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Tag Archives: China

Time Slows Down: The Li River

06 Saturday Feb 2016

Posted by lexklein in China

≈ 58 Comments

Tags

China, Guangxi, Guilin, Li River, rice paddies, time, Yangshuo

I’d had my fill of imperial palaces, warriors, pagodas, jade, and even pandas after a few weeks in China. Although I had been very pleasantly surprised by much of the Middle Kingdom and had relished the opportunity to see many big cities like Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, and Shanghai, the hectic pace and smothering crowds had me ready for more of the countryside as I headed south to Guilin, the Li River, and the small city of Yangshuo.

China and Tibet 2009 784

The Guangxi region looked and felt very different from much of the China I had seen in the preceding weeks. I felt like I’d stepped out of the craziness of big-city smog, traffic, and crowds, and into a time-forgotten traditional Chinese landscape painting.

China and Tibet 2009 804

The Li River area had a misty, ethereal air about it – indistinct mountains off in the distance, a light haze rising off the river, and quiet country folk going about their daily business in the foreground. Time seemed suspended.

China and Tibet 2009 801

The Li River flows languidly amid towering limestone karst formations. Water buffalo plod along the shore and wallow in the shallow water, and fishermen in long graceful boats ply the waters.

China and Tibet 2009 814

Occasionally, a phalanx of boats clusters together on the riverbanks and small markets spring up.

China and Tibet 2009 820After about four or five hours, the riverboats dock in Yangshuo, a lively town. But rather than bumping shoulders with the many tourists on West Street who have come to souvenir shop, eat, and drink, we almost immediately head off into the countryside for a look at the rice fields and small country homes of area farmers.

China and Tibet 2009 844

Our heads bob sleepily, and our breath slows markedly as we bump along in bicycle-powered buggies and quickly become transfixed by the rhythmic swaying of the rice plants.

China and Tibet 2009 850

Farmers walk unhurriedly behind their buffalo and plows, knee-deep in water. Their deliberate pace is calming to us, and the scenery appealingly soft and green, belying what is surely a chore for them, trudging behind their animals under the hot sun.

China and Tibet 2009 847

Version 2

We cycle through small villages, seemingly from another era, where we pass quaint stone houses adorned with fresh and dried flowers and plant life.

China and Tibet 2009 865

China and Tibet 2009 864

China and Tibet 2009 862

It is a dreamy day back in time down by the river, a calming escape from the mega-cities, and one of my favorite memories of China.

China and Tibet 2009 857

Prompted by the Weekly Photo Challenge: Time

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Friday Photos: Circles of Life

06 Saturday Sep 2014

Posted by lexklein in China, Nepal, Photos, Just Photos from All Over, Tibet, Travel - General

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Tags

Beijing, Boudhanath, Canggu Nunnery, China, Kathmandu, Lhasa, Nepal, Tibet

Circles of life …

At Canggu Nunnery, Lhasa, Tibet

At Canggu Nunnery, Lhasa, Tibet

At Boudhanath Temple, Little Tibet, Kathmandu, Nepal

At Boudhanath Temple, Little Tibet, Kathmandu, Nepal

Market in Beijing, China

Market in Beijing, China

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Friday Photos: Doors

08 Friday Aug 2014

Posted by lexklein in Argentina, Chile, China, Himalayas, Mexico, Photos, Just Photos from All Over, South Africa, Tibet, Travel - General, Turkey

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Argentina, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Cappadocia, Chile, China, Forbidden City, Goreme, La Boca, Lhasa, Norbulingka, Paine Circuit, Palermo Soho, Robben Island, South Africa, Tibet, Turkey

Going with a door theme today …

Forbidden City, Beijing, China

Forbidden City, Beijing, China

La Boca, Buenos Aires, Argentina

La Boca, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Palermo Soho, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Palermo Soho, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Cell door, Robben Island, Cape Town, South Africa

Cell door, Robben Island, Cape Town, South Africa

Norbulingka Palace, Lhasa, Tibet

Norbulingka Palace, Lhasa, Tibet

Hiking the Paine Circuit, Chile

Hiking the Paine Circuit, Chile

Cave hotel, Goreme, Cappadocia, Turkey

Cave hotel, Goreme, Cappadocia, Turkey

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Friday Photos: Random Old Favorites

13 Friday Jun 2014

Posted by lexklein in China, Germany, Iceland, Photos, Just Photos from All Over, Tibet, Travel - General

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

China, Dusseldorf, Germany, Iceland, Lhasa, Reykjavic, Tibet, Yangshuo

It is Friday, right?  I’m in Reykjavik, Iceland, and I’ve sort of lost track of time after an overnight flight, 12 hours in Dusseldorf, Germany, and a late-night flight into Keflavik, Iceland. I’d pre-loaded a few photos for today not knowing if I’d have any new ones uploaded yet (it made perfect sense to post a couple of oldies-but-goodies from Tibet and China, I thought), but I do have a few colorful views of Reykjavic today. Stay tuned for more on Iceland!

Norbulingka Palace, Lhasa, Tibet

Norbulingka Palace, Lhasa, Tibet

Irrigation system and limestone karsts, Yangshuo, China

Irrigation system and limestone karsts, Yangshuo, China

image image

image

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What’s in a Name?

