We got on the train again, this time back to Guangzhou for 15 hours.
We reached DongGuan Dong train station early in the morning, bought our return journey to Yong Ding, only to discover that we had to travel for other 1.5 hr on local bus to get to see my auntie.
1.5 hour bus journey revealed dreary industrial city that seems to span endlessly in all direction.
80% of the resident come from another place in china. I have come to the conclusion that this is the reason why it is not well taken care of.
Despite this, we are well looked after and fully enjoyed being with family for a day.
The following evening, we made the same journey back to the train station, only to realize that the train tickets we had were seater ticket. This meant a 7 hours train journey into the night, sitting upright.
It could be an uncomfortable journey, but knowing what is to be expected, I was determined to made the best of it.
Dakini Yoga begins the first hour and allows my mind to patiently accept the seating arrangement . I was sat very far from the rest of the Turberfield.
However, it also allowed me to observe people surrounding me. There was a lot of chatting, squeezing and sleeping. There were people who could not get a seat and had to stand throughout their journey. Luggages cramped everywhere, under seats, over seats, between legs. Many families traveling together. The young looking after the elderly, the grandparents looking after the children.
Many people were desperately trying their best to be comfortable. I knew there was no point trying. So instead I tried to relax into a sitting position and listen to puja. It kept me alert through most of the journey, and hence fairly comfortable.
Finally at 5 am, we arrived in YongDing and quickly ushered off to the Hakka Tulou in LiuLian village.
- Posted by Mich using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, 31 March 2011
A quick holiday from our holiday
Xiamen, a shiny new city welcomes us. Flashy skyscrapers, overhead metro, fast-food chain, well organized road ... ... No wonders this is one of China most livable city. It is clean and modern, on an island, by the coast. People here are relaxed and to me, honest.
A day in Xiamen, and we boarded Cosco Star cruise to get the Taiwan. It was interesting to sleep to the gentle motion of the ship. There are many types of rooms on the cruise. I saw floor room where people sleep on mattresses on floor. There were about 50 men per room. Then there are the common dormitory with common toilets. No much privacy. There are also privates- 2 person room, 6 person room. We took the 6 person dorm private room. It has a toilet and it was good to have some time to ourselves.
When we opened our eyes next, we have arrived in Taiwan, Keelung in the north.
The Asian Dharma Celebration went in a breeze. Too soon, we are back in China. However, mentally, we returned charged, with renewed courage and energy to keep practicing. In this prolonged holiday, ADC is our holiday within. It was fantastic to see everyone, and especially to see our teachers, to be inspired again.
- Posted by Mich using BlogPress from my iPhone
A day in Xiamen, and we boarded Cosco Star cruise to get the Taiwan. It was interesting to sleep to the gentle motion of the ship. There are many types of rooms on the cruise. I saw floor room where people sleep on mattresses on floor. There were about 50 men per room. Then there are the common dormitory with common toilets. No much privacy. There are also privates- 2 person room, 6 person room. We took the 6 person dorm private room. It has a toilet and it was good to have some time to ourselves.
When we opened our eyes next, we have arrived in Taiwan, Keelung in the north.
The Asian Dharma Celebration went in a breeze. Too soon, we are back in China. However, mentally, we returned charged, with renewed courage and energy to keep practicing. In this prolonged holiday, ADC is our holiday within. It was fantastic to see everyone, and especially to see our teachers, to be inspired again.
- Posted by Mich using BlogPress from my iPhone
Week 7 - Donguan
After a night in the Taiwan Kadampa Meditation Centre watched over by the Buddhas on the Gompa Shrine and a brief visit to my old colleagues at ERM Taiwan, we fly to Taiwan's Jinmen island and take a short ferry back to Xiamen on the second entry of our Chinese visas. After one more day exploring Xiamen's islands we are back on the overnight sleeper train heading south to Donguan to visit Michelle's distant relatives.
The contrast between Xiamen and Guandong could not have been more stark. After the breezy greenery the endless industrial sprawl of Donguan felt stark and menacing. It took over an hour and a half to cross from the train station to the hotel without a break in this city of 7 million people. The relatives we have come to see, Wenzhounese cousins on Michelle's fathers side, own an sprawling branded leather goods factory and distribution business spanning the whole country and employing hundreds. Built from scratch over 20 years to hand down to the next generation, the whole operation is managed by family members in true Chinese style.
Needless to say we are warmly welcomed and well looked after and the following day are back on the train heading north to the Hakka roundhouses of Yongding and Liulian.
