS9wm-IDvwls8niP1qB-vtoWKiMUFOpLr5pu6N3ScLDMNKA-UF_EmMMUZCNBBCRAbI/s1600-h/n335600325_526473_4237.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220813904511751682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFNcbZmjjmkWK0EiNwiZb5XAp2_Jgx1C2qH08yuRBY-foZfvugK3mZG40NV7GfFRBWembjrYMAPS9wm-IDvwls8niP1qB-vtoWKiMUFOpLr5pu6N3ScLDMNKA-UF_EmMMUZCNBBCRAbI/s400/n335600325_526473_4237.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next stop: Hou Hai. This place is like a cross between the ancient city of LiJiang and Bourbon Street. It is lined with charming, intimate bars, thumping clubs, karaoke and all sorts of curious little spots. I was taken at once. We gazed out onto the lake, lights reflecting off the water in a dazzling show of sparkling color, lanterns and temples lit with blue and red.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5sB_b-eVgBUDuQH-GPBLMUBHeTOgJHhHYCWzGl5dVt2-z14J1JDOvycJeudyBRjGeT56hEOfI28E46Jduio7GbUEhbZPgWZqf2uJ9qyRBysfvRaysfhcre4kAEJBuX9CMfGkDw9KEXM/s1600-h/P1060214.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220813916368353170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5sB_b-eVgBUDuQH-GPBLMUBHeTOgJHhHYCWzGl5dVt2-z14J1JDOvycJeudyBRjGeT56hEOfI28E46Jduio7GbUEhbZPgWZqf2uJ9qyRBysfvRaysfhcre4kAEJBuX9CMfGkDw9KEXM/s400/P1060214.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The air was festive with laughter and drinking. We wandered about, wondering what to do, each place seeming better than the last. I think it was Michelle's idea that we rent a boat. Of course, I didn't need much convincing. Boat? With beers? Just me and three hot girls? Had I died and ascended to the seventh level of heaven? Short answer: yes I had.<br /><br />So we rented a pedal powered paddle boat shaped like a giant duck, bought bottles of beer and a lantern, loaded ourselves in and we were off!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8v0c75V86bKv_9LJZ7S81Si7zpXxXgbu4H8yQncMCDxEC2NOfilguo_Ih0rzBHeGviK0taD-fBT2Cs-VW56yXIjHAUyZjKHYyNS788CRV2tf0GQX37xoaB0U-Hc-YeJhPvrWPlsVoUE/s1600-h/P1060230.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220813900518685234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8v0c75V86bKv_9LJZ7S81Si7zpXxXgbu4H8yQncMCDxEC2NOfilguo_Ih0rzBHeGviK0taD-fBT2Cs-VW56yXIjHAUyZjKHYyNS788CRV2tf0GQX37xoaB0U-Hc-YeJhPvrWPlsVoUE/s400/P1060230.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I don't think I have words to describe the nirvana I attained during this excursion. I had powder day perma-grin (skiers: you know what I mean). We paddled around, looked at the temple, said 你们好 (Nimen Hao! Hello!) to the other boats, laughed, drank, and made merry in our little floating duck. At first, I thought we were the only ones heckling the other boats. Then another guy with a bunch of babes in his boat buzzed by, happily yelling something in what sounded like Arabic. 什么? (Shen me? What?) All the other boats were laughing, it was great. Someone yelled, "We're all Chinese people!" or something of that nature. It was quite fun.<br /><br />Anyway, it was definitely the high point of my trip so far. My faith was restored in Beijing, I made some wonderful friends, and discovered my new favorite spot. Then next day, I told Peng Gong about it. Tough life, he said. Indeed.Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390630390898623830.post-39752878545707062022008-07-05T19:18:00.000-07:002008-07-05T22:44:53.150-07:00Olympic FeverI am fascinated by the pace of development around here. Construction doesn't work the same way as it does in the US. There's no OSHA. It's not uncommon to find workers doing heavy construction in sandals or slippers. Here are some photos of the frenetic activity on the fringes of the Olympic complex. There are throngs of Chinese people checking out the Olympic park from the periphery, as we are all still excluded by a large-ish fence. I can't help but wonder if the fence is permanent and, if so, what is its purpose? It looks like it's for keeping people out, great wall style, I guess. You've got to keep the barbarians at bay somehow, right? Anyway, while everyone else was taking carefully posed pictures of the "bird's nest" (the stadium), I was more interested in the workers! Here, they are pulling hose or something. It was quite entertaining. I don't think they could understand my interest, but they cooperated by going about their business while the crazy 老外 (lao wai, "old foreigner") snapped a few photos.