Acid Rain

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou

Day 1 - Beijing. Wow. At first glance it is a bit dirty, lots of pollution and even more people!  But looking at it from a deeper perspective you find tradition, family, country and love for it all.  We started in Beijing down a dark alley in route to our hotel.  A bit nervous to where we were and what our adventure would end up like.  Our first day we met with University students from Peking University (supposedly an equivalent to Harvard).  The professors who spoke with us did the lecture part of the presentation, which was very enlightening to see their ideas for future as well as learn about their past.  But the most nirvana was from the question answer session with 3 of their students.  They spoke to us very directly and honestly.  Told us of their hopes and aspirations for the future of their families and the tomorrow for the country.  When a 'politician does something that the people don't agree with they only criticize them for the act and then believe that they will do better next time.  I think this is a great demonstration of their willingness to give people second chances and forgiveness which we don't see much from Western culture.  The students also said their pitch for life is hope and the prospect for a democratic future.  From a typical American perspective we see their lives and political system as something that needs to be 'fixed' or changed.  Where they see definitely things that need to be worked on (as we all do in our situations) but they see a very meaningful past and even more promising future. 

The flight to Beijing

Our hotel and our delicious breakfast

Next we went and met with the Bureau of Education for China.  By this point we had heard a lot of lectures, so it was difficult to pay attention.  But our presenter had a lot of information for us regarding the history of education in China.  We made it through the lecture and headed out to find some delicious food.  

Daisy kissing the fish head and my delicious mango coconut bubble tea!

That night we went and walked around some shops near a lake.  We experienced the point to the image and hope you enjoy what they bring you.. for dinner.  It ended up being very fun and delicious.  The food cooked on our table as we sat and enjoyed conversation, dumplings, dumplings and more dumplings!  There are some very good dishes here and thankfully we have been able to try quite a few. The pictures I am attaching should show you some of what we are eating. 

Day 2 - Beijing.  Um... today was a busy and HOT day!  We started the day at the day at the antique markets, bartering like we were in Mexico except saying no is a whole lot harder!  There are about 1000 umbrellas set up with little trinkets underneath.  All the locals are smoking and it is hot and humid... so the fun of it didn't last too long.  Soon we headed out and met up with our Asian student guides for the Temple to Heaven (TianTan).  This is where the Emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties would make offerings to heaven to pray for good harvests.  The structures were very beautifully built and extremely colorful.  We walked around here for about 2 hours seeing all the different offering locations.  Next we had lunch at a local food court... our guides ordered for us and told us what we wanted to order was for 'people with LARGE appetites' emphasizing the large, LOL.  It was a pretty average size meal, hahahaha.  

The Temple of Heaven

Our 'large appetite' meal

Soon we were on our way to Tiananmen Square where Ming is buried/set out for display.  Here is where we entered the Forbidden City.  The Forbidden City I wish I had done a bit more research before going, but we still learned lots as we walked around as much as we could.  So in there is where the Emperor would live out his entire life.  He was not allowed to leave.  I figure that if there was a place you had to spend your life, it would have been here.  It was incredibly intricate in color and detail.  The best part of being inside is that for all of the time of the reign of the Emperors, it was actually as it's title, Forbidden no one was allowed to enter.  The feelings here were pretty empiric.  

Now we were pretty beat and as we were getting on our bus it began to rain.  As we arrived at our hotel we the rain hit us and we decided that we still wanted to head to the Silk Markets.  We grabbed some umbrellas from the front desk and hit the street running toward the subway (know as metro).  As we ran the rain water hit the back of my legs and it began to burn.  I didn't think much of it at the moment, but as the night progressed it got worse and worse.  My legs began to get a rash and not a normal bumpy but a deep veiny red rash.  I scrubbed my legs with boiled water (because the water in Beijing is not okay to drink or put in your mouth) and soap.  Finally 4 days later the rash is almost gone.  Seriously... acid rain?? who does that happen to? Oh me. LOL.

