photo-editing and bronchial spasms

We've finally made our way back to Tianjin. I'm in the process of a giant photo-editing extravaganza, punctuated by what I assume is bronchitis. My goal is to make coherent, organized posts about each of the places we've traveled with a few specific photos. I do want to post one picture I tried to take, though. When we were in Xi'an, at the Terra Cotta warriors dig site/museum, I tried to take a panoramic picture using three shots, one after another. Then I used a photo-editing program to kind of cobble them together. I didn't have a tripod, but I think my dad would be proud. The actual size of the dig was the most impressive thing to me. I think if you click on the photo you can view the larger version.

curious celebrations in People's park

Erin, Nathan and I wandered around Chengdu a few days ago and went to the People's Park near our hotel. It was a little unclear what exactly was going on (which is the norm), but it seemed like there was a celebration underway specifically for older people in Tianjin. There were a number of different bands performing, and older Chinese citizens dancing and doing their exercises (those two things sometimes go hand in hand). I took a few videos, but these don't do the situation justice. I've decided I like the Sichuan people. I've been trying to learn more about the history of this province, and what I've learned so far only increases my affection for this part of China.

pandas like to eat

Here are some pictures/film-clips of pandas doing what they do best. Erin and I kept speculating just what our cat, JBJ, would do if he were to encounter a panda. Perhaps they could have an eating contest. Ah, JBJ. There is nothing quite as fluffy as you in this part of the world, but pandas are a close second.

Chengdu is great

I like this city. Everything is going well, even though we've had to revise some of our travel plans. Apparently everyone and their grandmother wants to go to Lanzho right now. As a result, we're heading to Xi'an after Chengdu, in a few days. That's just fine, though. Our hostel is run by a group of artists. They bought this old factory building and converted it. They have a studio in the building, and there's a restaurant and a cafe, and even a pool table. The TexMex restaurant was amazing and surreal. Today we're going to Du Fu's cottage and the historical park related to Tang Dynasty poets.

Guilin, Chongqing and Dazu County

I'm fairly miserable at posting regularly on my blog, but I'll try to write for a bit here. Today we're in Chongqing (Chung King, pre-Pinyin). Tomorrow we'll be catching another train for Chungdu. Chungdu is a city where the poet Tu Fu lived and wrote a large number of his poems. He is one of my favorite two poets from the Tang Dynasty. I'm looking forward to seeing the cottage he lived in when he was in Chengdu. Also, there's a TexMex restaurant in Chengdu. One thing my experiences here in China have impressed upon me is that what seems incongruous is 100% a product of one's culture. Who says that TexMex doesn't belong in Chungdu? I've made my peace with the fact that expecting things to belong anywhere is a farcical prospect at best, and is incredibly silly the further you move away from your home country. For example, Erin and I just finished walking through the tight, windy streets of Chongqing's market area and I bought some socks. The sock store was in between a food vendor and a guy who sold giant koosh balls. I had no idea that I would find socks where I did, but it was magical when it happened and it seemed right.

One of my fears is that I'll move back to the states and forget this realization that expectations about where things should be and what people should be doing in certain places are socially constructed. I fear that it will be all too easy to slip back into the comfort of "knowing" what's going on. I like my intense, edgy sense of displacement over here. I think it's keeping my wits sharp and my instincts intact. I'll post some more photos of Guilin, Chongqing and Dazu Country. We took a bus trip to Dazu Country yesterday. The sculptures there are ancient. I wished that my friends Josh and Jeff could have been there, since they're sculptors themselves. Actually, it occurs to me that Kari, who I used to work with at the Red Door, and Alicia, who also worked at the Red Door, would have loved this place too. Sculptors of the world need to check this place out.

weaving

still traveling

Tonight we're in Chongqing. Our next stop is Chengdu, and then Xiahe. So far we've been on the road for about two weeks, and we'll be gone for two weeks more before we're back in Tianjin. Here are a few recent pictures.