Simple Blog

Trip to Yunnan - Lijiang

2012-02-05T19:33:00.000+08:00

Jan 31th, 2012 丽江一日

在丽江停留一日，是为了看纳西古乐的演出。曾听说古老的纳西文字濒临灭绝，所以想尽可能多的了解一些纳西的文化。

同住的女孩一大早赶飞机了，我也就醒了。在陌生的束河居住，离丽江古城还有一段距离。其他人都是成双成对了。于是在前台买了地图，就赶到了丽江古镇。这样似乎会离回家更近一些。

拎着行李，一大早在冷清的丽江街头寻找住处，感到的还是异乡的孤独。问了几家，都住满了。后来有人将我带到一个离四方街不远的胡同。终于住下了，虽然院子和房间都很阴冷。

这边的街道比较窄，房屋又是至少二层的，所以阳光很慢的才能撒在街道上、院落里。

我一手托着地图，一手拿着专业的指南针，就沿着地图走街串巷了。期间回客栈两次，纯粹是为了验证能否找回住处。

丽江太嘈杂了。人多、招牌多。招牌的名字，搞笑的很，都是故作浪漫的名字，跟古城不搭调。

在纳西摄影师牛DUN的店铺买了几本书。其中有英文原版的《LOST HORIZON》,有纳西纸书、东巴文化等等，还有他以前拍摄的丽江的照片——那是祥和的丽江，小桥流水，洗衣的妇人，开花的墙壁。据他讲，他是现在唯一一个居住在丽江古城的原古城人了。老城的人，都把房屋出租给生意人，自己去外面买房居住了。即使现在城里的纳西族人，也是周边过来的。他痛心丽江的被毁坏。开发旅游，确实是毁灭性的行为。

晚上的纳西古乐演出，出乎我的意料之好。我本来是只听摇滚的人，本没有抱太高希望的。宣科的演说，更是亮点。宣科绝对是一流的演说家。他的平实的语言、手势、柔和的强调、诙谐的词语，震撼心灵。那是智慧、沧桑，那是对世界的大爱。我的眼泪出来了。如果说马丁路德金的I have a dream,能让人热血沸腾，宣科的娓娓道来，却是心灵的相通、人生的俯瞰。希望有机会，我还能够去听他的演说。那一招一式，都会使人受益匪浅。

83岁的宣科，还在上山。上山下乡，去到山村，教农民唱歌。这个合唱团，要首先征服欧洲，然后征服世界。那天籁的声音，友善的眼神，每日劳作晒黑的脸蛋，指缝里的泥土。我会为他们骄傲，这才是真正的代表了中国的人民。

Trip to Yunnan - Hiking the High Trail

2012-02-05T18:17:00.004+08:00

Feb 30th, 2012 Tiger Leaping Gorge

一大早，天还没亮，我们就从山白脸出发啦。今天是计划走高路到桥头的。我心里的压力还是很大，主要是年龄大了、走不了山啦。上山前，扎西和火山岩说如果我走不动，他们可以抬我下山。虽然从我来说，即使骨碌下山也不会麻烦别人的，但心里还是非常非常感动，虽然表面没表现出来。

一段上升后，就是沿山脊行走了，正好恢复爬升的疲劳。左侧是玉龙雪山的背面，山体陡峭，下面就是奔腾的金沙江。这段徒步路线还是很有特色的。迎面大部分是来自欧洲各国的徒步者。

中午过后，又有一段不大的爬升，剩下就是下降了。

自己竟然坚持走下来了，还是很高兴的。然后我们就乘车奔丽江了。车开了很久呢。

Trip to Yunnan - Chateau de Woody

2012-02-04T22:20:00.002+08:00

Jan 28th, 2012

山白脸客栈。客栈的院子面对高高直直的大山,下面是金沙江。庭院里开着花。客栈干净整洁，老板娘也颇有西式作风，说话做事利落平等。印象很好。

Trip to Yunnan - Potatso National Park, Shangri-La

2012-02-04T21:59:00.002+08:00

Jan 27th, 2012

普达措国家公园。很美的地方。一路都为美景感动着。这里有高山、森林、湖泊，洁净的空气，使长松萝得以在树木上生长。

“普达措”为梵文音译，意为“舟湖”，是“碧塔海”的藏语原名。公园距香格里拉县城22公里，地理位置东经99°59′16″—100°02′38″，北纬27°43′52″— 27°58′30″，总面积约300平方公里。公园处于滇西北亚高山寒温性针叶林植被带，最高点在弥里塘北部山顶，海拔4159米；最低点在碧塔海东部金子沟，海拔3200米，相对高差959米。

北面的属都湖：

南面的碧塔海：

Trip to Yunnan - at Dawa's

2012-02-04T21:12:00.001+08:00

Jan 25th, 2012

离开香格里拉县城往南，一路都是安详的田园、民居。远处是连绵的雪山。到了达瓦家，围着火塘坐下，达瓦美丽的妻子，两个活泼快乐的女儿，还有岳父母,他们很高兴、很热情的欢迎着我们一行。我为他们一家安详幸福的生活深深的感动着。飞机上看到的云朵的下面，就是生活着这么幸福的人群，他们富足、安详、勤劳又善良。

火塘是非常好的东西。一家人围着它，火苗燃烧，有了温暖、也有了活力，你可以出神，也可以思想，或者不思想。

藏区的风俗和观念，明显与内地不同。我能感觉到，这里更加安详，男女更加的平等，孩童更加自然的成长。

Trip to Yunnan - on the Airplane

2012-02-04T21:04:00.001+08:00

Jan 24th,2012

今天全国范围内天气晴好。舷窗望下去，山脉连绵。心中强烈的感觉，是这么爱下面这片山、这片地。这里也是祖先生活的地方啊。即使看过去，是荒山野岭，我也是这么爱它们。

从昆明到香格里拉的那段，又是不同。云层漂浮，洁白的云层下面，是黛青色的山系，还有白色的雪峰、沟壑，也可隐约看到树木。一瞬间，飞机倾斜，远近的山脉汹涌过来，远方的赭红、近处的黛青，如临阿凡达电影里的场景，但那也远不及这真实画面的震撼和美丽。

这一望无际的朵朵云层，断续连绵，下面是美丽的山，山连山，无边无际。想想，能有幸生活在这美丽幻化的云层和阳光之下的，也一定只有神仙了。人类多么幸运，生命如此神奇，想不珍惜都不行啊。

moving away

2011-07-18T08:58:00.002+08:00

Blogger has long been blocked in China. It is hard for me to get over the Wall to update anything here. I liked here a lot, but I have to move to a place I can visit easily. Here is the new blog site: http://hikingsal.blog.com/.

