Two For One

Okay, Im gonna try to keep this short. China has the most beautiful place I have ever seen. So that place I went to, named Jiu Zhai Gou, is gorgeous. Some of the most spectacular scenery imaginable, with lakes that are the perfect shade of blue, and clear enough to see 15 feet below the surface without a problem. Pretty cool stuff. It was really damned cold there, though. But a litle cold and 150 yuen is a small price to pay. All I have to say about the whole thing is this: If you were considering coming to China, this place alone is easily worth the price. Onthe way out, I went to a Tibetan village. Really cool place. I walked around for a good long while just takingall sorts of photos. They live very differently than the typical Chineese people I had seen before. In the end, there were two very big parts of my day, and I thought Id put up a bit of each. So here are your 2 photos. Enjoy.


Spectacular


A Touch of Tibet

Much to Say

Today I went on a bit of a journey. I left ChengDu via airplane, and flew north to a place named Jiu Zhai Gou. I was picked up at 7 in the morning (really damned early, considering I went to bed at 5am. Stupid friend... making me go out to bars just because it was my last night in town...) by a driver from the airline. I slept on the way to the airport, and I honestly dont remember falling asleep. Afterwards, I got to the airport, checked in and boarded the plane. It was really odd to be the only foreigner on the plane. It was a really small plane, that had no televisions or anything of the sort, so the safety announcement had to be done by an actual person. Its was kinda funny that they would say it in Chineese, and repeat what they said in English, just for me. Im special. So the plane took off, and shortly afterwards I was falling asleep again. I wake up and the captain says something really long in Chinese. He then says in English, "Please prepare for landing." I coulnt help but think to myself, "Damn, I missed the whole flight!" I looked at my watch, and realized only 15 minutes had passed. I looked out the window, and we were landing in the same city we took off from. About 5 minutes later, I get an English explanation, "Bad weather." That's it. The entire explanation to me consisted of those 2 words. Fantastic. We went back into the airport and were told where to hang out. I fell asleep on a bench in the terminal.

Ill take this moment to let you all know that Ive been feeling somewhat sick to my stomach for the past couple days. Not anything serious (or wet, for that matter) but just kinda queezy. Not a very pleasant feeling, and it comes and goes. Its actually been lingering now, which really sucks, but sleeping makes me not feel anything. Anyway, back to the plot.

I woke up, and when I looked around, there was no one in the terminal. I kinda freaked. Then I heard the someone say Jiu Zhai Gou. The announcement was made in Chinese, and that was the only part I caught from it. I picked up my bag, and started heading towards the voice. I was the last person to get on the bus that went to the plane. Lucky me. So we take off again, 2.5 hours after the origianl take off, and head out. Deja Vu. Exact same safety announcement with a special English translation. I quickly fell asleep once again. I woke up and looked out the window, and saw the most spectacular mountain landscape. Ive never seen such a beautiful landscape. We were flying above an endless mountain range. There were mountains all around as far as I could see. In the distance were giant monoliths, and all around were smaller beauties. Every single peak was covered in snow, and in between the mountains were beautiful cloud filled valleys. At this point, the ride was a little bumpy. My stomach was not happy. I decided to try and go back to sleep, where things were better in my belly, but I couldnt. We were doing alot of turning, and we were starting to decend. I have to admit, I got a little worried as we decended. We were coming pretty close to the mountains, and I started to wonder if the captain was a bit drunk. Then I saw this really big mountain directly ahead of us. It was getting closer and closer, and it looked to me like the captain wanted to skim the peak with the bottom of the plane. Just as it looked like we were gonna hit, we did. Luckily, there was an airstrip there. Now, when I say airstrip, I dont want you to imagine an airport. All it really was, was an airstrip. An airstrip, and bunch of buses. So 45 minutes after take off, I was finally near my goal. I caught a van to my destination, got some cool shots out the window. It was a 2.5 hour van ride, so I decided to go to sleep. It wasnt 'till after I woke up that I started taking a couple photos here and there. When I got to the area Im in now, I had a really wierd first impression. It was like something out of Resident Evil. Imagine something similar to the Grove shopping center, but empty. It is a very beatiful commercial area, but all the stores, except 2 markets, are devoid of life. VERY odd. I walked around for a bit, and I can very well picture people filling the area and doing all sorts of shopping, except its like a ghost town now. I was told it is because of the season, but it doesnt make it any less wierd. Now, here I am. Ill be here for a couple days. Oh, by the way, it is literally freezing here. It is cold as hell. I am not looking forward to sleeping tonight, as it means leaving the warmth of the bar. And when I say warmth, I mean 3 degrees cesius. The room is probably 10 to 15 degrees colder. *whimper* I hope to be able to keep up the updates, but only time will tell. By the way, 20 pts of cool if you read the whole post. I know its long, but I hadnt posted anything substantial in a bit, and a lot happened today. Anyway, here is the photo for those of you who just scrolled down. Enjoy.


