Friday, July 14, 2006
China with Carson
In steamy hot June, Carson and I traveled to China for an incredible
two week journey into the land of emperors and massive economic
development. Competing for our attention were 2000 year old
inscriptions alongside new Starbucks signs, rickshaws next to Land
Rovers, fragrant smells of temple incense with thick industrial smoke.
But as we adjusted to this new China, the ancient China drew us in.
We explored the hidden pavilions of the Forbidden City, home only
100 years ago to the Last Emperor. We rode rickshaws in Beijings
hutongs, sailed on the Empress' Summer Palace lake, met kite
makers, and opera students, and saw Shaolin Monks perform
amazing acrobatics.
The Great Wall begged us to climb along it's undulating ridges, but
only after running a gauntlet of vendors selling t-shirts. We marched
with Terracotta Warriors, burned incense at the Wild Goose Pagoda,
lost our hearts to the cute Panda cubs, and briefly forgot the steady
assault on our senses. For three days we sailed on the Yangtse River,
passing through the immense locks of the Three Gorges Dam, just
two months from completion. But best of all, we indulged ourselves
in the juiciest watermelon on the planet.
two week journey into the land of emperors and massive economic
development. Competing for our attention were 2000 year old
inscriptions alongside new Starbucks signs, rickshaws next to Land
Rovers, fragrant smells of temple incense with thick industrial smoke.
But as we adjusted to this new China, the ancient China drew us in.
We explored the hidden pavilions of the Forbidden City, home only
100 years ago to the Last Emperor. We rode rickshaws in Beijings
hutongs, sailed on the Empress' Summer Palace lake, met kite
makers, and opera students, and saw Shaolin Monks perform
amazing acrobatics.
The Great Wall begged us to climb along it's undulating ridges, but
only after running a gauntlet of vendors selling t-shirts. We marched
with Terracotta Warriors, burned incense at the Wild Goose Pagoda,
lost our hearts to the cute Panda cubs, and briefly forgot the steady
assault on our senses. For three days we sailed on the Yangtse River,
passing through the immense locks of the Three Gorges Dam, just
two months from completion. But best of all, we indulged ourselves
in the juiciest watermelon on the planet.