- Posted by Dave using BlogPress from my iPad
The contrast between Xiamen and Guandong could not have been more stark. After the breezy greenery the endless industrial sprawl of Donguan felt stark and menacing. It took over an hour and a half to cross from the train station to the hotel without a break in this city of 7 million people. The relatives we have come to see, Wenzhounese cousins on Michelle's fathers side, own an sprawling branded leather goods factory and distribution business spanning the whole country and employing hundreds. Built from scratch over 20 years to hand down to the next generation, the whole operation is managed by family members in true Chinese style.
Needless to say we are warmly welcomed and well looked after and the following day are back on the train heading north to the Hakka roundhouses of Yongding and Liulian.
- Posted by Dave using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Donguan, China
Week 6 - Xiamen and Taipei
We arrived is the charming seaside town of Xiamen much in need of a hot shower after two days and nights on the sleeper train from Kunming. Other than the inevitable limitations to personal hygiene, our first long haul train was a surprisingly comfortable adventure filled with idle chatter, leisurely home schooling, card games, books and lots and lots of piping hot tea.
Xiamen was delightful - breezy, clean, green and well planned with a winning mix of modern high-rise and quaint old French colonial streets which were a treat to explore before taking to the sea with an overnight cruise to Keelung on route to Taipei. Pausing for a photo in front of the Rainbow Warrior which happened to be birthed at the port, we hopped on to the intercity and bumped into four familiar red robed ladies a few stops from the Kadampa Asia Dharma Celebration in Taipei and plunged into a blissful long weekend of empowerment, teaching and meditation.
Me and San San helping out in the shop, Michelle manning the festival cafe and Jon Jon charming the customers with his cheeky grin and big brown eyes - a very welcome diversion into the bosom of our Sangha family to mark the half way point of our trip in Taipei.
- Posted by Dave using BlogPress from my iPad
Xiamen was delightful - breezy, clean, green and well planned with a winning mix of modern high-rise and quaint old French colonial streets which were a treat to explore before taking to the sea with an overnight cruise to Keelung on route to Taipei. Pausing for a photo in front of the Rainbow Warrior which happened to be birthed at the port, we hopped on to the intercity and bumped into four familiar red robed ladies a few stops from the Kadampa Asia Dharma Celebration in Taipei and plunged into a blissful long weekend of empowerment, teaching and meditation.
Me and San San helping out in the shop, Michelle manning the festival cafe and Jon Jon charming the customers with his cheeky grin and big brown eyes - a very welcome diversion into the bosom of our Sangha family to mark the half way point of our trip in Taipei.
- Posted by Dave using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Taipei, Taiwan
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
The powerless me
Thousands of miles away from Singapore, away from home...usually being away from home is good for me. I seems to be born with gypsies blood, for I have always been traveling from places to places, family to family ever since I was a kid. It seems right for me not to be near my parents and siblings. I got use to being on my own.
But today, I wish that I am at home. I wish to have the clairvoyance of a buddha to be with my mum in Singapore. I wish I am as powerful as a Buddha to take away the pain and fear that my mum is encountering. I wish I could replace her loneliness with happiness.
Geshe-la said that if we do not understand the sufferings of others, how could I develop the compassion for them to be free from sufferings! My half-hearted practice comes from not realizing the real sufferings. My effortless practice is pitiful. How can I help anyone at the rate my practice is going? How can I take way the pain and suffering of others? How can I claim that I love my mum when I can't even take away her sufferings.
There is a need to start looking. Looking very hard at this reality that we call life. How meaningful is it? Everyday, we wake up, we chase after what we call meaningful. But how meaningful is meaningful when I am not even able to take fear away from people whom I love and care for!!! It is time to start questioning: am I really living meaningfully?
Don't let life pass you by...don't let it deceive you...how meaningful is your life to date???
- Posted by Mich using BlogPress from my iPhone
But today, I wish that I am at home. I wish to have the clairvoyance of a buddha to be with my mum in Singapore. I wish I am as powerful as a Buddha to take away the pain and fear that my mum is encountering. I wish I could replace her loneliness with happiness.
Geshe-la said that if we do not understand the sufferings of others, how could I develop the compassion for them to be free from sufferings! My half-hearted practice comes from not realizing the real sufferings. My effortless practice is pitiful. How can I help anyone at the rate my practice is going? How can I take way the pain and suffering of others? How can I claim that I love my mum when I can't even take away her sufferings.
There is a need to start looking. Looking very hard at this reality that we call life. How meaningful is it? Everyday, we wake up, we chase after what we call meaningful. But how meaningful is meaningful when I am not even able to take fear away from people whom I love and care for!!! It is time to start questioning: am I really living meaningfully?