Tibetan Tower

A Double Post, and Another Friend

So Im leaving town tomorrow morning, and I didnt get the chance to update yesterday, so Ill do a quick one now. I went to a couple temples, and I taught an English class. Fun stuff. Ireally dont have time for much more right now, but Ill let you know that the woman below is my tour guide friend, Elsa. Not much more time. Ill update when I can, but Ill have a photo everyday, weather you see it or not.


Elsa


Overlook, Francine


History of Words

Cermonial

Did quite a bit today. Went back to a regular temple, and did some shooting. Besides that, I dont have much else I really want to talk about. Long day makes Dan not want to write much. Sorry folks, but I just dont wanna write much. What I will tell you, though, is that some of the friends Ive made here are quite fun to talk to. I spent alot of the evening chatting with my guide friend from the other day. Well, here is the photo of the day. Enjoy.


Ceremonial

A Day of Rest and Adjustment

I want to start this post with a discalimer. It may sound like Im whining, but Im not. Im just describing what I feel. Im one of the few people from our groupremaining in the city of ChengDu. I am the only one in the hostel that Im staying at. Its very odd to be the only one left here. Very odd not to see the people Ive come to know so well. Truth be told, I was feeling kinda down and lonely yesterday. Its kinda strange, because I didnt think that I would really feel this way. I didnt take many photos yesterday, and I didnt really feel like doing much. I also think that the constant gray skies are getting to me a little. I miss the sun. Having grown up in California has spoiled me into seeing Apollo race across the sky on his golden chariot. At 2pm, I went out to hang out with Francine for a while, and I went to deliver some photos to the clay man (see previous post with "Clay Hands"). He showed me the progress of the sculpture (below) and was very happy when I gave him some photos. He was so happy that he gave me a toy from his shop. Its kind of like a top, except you throw it with a string attached to a stick. I wont bother elaborating. After that, I walked around with Francine a bit, and then I walked her back to work, and then walked back to the hostel still feeling a bit down. So what did I do? I slept. Why not? I took a nap at about 4pm, and I woke up at about 6. I still felt down and didnt feel like doing anything. I knew I had to do something, though, so I went to go get some food at my favorite restaurant (which is where Francine, Li Dan, Huang Li, and Liao Jing work). I ordered food, and wasnt really liking the vibe I still had. Then I just kinda started chatting with the girls. I had my laptop with me, because I wanted to show some family photos to my friends there, and that led to more conversation, and next thing I knew, I was back to being my normal self again. In the words of Nacho Libre, "It was gooood. Real good." I spent the rest of the night talking to my friends at the restaurant, and came back to the hostel and talked to people there. Actually, I ended up talking until 630am. So what does that tell me? Something most of you already know. Dan likes to talk. A good conversation is sunshine in my day. Its stupid, I know, but being social is a portal to my happiness. Anyway, I didnt feel like posting yesterday, so Im posting a little later today. Here is the photo. Enjoy.


