Angkor Wat

We decided we still had enough time to break out one last trip before second semester begins.  High on the list of things to see was Angkor Wat, Cambodia.  We booked a flight, a hotel and just like that we spent the weekend in Siem Reap, a city just outside the UNESCO site Angkor Wat.  What a great Valentine’s Day celebration.

“ The Khmer civilization centered on Angkor was one of the most remarkable to flourish in Southeast Asia.  Between 8^th and 13^th centuries, a succession of Hindu and Buddhist kings created magnificent temples in stone.  Their elaborate carvings and intricate architecture continue to amaze the world.” It draws millions of visitors every year.

The young Prince Jayavarnan II was 14 when he slew is uncle to take over the kingdom in 790. He began to establish his kingdom and power with the construction of Angkor Wat built as a funerary for himself and to honor is protector Vishnu.  The temple is built on a flood plane and was an architectural feat to withstand the ever-rising tide and monsoons that occur in that region seasonally for all of these years.  It is constructed mostly of sandstone, covered with a concert like frosting that allowed the etching and carving in the stone that demonstrates not only the construction process but the life style of the people in the kingdom and their interaction with the Gods on Hinduism, most especially Vishnu.

We got up at 4:00AM to be out to the sight for the sunrise over the Angkor Wat temple, we dressed and hired a tuk-tuk to drive us through the sleepy town to the site.  Unfortunately the cloud cover was heavy enough to block the sun until it was mid morning.  It was great to relieve the heat but not so great for the sunrise view. So much for a great effort but it was really uneventful after sitting in the dark for about 45 minutes around the mote of the temple. No Sunrise photo for us.

We have a fairly good frame of reference for religious architectural feats now, last spring we visited Machu Picchu and the Inca ruins, before that Israel with the Christian, Jewish and Moslem sites, Italy and the Greek ruins with Mike, Mexico’s pyramids and Chitzanitchia. And now add to the list Angkor Wat with the Hindu and Buddhist links.   We are very blessed to have the privilege of seeing these historic religious constructions that represent the five major religions of the world. It has really helped to sharpen my focus on my own religious beliefs.  The foundation of civilization is religion and it comes in all forms. It is easy to recognize religion in ancient civilizations; it is the quest to please the Gods that hold the common thread that keeps a civilization together.  It is amazing to witness that around the world.

We were able to find a small branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Seim Reap to attend on Sunday morning before we left for the airport.  They dedicated a new building in October, probably the nicest church building in the city and the members there are very proud of the their building.  They all take their shoes off at the door to keep the building looking like new creating a huge pile of flip-flops at the door.   It was fun to see the deacons in a white shirt and tie with no shoes. That was a perfect ending to a very inspiring look at Angkor Wat. 

Chinese New Year and Semester Break-Really

One of the best-hidden bonuses of 2014 so far has been the amazing combination of Chinese New Year and Semester Break at SCUT.  Sometimes you really cannot grasp the “big picture” of how things work unless you are there.  This certainly was one of those times. We did not grasp the concept that we would have eight weeks between semesters with no students, no classes and literally no one on campus.  SCUT is really like a ghost town, all student services are closed, the bakery, the student store, classroom buildings, even the campus bus is not running.  Chinese New Year rivals our Christmas in the U.S. everyone returns home to be with their family and share traditional food, exchange gifts, (the red envelopes with money are important to college students) and enjoy this holiday season with all extended generations of their family.  How fortunate that it also falls during semester break.  I am still not clear if the holiday is two weeks before Chinese New Year or two weeks following Chinese New Year, it is difficult to know because they celebrate the entire time so who know which comes first Chinese New Year or Semester Break.  Classes actually begin for second semester on February 23. Our Master’s classes however will start on March 2 one week after the undergraduate students begin.

BYU Conference in Hong Kong

BYU holds a conference in Hong Kong during this break for all teachers in China.  It was great fun to see all 78 teachers that started this program last August.  We have all had such great adventures across China.  I listened to the stories from north China, Beijing and Shanghai, they have been so cold and smogged in all winter, I found myself silent and thankful to be in Guangzhou.  It was difficult to contribute to the amazing circumstances some of the teachers are dealing with.

