China, and Thailand too!

We went to China this fall, mostly for Brad and Yessi's Chinese wedding, but for exploration too.  The wedding, well, the wedding was fantastic!!

Plus, we had so many dear friends from America join us, we were overwhelmed with gratitude.

Then we did a bit of travel, but I'll send you to thistle adventure, where I blog about our trip.  See China #1 - #11, which also includes two postings about Thailand and many more wedding photographs.  The wrap-up words are, we were very lucky to have this life's adventure.  

Magic Happens!

Our kitchen, turned over to Rosy, Tan Hong and Yessi, has become an international delight.  Enough food was purchased at Uwajimaya to feed an army, and was miraculously turned into a magnificent feast in just two hours.   I mostly watched engulfing myself in the smells, sounds, and sights.  My expectations expanded until I felt like pavlog's dog.

~~~

"Any time women come together with a collective intention, it's a powerful thing. Whether it's sitting down making a quilt, in a kitchen preparing a meal, in a club reading the same book, around the table playing cards, or planning a birthday party, when women come together with a collective intention, magic happens."

Phylicia Rashad  

~~~

Any time women come together with a collective intention, it's a powerful thing. Whether it's sitting down making a quilt, in a kitchen preparing a meal, in a club reading the same book, or around the table playing cards, or planning a birthday party, when women come together with a collective intention, magic happens.
Phylicia Rashad
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/meal.html#tkyJAzGAfcA11fHt.99

The preparation ~

The food ~

The eating pleasure ~

We give thanks!

Welcoming Yessi's Family

China becomes our friend.  A country always far, far away and not much in our sights has, because of sweet Yessi's influence, become more and more familiar.  A few years ago I engulfed myself in Cultural Revolution readings, but that's not the China of today and not the China I'm experiencing vicariously through Brad and Yessi's relationship.  I suddenly feel like my world has expanded in a million new ways as our lives expand to include thoughts of traveling to China, walking the Great Wall of China, enjoying meals at Yessi's family home in Xiamen, experiencing the coffee at Pacific Coffee of Mukilteo Coffee fame) in Hong Kong, and so much more.

The holidays have brought us visitors from China making our immersion in the Chinese culture deeper and sweeter.  Yessi's mom, Tan Hong, and aunt, Rosie, arrived a few days ago for a two week stay.  They will be at our home the first week of their stay before going to Seattle for another week.  On these first couple of days everyone has been tentative except for smiling, smiling, smiling!  Yessi is trying to keep us all connected but with six people in the room, and only one bilingual person, she's pretty busy.   

Our first evening together (left to right:  Tan Hong, Brad, Ed, Fran & Rosie)
Photo by Yessi

We're honored to have guests for the holidays and very pleased to get to know Yessi's family.   

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart."

Confucius

Wherever you go, go with all your heart.
Confucius
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_travel.html#qwPRBdG7ZzqYAPPD.99

Bad news; Good news

The Bad news is Yessi returned to China after spending four months in the U.S. leaving us in a huge missing mode.  The Good news is she will be returning this October, God willing and the Visa creek don't rise.

Ed and I can't wait to see her again.  Benton, if he could understand what we're telling him, would be full of woofs and wiggles.  Brad, naturally, is beside himself.

Hurry back Yessi!  We've been missing you!

Song of the Open Road.

Everything is changing!  Adventure is in this family's blood it seems and we're all tuning up for big changes.

~~~

Security is mostly a superstition.  It  does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it  Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.  Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.

 Helen Keller 

 ~~~

Early in 2014, Ed and I plan to put our Whidbey Island home on the vacation home circuit; pack a few items; get our shots and passports updated; buy our airline tickets; crate up our dog and bicycles; and take off for Cuenca, Ecuador.  Now, of course, there could still be a kink in our plans, like health issues, but barring problems we are looking for a new living adventure early next year.

Cuenca, Ecuador
Population - 350,000,  Elevation ~ 8,500 ft.

Cuenca, Ecuador
Average day temperature - 75 degrees
Average night temperature - 50 degrees
Hours of light per day 12 - 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Yessi and Brad are also making life-changing plans that include the complicated details of how to hurdle their respective country's barriers to be together.  Neither China nor the United States of America are easy to negotiate for Green Cards, Work Visas, and meeting all the legal details of living together in one or the other's country.  Nothing is cemented for  them yet either but they're in the crazy Skype  mode daily as they talk about a million logistical details.

Yessi & Brad 

Brad, Fran Yessi & Ed

Stay tuned for how this all plays out.  Right now I'm just hitting the surface in this blog because we're all still skimming on the surface of what these big changes mean and how they'll play out.  

It's all very exciting, albeit a little scary, but adventure is what we all want and adventure is what we're getting.

Song of the Open Road

Henceforth I ask not good fortune—I myself am good fortune;

Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing.

Strong and content, I travel the open road.

