"Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth." ~Buddha
Ironically, In a land where Buddha dominates more than Starbucks or McDonalds, I am hard-pressed to find these 3 things. The sun and moon, both constantly hidden from view due to a thick coat of pollution... no 2nd hand smoke laws in Beijing! I have rarely seen the sun in the 5 weeks that I've been in Beijing, and when I have, it appears as a scene from a science-fiction movie... the sky a hazy grey and the burnt orange sun setting quietly behind the desolate trees.
Truth: It won't be long, China! With all the traditions, superstitions and still, restrictions on information, I see the younger generation wanting to know... anything and everything! They are hungry for information, knowledge and opportunity... it is an exciting time to experience! On that note, I share with you some of the moments that made me smile here in Beijing, Guilin and XingPing :-)
Freezing my EVERYTHING off at the Forbidden City, Beijing
Bad hair day, anyone?
"The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual's own reason and critical analysis." ~Dalai Lama XIV
Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple; Yonghe Lamasery) is the largest and best-preserved lamasery in Beijing. It was built in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) as the residence of the Emperor Yongzheng (the third emperor of the Qing Dynasty) before he ascended the throne. In the year 1744, the residence was completely converted into a lamasery.
Dance rehearsal... the cast working on their "Carnaval del Barrio" -esque scene
Dinner... Chinese style. Yeah, there's food, somewhere behind those bottles!
Guilin 桂林, in Southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. With a history spanning more than 2000 years, this vibrant river City was quite the change from the hustle & bustle of Beijing... enjoy the peace of the Li River.
Buddhist Temple in Seven Star Park, Guilin
Sun and Moon pagoda, Guilin
Reed Flute Cave in Guilin, is a natural limestone cave over 180 million years old. The cave got its name from the type of reed growing outside, which can be made into melodious flutes. Reed Flute Cave is filled with a large number of stalactites, stalagmites and rock formations in weird and wonderful shapes. Inside, there are more than 70 inscriptions written in ink, which can be dated back as far as 792 AD in the Tang Dynasty
XingPing is a town in North Guangxi, China. The town was initially settled in 265 AD.
A very inspiring scenery!
The old street (literally... there is one!) of XingPing
The Li River, XingPing.
Old Street in XingPing... not exactly the hottest nightlife... but great lighting!
