"Everything has beauty"

Earth Speaking

2010-06-22T05:59:00.000-07:00

I am the voice of the earth. I salute you all in joy. It warms my heart to experience your presence and openness towards me. I long to connect with you. We are meant to develop together and jointly walk the road to a different, new world.

I would like to take you back to the very origin of our mutual connection and cooperation. I am a living creature. I am a conscious being who has received you here on the planet in very ancient times. I was receptive to your arrival here on earth and wanted to learn and grow through your presence. You are not from the earth, you come from the stars. You carry a light within that is new and inspiring to earth and all the realms of nature here. Let me explain.

As a planet I absorb light from the outside. The light of the sun warms me and helps me bring forth life on the planet. I am inspired by the great force of the sun and I need it to create and sustain physical life on my skin. The sun is a star. You are representatives of the sun. You carry star light within your soul and bring this light to earth as you are born here.

What was the meaning of this light descending on earth? What was the intention behind your coming? You are here to bring the light of consciousness to me and all of the realms of nature. You are here to awaken us to inner life. Whereas the physical sun helps me to create and sustain physical life on earth, your star light helps me to evolve at an inner level, to grow in consciousness.

To offer a simple illustration of this principle, think of what happens when you hold a flower in your hand and look at it in awe and admiration. You see the exquisite beauty of the flower; you sense its purity, marvel at the colours and enjoy the scent. The flower itself is not aware of its beauty; the flower is simply being itself. But because of your admiration, your presence, your consciousness enveloping the flower, something awakens inside it. She will start to experience itself as something beautiful and valuable. She enjoys your attention and a spark of soul light is awakened in her.

You will see that plants and flowers you give conscious attention to, simply by enjoying them and caring for them, will grow more abundantly, have more life force and develop stronger roots into the earth. You are creators. By your thoughts, intentions and self-consciousness you are able to add life force and creative power to living nature on earth. This is exactly what nature longs to receive from you. All the realms of nature seek to grow in self-awareness, to reach out to the stars, make the connection and absorb star light within.

Think of the animals you keep in and around your house, your pets. So many of you have a special bond with them. Whenever you enter into an intimate relationship with an animal, you receive their unconditional love and loyalty. The animal however also receives something back from you. The animal is touched by your human presence, and the particular type of consciousness that belongs to humans. Your presence lights a spark of consciousness in their being and it helps them evolve in their evolution towards greater self-consciousness.

Everything in the universe is growing and evolving towards self-consciousness. Self-consciousness brings one closer to awareness of one’s own divinity, one’s indestructible light and creative power. Everything in the universe gradually grows towards a state of consciousness in which it realizes: I am part of God. I am Creator myself. To celebrate your divine creatorship and handle it with responsibility is the purpose of creation.

You are creators, and you as souls have come to earth to learn to deal with your creative powers in a conscious and responsible way. As creators, you are meant to contribute to my evolution, and to inspire the realms of nature which in turn provide you with many services and blessings on the material and ethereal levels. When you look at the current condition of the planet, it is hard to perceive there was once an original intention for a mutual cooperation between you and the planet.

Things have not worked out as planned and many would say things have gone wrong. In this moment however, I ask you to remember your original excitement to embark upon our mutual adventure. Your loving intention is still alive within your heart, even if you notice all around that humanity has used her creative powers unwisely and has damaged earth because of it. Humanity has veered off its course, taken a detour, one might say.

Originally, you came down to earth from a great source of Light, like angel-children. You were innocent and pure, but as your journey progressed, you were led astray. Humanity came to a point at which it refused to cooperate with the forces of nature, and instead placed itself in opposition to nature. Humanity then lost its connection and roots into the greater whole. Out of fear, people sought to gain power over others and over nature, in order to secure a place for themselves on earth. One could say a fall from Paradise took place. Where you had originally intended to serve life on earth, to nurture and inspire it with your creative powers, you now experienced the opposite. In the present, you see what happens when nature is not recognised anymore as a living partner in creation.

Humanity’s lack of respect for nature and the planet deeply saddens many of you reading this. There is sadness in me too about all that has happened. The realms of nature, both animal, plant and rock, have absorbed part of the darkness and negativity spread by humanity. They have experienced in their own way a sense of abandonment, a crack in the all-pervading sense of oneness that once was.

Yet, in the very heart of me, there is lasting love and compassion for all of you, and I ask you to also feel compassion for yourself and the whole of humanity. You are involved in a grand learning process. In any such process it is inevitable that mistakes are made. It is part of growing and learning that you embark on detours and dead-ends.

In this age, the collective consciousness of humanity is changing. There are more and more people nowadays, who carry in their heart a remembrance of the original bond between man and nature. They have a silent awareness of the true and blessed relationship that humans are meant to enter into with me, their home planet. Feel again, how deeply you are connected with my being.

I love you so. You are my angels of light, and still my faith in you has not withered. I ask you to acknowledge me and allow my energy to pour through you again. I am a living partner walking right beside you on your path of incarnation on earth. By connecting yourself more intimately with me, by grounding yourself more, you bring your star light deep into the material realm. You let it shine and radiate and that will bring the changes on earth so direly needed right now. By connecting to me from the heart, your true self will come out. Every human being has a unique contribution to make to this grand adventure. Your unique gift inspires me, adds life force to nature and inspires other people as well.

What is grounding about?

