China has more natural beauty than any country I have ever seen. Once you get out of the big cities you will find yourself in a different world, more like a fairy tale with untouched nature. It’s a place you have to see with your own eyes to believe it exists. My ideal day starts … Continued
“Welcome to Tibet״ a monk wearing a dark rouge colored robe greeted us, at an alley outside Lābǔléng Sì in the city of Xiàhé. It was early afternoon, hundreds of monks just finished their prayer and lunch ritual, so most of the monastery’s streets were deserted. The low earth buildings that make up the monastery’s … Continued
In the absence of a proper access road to upper and lower Yubeng villages, a capturing charm resonates in the valleys where they reside. At the foot of the year round snowcapped Meili mountains, a forested valley houses several traditional Tibetan dwellings. These days almost every house functions as a humble, though character full, guest … Continued
Independent Exploration in China? During our first sabbatical year, George and I traveled to several places I had always wanted to see like the Xi’an Warriors in China. After college in 1990, I studied ceramics for several years and learned to throw pots in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. I took class on Tuesday mornings … Continued
A Place That Inspires Awe: English Corner: Shenzhen’s Undiscovered Gem by Armand Diab If you’re a foreigner in Shenzhen, China, you’re probably not as unique as you think you are. I mean, sure, Westerners in certain parts of China stick out like a sore thumb, and are often victims of being stared at by the curious … Continued
China: Lost in Lu Xun Park If I had been asked to paint Independence as a nineteen-year-old college sophomore, the resulting red-white-and-blue canvas would likely have featured George Washington riding a bald eagle with the US Constitution clutched in its talons. By that time, I naively fancied myself well-versed on the subject – I had … Continued
China: Lost in Transition Where does one buy chopsticks in Beijing? This isn’t simply a zen koan, the questions the masters ask their students in order to break habits of thought and open their minds. This question, that I asked myself one evening while contemplating the leftover spicy beef in the white cardboard box, on … Continued
My name is Savannah Grace, 22 years old, born and raised in Vancouver, Canada and author of “Sihpromatum – I Grew my Boobs in China”, a fascinating memoir series of a family’s one year turned four year 80+ country, backpacking/overlanding journey around the world. At 14 I was pulled from the grips of the luxuries … Continued
As we begin our journey in South East Asia, I have been reflecting on my goals for this year. I wanted to share Ken Budd’s book, The Voluntourist: A Six-Country Tale of Love, Loss, Fatherhood, Fate, and Singing Bon Jovi in Bethlehem. Perhaps it will inspire you to take your own trip after reading about his … Continued
Article first published as Bugs Are the New Sushi on Technorati. Sumathi Reddy’s article, Bug Eaters try to get some Buzz on September 15 in the Wall Street Journal said: “bugs are tasty, and good for you, too—high in protein, low in fat, cheap and good for the environment. ‘I think it’s what sushi was … Continued