Progress

Spreading the Intellectual Wealth

Today was cloudy, but luckily not rainy. I took my first public bus ride today, and it was about as bad as a bus in L.A. during rush hour. The busses were packed, and people dont mind feeling like sardines. We got off the bus to transfer to a different one, and the next bus that came was packed. We waited 3 min, and lo and behold, the next bus was practically empty, just like in L.A.! Anyway, my destination was the Sichuan Normal University (as opposed to the abnormal one, right?). Its a pretty cool place. They have a wall called "History Wall" which shows the entire history of china, starting from the creation of man. Very cool stuff. I made a new friend there, and my new friend offered to take me on a tour of another couple college campuses. The friend I made speaks VERY good english. She actually works as a tour guide when she has the time, and she really liked talking to me, so she was willing to be my guide for the day. The campuses she took me to are REALLY beautiful. Pity Ive decided to post only one photo a day, because I got many pretty picutures of the University grounds. The photo below is of a library. Notice that it resembles an open book. I think that is some pretty cool architecture. Afterwards, came back to the hostel and learned to make dumplings. Yum. Anyway, the girl I met today (my guide friend) is on her way over to hang out and chat. Hope you like the perty I left ya'll. Enjoy.


Open Book

Tea Time

So it rained today. It rained the whole day. Went to see a traditional tea ceremony. Pretty cool stuff. They start out by pouring hot water over all of the pots and cups. Its like everything gets baptized in the hot water. Then, they add tea leaves into a pot, and then add hot water into that pot. The tea is then transfered to another pot via a strainer. Then everything gets baptized in the tea. Then water is pured in once again, and the tea is poured into very small shot glass looking things. A tea cup is placed upside down on the shot-glass thing, and then it is all inverted. The shot glass is then removed, and the tea sips into the tea cup. Hard to describe, but horribly interesting. Other than that, mostly just sat and watched a bunch of movies and hung out with some friends. Pretty uneventful, but highly enjoyable. Here is an image from the ceremony. Enjoy.


Tea Time

A Game for the People

No time to write much. Sorry folks. Anyway, here is a photo of Ma-jongg. Enjoy.


A Game for the People

A Friendly Update, and She has a Knife

I woke up feeling slightly queezy this morning, si instead of getting up early, I slept untill 11ish. Afterwards, I went to help a friend do some shooting, and did a little hanging out with some of my friends from the restauraunt (which one of my Brooks friends insists on calling "Dan's Harem"). Got some cool new photos of 2 of them. I was walking the streets on the way back, and saw this little girl peeling an apple with a buchers knife. Thats a BIG knife to peel an apple with. I got 1 photo (because thats all she let me take before she ran away), and continued to make my way home. Got here, had my first meal at about 6pm, and started writing this shortly afterwards. Anyway, Im sick of staring at this trying to come up with something else to say. Im just gonna get to the photos. Enjoy.


Li Dan - 17 years old


Fan Deng Yan (a.k.a. Francine) - 22 years old


She Has a Knife

Alternative Rap

It rained today, which means that I got to see Nacho Libre while tryingto decide whether I was motivated enough to leave the hostel. Im happy I did, because I got some pretty cool shots. When it rains, there are refleactions, and reflections can do some pretty cool things. I also ended up going to see the same band I saw yesterday. It was a great time. We met a few really cool people, and had a hell of a time. I even (gasp) drank a bit of vodka (at the time, I felt it would have been VERY rude to refuse my host, so I had a sip and passed the rest to a friend). Anyway, thought Id check it. Its not a long post, but it does include a photo, so Enjoy.