Gorgeous Xiling Mountain, Saturday August 22

2009-08-23T09:11:00.008+08:00

秀美的西灵, August 22
醒来就是悲伤. 想起这么多年的付出和受到的伤害, 眼泪就流出来. 去集合地要一个多小时, 一路上还是心情很糟. 也许地铁里的其他人, 也会看到我抹去眼角的泪.

The journey to Xiling Mountain was quite long. It seemed forever that our minibus steered along the winding mountain road. Three and a half hours later we were finally at the foot of the mountain.
去西灵的路很漫长, 全部是弯曲的山路, 好在我们的司机技术娴熟. 三个半小时后我们到达了山脚下.

Soon we were in a forest of white birch trees. It felt very comfortable that our feet stepped on soft and loose soil.
开始上山. 很长的时间, 我们都是穿行在白桦林里的小径上.

Often we saw mushrooms growing from under the trees.
脚下的泥土松软, 不时能看到有蘑菇长在路边树下.

This one happened to be growing on the trail and was knocked down accidently.
这一个长在小路上了, 不小心被人碰倒了.

We entered a wood of red birch trees as we ascended. And then, firs (杉树) covered the mountainsides near the top. Look at these lovely fir cones.
再上升, 是红桦林. 快到山顶时, 我们就穿行在杉树林里了.

抬眼看, 白云团团, 漂浮在洁净湛蓝的天空, 映衬着青青挺拔的杉树. 心情好多了.

Still, high mountain meadows were on the mountain top. This season the meadows were bursting with all kinds of flowers.
鞍部和山顶, 照例是高山草甸. 这个季节的花儿在竞相盛开. 由于昼夜温差的加大, 草叶的顶部已经开始变色. 秋天在临近.

I'm gaining weight lately.
我最近也长胖了.

Xiling, it is like a paradise to me.

Adventure Trip to Xiaowutai Mountains

2009-08-17T22:02:00.004+08:00

Itinerary: 小五台西台-三岔-中台-南台-隧道口

我们在从南台下撤至隧道口时迷路了，领队不认路，带路的子弹大哥因为大雾可能恐慌而找不出正确的路了。同时迷路的还有大山队的几个人。
然后在黑漆漆的夜里等后队，等了好久。我们的后队还收了大山队的两个人，一男孩一女孩，他们不认路，也已经联系不上领队，他们真够幸运。

夜里很冷，山里风大，大雾中头灯也看不清多远。当时我就想，回去一定告诉阿猫，不要参加小五连穿了！
黑夜中硬撑着不能睡着！最大的威胁就是冷！那时穿羽绒服都不会热。——所以，保暖的衣服很重要！饿一天不会饿死，但那样的晚上，冻一晚，冻死的可能性不是没有。幸好没有下雨。

后来还是小山羊（他是大山队的领队）找到另一个老驴友（典工？），那位驴友对那一带非常熟悉，来接应我们下去了——其实我们离终点很近了。当地的警车也在等候，把我们全部带回上车，已经是第二天早上5点多了。所以我们是昨天上午到家的。

哈哈，平安回来啦！

教训就是：大强度的活动，不排除滞留山上的可能，带一件棉衣至关重要！

只顾走山了，没照几张PP。
On the way to South Peak.

The third from left, is me.

Wildflowers Along the Riverside of Houhe - 后河

2009-08-08T23:02:00.007+08:00

Itinerary: 龙聚山庄-后河-栅栏门-黄柏寺
Today, the first day of autumn this year, I took a leisure walk along Houhe.

Houhe means back river, but it is more like a babbling brook. It flows through a famous valley in Yanqing, Beijing.

Houhe is shallow and clear. The stream passes through rocks and boulders, at some places it is really fast.

Plants are growing high along the banks of it, and of course many flowers are in full bloom along the valley.

Here are some pictures from today's walk/hike.

香山 - 好汉坡 - 新望京 - 西杨坨

2009-08-03T15:42:00.008+08:00

Sunday, August 2, 2009
I was supposed to be home this past Sunday. But when I woke up in the morning I felt sad. Then I took out my pack and opened my refrigerator for some food and water. After breakfast, I rushed out of the door. When I arrived the rendezvous, 香山邮局, a few groups of hikers were already there.

I joined a team, the organizer was a girl named Little Fish. The itinerary is 香山邮局-好汉坡-新望京-西杨坨. The scernery was beautiful, which was far beyond what I had expected. Because it rained Saturday night, the air was clean and the clouds were above the mountains. I forgot to take my camera with me, so here are pictures taken by other people of our group.

"The mountains are calling, and I must go!" -John Muir

Trip to Inner Mongolia, July 24 -26, 2009

2009-07-28T09:50:00.009+08:00

此行主要去了三个地方：岗更湖、贡格尔草原和达里诺尔湖。

We began our journey at 8pm Friday evening. This is our travelling bus.
The bus running in the dark and we all fell asleep soon. I remember that the sky was all red when I opened my eyes once - it must be the time when the sun was rising, but I fell back to my sleep again.

When I finally awoke, I was amazed! We were in a wonderland!

Our bus running fast. Out of the window was wide, open green land under the cover of the clear blue sky and magnificent clouds. On the land small grass growing like a carpet. Little dewdrops shining on the tips of grass blades and the morning sun cast light and shadows on the air, as if the lightest mist was rising.

Gang Geng Lake
Gonger Grassland
Sunflower Field
Me at the lake. I need to learn how to pose naturally next time. :)

I am back!

2009-07-21T16:51:00.004+08:00

I came back home Sunday evening from our trip to Bashang!
We had a wonderful time riding horses and enjoying the beautiful scenery.
Bashang is not quite like what I imagined before, - it is a rolling prairie, not level grassland.
The land is wide and open. You can see long-tailed horses grazing leisurely in the distance and herds of sheep on the hillside.
Here are some photos from the trip.

