Monday, December 31, 2007

China HK 2007: Lijiang - When The Beginning and the End Almost Met...

Nov. 9th, 2007 -- With our tour nearly coming to an end, we had one more stop to make: The Snow Mountains in Lijiang. Of course, looking back on it now, one would have found the inherent bad weather ominous; a warning of what was to come. Yet, the only thing on my mind that morning was my birthday.

It's funny, but when you're born in China and spend most of your birthdays in the states, you always have a sense that you're not actually celebrating the time right -- sure, you can adjust for the time change, but it stills feels a little weird. But this year it felt right, and I received the most unexpected surprise -- my cousin phoned me - not knowing I was in China - and wished my a happy birthday. It felt really great to hear his voice.

Little did I know, he might have been the last person back home that would have heard me alive.

We took off for the mountains at 8 AM, our trusty tour bus winding through the foothills of the mountainside, taking us to another coach that would finally take us to the mountains.

Again, the weather only got worse -- low fog rolled in, making us look at the world through tissue-papered eyes, with a smattering of rain to make the road surface just slick enough to make the wheels screech on the turns.

Now, let me tell you about the bus drivers - these are the kinds of guys that are doing the mountain runs at about 4o mph through wind, rain or snow, with the average time of arrival coming just shy of 15 minutes. And they make the same run about 6 times a day, back and forth. So when our bus driver navigated the inclines like we were in the Long Beach Grand Prix, none of us batted an eye.

Oh yeah, did I mention that drivers don't turn on their lights? So, picture this -- bad weather, fast driving, and no lights. Perfect, right?

Well, things were going great, right up until...

BAM!!!!!

A bus coming down came right towards us at full speed. Our bus driver had 3 choices: 1) Collide head on with the oncoming vehicle, which would have resulted in injuries if not fatalities, 2) swerve to the right, though, we'd probably be killed once our bus flipped around off the side of the mountain (because there's no guard rail), or 3) Swerve just enough to let the oncoming bus get past us, but swing back in time to stay on the road.

Our bus driver chose Option 3, in a matter of seconds.

The first thing I saw were the passengers in the front flying out of their seats, their friends trying to catch them as all of use leaned to the right of the bus. And I found this to be interesting, since this was the first time in 8 days that I didn't sit on the left side of the bus.

The look on the oncoming driver's face was of sheer terror and panic, in contrast to our driver, who looked as cool as a cucumber after the accident. After checking to make sure we were all right, I proceeded to get off the bus. Morbid curiosity took over, and I shot these:

We were a sore thumb sticking out on the middle of the
only path towards Snow Mountain. The bus basically
"clipped" us on the side, as shown in the previous
picture.


And I wasn't joking about the no guard rail. It was only
2 feet from us and the end of the road - literally.


That's our bus driver on the left, in the teal jumpsuit.
He was shooting the breeze as if this were nothing in the
world.


Here's the damage up close. It's mostly cosmetic, but when
I think about what might have been, it's a small price to
pay for coming out of it in one piece.


Of course, some folks just couldn't wait for us to get back
up and running, so they took it upon themselves to drive
around the gorge and around us to continue on their
way. Nerves of steel, I tell ya.


Here's a Land Rover that even made it, with only a half
inch to spare from nicking the side of the bus. I guess if
you can operate a car like a pack mule, you can do just
about anything, anywhere.


See the little blue dot in the distance? That's another
driver coming to get another bus to pick us up. Not only
did the bus come around to get us, but it also made a 6
point turn in order to face in the right direction.


Amid all the action and the adrenaline rush, I took this
mystical shot of the forest below. I guess coming face to
face with death and nature can do that to ya.


So why did I finally decide to post this part of the trip now? I guess I was just coming to terms with how close I came to biting the dust, 'cause sometimes you just get these reminders in life that say "hey kid, you better look around -- 'cause it could all go like THAT!" And never did I ever conjure the notion that I could be born and die on the same day -- it would have made for an interesting epilogue to my life.

Alas, my life didn't flash before my eyes, and no, I can still waste away a day like the best of them.

I guess death will always be there, waiting for us, someday coming around to collect our number when it's up. But heck, if I could go in the cliche' manner of old age and in my sleep, that'd be pretty darn good.

So I welcome 2008 with eyes and arms open. Happy New Year's Everybody, and I say to 2008:

Bring it.

I've got more China blogs, Videos and Living to do... ;)

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Xmas Day: Frank Lloyd Wright, Eat Your Heart Out!...

For the first time in many, many, years, I engaged with my cousins, niece and nephew in a holiday activity that I hadn't done since I was in the 3rd grade:

Building Gingerbread houses.

Yep, I bet you didn't know I was quite the amateur architect, huh?

Anyway, of the 3 houses made, mine and my nephew's placed 2nd overall based on the family votes at the table.

However, I guess you can say we all won the "Make the biggest mess in the kitchen possible while having a blast" award, and that's the most coveted one of all.

Check it out:


As you can see, we decided to go with the
Single Unit A-Frame Studio Duplex, with matching
2 car garage. We also got kudos on portability,
since ours was the only one that was stable enough to
survive a possible car ride. However, it seemed something
was missing...


Voila! Someone made a Candy Cane Santa Sled to finish
off the roof. Our architectural masterpiece
finally complete!




This house was made by my niece and her mom, the
1st place finishers. Complete with marshmallow snow
in the back, and hard candy walkway in the front, this
was definitely the flashiest of the 3, and my personal
fave -- besides me and my nephew's, of course!



And last but not least, this was made by my cousin and
a family friend's kid -- it was certainly the "little house
that could", collapsing 3 times, yet still managing to be
put back together in some kind of massive high rise/
watchtower configuration. And with all 3 houses,
a Santa can be found on each of the roofs -- I dare ya
to spot them!




