Guangzhou Crew goes West

There are eight English teachers assigned to Guangzhou, four of us at South China University of Technology, Jim and Karen Fisher from Folsom CA and Craig and I and four assigned to Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Wynn and Cecelie Costly and Rich and Laurie Pinegar both couples from Idaho.  Both schools have finally completed first semester so we decided to take a short out and back trip to South West China together. Staying inside China always provides an interesting backdrop that is better enjoyed in a group to keep our sense of humor.

We flew to Guilin to start the adventure.  We took a river cruise down the Li River to see close up the extraordinary limestone formations.  It is very dry and cold this time of year, however I have learned from past experience if you are in education you need to take the time when you have it so off we go with boots, coats and gloves. 

We visited the Reed Flute Cave filled with stalagmites and stalactites limestone rock formations that reminded me of the cave we visited with Garrett in Monterrey, Mexico.  This cave however was the warmest location of the day.  Once we descended down into the cave the temperature increased to a comfortable no hats and gloves hike through the cave.  There was a grotto that could hold at least 1,000 people where a movie presentation about the history of this area.

From Guilin to Kunming provided us with a mighty chilly visit around the countryside in a cart.  We visited another UNESCO Site, The Stone Forest.  The landforms are a result of wind and rain erosion along with several earth quakes. It was an outdoor venue, with a brisk wind and sunshine by the end of the hike through the forest. 

At least two of the group was suffering from intestinal digestive problems from the local “spinner dinners” that we had eaten.  (Spinner dinner as we affectionately began to call the lazy susan center of the table that spins the Chinese quizine that are served family style for the lunch and dinner options our group was offered.)  We were slowing down the pace.

Next stop, Lijang and Dali both cities reminded me of Park City, very attractive tourist venues.  The open markets and street venders were out with amazing embroidery items and anything you can imagine made from marble from the local marble quarry.  This was the first time western foods were available, no McDonalds or KFC but we were still able to get hamburgers, soup and baked potatoes, all things that we recognized.  We were all beginning to feel better immediately. We took a boat ride out on the lake to see cormorants catching fish.  We hiked the city wall around the city only to discover that there was only one location to get up and down from the wall, so really we walked around the city wall then walked back to find the only staircase down.  I am sure that was posted in Chinese, however we are all very limited in understanding Chinese signs. 

Probably the highlight of the Dali stop was the Three Pagodas.  We met and talked to a resident monk through our guide and visited the Buddha’s at all the levels in the site.  Seems like the more I learn about Chinese culture the more I need to understand.   There were two side buildings that housed 500 golden Buddas at least ten feet tall that were placed in exhibition for the “good” contributions they had made.  It was explained they were similar to being sainted in a Christen religion.  Pretty amazing place.

We were all glad to get back to Guangzhou and some warm temperatures, but especially to pass by the local McDonalds on the way home.

Semester Break

Final exams administered-check, final grades weighted and calculated according to university standards-check, final grades submitted in electronic and hard copy format-check.  Semester breaks begins on December 21 for the English teachers, students however still have two weeks to go one dead week and one week of final exams in their major area of study.

We didn’t waste a minute getting out of town to learn everything we could about Asia and enjoy the holiday.  We took the high-speed train to Honk Kong to begin our adventure.  Hong Kong was a Christmas dream; the malls and streets were all decked out in Christmas decorations with Christmas music playing in the streets and the malls.  People were carrying packages and gift-wrapping stations were ablaze with paper and ribbons. It was “eye candy” for two people who had been in China not knowing what we were missing until we got off the train in Hong Kong. It was like some one had switched the giant Christmas switch and instantly we felt like it must be Christmas. It was such a feeling of warmth and happiness but immediately I missed my family.  We didn’t feel sad or homesick in Guangzhou because it really didn’t seem like we were missing Christmas but as soon as we felt the joy and happiness of all the shoppers and the holiday spirit my thoughts turned to my kids and grandkids.  This would be a lonesome Christmas, but one to be remembered because it was lonesome.  We attended Church in the Hong Kong 1^st branch in the new Gloucester Road location, just one block from the ferry stop on Hong Kong.  It felt good to be able to attend church in the International Branch and enjoy the Christmas messages delivered the Sunday before Christmas.  The wealth of experience that an international branch brings to discussion and perspective exhilarates me to be a better person in the efforts to sustain a global approach to my life. 

We boarded the Holland America Cruise line for an Asia adventure. First stop was Halong Bay, Vietnam and a UNESCO World Heritage site of 300 limestone islands and a fishing village.

