When we left Dali, we took a train to Lijiang and then a car was waiting for us to bring us to Shuhe Old Town. Our host Shirley was great. When they changed the rules and foreigners had to register at the local police, she went with us to make sure everything was okay. She arranged us transports and walked us to a bus pick up.
Her place is beautiful.
And she has dogs. One night she went to get us apples for breakfast the next day as we could not find the market. Her poor dog howled because she left. I kept him company.
We explored areas of Shuhe old town. The Naxi indigenous people live here. They are known for their embroidery and flower cakes. They keep their town very traditional and it is lovely.
A bridge over a pond. Lots of blessings hanging from the ceiling.
There are lots of photographers and people in costume or traditional dress.
The Naxi indigenous people believe water is sacred. They have three pools at various levels. The first pool has water coming in from the spring and is used for drinking and it flows into the second pool which is for washing. That flows into the third pool which is for scouring. That water drains to the ground which filters the water as it returns to the groundwater.
And I chuckle at some of the signage…
No washing here.No freeing captive animals here.
On the last morning I walked to an ancient hotel that is the oldest in the area. It now has a market with handmade embroidery objects. I walked through many smaller villages along the way.
The hotel. It really is much older than the other buildings.
I bought a beautiful handmade jacket. It is all pieced and stitched by hand, not machine. It is also hand embroidered.
A few other places I tired before I was for to fly out. We went to get a coffee drink and have a flower cake with it. The flower cake is a flaky pastry with red bean inside and infused with rose. It is totally yummy.
This cat food everything to get attention.
Shirley was so fun. I had a great time hiking and getting to know Morgana! She teaches at a Canadian school in Guangzhou.
The dog would run into my room every morning when I had the door open.
On the last weekend in June, we traveled several hours on the bus to go to camp on an island on the other side of Shenzhen. I really don’t like camping but the opportunity to swim, snorkel, and paddleboard was worth it.
We had a great lunch along the way and celebrated the birthday of one of my friends, Tricia.
The water was terrific. The paddleboard had kayak paddles so I did not stand up on it as the paddle was not long enough.
We camped along the beach.
We caught barnacles and crabs. The crew cooked food on the beach.
Barnacles.
Sunset.
Sunrise.
There were plenty of places to explore and many resort buildings were abandoned. The history of the island was that of a place for pirates and smugglers.
Stone with inscription about the island.
The big thing that was hard to see was the amount if plastic pollution. It did not just all wash up there. It was obvious people who were here earlier just dropped their trash. The people who run the camping area really should have a system and more concern for the environment. There was a lot of trash in the ocean when snorkeling.
A good time was had by all. There was karaoke at night, games and camaraderie by day.
It has been officially over for two days. Starting out the year as what we would call normal, we left for Chinese New year thinking we will have a great two week vacation. Who knew it would have ended like this?
The second half of the year was surreal. Walking through rooms not being used and seeing calendars and notes left by teachers to remember things for when they return. It is all weird.
We started school with only about 1/3 of the faculty. Temp checks, teaching online and face to face at the same time, watching other classes while trying to grade assignments. Planning for the start of the next year not knowing what it will actually look like… We also are planning summer school and the amount of resources is a lot. I’m using microbit and making a model of the brain with sensors. This starts next week.
The past few weeks saw senior graduation, modified awards assemblies and only a few teacher get together with the faculty that is left. I think the thought is we can’t have a dinner without all faculty being here but it is cruel not to allow us some time to unwind with all that we are doing.
Lining up for graduation.Graduation. No hand shaking. Those not here were mailed their diplomas.The taking of the annual faculty picture.I’ve done a lot of walking around the city.A lot of walking…
Friends from other schools. I’ve gone on a couple of tours and a person I met some time ago messaged me. We’ve formed quite a little group of people who like to get out and see the sites and hike.
We went to hike baiyun mountain again but rain got in the way. We ate brunch, hiked an upscale mall, and then walked to Jujiang park. There was a student covid-19 art exhibit in the mall.
