tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66276102072021114432012-01-16T10:25:25.790-08:00A 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.comBlogger771100tag: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.com3tag: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.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-87188930189755543062008-04-02T14:26:00.000-07:002008-04-02T14:35:50.645-07:00

March 25thWe slept close to the road last night and I couldn't sleep well because there were too many big trucks trying to kill me! Big, loud, ground shaking trucks were zooming by us all night. I as scared seeing their headlights through the tent. We stopped to eat dinner in the night after duskj while we waited for the moonlight. It was so windy and cold and we were stopped on a dusty toad so

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-85692887084188509342008-04-02T14:15:00.000-07:002008-04-02T14:26:41.367-07:00

March 24thI woke up early and made brunch. Last night there was a full moon and so we biked until mid-night, then found a spot on some grass high up on the mountain. Tchye has been biking across China with Alex her whole 1year life. He has a basket attached to the back of his bike and when he says "Opa" Tchye jumps up.We strapped my red MEC bag onto the back of my purple chinese bike. So metimes

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-14859462588622554982008-04-02T13:05:00.000-07:002008-04-02T14:15:19.391-07:00

March 22nd Guaguan. Nice people. A kid that reminded me of my cousin Brandon helped me to find new brakes for my purple chinese 1 speed bike. We camped in a cemetary. A group of young girls from the school across the street helped to cook dinner. They were all so curious and eager to help in any way. Alex was sick so the help was great! March 23rdWe stopped to rest in an orchard. We ate a big

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-37439088978020657052008-03-21T00:04:00.000-07:002008-03-21T00:08:53.524-07:00

Dragostea din tei (AKA Numa Numa) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Original romanianMa-ia-hiiMa-ia-huuMa-ia-hooMa-ia-haaAlo, salut, sunt eu, un haiduc,Si te rog, iubirea mea, primeste fericirea.Alo, alo, sunt eu Picasso,Ti-am dat beep, si sunt voinic,Dar sa stii nu-ti cer nimic.Refrain:Vrei sa pleci dar nu ma, nu ma iei,Nu ma, nu ma iei, nu ma, nu ma

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-55804329196687166472008-03-20T23:53:00.000-07:002008-03-20T23:59:35.696-07:00

Marc 18th Fries, downhill. Wangba. Tropic of Cancer. Park. MAGIC. Bubble people. moon. fall down, fly down, cut finger, break rim. March 19thHeat, hot day, good food. happiness, fix bike rim. Yue Liang(moon light). bike through night till dawn. mountain shadows, shin shin(stars) dream-like. crossed a metal hanging bridge, peaceful morning stillness. found spot near creek. swimming-sleeping.March

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-17084617999808933502008-03-18T03:44:00.000-07:002008-03-18T03:51:52.449-07:00

Au dessus des vieux volcans,Glisse des ailes sous les tapis du vent,Voyage, voyage,Eternellement.De nuages en marécages,De vent d'Espagne en pluie d'équateur,Voyage, voyage,Vole dans les hauteursAu dessus des capitales,Des idées fatales,Regarde l'océan...Voyage, voyagePlus loin que la nuit et le jour, (voyage voyage)Voyage (voyage)Dans l'espace inouï de l'amour.Voyage, voyageSur l'eau sacrée d'un

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-74936881251357754412008-03-17T23:55:00.000-07:002008-03-18T00:58:52.688-07:00

March 15th This morning we cooked fried eggs with Chapotees. Alek is making some coffee and then we're on the road again. We biked all day without a break. We were exhausted by the time we found a spot to stop in the evening. We biked through a small village and some ladies actually everyone ripped me off. I wanted to buy some fruit but it was 2 times too much, same as some cookies. Oh well, what

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-9732340631641424142008-03-17T23:43:00.000-07:002008-03-17T23:54:05.847-07:00

