Living in Baoji, China - 1st month

      It is official; I have lived in Baoji for one month! It is very funny because I feel like I have accomplished a very big goal and in a way, I have. At 55 years new I have traveled around the world to teach little children English at a private Chinese language school. Although, this is not my favorite place in the world - the experience of meeting a new culture and a new people is enriching, rewarding and well worth the trials and tribulations I experience every day. I am feeling better about being here with a little help from my friends... (corny, I know).

     The director of the school, Julia, and her brother Alex, gave me a sightseeing tour of Baoji on my last day off. To begin our journey we ventured into to a section of town where they are completing a new city and government center. There is a huge park in the center where people play music, practice Tai Chi and walk in the morning before it gets too hot.

      Next, we drove across town and up to the Plateau outside of Baoji where we wandered around the grounds in the warm breezy air and looked down on the city views. The air is cleaner than in town and there are not a lot of people around.  I could feel the stress dissipate from my body and I sensed the same thing was happening to Alex. 

     Continuing the journey we drove to the opposite end of the city up to Mount Tiantai which is where Yandi (Emperor) grew up. It was beautiful, very green and I cannot wait to get back there to hike up the mountain. 

     Coming off of the mountain back into Baoji, we stopped in town and Julia introduced me to a club with and indoor Olympic sized swimming pool that I can visit from time to time. I am very excited about this because I miss the ocean terribly and feel a strong need to get back into water.  

     We traveled into town and stopped at a local fruit and vegetable market that seemed to go on for miles. It was nice to tag along with Julia through the market because she gave me insight to the wonderful world of food and educated me on many fruits and vegetables – most of which I had never seen before. 

     Exhausted from our journey we parted ways, I went home to relax and cook up a great meal and my two friends went home to be with their families. What a fantastic day!


Wendy

Yan Di Mausoleum

MY VISIT TO

THE MAUSOLEUM OF EMPEROR YAN 

Yandi Ling Park

JUNE 18TH, 2012

     Last week I ventured out into the unknown in search of the Mausoleum of Emperor Yan. I took the number 6 bus as recommended, but the bus seemed to travel in a direction unfamiliar to me. Finally it stopped, I was the only one on the bus and the bus driver waved at me yelling (I am sure he was saying 'get out' because his arms were waving me off the bus). So I got off the bus and walked a little bit into a neighborhood that looked a little more - let's say rustic - than my own neighborhood - which was not a really good sign. 

     I was a little apprehensive walking around this area and  decided to call it a day so I crossed the street to catch a bus back into town. Riding back to town on the number 2 bus I noticed a hidden side street with the sign 'Yandi Mausoleum' presented in an arch above the road. Immediately I exited the bus and started up the road leading to my destination.The road was long, winding and all uphill.  I walked up and around corners getting higher and higher with no end in sight. The scenery was breathtaking and I wished that I could spend my time in China in this place instead of where I am currently living. 

     When I stopped to take a picture a beautiful black bird (who had white at the tip of his tail, on the end of it's wings equipped with a red beak- very beautiful) became very curious and looked at me as if he was trying to figure out what I was. I couldn't figure out if this bird had never seen a person before or if he had never seen a white person (If I had to guess, I would say that this bird had never seen a white person), The look this bird gave me  was a feeling of friendly curiosity, almost welcoming). Soon he flew behind a tree, but felt compelled to peek at me, one more time - very cute. 

     I ventured up the hill and finally arrived at my destination. The Mausoleum is beautiful and haunting. The art work on the buildings is intricate and worthy of much appreciation and when I climbed up the stairs to the first building - a huge image of Emperor Yan was inside one of the buildings surrounded by pillows and incense. The size of the image was a little overwhelming and there was another in the courtyard as well as another in the worship center. The images were extraordinarily large and each one was larger than the one before. I went around to the back of the buildings to see never ending stairs ascending to the top of the mountain. I could see a monument on the top and later, one of my co-workers told me that at the top of the stairs - a box was buried with the Emperor's clothes inside. She told me that the people loved the Emperor so much that knowing that his clothes were buried there, gave them a feeling of closeness to their beloved Emperor. 

     This trip, I did not take the hike to the top of the stairs, but I will be sure to do it next time.Traveling down the mountain was a lot of fun although it was a little sad to have to leave this sacred place, it is comforting to know that I can always come back to visit and perhaps spend a little time meditating and imagining what a day in the life was like for the people of Baoji and for the Emperor. 

(The people of Baoji believe that they are descendants of the Emperor and once a year many Chinese make a pilgrimage to this sacred place to honor him).

Wendy

My Trip to China - 2

The Bicycle Ride

Greetings Friends and Family

     I am finally beginning to adjust to life in China and although it is not my paradise there is still a lot that China has to offer. The more I am here - the more it draws you in and shows you what it has to offer - a little at a time.

      The pictures I sent to everyone were taken when I went out for a random bike ride before work one day. I had no idea what I was going to find and was pleasantly surprised. This beautiful park is not far from where I live. I started out on my bike and went across the bridge and onto a wide cement walking and biking path. It is really a transportation route for people to get to work, but I was enjoying a leisurely ride on a beautiful day. The path turned into marble that looked like glass and the further I traveled down the road - the more beautiful it became. 

     Soon after the marble changed into a brick lined path with trees lining both sides bending as if to shade the way. It was a feeling of awe that I could ride on this path that seemed to be going straight into and up the mountain. When I glanced to the right I saw more of these beautiful paths winding through what seemed to be an ever lasting nature scene. Soon there were sculptures, gardens, centers of huge flat cemented areas that I believe are used for Tai Chi lessons. Then there was a huge section with tons of what appeared to be ping pong tables - possibly 30 of them just waiting for someone to play on them. Along the way I saw farmers working in the gardens both vegetable and flower and I also saw people scattered throughout the forests and they appeared to be meditating or just enjoying the day sitting quietly. 

     I am trying to find a biking and walking partner,but so far I cannot seem to find anyone interested in venturing out past the city. On my last day off I spent a good part of the day with 2 of my foreign teacher buddies from South Africa whose only interest was shopping and getting the nails done. It was a lot of fun, but I need to find someone adventurous like myself that longs to see the country side and all that this small unnoticed city has to offer. 

     I am not sure what the name of this park is, but a girl I work with believes I wandered upon Baoji (bow-jee) Yandi Ling Tomb. More later when I discover the name of this beautiful park!!!

Wendy