Bangkok, Thailand

We left Hong Kong for Bangkok, Thailand arriving just before midnight in the midst of the election protest.  One of the teachers in Guangzhou had a Marriott Club plan to be used in Phuket, when we were invited to go along there was not a political protest going on in Thailand.  I couldn’t help but think how upset I would be with anyone of my kids if they had done what we did.  We landed at midnight in a city under protest and rode in a van through the streets of Bangkok.  Some of the streets were blocked by rows of vehicles, barrels and what ever else; it was difficult to tell in the dark as the Marriott van whisked us through the safest route to the hotel.  All was well that ended well, we checked with the hotel and they were very careful to keep us in the safe part of town. We left for Phuket with only a birds eye view of what the undercurrent really was in Bangkok.  We happened into a McDonalds from the sky train for lunch and had lunch with the press corps all decked out in bulletproof vests, riot gear and cameras.  There was one media person killed on the Sunday night we arrived.  The election happened, the government leaders were of course re-elected but the protestors were successful enough in blocking the elections sites that voter turn out was very low.  The government was unable to declare victory so now Thailand is in limbo until they can determine what next. 

Phuket, Thailand

Think of the most amazing travel brochure beach photo you have ever seen, that is exactly what Phuket looked like.  White cake flour sand beaches, no motorized vehicles allowed on the Marriot Beach, palm trees to shade the beach, no crowds of people or beach towels insight.  Amazing! We celebrated Craig’s birthday in Phuket, it will be one to remember.  There were six of us attending the dinner party.  There were flamethrowers and dancers along with a singer willing to take requests.  As you will all smile about the music, Craig pulled out his 60s-80s favorites and had the time of his life singing along with a very willing entertainer. 

We took a snorkel trip to James Bond Island, where one of the James Bond Movies was filmed and "The Beach" with Leonardo DeCaprio.  There is a good reason they picked that area, it is movie worthy to say the least.  The fish however, were not prolific and better snorkeling can be enjoyed other places.  The water was warm, clean and it seemed surreal.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

The overnight sleeper train delivered us to Chiang Mai.  It is north in the rainforest, and attracts a hike, trek, backpack crowd.  When we mentioned we were from Utah the reply was always 'oh yes we know Utah, that is where Moab is." The old city was walled off with a mote originally and part of that wall remains there today.  Inside that mote is a great village with small home owned restaurants and guesthouses, not high rise hotels! We stayed in the Roseate Guesthouse, across the street was the wall and mote, around the corner was a soccer field, school and at least 20 Buddhist Temples or Wats.  I am happy to report, Thanks to Craig, we saw everyone.  Ashley will tell you that he never misses a cathedral in any country, now I can add he doesn’t miss a Wat in Thailand.

Night Market shopping, Flower Festivals, Wat searches, a Thai cooking class and even a zip-line trip through the rainforest.  Again, I was questioning my judgment in the van as we began the winding road to top of the mountain.  It must have been the shear terror on my face that made our guide speak so kindly to me as he was adjusting my glasses with a holder so they wouldn’t blow off on the zip line.  “Just take off you glasses and close your eyes if it is to much.”  Holy Cow, the cables worked and the gear supported the 32 stops to the bottom of the mountain.  And I lived to say it was a fun adventure.

The Golden Triangle- Thailand-Laos-Myanmar

The last day of our stay in Chiang Mai we took a trip to the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos borders meet.  Three countries in one day!  A river trip down the Mekong River, an international river avoided the Visa problem.  Shopping always trumps a Visa; somehow we were able to stop at local shopping markets in all three countries to gather a few treasures.  This area is beautiful, green and lush; the Mekong River moves fast, I am sure that helps keep it clean as well. Just a little piece of heaven right there as the political borders meet together. 

I am not sure how we managed to keep it all together, but we arrived back in Guangzhou with suitcases full of laundry and as close as I can tell we didn’t loose anything but we picked up two extra bags of shopping treasures to show for time spent.  What a great way to spend Chinese New Year/Semester Break.

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.