I'm trying really hard to think of something creative to write. To bring a snort to your nose. To bring an ache to your side.
Nada. Oh well.
But I did just return from a trip to Zhongguo (otherwise known as China) with 4 other Malaysian Chinese students to visit one of the first students I met when I came to Malaysia for the summer back in '06. She moved back to her country in 2007. Thirty Travelers meet Zoe:
The trip reminded me much of our trek through Italy; although, I'd say that many key elements were missing. There was no Rick Steves. No Sims to plan everything (Thanks again Sims for all you did!) No white wine. Oh wait, there was some white wine, or maybe vodka? Our tour guide took us to a place where they make a Chinese medicine consisting of snake venom with alcohol to 'cure whatever ales ya.' (I'm not sure exactly what it's for; I still can't really understand the Chinese language.) I'm pretty sure the snakes in the jars were dead...I guess dead snake soaked in vodka also does something for ya.
No, I didn't buy you all snake oil juice for Christmas. I know you're sad now.Back to the trip. We rode in a train. A much nicer train t
han the ones we took in Italy. We took a night train to Shanghai. My bunk was on the 3rd tier. We went to the top of the Oriental Pearl in Shanghai, strolled through old villages (600 year old villages), climbed Huangshan (yellow mountain), spent the night in tents and woke up to see the sunrise at the peak. (Will, I did eat quite a few peanuts on that hike and thought of you!) Actually, the Malaysian girls I went with (who served as my translators) decided to take the cable car up the 1,864 m mtn. Me? I chose to climb with a Chinese couple who spoke no English; it was an interesting climb to say the least. But we made it to the top and i was albe to see another great sunrise!
We traveled to 5 cities in 12 days (which also reminded me of Italy): Hangzhou, Huangshan, Zhongxiagong (zoe's town), Suzhou, and Shanghai. My favorite part of the trip, however, was being with Zoe. She's no
t a believer but has heard truth from my co-workers and I off and on for 3 years now. She recently bought a restaurant that she's spent a lot of time investing in. Business is not good. Her marriage is not great (she's 35 years old...has been married for 2 years). She asked me countless times, "What's my purpose in life? I have no purpose in life!" I shared with her yet again about the purpose that I believe she was created for; she didn't really have any response. Please pray for her to find joy and satisfaction in the One we know paid the price for her and desires to have relationship with her!
The last day I explored a bit of Shanghai on my own and stumbled upon a big fresh vegetable, fruit and poultry market. Here are a few pictures that I think capture some of the culture and food in China:
bao on the street.
so good. bread filled with noodles or pork or veggies or red bean. red bean was disappointing the first time i tried it: it looked like a big slab of chocolate. but it wasn't. it was red bean.
a few of the many veggies
Miss you all! Keep blogging!
han the ones we took in Italy. We took a night train to Shanghai. My bunk was on the 3rd tier. We went to the top of the Oriental Pearl in Shanghai, strolled through old villages (600 year old villages), climbed Huangshan (yellow mountain), spent the night in tents and woke up to see the sunrise at the peak. (Will, I did eat quite a few peanuts on that hike and thought of you!) Actually, the Malaysian girls I went with (who served as my translators) decided to take the cable car up the 1,864 m mtn. Me? I chose to climb with a Chinese couple who spoke no English; it was an interesting climb to say the least. But we made it to the top and i was albe to see another great sunrise!We traveled to 5 cities in 12 days (which also reminded me of Italy): Hangzhou, Huangshan, Zhongxiagong (zoe's town), Suzhou, and Shanghai. My favorite part of the trip, however, was being with Zoe. She's no
t a believer but has heard truth from my co-workers and I off and on for 3 years now. She recently bought a restaurant that she's spent a lot of time investing in. Business is not good. Her marriage is not great (she's 35 years old...has been married for 2 years). She asked me countless times, "What's my purpose in life? I have no purpose in life!" I shared with her yet again about the purpose that I believe she was created for; she didn't really have any response. Please pray for her to find joy and satisfaction in the One we know paid the price for her and desires to have relationship with her!Zoe eating in her restuarant
The last day I explored a bit of Shanghai on my own and stumbled upon a big fresh vegetable, fruit and poultry market. Here are a few pictures that I think capture some of the culture and food in China:
bao on the street.so good. bread filled with noodles or pork or veggies or red bean. red bean was disappointing the first time i tried it: it looked like a big slab of chocolate. but it wasn't. it was red bean.
a few of the many veggies
my favorite: yes, that's a live duck being weighed on a scale getting ready to be bought. and skinned. and eaten. yum.
In other news: I'm training for a half marathon to be domintaed on 11th Oct in KK (the same city where Will, John and I conquered that beast of a mtn). I'll be moving to that city in January for a few months before I make my debut back in the states:)
Zoe and me about to go paddleboating.
Life is good. God is better.Miss you all! Keep blogging!
5 comments:
1) that bunk bed looks kinda dangerous..
2) 600 year old villages!!!
3) that wasn't will, kinda like that time you didn't meet ryan adams.
4) 2:32 in the half marathon? i think so.
1)it was dangerous. i almost fell off a few times
2)yes. and still in good shape
3)oh. makes more sense now:) love it jamie!
4)don't even start with your insults again, mr. lambuth.
Great post, Candis! I knew we could count on you!
By the way folks, I've met Rick Steves. I know, it's totally like I went to Italy with you guys, right?
one time i ate a red bean popcicle. it was a dissapointment.
what a cool chance to travel with Zoe, i know what you said had to have given her some hope and hopefully will lead to more questions on what it is all for...
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