tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66276102072021114432009-12-19T19:57:15.538-08:00A place where my friends and family can keep tabs on me and where I can write some of what I'm thinking, feeling, experiencing and learning. Hopefully you can learn something about China and enjoy what I'm sharing with you.Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-72808265922767072802008-08-27T00:54:00.000-07:002008-08-27T01:05:31.805-07:00

I was walking in Van City to meet a friend,My bag was so heavy, I wanted it to end,Two shoes tied on the back and two pillows tooHigh enders looking at me through and through.Then this guy on a bicycle said to meYou can sleep on Granville Island if you want it's freeWe used to sleep in the park after darkBut the police kicked us out, this is what they'd shout:"You're homeless and unwanted a big

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-13455377540012989522008-05-07T18:51:00.000-07:002008-05-07T21:41:34.367-07:00

One Incredible Cloudy Day...April 22nd-23rdPheriche- Phortse The White Yak hotel in Pheriche had offered us a refuge of warmth and happiness after our two biggest days of hiking on the trip, Everest Base camp and Kallapathar. Last night, the girls in our group; Pamela, Theresa, Ruby, Renata, Sarah, Lhakpa and I, were singing in delirious joy around the fire place, which is typically set in the

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-75554892275713308912008-05-04T00:14:00.000-07:002008-05-07T20:54:03.732-07:00

Gorakshep-PhericheApril 21st We followed a small slow moving creek that was surrounded by shrubs and foliage the colour of autumn, that lead the way down the small slope to the village named Pheriche. Pheriche is nestled in a valley, between one high ridge on the South and one small mountain in the North. It's a bit different than the other villages because the land rolls up and down in small

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-44547207797249606232008-05-03T23:13:00.000-07:002008-05-07T21:34:14.736-07:00

April 20th Lobuche-GorakshepGorakshep-Everest Base Camp-GorakshepI didn't have as romantic a time at base camp as hoped. I was disappointed, I thought I'd spend all day talking to everyone at the camp, but as it was I was feeling tired. We'd already hiked from Lobuche to Gorakshep which took at least a few hours and then after less than an hour break we started the 2.5 hr hike from Gorakshep to

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-86699583768020981062008-05-03T22:52:00.000-07:002008-05-07T21:30:07.600-07:00

April 19th '08Dingboche-LobucheToday we left Dingboche and hiked up to the same ridge that we did yesterday. I took a picture with my sherpa friends Furi, Jimmi and Lhakpa. There was a big hill that Jim, our new group leader since Papa had to leave, called the first of two "Hell hills". I didn't find it that hard though and pumped up my music, singing and dancing away. "How does it feel,"

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-75676097672454395682008-05-03T21:41:00.000-07:002008-05-07T21:42:43.534-07:00

April 18th '08Today we had a rest day in Dingboche 4360m. I woke up early though because, me and Lhakpa always think that we're late since we don't have watches. Papa, or Eoin or coach White had to leave today since he had an Olympic Committee meeting to go to. Eoin is the team leader for the Canadian wrestling team at the Beijing Olympics this year. He has to fly out to Beijing in a couple days

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-27679365287479943542008-05-03T21:27:00.000-07:002008-05-07T21:21:01.333-07:00

April 17th '08I woke up this morning and there was snow on the ground outside. It must have snowed last night after I went to sleep. It's so nice to look out the window of the teahouse seeing snow covered stone walls, melting water falling off the roof shining in the sun light, shredded prayer flags blowing in the wind. The sun is shining down ht and the snow covered mountains light up so bright.

