Blogs from Asia - page 15582

In my last report i forgot to mention the fortune teller that came over to Xuan's familys house and read my future. There where about 12 people in the room and im sure all of them know my future better then me. Let me explain. He looked at me, looked at my hands and then commenced talking for about 10min, then Xuan would look at me and said "28 is good age to get married", then he would talk for another 10min or so, pointing at his heart and the sky and waving his hands, then Xuan would look at me and say "next year will not be so good for you", this went on for about 40 min or so. Some how i think there was something lost in the translation. He did mention that ... read more

16-8 Blog This afternoon we visited some rustic markets; small shops selling a mixture of authentic and counterfeit goods. There was even a street dedicated to undergarments and flip-flops! After buying some new socks, we met up with Michelle’s sister for Chengdu’s most famous dish, hotpot (literally translated, fire pot). It was not as hot as I thought, and served with a garlic and coriander dip, it was quite a delicate balance of flavours. Served with a Chinese flower tea that was topped up using unusual teapots and methods. (The picture explains it better.) 17-8 Blog A group of 5 of us travelled to Leshan to start meeting Michelle’s extended family, and some sight seeing. I met her uncle and auntie, two of her cousins and her fathers parents. We were treated to a delightful meal ... read more

Nakikita Kita Sa mga pahina ng aking aklat Sa mga salitang iniluluwa ng aking pluma Sa mga ngiti ng aking kasama Sa mga patak ng ulan Naririnig Kita Sa mga pintig at huni Sa mga kalabog, tinig, halakhak Nararamdaman Kita Nanunuot sa kalamnan May kaba sa dibdib May hinahanap na di matagpuan Walang multo sa tag-araw... ... read more

On just the third day, Sarah has already earned a nickname. As if she isn’t already confused enough with the new language and new names (Sarah Michelle, Lai Jing - her new Chinese name), now we’ve gotten to calling her “Ah-boo-boo”!  She’s got this incredibly cute manner of bubbling with her lips when she’s pouting. I suppose it’s our way of finding faces in the clouds during a thunderstorm, and this girl sure does rain tears a lot. Sarah’s still very needy and clingy, and will rarely sit or walk on her own. So, when mama or baba are tired and/or busy, and can’t hold her…she starts to cry. I think it must have been a baby like Sarah who was the object when the term “cry-baby” was first coined! Stacey and I both agree ... read more

Jiuhuashan, nine brilliant mountains, is one of China's great Buddhist peaks, and was founded in the XII century when a Korean monk believed to be the reincarnation of somebody holy and revered met his end. After a five hour coach trip from Nanjing, up along the bank of the wide Yangzi, passengers disembarked to pay the steep park entry before boarding the complimentary mini bus lift to the village of Jiuhuashan. Shrouded in mist, the village is encircled by a road connecting the temples and guesthouses, small hotels and eateries and countless shops selling overpriced wood sculptures, dried foods, teas, umbrellas, music, instruments, pendants, everything but postcards. In the late afternoon I settle into the pension, accept a cup of hot oolong tea and shower before strolling to nearby Dabei Lou where monks young and old ... read more