Relaxing in the shade:

又去海坨了！

2009-07-12T23:44:00.005+08:00

今天跟的是绿野的达达驴队，走的阎家坪。玩得很开心。回程司机绕道沙城，车沿着白河，两侧的山、平原，一路风景优美。白河堡水库很大的一片水，很美。在此感谢达达驴 - 上山时还帮我背了东西。

海坨山顶的草甸上有很多这样的小花。

Trip to Xiaowutai Mountains - 小五台山

2009-07-09T10:16:00.010+08:00

Last Friday at 8:30pm, we left Beijing for Xiaowutai Mountains, which are the highest mountains in Hebei Province. We arrived at about 12pm and then slept in a rough and crude room in the small village at the foot of the mountains.

We got up early the next morning, and started off to the mountains after breakfast, carrying our heavy backpack.It was the first time that I went hiking with heavy load. My back felt sore soon and finally in the afternoon we reached our campsite at the altitude of 2,200 meters.

I took a walk along the mountainside with a friend, and took some pictures of the high mountain flowers. The mountains are very magnificent. All the mountainsides were covered in trees and wildflowers.
The mountains are famous for this golden flower, which is also a member of the Buttercup family.
That night when I was lying in my tent, how I missed home! and my tears came out:(. The phone had no signals in the mountains, and we would have to walk many many hours to be out.I was worried my daughter, she insisted staying at home and not going to her grandma's.

海陀山 - Haituo Mountain, June 6, 2009

2009-06-07T07:50:00.011+08:00

上山的时候一路下雨. 雨不大, 我们行走在湿湿的小径上. 林木遮掩下几头牛站在那里, 它们一动不动, 安详地望着我们. 牛角短短的, 很漂亮.
It was raining when we hiked up the mountain. We walked on the wet trail. A few cows were standing under the cover of trees, watching us innocently.

上到山顶, 云雾铺面而来. 鼻孔清透. 山谷里也满是浓浓的雾和云.
山顶的草甸上野花星星点点的开放. 蒲公英的花瓣都合拢着, 它们在等着太阳出来, 即刻绽放.

这是狼毒花, 它们的根和茎都是有毒的.
这是银莲花(white wood anemone), a member of the Buttercup(毛茛) family. They are also known as windflowers, because they tremble in the slightest breeze.
这是虞美人, 不是罂粟.
This variety of yellow flowers is my favorite. They bloom facing down at the tip of every stalk.
我一整天都在后悔没有拍牛的照片, 当时主要是怕影响队伍前进.

如果再去海坨，我最想看到的就是那些牛——它们的眼神，它们那种与自然一体的状态，似乎与我的心息息相通.

海陀之行，印象最深的是那些牛，它们有不同的颜色、斑纹，在雨中，站在那里，那是触动心灵的美.

另一个印象深刻的画面是，在大海陀村的田地里，一个妇女手里拿着镰刀，身后跟着她的小孩。那种老式的镰刀，我还是在只有几岁的时候见过，现在看到，格外的亲切。那个小孩，短短的头发，红红的圆脸，只有四五岁的样子，手中的绳子上牵着她的玩具小汽车。我小的时候一定就是那个样子的吧。
为什么我看到那些牛，心里会感到安详，而看到这个去田里劳动的妇女，心里就感到悲凉。有多少女性，一生生活在大山里，偏僻的乡村，长大，嫁人，生育，劳作，然后老去。生活在城市，又有区别吗？

雾灵山

2009-05-30T00:00:00.014+08:00

刚从雾灵山回到家. 雾灵山是我见过的最美的山, 茂密的原始森林, 蓝蓝的天, 洁白的云 - 云在很近的山峰的背后慢慢的移动着.

All the mountain ridges are covered in trees.

Wildflowers are everywhere. They color the mountainsides, they bloom happily at my feet and keep me company all the way.

With this magnificent scenery, I was feeling happy and my sorrow was gone.

野三坡 - 十渡

2009-04-06T23:00:00.008+08:00

长周末, 我和女儿去了野三坡和十渡.

过去的一年, 我经历了很多, 也成长了很多. 最大的收获, 是我懂得了珍惜 - 珍惜亲人, 珍惜自己, 也珍惜每一天. 如果是以前, 我会为风景的不完美感到失望, 我会为那些人工的建筑破坏了景致而惋惜. 现在, 我坦然的接受. 我看到美的一面, 我呼吸新鲜的空气, 我享受温暖的阳光, 我珍惜和孩子相处的分分秒秒. 也许, 我的成长是从空中楼阁踏到稳固的地面上, 但我不会与自己的原则妥协. That is, I will always be true to my heart.

We went hiking in the canyon first day, along the long loop trail. We spent the second day at 十渡. We walked into a village, where all the houses were built at one side of the mountain. It was the first time I had been in a real mountainous village. Dogs were barking in the distance. Chicken were chucking and sheep bleating. The village was peaceful and tidy.

过年

2009-01-29T22:01:00.003+08:00

应该记录下来的, 是大年初一我哇啦哇啦一直在哭. 初二一早醒过来, 又满眼是泪, 接着哭.

会不会要哭一年呢?

即使是哭一年, 又如何呢?

哭完了, 我会哈哈笑. 我才发现自己其实是个乐观开朗的人.

我感到自己就象一只狼. 独自一人, 我行走于这个城市.

holiday again

2009-01-29T21:43:00.001+08:00

节日里, 看着走亲访友的人群, 看着那些幸福的一家三口, 尤其使人感到凄凉.

今天中关村电脑城终于开始上班了. 我去为笔记本买个新电源, 因为旧的坏了. 看着车外的人, 善良的, 丑陋的; 看着这个城市, 它的过去, 它的将来; 还有路边的树木, 它们会在春天的时候开花 - 那些美丽的花, 柔弱不堪的, 瞬间就被风沙和城市的污染淹没了. This city does not deserve those flowers, and I feel sad for them every springtime.

看着外边的一切, 我觉得自己是这么坚强. 这种坚强没有来由. 我是这么弱小的一个人, 但是, 这一颗心, 在支撑着我自己. 我的眼睛里没有悲伤, 没有孤独, 我知道的, 那里有的是生命的力量. 我为自己骄傲.

November

2008-11-24T10:35:00.003+08:00

November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.

With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.

The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring.