I would like to say some more on the meaning of grounding. What does it mean to be connected to earth, to be grounded? Being grounded means: being present in your body, being able to feel your body from the inside out, feeling the flow of life in every part, from your head to your toes to your fingertips. Check for yourself if you can experience this flow. Can you simply feel your fingertips at this moment? Your toes? Can you feel the life inside of it?

Being grounded means that you anchor your star light, your soul light, deep into matter. The part of the material world closest to you is your body. The cells and molecules of your body are open to receive your light, your soul. You are the sun for your own body. Your consciousness makes your body alive and endows it with healing power, life force and vitality. The anchoring of your soul into your body gives you the strength to fulfil your truest desires in life. Be aware of your creative power. The more you anchor it into your body, the more you truly incarnate on earth and create the changes in your life that you long for.

When you are grounded, you feel clear and quiet. You are open to your soul’s inspiration and at the same time you are connected to all that happens around you in everyday life. Making the bridge between cosmos and earth, feeling that connection, is what it means to be grounded.

Many of you carry your soul light in the upper half of your body, around your heart and head. You find it difficult to let it truly descend into the lower part of your body, your belly, legs and feet. One reason why this is hard for you is fear of your own greatness. You have fear of being the radiant angel and star that you are and to make a difference in the world. This fear is old and its roots extend further than only this lifetime. In the past, you have incarnated on earth many times and you have often felt unwelcome. You are all in the process of healing this old pain.

I will suggest two ways of grounding yourself and feeling that you are indeed welcome on earth, in your greatness, your creative power and your divinity.

Grounding yourself through joy

The first way is through enjoyment. You are really not used to enjoying. Enjoying what? Everything you can experience on earth. Your body offers many possibilities for enjoyment, but many of these have been deemed sinful or inferior in your culture. Enjoying the movements of the body, the sunshine on your skin, eating and drinking, the warm touch of another. Being able to enjoy this has to do with being able to truly receive. Why is this difficult for you?

Many of you feel there is something wrong with you, that you are somehow not right the way you are. You feel you have to achieve and work hard in order to receive acknowledgement and appraisal. This is a silly idea, seen from the perspective of nature. Have you ever seen a wild animal work hard to gain recognition? Well no, the animal simply is and takes its right to be for granted, not as something it must deserve. The animal is able to enjoy without reserve the sun, the food, a water bath, the seasons and natural rhythms of life.

You are all invited to receive and to experience yourself as a divine being who is allowed to receive simply because of who you are. You are invited to enjoy the simple things life in a body has to offer you. Receiving seems to be easy, but it is not. It requires a deep level of self love, a deep recognition and appreciation of who you are. Dare to reach out to that level of self love. Choose one moment every day, in which you ask yourself what you can do for yourself now that truly pleasures and fulfils you. What do you really feel like having or doing? Then do it. Do it for you, because you honour yourself and because you are here on earth to enjoy yourself.

When you truly enjoy, whatever it is, without guilt or shame, you are grounded. You are completely present in the now moment and all is well. There are no thoughts of the past or the future. Enjoying is being in the now, fully grounded.

Grounding yourself through creativity

There is a second way of becoming more firmly connected to earth, more grounded. It is the way of creativity. This is what you are made for. Every human has a natural longing to express themselves, to manifest themselves in the world. This has nothing to do with achieving fame or success in society. Rather, it has to do with finding a way of expressing yourself that gives you real satisfaction. It may be the case that raising a family deeply fulfils you, or that leading a company inspires you. Perhaps caring for animals in some way is your heart’s desire, or it may be a type of artistic expression that feels natural to you. Every soul longs to express itself in some manner. The moment you answer to that longing, you feel fulfilled. The moment you allow the natural creativity inside to unfold, you feel “yes, this is me, this is how my energy wants to flow”.

In that moment, your soul connects to the heart of earth, the heart of this reality. It is important to find out what you truly long for in your life and to make room for the creative flow inside you. This is where your divine essence touches earth and finds material form.

Now, I would like to impress on you that you should really stand up for yourselves a bit more in this respect. Many of you suppress your impulses to do what your heart desires. So often you think of ‘how you should behave’, what is expected of you, your duties and responsibilities. In that way you will not find the key to the unfolding of your creative power. Your creative power speaks to you from your belly, from your gut. It is not concerned with all the limiting rules and obligations that you have internalized. Break free from this! Feel the fountain of fire and passion springing from your belly, and let it flow freely. Sparkles of light will find their way from your belly, to your heart, from the inside to the outside, and you will express yourself in your own original way on earth. You will see that your creativity will touch other people and that it will make them joyful and inspired. Following your passion and desire has a much more positive effect on the world than virtuously doing what you’ve been told and forcing yourself to comply with limiting rules and structures.

This is a time of change. It is a time to be brave and take risks, to hear the voice of your heart and act according to it in all areas of your life. By truly surrendering yourself to your heart’s guidance, you dig your roots deep into earth, and you start to feel that life here is truly worth living.

Full circle

The first way of grounding yourself was to enjoy and receive. This is an ingoing flow. The second way is about an outgoing flow: creating and giving. By creating from the heart, you give yourself to the world. Receiving and giving, enjoying and creating, together make a full circle. It is a healing circle.

The more you dare to enjoy and find yourself worthy to receive, the more you connect with your natural inspiration, the energy you are meant to share with this world. And as this flow of inspiration becomes stronger and finds a creative form in the world, the more you enjoy the love and joy that will befall you on your path. The flows of giving and receiving, creating and enjoying, mutually reinforce each other.

I, the earth, benefit from this healing circle of receiving and giving. In this flowing, dynamic circle, I am working with you. It is my desire to nurture and stimulate your divine creative power, this unique sparkle in you. Human beings who have developed the capacity to enjoy and create, will naturally enter into a different connection with earth. They will be aware of their greatness, their divine nature, and for that very reason understand also that they are held and carried by a force of Life that connects all beings together. Experiencing your own greatness goes hand in hand with a sense of smallness, the realisation of your embeddedness in the great web of life that sustains you. Humans who honour and respect themselves, naturally cooperate with their living environment, other humans, animals, plants, all of nature. Knowing your greatness goes together with recognising your place in the larger whole, and deriving joy from the part you play in it.

A journey to the New Earth

In closing, I would like to ask you to travel with me to the future, to a new earth. Imagine that the evolution we are now in together has progressed a few steps further. I am myself evolving towards a more expanded self-awareness. This new awareness has been awakened inside me, urged by both the good and the bad times on earth. I am becoming more self-conscious and creative in my being. There’s a longing in my heart for a reality in which humanity and earth reinstate their original bond of love and companionship. A new earth on which we joyfully cooperate and I am again inspired by your love and thoughtful attention, while I provide you with all that you need, living in a physical body and attuned to the rhythm of nature.

Imagine this new earth that you all so long for, present in the now moment. In our hearts it is already alive, as a seed. Let us nurture this seed with consciousness and have it sprout in our imagination. See yourself living on this new earth. What is the first thing you notice? Humans are living in harmony with nature here. Technology is used to support nature rather than manipulate it. See whether you can find yourself a house on this new earth. There is a place and a community there in which you feel like you belong. Let your imagination guide you, and feel no restrictions. Where do you live on this new earth? Can you find a natural surrounding in which you feel comfortable? Feel the climate, feel the ease and simplicity of life there. Life is pure and simple there, as it is meant to be.

Now take a look at what kind of work you do. Work means anything that inspires you and gives you a sense of fulfilment. What are you doing? You probably live in a small community of kindred spirits and you do exactly what your soul inspires you to do. What form does your creativity take?

When you see or feel this, know that your soul is speaking to you in the present. What you are seeing is something that you long to do right now, and something you can do right now, if only you trust and dare to be who you are. This is the work of your heart.

Now in this imagination of the new earth, feel also what it is you truly enjoy. Let your inner eye provide you with a situation in which you truly enjoy yourself and receive something from what earth has to offer you. Let an image of what that is spontaneously well up in your mind. What is it that truly makes you feel: all is well and I am content.

Feel the flow of giving and receiving in this place, this new reality. And hold on to it when we go back to the present.

Earth is in a transition stage and the more people remember what their inspiration is, what they are here to give and to receive, the sooner the new earth will become a reality. It is you who will give birth to this reality. I thank you for this and I find joy in your presence.

Traditional village with character, LiKeng, Jiangxi

2009-11-23T19:41:00.001-08:00

LiKeng is a wonderful old village dating back about a millennium. I loved its endearing character, nice, relatively clean-water river running as a 'main street' through it; bright green, dew-bathed rice fields and 2 good temples around it. Not only the houses/buildings but also the way of life are quite preserved in its old not so hurried ways, alternating portions of being and doing all in a wonderful natural setting.
The preservation effort for things, especially houses/building, is imposed to very strict measures, for example new construction is not allowed, and only restoration in the old style is permitted. The new houses are built in the near-by, but light years away in terms of spirit and attitude Da LiKeng (Da = Big) which is reportedly very touristy, highly commercialized, with KTVs (karaoke bars) and so on in the main street.

30 yuan admission fee, on the top of the 160 or so yuan ticket for the whole Wu Yuan area. Accommodation there is in a private houses each having 2-3 or more rooms adopted for visitors. My and the ones I saw were clean and good, well deserving the
60 yuan. It had also good, inexpensive food, all served by friendly folks.

In the morning, everybody was carrying on a cleanness contest, washing their cloths and/or teeth in or over the river. In the evening, many people would gather together here and there and chat, knit outside their houses on the bridges above the river. No any other visitors in sight the whole evening, in the morning – 4-6 more tourists but that was all (which is amazing, highly unusual in abundant on human resources China). It was a greatly relaxing, tranquil place, really lovely.

Countryside, Traditional Villages - China, Jiangxi

2009-11-23T19:41:00.000-08:00

I intend to catch up on posting here as I found a way around the restrictions to doing it. Hope all who follow this blog would appreciate the effort.

This is a post from a trip to a place with lots of character tucked in a beautiful, very tranquil countryside setting.
If you search for "most beautiful village, China", Wu Yuan would definitely come on top.

Wu Yuan is often used as the general name of a cluster of villages in the Jingxi province of China, most of them presenting old, traditional style life in the countryside targeting contemporary tourist.
Wu Yuan itself is not dramatically spectacular sans the old Qing dynasty bridge and some traits of the the old way of life (think of slow-pace and folks having the time to talk to you - well in Wu Yuan - mainly to try to sell you something), but there is plenty around to make the whole area a remarkable destination.

Fine examples of porcelain/china for the tourists entertainment/money.

Wu Yuan surroundings.

Not far from Wu Yuan is the DaZhang Shan which is more of a tourist trap than anything else - a park /path meandering around nice low mountain river dotted with more vendors and restaurants than scenic spots. Still, one can enjoy a few nice pools, some waterfalls and "Lovers Valley" - the romance of which ends with the name.
Well, the creativity of kitsch and the call for artificial, dead things even in "Nature" is enormous when it comes to targeting the tourists money, but most of the Chinese seem enjoy it (and be ready to pay for it) while for many of the villagers it's understandably a life-line of existence.

