I have started a new blog about my one true love: FOOD. Maybe one day I'll be able to write in this blog again when I travel, but since I'm back to my old life this one will be on hold.
http://foodierehab.blogspot.com/
Enjoy.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Last Words...
As the summer wraps up and I'm finally in the comforts of home, I look back to my summer in Shanghai and think about everything I learned and experienced. It's hard to put in words of everything I learned. No one can understand until they have been put into my situation. It was the greatest/scariest/most stressful/spontaneous/exciting experience ever and that's just the beginning of how I can explain it.
Living in China is a whole different story then just a weeks visit. There are so many changes and challenges I went through. All of my 5 senses were challenged. And I wasn't going anywhere for two months so I had to learn how to adapt to these difficulties. I have no only learned so much about myself, but about my culture and people. I am very lucky and grateful to have the life I have today thanks to my parents and grandparents, so it was amazing to go back to the cities they grew up in during the tour around the surrounding cities of Shanghai. I appreciate being a Chinese-American, (even though some people in China didn't seem to enjoy that I'm from the US...) but I'm so proud of my culture and it's beautiful, rich history.
The place, people and (especially) the history are inspiring. I had a lot of time to walk around and instead of listening to my ipod like I usually do when walking around, I wanted to hear and experience the surroundings. I wanted to examine I got to think to myself a lot and figure out my passions and my life since I live a small, fantasy life in college filled with friends and partying. I feel more confident and in-tuned with the world, a feeling that some people never get to experience.
One night, while eating dinner outside, I looked around at the stores, restaurants and people and thought "wow, I'm in CHINA." I'm young and in China and when the hell am I ever going to have this experience again? I have no obligations, no worries or anything. I just got to do what I wanted in cities faster than the biggest ones in the US. I now find beauty and the comforts in things back home that I wouldn't have thought of before. I'm eyes are opened, way opened now.
I have caught the travel bug and I'm not afraid to use it! Where I will go next I'm not so sure, but I'm so happy I got to spend time in China.
Living in China is a whole different story then just a weeks visit. There are so many changes and challenges I went through. All of my 5 senses were challenged. And I wasn't going anywhere for two months so I had to learn how to adapt to these difficulties. I have no only learned so much about myself, but about my culture and people. I am very lucky and grateful to have the life I have today thanks to my parents and grandparents, so it was amazing to go back to the cities they grew up in during the tour around the surrounding cities of Shanghai. I appreciate being a Chinese-American, (even though some people in China didn't seem to enjoy that I'm from the US...) but I'm so proud of my culture and it's beautiful, rich history.
The place, people and (especially) the history are inspiring. I had a lot of time to walk around and instead of listening to my ipod like I usually do when walking around, I wanted to hear and experience the surroundings. I wanted to examine I got to think to myself a lot and figure out my passions and my life since I live a small, fantasy life in college filled with friends and partying. I feel more confident and in-tuned with the world, a feeling that some people never get to experience.
One night, while eating dinner outside, I looked around at the stores, restaurants and people and thought "wow, I'm in CHINA." I'm young and in China and when the hell am I ever going to have this experience again? I have no obligations, no worries or anything. I just got to do what I wanted in cities faster than the biggest ones in the US. I now find beauty and the comforts in things back home that I wouldn't have thought of before. I'm eyes are opened, way opened now.
I have caught the travel bug and I'm not afraid to use it! Where I will go next I'm not so sure, but I'm so happy I got to spend time in China.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Questions Unanswered.
As I'm packing, there are still questions in my head that I hope to answer one day...
1. Why do men in China grow out their nails (mostly their pinky nail and thumb nail) so long that it puts women to shame?
2. Why are xiaolongbao's so damn good?!
3. Why do I get death stares from some people?
4. How did they build the Great Wall/forbidden City/everything spectaular?
5. Why is it so hot out? (104 degrees)
6. When am I coming back?
7. Why do people in China yell on the phone all the time?
8. Why do I have a double chin...wait I know the answer to that.
hmm that's all I can think of now but I'm sure more will come up.
1. Why do men in China grow out their nails (mostly their pinky nail and thumb nail) so long that it puts women to shame?
2. Why are xiaolongbao's so damn good?!
3. Why do I get death stares from some people?
4. How did they build the Great Wall/forbidden City/everything spectaular?
5. Why is it so hot out? (104 degrees)
6. When am I coming back?
7. Why do people in China yell on the phone all the time?
8. Why do I have a double chin...wait I know the answer to that.
hmm that's all I can think of now but I'm sure more will come up.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Aug 6, 2010
So this whole trip I thought August 6th was a Thursdsay, but it is actually a Friday so I will not be going home until Friday. I really wish I hadn't mixed this up because I was so excited to come home and now I have a few more days. Now what to do, what to do...