Walt Whitman

Off to Nepal

Brad has been having a good time in China.  He's been visiting with Yessi's family and friends, sightseeing, getting his teeth fixed, experiencing actupuncture, and even interviewing with a Xiamen architectural firm.  Lots of pictures and more details posted on dbbrad.

But, two days ago, he and Yessi began another adventure.  They are taking first a train...

Hopefully it won't be this crowded.

Then the bullet train...

High speed rail in China.  124 mph, or more

To get back to Hong Kong from Xiamen.  From Hong Kong they will catch a flight on Jet Airways to Kathmandu.

Jet Airways

The flight from Hong Kong to Kathmandu is 8 hours.  When he and Yessi arrive they will get permits and supplies, and hopefully have some time for sightseeing.

Kathmandu

Then, off they go to begin their adventure on the Annapurna Circuit.

This spectacular trekking route makes the trek a once in a lifetime experience. 

Whew!

A couple of days ago I heard from Brad and all was not well. When he left here he had a tooth ache and his back was hurting (both he planned on tending to in China).  Shortly after arrival in China he got food poisoning.   With his body hurting in three places, he was pretty much feeling rotten from head-to-toe and spent one day sleeping.

Now, all is much, much better.  Brad reports:

1) My food poisoning is over;

2) For my back I went to the most experienced practitioner I've ever visited.  I have a few vertebrae near my pelvis out of alignment and he did massage and stretching together.  Painful deep tissue massage that allowed my muscles to relax so he could stretch and align me. 

3) The dentist I saw was exceptional and nicer than any dentist office I've seen in the states.  State of the art equipment, clean, very qualified workers and excellent work.  Far better than the root canal I had done a few years back. 

Plus, the frosting on the cake, Brad's friend Yessi is taking great care of him and since she has a car Brad is getting to see Xiamen between appointments.  Xiamen is a very prosperous city.  The beaches, botanical gardens, waterfront promenades, university, Buddhist temples and parks are noteworthy. Travelers' Choice rated it one of the best 2012 destinations.   

Xiamen

Brad is still raising money for his Heart on the Trail fund raiser and collecting press as he proceeds.  See his latest news story on his 2012 adventures.

Brad drawing hearts

Lantau Island, China

Brad's e-mail this morning was very positive and he sounded excited. 

First, Hong Kong is amazing-I love it. 

Second, was on Landau Island today.  Ferry ride, tram, giant buddha and metro trains!  

Landau Island 

Landau Island Tram

Giant Buddha

Landau Island Fishing Village

Third, head for Xaimen tomorrow.

Fourth, dentist appointment Saturday.

Hong Kong's first morning view

Brad's arrival in Hong Kong was very late.  After customs and a one hour bus ride he was at his hotel at 2:00.

First Daylight View of Hong Kong from Hotel

Tokyo Lay Over

A quick e-mail from Brad early this morning.  He was in Tokyo.  He reports it is very expensive so he was quite pleased he'd taken lots of food with him.

Tokyo Airport.  McDonalds had the only line.

Equal to $20 US

To China, to China...

After a few days of wild packing and preparation, Brad is ready to depart from Whidbey Island for the Ferry to America.  In Mukilteo his good friend Debbie meets him to provide a ride to SeaTac, including a stop in Seattle to pick up his visa.  Brad's flight is to Hong Kong.  There he will be picked up by a friend he met in NZ, then travel on to Xiaman.  

Brad -- off to China

I know Brad reached the airport.  Note from Debbie:

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!  Got him safely to the aiarport at 10:30, after two
quick stops in Seattle -- visa pickup and REI for a solar charger.  He is excited and happy.  What a guy!

Now, for his long, long flight with a hurting tooth.  Safe travels, Dear Brad!

A Year Of Adventure

This year our son, Brad,  set out to fill it with adventure while he reevaluated his life and future.  First, as you know if you've been following this blog, he went to New Zealand to thru-hike the Te Araroa Trail.  He arrived in NZ mid November 2011 and finished the trail the end of April 2012.  He returned to the US early May and immediately began another thru-hike on the Pacific Crest Trail, after resting and resupplying in San Diego for a few days.  He departed from the Mexican border in May and finished in late October at the Canadian border.  All told he walked 4200 miles in eleven months.

But, the adventure is not over, nor is the year.  On Tuesday, November 20, Brad departs for China.  He will fly into Hong Kong, but travel almost immediately to Xiamen to spend time with a friend he met in NZ.  The trip will also include dental work, sight seeing and hiking.  He returns to the US Christmas day.

Xiamen
One of China's top 10 cities on urban development index. 

Hong Kong
Bird's eye view of one of the world's greatest cities.

Three of the hiking destinations capturing Brad's attention are the Yellow Mountains, Leaping Tiger Gorge and Annapurna Circuit.  Stay tuned for the new unfolding adventure...

Yellow Mountain near Huangshan 

Leaping Tiger Gorge near Lijiang

Annapurna Circuit in Nepal

Green shows 10 day hike from Hong Kong to Beijing.  But, the map also is a nice overview of China,