March 14th -Jen's BirthdayThe farmland is divided into hundreds of small sections, each one growing something different. We are surrounded by every green imaginable; Green apple, army green, neon green, pine green, seaweed green, green grass, light cabbage green, green___.... On the mountains the farmland is Mayan Temple steps leading to a great ancient secret that only the farmers remember,

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-2810276933099702152008-03-17T23:28:00.000-07:002008-04-07T21:50:30.961-07:00

March 13thWe took the old road from Simao to Ning'Er. It was gorgeous. I remember chocolate flavoured rivers, tea tree plantations on mountains that looked like corn rows. I saw a group of boys coming home from work covered in soot head to toe. They yelled "Hello!!" to Alek and then giggled, hopped and jumped down the road, playing with each other like children at recess. It was like watching

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-88574306441636151682008-03-17T23:19:00.000-07:002008-03-17T23:27:17.688-07:00

We stayed in Simao for another relaxing day, just hanging out in the park. I added more songs to my mp3. When we were at the market a group of people surrounded us. I talked to this big boy with a butterfly tattoo on his wrist and a rose tattoo on his left hand's middle finger. He said that he was from Hubei province in the North East. Shop keepers were taking pictures of Alek while I talked to

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-25773572577908186242008-03-12T00:38:00.000-07:002008-03-12T00:39:38.320-07:00

Once upon a time you dressed so fineYou threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall"You thought they were all kiddin' youYou used to laugh aboutEverybody that was hangin' outNow you don't talk so loudNow you don't seem so proudAbout having to be scrounging for your next meal.How does it feelHow does it feelTo be without a homeLike a

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-45376292484825053222008-03-11T23:44:00.000-07:002008-03-11T23:52:23.723-07:00

We decided to stay in Simao for another day. an event struck me as Alek and I were walking down one of the city's streets. Two old, weathered women were fighting over money. One would give the money to another, the other wouldn't accept it and would hand it to their friend that was standing behind her. The first woman took the money from the third and handed it back to her friend that was sitting

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-9068475648222640162008-03-10T12:05:00.000-07:002008-04-07T19:11:22.069-07:00

I had a great day today. We stayed at our camp all afternoon and it was so relaxing. I finished "Journey to the East" by Herman Hesse and was not let down by the ending. I really respect the guy, I want to read more of his books. He thought that his spiritual home was India and settled in Switzerland when he was 34, that's cool in itself but also when he was 69 he won a nobel prize for literature

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-68073926238822980082008-03-10T11:58:00.001-07:002008-03-11T23:58:42.658-07:00

We asked for some hot water at a house and were invit3ed for lunch with a middle aged couple. A Chinese man won a race on T.V., maybe it was a trial for the Olympics. He didn't look much older than me it seemed. He was so happy. It's strange to think I'll be 21 soon. Soccer was on next but Alek hates soccer event hough he's from Bosci(Brazil) and so he didn't watch. Pretty cool how sports are

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-51100422295381694642008-03-10T11:48:00.000-07:002008-03-12T00:36:50.872-07:00

In the morning we were visited by 2 people. First by the creepy boy who we'd seen before just walking from town to town with his walking stick and a casket of water. He wandered around the tent while Tchye barked at him. I thought that he was going to attack the tent with his stick or something and was glad that Tchye was with us. The second visit was more pleasant. A young biking boy about my

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-64695712268904774442008-03-10T11:38:00.000-07:002008-03-10T11:48:27.526-07:00

Sun! We biked up a mountain and got to the top in time for the sunset, but there was too much jungle in the way to see it clearly. I find all of the houses interesting that we paass because they are more of a communist setting than in Canada. They have many red doors that lead to similar rooms all enclosed inside walls. I think that families all live together, maybe extended family too. It's not

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-27342177628289651892008-03-10T11:36:00.000-07:002008-03-10T11:38:56.236-07:00

Alek talked forever. I feel heavy inside my body. Went for a walk to cool off my brain. Met some local and had a few smokes but there was such a language barrier and I wasn't in the mood to make a huge effort. The sky is glittering with stars and there is strange explosion of light in the sky behind a closeby mountain. I spend some time wondering what it is. It's like lightening only in one place.