The last day of school was a half day for students. Teachers had a lunch and then a farewell assembly for teachers going on to other schools. At the end of the day we went to a local bar for a get together. It was well attended and had more people then in past years despite the fact we have less teachers. At the end of the night, a few of us went to the four seasons and to the top of the tower to the 99th floor. The view is spectacular.
Looking down the inside of the hotel.
Now that I’ve had a couple days to unwind, I’m off to do a tour and then start summer school.
I took a trip with Pacha Mama over the weekend. They always find great hiking trips. This trip was to a geopark in the province that is made of red sandstone. With erosion over the centuries, it has created a variety of landforms.
Mount Danxia is about 1 hour high speed train to Shaoguan and another hour or so drive from Guangzhou. That drive takes you to a very different place in China. It is one of the two UNESCO heritage sites in Guangdong province. The draw of this place for the Chinese is the two rock formations that resemble male and female anatomy.
Mount Danxia was beautiful with s variety of trails all with amazing views. There were narrow paths along steep cliffs.
After traveling there and eating a yummy lunch we took a boat ride through the park.
The hike was pretty spectacular with steep, wet stairs. This was to be a sunset hike but impending rain changed our plans.
This is the rocks we need to climb. A series of steep stairs wind around and up this. Our destination is the pagoda at the top.This rock resembles a male organ. Yangyuanshi is known as the male stone.Morgana and I. The whole thing is pretty ridiculous, right?If you look closely you can see the pathway we had to climb.
After making our way up the stairs along the cliff, we were now at the top.
The next morning were supposed to have a sunrise hike but they had closed the opening of the park until 8 due to rain. It didn’t rain though.
I found this guy at the entrance to the cable cars which we used to get to the top and then go down the other side. We were originally to climb the mountain but lost time when that hike was cancelled.
Grotto temple built during the Ming Dynasty. It was abandoned when China became PRC.
A few more stairs again to the pavilion at the top.
Then we had to go back down the stairs that were very narrow and steep.
At the bottom of the stairs.
Biechuan Temple
Walking back towards the entrance.
Xianglonghu lake means flying dragon. It refers to the shadows of the lake when flying overhead as it resembles a dragon. Here we saw children feeding the fish.
The female rock is called Yinyuanshi.
We stayed at a quaint little hotel in the base of the park. Our was a great weekend with people from all over the world.
The new rules and policies for Covid-19 have become routine now. Students and teachers have settled in. Now that the high school and middle school have it under control, grades 4-5 started at the elementary school last week and the lower grades start this week. Preschool and kindergarten have not started.
We received an email about a situation over the weekend. Here is what we were told:
No cause for alarm.
Note: We all live far from school and are bussed. There are 4 bus routes.
On one route, the teachers and staff were left off on Thursday afternoon.
The driver then took non school people to the airport.
One of the people tested positive after they made it to their home city.
The bus driver was tested and is negative.
All facility and staff were tested and are negative.
Everyone wore their mask.
The CDC and education authority have cleared the employees and allowed us to continue with physical school.
What does that mean?
It means that asymptomatic cases are still a problem everywhere. Since elementary students are going back, I saw more people on the street in what I would consider close to normal activity.
Now since everyone is mingling, those asymptomatic people will spread it to others. But if you don’t want an epidemic….
Protocols, rules, and guidelines are the only way you can operate.
Every time we get on the bus, we have a checklist for our name and our temp is taken.
Wherever we are going whether it be school or airport or a store, our temperature is taken (and our name is recorded).
On our arrival at school this morning, there was police presence in the street checking for compliance (distancing, masks…). I did not take a direct picture as that can get you in trouble anywhere you travel. Also, there were more medical personnel on hand when we went through the temperature scanners, most likely from the CDC.
From an upstairs window. Because of construction I did not have a good line of sight. In forgot about going up to the field…
Before I found out about this I was invited to a hike, a dinner and a brunch this last weekend. There are still many people not going out in the city. Our faculty do not all go out together right now.
I am also grateful my school gave us a little mixer on Friday afternoon before we boarded the buses. Not being in a public school means they can have wine, beer, and snacks for us. We all sorely needed that interaction and it was a great way to start the weekend.
