Category Archives: 杭州

Ignore

Posted on February 20, 2017 by d4vid

My seat’s flexible reading light on the train from Hangzhou back to Shanghai looked like an alien.  Reminded me of this.

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Epitome

Posted on February 20, 2017 by d4vid

Fence.  Train tracks.  Canal.  Crumbling buildings.  China.

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Spring

Posted on February 19, 2017 by d4vid

 First blossoms of Spring.  Time to go home.

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Ambush

Posted on February 19, 2017 by d4vid

Some public places in China have an “English Corner” where people come to practice their English skills. I inadvertently stumbled on Hangzhou’s English Corner. I was ambushed by a dozen Hangzhou residents who wanted to talk.  Don’t want to get … Continue reading →

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Lazy

Posted on February 18, 2017 by d4vid

Having hiked up and over the hill to the Yellow Dragon Cave, I discovered that the northern approach was a simple, tree-lined path from the road. All that exercise just to get fat shamed by this sign. Joke’s on them, … Continue reading →

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Matchmaking

Posted on February 18, 2017 by d4vid

黄龙洞 (Huánglóng Dòng meaning “Yellow Dragon Cave”) was quiet, peaceful, and the highlight of my trip to Hangzhou. Beauty.  Serenity.   However, my serenity was (briefly) interrupted.  I sat in a pavilion overlooking this path and watched for forty minutes as … Continue reading →

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Crossroads

Posted on February 18, 2017 by d4vid

Eventually, everyone comes to a crossroads.  Do you go down to the Yellow Dragon Cave?  Or up the Heavenly Stairs?  Turn to the Golden Drum Cave or turn to the Tiger Cave? Or use the restroom.

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Cosmogony

Posted on February 18, 2017 by d4vid

If Chinese cosmogony is anything like Narnian cosmogony — and, honestly, why wouldn’t it be? — I assume that when Aslan (or a culturally-specific transposition) sang this land into being, a chunk of lens or something sank into the young … Continue reading →

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Imagineered

Posted on February 18, 2017 by d4vid

One of the things that wore me down most about living in Shanghai was my inability to escape into nature.  I loved being able to hike up into the forested hills around the West Lake. A stone path vying with Nature.  This … Continue reading →

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Causeway

Posted on February 18, 2017 by d4vid

Broken Bridge is part of one of the two narrow causeways which cross the West Lake.  They are packed with pedestrians, cyclists, and electric carts.

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Broken

Posted on February 18, 2017 by d4vid

Hangzhou’s famous “Broken Bridge” is so named because snow in the middle melts first, darkening the stone and making it look like there’s a gap.  

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Woke

Posted on February 17, 2017 by d4vid

I’d rather have a woke town.  Right?  Right?  Tip your waitresses.

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Westlake

Posted on February 17, 2017 by d4vid

On my way back from Chongqing, I spent a few days in a place I’ve been trying to get to for some time now:  Hangzhou. Just an hour’s train ride away from Shanghai, Hangzhou has been a place of beauty … Continue reading →

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