- by Clyde Watson

最有价值的工作是没有报酬的

2008-09-28T11:49:00.006+08:00

It is true that the most important work in the world is done without a salary. When a mother staying at home cooks meals, washes dishes or changes diapers, she is in charge of another human being's well-being and future.

And an education is not about job training, or knowledge teaching. An education is the building of the soul.

与朋友聊天, 我们都为自己感到自豪. 我们为了孩子的健康, 为了孩子的成长, 所付出的努力, 会让孩子受益终生. 我们的孩子又会把他们得到的珍贵的东西传递给将来他们的孩子. 这是比挣多少钱, 做多高的官都要有价值的.

我很高兴, 孩子在健康地长大. 我很高兴, 在她的成长过程中我一直没有离开. 我也很高兴, 我的努力已经有了可喜的成果, 她是那么优秀, 快乐和健康.

I am happy also I am starting a new career after this holiday. I feel fulfilled that I chose to take care of her when she needed me.

flowers blooming in the moonlight

2007-09-03T20:52:00.003+08:00

Flowers are flourishing beside the door, around the window. Delicate petals. Pleasant fragrance. Can't depict how beautiful they are.

Time like this I wish I had someone to share the moment with, to enjoy the flowers I grow.

I've realized that most part of love is to share joys together. And to give support or help at hard times. Fragile souls.

I would feel more peace and safety walking in the darkness of night, than among crowded people.

喇叭花开到了阳台的顶上

2007-08-17T08:46:00.000+08:00

立了秋, 那三株喇叭花的藤上就迅速的长出了花蕾, 一串串的. 每天的早晨, 许多的大喇叭花向着太阳盛开着. 有一支竟沿着衣架爬到了房顶上, 无处再爬, 只好盘旋在那里, 花儿们也开成了团团的一簇.

游故宫

2007-07-21T21:40:00.001+08:00

Even under the baking sun, there are still many tourists visiting the Forbidden City. (I don't think Forbidden City is an exact translation for this former imperial palace.)

Places like this you can see people speaking different languages, and with different skin colors. They are taking pictures with great interests.

The Palace is not a good place to live in. The more we look around, the stronger we feel this way. We have to watch out for all the stone doorsteps to every house, and all the thresholds between rooms. Rooms are not drafty. Few trees are growing there. I do have seen some pines, which seemed to be their liking, but they have small crowns as we know.

You can feel the supreme power emanating out of even the architecture. You can see ancient treasures from all over the country, although some of them look timeworn and even covered with dusts now. What had those emperors really owned? Power, jewelries, or the comfort of living in this large palace, with many women? I deeply doubt about that. And I deeply feel sorry for those women who had lived in such a place, which was nothing better than a tomb. Even as a mere material place it was not humane, to say nothing of the feudal system.

I even feel glad when I find wild grass growing in brick crevices in a patio, almost treeless like all the others.

Power is such an awful thing if you can not use it correctly. And all the treasures, the largest jade carving, the longest ivories... once someone owns them, they ruin them.

The tour makes me getting angrier. The whole history of Chinese feudalism, is totally a history of killing women and children. When power was being used to oppress people, it led to its own demise. The history decayed all the way.

那些价值连城的珍宝, 笼罩着一股破败之气. 那巨大的玉雕, 那世界上最长的象牙...一旦人们拥有了它们, 也就毁坏了它们.

封建社会的历史, 可以说就是一部迫害妇女和儿童的历史.

summertime

2007-07-19T18:52:00.001+08:00

一些情景, 一些想法, 转瞬即逝. 只有这无边的热浪, 席卷过来.

***黑夜里, 拉开窗帘, 躺在床上. 面对的竟是天空. 黑幽幽的, I think if there are stars I can see them. The sky looks close, and wide. It feels good just lying underneath. The peaceful moment it creates, makes it even an advantage living on the highest floor.

***周末的时候, 女儿要看Wizard of OZ. 我也忍不住又看了一遍. It was still very inspiring. We laughed a lot. This time I learned about what friends mean. There are no flawless friends. The scarecrow does not have a brain, the tinman lacks a heart, and the lion has no courage. But they are all good friends, accompanying Dorothy to find the wizard of OZ and defeat the bad witch.

***Every day, flowers open in my little "garden". I go appreciate each of them, enjoy their beauty, and to be the only friend of their life. Some of the flowers only last one day, others bloom from evening till the next morning.

summer is here

2007-06-26T06:23:00.000+08:00

Birds make loud sounds outside my window until they wake me up. I think I'll go buy a big watermelon, and let it cool in refrigerator.

foam

2007-06-20T17:41:00.000+08:00

Everything is changing dramatically, in the country I am living in. It is like a rushing current, flowing forward rapidly. New things keep emerging, like bubbles rushing to the surface. So many of bubbles, they build up into deep foam. All you can see is the foam. You aren't even aware of what it is under the surface, or which direction the current goes.

When I visit media websites, they all seem like foam to me. I know they are either seen from journalists' eye, or out of power groups' intents.

Old bubbles vanish, new ones appear. It's easy to lost in the foam, or become part of it.

milestone

2007-06-12T00:03:00.000+08:00

I am walking briskly. A soft breeze is in the air. Long skirt flutters lightly. I feel great, as if some kind of power awakes inside. That same power is in flowers and trees when they are opening petals, and growing higher. I can feel the power come from far and near. River running, bird flying, wind blowing......and trees never stop growing.

Maybe I am getting mature, which only relates to attitude instead of age.

天行健, 君子以自强不息

2007-06-08T22:26:00.000+08:00

It becomes my motto.

天, 即宇宙万物, 在不断的运动, 刚劲强健; 人, 应效法天, 自强不息.

之所以将其作为座右铭, 是因为我对这句话有了新的理解. 它不单是指, 人应努力进取, 不断的超越自己. 当年龄增长, 梦想淡化, 生活似乎定型的阶段, 自强不息有了不同的内涵. 那是内心的力量, 内在的鼓励, 象宇宙万物一样, 生生不息.

就象一棵大树, 我们努力的长高, 长壮. Like a tree, we are always growing taller and stronger. The power of our heart, is the power of universe.

sad ending

2007-06-01T23:43:00.000+08:00

The mother sparrow came to my window. She tilted her head and looked at me, inquiringly. In her beaks were a few long, soft, dried straws . She must want to build a new nest for her baby since she couldn't take him back.