Don't let life pass you by...don't let it deceive you...how meaningful is your life to date???
- Posted by Mich using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:Xiamen, China
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
China train
40 hours on hard sleeper on Kunming rail - The only way to travel in style and to see the amazing landscape. 80% of the Chinese population travel in this amazing well connected railway.
Hard sleeper mean economy class with 6 bunks per partition and about 25 partitions per car.
One also get the cheaper version of seater car which involve sitting in a crowded car through the whole journey. This is not recommended if you have long journey. Or you can upgrade to soft sleeper which is a 4 berth private partition.
There is a feel of being in a community on the train. You meet all sort of people from different part of China. People rushing to get to a wedding in their hometown, people going across the country to harvest tomatoes, businessman trying to close a deal, local tourist traveling to their next destination. Many different ascent of mandarin being spoken.
People were talking to each other about food, languages, places they have been to, things that they are doing, and even their problems. So much kindness and love that are shared with strangers for the 40 hours journey; many goodbyes were said and a warm welcome to the new passenger.
We remain the only western foreigner on board. They reference us as 'Lao why'. As usual the children and Dave attracted a lot of curiosity. Dave shaving attracted an audience, homeschooling on the train invited questions about why the children are not in school, the magic show we put on for San and Jon that made them laughed when the children wowed, the educational card game which puzzled them as there are no numbers on the card, and finally people double back to check out why we are sleeping in upright position when we do our silent puja.
The true Chinese experience on it's own. Definitely worth doing if you are intending to get to know China.
- Posted by Mich using BlogPress from my iPhone
Hard sleeper mean economy class with 6 bunks per partition and about 25 partitions per car.
One also get the cheaper version of seater car which involve sitting in a crowded car through the whole journey. This is not recommended if you have long journey. Or you can upgrade to soft sleeper which is a 4 berth private partition.
There is a feel of being in a community on the train. You meet all sort of people from different part of China. People rushing to get to a wedding in their hometown, people going across the country to harvest tomatoes, businessman trying to close a deal, local tourist traveling to their next destination. Many different ascent of mandarin being spoken.
People were talking to each other about food, languages, places they have been to, things that they are doing, and even their problems. So much kindness and love that are shared with strangers for the 40 hours journey; many goodbyes were said and a warm welcome to the new passenger.
We remain the only western foreigner on board. They reference us as 'Lao why'. As usual the children and Dave attracted a lot of curiosity. Dave shaving attracted an audience, homeschooling on the train invited questions about why the children are not in school, the magic show we put on for San and Jon that made them laughed when the children wowed, the educational card game which puzzled them as there are no numbers on the card, and finally people double back to check out why we are sleeping in upright position when we do our silent puja.
The true Chinese experience on it's own. Definitely worth doing if you are intending to get to know China.
- Posted by Mich using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:Xiamen, china
Week 5 - Home From Home
A blight on our rucksack in the steamy tropics, our heavy coats were a very welcome sight indeed as they emerged from the depths of the bag at 6 am in Shangri La's frigid bus station. We were welcomed from the overnight sleeper bus from Kunming by a light sprinkling of snow and the familiar dizzying shortness of breath of our mountain home.
And home it was! Back in our old room; having lunch with the Thangka Academy students; dinners with Dakpa, Jeff and Baskar; hiking with Jeff and Sonam; helping out in the office; discussing Dharma with Master Kedrup; doing the rounds of the temples - it was as if the last few months had never happened... Having been on the road for a month, to spend time with our friends in Shangri La was a delight - a real home from home which enabled us to recharge our batteries for the next long haul two day rail crossing from Yunnan through Guangxi and Guangzhou to Xiamen in Fujian.
Once again we thank you all for looking after us, fattening us up and putting us back on our way - we hope to see you all again soon!
- Posted by Dave using BlogPress from my iPad
And home it was! Back in our old room; having lunch with the Thangka Academy students; dinners with Dakpa, Jeff and Baskar; hiking with Jeff and Sonam; helping out in the office; discussing Dharma with Master Kedrup; doing the rounds of the temples - it was as if the last few months had never happened... Having been on the road for a month, to spend time with our friends in Shangri La was a delight - a real home from home which enabled us to recharge our batteries for the next long haul two day rail crossing from Yunnan through Guangxi and Guangzhou to Xiamen in Fujian.
Once again we thank you all for looking after us, fattening us up and putting us back on our way - we hope to see you all again soon!
- Posted by Dave using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Shangri La, Yunnan, China
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