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The Last Stop in China

 We stood on the edge of the Great Wall (Mutianyu Section) to admire this ancient artifact (dated to sixth century).  It stretched as far as we could see. The endless stairs and crumbling sentinel towers stretched up and down the mountain sides.  Gabe, Al and other tourists ignored warning signs at the unrepaired section. They wandered ahead into the closed section for 45 minutes.  Then, we raced down  the Beijing Shibide Toboggan to the bottom.  The ride on this modern stainless steel tube in the backcountry was typical of our time in China.  There were many unexpected turns during our Chinese adventure.

            At the bottom of the Wall, a friendly taxicab cab driver patiently waited.  He spoke only Chinese but we communicated with a phrase book and hand gestures.  The roads were ultramodern highways with a 90 minute return drive to Beijing.  Our first stop in the smoggy, capitol city was The Forbidden City.  Twenty-four emperors ruled from this imperial palace showplace.  Later, we watched in surprise at the Chaoyang Theatre.  During the acrobat show, 13 gymnasts on 3 bikes screamed suddenly.  Then, we watched in surprise as they went out of control and crashed into a nearby wall.   The famous show continued with several  more unexpected glitches. 

           Our plan was to do something different and travel to Xian on an overnight train  As one of a handful of foreigners, we got stares everywhere we went.  In Xian,  the Terra Cotta warriors were on display.  A local farmer had accidentally found these buried treasures while digging a well in 1974.  We wandered around the dig sites to view the warriors. They have been painstakenly restored.   Later, we breathed a sigh of  relief when the sleeper train pulled into Beijing.   Our train trip in a foreign country had went smoothly.
            Our final days in China were spent exploring Chinese culture.  We attended a Chinese Opera, wandered down old  narrow city strreets (called hutongs) and walked thru Tinnanmen Square.  All three of us used chopsticks.  Of course, Gabe caught on quickly. Beijing Duck was my favorite local dish.  Al was surprised to see a street person who had died shortly before we walked past. 

             China was a sensory experience with many smells, sites, and sounds from the centuries of traditions and crowded metropolis. Numerous factories, power plants, and traffic congestion contributed to the polluted air.  There were many surprises including modern highways, acrobatic accidents, smog, and few forgieners.  The final twist came on the last day with a sick teenager.   Gabe woke-up on the morning of our departure with traveller's flue.  It made for a difficult time with long airplane rides.  It was a relief  to see Emily waiting for us at O'Hare Airport.  The three of us were safely b ack in the USA with our family and friends.  It had been our unforgettable adventure with many places and many new faces. 

         

Shopper's Paradise in  Hong Kong

           It was our first visit to Hong Kong and we arrived to a hustling city.   Our plan was to take in the sites and  shop.  There were plenty of places for shopping including designer shops, underground malls, shopping plazas, and allies full of carts. The street vendors were more than willing to sell us  "good quality merchandise".   We bargained for deals and browsed thru  the well known Temple Market and Stanley Market.  Then, we rode the tram to see the spectular skyline at the Peak.

           At night, we went on the open top bus tour thru Nathan Road and the Spectacular Golden Mile.  Later in the evening, we cruised Victoria's Harbor  aboard a restuarant cruise liner.  The rain and clouds hampered the lazer light show.  However, the  harbor views of Kowloon and Hong Kong were magnificient.
            We had a complication at the end of our time in Hong Kong.  As we were waiting in the airport ticket line, I fainted twice.  It was a scary experience as I was dehydrated from the GI Flue.  It was a relief to get thru the screening process and on the plane for Beijing, China. 
           
 
            

View from the tram

   



Fishing boat in the fishing village of Aberdeen

Life in Samui

Giving thanks in our Samui Hotel

              Given the recent Bangkok paracivil war, we decided to leave New Zealand with altered travel plans.   We made an overnight stop at Bangkok  (stayed at an airport hotel).  Then, it was off to Koh Samui, a small exotic island in the Thai Gulf for 10 days    Our plan was to avoid the hot politics of Bangkok City.   We arrived at our Thai destination of Samui, safely (though Al lost his sunglasses).

          We've been taking in the tourist sites.  We've seen Buddhist temples, trekked thru the jungles on elephants and ATV, spent a day at world famous Koh Tau for diving, and shopped in the local markets (to name a few).  Of course, we had several Thai massages to spoil ourselves.   The local weather continued to be "same same"--steamy hot (even by Thai standards) with no rain.  We were safe and far away from the violent political quarrels in Bangkok.   

      On Sunday, we'll leave Samui to our next stop.   Our current plans include a 2 hour stop in Bangkok to change planes from Samui.   Then, it's onward to Hong Kong.   

Thai snapshots:

A Mother's Day Trip of siteseeing including a stop at the Big Buddha temple.  We removed our hats and shoes to be proper.

From our boating trips around the nearby islands with snorkelling, kayaking, and a special day of diving at Koh Tau (awesome).