I'm so sorry, my friend. The baby sparrow has died, I am so sad. I failed to help him.

I saw the mother come back in the following days. She is beautiful, with shiny black eyes and a black spot on the front of her neck.

trying to save a baby sparrow

2007-05-28T22:46:00.000+08:00

As we were leaving home for the park after dinner, we saw a baby sparrow. Actually Yuan first heard him chirping, the tiny nervous sounds coming from a corner behind some old bicycles. It was getting dark, I could barely see him. He looked small and helpless. My first thought was to leave him alone, because I know birds get angry when they got caught.

But, he can't fly! He must have fallen down from his mother's nest. What if those cats roaming around got him?

Yuan tried to get him in hands, but she didn't make it because she was scary. So I took him in my hands, he is so small! His body was very warm, and I could feel his heartbeats, which are so much faster than human's. He soon calmed down and fell asleep in my hand!

He accompanied our walking, opening his eyes from time to time(sometimes he opened only one eye). He has his feathers, but they are not fully grown. Most of his beaks are still yellow.

We took him home. We made a nest for him in a shoe box. But he tried very hard to jump out of the box and found another place for himself. Now he is sleeping near my feet in the corner under the desk shadow. I prepared some water in a shallow container and put it near him. I think I will feed him some food tomorrow. When he grows bigger we will let him go.

continued

2007-05-28T08:36:00.000+08:00

I continued my walk, thinking of the cat, and other animals of the cat family. Mostly they live a solitary life, and hunt alone.

People started to come in the park walking or jogging after their dinner. Some were in groups. They were talking and laughing. They passed me by, their voice got into my ears but I just ignored the words. None of them could become a friend of mine.

I remember a documentary about leopards. They live on tree branches, they watch sun rise and sun set, they listen to the wind. I feel I am so similar to them. We find a shade in summer, a warm shelter in winter. We suffer our pain when pain comes. The world is just fine if only we have the wisdom to survive. And when death comes, we just die, a natural thing too.

Everyone of us is a child of Nature.

the beautiful cat

2007-05-27T21:50:00.000+08:00

I saw a cat this evening when I was walking in the park. A very beautiful cat it was, white body with black spots on it. It was looking up at a tree, head raised, in a poise ready to pounce or climb.

At the moment I was deeply struck by its wild beauty.

Obviously it was one of those feral cats. There are quite some living nearby, which are abandoned cats' offspring. They hunt and prey, for birds I guess, since birds are abundant at the park.

This cat looked healthy and strong. I can say it is more vigorous than those living at human home.

So it is not too bad that no one takes care of them. One can thrive on their own.

today was a great day

2007-05-21T22:03:00.000+08:00

The sun was bright, which made me happy.

We ate dinner earlier, then we went to the park to play badminton.

How good it feels when green trees surround you and the blue sky is above.

We even attracted/drew the audience of one toddler boy. He had been watching us playing, his eyes following the birdie happily.

His face was like a beautiful flower, and you couldn't help smiling back.

mixed feelings

2007-05-16T18:56:00.000+08:00

I spent a lot of money lately, it makes me feel guilty.

More than that, fear comes to me too. But nothing particular. It might be the result of childhood experiences. Not many of those years life passed smoothly, in my little mind it always felt something bad would happen, and you had no idea what they could be. I did not have that feeling for quite a while, but now it comes back.

I am trying to see myself. I have just realized that I have been living in a place in my mind I never heeded. For years I take care of others, but did not really take good care of me. My neglect let me suffer. I should apologize to myself for that, and that can make this woman feel a little better.

Maybe life is joys for some, and sufferings for others. Whatever it is, I will live it I think.

天气

2007-05-12T08:38:00.000+08:00

早晨醒来, 空气中满是尘土的气味.

刮了一夜的风.

阳光很好.

flowers on window sill

2007-04-28T14:50:00.000+08:00

It is the fourth year this plant stays on my window sill. Every year it grew many leaves but did not bear a flower. It just flourished, with so many dark green leaves and stems I had to cut them away at times. I did try a few ways hoping it could flower, but none ever worked.

Last year I picked one stem off and put it into the soil of another pot. Surprisingly the stem started to grow in the new pot, and the new growth even survived the harsh winter.

This month it began to produce clusters of buds, in the new pot. The other day it opened its first flower, with the color of tender pink. Here is a picture I took today, although it looks not as good. I'm looking forward to all the buds opening, that will be a very beautiful sight.

making home comfortable

2007-04-27T13:44:00.000+08:00

The weather has been nice these days. Seems there will not be any sand storms this year. The sun is shining, the wind is breezing. It feels so good I can keep the windows open and let some of the outside air in.

I spent the whole spring cleaning my home. Yes! Every day I finished a little. Things does accumulate over years. I gave away books for toddlers, clothes that not fit any more. I fixed the glass in the kitchen door, in case it will fall off and hurt someone. I threw away books that might not healthy for a growing child. I cleaned those that I thought could never be cleaned. I also bought a new frying pan and oil pot, they are wonderful. Even the water flows now without blocking.

Home will be more like home.

civilization, a two edge sword

2007-04-19T20:57:00.000+08:00

Since we were born, our mind and even our body have been molded by the people and society around us. And this process continues until we can choose for ourselves. Moreover, most of us may have lost the ability to choose for themselves and are unaware of it.

During my growing up, people were educated that it's honorable to sacrifice your family for your work. Your work meant your contribution to the nation. I think many people of my age still have that concept more or less.

Another concept formed over time might be that of marriage, how people love and the standards for choosing a partner. Yes, most people CHOOSE, - they make that big decision with a conscious mind.

It seems that our natural feelings have been deprived of gradually since the day we were born. After having struggled all the surroundings and experiences, it will be fortunate if we can come to realize what is the essential of life, and get over what we hold tight before. It will be like going back to the very beginning of time or civilization, and see this world with our pure eye, with our pure love for things all around us, and ourselves.