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-87166341346474270862008-05-03T20:40:00.000-07:002008-05-03T21:27:45.498-07:00

April 16th '08I woke up, opened my window to five big glorious mountains not yet lit up by the morning sun. There is wind blowing off the one in front of me, making it look like a mango flavoured cloud with the first bits of sun lighting the snow. I hear jok jok bells below me clanging as the animals walk by the tea house. I tried yak steak last night, but it wasn't the same as my Christmas yak

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-29407383024844788342008-04-28T04:21:00.000-07:002008-05-07T21:18:54.947-07:00

April 16thI woke up, opened my window to 5 big glorious mountains. Wind is blowing snow off of one of the mountains making it look like a mango flavoured cloud since the sun is lighting the snow so intimitely. I hear Juk Juk bells ringing below me, clanging away. I tried the yak steak last night but it wasn't the same as my Christmas Yak steak in China. This yak was lighter in colour, more fatty

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-76786962875523984192008-04-28T03:46:00.000-07:002008-05-07T21:04:15.020-07:00

April 15thI had so much fun dancing with the girls last night! It'd been such a long time. Last night while watching the moon I thought of my time with Alex. I miss him. Sometimes I feel really upset that I have to go along with the group and what they want. I saw a campsiote today in Khunde and I felt a heavy regret of not having my tent on this trek. Also, there are trees all oiver and posts

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-2291792791815626162008-04-26T02:51:00.000-07:002008-05-03T22:07:16.413-07:00

First view of Mount Everest.MonjoApril 14thWe hiked for 3 hrs today. I saw Everest for the first time. Unfortunately, I didn't get any spectacular feelings about it. I've been waiting for that crazy-imaginary fantasy feeling. Tonight, I got that long anticipated moment of peace. After dinner in Naamche Bazzar, Lhakpa, Pam, Theresa and I went to one of Lhakpas friend's bars and had a few drinks

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-68390312999778737442008-04-26T02:01:00.000-07:002008-05-03T23:12:23.528-07:00

April 12thWe caught the 7:30am flight to Lukla but because of fog we had to stop in a village called Fablu. There are army men all over carrying guns. Our flight attendant said that they're still here from the elections. The farmland that we're flying over is on the top of mountains, now that we're out of the Kathmandu valley. Between some farms are deep gorges with rushing rivers deep below them

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-60528715646976186282008-04-26T01:43:00.000-07:002008-05-07T21:15:52.586-07:00

April 13th PhakdingMe and our sherpa guide Lhakpa Dackey really bonded last night. We stayed in the same room and she's pretty cool. We're the same age, 21, she's actually 1 month older than me. We both smoke once in a while and can't let papa(coach white) see us do it so we sneak off like teenagers together. Lhakpa taught me how to say I like you so much in Nepali.'Malai timi deraii man

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-66151801682357099092008-04-11T07:38:00.000-07:002008-05-07T21:14:38.956-07:00

April 11thToday we went to Baktapur with B and AK our local guides. it was really nice and I got some great shots of the place. I've been getting to know the other Canadians that I'm hiking with and it's a pretty good mix of people. There are about 9 of us. Pam and Theresa have been best friends since elementary school and they're in their mid 20's. Pam is a little Indian girl, she knows how to

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-92146730512607670442008-04-11T07:02:00.000-07:002008-04-26T03:22:46.708-07:00

April 10thElecionsWhat a special time to be in Nepal! Today is their first election in a long time. Nepal was a monarchy a few years ago but was replaced with a temporary government after so much unrest in the country. The King then just became a symbolic head of state I think. This morning I went for a long walk at 6:30. One of the first things that I saw was a UN jeep going by, followed by a UN

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-44083469773837337122008-04-11T06:47:00.001-07:002008-04-28T04:09:21.356-07:00

April 9th '08Kathmandu's roads are similar to village and countrside roads in China. They're not anywhere as developed as the cities in China, even the small cities in China. Walking down the streets, I can small incense, hear hinu and Nepali and see Nepali writing which is so neat to see. A local boy named Bibek, showed me how to write my name in Nepali and it's similar to arabic writing I think

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-33904426041023569232008-04-11T06:13:00.000-07:002008-04-11T06:47:03.235-07:00