Alternative Rap

An Uneventful Event

So not alot happened today. I got to see a traditional tea ceremony. It was really interesting. Before you drink anything, everything pretty much gets baptized in the tea. The tea pot, the glasses, everything. And there is also a very interesting pouring technique. Maybe more on that later, but I doubt it. Besides that, I spent most of the day with the 4th of my previously mentioned friends, Fan Deng Yan(a.k.a. Francine), and it was alot of fun. She is very delightful and humourous, and we happen to share alot of common interests. Plus, she is very pretty. Her photo does her no justice, but Ive put it off long enough. Anyway, after some dinner, I went to wander at this outdoor shopping center thing named Jinli, and I found another magic cart. So, for the second time, I taught some rubber band magic in exchange for another magic trick. This time I got miniatuire linking rings. Sweet shisnap. I pretty much got a 50 yuan magic trick (thats like 50 bucks by theyre standards) for 2 rubberbands and instructions. Kick ass. Everything was closing down at that point, and I decided to start meandering out, when I came upon a crossbow stand. I shot 20 rounds out of an ancient styled automatic crossbow, and it was fun. I got 19 bulls eyes. Afterwards, I continued to make my way out and heard some music. I followed the source, cause it kinda sounded like kareoke, and wandered into a bar. Inside was a live rock band that was doing a bunch of American covers. I got to hear some Beatles and John Mayer, and it was really fun. I talked to the band a bit afterwards, and made some new friends. After a while, I decided it was startingto get late, and caught a cab back to my hostel. I got the shot below on my way out of Jinli. Keep in mind that none of my photos have been edited in anyway besides a simple resize. Enjoy.


Fan Deng Yan (Francine) - 22 years old


Fan Deng Yan (Francine) - 22 years old


Jinli

P.S. I just realized I posted a similar photo before, but I still think that this is my favorite photo of the day.

Porcelin

Shoddy internet prevented me from posting last night, but here I am, and here I will be. Anyway, yesterday was fairly uneventful, except for the huge ruckus at my normal restaurant. But before I get to that, Ill mention that I went back to the temple wit a couple friends, and found a woman with flawless skin. It really was like porcelin. Amazingly smoothe. I had to post her photo. I definately think she was a professional model, just from her hight, posture, and absolute beauty. Anyway, back to the restaurant. A friend of mine asked a few of the staff if there was anyone who wanted to take a photo with me, and next thing you know, 4/5 of the entire restaurant staff is huddled around me for a group photo. There were people there I had never even seen before. It was really funny. Some of the waitresses kept trying to get me to hold the hand of a shy girl I had never even seen before. Then, after teh group shot, people wanted portraits of just me and them, so what should have been a small portrait with me and a few of my friends there turned into this big 20 minute ordeal. It was quite the adventure. Afterwards, we came back to the hostel and just relaxed for a bit. It wasnt until about 40 minutes after we left the restaurant that my face started cooling down. Anyway, here is the woman I spoke of earlier. Enjoy.


Porcelin

Too Good for One

So today I was going to go to a really cool temple, but I got kinda sidetracked as I wandered the local area. I went to take photos of a tapestry that I have been shooting every day, and I found an allyway that I hadnt noticed beore. I decided to wander through it and found a really cool area that had a tradtional household that I could wander through, with information on all of the rooms. Afterwards, I walked out and wandered the area a bit more and came upon this old man who was working with clay. I sat with him for 3 hours as he worked on a sculpture of the ornate wall in front of him. It was very interesting. Really. Afterwards, I wandered a bit more and found a place where they make silk. Cool stuff. I then went to have dinner with some friends, and managed to take a photo of another one of the girls I made friends with (Huang Li). Today, I couldnt decide what photo to use, so instead, you get 2 good ones and one of my friend (like yesterday, but opposite). Enjoy!


Huang Li - 19 years old


Hands


Clay Man

A special post.

Today is a special post. You get 3 photos! 1 is good, and 2 are to give you an idea of my friends. I went out with some of the locals (friends Ive made at the restauraunt Ive been going to regularly), and we went to get some local food. We then walked around and talked for a while, and we all got along very well, regardless of the language barrier. I actually hung out with 3 out of 4 of my frineds from the restauraunt, and there was a quick appearance from the the 4th girl. The names of the girls in the photos are Liao Jing (15) and Li Dan (17), respectively. The other 2 girls are Huang Li (19) and Fan Deng Yan (22), a.k.a. Francine, will have photos coming. We had a good get together with a few friends, and it went really well. I went to a temple to take some photos, and I think things went well. I actually managed to get some of the monks to stand still for me (A much harder feat than it sounds like). Anyway, Im sick of writing. Enjoy!