Entrance fee for DaZhang Shan: 60 Yuan.
Wu Yuan ticket - 180 Yuan which includes several of the attractions but some in the region are extra (like Li Keng village entrance, see next post).

However the surroundings of DaZhang Shan are quite nice and may deserve another visit. Some picturesque villages there, nice scenery, and hopefully bu kaifa (undeveloped).

From Korea - with kindness

2009-10-18T23:15:00.002-07:00

Blogspot/blogger has been blocked in China thus the lack of posts here besides the usual busy-ness.
I'm now using a breath of freer air for a little update.

From Korea – with kindness
When meeting with old friends it is like touching something immortal within, something that time’s merciless scars can’t access or even if they did, had only made it feel better then – in memory, and now – every time the present exhibits the gold of old friendship manifest. It’s tremendous for me being here, indeed. I work hard, play a lot and sleep little, i.e. live it with passion, intensely as I usually do.

First of course, I am learning a lot, exchanging ideas, sharing experiences, and all this and that, but also it’s so superb the way I’m taken care of by my former labmates and friends. I eat way more regularly that when I am at home and mom is taking care of me, for one example..

(nothing wrong with my most fantastic mom, it’s just that to her I can say no much more freely..)

And then, all the care and consideration and kindness for my schedule, my meetings with other guys, my accommodation, my lifestyle, and entertainment are arranged.

And if that is not enough, it seems I’m also learning totally new dimensions of softness and gentleness in human interaction by deeply exploring them on a every-day, every-contact, every interpersonal communication/connection basis.

Yesterday, for example an elderly couple sold me a product at 15,000 won instead of 18,000 because I was a foreigner. I remained stunned – every other place else I have been charged more as a foreigner, even in my own country – for the fact I live abroad. I kept asking my Koran friends in total bewilderment/ bemusement was that true/ possible?! Yes, they said, that is the attitude, yes that product costs us more..

No one ever checked my train tickets (and no one checks them in Korean trains – unless you sit at a place your ticket is not sold to) but the conductor give me thumbs up for working on my seminar’s abstract with an open laptop. No one even checked the little ticket of my friend who bought one one to be able to come to see me off to the tracks. The luggage is not scanned at the railway/buss stations. The trust is the norm..

The bus driver at another occasion and location wasn’t concerned if I was picking up my own luggage – the trust is the norm. Another exhibition of it is that hotels do not take (even less did they think of copying it and sending the information to the police as it’s in the neighboring country to the south-west..)

Also, you leave your shoes at entering in many Korean restaurants, of course, at private houses, and other public places like some hotels, and temples, and can always relay on finding them upon exit.

Then, there is all the cleanness of this crisp early autumn air Korean world.

Yes, one has to take off shoes when go to a restaurant, even in the lobby of hotel! And walk with shoeless in the elevator/halls/all the interior.

Korean people wash their hands very often and brush their teeth after each meal (and carry with them toothpaste/brush). Tools for sanitation (e.g. hands cleaning) are everywhere at public places – even in parks, in open air.

But the cleanness from inside is even more striking to me - the one that seems to be the norm in the human relationships.

With warmest Korean greetings.

From Korea - with kindness

2009-10-18T06:15:00.000-07:00

Blogspot/blogger has been blocked in China thus the lack of recent posts here (besides the usual busy-ness).
I'm now using a breath of freer air for a little update.

From Korea – with kindness
When meeting with old friends it is like touching something immortal within, something that time’s merciless scars can’t access or even if they did, had only made it feel better then – in memory, and now – every time the present exhibits the gold of old friendship.

It’s tremendous for me being here, indeed. I work hard, play a lot and sleep little, i.e. live it with passion, intensely as I usually do.

First, of course, I am learning a lot, exchanging ideas, sharing experiences, this and that, but also it’s so superb the way I’m taken care of by my former labmates and friends. I eat way more regularly that when I am at home and mom is taking care of me, for an example..

(nothing wrong with my most fantastic mom, it’s just that to her I can say no much more freely..)

And then, all the care and consideration and kindness for my schedule, my meetings with other guys, my accommodation, my lifestyle, and entertainment are arranged.

No one ever checked my train tickets (and no one checks them in Korean trains – unless you sit at a place you haven't purchased) but the ticket controller give me thumbs up for working on my seminar’s abstract with an open laptop. No one even checked the little ticket of my friend who bought one one to be able to come to see me off to the tracks. The luggage is not scanned at the railway/buss stations. The trust is the norm..

Also, you leave your shoes at entering in many Korean restaurants, of course, at private houses, and other public places like some hotels, and temples, and can always relay on finding them upon exit.

Then, there is all the cleanness of this crisp early autumn air Korean world.

Yes, one has to take off shoes when go to a restaurant, even in the lobby of hotel! And walk with shoeless in the elevator/halls/all the interior.

They (Koreans) wash their hands very often and brush their teeth after each meal (and carry with them toothpaste/brush). Tools for sanitation (e.g. hands cleaning) are everywhere at public places – even in parks, in open air.

But the cleanness from inside is even more striking to me - the one that seems to be the norm in the human relationships.

With warmest Korean greetings.

A Very Nice Beach

2009-08-03T15:42:00.001-07:00

the light was terrific that day. we had sunshine, rain, thunders..

Day by the Lake

2009-06-24T01:14:00.000-07:00

The pictures tell the stories.
One the most amazing things in life is that so beautiful thing as the lotus grows from the mud. (and if that can happen, imagine what could become from you.)

Back in Guangxi: Longji - Longsheng - The Dragon Bones in the Terraced Rice Fields

2009-05-04T01:45:00.000-07:00

The famous Longji - the man-made wondrous Dragon Bone Rice Terraces

- are still cultivated the same way they've been worked since their creation in the Yuan dynasty (ca 1271-)

There are up to 100 terraces from bottom to top up the hill; in May the terraces are flooded and rice is being sawn, with the advance of the summer the color changes from green to gold (in August, when the time to harvest comes).

Local Yao, Zhuang and [one more..] minorities villages and their women's colorful traditional dresses dot the way to Longsheng.

Many Yao women make a living as "porters" carrying swiftly up and down the hills goods and tourists' luggage, others produce and sell hand-made crafts.

The hiking between the picturesque village of Ping'an - the biggest out there - and the smaller entities of Zhonglin and the spread along the hills many guesthouses and tiny villages is superb.

A wonderful evening by the lake

2009-04-22T23:25:00.000-07:00

A wonderful outing by the lake.

More Spring

2009-03-25T09:44:00.001-07:00

Managing to grab a few flowers witnessing here and there as they fast-elude with going away speed spring.

Spring (New Camera)

2009-03-19T20:40:00.000-07:00

New camera :)

Yangshuo

2009-03-02T10:24:00.000-08:00

Lijiang - more of that most wonderful weekend

2009-03-01T09:24:00.000-08:00

Cruise on the Li river - Li Jiang among one of the most dramatic karst scenery on earth. Despite the bad, overcast and rather cold day, everyone is holding their breath between the ohh-s and ahh-s big and silent as the surounding peaks. And the Li river is busy with life, tourists and trade.

Guilin - a perfect & lovely, rainy, cold weekend

2009-02-28T21:00:00.000-08:00

Hanoi

2009-02-04T07:29:00.000-08:00

Vietnam, on the go

2009-02-03T04:32:00.000-08:00

Notable scenery, great country side. The country celebrates Tet - (Lunar New Year, aka Spring Festival) - that is what the cut peach trees are for in the North- second photo. In the south, it is too warm for peach trees besides the ones grown in the mountains, so they are not used for Tet).

Sharing a few taken-away breaths and good smiles. Like the "Hello" from the Rice Field. (see below)

'You're home, why ask for direction?
Sighting the moon, forget the pointing arm.' Thien Ngu, Zen Moon

Hoi An, Vietnam

2009-02-02T05:48:00.000-08:00

Nha Tran, Vietnam

2009-02-02T05:22:00.000-08:00

"I try to treat whoever I meet as an old friend.This gives me genuine feeling of happiness. It is the practice of compassion."

This fully epitomizes the conduct of a Buddist monk whom I met in the bus from Dalat the evening before.
To cut the (not so) long story short (that included a unsolicited veg.dinner treating and late arrival at a Buddhist temple, at fairy-tale night with big stars, deep shadows and temple-deep silence- it's a wee hour when everyone is sleeping at the temple) I wake up in my sleeping kit (pictured along with some of the gifts I got :) ) in a monk's bungalow, quite early for "normal" people, yet, rather late behind the hour when the temple's activies - chanting, reading sutras and morning meditation start: 3:30am. My overnight stay at the temple initially rises both the eyebrows and the voice of the Abbot - otherwised emitting tranquil power and strict kindness, but he quickly softens after short talk with me and tells me about his Buddhist research in India and amazingly, invites to visit again!!

"It’s because our own human experience is so dependent on the help of others that our need for love lies at the very foundation of our existence. Therefore we need a genuine sense of responsibility and a sincere concern for the welfare of the others."

I lived in a wooden house where making new friends was very easy.. I flew and I never wanted to come down....

Exploring deep, on a motorcycle, provided from the temple, with a driver, no less, all that Nha Tran has to offer, in the order of museums, temples, beach, I come another amazing side of Nha Tran. It is the home of the renowned photographer Long Than. His striking B&W images, said to be the most comprehensive capture of the Vietnamese soul and daily life, which he still processes by himself, in the dark-room adapted kitchen, are a most moving experience that echoes in me for long. http://www.longthanhart.com

On the stretch of temples visits, I expereinced 2 most lovely and wonderful emanations of Buddha.. There are some unforgettable moments and as many smiles and laughters as words exchanged with those all-love, all-prevading softness, all-light, all-kindness nuns. They complement me in a good English that I was very "lovely" (I'm sure the way they are they see everyone and everything that way.. ) and I got suggested I should become a monk. There is somehting so engulfing, so enpowering and yet softening that radiates from them and fullfills me to the very core with jpyful light, in that moment I'd be ready to agree with everything they say. On the picture - very one of these most remarkable nuns is coming outside their small physicaly, but great in spirit temple to bid me farwell, and to invite me to visit again (which invitations seems to be becoming the norm on my visit to Vn..).

Later - after the whole day postponed visit to the beach is completed - Anh (the monk) and the motorcycle temple worker who was in charge of my all-day town sightseeing - are seeing me out to the bus...

The light of the day is turning intense red, and then - is fading, but the light fired from this most wonderful visit is going to be brightening on.

