| One of the most memorable meals for those who travel with me to China is one of the first of the trip, in the hutongs of Beijing. Hutongs are little alleyways in the center of the city, some as narrow as six feet across. This is the heart of the city, a place where people have lived the same way for hundreds of years, despite the modernization of this capital city. Families live in courtyard homes in the hutongs. Each trip to China, I bring travelers to the home of one of the families so that we can learn about their lives and also have a home-cooked meal. Sometimes, we get a dumpling-making lesson, like in the picture to the right, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wang. |  |
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 The climb up Moon Hill in Yangshuo is exhilarating. It takes about 30 minutes to climb the stairs to the top. In the picture above, there is a group of students with whom I traveled to Yangshuo, along with some teachers and an equal number of "porter" women. These women hover around the bottom of the hill and offer to help travelers navigate the well-traveled route. The day we hiked was rainy, so it was helpful to have these lovely ladies on our arms, assisting our ascent and descent. I paid each of them for their services. Some might call me a sucker, but I love to support the locals. These women offered a service and I agreed. Plus, this picture was worth whatever I paid.
Moon Hill is a hill with a natural arch which looks like a hole through the hill. It is a popular spot for rock climbers, who flock to Yangshuo (in China's southern Guangxi Province) for its unusual limestone karst peaks.
Don't worry, celiacs! Just because I love gluten doesn't mean you have to eat it when you come to China. In fact, I think it's easier to avoid gluten in China than most places. Rice is king, even in places where dumplings and noodles are preferred. And the myth that they douse their food in soy sauce, just because it's China, is false. WE douse food in soy sauce. They don't use soy sauce.
So whether you are "oodles of noodles" or gluten-free, China has lots of delicious cuisine for you.  Imagine waking up and stretching to the sunrise in the picture to the left. This is one of the moments that participants in ChiNamaste 2020 will experience! Namaste literally means "I bow to you," but it means so much more than that. From Rita Geno: "Namaste allows two individuals to come together energetically to a place of connection and timelessness (www.yogajournal.com/practice/the-meaning-of-quot-namaste-quot)." Connection to the people, places and practices of China, that's our goal. We will be on two of the sacred mountains in China, Song and Huang (Yellow). Go at your pace. Conquer hours of the mountains or walk leisurely and observe the magnificent surroundings. We will walk on the Great Wall. Ellen Brown, a yoga, fitness and mindfulness expert, will come along with us on our journey and lead a few sun salutations on the wall, if you choose to practice a little yoga. Every day, Ellen will lead one or two yoga sessions that you may join...or not!
We will visit quaint, countryside villages and spectacular gardens and lakes. We will witness the enormity and magnificence of the Terra-cotta Warriors in Xian. The dates of the trip are May 20, 2020 - June 3, 2020. Take a look at the brochure for this amazing journey and sign up asap. Limited spaces! Check out the "Upcoming Tours" tab on this site or call/email for information.
We will walk on the Great Wall. Tami Reilly, a yoga, fitness and mindfulness expert, will come along with us on our journey and lead a few sun salutations on the wall, if you choose to practice a little yoga. Every day, Tami will lead one or two yoga sessions that you may join...or not!
We will visit quaint, countryside villages and spectacular gardens and lakes. We will witness the enormity and magnificence of the Terra-cotta Warriors in Xian. The dates of the trip are May 20, 2020 - June 3, 2020. Take a look at the brochure for this amazing journey and sign up asap. Limited spaces! Check out the "Upcoming Tours" tab on this site or call/email for information. When traveling in Guilin, the common way to see the breathtaking karst peaks that line the rivers is on a large boat. This is still the travel method of choice for most, but I have come to appreciate and love the slower and more peaceful method of the bamboo raft. The one and one half hour ride goes in one direction downriver, with a local farmer poling travelers like a gondola. The farmers get to be gondalier only once per day. Because of the tips, rafting is a lucrative job. The government wants all to benefit from this industry, so each farmer is limited to one trip per day, in order to give the opportunity to as many farmers as possible.
In order to make the rafts, the bamboo is heated in order to bend it to the right shape. The bamboo is lashed together and two bamboo chairs are lashed to the raft. The result is a safe, buoyant and fun method of travel. Join me on a Chow Fun Tour and experience life on the river.
Crickets and birds are popular because of the noises they make. Their owners love the chirping. I find the sound incredibly annoying, but the cricket culture is fascinating. There is also a cricket fighting culture, which allows the owners to compete, but also gives those attending the matches an opportunity to bet on the fights. I have not had the pleasure of attending a cricket bout, but I'm not sure that I would want to. Come to China with Chow Fun Tours and check out the local markets! |
Lauren DrazenI have traveled all over the world, including adventures in China, Uganda, Taiwan, Thailand, Cambodia, Argentina, Vietnam, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, England, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Costa Rica, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Dominican Republic, Mongolia, Netherlands, Canada and Mexico! My greatest love is introducing Americans to the sites, traditions and people of China. My hope is to give travelers a new lens through which to see the world. Archives
January 2020
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