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-6476134011802718312008-03-10T11:27:00.000-07:002008-03-17T23:18:13.427-07:00

I woke up last night to heavy rain, thunder and lightning. I woke up Aleshandro "Alek, it's raining," he ran outside naked in the rain and started fixing the fly. I love storms and the rain and was screaming and laughing for half an hour. It reminded me of tree planting and the time that our family and Alex(cousin) went hiking in the West coast of the island and it rained for 3 days straight, our

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-22469774096971161822008-03-10T11:22:00.000-07:002008-04-05T14:08:29.297-07:00

Riding our bikes uphill. UGH. The jungle on our left and the mountains like in Laos on our right. The mountains are bald, with young tea trees soon to grow. A truck tire exploded and flew across the highway over our heads in a perfect slow-motion arc to the flowing stream below us. Tchye is sick and so Alex has to carry her in the basket on the back of his bike. The rain has stopped. I took a

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-18433085853600480322008-03-02T08:24:00.000-08:002008-04-05T14:03:16.991-07:00

Well I feel like an old hobo, I'm sad lonesome and blue I was fair as the summer day Now the summer days are through You pass through places And places pass through you But you carry 'em with you On the souls of your travellin' shoes Well I love you so dearly I love you so clearly Wake you up in the mornin' so early Just to tell you I got the wanderin' blues I got the wanderin' blues And i'm

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-11038719816933675812008-02-28T20:04:00.000-08:002008-04-05T13:50:49.082-07:00

Jinghong is a strange and beautiful place that I have come to love. The people here are so incredible, both the lawai(foreigners) and the locals of which I have met many. I think of Jinghong as a magical place full of mystery and superstition... maybe that's just me and Alex. Soon I'll be leaving here since my teaching job is over now. Alex invited me to bike with him to Kunnming which we figure

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-25043386062112998542008-02-19T04:26:00.001-08:002008-02-19T04:50:27.260-08:00

I woke up early a few days before Chinese New Years after having a dream about mom. I immediately set to writing this poem.The moon illuminates my thoughtsIt reflects your face on the river,the stars shine bright like your soulyour enormous heart that filled the deepest crevases.Your music that brought the dead sea to life,your laugh now echoes between the Himalayan Mountains likea yodler in all

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-71767408066927012882008-02-06T00:30:00.000-08:002008-04-05T09:26:17.356-07:00

So today is the big day:). I've been really lucky... in that last night Vicky and Sunny (my old roomates) cooked me a really nice meal and we had a sleepover at their dormroom. This morning they made me breakfast before work. At Zhou Nong Xiao, or the agricultural college where I stay, Jung Xiao Dong my boss and friend cooked up a huge lunch feast and we shared it with some friends. Then tonight

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-21036950710956910002008-01-23T00:44:00.000-08:002008-01-23T01:03:04.901-08:00

I really enjoy teaching english. It's satisfying:). I'm starting to get my own possie of Chinese friends here in Jinghong. I can't remember their Chinese names and give them all English Nicknames, which probably sounds horrible, but Li and Jung are easy names...it get's really complicated afterwards. A few nights ago we went partying at KTV. We rented a room with 8 people and sang Kareoke, then

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-59356530202617412112008-01-18T05:32:00.000-08:002008-01-18T05:46:15.945-08:00

I hit Jinghong on my way to Laos and liked the place. Now, I'm here again on my way back to the rest of China, but I decided to stay here. I was soo sad to leave Lao for China again, but on my first night back in China Sunny, a local student, invited me to stay in her dorms. Her friend Jung said that he has work for me in half a month after Spring Festival, and amazingly one of the girls in

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-10765494650358983902008-01-13T18:07:00.000-08:002008-04-05T09:16:58.433-07:00

LAO is peaceful, laid back, fun and beautiful.I have been here since the 3rd and am heading back to China in a few days. Lao reminds me of my childhood growing up on the island. Slow lazy summers spend laying by the river with Sylvie and Erica. Double biking with Erica, Alex and neighbourhood kids. Kayaking trips with my family. The kids here are so happy playing by the clear river water,

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-73012874750653618702008-01-04T03:49:00.001-08:002008-04-05T10:43:52.465-07:00

New Years we were in Lijiang. But more importantly was that we spent New Years with a crew of awesome ppl and I met someone special, ;). I won't tell this blog much except that I really like him and his name is Romain from France. The rest of the people we had met in Qiatou where we did Tiger Leaping Gorge, a hike up some mountains following the Yangtse river which formed one of the deepest

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-56219371908038115082007-12-30T22:55:00.000-08:002008-01-04T03:43:32.026-08:00

In a dry narrow boulder filled valley we stopped for a bathroom break. Our driver a Tibetan man clad in earthen tones and sporting a cowboy hat with a feather in it walked down the road. All of the plants are crispy and dry. I ran down to the the partially frozen creek that the small winding road follows to rinse my hands, and was refreshingly surprised by the temperature of the clear creek water

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-4690654811315326152007-12-25T00:54:00.000-08:002008-04-05T10:31:15.033-07:00

ChengduWhile we were in Chengdu Anna and I stayed at a really nice hostel and met this super nice guy named Keith who's from New Zealand. We were going to go and check out the pandas but we ended up sleeping in. Chengdu is a really nice city and I think that I'm going to go back there and work in January and February to save up some money so that I can spend March in Nepal and Tibet. It'll be

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-8552650901963761892007-12-19T17:56:00.000-08:002008-04-05T09:34:44.694-07:00

I'm in Chengdu right now in the Sichuan Province. It is the gateway to Tibet. I want to come back here and work later in January so that I can save up for Tibet and Nepal in late March and April. Anna and I met a dude named Keith who's from New Zealand and he reminds me of Trevor O. and my friend Hourann who I met in Beijing. Really cool fella. Anna and I are going to Luding today a small little

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-83461813791020758932007-12-13T23:00:00.000-08:002007-12-13T23:27:18.307-08:00

I have been on trains for the past few days. I slept through my stop on my third train which was from Beijing to Datong and ended up in Inner Mongolia again 200km west of Datong and in an entirely different Province. Some Chinese helped me to buy a ticket to Pingyao. I skipped Datong because I was pissed off. I have been taking hard-seater train trips which really suck and are uncomfortable and

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-84533201090494694292007-12-06T22:01:00.000-08:002008-04-05T12:37:18.030-07:00

Haerbin, Heilongjiang ProvinceI've spent the past couple of days in Haerbin, the capital city of Heilongjiang the most Eastern Province in China. Most of the city is not much different than anywhere else in North Eastern China, somewhat nondescript. I did get the chance however to visit a Siberian tiger reserve that was located about 15km out of town. I didn't realize that tigers were such big

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-57902704231786819652007-12-02T00:48:00.000-08:002008-04-07T19:28:11.517-07:00

LearningThis past week I've been hanging out with Mark and some of his students who I befriended.I've been learning from Mark how to become an English teacher, something which will be an asset once my funds get lower. ark let me stay at his place for a week which was really great, but his Chinese girlfriend was very jelous since she isn' allowed to stay at his house, and so last night I stayed in

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-57500213014934342592007-11-23T18:00:00.000-08:002008-04-05T10:10:44.739-07:00

Today was the end of Soup ass. Only me and Erica and maybe some rookie wrestlers who were at the restaurant after I weighed in at juniors understand what I mean. Soup ass is when my body can't differentiate between pee and poo and so it all just comes out as diarreah therefore giving me soup ass. On both occasions that I had soup ass there was also much puking involved. Last night I took a train

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-17497122575823085312007-11-20T19:02:00.000-08:002007-11-20T19:44:05.828-08:00