5 rams park (Yuexiu park)
Claire and I were up for some city hiking. I ran half way there and then made the rest of the way to the entrance. That part of the entrance was closed. We are used to many entrances being blocked in parks and malls, etc. to temperature scan and control the amount of people. We went to this entrance so that we can take the skybridge which is an elevated 8 km walk way that goes above ground from here to Baiyun mountain. Unfortunately it was closed due to impending bad weather.
I moved this cute little frog off the path before it was run over by a bike or messed with by kids.
From here we decided to do walk to Baiyun but on the street. Definitely not as scenic and it is a part of the city I am not very familiar with. Once at Baiyun we were to tired to hike the mountain. I snapped some pictures.
From here I walked part of the way back to where Claire lived to walk through a garden park I had not been to yet. Jufang garden park was very pretty and on the other side of it I took a Didi home as it was another 11km from here.
This park is in between two different districts within the city.
That night I dined at Mercato with a couple people I know and more teachers from other schools I had not met before. It was great to hear what their schools are doing. I’m lucky as no one at my school had lost jobs, been asked to go to school on Saturdays, or had our year extended. It was excellent food, but I was so hungry I forgot to take pictures. I did take a picture of the view from the terrace though.
The next day I met Claire and Morgana at 13 factories for brunch. (Again too hungry I forgot to take a picture).
13FACTORIES takes its name from the area of the same name in the old part of Guangzhou. This area is where the first foreign trade was allowed during the Qing dynasty, and much like America, a unique place where people from all over the world came to interact. Today, 13FACTORIES aims to create a place in the spirit of the original, a gathering of international friends combined with the sharing of delicious food and drink in a comfortable, casual atmosphere.
But we decided to splurge and we went elsewhere for cinnamon rolls after we had talked for a few hours.
It was great to have different interactions over the weekend.
So government quarantine for Covid-19 is tolerable. I am at the Long Hui hotel in tianhe. To get here I was greeted at my apartment by a person in full containment gear. I’m glad I had an opportunity to pack things in advance. So what did I pack?
Only about 4 days of clothes. They can all be washed in the sink it shower and I’m really getting multiple days out of them as I don’t get dirty
Two pairs of workout clothes with foam roller and exercise bands
A caftan I bought in Egypt. I seriously understand why my mom longer in them all those years
Pajamas
Travel underwear. My quick drying ones I travel with.
My bag of travel essentials, toothpaste, etc. I always keep that packed
Extra lotion. Most hotels in Asia don’t supply it.
Detergent to wash
A fan as the AC is not turned on. It would spread the virus if someone has it
A mug and instant coffee. It is not supplied at all. I always grab extras from hotels just in case.
Computer, SD card with workouts
All chargers
My diary. I’m behind on writing things down. Not that life is exciting. I don’t even know what day it is.
My asthma inhaler. My nightguard.
A container of leftover food as I was sure I would miss the dinner they served (I was right).
All the raw veggies and fruit I had left in my frig. (Spinach, 2 zucchini, tomato, 2 cucumber, 3 plums, 1 Asian pear)
Yam chips and protein muffins I had just made.
A knife
Others have been in government quarantine when they arrived in the airport so I had already heard some of the recommendations of what to pack.
The worst part was the walk from the apartment to the ambulance. I’m not sure what the guy was saying but it wasn’t the standard coming through greeting. Once they saw him and me and whatever he said, people would look terrified with some running to get out of the way. Because the ambulance could not park outside my complex, we walked further than we should have and I felt like crying by the time I was in the ambulance.
We drove lights and air horn but not complete sirens. Once there they checked your information, checked to be sure they knew the countries you had visited and how long you had been back, took my temperature and gave me a room card. I then went to the front desk where they made copies of the passport and double checked info and room. From there I went to the room myself.
This is an older hotel but nicer than most old chinese hotels. It is larger.
The rooms have a chair outside that they put water and food on. There is a waste basket for my trash and another for medical waste. There are video cameras in the halls, etc.
The room is a bit stuffy. I have allergies and there is an old musty smell but not too bad. I opened the windows anyway. If there are mosquitoes I’ll have someone bring me an electronic zapper.
