I'll spare everyone the overlong exposition, and jump straight to the video highlights from my Chinese Family Vacation.
Video # 1: Good Parenting in Dalian, China
Video # 2: Wolong Panda Snack Time
Video # 3: Aerial Panda Combat
Enjoy, and steer clear of Pandas stuck in trees!
- Shawn
Monday, July 30, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
The Abraham Family Vacation
First let me apologize for the lateness of this post. I don't really have a good excuse, but hopefully there will be enough cool stuff coming in the next few days that you won't get too mad.
Corey did a great job covering everything from our whirlwind trip around China with my family, so hopefully this isn't too repetitive.
DALIAN
My family arrived in Dalian after a few days in Beijing. We only had a night, so we had to boil the city down to its essence, showing off some low budget shopping, our school, and Xinghai Square at night, which is always nice to see.
GUILIN
Corey, my family and I all took off from Dalian to Guilin where we got to see some legitimately spectacular scenery. From the lit stalactites and stalagmites of the Reed Flute Cave, to the limestone formations along the Li River - this was the scenic beauty of China that has been relatively nonexistent in Dalian.
Plus, we got to drink Snake Bile Wine, which I should say is as great tasting as it sounds.
It hits everyone the same. A sort of taste like... actually... should you ever have the opportunity, it's something you should probably experience yourself...
After taking in more scenery and water buffalo than any mere mortal could handle, we left Guilin for Chengdu, and the promise of Pandas.
CHENGDU/WOLONG
Chengdu, a seemingly cool city in its own right was little more than a jumping off point to the Wolong Panda Preserve. We saw a little of the city at night before starting on our five hour journey the next day. First, we saw an ancient irrigation system (yaaaawn), that was also home to an ancient Taoist temple (not yaaawn... that was pretty cool).
Our trip took us up a long, winding road that included a tunnel still being dug that cars only have a three hour window to drive through every day. You miss it, you're stuck. No pandas.
The day ended with a hearty Yak Meat and Bamboo shoot dinner, and a stroll around the middle of nowhere, and its painful tourist trap shops.
The Panda Preserve, in a word... was incredible. If you ever see Pandas in a zoo, there are one or two of them just hanging around being pathetic. Here, there were over twenty Pandas that we got to see in a variety of different settings, doing all those things Pandas do so well (like crapping yellow... makes sense, huh?)
Oh yeah, if you haven't heard already, we got to hold Pandas. Yeah, that's right.
It'd seem as though we're pretty awesome I'd say.
XI'AN
The next stop on the supertrip was Xi'An, home to the Terracotta Warriors. We spent a bit of time in the city itself and saw a little glimpse of the super rare Cultural Diversity in China with things like the Islamic Market and the Great Mosque.
The Chinese of course still had a pretty commanding presence in the city with their imposing Bell and Drum Towers (Bell Tower pictured below), which stand higher than everything else in Xi'An.
The Warriors themselves were impressive enough...
... but at the end of the day, the model factory we were draged to under the pretense of seeing a Terracotta Research Center, yielded just as good of a look at what makes the Warriors unique. Maybe I'm just being an ass though.
Despite my blog-found negativity, my family had a good time...
although not as good as some other families probably.
THE YANGTZE RIVER
The last leg of the tour was a three day cruise down the Yangtze River. The river is historically important to China, and the current dam being built - The Three Gorges Dam is regularly making headlines for the impact it will have on the region.
One of the first places we visited was a relocation village for some of the million plus Chinese that are being displaced because of the dam. The flooding that will be caused will be so severe that entire villages will be washed away, along with the long standing classic Chinese landscape around the Yangtze. In the village, we were taken to a house where we got to "speak" to a woman who had been relocated. Of course, she spoke no English, so all translating was done through a PR person for the village.
After the propog... experience, we returned to the trip to find that the Chinese tourists on the boat were all taken to a temple known as the "Abode of Ghosts", a haunted temple in the mountains. After a minor mutiny, the crew agreed to take us to the temple as well. And it lived up to its name...
The next excursion led us to the boat trackers of the Yangtze. A group of fishermen who are famous for pulling their boats upstream. This was incredible to see, and could have easily have been the highlight of the trip if it wasn't for those pesky Pandas.