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3p4TKHBZ827IGgVioraUPaPQzhcgKxAw3fBawLZ2YTRrEU4s2ejUe75RyP9LbRjnnlvF_31DdF4vPilYXQNXR-wsw2TvkNgYdrSXFdkX6DUYJGf6A6w7xk1A1zn0mahAnF_T9AFGUugs/s1600-h/P7030008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219725535715004834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3p4TKHBZ827IGgVioraUPaPQzhcgKxAw3fBawLZ2YTRrEU4s2ejUe75RyP9LbRjnnlvF_31DdF4vPilYXQNXR-wsw2TvkNgYdrSXFdkX6DUYJGf6A6w7xk1A1zn0mahAnF_T9AFGUugs/s400/P7030008.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpf06xHKZwmoc4ulffZj8ay9zR-RXbxlilZTS95e0UYuTNR0jUnwQeccH0SL6AtoHHej5VVGAarsOg6yF2d51f_qhRBNVWXh0KlBCosCgjVufwpOeW5sOeCLekVEd-zghIBVINruAMzg/s1600-h/P7030007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219725540830845346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpf06xHKZwmoc4ulffZj8ay9zR-RXbxlilZTS95e0UYuTNR0jUnwQeccH0SL6AtoHHej5VVGAarsOg6yF2d51f_qhRBNVWXh0KlBCosCgjVufwpOeW5sOeCLekVEd-zghIBVINruAMzg/s400/P7030007.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhimxTiTCLOVMwwgJOTPlnCDBGmemzP1ltK-XiP9bom58pXqdgAE9BOkDBu7bNJAXnIe3E5z45YHdY-BHGn6CRt_A83L6kZhq4OqyWeiTyA7O0RnH-Xbfbi7_aFG77_vw91N40uUWQYY/s1600-h/P7030009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219725544726962562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhimxTiTCLOVMwwgJOTPlnCDBGmemzP1ltK-XiP9bom58pXqdgAE9BOkDBu7bNJAXnIe3E5z45YHdY-BHGn6CRt_A83L6kZhq4OqyWeiTyA7O0RnH-Xbfbi7_aFG77_vw91N40uUWQYY/s400/P7030009.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsBwfGPsdTWT5kYqhd96aKJ6NMb_HtvDd9QAqTvl1aQprgxx54jb-JAAGKB1UuxLpaud_VWD3-rQ2OGAzvnfdz8TFHxMSFgocjIlzmSA99u-sXJ46tynvoss-QFTGq3TrRxXrPCH7QTQ/s1600-h/P7030012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219725555632513666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsBwfGPsdTWT5kYqhd96aKJ6NMb_HtvDd9QAqTvl1aQprgxx54jb-JAAGKB1UuxLpaud_VWD3-rQ2OGAzvnfdz8TFHxMSFgocjIlzmSA99u-sXJ46tynvoss-QFTGq3TrRxXrPCH7QTQ/s400/P7030012.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Also, here is a picture of a really cool building that has a massive overhang built into it. (I am conscious that I am using the word "massive" a lot in these posts, or at least I want to. I think that is a reflection of the scale of things around here.) By the way, in the bottom of the photo, you can make out the top of the largest TV I have ever seen. It is literally as big as a building. Over and over it plays clips of waterpolo with super slow-mo, freeze frames, advertisements and "Welcome to Beijing" in English. It's actually quite mesmerizing.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNloCEq9vuKyiGyDT4tpKtfpyLxHSQjj7jgyszH7Hm8MxUPuahdO51oFbVxrcn4l8-24OCaueUHgRcaG9zNJKu5ytpmYT0aMmyeW1bI1hGu-IYP4hCGrO1hpBYWYQiEbWSqreUpiZpX0/s1600-h/P7030013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219729560550236882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNloCEq9vuKyiGyDT4tpKtfpyLxHSQjj7jgyszH7Hm8MxUPuahdO51oFbVxrcn4l8-24OCaueUHgRcaG9zNJKu5ytpmYT0aMmyeW1bI1hGu-IYP4hCGrO1hpBYWYQiEbWSqreUpiZpX0/s400/P7030013.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74pbcIjj_KVl-S0KFQZqF0Mt5OyzFPLT40o8i3aBnhvVbE7RWQEyyuBp78Qdjy2HEyCvY_gh84Q0gns-12Ayo-yq8g5QMU79gpIfIPOSOpWi3CB5aFYMpjt3orXOTtFi0o4Xk3S2ovPc/s1600-h/P7030011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219729564838252642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74pbcIjj_KVl-S0KFQZqF0Mt5OyzFPLT40o8i3aBnhvVbE7RWQEyyuBp78Qdjy2HEyCvY_gh84Q0gns-12Ayo-yq8g5QMU79gpIfIPOSOpWi3CB5aFYMpjt3orXOTtFi0o4Xk3S2ovPc/s400/P7030011.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Stay tuned for details on my fabulous adventure to 后海 (hou hai, "back sea") with the lovely Miss Angie Lee and her crew. Life is good...Nicey Nicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03278903054120208062noreply@blogger.com2