25 Sunday May 2014

Posted by lexklein in China, Ghana, Tibet, Travel - General, Turkey

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

China, foreign language errors, fun store names, Ghana, Tibet, Turkey

As a linguist, former ESL teacher, and current English instructor at a bilingual college, I am more aware than most of the vicissitudes of language. I adore grammar and semantics and can sometimes be a little judgmental when it comes to native-speaker errors, but I take great pleasure in a “bad” translation or just a more creative use of English when I am traveling. Here are just a few of my favorites:

In the old hutong sections of Beijing, China, we saw some curious restaurant names, such as Easy Fun, Heavenly Festival, and Home Pizza, but these were far outdone by the packet of “Aviation Food” – emblazoned with the baffling slogans “Childhood Memory” and “Leisure Share” – that we ate on a flight out of Chengdu. While that elicited a chuckle, the fact that this tasty treat “does not lose hand” (see photos) generated a laugh that almost caused us to spray the crisps right out of our noses. (Perhaps airline food is a linguistic as well as culinary joke around the world. On Aerolineas Argentinas, we were repeatedly offered “ham-flavored mini-crackers,” a combination I do not need to ever taste again.)

Tibet & China June 2011 242Tibet & China June 2011 243In Lhasa, Tibet, we chortled as we strolled by shops called Antique Thing, Jewel Ripehouse, Homely Treasures, Merit of Jewel, and Many Love Lake. We also loved the sign at the Norbulingka Summer Palace, which exhorted us to “please consciously accept the security.” And in Turkey, we enjoyed an errant apostrophe and grammar error in some remarkably apt graffiti – “Idiot’s was here!”

That's for sure!

That’s for sure!

But perhaps the greatest collection of fun names ever was found in Accra, Ghana. Ghana is a very Christian country and they believe in keeping God and Jesus front and center, even in commerce. Here is a much-abbreviated list of our favorite Ghanaian store names:

Ghana 2008 045Jesus My Redeemer Buckets and Bowls
Come to Jesus Taxi
Through the Gates of Heaven Bank
The Lord is my Shepherd Fashions
Jesus is my Last Hope Saloon
Victory in Jesus Taxi
Only Jesus Can Do Business Center
Ask God Glass Venture
God’s Way Metal Company
God First Electricals
Wonderful Jesus Coca Cola
Passion of God Hair
In God We Trust Motorcycle Shop

Religious views aside, the juxtaposition of God, buckets, and motorcycles just has to bring a smile, doesn’t it?!

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Friday Photos: Color, Color Everywhere

25 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by lexklein in Bosnia & Herzegovina, China, Nepal, Photos, Just Photos from All Over, Travel - General

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Beijing, Bosnia & Herzogovina, China, Mostar, Nepal, Pashupatinath, Tianenmen Square

Favorite day …  favorite photos!

Tianenmen Square columns, National Day, 2009 (PRC's 60th anniversary)

Tianenmen Square columns, National Day, 2009 (PRC’s 60th anniversary)

 

Tika powders for sale at the entrance to Pashupatinath temple, Nepal

Tika powders for sale at the entrance to Pashupatinath temple, Nepal

Stari Most

Stari Most (Old Bridge) in Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina

 

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I’m a restless, world-wandering, language-loving, book-devouring traveler trying to straddle the threshold between a traditional, stable family life and a free-spirited, irresistible urge to roam. I’m sure I won’t have a travel story every time I add to this blog, but I’ve got a lot! I’m a pretty happy camper (literally), but there is some angst as well as excitement in always having one foot out the door. Come along for the trip as I take the second step …

WHERE I’M GOING

ARIZONA/COLORADO – Winter 2019

SOUTHEAST ASIA – February 2020

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Little did I suspect that this summer’s warm-up hike on Bald Mountain in Sun Valley would become next summer’s main event! @jesseitzler @colinobrady @marchodulich #29029everesting #idaho #sunvalley #hiking #oopsididitagain #onlyplaceilookgoodinred
49/50! Happy to finally visit beautiful Idaho and to be back out west seeing another state on foot. #idaho #visitall50states #hiking #getoutside #sunvalley
There’s so much beauty in Bhutan, and the people are no small part of that. One of my favorites agreed to a quick snap at the doorway to the temple he guards. #sweetestmanever #bhutan #thimphu #temples #buddhist #hiking
Good news, bad news: our small trekking group was crushed to find our high-altitude trek in the Haa Valley totally cancelled due to snow and ice. 😢 The consolation prize was a few days in the verdant and lovely Punakha Valley, where we managed one full day of hiking above the valley before we were stymied by rain there as well. #punakha #bhutan #weatherwoes #hiking #trekking
Not only vacationing tourists visit the Tiger’s Nest. Here, a monk from eastern Bhutan pays his respects (iPhone in hand!). #taktsang #tigersnest #bhutan #monastery #monk #hiking
Although our major trek is yet to come - into the snowy and remote Haa Valley - today’s hike up to the Tiger’s Nest near Paro is the main reason I wanted to come to Bhutan. It did not disappoint! The photos I’d seen are not a cliche, I know now; no matter how many you’ve seen, including this “standard” shot, it’s hard to imagine actually being here and walking (bootless) into this temple and monastery after the tough climb up. Thrill of a lifetime for me. #taktsang #tigersnest #monastery #bhutan #hiking #buddhism #dreamcometrue

Recent Posts

  • Battling a Mountain
  • Two Fleet Feet Out the Door
  • A Little More Bhutan
  • The Weather and I: Bhutan Edition
  • Aloha, Unknown Beauty!

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