I knew the wifi was slow but I was having trouble with everything. I was frustrated and talking to Ryan on WeChat when he suggested using my US sim card. Since I use Google fi I only pay for the first 6 GB and the rest is free. That is about $80 but worth it. It is so fast and I can use my phone as a hotspot. Not only can I work on the free PD with the state of PA for certification but can also watch Netflix as a reward!
As I arrived after dinner I was sure I would not get tested until the next day.
That next morning I think they forgot about me as it was a new crew. I messaged a person who reached out to me when they knew I would be arriving. He is a friend of one of my friends and had been here a few days already. He was able to contact the office here and they brought me breakfast. Steamed buns are the best! One of them had a nut filling that was amazing.
I was tested after breakfast and temp checks are at 10 am and 4 pm. I will not be given the results of the test unless it is positive and they take me to the hospital for 20 days instead.
I was finally given the WeChat group info so if we need anything we can message and get a response. My school is in continuing contact with me as well as many friends and I’m grateful. I’m glad to talk to family often.
Though they don’t do requests for meals, one of the office admin had been calling them often about me and told them I require vegetarian. They have done this for me so I don’t complain about anything about the meals.
Lunch of shredded potatoes and carrots with Chinese broccoli underneath and rice.Egg drop soup, tofu with mushrooms and Chinese broccoli with rice.Congi (rice porridge) with a hard boiled egg, donut, and steamed bun.
I’ve had 4 meals and they have been pretty decent and normal Chinese fare. In the second wechat group just among foreigners here they order from international restaurants. It is possible because the contact I mentioned above is the owner of one of them. I was going to order if they could not get me vegetarian but now many restaurants are being forced to close. Not because of anything specific but more anti-international sentiment. Many Chinese places are packed routinely so hopefully they are closing some of those down too.
Regardless, some people are really asking too much. Having things delivered that are non-essential. I really feel they will stop delivering everything if people don’t start thinking. They will only deliver at two times a day. Some people were ordering bottles of wine. A waiver is to be signed for being able to drink and there was quite a tirade of messages. I know it is tough to be in here but I just think differently than most people. Not that I’m right but just think differently. There are many things we don’t need and life does not have to be that complicated.
I can live on the food I’m given. I could have lived without my phone being a hotspot. I had books I could read on my computer, etc. I was prepared for no internet if need be. I am grateful I have the ability to take this extra time and work on PD when I don’t have the pull and demands of being at school. I finished a 10 hour class the first day!
So a day and a half has gone by and they have not dragged me off to the hospital…. So the result must be negative!!!! That is great news.
If I’m here until the 26th (that is what is on my paperwork) and that last test can’t be used to go back to school (all teachers and students just be tested), then I won’t start school with the others on the 27th as it will take time to go get the testing and get the results back.
While I was writing this my friend brought me the bug zapper which is good since I am getting bit. The fan would be good but would just blow around hot air. We were able to wave and yell to each other with thumbs up. He just wants a beer for payment. Most definitely!!!
My friend Bill who came all this way to bring me a zapper and use apps to translate. What a good guy!
While I was traveling at the start of the covid-19 mess, I was well aware of a few things.
It might be better to stay in one place and hunker down
I still wanted to see the part of the world I was in so I thought of what I needed to do to stay away from people
Since the rest of the world wasn’t concerned, I played it safe and planned to move closer to China to re-enter when it was safe. I kept waiting for a full travel ban world wide but it didn’t happen.
When you know more you do better. I had thought through a lot but not everything. We needed to learn more about the virus to determine the precautions to take. I didn’t wear a mask at the beginning and forgot about all the little things you touch and especially your face. The more I thought, the more actions I took.
I tried not to take long flights.
At times I felt I was irresponsible but also knew I could take measures to protect myself and others.
Then I was in quarantine. Being in my apartment was great.
I was appalled by the lack of care and concern in most countries as I was traveling. I was glad not to go back to the US. There was total lack of concern at the top.
