Well, it's been an interesting few days. Let me just say that for all those people who like to joke about things like "getting taken to a little room with no witnesses in a foreign land at the border crossing"- it's not funny. Especially if it's you.
So there I was at the border coming from Hong Kong and trying to get into Macau. (For the record, I DID ask for a double entry visa, but the consulate in T.O said I didn't need one. Oh really? Shouldn't they know these things? Just saying.
My whole group was at the final border check, and I give my passport to the official. He is taking a very long time and calls over the head official.
Giant urns in the Forbidden City.
Apparently my visa is no good. I said a few pretty Hungarian words about the consulate in T.O. She and two armed guards took me away to get a new visa.Really? Was that necessary? I don't know about you, but I certainly don't appreciate have two machine guns pointed within a few inches of my head. A tad bit excessive, no?
Now, later on my group said that they couldn't hear what was going on, they just saw the events unfold and felt really really worried about what was happening - especially when I was taken away at gunpoint. From their point of view, all they saw was that it was taking too long, security was called over, lots of angry yelling at me, and finally two armed guards took me away to a little room with no witnesses from which I did not emerge for a very long time. They had no idea what was going on. Of course it was all alright - as soon as I agreed to "pay" to get a"new visa."
I'm not impressed.
Two nights ago we went out to the summer palace and saw an amazing theatre performance with horses, flying martial artists combating in midair, half a dozen different styles of traditional dancing etc. It was truly beautiful.
Terracotta warriors prepared for battle in Xi'an province. I really liked Xi'an province. Many interesting archaeological sites, historical areas, cool air with many bamboo groves, less busy with a rather peaceful vibe.
Yesterday we were in Guangzhou, - the birthplace (so to speak) of SARS. Ray, for some reason I think you would appreciate this part - at one point on our way to the restaurant, the guide said...."oh and by the way, you see this hospital to your right, yes, this was where the worlds' first SARS patient was taken." And of course our bus pulls in right next door. Starting from that meal, the number of vegetarians in our group rose significantly! No joke.
Trainee monks at the Northern Shaolin Temple giving a little performance. After we ate and drank and hung out with them. Good times. Especially after the 100 proof qi elixir I drank... I hadn't had any alcohol (not even a beer if you can believe it!) for about 8 years at that point... you can imagine how that went down. It did wonders for my qi, however. lol. I actually used to bartend at night in Toronto... imagine that... a bartender who didn`t drink. Ever.
Oh, and speaking about vegetarians, for a Buddhist country, it's actually very difficult to get a vegetarian meal. All our meals are preordered apparently, and even when we ask for rice or tofu, it's mixed with pork and ham bits. Finally, we figured out how to say in Mandarin what we want. It's actually becoming quite comical.
Last night on the way home, one of my companions gave me the most wonderful neck massage, man was it needed. Every day we go to a new province, new hotel new everything. We walk several kilometers a day, up and down stone steps, many times with our HEAVY luggage. All in preparation for tomorrow's training, apparently.
Up until now, we've been getting up at 4:30 - 5am for tai chi, qi gong, kung fu, and tomorrow we are starting full day training. Can't wait! Can't wait, can't wait!
Ok, I can wait until after I've slept more than four hours...lol
...and here I am NOT having slept more than four hours as desired.... lol. It's 4am and I am on my way out to meet with locals and practice some tai chi together.
This morning we flew from Guangzou to Xiamen and let me say, that so far, the hotels have been fantastic.That is the one and only thing that is consistently North American in standard. Boy do we all look forward to dropping our stuff at the five star (that's right folks, 5 star) hotel at night after 15 hours of walking around and training. Now that's not to say I expect or even want "North American" but a good bed and clean bathroom are always priceless treasures. Especially where one's sanity is concerned...
My new nickname is the "Task Master" because every night a bunch of us get together for some "extra"training - pushups situps, crunches, stretches etc. I keep time, counting, yelling, motivating the group to give it their all, not slack off etc. I'm quite good at it. I didn't teach at Northern Karate for all those years and not learn a thing or two about positive motivation!
At first I was called Mistress Farkas, then Mistress Drill Sargent, now it's the Task Master. I think our group is becoming slightly masochistic, me, well, I've a bit of the sadistic happening too - well gawd, if you've been doing the crazy training we've been, you would be too! Ray, next time you have to do this trip. You'll surely derive some sick sense of satisfaction from the torture. We are off to the Southern Shaolin temple in a couple of days to train with the monks there....goodie goodie goodie...rats, my internet time is up....I'm wishing you all well, enjoy your summer, lots of happiness, peace and power to you all,
Yvette (Mistress Task Masta Farkas!)
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