Author Archives: d4vid

Kafkaesque

Posted on December 5, 2015 by d4vid

At first, the giant insects clinging to the building had me going “nope” but I ventured inside.  What I found was a large collection with each specimen pinned in elebaorate designs.  Photography was forbidden (presumably to spare the dead creatures … Continue reading →

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Qingcheng

Posted on December 5, 2015 by d4vid

Debbie & I hiked up Qinqcheng (青城山 or Qīngchéng, meaning “green city”), one of the Four Sacred Mountains of Taoism.  Ginko trees are a symbol of Taoism because, like yin & yang, they require both male & female to reproduce.   This ancient, prayer-festooned … Continue reading →

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Chinatown

Posted on December 5, 2015 by d4vid

Dujiangyan is known for its historic irrigation system.  (And, yes, I ended up trying to explain the plot of Chinatown in broken Mandarin.)  We toured the river by night.While the neon-bright buildings and bridges had me thinking about Tony & … Continue reading →

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Shanshui

Posted on December 5, 2015 by d4vid

For the last leg of Debbie & my epic tour of China, we stayed at the Six Senses luxury resort in Dujiangyan near Chengdu in Sichuan province.  The view is basically a Chinese shanshui painting come to life. The accommodations are … Continue reading →

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Bucky

Posted on December 5, 2015 by d4vid

For my second visit, I captured this terracotta warrior backlit by the low winter sun.  A Winter Soldier, if you will.

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Maquettes

Posted on December 5, 2015 by d4vid

Visiting the Xi’an Museum, Debbie pointed out that tons of ancient sculptures look like maquettes from some Disney animated feature.  Evil villain, rotund sidekicks, kindhearted old ladies. This one is a caravan driver with his sassy camel sidekick.

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Civilization

Posted on December 3, 2015 by d4vid

 

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Tried

Posted on December 2, 2015 by d4vid

Like that song on The Beatles’s White album.

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Life

Posted on December 2, 2015 by d4vid

Life finds a way.

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Syne

Posted on December 2, 2015 by d4vid

Debbie & I visited the Bell Tower at the crossroads of the main North/South and East/West roads within the city walls of Xi’an. Touring the tower, I realized that the Chinese word for “bell” (钟 or zhōng) is part of the word … Continue reading →

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Autumn

Posted on December 2, 2015 by d4vid

Xi’an cemetery in late autumn.   Cemetery with distant smokestack.

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Goose

Posted on December 2, 2015 by d4vid

This is Xi’an’s Big Goose Pagoda:  And this is Xi’an’s Little Goose Pagoda: You would think Maverick would be the one who deserves a pagoda, but we couldn’t find one for him, big or little.

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Mansion

Posted on December 2, 2015 by d4vid

In Xi’an, Debbie & stayed at the Grand Mercure, a converted Communist Party mansion which is now part of a complex of western hotels cordoned off in the heart of the city.  I like to refer to the complex as “the … Continue reading →

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Singular

Posted on December 2, 2015 by d4vid

Bagpipes and the Eiffel Tower.  The two things all young Chinese shoppers love.

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Record

Posted on November 30, 2015 by d4vid

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new world record.  Debbie & I just blew through check-in and security check at Datong Airport in five minutes.  No lines, no waiting. I think I’m going to cry.

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