Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Getting to Siem Reap
What Jeff failed to mention was our trip here..and how incredibly interesting it was...I will let the girls tell the story but in short, we landed at the border w/out a real appreciation of what the bordertown was like. After being ripped off by border police for our visas, we encountered the ugly world of taxi drivers. Almost 3 hours and many stories from our taxi driver, we did arrive at our cozy and truly delightful hotel. They greeted us with fruit drinks and smiles and frankly, I was happy the Cambodian taxi mafia didn't get us. I must admit that as we travelled thru the largely dark and very poor villages of Cambodia I wondered if again we had decided to do something totally, totally nuts. Fortunately, my in-laws were pretty calm and I told that driver I was about to vomit...which in a way I could have if the situation demanded. We'll upload some pictures soon. The city is truly wonderful and the people delightful...we are thinking that despite the gangs of taxi drivers and the truly scary begininng, we are not ready to end this adventure.
Angkor Wat
The name itself pulls you in... Fortunately for us, the reality of this fascinating temple complex outside of the Cambodian city of Siem Reap is even better than the exotic images the name evokes. Miles of roads connect the various stone temples that were built at the height of the Khmer kingdom (starting in the 9th century) as part of an elaborate holy city. This huge complex easily absorbs the tourist masses and allows you to feel as if you are one of those French explorers finding it for the first time. One of the sites was preserved in the way that it was found to give you a sense of how overgrown the complex was when it was first "re-discovered" in the late 1800s. The interplay of architecture and nature at this site is amazing - with the 800 year old buildings mounted by 400 year old trees whose roots meander through the nooks and crannies, merging themselves into a key element of the site. The stone faces that adorn the restored complex called Banyon is also something that you cannot easily forget. Then there is the massive complex of Angkor Wat - the image that has become the symbol of the Cambodian state. As amazing a complex as you will find anywhere. We're heading back tomorrow.
However, somewhat to our surprise, we have found much more in Cambodia that we really enjoy. It is a very relaxed place, where people greet you with easy, genuine smiles. The traffic, after frantic Bangkok, is sooo much more relaxed and invites you to rent a $2 bike for a day to explore the various markets and riverfront developments. Great street food and inexpensive, high quality market wares make this an ideal destination. Had we not had a bizarre experience at the border, which will have to be the subject of another blog, we would have absolutedly nothing negative to say about laid back Cambodia. Probably a couple of more days here before turning back to Thailand for our last two weeks. What a great adventure it has been so far!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Thailand
After spending a month in China we have now left China and have come to Thailand, where there isn't sensored internet, so we can publish blogs.
Yesterday we went on an incursion into a National Park, where wild tigers and elephants still roam today though their numbers are decreasing and we all had quite an experience.
Sorry, we are leaving for Cambodia so I will finish this story later.
Yesterday we went on an incursion into a National Park, where wild tigers and elephants still roam today though their numbers are decreasing and we all had quite an experience.
Sorry, we are leaving for Cambodia so I will finish this story later.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Our first days in Thailand.
I know, it has been a long time since we did any blogging at all. We had a lot of problems in China. Nothing too serious but in short, we had limited email access. And once we finally got email, our blog page would not work at all. We all had a great time in Xi'an for 3 weeks. The girls took chinese classes in the morning and then some Tai Chi and caligraphy classes and I tried to stay out of trouble. By the third week, my in-laws arrived and the girls focused their attention on them. We did a whole lot in Xi'an, including 3 massages for me. I saw a whole different side of China..and frankly, one that I liked a whole lot. By the end of the month, we made our way to Beijing to meet Jeff and to say our goodbyes to my students. I had 14 students for this trip and everyone of them was unique and enjoyable. I couldn't have asked for an easier group.
On June 2 we said our goodbyes but only after a morning run around Tiannmen Square. It was a nice way to say farewell to China. We got tickets --on Sri Lankan Air (yes, I am honest and it was FANTASTIC..perhaps the best flight any of us have had) After drinks, red wine and great food (I'm totally honest), we landed in sticky Bangkok. Well, the internet is truly amazing and the hotel that I booked hours earlier from Beijing was ready and waiting for us when we arrived. After a relaxing dinner of spicy Thai food, we took a dip in our pool and settled in. Yes, I was definately back in Thailand.
So, two days later we have found ourselves in Northeast Thailand..Issan country..at one of the country's national parks...we hope to see wild elephants, monkeys and all sorts of animals and wildlife tomorrow...but who knows. I am just happy we are here..and have a pool to enjoy.
The girls, I am sure, will write soon..now that we aren't bothered by censors or internet connections...off to Cambodia soon...should be amazing.