The Acid rain effects

Day 3 - Beijing.  Today we woke early and headed to a section in the Great Wall of China.  What an incredible piece of history.  The section we visited was tucked away in a beautiful mountain area.  It was absolutely magnificent!  I think this may have been my favorite moment of Beijing.  Then we got to ride sleds down the hill.  What a perfect day.  

Beautiful mountains surrounding the Great Wall

The Great Wall of China

On a side note...

Why does everyone wanna wake me up while I'm asleep?  Seriously on the plane to Hong Kong, as I previously mentioned my fabulous Loas friend woke me up so that I 'wouldn't be tired upon arrival in Hong Kong.  On the next flight from Hong Kong to Beijing I happened to sit by the plane talker.  Now really I'm not sure if any of you have experienced this kind of person when you fly, but these are the people that continue talking... even when you put your head phones in.  This man showed me all 300 pictures he had taken traveling around and explained every detail.  Then when I finally was able to fall asleep about 10 mins into it he nudges me and says 'sorry, I didn't want to wake you but do you have a pen'.  Awesome.  The continuation of jet lag and being woken up incessantly happens.  Thankfully I am able to fall asleep quickly and to any noise and no matter what lights are on.  

And on the topic of sleeping, as many of you know I am a sleep talker and occasionally a sleep walker.  I have had some crazy things happen already.  1.  In Hong Kong I opened the door in the middle of the night to let someone in (no one was there).  2.  I swore my roommate turned into a black man, seriously I do remember waking up and standing up and kind of freaking out because 'why would she let someone else sleep in our room'???  She wasn't there... lol.  (that wasn't real, it was her in the bed the whole time).  3.  Then of course just the random thoughts and giggles that happen on a normal basis.  

Loas

So I wanted to write this great moment in time, but haven't had the chance till now... On the flight from San Francisco I was next to a small women from Loas. She didn't speak much at the beginning, or the first 4 hours of the flight. Well I was dead asleep (after taking my sleeping pill in hour 3 of my flight) and with about 6 hours left in the flight she nudges me awake and says 'you don't want to sleep, when you get to china you will want to sleep, it's night time. So wake up.' I obeyed her and then we talked randomly for the next 6 hours, as groggy as I was I made a fabulous hilarious friend. She told me about her 40 year marriage and two girls living in America. She joked and we laughed about the fat American next to her, lol. I loved her and was so excited to meet more amazing friend to look out for me!

Too Big Buddha

Day 1 in Hong Kong... our first night after our 14 hour flight (I was mislead with 16 hours, but 14... was still enough!!)  So our first night we headed out for some local cuisine.  It was cheap and super delish!  Vegtable curry... mmmmmmmmm.  

This is Daisy trying to read the menu...key word trying, ha. 

Day 2 we woke up to our 'american style' breakfast.  Too bad we could pick Asian style, this is what we got offered.  I had oats and a ham sandwich with hot herbal tea (which they bring with every meal). A great start for a long day.

  Today we headed into the Educational Bureau for their government and spoke with them regarding the upcoming changes to their schooling and we offered advice for both here and they offered for us.  It was quite enlightening and enjoyable to see the changes we both hope to gain for future students.  

Then we headed into Hong Kong Island and went to the top of 'the peak' where we were able to see a view of all the tall sky scrapers here.  It was pretty fantastic!

Here are our new travel bff's... Aaron and Jessie whom just graduated with their masters. 

After this we made the hour long journey to the Too Big Buddha.  It is the biggest Buddha statue in all the world.  It was phenomenal!  First because I love the Buddhist beliefs and all that they stand for.  But also because we had to take a cable car up to the top of a mountain and then hike a bit to get there.  It was seriously fantastic.  Along the way I found a future baby daddy ;)   A man from Thailand told me 'next time I come to Thailand to visit him'  hahaha... then he wouldn't leave me alone.  It was so fantastic.  Gotta love all the openness around here.  Maybe that is the energy I am suppose to pick up while here???  (Alli??)

From our cable car, it took about 40 mins to get up and then 40 mins back down. 