Exotic fruits from the local farms including Dragon fuit (pink skinned) and mystery fruit (small multicolored/hairy things) 

Our beautiful hotel  at night as we are off to a fine Thai dinner

 A local street peddler is going to market with handmade brooms.  The Thai staff of local hotels use these brooms for cleaning.

The Last Chapter

     

"Yesterday was History.  Tommorrow is a Mystery.  Today is a Gift, and that is why we call it the Present"      

          This quote was from "The Mindful Groups" on Fridays with Dr. Samir Heble.  It has been hard to live in the moment with packing and planning our trip back home.   However, our checklists were getting smaller.  The suitcases and boxes were mostly  packed.   Al completed his last day at Taranki District Base Hospital, last week.  Gabe will go one more time to class at New Plymouth Boy's High School on Tuesday.  It has come down to those final moments. 

       We had magic times-- tramps, climbed a volcano, Fiji, Australia, glow worms, rappelling, new friends, high school, surfing and diving (to name a few).  However, it's time. The last leg of our journey thru Asia will begin on Thurs. May 6, 2010.   It will be living out of suitcases for three weeks in Thailand, Hong Kong, and China.   Touch down is scheduled for May 27 in the States.   

         We hope that you were entertained and inspired by our story.  It's been fun reading your comments (here is you last chance) and sharing our highlights.  Thanks to many people includingAlec, Emily, and grandpa/grandma for making this trip a possibility.   Rachel, Dennis, Connie and the gang at CR Psychiatry were great during our leave.   Hats off to our Kiwi neighbors, T.D.B.H. coworkers,  and many friends from the States that supported us.  Here's to livin'  the dream.

 A few of the Kiwi treasures:

Chili chocoalate, good wine, and feijoas from the local vineyard

   The name that says you're proud.

-Barbwire: Taranaki Farm Land

-Stars: Southern Cross

-Wings of Freedom:  Its a style of life

-Cog: oil and engineering

-Mountain and Surf: Ours to Treasure 

Mount Taranaki in Oct. 2009--covered with snow

An upclose look at Charlie and Jo's favorite wines. Otago on South Island has good Pinot Noir grapes.  Tastes good with blue oysters from Invercrgill.

Charlie, Jo, Al, and I waiting for dinner at Butler's Reef

More on Australia

"The Journey Gives Meaning to Our Destination"

We've been unpacking our bags from our trip  to Queensland.  I finally had time to catch-up with the travel blog.  It was a whirlwind trip.  The Sunshine Coast lived up to it's reputation. There were lots of sunny hot days.  There was only one or two brief downpours at Fraser Island.

   

 Here were  wild kangaroos in the woods after our day of horse riding.  A mob of roos hung out near our beachhouse, nightly.  Of course, we got to feed the roos at the Australian Zoo from our hands. 



     

Dinner with  our Macedonian friends; Branca, Mona, the other Mona, Al, and Lepa

Nightime view of Brisbane

 Beach time for a camel safari

    

  A trail ride on the  beach and thru the bush country, near Noosa, Australia 

     

       Our time in New Zealand is winding down. Al was back at Taranaki District Base Hospital for his last week of work.  He had a weekend of psychiatric call as payback for his vacation.   Now, he  went to a meeting at Christchurch (South Island).  Gabe has about a week of school at New Plymouth Boys High School. There are only 2 more Saturdays for gymnastics.  Maybe, we can squeeze in time for a tramp at the mountain.  Then, we say our goodbyes at the office parties and its"outta here".  

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Wild dingoes and the Southern Great Barrier Reef

Fraser Island:   A World Heritage Site 5 hours north of Gold Coast.
      We stayed overnight on this famous sandy island (the world's largest) looking for the dingoes.  These wild dogs have a reputation as a nusiance by the local farmers.  They are a protected species with a genome older than 3000 years. We did not see any (except at the zoo) as it was crowded with Easter guests.  There were many 4 wheel drive vehicles (including our bus) zipping around the 80 mile beach.

    









It was the first time our tour guide did not spot dingoes.  We were a little disappointed but there was still plenty to see.  We hiked in lush tropical forests, across sandy dunes, and swam in crystal clear lakes.  In the evening, flocks of colorful parrots roosted in the palm trees of our lodge.  No one needed an alarm clock with sqawking birds.

Lady MusGrave Island: north of Bundaberg

       We awoke at the crack of dawn for a long journey--1 1/2 hr. bus ride to the town of "1770".  Then, we spent an 1 1/2 hr. ferry ride with numerous seasick passengers (we were not seasick due to our meclozine pills.  However, I was more than ready to arrive at our calm, turquoise lagoon teeming with marine life. 

     This pristine island was located at the southern Great Barrier Reef (GBR).  It was 2 hours south of the oil tanker crash site the day after our trip. The GBR lived up to my expectations.  There were large sea clams, green sea turtles, purple star fish, numerous remoras, and various tropical fish.  The staghorn and delicate soft coral were beautiful but no sharks.  

    

 The 3 hour return journey went quickly as we were tired. We left the reef in good spirits with dreams of returning.

    

From the dive platform in the lagoon: