Our First Trip to China

Hello Family and Friends,

It’s been a long time since we’ve blogged…we said good bye to Chongqing on Thursday July 26th and departed for Beijing. We enjoyed our stay in Chongqing but we are SO looking forward to our upgrade to “five star accommodations” The concept of “roughing it” is highly over-rated in my book - - I know…I know…I’m a spoiled brat…but I think I’ve learned some valuable lessons through this experience. The biggest lesson is that I am really appreciative of the modern and decadent conveniences of living in America.

Remember the movie “Private Benjamin” starring Goldie Hawn? Goldie Hawn plays Judy Benjamin…a spoiled, ultra-high maintenance, upper-east side Manhattanite who inadvertently gets herself enlisted in the U.S. Army. During basic training she gets herself in trouble and ends up having to march in a circle, in full battle gear, in torrential rain. She has reached rock bottom in her emotional and mental state and starts reminiscing about all of the luxurious things that she misses about her privileged life she has left behind.

During my last days in Chongqing I had my “Private Benjamin” moment as I was sitting with the US team at breakfast one early morning trying to enjoy my 19th day of plain rice breakfast porridge:

“I miss a real American breakfast with greasy bacon, eggs over easy and crispy hash browns and fresh brewed coffee”

Some of the other kids began to chime in…

“I miss cereal with milk”

“I miss toast with jam and butter”

“I miss cheese”

And so on and so on…and it made me think of all of the other things that I was missing...which made me compile this list of things to be homesick about:

1) Coffee

I miss my daily dose of java.
I usually have 2 cups a day…at a minimum.

Imagine me only having 2 cups in 21 days!! The horror!!

As I mentioned in an earlier entry…there are no Starbucks located in the Dadukou District of Chongqing where we have been staying. There is NO coffee anywhere.
Not a drop.
The nearest cup of coffee can be purchased at Starbucks in downtown Chongqing which is a thirty minute train-ride from the training facility.

Luckily I found another Mom who was jonesin’ for some caffeine and we snuck off and took the train into town one morning to get a fix. Best $18 dollar (RMB) cup of coffee I’ve ever had!!

2) My Washer and Dryer

Contrary to popular belief, there’s no such thing as a “Chinese Laundry” in China.

“Ancient Chinese Secret” my ass!!

The world mocks me. A cruel irony for a traveler like me who is used to the availability of concierge and laundry service in a hotel.

Thirty-one days of travel and a 10 day supply of underwear and clothing. Do the math. Not good.

With help from one of the parents I did find a local dry cleaner who was willing to machine-wash our laundry (as a general rule they do not wash underwear and socks) but they were not able to machine-dry our clothes…they dry garments by hanging them on an outdoor clothesline to dry in the humid, polluted, smoggy air. No thanks! So what’s a girl to do…she marches over to the nearest store, buys detergent, rubber gloves and a portable clothesline and gets to scrubbing!! You should have seen the inside of our hotel room!! A very Chinatown-ghetto vibe. We had wet laundry hanging on every available space to air dry. I actually got pretty good at it…and I must say my son’s skivvies did smell fresh as a daisy!!

Still…I miss my modern machinery…when I get home I’m going to hug my washer and dryer.

3) Real Chocolate

The funny thing about chocolate or any other type of sweets or desserts in China…everything looks really yummy and exquisite and delicious and yet when you bite into it - - it actually has little or no flavor…kinda like an “air sandwich.” I especially miss chocolate…I bought a Dove Milk Chocolate candy bar but it just didn’t taste right…it was very waxy and took forever to melt in my mouth and it didn’t taste like real chocolate to me…makes you wonder about the stuff you buy here…”let the buyer beware” - - they say everything in China is fake…from designer clothes and handbags to electronics, DVDs and I guess, even chocolate.

4) Matanzas Creek 2005 Sauvignon Blanc

I miss my favorite adult beverage. I think when I get home my first meal will be a bottle of my favorite wine, some bread and cheese from the PW Deli and a real Dove Milk Chocolate bar for dessert.

5) Steak (preferably a rib eye, grilled, medium rare)

Where’s the beef?

Unfortunately not here in China…on occasion we’ve had some type of “mystery meat” stir-fried with some vegetables but they usually coat it with so much cornstarch it ends up tasting pasty and gummy. The Chinese diet is big on pork though…and the price of pork is actually a huge issue for people here because it is such a staple in the Chinese diet and yet has become so expensive that the average family is struggling with high prices and availability.

Recently in the local CQ news it was reported that a man on a motorcycle was stopped by a roadside thief. The man thought his brand new shiny motorcycle was about to be hijacked - - instead the robber demanded the 3000 kg cut of pork that was strapped to the back of his bike!!

6) Clothes Shopping in San Francisco

I just can’t get into the fashion here in China.
I think it’s one of the few places in the world where it is perfectly normal and acceptable for a grown woman to be outfitted from head to toe in “Hello Kitty” garb. Maybe I’m just not ready for couture from the “House of Sanrio”.

And the sizes are positively Lilliputian. Every time I try on a “long sleeve” blouse or sweater it comes to my elbows…and the pants…HA! They don’t even have slacks in “men’s sizes” that would be long enough for me.

It’s just as well…clothing manufacturers here use an obscene amount of polyester in their fabrics and the styles are just too frilly and sparkly for me. Lots of “Jessica McClintock” lace and satin and “Las Vegas” style beads, sequins and gold and silver metallic fabric…

Except all mixed together…
All on one blouse or dress…

I lived through 80’s fashion once in my life and have no interest in a replay. My “Gunne Sax” outlet shopping days are long gone!!

7) Fresh Air

The air quality is so poor here. Everyday, when you look out on the horizon you can see a layer of brownish-yellowish haze just hanging over the city. It will be nice to come home and take a nice deep breath without having to hack and spew a piece of our lungs on the pavement.

8) There’s No Place Like Home…

It's official...we're homesick.

Even though we’ve had a great time so far and we’ve made many new friends in China, nothing compares to the comforts of our home and our hearts that can only come from the love of family and friends that surround us back home.

We miss you all very much and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Stay tuned for our final entry with highlights from our visits to Beijing, Xian and Shanghai!!

DDubbs

Hello All,

We are still enjoying our stay in Chongqing...there is so much to see and do in the fourth largest municipality in China. After nearly three weeks we feel as if we have only skimmed the surface. There is alot to like about this corner of the world and we'd like to share with you some of our favorite memories and places that we've visited. We would love to post photos, unfortunately we have exceeded our photo upload quota for the month and we'll have to wait until August before adding new images. Check back later for photo updates to this entry.

1. The Spa at Central Peninsula Hot Springs

We found a SPA!!
And not just any spa...an ultra-cool, "lifestyles of the rich and famous" kinda spa!!
This place was FAB-U-LOUS!!
There are ancient, natural hot springs in Chongqing. The Central Peninsula Hot Springs are located just outside the epicenter of CQ. Apparently it is a new venue that has beautifully landscaped grounds and state of the art exercise, swim and spa amenities. The proprietors built an absolutely palatial garden to showcase the pools of hot springs. Naturally, the hot springs are the main feature of the resort. There are multiple springs, each featuring a particular theme or curative value - - anti-stress, memory improvement, skin softening etc. The temperature of the water is a constant 35C-37C (95.0F-98.6F). The water contains alkali minerals that are considered to have beneficial medicinal properties. There is also a multi-lane water slide that drops into the main hot spring pool, waterfalls, beautiful rock sculptures and gardens, an indoor swimming pool, fitness area and full service spa. I was able to get a 90 minute full body exfoliation, massage and mud-wrap for about 300 yuan (less than 40 US dollars! - - A typical service like that back home would easily run in the $200 to $300 range!)

But the most SPECTACULAR feature of Central Peninsula Hot Springs was the "Fish Pond" (If you're an "Ugly Betty" fan...apparently this concept was featured in one of their episodes). One of the pools is stocked with a particular type of tiny toothless freshwater fish that feed on dead skin!! Guests soak in the pool and the fish surround you and begin to exfoliate your body by feeding on the dead skin on the surface of your body! It is so creepy and yet so incredibly decadent...and I did it...and I loved it! I "fed the fish" big time...although I didn't last very long...it really tickles and I could only stand to have my feet in the pool. Some of the parents and kids went "all in" - - totally submerged!! It was unbelievable!! You had to be there to see the feeding frenzy! Found an article about it in the Washington Post...here you go:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/14/AR2007051400884.html

This place is just incredible and we're so lucky we got to try it out...they wouldn't allow photography however they do have a Chinese language website if you'd like to browse:
http://www.centerhs.com/

2. "Ci Qi Kou - Old Town" (Ceramic Village) Chongqing

Sifu invited us to accompany him to "Old Town" one afternoon. Kinda like the "old-school" version of Grant Avenue in San Francisco's Chinatown...a total tourist trap but with so much more "old world charm." Sifu was going there to visit his grandfather who plays the cymbals in the local "live" production of Chinese Opera. As we pushed through the crowds of tourists we could hear the familiar "chahng-chahng-chahng" of the cymbals and the clickety-clack of the drums - - just like at home when Mom and Dad would play their Chinese Opera "8-tracks" at full blast on the stereo (for you youngsters... 8 tracks were the "mp3s" of our generation - - you kids today can carry your music in your back pockets...well..."back in the day" we carried our music in plastic cartridges in a big suitcase!) The opera was performed "live" on stage in an old stone courtyard. As we walked through the wooden gate to find our seats, all eyes were upon us. We had to be the youngest ones there...the average age of the audience had to be in the 70's to 80's! Chinese Opera is definitely a dying art form...how sad. It's so funny how what I regarded as cacophonous in my youth has become a melodic reminder of a time gone by...the music, the vibrant costumes and the dramatic face makeup was just an awesome sight! Meeting his grandfather and watching the opera was a real treat but the trip also gave us the opportunity to visit the quaint, ancient village of Ci Qi Kou.

Located on the banks of the Jia Ling River, not far from its confluence with the mighty Yangtze, Ci Qi Kou, is also known as the "Porcelain or Ceramic Village". The courtyard also housed an "old timey" kiln used in decades-gone-by for ceramic production. There was a beautiful sculpture in the middle of the courtyard that depicted the story of how materials for the ceramics were brought into the village and how the finished goods were produced and shipped out via the river.

Chongqing is undergoing a massive renaissance as a modern major municipality, although you would never know it as you meander through the streets of Ci Qi Kou. The village seems to capture what Chongqing would have been like in the distant past. In fact, Ci Qi Kou has been recognized by the State Council in 1998 as a "protected cultural site".

The history of Ci Qi Kou can be traced back for more than 1700 years. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911) it was famous for its production of porcelain. To date, over twenty old kiln sites have been discovered there. Its importance to the porcelain industry is reflected in the name Ci Qi Kou which translated means "Porcelain Village". The village was also an important supply post for shipping on the river, which explains why there are so many shops lining the twelve lanes paved with their large flag stones that form the main routes. Walking along "old town" you will find many different types of stores offering kitschy souvenir items, freshly roasted seeds, nuts, snacks, candies and a variety of artisans and craftspeople selling their wares. One of the highlights was a visit to a silk store where we watched two local women pull apart actual cocoons from silkworms to prepare the cocoons for the eventual process of producing the material or fill that is used for the Chinese "see meen" or silk comforters.

The architecture is a sight to see. The majority of the houses date from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, periods during which many masterpieces of Chinese architecture were created. Much of the two and three story construction is of bamboo and timber. Blue bricks and pillars set off the snow-white walls that contrast in turn with vermilion doors and lattice windows. Black tablets and lanterns adorn the gates to complete the authentic and traditional appearance of the properties. The quietly flowing waters of the Jia Ling River pass by the front of the village and has been its lifeblood for as long as anyone can remember. For it was the river that brought goods and people here as well as carrying local products off to customers at home and abroad.

Our visit to China has been a truly cultural experience and our afternoon in Ci Qi Kou was simply magical to be able to see the local residents dedicated to their traditional way of life, unaffected by modern influences to be found in the larger surrounding districts.

3. Great Prices on Stuff - Everything is Negotiable - "Two for Ten...Okay?...Hello!"

Ahhh! The art of the bargain! I'm lousy at it...but there are a few Moms in the group that are "masters" at it. Speaking the language is a must and deal-making is typically not available in the major department stores. Even the kids have been getting some good prices. On the day we went to the Dazu Rock Carvings many of the locals would set up souvenir stands in the entrance area...but the "hard core" locals would stalk us as we walked along the exit path. They all sell the exact same tschotcke items and recite the same sales pitch: "Two for Ten...Okay?...Hello! I think it's the only five words in the English language they know...hysterical!

4. People Breaking into Spontaneous Song and Dance in the Public

In an effort to unite in spirit and to promote camaraderie, men and women in Chongqing like to gather and exercise by coming together and spontaneously start line-dancing in an open setting around town. This has turned out to be a popular street scene in Chongqing. They just bring out the Chinese ghetto-blaster, pop in a CD and there they go...a bunch of random people...shaking their groove things and dancing their little achy-breaky hearts out. And they do it everywhere and anywhere...in public plazas, in front of stores, on the sidewalk...on the streetcorner.

Odd and different but so fun to watch.
I know...I know...it's kind of "fobby" and geeky but totally acceptable in a foreign country and so refreshing to see typically uptight, conservative Chinese people being so free and uninhibited and all.

5. Riding in a Chongqing Taxi is a Near-death Experience Every Single Time

Hence the phrase "Crazy Chinese Drivers"

OMG - - I have never been so frightened to ride in a car in my entire life. It is a white-knuckle-see-my-life-flash-before-me-can someone-call-me-a priest-ride no matter how long or short the distance. CQ taxi drivers typically drive into oncoming traffic, curse at all of the other drivers around them and honk their horns at any and all pedestrians who come within their line of vision.

And they all drive like my Dad! (The "original" crazy Chinese driver)

You know...both hands on top of the steering wheel...leaning all the way forward, nearly pressing his forehead against the windshield...looking dead-ahead...zero peripheral vision..."You no turn your head...you look straight...just keep going...no worry...dey see you!!"

No wonder why people walk everywhere in China!

But what a rush! Surprisingly (and fortunately), although we've had many "near-misses" we have not been involved in any collisions.

6. Massages and Beauty Services are Dirt Cheap

Although I haven't personally tried one...I understand the body massage services are a "slice of heaven" at rock-bottom prices.
I can tell you that typically it is only 10 yuan (less than $1.50 USD) to have your hair shampooed and styled...and the service comes with an awesome neck, shoulder, upper arm and scalp massage...wow...love those magic hands! Can't beat that with a stick!!

7. Dazu Rock Carvings

see entry "Our Trip to Dazu County" for more information...

8. "Metro" - The China version of "Costco"

For those of you who do not know my family...

They've got this thing...
This really weird thing...
About going to Costco.

Yes...Costco.

And not just the occasional "Oh honey we're running low on bread and eggs - - can you stop by Costco and pick up a palette- - weird"...

Bizarre, obsessive, "Costco-Completes-Me" weird...

For as long as I can remember...EVERY family vacation begins and ends with a trip to Costco.
No matter what city...what continent...what time-zone...

I don't really understand it...

It's actually kind of scary and freaks me out...

But I have learned to embrace it and just go with it...

So...staying true to my genetic hard-wiring, my neurotic and Costco-obsessed family will be be proud to know that even though I travelled halfway across the globe for this fabulous cultural exchange experience, I managed to find myself in China's version of our favorite membership-only-wholesale-warehouse-shop-by fork-lift store in Chongqing!!

METRO, (like it's American cousins "Costco" and "Sam's Club") is one of those typical gi-normous stores where you buy food, beverage and other popular consumer goods by the 'fricking butt-load' even though you're a family of three - - because it's just SO cheap and you can't pass up the price. Never mind that it would take you 3 lifetimes to eat five gallons of hot and spicy pickled radishes...how can any self-respecting Chinese person pass it up at 2.5 cents per radish?!?!

I must admit, it was interesting to see what products are popular among the residents of CQ. Hardcore shopper that I am, I did enjoy surveying the different brands available and getting insight on the types of foods and goods that are desired by the region's consumers.

Thankfully, Sifu's brother-in-law drove us there in a very small compact car with a teeny-tiny trunk, so I was prudent and only purchased a case of water.

There! Got my Costco-fix for this trip.

9. Eating at "Pizza Hut" is Considered a "Four-Star" Dining Experience

On our last "free Sunday" in CQ...we met the Chongqing team and travelled by light-rail into downtown Chongqing for the afternoon. We let the CQ team choose the lunch location and PIZZA HUT won by a landslide.

Believe it or not...these kids have never had pizza before!!

I felt bad that their first "pie" had to be from Pizza Hut...but in Chongqing...it's the equivalent of eating in an upscale restaurant. From the outside, it looks like any other ordinary Pizza Hut...same logo...except in Chinese...but once you step inside...WOW!!

Beautiful decor, plush seats, neatly set tables and a real, live hostess to greet you and escort you to your seat! Fancy, multi-page, spiral-bound, full-color menus that you study and then recite your selection to one of three servers at your table...and the diners eat their pizza with a knife and fork...as if it were a finely prepared filet mignon!! Only at Pizza Hut in China can you find fancy beverages and appetizers on the menu along with TIRAMISU for dessert!! So funny! And so very different from the states...we NEVER go to Pizza Hut back home...eating at Pizza Hut is like a step above eating frozen pizza at home. Eww! We're so spoiled with chains like CPK (California Pizza Kitchen), Zachary's, Uno's LaVals and all of the other great one-of-a-kind pizzerias in each of our respective hometown neighborhoods.

I don't think the CQ kids liked it much but they were very polite and ate it anyway...I think the concept of melted, gooey cheese on their food will take some getting used to...but from the looks on their faces...I think they were delighted by the experience!

10. Shopping in Jiefangbei

Jiefangbei, the financial and retail hub located in Downtown Chongqing is a GREAT place for a girl to get some "retail therapy"! An absolute shopper's paradise...Jiefangbei offers something for everyone...high-end "Maison Mode" (the Nieman Marcus of CQ), Xinhua Bookstore (the Borders of CQ), electronics stores, "Ladies Avenue" - an underground mall specializing in goods and fashions that cater to the female persuasion, and many multi-level, ultra-modern shopping malls!!

After our fancy-schmancy Pizza Hut lunch we headed over to The Metropolitan Plaza (Da Du Hui), a glitzy seven-story shopping plaza featuring around 160 high-end shops (Brooks Brothers, Aqua Scutum, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Kenzo, Hugo Boss, Dolce and Gabbana etc.) It also has an incredible food court with various restaurants, from hotpot to Japanese, an ice-skating rink, a cineplex and a bowling alley on the 5th floor. It also houses the Pacific Plaza Department Store (Tai Ping Bai Huo - the "Macy's" of Chonqing) which has a good selection of foreign and local labels from shoes to clothing to kitchenware.

We treated the kids to the arcade and then to a showing of the "Transformers" movie which just opened recently. The kids, both CQ and US, had a great time. It was nice to see that the spirit of childhood and having FUN is universal and crosses all cultural and age barriers...it's amazing how much pure joy a handful of arcade tokens and a movie ticket can bring to a young person's heart.

A great time was had by all.

It's starting to get sad...just when you get comfortable with a new place and new people...it's time to leave...our time in Chongqing is coming to a close.

We know there are many more undiscovered gems about this place...but the ten highlights that we shared above will stay imprinted in our minds and in our hearts forever.

Blog to you later...DDubbs

Hello All!

It's been raining non-stop since Tuesday!! Crazy, torrential rain, thunder and lightning storms for the past two days. Here's a link to the CQ Daily News if you want to read about it:

http://english.cqnews.net/

I've never seen anything like this. In a matter of minutes the water level on the streets will rise and before you know it a busy boulevard becomes a river! The street behind the training facility flooded yesterday and we watched a few cars and trucks get stuck in the rising waters.

Today as we were leaving to return to the hotel for lunch the walkways from the gymnasium to the lobby and boarding area for the bus were flooded. The water got as high as the curb and to get across to the lobby we would've had to take off our shoes and socks and wade in water that was above the ankles.

Yeah...right...I don't think so!

THIS was water that was overflow from the sidewalks, streets, and the sewers that surround the training facility...the same sidewalks, streets and sewers that people walk on with their dirty street shoes; throw their snot rags and food scraps and other random garbage into; where dogs and cats walk around and relieve themselves; AND where (just like at home) disgusting old Chinese men hock-a-loogie left and right - - you have GOT to be kidding me!!

So as I was surveying "Lake Lungbutter" and trying to figure out where the most shallow portion was located so I could tip-toe daintily across the scum pond...the Chongqing Sifu was watching me pace back and forth, looking up and down with my eyebrows furled...I think he became impatient with my hesitance so he said to me in Mandarin "C'mon, hop on my back...I'll carry you across"

WOW! Clearly this guy did not know what he just volunteered for...

I mean...look at me...I'm a "big girl" by China's standards...

Every woman in Chongqing looks like a former Unicef Poster Child...only older with very badly over-processed hair...

I could be like the next "Chongqing Jenny Craig Spokesmodel"

And...I'm actually BIGGER than the Sifu...

I could see the bus waiting on the other side...I had to get on that bus somehow...

My gourmet lunch banquet and western toilet were waiting for me back at the hotel...

And besides sheer size...that's kinda bitchy and spoiled of me to have him carry me across...after all - the other Mom's took off their shoes and crossed over...why couldn't I?!

I struggled with my thoughts...

I am a guest in his country...he is training my son...he and his wife have already done so much for our kids...it wouldn't be right to impose...I'm an independent adult raising my own child for goodness sakes! What's a little dirty water on my feet and ankles? Lungbutter...Ewww-Ewww-Ewww!!!"

As I was torturing myself on my mental see-saw he said to me again..."C'mon...let's go...hop on!!

So I jumped off my "shame spiral" and jumped right on his back and took the ride across the way!!

The barefoot and soaked Moms tortured me all the way back to the hotel.

I looked around for our boy and saw that he was the only one who still had his fancy American leather sportshoes and socks on...just like his Mom. I pointed at his pristine shoes and said..."Hey...how did you get across?!

"Sifu carried me."

He looked at my bone-dry fancy American leather sneakers and socks and asked me, "You too?!"

"Yep."

We gave each other a knowing smile and we looked over at Sifu and smiled at him and bowed our heads and said "Sheh-Sheh"

The "Princess" and her "Little Prince" are dry and well in Chongqing.

After six days (9 hours/day) of intense training our team deserved a much needed break. We planned a day trip for our group to Dazu County located about 110 miles east of our hotel. The kids didn't appreciate the 6:30 am wake-up calls but we had to do it in order to get them out of bed, fed at breakfast and on the road by 7:30 am for the 2 hour ride. Work hard...play hard!!

The 2 hour drive was a great way to see the countryside outside of the city limits. We had an engish-speaking guide named "Karen" - - she was a bit hard to understand for two reasons:

(1) a very thick Mandarin accent which caused her to put extra "arrrrrrrs" and "errrrrrs" on just about every word and heavy slurring which made her sound like she was drunk and

(2) she was using a really bad microphone so it felt like we were getting a tour from the local Jack-in-the-Box drive-thru attendant

But she was a very nice young lady and tried her best. It didn't matter, most of the kids fell asleep as soon as we pulled out of the parking lot and the ones that were still awake were tuned out and listening to their ipods. The 3 Moms on the bus appreciated her effort and she actually shared some very interesting Chongqing factoids with us:

Population is about 30 million of which 24 million are farmers.

Chongqing is the fourth largest municipality in China (in area and population after Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin)

There are very few bicycles in Chongqing. It is known as the "mountain city" - - a city built along the hillsides alongside the rivers. Because it's so "hilly" it is the only major metro area in China without alot of bikes.

They also call it the "furnace city." The average highest temperature is 81-101°F in summer and the extreme temperature can reach as high as 111°F. We've been very lucky...it's been hot but not as bad as in previous summers...it's been averaging in the low 90's everyday...but it's also extremely humid. There's no breeze because everything gets trapped in the mountainous landscape (wind, fog and icky smog)

Chongqing is a "model city" which explains the explosion of construction and development of transportation infrastructure and improvements. Because of its size and location along the Yangtze River it is a major port and gateway to moving goods up through the Western part of China. Because of the huge population Chongqing is also a good source of plentiful labor. For these reasons the central government has designated Chongqing as "the Gateway to the West" and is pouring alot of investment (both foreign and domestic) into developing the city. There are beautiful high-rise, "manhattan-style" condos being built on every corner.

As we left the city limits you could really see the contrast between the new and the old. The two hour drive was like a step back in time. Development is seeping into some of the rural areas as well with the building of big factories and manufacturing plants and then seeing residential structures and schools going up nearby. It's alot like driving east on HWY 580 and slowly seeing wide open spaces and farmland being converted into retail/residential and theater complexes or the next IKEA or Walmart Supercenter. Similar redevelopment efforts here but less focus on retail/entertainment in the outskirts of town.

The best part of the ride was seeing the old farmland and seeing the locals working the land and seemingly living their lives oblivious to the modernization that was creeping up on them.

People live very simple lives in China...there are no extravagances.

You eat what you grow in your own backyard.

No matter how big your family is laundry is washed by hand and hung on a clothesline to dry in the sun.

People WALK everywhere!

When you want to make improvements on your house, you don't hire an architect or an interior designer to "look at swatches or paint samples" - - you call your neighbors and all of your relatives and you roll up your sleeves and get to work. I watched what looked like three generations of family tearing down and rebuilding a brick wall around an old farmhouse. I saw an elderly woman who looked to be about 80+ years old pushing a wheelbarrow full of bricks over to her grandkids who were making stacks for their parents, uncles and aunties who were laying the bricks and building the wall.

There are rice and corn fields all along the way to Dazu county and you'll always find an old farmhouse nearby that looks like it's been there for multiple generations. Every so often you can tell someone has come into some money because you will also find new structures on the hillsides...built with newer materials and much larger to accomodate more family members.

As you get farther from the city it becomes obvious that the government funding to improve transportation and roadways hasn't made it out this way just yet...the roads are ROUGH...our tour bus driver drove very fast and would hit the bumps at full speed which would send us airborne for a few devastating seconds. We would all scream and just as we recovered from the drop we'd hit another one. Now I know what it must feel like to be in a video game...it was just like a rollercoaster! Crazy...but thrilling!

We finally arrived at Baodingshan to view the rock carvings. What an amazing experience!

It is a series of Chinese religious sculptures and carvings, dating back as far as 650 A.D. during the early Tang Dynasty. The carvings depict Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist beliefs. The Dazu Rock Carvings are made up of 75 protected sites containing some 50,000 statues, with over 100,000 Chinese characters forming inscriptions and epigraphs. The sites are located on the steep hillsides within Dazu County with the high points being the carvings found on Mount Baoding and Mount Beishan. Our tour included both mountains. Mount Beishan is actually the older of the two sites.

The carvings are listed as a "World Heritage Site" because of their aesthetic quality, their rich diversity of subject matter, both secular and religious, and the light that they shed on everyday life in China during this period. They provide outstanding evidence of the harmonious synthesis of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism."

I know...I know...you're all probably wondering...how did she learn all of that in a day?! She is so smart...uh-hello...can you say "google" and "wikipedia" - - which is where you should go for more information on this wondrous attraction. I highly recommend a visit - - real or virtual - - very, very cool!

Here are some great pics of what we saw...

Photos cannot capture the magnificence of this site. If you ever travel to Chongqing the Dazu Rock Carvings are a "must-see"!!

After the tour we ate lunch at a very fancy restaurant at the Baodingshan site. The restaurant served regional Sichuan cuisine but with a slight twist to accomodate the palates of the many European and American tourists that visit the rock carvings. Our kids were thrilled to see a big plate of FRENCH FRIES on the table!!

After the visit to Beishan Mountain we headed back into the city to visit with our Sifu and his family. While in town he is staying at his parents home - a very nice condo on the 22nd floor of one of those Chongqing high-rises -- beautiful!! An awesome cityview from every one of the three bedroom windows...and HUGE for a condo...especially by Chinese standards. We met his grandparents, sister, brother-in-law, niece, Aunt and Uncle. They prepared assorted snacks or "small plates" for us to nosh on...but there were over 12 varieties of food and it was prepared (and consumed) in mass quantities, so it was really more like a Chinese banquet than a small bite to eat.

We said our goodbyes and headed back to the hotel.
We fell asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow!

Glad we could share our adventure with you...blog to you later!!
DDubbs

Hello All!

It's been a while since our last entry. We are constantly on the go so we haven't spent much time in the room to blog except at night to get ready for bed.

It's been a very rigorous training schedule for our little man. We are up by 7 am each morning to report to the dining hall for a team breakfast. Each morning the hotel serves a very nice Chinese-style breakfast buffet...there is usually "jook" (rice porridge), assorted toppings like "jah choy" (hot and spicy shredded radish), cucumbers, steamed dumplings, spongecake, "hom dahn" (salted eggs) and regular hard-boiled eggs. No Cap'n Crunch or Frosted Flakes to be found in Chongqing!! And get this...not one Starbucks anywhere!! No kidding!! In fact I went on a caffeine-quest for blocks and blocks around the hotel and came up with nothing...no one even serves coffee in bakeries or restaurants...just tea...of course.

So...the training schedule is brutal...6 days a week and every other day is a 6am start. On the mornings when they have a late start (9am) they extend the training until 9pm. This is considered an "easier" schedule for our visiting US students. The China students have it alot tougher...and it shows when you watch them perform...absolute WuShu perfection in motion. They are intense and just incredible!! It's like watching a gung fu movie..but you know there's no strings or wires attached. These kids live and breathe WuShu...some are recruited from outside of Chongqing and most are living away from their parents. They are very hardworking and driven and demand perfection from themselves! They are very inspiring to watch.

On our second night we got to visit a local Wushu School that is a "feeder school" for the national team. Only a select few are chosen for a place on the regional Chongqing team. They train on a similar schedule described above and they also have to work in time for school. They sleep 6 students to a teeny tiny room with NO air conditioning in 100+ degree weather...no parents...no toys...no television...no nintendo...no snacks...no appliances (they have to do their own laundry by hand and hang it on a clothesline strung across the classroom/dining area outside of their bedroom door). If they're not in school or having a meal or sleeping, they're in the non-air-conditioned gymnasium training...HARD! And despite living in abject poverty they are amazingly cheerful and positive - - the sweetest, happiest and most gracious children I've ever met! One of the girls asked one of our kids if they would like to come and train with her and her classmates. Our Sifu answered that our kids wouldn't last...that they would die if they had to train the way they did...she replied "If you work hard you won't die" - - well...it sounded much more poetic in Mandarin.

We are so lucky to have the lives that we have!

Our Sifu gave our spoiled, materialistic and lazy kids a lecture about how these kids have less than nothing and how happy they are about it. All that 's important to them is that their Sifu recognizes that they are giving their very best effort to their training. He told his students that he thought it would be a good idea to have an exchange program and trade places with them and live like they do and train like they do. I saw the whites of the eyes of everyone on the US team!!

Here's a group shot of all our kids together:

Our training facility is beautiful!! It's about a 10 minute bus ride from the hotel. No air-conditioning but it's very large and surrounded by beautiful lush greenery and cool old pagodas built into the hillsides.


When it's extremely hot and there's no air current it smells a bit like a porta-potty (ack!)...my only complaint. Otherwise a very nice facility with great views from the track and field. Weather permitting...I've been trying to walk/run the track to work off the fabulous meals they've been serving us.

You would be proud of our little man...he's hanging in there and trying to keep up with the older kids.

That's all for now.
Hope everyone is well.
DDubbs

Hello Family and Friends!

We miss you all and we're glad we can keep in touch through this blog. Please feel free to comment and respond and we'll try to keep it updated throughout the trip.

We had a 6 hour layover in Hong Kong but we were too chicken to leave the airport and venture into the city. Didn't want to risk getting lost or stuck in traffic on the way back to the airport and end up missing our flight to Chongqing. There was plenty of food and shopping at the HK airport to keep us occupied. Prices are sky high in HK and especially more so for captive travellers in limbo at the airport. Imagine paying 20 HK dollars for a soda! Which we did...but it wasn't your ordinary Coke or Sprite...it was a Chinese Lemon-Lime soda that had a marble (yes! a real glass marble) stuck into the neck of the bottle. It's really more of a novelty item...you're supposed to push down on the cap which in turn forces the marble down into the soda and makes it spew all over the place...BIG hit with the kids in our group...everyone had to have one including our boy!!

We arrived safely in Chongqing via Hong Kong on Friday July 6th @ 4:30 pm.
It's just like Dorothy said, "Toto...I don't think we're in Kansas anymore!!"
There is an explosion of development and growth going on in Chongqing. It's just amazing to see the giant cranes and high-rise towers everywhere.

We interrupt this blog for...A WORD FROM DJ! Hi folks, I'm here today in the Ti Yu hotel, located in Chongqing,China. Now, my Mama's letting me send this draft. Right now I'm thinking about what to say in this funky hotel. Oh, I did see a squatter, and actually it ain't bad for little boys and men.

By the way...here is the information for the hotel that we're staying at:

Ti Yu Hotel
Chongqing Dadukou Culture and Sports Branch - Road 52
Chongqing, China 400084
Phone: (86) 23-86199666

We are pleased to report that the hotel is actually better than what we expected. We are located in a city-setting with a major super-market-clothing retailer called "C-Best" about 2 blocks away.
So our first afternoon/evening in Chongqing was spent looking for bottled water, soda and snacks...all of the essentials for ABC's in a foreign land.

All of our meals are provided by the hotel and the food is very good although extremely spicy and "exotic" - - not your everyday chow mein, chow fun and wonton. With the exception of breakfast, every meal is served "banquet style" with an average of 12 to 13 entrees. Here's a picture of our first dinner:

So far...so good!
The hotel room is clean and nicely furnished...take a look for yourselves:

And the room comes equipped with a blow-dryer and a hot water pot!! Most excellent for germaphobes like us!

We'll log off for now...but there's more to come so stop by again.
Thanks for checking in...we miss everyone and everything back home!
Hope everyone is well!
D and d