Drinking my delish bubble tea

(just an FYI, these photos are from my phone and when I am finished with my trip and editing, I will post more of my camera work.  But thought you would enjoy a few along the way!

Beijing here I come!!!!!!

16 hour flights :(

Asians! Just boarded the flight to Hong Kong and I love it already!! It's such a different world and I'm so excited to get there. Although the seats are much smaller than anticipated and no
personal tvs...I think I'll survive the 16 hour flight, eek!

UNKNOWN

"Remember what Bilbo used to say: It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door.  You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." - JRR Tolkien

(this pic is from Mordor, figured it was fitting)

Here I go again, right?  Traveling... it's just in my blood.  No matter how hard I try I just keep managing to find amazing opportunities to experience the world and to taste the different cultures.  Tomorrow I embark on a new adventure.  I am participating in a Graduate Educational Asian study abroad.  Basically those in the Masters in Educational Psychology were offered a chance to go and learn from different Asian Universities.  


The itinerary will be: Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul, Osaka and finally Tokyo.  After our studies I am spending a week in Japan and catching up with my Japanese friend and her family from my ward in Chandler, who is visiting her family in Tokyo. 


When first learning about the program, I figured that because I had traveled quite frequently that this trip would be just like any other.  But seriously I am about to enter the unknown.  I will be in a world where the only form of communication that is similar to mine is breathing, and I think they are better at that than me too! HA  I can't even grasp the languages or find any of the Latin roots ;) LOL ugh.  But with every hardship greatness emerges.  I have been offered so much help from fellow travelers or people whom have visited in each area.  Today I entered the excitement phase and can't wait for the uncovering of a whole new world. 


Wish me luck and look forward to my awkward stories from abroad !  ..... more to come from Asia! 

How to stay YOUNG...

1. Throw out non-essential number – This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay ‘them’.

2. Keep only cheerful friends – The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning – learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever… Never let the brain idle. ‘An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.’ And the devil’s name is Alzheimer’s.

4. Enjoy the simple things

5. Laugh often, long and loud – Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen – Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Cherish yourself with what you love, whether it’s family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health – If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don’t take guilt trips – Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people that you love them, at the every opportunity.

This is from a forward that my dad sent out... very profound! I love it.

Healing

Life continues to happen around us. As we each make choices daily, this affects our path and can have impact on the people around us. With that also means that others' choices can also affect us, whether it is for the positive or the negative. I have come to recognize that as we aren't in control of most things in life, we have to find a way that we are able to deal with these affects.

I am continuing with my Masters in School Counseling and I absolutely love it and can't wait to be able to make a difference in the lives of children. But with this I have really seen how much people are affected by their pasts. I have started doing research into energy healing. I love it!

"Working with chakras quickly leads to positive change. Anyone can feel its beneficial effects on mind and body. At the same time, the growing interest in holistic healing methods has highlighted the importance of the chakras in furthering physical healing. We have to come to recognize that healing should provide more than symptomatic relief; the more subtle and encompassing the method, the more effective it will be"

Not only are there energy's within each of our own personal 'chakra', but energy that surrounds our beings. It is within our environment. So with that, we can help to create an environment that will be most beneficial to our life. "The light side of [energy] was the facet aligned with compassion, selflessness, self-knowledge and enlightenment, healing, mercy and benevolence, while the dark side of [energy] was the element aligned with hatred, fear, covetousness, anger, aggression, jealousy and malevolence. The Unifying [energy] essentially embraced space and time in its entirety while the Living [energy] dealt with the energy of living things. Though this energy was categorized in this way, there were no specific abilities or powers that were only usable by a follower of a different path of energy; the [energy] partially existed inside the life forms that used it, and drew energy from their emotions."

To make a long story short basically I truly believe that our physical bodies are inhibited by the energy around us. Some of it is our own fault from the choices we make and yet it is also affected because of our surroundings. We need to connect our body, mind, and spirit together to help create an atmosphere that we can dwell in.

We are in fact in control of our happiness and well-being.