 Fishing Village School House

It was a bit nostalgic the day after Christmas to wake up docked in the Gulf of Tonkin, just outside DaNang, Vietnam.  It was forty some years ago the day after Christmas that Richard Nixon announced that last big push of bombing called “Linebacker II” in Vietnam.  Craig was stationed in Okinawa flying a KC-135 refueling aircraft regularly over this Gulf of Tonkin.  Kaci was barely three months old; she and I had left Witcha, KS (McConnell AFB) to return to UT for Christmas with my parents and brother Tracy.  The risk and danger was already high but the increase of bomb runs in the last big push increased the anxiety for me.  President Nixon’s announcement sent our country into yet another phase of hysteria and forced me to take inventory of the likelihood of being a single parent.  Craig was flying long daily missions from Okinawa to the Gulf of Tonkin to set up a track to refuel B52s, F105s and F4s as they flew their missions over Vietnam and came out to the Gulf of Tonkin to be refueled   There were ten B52s that went down that week, Craig was in the air and listened to the cockpit conversations as they monitored the air refueling operations.  We drove by DaNang AB, hangers and bunkers are still intact. So thankful to be a family of twenty and have an opportunity to revisit this area with Craig.

 Next stop was NhaTrang to visit a fishing village and Po Nagar Cham Tower where Buddhists come to pray and visit the Long Son Pagoda.

Craig needed appropriate temple clothing before he could go in, shorts didn't work!

Saigon was yet another trip down memory lane for both Craig and I.  I remembered hearing about the Rex Hotel and I have to say I always think of Robin Williams in Good Morning Vietnam as the morning broadcasts were always generated from the Rex Hotel.  The French influence is easy to see in the architecture of the buildings that are still standing.  We visited the Reunification Palace, the Town Hall, the Post office, the Notre Dame Cathedral and spent most of our time in the War Memorial Museum.  It was a difficult place to visit.  History is turned upside down and taught completely from a Vietnamese perspective of American aggression.  The prison torture stories and the bombing raid stories were difficulty to read without looking around to watch the expression of Vietnamese faces that were also visiting with us.  Not a very comfortable place to be.

Sihanoukville, Cambodia was an interesting little beach city, yet another Buddhist temple and pagoda.

Bangkok, Thailand was a very modern upscale city.  We were two hours from the boat dock to the city but worth the time and road trip to see this bustling city.  We had a news update on the protests that were threatening to shut down the city, we decided to take advantage of the time a see what there was that could be seen in Bangkok.  We were a two hour bus ride from the dock the city center of Bangkok but well worth the time and effort.  We took the sky train to the river and traded the sky train for a riverboat. I would like to say the water was clean and beautiful but the floating garbage was discouraging to watch.  We arrived at the Grand Palace where the King actually spends part of his time.  He recently spent his 86^th birthday entertaining guests for a birthday bash.  It is indeed a Grand Palace Thailand style.  Lots of jewels, mirrors, and gold equal lots of glitz and bling.  It was a very late night trip back to the boat but one that was well worth the time spent.  This begs a return trip!

The last leg of our trip was Singapore.  This amazing place was like New York City, Hong Kong and London all rolled up in one location with lots of sunshine and great food.  I would have to say my favorite spot was the Botanical Gardens.  They have actually named orchids after important world dignitaries in the VIP Orchid Garden.  I did not know that ginger and turmeric were part of the Orchid family.  This is a very sweet spot to visit. 

When we left to come to Guangzhou last fall we had hoped to be able to see lots of Asia, this has been a great experience to see things outside of China. We have been pampered, someone else has made our bed, cleaned our room and prepared our food.  We have eaten amazingly well, this has been the only time we have consumed meat consistently since we arrived in Guangzhou.  I have not been able to come to terms with the meat market in Guangzhou.  Most of the meat selections are very fresh, still hanging from the hoof fresh, except for chicken then you just pick out the one you want from a pen and it is killed, cleaned and handed to you warm.  Needless to say I have yet to purchase any meat to prepare.  Craig spent the cruise eating beef like it was a "meat holiday." The food on the ship was especially delicious, we are not sure if that is because we have been in China or if it really was, but we felt like our dinning room food was extravagant and wonderful everyday. "At Sea days" we sat at the pool and read, three new books have been completed.  This ship clientele was an international crowd, many Australians, Italians, Germans, British, Norwegians, Danish, Canadians with only a few people from the U.S.  Many languages were heard on board. There were only two Chinese families onboard, we had hoped we could improve our Chinese skills as we packed our "Chinese for Dummies" and flashcards but that didn't happen.  We have met and mingled with new friends and learned interesting things about the way people live around the world.  Every shore day we traveled with a different group of friends to visit cities and sites. We have made new international friends, visited amazing places both historical for Craig and I and new cities we only hoped to visit, eaten delicious food, read good books and indulged ourselves.  I have to admit it is difficult to return to Guangzhou after seeing how the neighbors in Asia live. I hope second semester will start soon.