April 8thI"m on the flight to Nepal now from Hong Kong. Michelle a Chinese flight attendant is having her first flight right now working with the airline. I used to think that working as a flight attendant would be great to travel and see the world. I think that most of the time you"re inside the plane and airports though, and they're crowded machines, the work involving the same duties and

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-34056317168094304872008-04-06T20:15:00.000-07:002008-04-06T22:05:26.356-07:00

'Impossible is Nothing' Beijing OlympicsIt's too bad that there are so many problems being caused in China by the Beijing Olympics. From what I've seen though in the local people that I've met whether they're Dai minority, Han, Haini, Naxi, Cantonese, from Beijing...most Chinese are excited to have the Olympics and proud of their country, but, A lot of Chinese don't even have time to think more

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-68725144669942035502008-04-05T00:27:00.000-07:002008-04-05T14:18:12.015-07:00

Kunming in the morningI woke up early today 7am. I had a nice luke warm shower, the only shower I've had since Simao half a month ago. 'What a luxe'! I packed my bag then we left. There were people selling food in the street everywhere since we stayed in a CHinese hotel for 40kwai altogether for our own room instead of staying at a hostel for 20kwai each to stay in a 8 bed room dorm. I bought

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-23298248319654596752008-04-05T00:15:00.000-07:002008-04-05T13:05:33.462-07:00

March 30thMorning?We woke up really early 7am, early for us anyways. Most of the trip I had no morning because we slept through it. We took down camp in only 30mins, 'On the road again'. We stopped for breakfast (hot noodles with toppings)in a small town only 5km away. I could read the sign!! small-xiao, middle-jong and Big-da posted on the wall!! I always look at the chinese signs and ads and

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-60453036145865823272008-04-04T23:57:00.000-07:002008-04-05T13:09:46.256-07:00

March 30thOur very own wake-up call!The lady who owned the land woke us up the next morning by shaking the outside of our tent. When she saw that we were foreigners though she left us be and was smiling at us. We packed up our things and left. I was so happy to wake up to fresh morning air, a blue sunny sky, a breeze, my feet landed on fresh soil and surrounded by green and yellow crops, plus

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-59799424727243814402008-04-04T23:42:00.001-07:002008-04-05T13:46:35.377-07:00

March 29thYuxi big City-stayed in a Chinese hotelWe slept in Yuxi last night in a chinese hotel. Chinese hotels are different than hotels for Westerners or Hostels/Guesthouses. The chinese call it a sleeping place. They're cheaper for starters, pretty simple places and actually I would rather stay there than at a hostel for foreigners because you're more immersed in the culture. There were no

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-39723120510431759612008-04-04T23:07:00.000-07:002008-04-05T13:53:11.347-07:00

March 28thE-Shan MarketWe went to wangba last night and watched a movie called Sid and Nancy that was about the Sex pistols. The sex pistols were these young boys in Britain who were pro-Anarchists. It reminded me of a book I read about the red hot chillipeppers lead singer anthony that i read. drugs, sex, random stuff. We camped in E-Shan(locals pronounced it WoShan) last night in a park next to

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-89856114075106773322008-04-02T14:46:00.001-07:002008-04-05T13:25:15.721-07:00

March 27thHand Washing my clothes in the morning sunWe found a nice spot last night at the bottom of a small dirt road hill off the main road. There's a creek with cool fresh water flowing. I woke up at 8:30 and started to wash clothes. The sun was so hot, beading down on my back and face too. It turned out to be a really windy day and I strung the clothes out from a line going across this small

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-68296680917450488232008-04-02T14:35:00.000-07:002008-04-06T20:15:40.978-07:00

March 26thRight now I am feeling so tired, sitting next to our cooking fire and keeping warm, while Alex makes some tea. We just passed a paving crew and I felt happy to see that I recognized all of the machinery and process and also that there were almost as many women working as men. My students Jung Xiao Dong and Fee(Fan) told me that in 1949 there was a law made that women in China should

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0