My Oyster

Back Home and Bearing Gifts...

002, originally uploaded by dcjay64.

I got back to my parents house this morning at around 130am - after traveling for nearly 22 hours door-to-door from Beijing (and an around the world trip). It's nice to be home where I can relax.

Tonight my brother and Mira Su came over for dessert and I got to share with them a couple gifts from Korea. They each (the gifts - but also Mike and M-S too, I guess) have an interesting story which makes even it a bit more fun.

A Beautiful Day in Beijing...

What a wonderful day. Full of just what every day should be filled with - fun, friends, beauty, memories.  And maybe a WIFE for ME.

More on the whole day is coming up below.  But I need to start with a story that is still making me smile.  And is a bit crazy.  Tho cute.

This pic above is of a bunch of parents of adult children who come together in the Imperial Garden to do some matchmaking of their children.

Kevin and I were just passing through this corner of the Garden to get to a taxi stand when he attracted a swarm of attention from mothers with single and eligible daughters.

Unbelievably -even Little 'ol ME (clearly not Chinese, not in my prime marrying years, and so very not available in that way) attracted some attention.

Kevin LIED (in Chinese) to a group of women that had gathered around us to pitch (all in Chinese) their daughters to him and said he was married but that I was single.

Most mothers thought - and SAID (again in Chinese) to our faces that I was too old for their daughters!! However, apparently one mother thought again and said that her daughter had been studying in London and was kinda into older men.

Hello?! 

Needless to say, Kevin and I were in stitches and bolted for safety.

This entertaining day started with Kevin taking me to Liu Li Chang for some shopping.  The main street of this shopping area is...

I think the mix of old and new is very Beijing. 

This area is less touristy than the main markets. I loved it. And I got 4 paintings - some very traditional pieces that I will cherish in my home. It was so fun looking at the work of local artists with a local friend. It is really one of my favorite things to do no matter where I am.

I got the two below - both are ink and water paintings.  They are not really meant to be side by side and are actually pretty large.

The one on the left is by an artist, Peng Liangping, who has exhibited in China and Europe and the US. It is an example of Chinese impressionism - that shows a realistic looking scene - but one that is not necessarily a real place. Just a beautiful one. This one is about early morning in springtime and was a favorite of Kevin's.  And mine.

The one on the right is by a different artist and has persimmons.  There is a lot of symbolism there, but Kevin has to write it all down for me.  I like the story behind the art as much as the art itself.

The two small paintings below are a couple examples of traditional art by farmers in the rural parts of China.  You can't really see them but they each have some white chicks on a colorful background.  They caught my eye.  I like the very colorful and rustic style. 

After the market is when we headed to the Imperial Gardens next to the Forbidden city. The flowers are in full bloom and really amazing. Lots of tulips and lots of peonies - my two favorite flowers. The pic of me at the very top of this post is from the Garden and there are some more below...

The Cummins tulip - kinda fringy...

Soooo cute...

"Black" tulips...

Me in the bamboo...

Pretty, pretty, pretty...

Me and peach blossoms...

I am a happy traveler today!

Heaven in Beijing...

This city is amazing. Today I went to the Temple of Heaven. It is an incredible monument to art and architecture and spirituality.  The pic above is of the main building at the Temple - The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.

The Temple was built from 1406 to 1420 under the Yongle Emperor – he also did the Forbidden City.

I love the symbolism of the Temple.  In classical China - Earth was represented by a square and Heaven by a circle and there are several representations of both at the Temple.  The whole temple complex (a big park) is surrounded walls - the northern end is a semi-circle - representing Heaven and the southern end is a rectangle representing the Earth. And the main structure, above, is round and stands on a square yard - also representing Heaven and Earth. All the buildings within the Temple have special dark blue roof tiles, representing the Heaven. And my favorite -the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests also has 28 pillars - four inner, twelve middle and twelve outer pillars, representing the four seasons, twelve months and twelve traditional Chinese hours respectively.

I think if I designed a building with that much symbolism, it would be neither so beautiful nor so everlasting.

More picks from the Temple of Heaven today...

And other highlights from today...

My friend James helping me plan my day of tourism at a Star bucks by the Silk Market.

From my first ride on a Beijing subway. And it was solo.

Just one more cool building flying up in Beijing - the new CCTV building.

Taxicab Tourism in Beijing...

I have been busy with meetings nonstop since I arrived, but I always bring my camera with me - just in case I see something of interest.  Usually from a taxi.

The pic above was on the way back to the hotel from a meeting on the 4th Ring Road - which I think is a ways out from the center of Beijing.  We are actually on a busy and large highway - but there are bikes everywhere in Beijing.  I love how the little girl is looking at a CD or something while her mother drives and her brother looks bored.

On the way back to the hotel, we had the taxi driver take us around the new stadiums for the Olympics.  Very cool.  They all seem pretty much in one place and right in the city.  The one below is of the "Bird's Nest".  You can get a sense of the massive construction mess all over the city.  The guard looks to be taking a break.

And here is a fuller pic of the Nest...

And the pic below is a very cool building built to look like the Olympic torch. At least I think so. It is next to the stadiums. The black rectangles on all sides of the building are big TVs.

And here is another guard. He seems disinterested in me hanging out of the cab to get a pic of him. The odd building behind him is the Olympic swimming pool - also known as the water cube.

And here is my view as I am heading back to the hotel in rush hour traffic. Traffic in Beijing is always bad. At rush hour it is beyond belief. Especially on a Friday evening.

Back in Beijing...

Beijing Capital International Airport new Terminal 3, originally uploaded by Sulu Zhang Photo.

For the first time in a couple years.

I am excited to be back. I got in around 7ish pm and even on the taxi ride from the (brand spanking new) airport to the hotel, I could see this place is different and just pulsing with lots of money.

We pulled up to a gate at the new terminal that has been open only a couple months. It was big. Beautiful. And getting ready for the Olympics.

I am hoping to have time to have some fun here. I will.

A day of fun in Seoul...

The pic above is from one of the two temples I visited today.  They were both amazing.  And it was especially meaningful to me as I have been dipping my toe into the pool of buddhist practices - and enjoying it.

The first temple was the Bongeunsa - which was a short walk from my hotel.  It was founded in 794 - so it is among the oldest here in Seoul.  It has been Korea's leading temple since 1550 and represents Korea's past 1200 years of history and tradition (that was straight out of the tour pamphlet).

The Buddha's birthday is next month, so the temples and city are preparing.  One way they celebrate is to hang these paper lanterns at the temples and throughout the city.  Each one represents the specific wish of an individual.  I liked that.

Here are some more pics from the Bongeunsa...

And below is a pic of that tall statue just above - but taken from my hotel. You can see that Bongeunsa is sitting right in the middle of Seoul on probably some of the most expensive real estate in the world...

After I did my early morning visit to that temple, I met up with co-workers from the states and here in Korea and we went to a great shopping area - Insadong.  Great because it was a street full of traditional food and crafts.  Here is the street.

I founds several things i really liked.  More on that another day.  But here are some more pics from Insadong...

After shopping, we went to another old Temple - the Jogyesa.  It is the largest shrine in Seoul. 

It really had a celebratory feel today - as people were decorating and rehearsing traditional dances...

And I just love this pic with the sun peeking through. You can see the handwritten wishes on each of the lamps...

More pics - if you can stand it - at my flickr account...here.

Finally Seoul...

I am in Korea. At my hotel in the Coex area of Seoul I don't know where it is but I do know it took forever to get here from the airport this afternoon. Traffic here is bad.

My hotel room is great though.  Very stylish but simple.  I am gonna confess, I did not even leave my room today.  Isn't that horrible?  I was tired after a lot of travel and the room is big and comfy.

and the bathroom is amazing!

The shower comes down from the high ceiling - like rainfall.

Sunset outside my window...

Home Sweet Antwerpen...

002, originally uploaded by dcjay64.

I have been at home with Miguel and Phillipe (i don't know how to spell that in European. Too many Ls and Ps.)

They are amazingly good friends and hosts and take such good care of me (and my mother) when I am in Belgium.

Miguel made Chicken Tikka Masala that was good. Too good. I ate too much.

After dinner, we watched Ugly Betty with Flemish subtitles. That was fun.

M & P are renovating their whole house and creating a guest house in their garage. Its all amazing.

Ma - you already have an invite to come stay in the guest house. We can still share a bed if you want.

Unfortunately, tomorrow I have to leave Antwerpen for Korea. But I think I will be back soon.

My Muscles in Brussels...

It is hard - really, really hard - for me to find the time and energy to workout when I am on a business trip.

It's hard to run - cuz I don't know the areas and here in Europe, the streets are all cobblestone and none of them are straight. Pretty - but not good for running.

It is hard to swim, because really - no one has pools like we do in the US. In DC, we have pools every few feet. I never even have to share a lane.  My experience in Europe and Asia - with a few noteworthy exceptions - have been more like kinderswim sessions in overcrowded and nasty smelling (and tasting) pools.

Cycling. Out of the question.

It is hard to do weight training - well - because I just don't like that.

So usually on these business trips, I eat a TON of yummy, fatty rich food and work long hours then go to bed. Not the best way to stay slim and trim at my age. Eating chocolate croissants, working, and sleeping.

BUT - this trip I am trying something new. Oh, I am still eating a ton. Why do all this travel if I don't get to eat all the goodies. Food is the best way to experience a culture.

My strategy this trip is to hire a personal trainer to FORCE myself to do some exercise.

Today, I had my first session with Lambert. He is a...nice...trainer here in Brussels. He is originally from Togo.  He doesn't speak a lot of English. He gave me a great workout. Here it is called Functional Training. Lots of jumping and hopping and bouncing and sit ups and tossing balls.  It was really difficult - and I am actually in pretty good shape. I was drenched with sweat. I am wiped out tonight.

I am going back for more tomorrow.

London to Brussels...

That is me on the Eurostar train - somewhere in the French countryside.

I am in the European capital tonight - and for the next few days. 

This morning - after my own run around Regent Park and watching the London marathon on TV while packing - I headed to the newly renovated St. Pancras station to catch the Eurostar to Brussels.

The station is beautiful.

Train travel is so civilized.  The trip was only 2 hours.  I had a whole car to myself.  Had a nice meal and a nap.  Just as it should be.

And now I am back in Brussels.

The pic below is the view from my room.  The church is the same one that Ma and I attended on her last trip here.