Snow and Fire

I made back to Lhasa yesterday after a flyby cancellation and having to spend one more day in Chengdu. The airline put us up for the night and fed us so at least I got some good sleep and full belly out of the deal. But yesterday on our second attempt we made it! I was accompanied by Heidi and the new teacher Bethany so at least we had some company for our day of useless travels. We got in around 2 p.m. and were able to make it for a sticks hot-pot birthday party for Craig. This is basically what is sounds like, the food is on the end of sticks and you put it in a hot-pot. Pretty ingenious really. We were all pretty tired so we called it a early night... until midnight. Then the fireworks started. I was in and out of sleep all night (probably from the altitude not the fireworks) but they seemed to last all night. As I woke up this morning I was pleased to find the ground covered with snow.(as fireworks continued to go off in the distance)

The just says a few things to me:
1. I am back! Vacation is officially over.
2. Losar has begun (Tibetan New Year)
3. And winter is still here... burr.
4. Tibet sure is beautiful

Hope you all are have a good end of February. I will post some of my travel adventures later. I have a Losar party with the teaching staff this morning.

Blessings

Hong Kong!

From culture shock to culture shock. Our next stop was Hong Kong. If anyone has visited this amazing city they know how is unlike any other city it is. We meet up with the Wus and went on a Gondola ride to a big Buddha. The Gondola was amazing and it was fun to meet up with those crazy kids.



We did a little exploring in the city seeing the sites and enjoying the food.


Then later we meet up with the rest of the my former team Siping.... and went to Disneyland!!

Xian

Well part 2 and 3 of trip 2008-2009 are now finished I am currently waiting in a coffee shop in Kunming with some friends who teach in Wuhan. I am drinking some Yunan coffee and just finished my apple pie... with raisins... why not? Anyways, Part 2 of the trip was to Xian. We actually stayed in the Tibetan Minority College outside of Xian in a city called Xianyang. Good news though... they had the terricotta soldiers, only they were much smaller.



Apparently they found these about 10 years before the real soldiers and are actually older. Apparently these were from the dynasty prior to the Qin and were taken over by the Qin.

We did spend a day or two in Xian checking out the Stone Forrest of Steles. The highlight was the Nestorian stone from 635 AD. Later that night we visited the Big Goose Pagoda and checked out the fountain show. A must see in Xian.



From there we were were off to Hong Kong.

The village of Zhen Jia, Qinghai Province

As we bounced around the dirt road I knew I was getting into something I had never experienced before. As we got out of the black Chinese car I got some dust all over my bag and black coat... a bit of foreshadowing of what was to come. Ganzang's town was something out of an ancient travel magazine. The walls of all the houses were made of dried dirt and reminded me of something I read in history class or my Hebrew History class in college. We were met by Ganzang's sister-in-law and escorted into our home for the next week. It was unlike anything I could have imagined...



A week of eating obscene amounts of meat, drinking obscene amounts of Amdo black tea was to follow.



Some of the highlights of the week away from reality were:
1. the amazing Amdo bread awaiting me as I woke up
2. moto crash, sounds more exciting then it actually was.
3. Riding a Yak
4. Visiting the Yak - the outdoor restroom (or hole) was behind the family's yak. So visiting the yak has a whole new meaning
5. Archery - apparently it is all the rage in Qinghai villages.
6. Amazing family - they shared so much with us and really made us feel at home.
7. a change to experience life in a whole new way. - no accessories, but so much I may never see again
8. His beauty, everywhere. The stars never looked so bright, the fields were breathtaking and the mountains powerful

As I type this in the warmth of the apartment of a fellow teaching in Xianyang, just outside Xian I am so greatful for the experience and chance to be a part of our friend's family for a week in Zhen Jia.

Butter Lamp Festival and Christmas

Butter Lamp Festival came and went. There were a lot of people and a lot of authorities. My fellow teachers said it was rather toned down from the years prior. Yet I was still quite amazed by all the commotion and amount of incense.



Christmas went quite well. We have a few parties with different groups of people. Some involved games, santa claus costume making, soccer, uno, ugly sweater contests and lots of food. It was a fun filled holiday season. The last party was tonight with the English Department Teachers. Tomorrow I start my long journey to Thailand going through Xining, Xian, Hong Kong, Kunming and finally to Chaing Mai Thailand. I am excited for the trip and maybe more excited for the sleep I am going to get on the long train rides. Hope all is well and Blessings to all this Holiday Season.

Butter Lamp Festival Is Coming...

In the US we have neighborhoods decorated in lights and we load up our cars get our coffee to go and set out. Usually singing or listening to some sort of Christmas Carol. Well here in Lhasa it isn't quite the same. Okay, well it isn't the same at all. But tonight there is going to be a special light holiday. It is roughly translated Butter Lamp Festival. Although I haven't experienced it before from those who have been here for many years told of the beauty of the lights throughout the city. So I won't load up my car, but rather my bike. Instead of Christmas carols there may be chanting. Yet I know who I will be thinking about this season; that small child who changed the world and showed us what it means to be a light in a dark place.


All of the stalls are empty in preparation.


Some last minute repairs in preparation for the Butter Lamp Festival

sk8 in Lhasa

exhausting.

a few days ago Heidi's student Tenzin Chile invited us to go skating. I was stoked! It has been forever since I have touch a skateboard. As i entered this artist's house (i am not even joking... he is a professional artist) he busts out a nice deck (skateboard) rollerblades, and one of those twisty boards. (no idea what they are called)

We head out to his work unit. His dreads held back with his headband. I feel cooler just walking next to him. Then we get there and there is a large lot of smooth concrete. (believe me this is rare round these parts.) And we start to skate.



I have never been so tired! I though basketball and running wore me out. I ollied just a couple times and I was winded. Man...

By the end of the day I actually managed a couple tricks and jumps but boy did I have to work for it. Then we were off to his house for some sweet tea and a little UNO. Good times. Skate or Die... in Lhasa.