Since then I’ve thought about discrimination of Chinese when I was in Australia in February. I also heard it was going on elsewhere. Fear makes people do stupid things. I made sure to visit Chinese restaurants and also talk to those I met when I was traveling.
Now that more cases are coming in from overseas, international people are subjected to discrimination here in China. There is a smaller number of cases in the international community than there are in Chinese students returning from overseas. However we are now refused service in restaurants and other establishments. We have had people step out of their way to get further away from us. And though this is unsettling I do understand their fear. And it is not everyone. I have had Chinese nationals stop to talk to me and let me pet their dogs! I’ve been pretty good at not going many places. I don’t want people to be uneasy, restaurants to not be patronized because I was there, etc. And the discrimination is not as bad as those who are African American or South African are experiencing.
I’ve eaten at a total of 4 places since leaving quarantine. The last one was an international restaurant on Monday. The day after I went there, it was learned that there was a potential positive Covid-19 person who had been there a few days before I went. They contacted everyone that has been there since. The original person tested negative (if rumours are correct). However, a server tested positive.
What does that mean? I’m now going to government quarantine. I have no choice. Right now I’m waiting in my apartment to get picked up. It is concerning because I could have been exposed. I’m a little worried as I haven’t been tested yet but will know in a day or two.
If the original person they were tracking was not positive then where did the server get it? She is Chinese. And therein lies what I don’t know. International people have been tested like crazy but we don’t know how Chinese nationals are handled. I would hope it is equal. The server has been quarantined and I would hope everyone else is as well.
So the lesson is:
When other countries go back to normal, unless you have a way to track people, test them, and isolate them, you will have continual outbreaks. And isolating them does not mean telling them to go home and social distance unless you put a video monitor or alarm on their door, etc.
The restaurant I went to takes your temp, has you write down your contact info, your temp, etc. From there, the CDC now has ways of going backwards to find people. All restaurants here are required to do the same. If I test positive, there will be more inquiries into other places I have been and who I have been in contact with.
I had originally planned a much more informative post but my mind is racing a bit at the moment. I’m thinking of what else I need to pack in my bag to take with me. I will update when I can, when I have information, and especially reliable wifi.
On a lighter mood, some pictures I took of my cats and walking around Guangzhou in my free time.
I had wanted to do this tour but it was not available the days I was in Hobart. As I would be traveling to Coles Bay up the East coast of Tasmania I did not realize it was directly on the way. I met a new friend Beth on the Bruny Island tour and we decided to roam the island together. I had a car and an accommodation but much further than the island. We set out early to be on the first ferry.
Visitor center on the islandYou can camp in the islands or just visit. There are no cars on the island.
You know the day will be great when you see a wombat right away… And Cape Barron geese.
Painted Cliffs
We made our way down the trail to Painted Cliffs. Since it was already low tide it was the perfect time. In high tide it is inaccessible. These variations are caused by ground water moving through the sandstone and leaving behind iron oxides which stain the rocks.
Many tiny mussels.Mussels, other mollusks, and a brown algae called Neptune’s necklace.The purple blobs are sea anemones. During low tide, the retract their spines.
Darlington
The little area that had outbuildings about the history.
Reservoir circuit
On the way to the reservoir we saw many wildlife.
WombatKangaroosA wallaby resting to the right of the tree.Engine house, 1888Kookaburra.Kangaroo
Bishop and Clerk trail
This trail climbed towards a slope and had the most spectacular views.
Wombat denCuassarina stricta. Drooping she oak.
Fossil Cliffs
When there were inland seas, many organisms like mollusks were abundant. The fossils are evident in the rocks. Those was when Australia’s broke away from Pangaea as a land mass known as Gondwana.
More wildlife
The 12 apostles which were buildings now in ruins. The wombats love it here.
At the port waiting for the ferry to go to the bed and breakfast I am staying in Swansea.
Wagner’s cottages in Swansea is beautiful. We picked up a scallop pie for dinner.
I booked a tour for a different island that offered stand up paddle boarding and snorkeling. The past day had seen intermittent showers and was hoping it would be the same that day. There have been a lot of rain of late which allowed for a lot of online work to be completed.