(edited on Aug 29, 2010)

Bao Loc

2009-01-29T04:46:00.000-08:00

Pic.s speak on their own. Not much to add - great place, great countryside.
I like it better than omni- raved, (supposedly) most romantic Dalat, but I guess I have personal reasons (for either way :) ). Ah, and those rolling hills that remind me dear Napa (California)...

Nam Cat Tien National Park

2009-01-28T06:34:00.000-08:00

Greatly tranquil place. Wonderful forests. The Rhino and most other animals remain elusive to me, except for the black bears (managed by the 'free the bears' - Au) and deer and some others on the night animal watch 'safari'.

The Mighty Mekong River Delta

2009-01-28T04:47:00.000-08:00

Saigon (Ho Chi Min City)

2009-01-26T23:01:00.000-08:00

Tet spirit (Spring festival, New Year). The streets of the city are vibrating and pulsating even after most of the migrant workers have left to celebrate with their homes/families.
The downtown, where everyone seems to come to drop for a visit and cheer, is colored with flowers and jolly athmosphere.

As a special guest that had honorably arrived on the first day of the year, I attend many dinners for 20, and get familiar with the Tet traditional stuff, including the red envelopes exchange and visit to honor the spirits of the dead on the second day of the New year.

Shanghai

2009-01-21T19:19:00.000-08:00

Pain

2009-01-20T03:18:00.001-08:00

Left out by the development..

The Grace of Light or the Nature of the Stomach Pain

2009-01-16T16:07:00.000-08:00

The Grace of Light or the Nature of the Stomach Pain

As night spreads its long dark hair
To seduce all living into a hush
The butterflies in the stomach
Fluff scared
Endlessly drowning into an ocean of pain
That I might not look into your eyes again.

As a new dawn rises
Sunshine extends its warm lips
To the pain-drops off the butterfly wings
Lures them into a flight, again, Graceful of Light
In eternal fields of flowers of love
love, love, its vital nectar is the life's adobe.

Around Yongding - Hakka tulou-s

2009-01-03T23:38:00.000-08:00

Fujian province tulou houses were amongst the handful of most inspiring things I have ever experienced!

It's the unusual shape, the grandeur of the 3-4-story structure, the whisper of the distant past entangled and encircled with close family ties and some other mysterious mix that left me in awe.
It's obvious from the photographs my special connection with those places and buildings. As somebody already commented (part of) my heart is (still) there.

Xiamen

2009-01-02T03:34:00.000-08:00

The most romantic Chinese city I have known.
Truly among the best. What a blast had I have for the start of the new year.

Christmas in China

2008-12-26T22:55:00.000-08:00

If you ever wondered what is Christmas like in China, here are a few glimpses.
We skipped the bar/restaurant scene which is otherwise boosting this time of the year, not that we didn't try.
Instead we went first to an orphanage - to give presents (food) and warmth/love to the kids.
Later in the evening shopping was big and the shops were open until very late (2am or so), many people went to church but most of them out of curiosity what is it all about. Well, you can see the rest from the random shots around downtown, once the shutter bug/ inspiration obsessed me...

Castle bar..

2008-12-13T01:17:00.000-08:00

I happened to pass by there with a camera..

My little sister

2008-11-29T16:20:00.000-08:00

Her parents died in a car accident last year.. (and she learned 2 days later..)
They loved her very much, she said... (she did too and she still does)

Now, she has a hole in her life that nothing can fill up...
She said she missed her parents very much..
She oftentimes thought of them as just gone abroad and would return to her any time soon..
Even yesterday, she said, she felt strongly about them – so real and so alive...
(Every time when talking about her parents she would add that she was fine already but the tears in her eyes revealed a different story.)
She said after their death she felt very lonely – all the time..
She felt all alone in the world.
She might have been even further hurt because she thought she couldn't trust anybody anymore..
(I told her - see, now you trust me... maybe you could try that more, with others too.. )

Then, at school - she is quite pretty - wherever she goes she gets plenty of boys' attention... (much more than she likes)
Guys want to carry her books from the library..
They want to buy her dinner, or order delivery food for her at night and get her out to take it..
Some of them had been quite persistent and had frequently disturbed her.
That made her stay in her room all the day long.... She wouldn’t go out unless it's really necessary.. (she even missed 3 of her lessons and she felt ashamed about it)

On the top of that, her girl acquaintances and roommates are jealous [and maybe feel intimidated] - they don’t even have bf.s while she gets all the guys' attention..
So, she couldn't much connect or make friends with the girls too..
She is new to the city, so she is yet to make her way around...

While she was trying to hold back her tears, she also much smiled and told me I always made her feel happy.

Her smile was adorable, it was a celestial miracle among a storm to see it flourish. She must have been a very positive and happy girl who, indeed, had grown up surrounded with much love.

I adopted her...
and swore to take care of her.. (if and when she needed me..)

She is my sister now.

PS: If you see my little sister, lonely, with tears in her eyes, please spare a warm-hearted word for her (that is often what we all just need).

(but don't buy her dinner if she didn't ask for it…)

HK for BD

2008-11-10T21:01:00.000-08:00

I start my exploration of the wonderful city from where the last time my lens left me - the Bird Park and market and Flower Market (whole 2 streets of it!)

Then it's time for a Botanical garden / Organic farm and a fishing village.

Special Sunset and the Old Train Station

2008-11-08T17:21:00.000-08:00

Ganyu

2008-10-05T14:35:00.000-07:00

One of the funkiest town ever.. The funkiest beach..
Some of the funniest inhabitants, even the shop assistants have so much fun with our shopping and being..