But you know what? When you put all 3 of them together,
it does make quite the sweet community!

Shhh!!! Don't tell my cousin, but I think I might want to do
this again next year... ;)

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Christmas 2007: A Few Shots I Got...

Christmas cheer around the office...


... And even in the city streets...


... where decor ranged from gloriously gaudy...




... To quietly serene...


...But whether you like it Frosty...


... Or by sugared sprinkle sweets...


... I really hope you dig, my
Fiber Optic Tree!


Merry Christmas Everyone, and to the "George Baileys"
of the world... ;)

Monday, December 24, 2007

If You've Got A Secret, Don't Tell Ann Curry...

So, last week when I caught the Today Show, Brad Pitt was on to promote his cause and site Make It Right 9, a project helping to rebuild the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans, creating new housing there -- when who was conducting the interview? None other than Ann Curry -- who I still believe, her Kryptonite is good looking men.

Although she's an awesome reporter, I'm glad that we're not keeping Nuclear Launch codes with her.

But all joking aside, Ann -- you know I love you.

Check out my vid below and you'll see what I mean. Happy Holidays, one and all!:




Sunday, December 23, 2007

I’d Never Expect Christmas Sung By M.J.B...

Ever since I've been on this kick to catch clips with my DVR, The Today Show manages to amaze me with the musical guests they have on so early in the morning.

Although Mary J. Blige was on to promote her new album, she also did a rendition of an old classic Christmas tune that just simply blew me away. And I'm not even a big fan -- but if she ever decides to put out a Christmas album, I'll be in line to grab a copy.

Without further ado, here's MJB giving us a little holiday tune... ;) :





Thursday, December 20, 2007

Ann Curry Has A Thing For Bacon...

Now, I'm not one to gossip, but I caught this on the Today Show yesterday, and I just couldn't mash the record button on my DVR fast enough.

Now, it's pretty subtle, but my conspiracy sense tells me that Ann Curry does have a little crush on the one and only... Kevin Bacon.

Why would I say that? Well, for starters, the segment starts with Roker and Kotb out in the Rockefeller Center, doing their meet and greet with Kevin, and in comes Ann, rushing in like she's make a 60 yrd touchdown.

Okay, the previous segment Ann Curry was in was inside the studio doing a quick interview -- so she would have had to rush through 2 soundstages, an assistant, several PAs, the entire morning crew, and finally, the lobby security just to make the it to the segment. Now if that ain't chasing a crush, I don't know what is.

Well, if you still don't believe me, check it out for yourself and click the vid below. I'm telling you, Ann Curry was just glowing, and you could hear it in her voice too... ;)

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

What Really Gets The Audience Worked Up At The Movies...



I caught "I Am Legend" last night, and as the third film version from the original story, it wasn't half bad. But I'm pretty biased -- if Will Smith made a movie about him just eating a sandwich, I'd probably see it.

Anyhow, as most thrillers go, you'll hear the audience gasp in shock and awe during the movie, but do you know what everyone was most shocked about?

Was it the mutated-zombie-vampire people? The desolate, barren landscape of a New York City turned literally into a concrete jungle? Or Will Smith's hunting deer with an M-4 assault rifle?

No, none of the above. It was when he was at a gas station getting gas and, well, I think the lady behind me said it best:

Oh My God -- Gas is 6.95 a gallon!!!! Oh MY!!!! NO WAY!!!

It kind of stole the show for a moment, and I guess it says a lot about our society -- we'd rather be turned into flesh-eating mutants than have to pay high gas pricess.

Yikes, indeed... ;)

Check it out for yourself (pause the YouTube at 1:13):



Friday, December 14, 2007

China HK 2007: Lijiang, Yunnan Province - China

From Dali, we took a 3 1/2 hour bus ride toward Lijiang that traversed over what was supposed to be a "paved road" (it felt like the world's longest ass massage, and or, ass pulverizing), to finally arrive at the last stop on our tour.

But first, a few pics from my favorite rest stop:

Along the way, we stopped at this giant "imporium" that sold
all kinds of items: Gold, Silver, Herbs, sunglasses, etc... and
it was filled to the brim with all the other tour groups along
the route.

In the back were workers that were either carving jade,
sanding stone, or doing something between the two. We
watched them through the glass as they watched is, curiosity
all around, like some museum display.

I wish I had a wide angle to show you guys, but believe
me, it was like a shopping frenzy in there.

Ah, Lijiang. This is just a small square that is a fraction
of the overall old town that were were about to walk into.

As promised, more sidewalks that open into a river.
These gaps are much larger, so little-tiny bridges dart
the sidewalk, like we're giants.





Here's the perfect place to ditch your tour if you're not
happy with the one you're with!

Lijiang loves to kick it up a notch -- here, you can pose
on horseback as a Chinese "Davy Crockett".




I didn't worry about it much at the time, but I'm glad now
that there wasn't an earthquake or something or else
this crowd could get real ugly real fast. I'm also
happy that it was open air.


Like Egyptian Hieroglyphics, these are pictographs from the
Naxi language, and you have to guess the meanings from the
pictures. I think it reads "Beef Fried Rice, $4.99".



Here is Mu's House -- he was an ancient chief in the
old city. Let's take a look around his pad:






It only took a short climb up a hill, and onto the balcony
of a local hotel to get this view. Now THAT is a lot of tile...


And as the sun sets, the lanterns light up, and the drinks
and dancing starts flowing...







And so ends the first night of our stay in Lijiang. The next
day would be my 28th birthday, and boy, did the powers
that be have something in store for me...

Next Up: The Moment That Changed Everything