My mother arrived at the airport two hours ago for her flight back to Houston. I arrived in Las Vegas 48 hours ago. This morning I slept in til nearly 9am Las Vegas time. I feel extremely accomplished for that feat. Yesterday I made it to about 6am after going to sleep around 9pm Thursday night. My adventure from Beijing to Las Vegas included very little excitement. I slept on the plane, looked at “The Town,” “Secretariat,” and an episode of “Mad Men.” The gentleman sitting next to me only breathed his less than pleasant breath on me for part of the flight.
The largest difference between this trip and the one in October was that I did not require a wheelchair. That trip occurred only 2 days after my bicycle/ van collision. I enjoyed some good food, some relaxing activities, and a bit of sightseeing with my mother in the two days that she stayed with me. We stayed at Treasure Island. We ate one meal at a steakhouse in the hotel, another one at Sinatra’s, and our breakfasts don’t even warrant writing about.
The weekend before my trip back to Las Vegas included a Saturday and a Sunday hiking trip. I believe that I will continue to hike with my Saturday folks regularly and only occasionally see the Sunday group. Two long days in a row every weekend for me appears to be a little much. I did make a few new friends on Sunday. I’ll see them all again… just not every weekend.
Tomorrow night (Sunday) I set-up for my first of two shows before picking Tony up from the airport. I hope to be on schedule by Monday morning. Based upon my last night’s sleep schedule I should be fine. The sixteen hour time difference does mess me up so I have enjoyed these last two most relaxing days. I look forward to today’s continued relaxing time.
Saturday in China turned out to be a work day because of the holiday. I missed my hiking like a crack addict misses his crack pipe. I found a fix! Sunday hiking group…… It’s similar to my Saturday group. They’ve been hiking a bit longer. I found out the the Saturday group split off from the Sunday group because a few people preferred to get out on a Saturday versus a Sunday. The best news of the whole thing is that I now have the option to go hiking every Saturday and/ or Sunday depending upon my mood and schedule. The folks welcomed me as one of their own almost immediately. I believe that these hiking groups will see to it that I never ever ever leave China for more than a few weeks at a time. Photos can be viewed from some of the Sunday scenery by clicking this link. We drove in the snow for nearly two hours to our destination. We arrived at a remote area near the Great Wall of China. The hike up the mountain to the wall took over an hour in the snow. The snow made the trek a bit more adventurous than normal. The trip down included a few short slips and only one short fall on the slippery trail.
We all receive the mass e mailings. Every so often I read an article sent my way. This one is one of those. I crave entertaining reading more than I used to now that my address reads Beijing, China. Each day I learn at least one new thing about Chinese culture. With each new friend I make and every relationship created, I continue to grow as a human being. I think about Max Spector, my old boss from my high school job. Max told me (when he was in his eighties) that he never stopped learning. Every day of Max’s life he learned at least one new thing. Max made it past ninety. I’ll always miss him.
This article provides insight into some of the many many many differences between Chinese and western cultures. I’m not certain how many folks will understand it. It may be reserved for westerners who spend a considerable amount of time in Asia.
Ari’s trip was short and fairly full. My friend Ari and I first met way back in college when I was 18. We have stayed in touch ever since although he moved away from Austin for graduate school, residency, a job, more graduate school, more residency, a job, and then back to Dallas where he currently lives and works. Since I arrived in Beijing for good in late April 2010 many friends have shown interest in visiting. I welcome everyone. My adventures here never cease. Ari’s work slows a bit in February so he booked his flight and made his way across the globe. We enjoyed visiting the obligatory sites that include the Summer Palace (via subway) as well as Houhai. We also visited Nanluoguxiang Hutong, Tien’anmen square, at least one grocery store, a hospital, a pharmacy, Hooters, McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and a few other places. We enjoyed Beijing duck (in Beijing, China,) pulled noodles, fresh dumplings, Beijing beer, and some (out of this world) green beans called Ganbiandoujiao.
I believe that the ski lift cable car up to the Great Wall came in a close second to the toboggan ride down from the Great Wall for Ari. The trip to and from the Wall included three public buses, a subway, and a private car ride. Ari arrived during the Chinese New Year celebration. That means that many fireworks punctuated our evenings every night of his visit. Now… I am ready for my next visitor!
I nearly forgot…. January 22, 2011 three Texans and two lovely Chinese young ladies celebrated Justin’s birthday by having a traditional Chinese dinner.
The dinner occurred near the start of the Chinese new year celebration. Jonathan arrived at dinner after having spent several hours at an end of year work party with his co-workers. That means that Jonathan enjoyed spirits nearly all day and evening long. I arrived at Jonathan’s dinner fresh off a hiking group dinner which closely followed a beautiful afternoon of hiking with my most wonderful hiking group. Annie (in red scarf,) Justin’s young lady friend, and Amara, Justin’s flat mate also joined in the festivities.
I never tire of experiencing holiday fireworks. Twelve months ago today, while my month long work trip to Beijing winded down, I listened to suggestions of friends about experiencing Chinese New Year in China.
I figured that I would be able to be here again in February 2011 or maybe later to find out for myself what the talk really meant. Today, February 3, 2011 at 12:52pm in the afternoon I sit in a Starbucks and type into my notebook computer. I hear sounds of fireworks exploding outside. Fourteen hours ago with the temperature dropping below freezing, the buildup to midnight intensified. Nearly everywhere I looked I saw smoke and the bright colorful lights of fireworks. As midnight approached the intensity and the explosions increased and a continual display of brilliant colors continued at an intense pace until way after midnight.
The day for me started before noon at a Starbucks near Wangfujing. I scheduled the meeting of a new friend from Detroit who just (five days earlier) moved to Beijing for an 18 month assignment with her company. I put in some computer work before Julie arrived right after noon. We made the introductions, proceeded to a late lunch of local Chinese food, then met up with Anthony before heading out to a 7pm meet-up group of couch surfers. The meet-up at a subway station north of Houhai probably included one hundred people. We watched fireworks and visited for 20 minutes before walking 5 minutes to a local restaurant that we completely filled. With fireworks constantly exploding everywhere outside enjoyed wonderful Chinese food, beverages, and good company. After dinner the crowd proceeded to an area around a Bell tower to watch fireworks until after 11pm. Closer to midnight the group separated a bit and some of us rode buses to the Workers Stadium area to watch more fireworks. At this time (close to midnight) a person in Beijing could not look anywhere and not see fireworks. The massive display I saw was like nothing I have ever experienced in the past.