My first night at this hostel I met a few girls who took the trans-siberian train from Russia and they invited me to hang out with them. The next day we went biking 2hrs there to the Summer Palace and then 2 hrs back. It was ridiculous because on our tourist map it told us where all of the McDonalds were and so we used them as landmarks. At first biking in Beijing was frightening but the bikers

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-86516339096773861792007-11-18T05:47:00.000-08:002007-11-18T05:59:31.544-08:00

Last night Linus, Amy (Hourann's Aussie friend), Hourann and I went out to the famous Sanlitun bar street. Linus and I climbed a tree and then had a few wrestling matches because he'd trained in jujitsu. He was pretty good, and since we were wrestling on cement I got a bit of a bang on my forehead and scratches on my face. Ridiculous! ...ly fun. I really started to like Linus, but I didn't think

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-2600451859611664352007-11-17T04:08:00.000-08:002007-11-18T05:47:03.151-08:00

I explored the Forbidden City with Lioness. We had a really nice day, the sky was bright the sun was out and the city was grand. We rented an audio set and it only had one ear phone and so we sometimes ended up standing too close than we had to and I enjoyed every minute of it. I really have taken a liking to Lioness but then ended up missing dinner with Annie who had invited me and felt really

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-38060781312279392152007-11-16T08:00:00.000-08:002007-11-16T08:18:25.777-08:00

The golden Chinese sun was setting across the crisp autumn air, I could see my breath and feel the ancient cold stone wall beneath my fingers. The solidity of the snow covered walkway high up on this desolate mountain ridge lit up by the last moment of the setting sun rays offered me strength. Something in the depths of my soul felt at immediate peace and everything seemed to be in place, as it

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-79940435992593252282007-11-15T04:54:00.000-08:002007-11-15T05:30:13.765-08:00

Today I tried to sleep in but to no avail. I met lionel and Haaron though which is great. Lionel is quite attractive and is from Sweden, he's not very tall but has funky, sexy I just rolled out of bed and have awesome brown hair going on. His style is pretty good and he seems like a really nice guy. Haaron and I spent the day together as Lionel had an upset stomach, and it turned out to be quite

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-50575826535164941832007-11-14T01:25:00.000-08:002007-11-14T01:57:16.024-08:00

Bei= NorthJing=Capital The train trip was about 21 hrs long. My first train trip that I really remember and it was not tedious at all. I met 2 women who helped me learn all the names of the pieces in the Chinese Chess game I had bought. I want to learn how to play it before I leave China. I met a man from Nigeria and asked him if he knew Daniel Igali but he didn't. for the most of the time I

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-17411318339395933722007-11-12T00:25:00.000-08:002007-11-12T00:44:03.878-08:00

A few nights ago Estelle and I went to see a Finnish A cappello group. They were quite amazing and very entertaining. Their sound effects were so neat. Making percussion and instruments like trumpets, trombones, electric guitars with just their voices.So I met this chick named VAnessa at my hostel and she's a pretty sweet gal from Australia. She's going to study mandarin in Shanghai for 6 weeks,

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-27632409848361187302007-11-11T08:06:00.000-08:002007-11-11T08:07:31.467-08:00

Today was a strange day. I've had a wonderful few days but I'll write about today.I went to Christina's in the morning and we went to visit her extended family an hour and a half out of town. Her dad was driving and driving in China is so hectic! Christina's dad honked at ppl all the time and I thought that, I'm a good driver in Canada but in China I wouldn't get anywhere because there are

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-40627397664989227212007-11-08T23:18:00.000-08:002008-04-07T21:52:12.894-07:00

Last night Estelle invited me to come out and party at this club with some of her colleagues from her internship. I had a really great time! It was only Estelle's 2nd time to a Club and i think she only went because she knew that I liked partying. I can't get over how nice she is. Today she helped me exchange my travellor's cheques at the Bank of China and buy a train ticket for Beijing. The club

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-46999281173319178152007-11-07T07:13:00.000-08:002008-04-07T22:07:36.275-07:00