零星的记忆之二

2007-04-12T10:29:00.001+08:00

多年前, 我去一家韩国人投资的公司工作. 那是我工作时间最短的一个地方. 一个月后, 投资人突然撤资, 公司就迅速解散了. 我的邻座是个虎头虎脑的小伙子, 很壮实, 也很英俊, 刚毕业没多久. 我们都做coding work, 但在不同的项目组. 不过有很多时候, 遇到难题时我们仍要互相切磋, 因为坐的近确实很方便. 他很聪明的.

有时我们不得不加班到很晚. 我们都住城市的北郊, 乘同一趟公交车, 然后他奔东, 我奔北. 车上一般没座, 如果有, 他一定是让给我坐. 多数时候我们都站着. 有一次我意识到, 他站立的位置, 离我并不很近, 但使我完全处在一种受保护的状态, 即使有紧急刹车, 其他人也不可能冲撞到我身上. 老旧的公交车在夜灯下向前开着, 他就以那样的姿势, 站在车里.

公司解散前的一周, 他辞职了. 一周后, 我也换了另一家公司工作. 随后有一段时间的早晨, 我们仍然在那个大的车站换乘同一趟车, 上车后我们仍是抢着为对方买票.

即使现在回忆起来, 他的全身仍透着一股孩子气. 也许, 他也是那样看我的, 因为他不知道我比他年龄大很多. 后来, 我搬到了城里, 就再也没见到过他. 他留了手机号, 我已经给弄丢了. 而且, 我已经忘了他的名字.

零星的记忆之一

2007-04-12T10:04:00.000+08:00

在很早以前的一个英语班上, 老师在黑板上写: 白领 white collar, 蓝领 blue collar, 然后回头问大家:''我们是不是都想成为~~~" 同学们异口同声:"white collar~~~" 只有我喊:"blue collar~~~" 前面的同学诧异的回头望, 一定认为我在捣乱. 不过我当时确实是想成为一个蓝领, 因为整天坐在计算机前的工作, 已经使我感到越来越违背自然.

finding comfort in music

2007-03-22T23:18:00.000+08:00

So far there are two consoling songs I'd like to listen to when I just feel depressed.

One is It Was a Very Good Year, by Frank Sinatra. The first time I heard it, it reduced me to tears(Thanks to Pat for sending it to me). As if looking back and time passing before my eyes. Every year is a very good year. Youth, endeavor, memories. Even when many things are gone as time, there will still be so much left.

Another is Riders on the Storm, by Doors. The music just flows, and it perfectly fits my mood. Riders on the storm. Riders in this life. Harshness, beauty. Alone eventually, but steady moving farward.

home organizing

2007-03-15T20:58:00.000+08:00

It is not easy to tidy up and organize our home since it is so very small I can't find places to put all the things.

Maybe I should buy a new bookshelf or a wardrobe but, what if all the books and clothes don't worth more than the furniture? I've moved some books from my desk to the wardrobes, placing them right below the hanging clothes. I can easily take them out of there too.

I think I do need some containers for our mung beans, peanuts, brown rice, corn flour, etc. I better put labels on them so that Yuan can find them easily when she learns how to cook. And I'll have to pack up all the unnecessary things to either give them away or take them to the apartment in the suburb.

The desk looks tidy now. It is almost empty. It feels good, just like when the desk clean my mind is clean too.

(continued)

2007-03-04T01:38:00.000+08:00

I've been exchanging emails with my niece lately, but without mention of love and marriage. I'm not so worried now that they don't seem to marry soon. I think there will be sufficient time to open the girl's eyes. When her world widens, she will make better decisions.

I remember those days when young people all swarmed into a marriage, as if they were to finish a task for others. I'm glad things have improved a lot at this aspect of our society.

We learn skills at school to help us make a living, and we have to learn the knowledge of LOVE on our own, to make our life happy. Yes, being happy, that is the meaning of life.

And we can't be really happy if we marry someone we are not in love with, or we thought we loved when we don't yet know what love is.

urgent

2007-02-20T14:31:00.000+08:00

I am thinking how to write an email to my niece, my older sister's only daughter. She has a boyfriend, I saw that young man for the first time the other day, and in an instant I realized he does NOT deserve her. The thing is they are going to get married. He is her first boyfriend.

spring!!! & legacy

2007-02-04T18:39:00.000+08:00

Spring came here at 1:14 pm today, according to our ancient calender.

I always reverence this old calender, I think it is the most wonderful legacy from our ancestors. For thousands or even millions of years, our people grow, manage and harvest their crops based on this calendar, especially the 24 seasonal terms from it. It is not correct to call it lunar calender, because it is a combination of lunar and solar laws.

In the north temperate zone of China, our ancient calendar is an exact science. It is also like a magic performed by mother nature. Have you ever seen tree leaves turn a same angle all at once? I did. It happens at the moment of 立秋(li qiu), which means autumn comes. Before winter, the term 霜降(shuang jiang) indicates the hoar frost descends and all the plants go dormant. At the moment entering into this term, all the green foliage, either still hanging up on trees or of small grasses, droops and turns lifeless, and soon dry. Can you believe it? It is a truth happening every year before winter. I remember when I lived in the countryside, I got up in the morning and found all the green leaves withered overnight, lifeless already, and there would be no more fresh forage for the sheep at the season.

Of course winter solstice and summer solstice are included in this calendar too.

Yuan is always so proud that she was born at the day entering into 惊蛰(jing zhe), the seasonal term when all the hibernating animals start to wake up in early spring. And every birthday of mine, there is a beautiful half moon up in the night sky.

I so admire the wisedom of our ancestors. But sadly, we seem to have ignored many of the good things from the past. Now most people probably don't know what our ancient calender is all about, since we use the internatioanal solar calender for everything.

a new day just starts

2007-02-02T08:06:00.000+08:00

I didn't have to get up very early this morning, but I woke up in the dark and couldn't fall asleep again.

Last evening I bought a few stuffed animals for a little niece. My mother was going to visit her this weekend so she can take them to her. As I put them together on the table, I've decided to keep one for myself, - the one that is not so good-looking but has a distinct personality when I look at it more. Whereas all the others with their smiling happy face look obviously adorable at the first sight.

the very first thing

2007-01-29T22:23:00.000+08:00

Just watched the recent episodes of Desperate Housewives. I can't seem to enjoy it any more. Acturally it depressed me a lot, because the show portrays a world so terrible that I just don't like.

This leads me to think about the subtle distinctions between cultures, and whether there could be a perfect intersection of them.