We passed through the beautiful Three Gorges and made our way to the Three Gorges Dam which is erm... Dam big. Sorry, I went a bit insane for a good day and a half with the damn dam jokes. There I go again. The most impressive part we were able to see was the lock mechanisms that ships travel through. It took a few hours, but the sheer size of everything made it a nerd type fascinating experience.
After the cruise, we departed to Shanghai, which can be read about two posts down... one of the more insane things to happen during my time in China so far.
I have a lot more to tell everyone about here. Since being back, we've been exposed to the Dalian Zoo, as well as the Dalian International Beer Festival. Both of those will be covered, but not before one more post about this trip. It'll be shorter, and it'll have videos of Pandas doing insane Panda things. See you back here tomorrow.
- Shawn
Corey did a great job covering everything from our whirlwind trip around China with my family, so hopefully this isn't too repetitive.
DALIAN
My family arrived in Dalian after a few days in Beijing. We only had a night, so we had to boil the city down to its essence, showing off some low budget shopping, our school, and Xinghai Square at night, which is always nice to see.
GUILIN
Corey, my family and I all took off from Dalian to Guilin where we got to see some legitimately spectacular scenery. From the lit stalactites and stalagmites of the Reed Flute Cave, to the limestone formations along the Li River - this was the scenic beauty of China that has been relatively nonexistent in Dalian.
Plus, we got to drink Snake Bile Wine, which I should say is as great tasting as it sounds.
It hits everyone the same. A sort of taste like... actually... should you ever have the opportunity, it's something you should probably experience yourself...
After taking in more scenery and water buffalo than any mere mortal could handle, we left Guilin for Chengdu, and the promise of Pandas.
CHENGDU/WOLONG
Chengdu, a seemingly cool city in its own right was little more than a jumping off point to the Wolong Panda Preserve. We saw a little of the city at night before starting on our five hour journey the next day. First, we saw an ancient irrigation system (yaaaawn), that was also home to an ancient Taoist temple (not yaaawn... that was pretty cool).
Our trip took us up a long, winding road that included a tunnel still being dug that cars only have a three hour window to drive through every day. You miss it, you're stuck. No pandas.
The day ended with a hearty Yak Meat and Bamboo shoot dinner, and a stroll around the middle of nowhere, and its painful tourist trap shops.
The Panda Preserve, in a word... was incredible. If you ever see Pandas in a zoo, there are one or two of them just hanging around being pathetic. Here, there were over twenty Pandas that we got to see in a variety of different settings, doing all those things Pandas do so well (like crapping yellow... makes sense, huh?)
Oh yeah, if you haven't heard already, we got to hold Pandas. Yeah, that's right.
It'd seem as though we're pretty awesome I'd say.
XI'AN
The next stop on the supertrip was Xi'An, home to the Terracotta Warriors. We spent a bit of time in the city itself and saw a little glimpse of the super rare Cultural Diversity in China with things like the Islamic Market and the Great Mosque.
The Chinese of course still had a pretty commanding presence in the city with their imposing Bell and Drum Towers (Bell Tower pictured below), which stand higher than everything else in Xi'An.
The Warriors themselves were impressive enough...
... but at the end of the day, the model factory we were draged to under the pretense of seeing a Terracotta Research Center, yielded just as good of a look at what makes the Warriors unique. Maybe I'm just being an ass though.
Despite my blog-found negativity, my family had a good time...
although not as good as some other families probably.
THE YANGTZE RIVER
The last leg of the tour was a three day cruise down the Yangtze River. The river is historically important to China, and the current dam being built - The Three Gorges Dam is regularly making headlines for the impact it will have on the region.
One of the first places we visited was a relocation village for some of the million plus Chinese that are being displaced because of the dam. The flooding that will be caused will be so severe that entire villages will be washed away, along with the long standing classic Chinese landscape around the Yangtze. In the village, we were taken to a house where we got to "speak" to a woman who had been relocated. Of course, she spoke no English, so all translating was done through a PR person for the village.
After the propog... experience, we returned to the trip to find that the Chinese tourists on the boat were all taken to a temple known as the "Abode of Ghosts", a haunted temple in the mountains. After a minor mutiny, the crew agreed to take us to the temple as well. And it lived up to its name...