Tangalooma resort
Taken from the stand up paddle board. Right in front of the beach are shipwrecks that we are able to snorkel around.Kookaburra. I missed the show feeding them.HeronPied cormorants.
I paddle boarded for a while then went snorkeling.
As I drifted along I was taking more video and during this next clip realized I was being pulled along by a strong current.
I actually needed one of the people on jet skis to tow me out. That’s why they are there and after taking me to the beach they went back to get two more. Not many people were snorkeling after that.
No matter, it started pouring and did not let up. I instead took the boat back two hours early and diff more work.
There is a lot to see in Brisbane but the weather is not cooperating. Byron bay is supposedly fantastic!
It was great that Harlan Chambers was able to visit me here in Guangzhou. He is working on his doctoral dissertation in Shanghai. He was excited to see museums and eat all the food in Guangzhou. Once he arrived he fell in love with this city. It really is a great place to live.
When we had time we toured the area as I still had classes and this is the last week before Chinese New year holiday.
I had not yet visited many of the museums here and only a few in Dongshankou. He did his research! It was nice to see areas of the city I had not explored and especially try new restaurants. Harlan is fluent in Mandarin and made it so much easier though I am happy that I am able to figure out some of what is being said with some of the vocabulary I already know.
The Martyrs Memorial Park commemorates the death of the Chinese communist party against the Kuomintang in the Guangzhou uprising.
Chinese and Korean people and Chinese and Soviet people blood Pagodas.
There was much singing in the park and I love when you can see the love people have for their country and their history.
After touring we realized we were close to Beijing Lu and I thought he would want to see the old temple, Jade Buddha, and eat at the restaurant in the temple. It was tough to only make a few choices to eat and not order too much food.
The Jade Buddha from the balcony in the temple.
Guangdong history museum was very enlightening as I had only a small knowledge of Chinese history. I now know a little more but will really have to start at the beginning to put it together as there is such a long and complicated history here.
Peasant Movement Institute was a school with a united front to assist peasant and worker movements. It brought together the nationalists and communists along with an alliance with Russia in the 1920’s. Many of the former students were killed in the 1927 failed uprising and are memorialized in Martyrs Park. Sun Yat Sen, Peng Pai, and Mao Zedong were key in this movement.
Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall. This place was fabulous with an octagonal roof. There was history of Sun Yat Sen and his influence throughout the works when he worked with other revolutionaries and fled or asylum.
All the building specifications had to be exact to be able to achieve the roofline and make a sound building. In the center is a large theater. Sun Yat Sen was devoted to education and helping common people for their future. This is a lasting legacy to his work as the theater is used for that purpose.
Walking behind the memorial Hall are monuments. Lots of stairs to get to the top where the memorial monument to his life is found.
This memorial is a part of the Yuexiu park which is massive and the largest park here in Guangzhou. We only covered 1/3 of it but it is spectacular and a park I had yet to see. I will come back to look more closely.
The 5 rams sculpture is based on a legend of 5 immortals riding on rams into the then barren land of Guangzhou 2000 years ago carrying sheaves of rice. Once leaving the rice behind, Guangzhou became prosperous.
The 5 Rams statue is iconic
This is the old Guangzhou city wall which is an ancient relic here in the park. I love seeing how these trees will find ways to send roots into the ground. Nature is fantastic.
As it is now a couple weeks to chinese new year, the decorations are now going up. This year is the year of the rat. Displays are impressive everywhere you go.
In Huacheng Square, the pedestrian street I like to run is also creating displays.
The Canton Tower at dusk.
On the way back home we went through Taikoo Hui. It is a very upscale mall and of course we stopped for fabulous ice cream. In the valet area we saw this car. It must be expensive and rate a as everyone was taking pictures of it.
THE bookstore in Tianhe. 6 floors of books and other items and you can find people reading in the aisles…. You will not see this in America.
There is some odd looking good that taste fabulous. This is matcha, black rice, and blueberry cheese.
A Tom and Jerry exhibition in the One Link mall in Tianhe.
At school we had another lion dance celebration which is fabulous. This is long but showed the athleticism, culture, and acrobatics.