Estelle and I went out to dinner before meeting up with Christina and Henry at the mall. We ate Snake cooked in tasty peanut butter bean sauce and also fish head. Christina gave me the honour of eating the fish eyeball and brains. I was scared to eat it at first but I knew it'd be alright. It exploded in my mouth like a grape and the lens felt a bit like a pumpkin seed. It tasted of fresh

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-85806976947184805642007-11-04T17:02:00.000-08:002008-04-07T21:53:46.028-07:00

Different than Canada:1. Oldies=TroopersWhen I was in HK I saw this old man in a store and he looked like a living skeleton, but hey, he was at work not laying in bed. I see old people taking the bus, wandering around town and just doing their own business and all I can think is 'Wow these ppl are really tough!'2. I feel tall. I can actually see over people's heads and sometimes have to duck down

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-33971534085448032542007-11-02T19:00:00.000-07:002007-11-02T19:13:36.887-07:00

Yesterday I went to Lantau island to see the biggest Buddha in the world! IT was spectacular. I took so many pictures that I went through 6 batteries yesterday...I think that my camera isn't the best.Then I went to this village called Tai-O, my favorite part of HK. It's nicknamed HK's Venice but is probably one of the poorest parts of HK. It's incredible! I took some videos and LOTS of pictures.

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-37022451783488499022007-11-01T06:59:00.000-07:002007-11-07T17:41:29.762-08:00

Today I went to the South side of Hong Kong island. I slept in quite late b/c i've been feeling pretty crappy the past couple of days. I got lost on my way to Stanley Market and ended up in this residential area called Aberdeen. In Aberdeen, I happened to stumble upon this magical temple that wasn't much from the outside but was so pristine on the inside. There were these huge coiled incense

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-33486511774009198472007-10-31T08:53:00.000-07:002007-11-07T17:49:44.919-08:00

This morning some girls in my dorm woke me up at 6AM to take a picture with them because they were leaving the Hostel that day. Last night we all stayed up late and they all welcomed me to stay at their houses in Guangzhou and in Beijing. It was fun because they taught me some mandarin pronounciations and I taught them some English:). Man is Chinese hard!I went and wandered around today to

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-29976477545070037962007-10-30T06:29:00.000-07:002007-11-01T07:57:41.686-07:00

SOoooooo I am quite delerious at the moment. I flew From Vancouver on a Sunday and arrived in HK and it was a Tuesday today! WHERE DID MONDAY GO??? Well, my first impression of ppl in HK is that they are really friendly and helpful. I slept in the airport last night, then took the metro system and a bus to my hostel at 5 am. Mount Davis Jockey club my hostel happens to be on the top of this small

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-2861309656589986012007-10-28T08:37:00.000-07:002007-10-28T08:42:37.323-07:00

I told dad that I wouldn't get in any fights in CHina so I guess I kept my promise. Last night at the pub crawl in Vancouver this chick was all up in Gabrielle and her friend Erins face like yelling at them and going to fight them because she got pushed. So I told her to back off and this chick went crazy. I grabbed her to keep her away from the other girls and she f-ing threw me off the stage! I

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-27725184007569460342007-10-25T09:38:00.000-07:002007-11-01T17:40:20.395-07:00

I had a really nice dinner with my neighbour Maja. We had good conversation as usual, and I found out where Alex(her daughter) was adopted from in China. It's called Yiyang City in the Hunan province which is just above Guangzhou. Maja picked her up from Changcha as it's the capital of the province. I want to find the city and spend some time volunteering in the orphanage she was from. It'd be

Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900429844550096057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627610207202111443.post-70145229216691804352007-10-22T10:04:00.000-07:002007-10-22T10:08:16.799-07:00

I have no idea what to pack. Its a hard job. its 35 degrees celcius in HK right now, but in northern China where Mark lives there is probably 2 feet of snow. I dont really have a plan after my first 6 days in HK staying at a hostel. Thailand is so close and i dont need a visa...Yunnan province in China will be just sitting there waiting for me as well, with its magical scenery and its mountain

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