Chairman Mao wrote "Work Hard"

It's T's BD as well.. What more for a perfect weekend?

Yangzhou

2008-09-30T03:32:00.001-07:00

Gardens, old-time charm not entirely given way yet to development, many canals, the Slender West Lake, and quite fun time.
Ah, and the famous foot massage that leaves us wanting to write the Guide to Yangzhou Foot Massage, especially that I'm limpint 24hrs after it and we're still laughing.. Here is an excerpt and a couple of tips from it:
1) Don't go between 10 and 11 pm when the masseurs watch their favorite TV show and would ignore your feet, 2) Do clearly define your tolerance zone - i.e. don't tolerate.

Suzhou - 3.1

2008-09-20T22:00:00.000-07:00

It was Eagle's wedding may they be happy for ever..
At least ss much happy as we were at the wedding, pre-wedding and especially the racy after-party.

not sure if it's proper to post bachelor's party photos along but here is a bit of a taste. (salacious one...) [hope his wife will never see it..]

Suzhou - 3

2008-09-20T21:53:00.000-07:00

The famous Suzhou:
gardens - it's Lions Forest Garden turn this time; the no less famous Suzhou noodles, and no the least famous local singing/performance..

The Suzhou museum is quite impressive, designed by Mr Pei, who made also the glass pyramid in front of the Louvre, no less.

Lions' Forest Garden: patterns, patterns, in addition to the usual gardens stuff and - incredible creation of space in almost no space at all. In the limestone labyrinth you can not bein a hurry - and life and pace get different meaning.

Dehang - Hunan

2008-08-30T22:02:00.000-07:00

Cuddled away about 1hr from Jishou in an immense karst scenery, this ethnic village has a tremendous cult-ic appeal. The waterfall on the 2km trail outside the village pretentiously labels itself to be the highest 'nationwide,' but since there is no even mention about it in my guide book and some friends rise doubts to it, let's leave the claim for what it is. Its 216m height and 80 m are quite impressive nonetheless, both when aweing it in front and behind the water "foile." That is its name, anyway - Flowing Voile Waterfall.

Chenzhou - Hunan

2008-08-29T01:02:00.000-07:00

Shao Lin Si (temple)

2008-08-24T16:55:00.000-07:00

It's actually about Buddhism there too, but the stone floor of one of the oldest temples inteh complex is indeed broken from hard kicking and the contemporary monks are seen hard at practicing kung-fu rather than meditation. I almost understand how disciplining the body in the 'beyond' capabilities may help their meditation though when I watch a movie with a monk demonstrating kung-fu in full swing under a table among other feats.

Back in Europe

2008-07-09T03:45:00.000-07:00

The Black sea coast (north) and Rodopa mountain.

Wudang shan!

2008-06-10T06:18:00.000-07:00

When the Tao mysteries and quite much other fun gradually unfolded for us..
What fulfilling experiences in the UNECO heritage mountain.

Wudang shan - it's pretty much about wu-shu too

2008-06-09T05:49:00.000-07:00

The birth-place of the 'softer'/gentler forms of kung-fu as opposed to the 'harder' variant(s) practiced in the Shao-lin in the neighbor province's mountain, the traditions in the mountain are strong and vigorously maintained, virtually everywhere.

Wuxi

2008-03-21T06:05:00.000-07:00

Example of the Chinese modern development, well the (high) school at least
is a marvelous piece everyone seems to like most.
And the fireworks that rocked the city for at least 1.5hour were huh, for the 'holiday' (celebration) staged for their 'foreign friends' visit.

Anhui weekend

2008-03-03T06:58:00.000-08:00

Amazed to discover Clean rivers, relatively clean air although the inevitable poisons of the Chinese 'development' are traced in the air in a delightful weekend so close to the way more developed, and yet developing Jiangsu.

Elephant Seals!

2008-02-05T01:43:00.000-08:00

Well, I did it again. Them - too, as they do it every winter on the very particular beaches along the California and Mexico (west) coast.

Fiat Lux, & To reach near you have to travel far.

2008-01-23T20:34:00.000-08:00

UC Berkeley's motto: Fiat Lux -Let there be light.

Happenings from day 1:
It's cloudy at arrival at SFO - one of those very few CA days (and even rains a little), but hey, it's sunny CA and the sun breaks through the clouds and stays there for most of the afternoon.
Most of the people - colleagues and friends are happy to see me - that makes me feel even warmer.
I met FY riding the same BART from the airport, and am amazed - I met him yesterday in Nanjing too , loong, long way from here and he said he was going to HK.. well, we just keep running into each other. Even the more wonderful thing is that he said "call me if you have any troubles."
As walking up the hill with a huge bag - an unknown man stopped his car and offered a ride up the hill.
My car is there - after more than 6 months leave, still parked on the street, and that is another of today's gifts or miracles, if you will.. (so is my bike's availability/presence..)
I learned recently that the greatest security is to learn to live without security - as Life is...
So, I did let life unfold for me - as per its own plans or gifts, if you will.. without "my" "own" plan, with the absence of much effort to fix even the basic and most challenging in CA - housing.. and What a Miracle.. I had several offers, and plenty of people concerned.. and was happily sleeping and even more happily waking up to the birds's songs and opening eyes to the one of the most amazing views - over the Bay.. at the house I truly adore..