On June 2 we said our goodbyes but only after a morning run around Tiannmen Square. It was a nice way to say farewell to China. We got tickets --on Sri Lankan Air (yes, I am honest and it was FANTASTIC..perhaps the best flight any of us have had) After drinks, red wine and great food (I'm totally honest), we landed in sticky Bangkok. Well, the internet is truly amazing and the hotel that I booked hours earlier from Beijing was ready and waiting for us when we arrived. After a relaxing dinner of spicy Thai food, we took a dip in our pool and settled in. Yes, I was definately back in Thailand.
So, two days later we have found ourselves in Northeast Thailand..Issan country..at one of the country's national parks...we hope to see wild elephants, monkeys and all sorts of animals and wildlife tomorrow...but who knows. I am just happy we are here..and have a pool to enjoy.
The girls, I am sure, will write soon..now that we aren't bothered by censors or internet connections...off to Cambodia soon...should be amazing.
Friday, May 15, 2009
The first group run
Today we finally got to run in Xing Quin Park. I ran most of the way but at the end I had to stop because my lungs were burning. I walked with a Chinese student Yue. She and I went to a play area and went on this towering rocket slide. It was lots of fun!! We got to the gate a bit late but mom and keith were still waiting for us. Mom, as always, was nervous about my delay..but we were just fine.
We ran the rest of the way "home". Home for us here is on campus in the international dorms. On the outside the dorms looks kind of unique but on the inside it is pretty plain and average, though it is not bad at all.
We had breakfast at a Muslim cafeteria or canteen. Hana and I ordered at least ten baozi which are fluffy sort of dumpling. We then got kicked toward the end of our breakfast because we were eating food from a different canteen which had pork. Muslims don't eat pork and that was a problem.
At 9 in the morning, we had calligraphy class -- man from the university came to talk. Next week were are going to draw some calligraphy. I was very happy about that...and very surprised, because all he did was talk.
From 10 until 12 I had an interesting but hard Chinese class. We had a writing test since we finished a lesson.
I will write soon again because now I have to go to my Chinese discussion class with Yue, our Chinese friend..and my teacher!
We ran the rest of the way "home". Home for us here is on campus in the international dorms. On the outside the dorms looks kind of unique but on the inside it is pretty plain and average, though it is not bad at all.
We had breakfast at a Muslim cafeteria or canteen. Hana and I ordered at least ten baozi which are fluffy sort of dumpling. We then got kicked toward the end of our breakfast because we were eating food from a different canteen which had pork. Muslims don't eat pork and that was a problem.
At 9 in the morning, we had calligraphy class -- man from the university came to talk. Next week were are going to draw some calligraphy. I was very happy about that...and very surprised, because all he did was talk.
From 10 until 12 I had an interesting but hard Chinese class. We had a writing test since we finished a lesson.
I will write soon again because now I have to go to my Chinese discussion class with Yue, our Chinese friend..and my teacher!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
a small village....
Yesterday we went to a small village located outside of Xian. This small village had a population of around 300,000 people, a very small city in China.
Before I tell you about yesterdays's experience, I need to tell you a bit of backround knowledge, yesterday the officials decided that they did not want our group to go anywhere. They do not want us to organize anything, go to any public space and they don't even want us to leave the hotel; even to go to a restaurant was something that they were telling us not to do. But we only have three weeks in Xian, so for us what they were telling us to do was crazy, we have tons of plans, and things that the students need to do and they are just telling us that we can't even leave our hotel?
So today we decided that we were not going to go with that. The other professor who is half chinese and is the one who mainly talks to the officials, decided that we would have to go along with our plans and just see what happens. So now as we sped towards a village outside of Xian, we all had our cell phones turned off, in case the officials tried to call us; and a military car in front of us, heading towards a school.
After visiting the factory we took the bus a different way towards a high school. There were 4,000 students who attended the high school, and they all gawked at us as we entered the campus. But of course instead of simply looking around and waving at the masses of chinese children, we had to go into the class room and perform in a sort of talent show.
Their were around ninety kids in the one classroom that we visited and our experience was like nothing we had ever had before, as soon as we were ushered into the classroom we were asked to introduce ourselves, telling the small class our name, where we were from and if we liked China. Anything that we did, they clapped and shrieked with happiness and these were 16 and 17 year olds, not little children. I was starting to have flashbacks of my experience back at Jiao da.
First they tried to get my mom to sing, which did not work out well; as they cheered her on and she kept on telling them that she was unable to sing, she finally nominated one of her students, Keith, to sing instead. And... he did. He sang you are my sunshine, or half of it to the cheers of the chinese, then of course they choose one of their best students to sing. It was a group of three chinese and together they sang a trio of old chinese verses that was amazing; we were all stupidifed after this amazing display. Then they wanted us to sing a chinese song, of course that was doomed not to turn out well...but we were saved by Julia, whose Chinese teacher had taught her one Chinese song which Julia had memoorized easily...but I will let her tell you about that experience.
After that amazing display, a large fan grouop gathered around Julia, calling her lovely and talking to her in a mixture of Chinese and English, and then one of their students sang; this time in English. SHe had an amazing voice and beautifully sang an English song and did very well, and her song did beat Keith's song.