Monday, August 2, 2010
Great Wall of Kelly.
Yesterday, I signed up to take an English tour to the Ming Tombs and finally, the Great Wall of China! Saved the best for last. I had to wake up at the ungodly hour of 7 am, but I was so excited to finally get to see the Great Wall. I met some awesome people on the tour from Canada and England and the tour guide was funny and informative. The Ming Tombs were great, though a very short trip since the pubic is not allowed to go to the tombs set by the mountains, so there is only one to look at. The Ming Tombs are were 13 emperors and 24 empresses are buried (not too sure on the numbers). One tomb was excavated (does that bring bad luck?) and the relics and treasures they put in the tomb were amazing. Our tour guide also told us concubines were buried alive if they were not good to the emperors and always made trouble or talked too much. That will remind me to keep my mouth shut to authority figures...
Another quick fact. The reason why people burn incense when they pray is because when people die, they go up into the heavens. So people pray in their minds and hearts while carrying incense and the smoke from it rises to the sky to send the message to the dead. I didn't know that until yesterday. Pretty cool to learn this information.
After lunch it was time to go to the Great Wall and it was the perfect weather, not too hot. This experience was so amazing. To be in the presence of one of the World Wonders is an once in a lifetime experience. I can't believe people even built this, it seems impossible! The mountains are steep and covered with trees. I can't wrap my head around the fact that this was built hundreds of years ago. The stones look so heavy as well, but the architecture is beautiful and how they were able to build while following the shapes and curves of the mountains. I highly recommend going to the Great Wall at some point in your life. It's breathe-taking and I took so many pictures. I wish I could post them here.
For my last dinner in Beijing I had Shabu Shabu (hot pot) and I'm not sure it's sitting in my stomach well. Owww. Beijing was so fun and I'm happy I came for as long as I did. I got to check so many beautiful attractions off my list because I was able to go to 2 a day (except for the Fragrant Hills). Beijing has so much history and I was able to meet some great people I will never forget.
As my trip winds down (Shanghai tonight, USA Thursday), I'm getting a little sad. I've been in China for two months and though I want to come home, I will never forget this experience. When we were eating outside on a beautiful night last night, I was thinking, when am I ever going to have the chance to be in a different country and doing my own thing. It's hard to explain but it's hard to let go. It will be tough, but I can't wait for my luxuries of home. Using my iPhone, hair straightener, no nose picking, no loogies, better smelling people (hehe), etc. I now appreciate what I have so much more and appreciate my culture and being Chinese. I just wish I would stop getting those rude stares!!!! Yes I'm an American Born Chinese, yes I dress differently and speak English, LIVE WITH IT!!!!
Another quick fact. The reason why people burn incense when they pray is because when people die, they go up into the heavens. So people pray in their minds and hearts while carrying incense and the smoke from it rises to the sky to send the message to the dead. I didn't know that until yesterday. Pretty cool to learn this information.
After lunch it was time to go to the Great Wall and it was the perfect weather, not too hot. This experience was so amazing. To be in the presence of one of the World Wonders is an once in a lifetime experience. I can't believe people even built this, it seems impossible! The mountains are steep and covered with trees. I can't wrap my head around the fact that this was built hundreds of years ago. The stones look so heavy as well, but the architecture is beautiful and how they were able to build while following the shapes and curves of the mountains. I highly recommend going to the Great Wall at some point in your life. It's breathe-taking and I took so many pictures. I wish I could post them here.
For my last dinner in Beijing I had Shabu Shabu (hot pot) and I'm not sure it's sitting in my stomach well. Owww. Beijing was so fun and I'm happy I came for as long as I did. I got to check so many beautiful attractions off my list because I was able to go to 2 a day (except for the Fragrant Hills). Beijing has so much history and I was able to meet some great people I will never forget.
As my trip winds down (Shanghai tonight, USA Thursday), I'm getting a little sad. I've been in China for two months and though I want to come home, I will never forget this experience. When we were eating outside on a beautiful night last night, I was thinking, when am I ever going to have the chance to be in a different country and doing my own thing. It's hard to explain but it's hard to let go. It will be tough, but I can't wait for my luxuries of home. Using my iPhone, hair straightener, no nose picking, no loogies, better smelling people (hehe), etc. I now appreciate what I have so much more and appreciate my culture and being Chinese. I just wish I would stop getting those rude stares!!!! Yes I'm an American Born Chinese, yes I dress differently and speak English, LIVE WITH IT!!!!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Pain.