The human world will never be perfect for everyone, I have to adapt myself to it. Besides that, the first thing I need learn is to live in harmony with myself, - which means I must accept myself, improve myself, be independent emotionally, and be happy from inside. That is the very first thing above any success or career fulfillment defined by our society.

precious winter sunlight

2007-01-18T10:26:00.000+08:00

It's 10:20 am, the sun finally enters my room. And suddenly it is so bright, so bright the heavy burden on my heart has gone away(nowhere).

The tall building from southeast obstructs sun that would come diagonally into my windows on winter mornings. But how I love the warm sunshine, it is like a therapy for bleak days.

I'm glad

2007-01-14T03:49:00.000+08:00

I scalded two of my fingers last week while cooking. The scalded area turned red immediately, and became purple the next day. It hurt so bad especially when running water flowing over them. I had to wear a loose rubber glove most of the time to avoid washing that hand all the time.

The amazing thing is, the scalded skin soon began to shed off, and underneath there was new skin growing. It's all perfectly well now and you can't even see any trace of the scald.

I just can't believe it that it has healed so well so quickly (soon).

Little House on the Prairie

2007-01-14T03:31:00.000+08:00

have been reading the book Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I love the book so much, so does Yuan. The Ingalls family lived a life I so admire, or even envy, which I see as REAL life. I always think that real life makes people happy. In real life, I would not be sad when thinking my career is going to an end. I would not care about how beautiful or ugly I look. And I will feel more like part of Nature, like the trees, winds, or clouds...

I was even moved when Charles made a rocking chair for his wife with slender willows. What a wonderful chair that was, and full of love and warmth. It always touches my heart when a woman is honored. I think the real civilization is that when women are honored and children are respected, - no one would feel so deeply as I do about it.

Yuan said her mouth almost watered when they were eating toasted prairie hens and stewed jack rabbits. She is excited she has known all the details of making a log house and stout doors.

New Year is coming

2006-12-31T23:15:00.000+08:00

This past year ends here in a snow.

It's really nice to see the snowflakes dancing off the sky, and the world all turning white.

At this moment, I am hoping the very best for myself.

As this old year goes away, I hope all the bad things in my life will go away too.

reading books

2006-12-17T23:01:00.000+08:00

Yuan has finished reading all her Harry Potter books now. Her love for reading reminds me of when I was little.

There were not many books back then, even at the tiny bookstore in the nearest town. I read everything I could get, from well-worn or incomplete books, to lovely little story publications with black and white drawings.

The Reformation of our country started at my teen years. Soon after there were many kinds of new books published. But at our age we were on the hard road to change fate. Every kids had to focus on preparing for the Big Test all through the six school years. Anything not relevant to the Test was not allowed by our own conscience. There were heavy pressures from teachers and parents too.

The college was another world, so many books in the libary I could never seem to finish them all. I spent a lot of time reading books, almost all kinds of, so a direct result was that I didn't get satisfactory test scores on my courses. Around 18 years old, I was so easily to be molded. I think I AM even now. I then found there are good books that can brighten my heart, and bad ones that are just not good to my growing.

I became cautious about books.

****** Words for today: incomplete, fragmentary

1. Well-worn, dirty, torn or incomplete books cannot be used by the literacy programs for which the books are raised...

2. Despite this visit, I still had only fragmentary knowledge of his early life.
The book is so unformed, fragmentary, digressive, and anecdotal that no one can...

the most beautiful egg

2006-12-01T21:44:00.000+08:00

Our new lamp not only gives off brighter clearer light, but also creates more obvious shadows as well. My little girl noticed that. After dinner, she took an egg out of the refrigerator (a boiled, salted duck egg, btw) and placed it under the bright light. Bending her head over, she started to draw the egg with her pencil. She spent the whole evening drawing and shading this perfect egg.

bright light makes a difference

2006-11-30T20:49:00.000+08:00

Went to IKEA, hoping to buy a new desk for my daughter. I didn't find one that seemed right for her, but ended up bringing home a floor reading lamp.

When we set up the lamp, and turned it on, the room became so BRIGHT all at once. - It felt so good, as if the bright light brightened my mood. I walked out into another room, which I always thought was bright enough, but now it appeared so dim, so depressed.

I was not aware I have been living at such a dark place. Even at day, this low apartment can't get much light. I think I have to need more light, more bright light to brighten my room, and my heart.

glad I can visit my blog again

2006-11-29T18:16:00.000+08:00

I bought nine chickens this afternoon. They are on sale at our local grocery store. Small chickens these are, about 450g each. The price is usually 19.5 yuan each, but today's was 12.9.

This kind of chicken is from Inner Mongolia. Like birds they can fly, and they taste better. While I am writing this blog this moment, the chicken are boiling slowly over the fire, and their special flavour all over the place.

wildflowers

2006-10-03T23:42:00.000+08:00

My little girl took some pictures that look very cool. (You can NOT rely on a cellphone to make a clear picture, especially under the dazzling sun.)

Wildflowers are blooming happily this time of year. As we walking we saw so many along the roadsides and in the lawn, my little girl decided Oct 2nd to be the Wildflowers Day. I think these flowers finally got a chance to embrace the sun because mowers no longer cut them so often as in summer days.

三叶草 - Woodsorrel

Dandelion

a book

2006-09-30T23:25:00.000+08:00

从图书馆借来一本书，《丰子恺谈名画》。喜欢他的文字，那种简单和洒透出的慈善。正如他的文字，他是一个多么简单又慈善的老人呀。Always like his words, and, what a simple and kind person he was! The first one he started with in the book, is Jean Fransois Millet(1814 - 1875).

"他心中非常难过。回到家里，把身体躺在床上，他的眼中流出眼泪来了。"
"画中的人多么辛苦，多么善良，这样子使人人看了都要感动。"

The gleaners, the cultivators. How they moved me, since I've done exactly the same work.

a documentary

2006-09-28T22:53:00.000+08:00

Trying to find more episodes of Canada: A People's History. I feel I have already loved that country. I would like to know more about it. Once I finish watching the entire series, I'll add my own review here.

my sunflower

2006-09-27T21:36:00.000+08:00

My sunflower is blooming. I never thought it would bear this big a flower on that short stem in a pot.

