/portfolio.jpg){kind=small}
leaders of the valley
day 142: ćłľĺ·ť (jingchuan) – 王村 (wangcun) = 17,2km
First of all, here’s my shoe after the repair (1 good thing, 4 nice people, 1 bad thing and a possible solution to a problem):
Walking feels a bit weird now, but I guess I’ll get used to that.
Let’s just hope the glue and the stitches will last.
…
As you can see on the map, I’m slowly making my way through a long valley:
Walking here is actually pretty nice, but right when I left off I was still struggling with the grudge I had from yesterday.
This is the entry of the cave with the Buddha statues I wasn’t allowed to photograph:
“The thing is,” I had told the pencil pusher who was handling my case, “I want to take pretty pictures of your country, I really do. But if you don’t give me a chance to cover the cultural relics you got here, all that is left for me to shoot is the outside reality – and the misery you’re not taking care of.”
Take another look at the picture above, and you’ll see misery crouching in the dirt. She’s never far.
Yes, I was bearing a grudge with each step.
A grudge.
A grudge.
A grudge.
Then, after too many steps, I ran into these guys:
They gave me a great “hallo” and told me to follow them to the riverside.
We had to traverse large areas with tomato-greenhouses:
Then we all sat down by the riverside next to a fish pond, and they made a twig wreath and put it on my head, and we talked and talked and laughed and laughed, and my grudge was gone and forgotten:
“Is your sister pretty?” – “Do you really drink that much milk in Germany?” – “You are so tall – are you still growing?” – “Isn’t walking very boring?” – “Don’t you miss home?”
Children are awesome – and you know what? – most of them speak better Mandarin than the people I’ve dealt with in the administration.
We also talked about the problem with littering – “MĂĽll” in German:
As this generation is growing up, things will get better. They must!
Anywho, walking was a lot nicer without the burden of a grudge to bear:
I enjoyed some more of the rosé blossoms:
And I had fun with 欢欢 (huanhuan) the dumb dog with eyes awry:
Sat down and had some cookies here:
And took another picture of the leaders of the new school:
Having hope for the future is always better than being mad at the present.
This is the courtyard of the hotel I’m staying at tonight:
…and here’s my suite:
I don’t know why, but I somehow really like this picture.
Looks so…lost.
Soundtrack: Jacky & Ben-J – “Les Enfants Du Soleil”
—total: 1840,4km
Print This Post
March 29th, 2008 at 12:07
Just because of those Nice Ordinary Common people, the authority can be that ignorance !
(If you find this one – case of sensitive, delete it !)
March 29th, 2008 at 12:42
hi, habe jetzt deine Resie bis zum 22. Januar zurück verfolgt und hab mich gewundert, how the fuck did you come to listen to hermans hermits on january 4th. I mean, hermans hermits rather belongs to the rock heritage of my age, not yours, though I hated him anyway.
March 29th, 2008 at 15:28
huhu! so endlich wieder up to date, dieser zivilisationsstress….
die kids in dem video sind ja süß! wenn man es nicht besser wüsste würde man meinen sie versuchen eine schafherde nachzumachen… :)
und kannst du den niedlichen hund direkt mal einpacken und hier vorbei bringen? ist das so ne art chinesischer mops??
March 29th, 2008 at 20:10
Steven: ;)
Hermann: Hey, "No Milk Today" is a catchy song after all!
jule: Hehe, das Hundevieh ist gut, oder? Total überzüchtet glaube ich…
March 30th, 2008 at 00:23
Thank you for this site! I came across it from Google Earth, I read some of your diary pages, and I have now started reading from the beginning. I have been visiting China for the past 17 years (although I never got to stay as long as you did, and my Chinese is very limited), and your reports feel very "real" to me – the next best thing to being there. Please keep going!
March 30th, 2008 at 11:18
I feel very honored that you value this site so much, thank you!
March 31st, 2008 at 02:02
Actually as a native Chinese, I haven't travelled so north or west. Thanks for the great pictures and words.
March 31st, 2008 at 02:20
By the way, the pictures of spring you have been taking make me sooo homesick. The city I am working at is always in summer. My hometown is in south of China but with distinct seasons.
March 31st, 2008 at 02:33
Fantastic diaries, splendid photos.
Just like Maggie said, as native Chinese, we've not travelled so far .
what a pity, even shame!
Actually, I have some German friends working in my town–Hefei,Anhui.
German people are awesome.Although they tend to make critiques of
my contury and people, I like to talk with these guys.Coz I think these
critics are instrutive.
April 3rd, 2008 at 14:53
Das Bild – ziemlich "verloren". Stümmt, ürgendwie…..
June 2nd, 2009 at 09:30
Wonderful photo of you and the children. What a trip you are on! Christoph, you make me laugh and your insightfulness is refreshing.
June 8th, 2009 at 06:07
Maggie: You definitely have to go there, it's so beautiful!
Achille: We can learn through reflection and self-reflection, right? :)
Martin T.: …
Barb: It's all about the children I think!