Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Double Sided Embroidery
During our tour in Chengdu, China, we were taking to a place that was famous for embroidery. There were large machines doing the work as well as people doing smaller works. Both types of embroidery were very intricate and complicated. One of the staff workers at the embrodiery business mentioned that a worker can only do this type of work for 20 years before their eyes are effected and they can no longer see the tiny threads. There were some gorgeous silk embroidered pieces and some flawlessly had same picture on both sides! A few displayed a different picture on both sides. Yet, no knots and flaws were to be seen. Absolute perfection is my only description for this ancient silk art!
Biggest Buddha known as Dafo in Leshan, China!
Biggest Buddha that is carved into the side of a mountain can be found right outside of Chengdu, China in Leshan. We climbed down several flights of narrow stairs and then, back up through a few caves and more stairs. Some stats on the Big Buddha of Leshan can be found at: http://www.gluckman.com/LeshanBuddha.html
Above is a statue of Haitong, the Buddhist monk who developed the plan for the Big Buddha and raised money for this project. He lived in a tomb cave just to the right and behind his statue.
Biggest Buddha waterfalls!
Everyone was pretending to rub the Big Buddha's nose for good luck!
Above is a statue of Haitong, the Buddhist monk who developed the plan for the Big Buddha and raised money for this project. He lived in a tomb cave just to the right and behind his statue.
Biggest Buddha waterfalls!
Everyone was pretending to rub the Big Buddha's nose for good luck!
Holding a Panda in Chengdu, China!
Holding a Panda
At the Chengdu Panda Reserve, one of the few places on earth you can actually hold a panda...for a price of course! But the money all goes to help preserve the most beloved panda!
I had to put on clothing like I was going into surgery!! It was explained to me that they did not want the panda to pick up any germs from me. Next, they brought the panda out and sat him in my lap. It was absolutely unbelievable to think that here I was sitting with one of the rarest creatures on earth in my lap!
One assistant put honey on his paw for him to eat while we were being photographed. At one point, he leaned his head over on me and there was much discussion in Chinese going on! I was later told that I was very honored that the Panda whose name meant "cold, sweet fragance" felt there was something special, something spiritual about me for him to lean his head against mine!
I do know when he leaned his head over, I got to feel his fur and it is stiff, wirey! I always thought it would be soft, like stuffed animal I guess. Silly me!
At the Chengdu Panda Reserve, one of the few places on earth you can actually hold a panda...for a price of course! But the money all goes to help preserve the most beloved panda!
I had to put on clothing like I was going into surgery!! It was explained to me that they did not want the panda to pick up any germs from me. Next, they brought the panda out and sat him in my lap. It was absolutely unbelievable to think that here I was sitting with one of the rarest creatures on earth in my lap!
One assistant put honey on his paw for him to eat while we were being photographed. At one point, he leaned his head over on me and there was much discussion in Chinese going on! I was later told that I was very honored that the Panda whose name meant "cold, sweet fragance" felt there was something special, something spiritual about me for him to lean his head against mine!
I do know when he leaned his head over, I got to feel his fur and it is stiff, wirey! I always thought it would be soft, like stuffed animal I guess. Silly me!
West Lake Bridge - Hangzhou
West Lake Bridge - Hangzhou
The view was outstanding on the West Lake Bridge in Hangzhou, China!_
Boat ride in Hangzhou
Boat ride in Hangzhou
The Chinese people that I talked to said that the most beautiful place in all of China was Hangzhou. This video was taken on a wonderful, day while being rowed across the famous West Lake!
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The Chinese people that I talked to said that the most beautiful place in all of China was Hangzhou. This video was taken on a wonderful, day while being rowed across the famous West Lake!
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Sunday, December 7, 2008
Yandang Mountain
We took a little Weekend trip to Yandang Mountain and it was just fabulous!
Yandang Mountain
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Sunday, November 16 Big Buddha
There are actually three areas known as Hong Kong. We were staying on the island of Lantau where Disneyland is located and the largest bronze Buddha in the world. So we were told that we had to go out and visit "The Big Buddha".
A taxi was called and we were off after being told that it would be about a 45 minute drive. However, we were stopped still for about an hour in what we thought was construction. Our driver explained in his best English that there were people stopping the traffic, but not to worry that the police were aware of the situation and they were on their way to remove the people.
Once traffic began again, we could see on the side of the cars "Protest for the reduction of Bus #38: Slow Drive Protest"!! I have never encountered a "Slow Drive Protest". Have you?
Apparently, the protestors had to register with the local authorities and had received the signs for the vehicles that were involved in this protest.
After about 1 1/2 hours, we arrived at the Big Buddha. I believe that studying other cultures and their religions to be very fascinating. I think it is very interesting to note that all cultures have some type of belief in God within their society at some level. The belief that we have a creator or force that is greater than ourself is a common link that cultures often share.
I was under the impression that most of the Chinese native people were Buddhist. However, since being here I have been told that the government has declared atheism as the national religion, but recognizes that there are Buddhists, Muslims and Christians living here.
We climbed the steps to see the Buddha and there were signs to be silent. This is also a site for a Buddhist monastery.
We returned to the hotel to collect our bags and set off on our return trip after our holiday in Hong Kong!
A taxi was called and we were off after being told that it would be about a 45 minute drive. However, we were stopped still for about an hour in what we thought was construction. Our driver explained in his best English that there were people stopping the traffic, but not to worry that the police were aware of the situation and they were on their way to remove the people.
Once traffic began again, we could see on the side of the cars "Protest for the reduction of Bus #38: Slow Drive Protest"!! I have never encountered a "Slow Drive Protest". Have you?
Apparently, the protestors had to register with the local authorities and had received the signs for the vehicles that were involved in this protest.
After about 1 1/2 hours, we arrived at the Big Buddha. I believe that studying other cultures and their religions to be very fascinating. I think it is very interesting to note that all cultures have some type of belief in God within their society at some level. The belief that we have a creator or force that is greater than ourself is a common link that cultures often share.
I was under the impression that most of the Chinese native people were Buddhist. However, since being here I have been told that the government has declared atheism as the national religion, but recognizes that there are Buddhists, Muslims and Christians living here.
We climbed the steps to see the Buddha and there were signs to be silent. This is also a site for a Buddhist monastery.
We returned to the hotel to collect our bags and set off on our return trip after our holiday in Hong Kong!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Thursday, October 23
Then, mainly just settling in. Tom came by the apartment at noon to take us to lunch in the Business Center Building.
That building is about 2 blocks from here is more like a medium size shopping mall. There are several restaurants there, including a Starbucks/Haggen-Daazs ice cream shop.
We went up 2 escalators to a grand restaurant where you see and select the food. It is then prepared fresh right then!
Have you heard about the kinds of fish that you can find in a restaurant in China? Well....there are two kinds, one is alive fish and the other is a dead fish that was alive before you pointed it out for your meal!! lol
Monday, October 27, 2008
Monday, October 27 Bike Time!
"Bicycle...bicycle....I want to ride my bicycle...I want to ride bike!" So goes the music group Queen's song! That song kept playing in my head while we went over to Xai-Xai (shah-shay) town (English name: Tea Town). This is a little town filled with businesses right off the campus.
The children were very excited about getting a bike. Tom escorted us to try to get the best deal possible. These bikes were about the equivalent of $30 US, but in yuan that is about $210! They were brand new!
The children were very excited about getting a bike. Tom escorted us to try to get the best deal possible. These bikes were about the equivalent of $30 US, but in yuan that is about $210! They were brand new!
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