The next excursion led us to the boat trackers of the Yangtze. A group of fishermen who are famous for pulling their boats upstream. This was incredible to see, and could have easily have been the highlight of the trip if it wasn't for those pesky Pandas.
We passed through the beautiful Three Gorges and made our way to the Three Gorges Dam which is erm... Dam big. Sorry, I went a bit insane for a good day and a half with the damn dam jokes. There I go again. The most impressive part we were able to see was the lock mechanisms that ships travel through. It took a few hours, but the sheer size of everything made it a nerd type fascinating experience.
After the cruise, we departed to Shanghai, which can be read about two posts down... one of the more insane things to happen during my time in China so far.
I have a lot more to tell everyone about here. Since being back, we've been exposed to the Dalian Zoo, as well as the Dalian International Beer Festival. Both of those will be covered, but not before one more post about this trip. It'll be shorter, and it'll have videos of Pandas doing insane Panda things. See you back here tomorrow.
- Shawn
Monday, July 23, 2007
Whirlwind China
So we've been home a few days since our China on speed whirlwind tour of China with Shawn's family. It was a great time, we saw the must sees, we held pandas, found a man selling crickets in cages, ate amazing food (and some not amazing food), took in the scenery and even braved an airport riot; so now I'm going to try and do the impossible...and make up for not putting any pictures up for ages by posting a complete selection of pictures to give ya'll a general picture of what we saw!! I apologize in advance for talking up so much room on the page, enjoy!
The Twin Towers
Guilin, China
Sunrise view from hotel room
Guilin, China
Reed Flute Caves
Guilin, China
Reed Flute Caves
Guilin, China
After seeing the sights of Guilin we boarded a boat for a day long cruise up the Li River. The Li River is famous for its limestone peaks and boasts some of the most famous scenery in China. These mountains can even be seen on a 20yuan bill. It surely lived up to the hype.
Motor powered bamboo boat on the Li River
Guilin, China
Li River
Guilin, China
Li River
Guilin, China
Li River
Guilin, China
Famous 'Snake Bile Wine' Liquor
Guilin, China
Fisherman and his cormorants on the Li River
Guilin, China
From Guilin we headed out to Chengdu where we spent the night before heading up to the Wolong Nature Preserve. Wolong is home to about 600 native pandas who wander in and out of the perimeter of the park. Inside the park there is also a well known breeding center that is home to 60 captive pandas...one of which we were able to hold :)
Shawn and Serena
Wolong Nature Preserve, China
Pandas
Wolong Panda Preserve, China
Eating panda biscuit
Wolong, China
Wolong, China
Next up was Xian, home of the Terracotta Warriors and a nice city in and of itself.
The Bell Tower
Xian, China
The Drum Tower
Xian, China
Crickets being sold at the Muslim Night Market
Xian, China
Terracotta Warrior replicas
Xian, China
The real deal
Xian, China
With Xian and the Terracotta Warriors done, done and done we headed south again to catch a three day cruise down the Yangtze River. The cruise started in Chongqing, a modern city whose population has grown exponentially over the past 10 years and is considered the largest city in the world (depending on who you ask), and ended in Yichang. The boat trip went through an area of the river that will flood after the completion of The Three Gorges Dam. The trip included two excursions along the way.
View of Chonqing from the Yangtze River
Chongqing, China
Cleaning the Yangtze
Yangtze River, China
The Abode of Ghosts
Fengdu, China
Torture statues in the Abode of Ghosts
Fengdu, China
The following pictures were taking on the Shennong Stream, a tributary of the Yangtze River. The boatmen are referred to as boat trackers. Originally used when fishing, the boat trackers would pull the boats upstream through shallow parts of the river.
