Yan can cook. So can Yolanda!

Booked an afternoon cooking class with Peter Wang.  

 First, he took us to the local market filled with different stalls for eggs, spices, vegetables, rice, seafood and all sorts of meats (live, raw and cooked). 

He told us that people come every day for their food. 

Our menu consisted of stir fried vegetables, kung pao chicken, beer fish (Yangshuo recipe), and steamed pork dumplings!

Merry, merry Christmas

Decided to have a Chinese style breakfast at Lucy's Place, on West Street in Yangshuo.  This consisted of freshly squeezed orange juice, dumplings, a bowl of piping hot noodles and hot tea.

Yangshuo is called the "global village" of China because of all the bohemian tourists from around the world.  I would say it is true after passing a gaggle of Canadian high schoolers, and people who seemed to be speaking German or Russian.

At breakfast, we met two young Spaniards who have been in Shanghai since February to learn Chinese.  The restaurant was playing a song with some of the lyrics in English.  At the end of each verse, the singer crooned, "Merry, merry Christmas. Lonely, lonely Christmas."   Talk about global, this place is a real global village.

Too bad there are plans to build a bullet train from Shanghai to Yangshuo.  Once this happens, they anticipate the area to grow five times it current size!  So very sad.

The Li River and Yangshuo

Driving from the Guilin airport, I was reminded of Allende and Piedras Negras, Coahuila. A land that is industrial, dusty, and ruggedly beautiful. Here, the pomelo, persimmon and osmanthus tree grows right along side the rice fields.  In Allende and Piedras, one drives through groves of pecan trees, fields of corn and depending on the time of year, recently harvested super sweet camote (sweet

potato/yam).

I can barely see the Li River from my second floor balcony.  But what I can see, is a fast flowing river.  Murky green in color, from the sediments of last night's heavy rain. I close my eyes to soak in the sound of the river rushing by.  

Horns honking from cars, scooters and even bike bells ringing their presence to the people in their way.  A police official's diesel truck rumbles to a start and drives away.  I open my eyes to see tandem bikes carrying couples and friends, families strolling along the river's edge - stopping to take in the beauty of the river.

Climbing Walls in China

NEVER in my life did I think I would see this place with my own eyes or walk the steps with my own feet!  

And I am so glad to have climbed the entire section of the Badaling area.

I was feeling  so proud of myself when I realized that a 90 year old woman and her 70-something year old son had effortlessly passed me up as I took a short breather and rest stop along watchtower #4.

 I tried to imagine smoke signals and horsemen riding up and down the walls; and, boy are they steep!  There is even a place inscribed in ANCIENT Chinese that says "utmost danger".

Joining Ghangis Kubla Kan, Attila the Hun as wall climbers are Lupe, Xiao Liang and me!

Welcome the Change

China is now open! Last night, I listened to Will.I.Am and the Black Eyed Peas over Mexican pizza, followed by a McFlurry for dessert.

Even the wedding cakes look like they were made by the 'cake boss'. People are engrossed by their cell phones, social media and small screened mobile devices.

Tiananmen Square and its Legacy

 

 

I was at Baylor when Chinese students and citizens protested against their government's treatment against its own citizens.

 

 

It has been 25 years since the protests for democracy and freedom happened. There has been a HUGE change in China.

 

 

Folks are just like everyone else in the world.   

 

 

Seems like all the channels play singing competition shows on TV that remind me of "Sabado Gigante" named China Voice and Chinese Idol.

 

Haciendo Caras...

I've been told I have an expressive face, but I had not realized the extent!  

Here are a few ...