Acturally it is not just one flower. Inside the circle of the yellow petals there are so many tiny flowers opening too, and they each has their own pistil, stamen and petal(s). It is a composite flower! The big bright yellow petals are evolved to attract insects to help with pollination.

Carnivores

2006-08-24T23:30:00.000+08:00

My daughter is a born carnivore. And I become a carnivore too. We eat a lot of meat every day. Since it is hot in summer, we eat duck and pork. As winter sets in, we would turn to lamb and chicken. I love beef also, but can't always find prime quality at the local groceries and the nearby market.

Fortunately they sell good lamb in the market. Fresh sheep carcasses hanging neatly from wrought iron hooks, strong and pleasant aroma of raw lamb full of the whole space. Here sheep are raised on grassland, not on industry farms, so the meat is natural and very delicious.

I usually buy the whole rack of a sheep at a time, or a whole leg plus sirloin, because they don't sell in smaller cuts. The old man wearing a white cap cuts out what you want with a sharp knife. If he is not busy, he would remove the fat and lymph glands so that I can prepare more easily at home. But there are still many work left for me to do in the kitchen.

Dreams

2006-08-24T00:09:00.000+08:00

Every time after a bad dream, I wake up feeling relieved,- it didn't happen, or no longer happens in my real life. I recognized what a good life I have had now. As I recall, all those nightmares had the same settings, - they all happened at the village where I was born.

Life was simply suffering over there. It still is. People worked to death just for the coarsest food on table. I am so lucky I left there. It was not easy to get out of there to receive education and get a job in a city. So far I am still the only girl from that village who has done it all by myself.

In the movie Godfather, the little Vito, his father and brother being killed, has to flee from his hometown. That scene naturally reminds me of my "hometown", the village with 2000 more people. Poverty, ignorance. Good virtues is hard to arise out of those! I just hope the plaintive childhood memories stop haunting my dreams.

It seems all these years I have been trying so hard to escape my surroundings. It rewarded me, and cost me as well.

she wants a cat

2006-08-24T00:03:00.000+08:00

Little Girl asked me if she could have a cat. She told me Ruo (a girl in her class) has a cat, and the cat had just given birth to 5 babies. She can get one if she wants, once the babies get a little bigger.

I have never had a pet. I don't know what cats like to eat, or how much I should feed them. But, if it is HER cat, it is her duty to take care of it. Obviously she wants one very much, but seems a little uncertain about if she can take care of a cat.

Maybe it is a chance for her to learn how to take on responsibility.

my first job

2006-08-23T23:57:00.000+08:00

At the age of 21 in 1990, I was assigned to work for a power plant. That's my first job.

It is a coal-fired power plant built in 1950's with the help of Soviet Russia. I did maintenance work, wearing work clothes and safety helmets every day. My nostrils were always ringed with black from breathing soot. At rest time, all the workers sat at a HUGE table, chatting and laughing loudly. It was so much fun.

One day, this tall and strong young man in our team, got a severe reproach by our supervisor, because he just had a fight with someone from another team. I still remember he cried so sadly, just like a little kid.

It was quite a change from school. And it was from then that I began to get more light-hearted and feel more like myself. I lived in a dorm provided by the Plant. There were other girls next door. We would get together at long winter night, each working on some sort of knitting project.

a book

2006-08-23T23:13:00.000+08:00

Just skimmed through the book Democracy in America, by Alexis de Tocqueville(1805--1859). It's interesting compared with what is going on in our country.

As I read the book, I focused my attentions on the ordinary people, their life style and world views, not just political issues. I am intrested in how people think and act. I like to see the world through small things, and this book provides an special angle and some examples for that.

I have long realized that democracy is not just about a regime. Democracy is the attitude of people. It is how we see the world and ourselves. It is self-respect and respect for others. Democracy resides in our heart, and guides our behaviour.

Equality is at the core of democracy. Just like the author writes, "Equality of condition is the fundamental fact from which all others seem to be derived...".

Sadly, most people in our society haven't realized the value of equality. They think of themselves as being either superior or inferior. It is totally the outcome of being misguided. And the real fact is - there is NO equality of condition in our society.

Things are changing rapidly. No one can tell what will happen next. If some day we can achieve democratization, it will be most likely different from that in other countries. We have such heavy burdens on our back, from the past thousands of years.

Mullet - 清蒸梭鱼

2006-08-23T23:00:00.000+08:00

A neighborhood grocery store supplies fresh mullet fish these days. Every time I go there I get some. It has become one of the favorites on our table.

Mullet fish is the best for steaming so far as I have tried. When steaming, ten minutes is enough. My little girl can eat a big fish at one meal. Me too.

Simple Blog

Trip to Yunnan - Lijiang

Trip to Yunnan - Hiking the High Trail

Trip to Yunnan - Chateau de Woody

Trip to Yunnan - Potatso National Park, Shangri-La

Trip to Yunnan - at Dawa's

Trip to Yunnan - on the Airplane

moving away

Gorgeous Xiling Mountain, Saturday August 22

Adventure Trip to Xiaowutai Mountains

Wildflowers Along the Riverside of Houhe - 后河

香山 - 好汉坡 - 新望京 - 西杨坨

Trip to Inner Mongolia, July 24 -26, 2009

I am back!

又去海坨了！

Trip to Xiaowutai Mountains - 小五台山

海陀山 - Haituo Mountain, June 6, 2009

雾灵山

野三坡 - 十渡

过年

holiday again

November

最有价值的工作是没有报酬的

flowers blooming in the moonlight

喇叭花开到了阳台的顶上

游故宫

summertime

summer is here

foam

milestone

天行健, 君子以自强不息

sad ending

trying to save a baby sparrow

continued

the beautiful cat

today was a great day

mixed feelings

天气

flowers on window sill

making home comfortable

civilization, a two edge sword

零星的记忆 之二

零星的记忆 之一

finding comfort in music

home organizing

(continued)

urgent

spring!!! & legacy

a new day just starts

the very first thing

precious winter sunlight

I'm glad

Little House on the Prairie

New Year is coming

reading books

the most beautiful egg

bright light makes a difference

glad I can visit my blog again

wildflowers

a book

a documentary

my sunflower

Carnivores

Dreams

she wants a cat

my first job

a book

Mullet - 清蒸梭鱼

零星的记忆之二

零星的记忆之一