More Guangzhou, plenty of photo opportunities

2008-01-17T01:12:00.000-08:00

Red Carpet...
The 1RMB (yuan) ($0.18) Sale
The 15RMB Sale
(Staged) Wedding Kiss

Street Tango

Monument

Colonial Past (Architecture)
Policemen on Bicycles

Guangzhou, Orchid Garden

2008-01-16T00:26:00.000-08:00

There is only 1 flowering orchid species - that is a 100% outdoors garden, in winter after all, although in a southern city; nonetheless it's a terrific spot. Similarly to the Nan-Yue King (in the Western Han Dynasty) museum (see the previous post), the Orchid Garden has won international recognition and several awards. The collections here are of different, the natural kind, but not less spirited and spectacular...

Well, the rest is self-explanatory.

Guangzhou - nice, old, very spirited temples

2008-01-15T23:25:00.000-08:00

The Luirong Temple - (Six-Banyan Trees Temple):
founded in the 5th century with a 184 ft. colorful pagoda, a 1,000 year-old bronze statue of Master Huineng and three gold Buddhas in a very pretty setting and adjacent Vegetarian restaurant - the best food in China I have had so far!
and the .. Temple of Gz

Canton.. Guangzhou

2008-01-15T22:06:00.000-08:00

Nicknamed also The Flower city
(Huacheng), Gz turns out a gorgeous city to explore. The availability of my friend to show me around does not leave unseen anything of the things worth it. Thanks Y!

The photos are from some of the city streets and 2 extremely nice museums: the Folk Arts - so very spirited and the Museum of the Nan-Yue King in the Western Han Dynasty - great collection (the Nan-Yue emperor is in jade - for immortality) of excellently preserved about 2000-year old lavish king burial.

Back in Hong Kong

2008-01-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

My love at first sight with the (HK) city can only intensify at the second look. The weather is most lovely a fix for more temperate climates wintering persons: ~26C, sun is shining, flowers are blooming, and birds are singing - nicer heard and better seen on the more distant from the city hustle and bustle islands. (it's Lantau's turn this time, after the blissful, slow-paced Lamma on the previous visit)
As wonderful as the birds songs are the tones of the Cantonese language. My more sensitive for tones ears could catch the melody for sure. Well, obviously not that sensitive, as I needed an explanation that there are 9 (in some dialects - 11) tones in Cantonese.. (lovely, although not so nice sounding Mandarin with only 4 ones..)
At further sight, the once free, city-wide WiFi Internet access is now a thing from the past...
From the happenings:
Riding the longest elevator - in the world, that is! - 800 m to the 'Mid Levels.'
Flower Market (where my lens betrayed..), Bird Park, Fish Market, Ladies Market, Night Market.. (the last 2 are only remotely connected.)
Well...
My love for the city remains yet relatively uninhibited even with the commercialization of the until only 3 months back free WiFi Internet access and the shopping hassles.
I had to record much of the city beauty only in memory as the failed lens was the only one I carried until I finally figured out the merchants' jungle or rather avoided reasonably well the scam traps and luckied out to purchase a new lens in the last hours of my stay there...

So long, HK..

I'm so back

2008-01-08T06:47:00.000-08:00

Well, blogspot wasn't "available" in mainland, where I live these days, thus my absence for a while. What happened in the meantime - I left my once home country (the definition of "home" has become very diffused for me, for more details see the June/July 2007 post here with the text of the Dido song Life for Rent I was singing on leaving California). I went to Hong Kong & Macau via Doha & .. Istanbul, and then - went again to Hong Kong (see the shortly upcoming post).. And what happened in the mean-meanwhile - I tried to learn Chinese and setup my lab while settling down in Nanjing. All of these are still in progress though as they turned out much harder than anything even slightly resembling them in my existing experience, even for my innocent approach to them. Well, let's get started.

"Treasures Fit For The Kings"

2007-09-29T12:04:00.000-07:00

"a wonder to behold, such as it is in no wise fit for mortal men to bear, but for the deathless gods."

Homer of the Thracian King's golden armor (The Iliad)

Links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U64qEy0u5IA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdNIQMmTPRw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVNqJ2vg-p8

http://www.see-heritage.org/exhibition-the_thracian_cosmos.htm
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1066875-2,00.html

Cool stone formations

2007-09-24T13:56:00.000-07:00

'Stone Wedding' near the village of Zimzelen (evergreen? :) ) and 'Stone Mashrooms' next to ... have to look at the map.. All near Kurdjali anyways.

More of the Thracian Shrines: Tatul

2007-09-24T04:01:00.000-07:00

Orpheus worship site. 2 Sarcophagi atop the rock, about 2-3 millennia old. The forthress is somewhat newer.

Mingling with History: Greeting Dion-Isus at Perperikon

2007-09-23T23:32:00.000-07:00

The Dionysus rites still dance alive their magic and captivate spectators on the biggest megalith in Europe. (bigger than Mycenae and Troy, that is)
Worshiped with rites, wine and entangled with magic; encircled later in a city, Perperikon's shrine atop the mountain has seen the sun come and go for about 7 millennia, with the same mathematical precision noted by its Thracian shamans.

The Perperikon's web site is very cool and informative.
Nothing can beat facing the real enchantment and magic the place holds though.

Plovdiv

2007-09-22T11:53:00.000-07:00

Said to be one of the oldest continiously inhabited cities in Europe (older than Rome), its streets, athmosphere and underground are speaking eons of stories.

with care

2007-09-12T05:27:00.000-07:00

"wherever you may be, i wish you find your sense of ShangriLa... and that is from someone who cares"

from someone who cared...