After walking down the Fragrant Hills yesterday my legs and butt haven't been this sore since...well...I have no idea. Fragrant Hills is a place where emperors and empresses spent their leisure time since it has a beautiful view of all of Beijing with its surrounding mountains and trees. Though, I bet they had their servants carrying them up the mountain in their own personal carriage. We weren't so lucky. First for the way up, we were warned that hiking up was very difficult and could take up to 2 hours since it's steep and uneven and none of us were sure we could handle that. Then, this shady woman came up to us and said someone could drive us up and after much haggling and confusion, we obliged. And this was probably the worst idea I've had this whole trip. As the only girl, I was covering my face and on the verge of tears as the driver drove on a windy, narrow path up the mountain. Sometimes you couldn't even see the edge of the road. I was seriously praying for my life (Sorry mom and dad, I didn't know it was this dangerous!). While the boys were having fun, I was covering my face and not even able to look out the window as the driver was taking these sharp turns. Then once we made it up, the driver made us follow him to this alley and this is when I almost broke down. I was thinking someone was going to kill me and steal my liver...He made up climb this ladder up a wall and we had no idea what was on the other side. Tears almost came until the guy who went first said the ladder led to where we needed to be. That was by far the sketchiest thing I have ever done. Never again...
But we had a beautiful view of all of Beijing and there were pagodas along the top of the mountain. I was just imagining the emperors and empresses just strolling around and enjoying nature, which is what we did. Then it was time to start hiking down. To those who know me: I'm very out of shape and eating myself into a coma in China has not helped my body. So this morning I woke up in pain and walking around today was NOT fun.
Today I went to the Temple of Heaven and the Lama Temple. I'm pretty sure my legs were about to fall off, but I knew I wanted to go to these temples. The Temple of Heaven is where the emperors used to go to to pray to the Gods, especially for the harvest. And like everything else the emperors built, it was huge. I got lost many times (my body wanted to kill me), but it was amazing to see again how important details come into play with ancient China. The Temple of Heaven was built in the 1420s and everything was built for peace and harmony for the Heavens. They sacrificed animals and had a huge ceremony. Everything was to please the Gods.
The Lama Temple was spectacular. You could smell the incense from the subway terminal. It was just filled with temple after temple of different gods and deities people could pray for. And they weren't just any old statue, they were huge, detailed and wore silk robes. I've always like the idea of Buddhist thinking with being at peace and harmony (yes I'm sure there is A LOT more to Buddhism...) and these statues represented just that. Unfortunately, my friend and I got there only 45 minutes before it closed, so we weren't able to see everything, but I was already blown away from what I saw.
Tomorrow I'm taking a tour to the Ming Tombs and finally THE GREAT WALL! Very excited to see one of the more famous places in the world/one of the 7 World Wonders (I think?!) Pretty much a once in a lifetime experience, but I'm hoping I'm able to walk without all my pain. Will try and hit the sack early to be ready for a long and eventful day.
But we had a beautiful view of all of Beijing and there were pagodas along the top of the mountain. I was just imagining the emperors and empresses just strolling around and enjoying nature, which is what we did. Then it was time to start hiking down. To those who know me: I'm very out of shape and eating myself into a coma in China has not helped my body. So this morning I woke up in pain and walking around today was NOT fun.
Today I went to the Temple of Heaven and the Lama Temple. I'm pretty sure my legs were about to fall off, but I knew I wanted to go to these temples. The Temple of Heaven is where the emperors used to go to to pray to the Gods, especially for the harvest. And like everything else the emperors built, it was huge. I got lost many times (my body wanted to kill me), but it was amazing to see again how important details come into play with ancient China. The Temple of Heaven was built in the 1420s and everything was built for peace and harmony for the Heavens. They sacrificed animals and had a huge ceremony. Everything was to please the Gods.
The Lama Temple was spectacular. You could smell the incense from the subway terminal. It was just filled with temple after temple of different gods and deities people could pray for. And they weren't just any old statue, they were huge, detailed and wore silk robes. I've always like the idea of Buddhist thinking with being at peace and harmony (yes I'm sure there is A LOT more to Buddhism...) and these statues represented just that. Unfortunately, my friend and I got there only 45 minutes before it closed, so we weren't able to see everything, but I was already blown away from what I saw.
Tomorrow I'm taking a tour to the Ming Tombs and finally THE GREAT WALL! Very excited to see one of the more famous places in the world/one of the 7 World Wonders (I think?!) Pretty much a once in a lifetime experience, but I'm hoping I'm able to walk without all my pain. Will try and hit the sack early to be ready for a long and eventful day.
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