Liao Jiang - 15 years old


Li Dan - 17 years old


Prayer

An Evening in Cheng Du

Today I went to computer street, which is 7 floors of nirvana. It was awesome. 7 floors that would make a tech geek weak inthe knees. It was awesome. Anyway, Ive been going to a restauraunt regularly, and I love it there. I have made friends with some of the staff, and I believe I am in love with one. Anyway, here is your photo of the day. Enjoy!

Temple

Not much to say today. Moved from a hotel to a hostel. Im paying about $2 a night to stay. Its cool. Anyway, here is the photo for today. Enjoy.

Street Vendor

First of all, thought Id mention that none of the photos I post from china will be edited in any way other than sizing them down for web use. Now, on to business: So last night, I was sick for the very first time on this trip. Im sure it wont be the last. I went to eat at a place where you boil your own food, and something there didnt agree with my stomach. But here is the catch, It was soo good, I plan on going again. Screw the sickness. But at getting up at 5am to use the restroom is no fun. Anyway, today, we all went out and bought cell phones. Its nice to be able to easily communicate again. On another note, I thought Id mention that I havent seen any direct sunlight the whole time ive been here. The air is polluted and misty all the time, so the most ive seen is filtered sunlight. On rare occasions, it casts a yellow hue. Otherwise, it is just grey. Im starting to get pretty good at communicating with gestures. I managed to haggle down the price of my phone from 1200 RMB to 800 RMB (there are about 7.5 RMB in every dollar). I was quite proud of myself, as I dont speak the language. Anyway, im getting tired of writing, so I thought Id get to the title of the post. There is a very large ammount of street vendors selling everything from clothes hangars to sim-cards, to fruits, to meats. Its crazy, cause they all ride around on bikes trying to sell their wares. Anyway, here is an image of one. Enjoy.



P.S.I can read your comments jsut fine. Keep em coming. Its good to hear from you all. I cant comment onmy own, though, so dont expect to hear back from me that way. If there are anyquestions. Ill put it in the Post Script of the next update. Nick, e-mail me your address.

Still Shooting, Still Breathing

As of now, I am unable to view my own blog, but I can post to it. I should still be able to read comments on my blog, seeing as how I get them in my mail. I am going to try to do a photo a day, but Im not sure that will be possible when I get out of this hotel. My last night here is tomorrow night. Ive realized that there is a 16 hour time difference between me and my regular readers. Yay... Im not going to really try to keep up with teh news part of my posts, because that takes more effort, but you may get them here and there. Did think Id let ya know that today I saw Pandas. I wanted one as an accessory, but its frowned upon. Anyway, here is the photo of the day. Enjoy!

Nihao!

So,here I am in China. Its really late right now, and Im really tired, so Im going to make this fairly short. I have no idea how I got here. Well, thats a lie. I know how I got here, I just dont know how it all actualy happened, or why I agreed to it. Let me begin by stating that China is a very cool place. It was a 13 hour flight to Beijing from LAX,and then we had a 3 hour lay over, followed by a 2 hour flight to Cheng Du. Its different. I saw a coke can that was advertising WoW. Crossing the street is seriously dangerous. The buildings are not western. And then there is the language barrier. Its hard to do anything, even the simplest of tasks (like getting a locker), when you cant verbally communicate with people. Ive decided that within the next 36 days, Im learning some Chinese. I think the biggest problem in the next few weeks is going to be ordering food. I saw a couple temples today,and I was very impressed. I also went to a show, and was also very impressed. They have a mask changing technique that blows my mind. Maybe Ill touch on that some more later. But today was mostly traveling into the future. It is almost 11pm on Saturday night, while in LA it is almost 6 am on saturday. Ill wake up in a few hours and be a day into the future. With that said, here is one from China. Enjoy.