Then they wanted someone from our group to peform something, and this time we did have a trick up our sleeves. This time Nathan came up, who could bend all of his fingers backwards, all of his hands, all of his arms, all of his legs and the Chinese scrieked with amazement. Then Keith came up again and he, Jessica and Lyndsey did a kauta in some kind of martial art. Before we left our new friends and went back into the bus, this time heading towards a farm village that was home only to sixty families.
Hana
Before I tell you about yesterdays's experience, I need to tell you a bit of backround knowledge, yesterday the officials decided that they did not want our group to go anywhere. They do not want us to organize anything, go to any public space and they don't even want us to leave the hotel; even to go to a restaurant was something that they were telling us not to do. But we only have three weeks in Xian, so for us what they were telling us to do was crazy, we have tons of plans, and things that the students need to do and they are just telling us that we can't even leave our hotel?
So today we decided that we were not going to go with that. The other professor who is half chinese and is the one who mainly talks to the officials, decided that we would have to go along with our plans and just see what happens. So now as we sped towards a village outside of Xian, we all had our cell phones turned off, in case the officials tried to call us; and a military car in front of us, heading towards a school.
After visiting the factory we took the bus a different way towards a high school. There were 4,000 students who attended the high school, and they all gawked at us as we entered the campus. But of course instead of simply looking around and waving at the masses of chinese children, we had to go into the class room and perform in a sort of talent show.
Their were around ninety kids in the one classroom that we visited and our experience was like nothing we had ever had before, as soon as we were ushered into the classroom we were asked to introduce ourselves, telling the small class our name, where we were from and if we liked China. Anything that we did, they clapped and shrieked with happiness and these were 16 and 17 year olds, not little children. I was starting to have flashbacks of my experience back at Jiao da.
First they tried to get my mom to sing, which did not work out well; as they cheered her on and she kept on telling them that she was unable to sing, she finally nominated one of her students, Keith, to sing instead. And... he did. He sang you are my sunshine, or half of it to the cheers of the chinese, then of course they choose one of their best students to sing. It was a group of three chinese and together they sang a trio of old chinese verses that was amazing; we were all stupidifed after this amazing display. Then they wanted us to sing a chinese song, of course that was doomed not to turn out well...but we were saved by Julia, whose Chinese teacher had taught her one Chinese song which Julia had memoorized easily...but I will let her tell you about that experience.
After that amazing display, a large fan grouop gathered around Julia, calling her lovely and talking to her in a mixture of Chinese and English, and then one of their students sang; this time in English. SHe had an amazing voice and beautifully sang an English song and did very well, and her song did beat Keith's song.
Then they wanted someone from our group to peform something, and this time we did have a trick up our sleeves. This time Nathan came up, who could bend all of his fingers backwards, all of his hands, all of his arms, all of his legs and the Chinese scrieked with amazement. Then Keith came up again and he, Jessica and Lyndsey did a kauta in some kind of martial art. Before we left our new friends and went back into the bus, this time heading towards a farm village that was home only to sixty families.
Hana
Ah...how we love food!
Finally, just to let you know..while some internet sites work, others don't...the best way for us to read your messages is by posting comments on our blog -- my UNL account is hard to access...you can also reach me at patricemcmahon@gmail.com...I think!! Miss you...especially our daddy and husband
Our first few days!
We have made it!! Our flights over were uneventful -- except when we got to Beijing and couldn't find most of the students. And just as the plane boarded, our little huskers came running. By the time we arrived in Xi'an, we were all exhausted but incredibly excited. The girls will tell more about our first three days -- they have been a Chinese adventure. The swine flu is very much a concern for the government and just as we had arrived, a case of swine flu was discovered in the next province. This has had important effects on our trip and schedule. Not only are we probed by a thermometer twice a day at somewhat regular intervals (as long as we are not overheated!), they requested that we do not go out in public, especially meet with Chinese students. They also wanted us to eat in our dorms instead in on campus or in nearby restaurants. Such a request however was regarded as impossible...and so we have continued to try to show others the wonderful world of Xi'an, China. The rain howewver has also made it difficult to wander around aimlessly but I've heard that it will be nicer on the weekend. The Chinese classes have been great and the girls are enjoying using their Chinese...
So, we just can't believe how quickly our reality has changed. The food, by the way, seems to only have gotten better. We enjoyed hot pot...and walked around our old neighborhood. Yesterday we went to a nearby "town"... of several hundred thousands to see a bit of rural life. We were warmly squeezed by the local middle schoolers.
The kids will write soon
So, we just can't believe how quickly our reality has changed. The food, by the way, seems to only have gotten better. We enjoyed hot pot...and walked around our old neighborhood. Yesterday we went to a nearby "town"... of several hundred thousands to see a bit of rural life. We were warmly squeezed by the local middle schoolers.
The kids will write soon
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
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