Shawn
Shennong Stream, China
Bamboo boats
Shennong Stream, China
Rowing upstream
Shennong Stream, China
Shoes made of bamboo and grass used specially by the boat trackers
Shennong Stream, China
Boat tracker
Shennong Stream, China
Bamboo rope used to pull the boats upstream
Shennong Stream, China
Pulling
Shennong Stream, China
Heading downstream
Shennong Stream, China
Shawn
Shennong Stream, China
Boat tracking boat heading upstream
Shennong Stream, China
Bamboo and grass footwear
Shennong Stream, China
Our lead boat tracker guiding the boat upstream
Shennong Stream, China
Rowing
Shennong Stream, China
Out of the mist
Shennong Stream, China
Directing the boat
Shennong Stream, China
Pulling with bamboo rope
Shennong Stream, China
That evening our ship queued up to go through the lock system at the Three Gorges Dam. When completed the Three Gorges Dam will be the largest dam in the world. Its construction has caused many villages upstream from it to be relocated (we monetary reparations going to the people whose villages will be underwater)
Ships beneath the water line in the lock system
Yangtze River, China
Shawn and Serena checking out the view from our cabin
Yangtze River, China
Shawn
Three Gorges Dam, China
The other side
Three Gorges Dam, China
Lilly pads at the park overlooking the Three Gorges Dam
Three Gorges Dam, China
The Twin TowersGuilin, China
Sunrise view from hotel roomGuilin, China
Reed Flute CavesGuilin, China
Reed Flute CavesGuilin, China
After seeing the sights of Guilin we boarded a boat for a day long cruise up the Li River. The Li River is famous for its limestone peaks and boasts some of the most famous scenery in China. These mountains can even be seen on a 20yuan bill. It surely lived up to the hype.
Motor powered bamboo boat on the Li RiverGuilin, China
Li RiverGuilin, China
Li RiverGuilin, China
Li RiverGuilin, China
Famous 'Snake Bile Wine' LiquorGuilin, China
Fisherman and his cormorants on the Li RiverGuilin, China
From Guilin we headed out to Chengdu where we spent the night before heading up to the Wolong Nature Preserve. Wolong is home to about 600 native pandas who wander in and out of the perimeter of the park. Inside the park there is also a well known breeding center that is home to 60 captive pandas...one of which we were able to hold :)
Shawn and SerenaWolong Nature Preserve, China
PandasWolong Panda Preserve, China
Eating panda biscuitWolong, China
Wolong, ChinaNext up was Xian, home of the Terracotta Warriors and a nice city in and of itself.
The Bell TowerXian, China
The Drum TowerXian, China
Crickets being sold at the Muslim Night MarketXian, China
Terracotta Warrior replicasXian, China
The real dealXian, China
With Xian and the Terracotta Warriors done, done and done we headed south again to catch a three day cruise down the Yangtze River. The cruise started in Chongqing, a modern city whose population has grown exponentially over the past 10 years and is considered the largest city in the world (depending on who you ask), and ended in Yichang. The boat trip went through an area of the river that will flood after the completion of The Three Gorges Dam. The trip included two excursions along the way.
View of Chonqing from the Yangtze RiverChongqing, China
Cleaning the YangtzeYangtze River, China
The Abode of GhostsFengdu, China
Torture statues in the Abode of GhostsFengdu, China
The following pictures were taking on the Shennong Stream, a tributary of the Yangtze River. The boatmen are referred to as boat trackers. Originally used when fishing, the boat trackers would pull the boats upstream through shallow parts of the river.
ShawnShennong Stream, China
Bamboo boatsShennong Stream, China
Rowing upstreamShennong Stream, China
Shoes made of bamboo and grass used specially by the boat trackersShennong Stream, China
Boat trackerShennong Stream, China
Bamboo rope used to pull the boats upstreamShennong Stream, China
PullingShennong Stream, China
Heading downstreamShennong Stream, China
ShawnShennong Stream, China
Boat tracking boat heading upstreamShennong Stream, China
Bamboo and grass footwearShennong Stream, China
Our lead boat tracker guiding the boat upstreamShennong Stream, China
RowingShennong Stream, China
Out of the mistShennong Stream, China
Directing the boatShennong Stream, China
Pulling with bamboo ropeShennong Stream, China
That evening our ship queued up to go through the lock system at the Three Gorges Dam. When completed the Three Gorges Dam will be the largest dam in the world. Its construction has caused many villages upstream from it to be relocated (we monetary reparations going to the people whose villages will be underwater)
Ships beneath the water line in the lock systemYangtze River, China
Shawn and Serena checking out the view from our cabinYangtze River, China
ShawnThree Gorges Dam, China
The other sideThree Gorges Dam, China
Lilly pads at the park overlooking the Three Gorges DamThree Gorges Dam, China
Home sweet home
Dalian, China
Dalian, China
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