January 2009

Hello Everyone:
Just want to tell everyone that we just returned to Qingdao after 3 weeks on the road.
We finished our last day of classes on December 31 and we have been on vacation since... We do not return to the classroom until March 2, 2009......
On January 15, we went to Hong Kong for the BYU Teachers Conference and a temple session at the Hong Kong temple. Hong Kong is s huge city of about 12 million people and it is very American oriented. A person can get almost anything American in Hong Kong, if he knows where to look.

On Sunday, January 18, after attending a great church meeting, we took a bus back to Shenzhen and boarded an airplane to Guilin where we spent the night.
The next morning we took a 41/2 hour boat trip down the Li river - to Yangshuo, where we found some of the best shopping we encountered during the trip. The prices were very good and very negotiable. We were also treated to a ride in golf carts to see the countryside. We travelled the backroads and fields to see the lush farmland, rice paddies and beautiful scenery. That same evening, Rog went to watch the cormorant birds catch fish for the fishermen. I stayed in the hotel, as I was not feeling so good.

The next morning, we got on the bus and drove back to Guilin. The same afternoon, Rog visited the Reed Flute Caves, 240 meters underground, with dramatic rock formations, shapes lit by colored lights. I sat in the bus not feeling so well. However, one of the BYU Teachers who speaks Chinese, took me to a military hospital, to be examined. It just so happened that the bus we were travelling on, parked in the parking lot of a military hospital.... WHAT AN EXPERIENCE. It cost me approximately 60cents to get an appointment, and then we had to go up a flight of stairs to see a Doctor... It just so happened that there was a Respiratory Doctor RIGHT THERE!!!!! He examined me, doing all the necessary things that have to be checked out for ear infection and congested chest. He wanted to have me check into the hospital and have a 3-4 hour IV injection, but we told him that the bus would be leaving in 1/2 hour. He wrote out 4 prescriptions for me and we went down the steps to the Pharmacy - in the same building. What a miracle !!! The medicines all cost me about $20.00 and I walked out of there feeling very blessed indeed! That same evening, January 20, we took a flight to Kunming.

January 21, we visited the Stone Forest - a massive collection of limestone pillars eroded by wind and rain to shape fanciful shapes. That afternoon we boarded a flight to historic Lijiang, which is near the Tibetan border, in the northern Yunnan Province.

The next day we spent the entire day exploring Lijiang's Old Town - a delightful maze of cobbled streets, rickety old wooden buildings, gushing canals, bustling street markets - tended by merchants in traditional Naxi costumes. I loved this place and the bargins were in abundance. I love the bargining ..... We also visited the Shuhe ancient town near Lijiang with the minority people.

The day of January 23, we travelled a breathtaking bus trip to Dali. Dali is a gorgeous city - one that would be very easy to live in. This historic city is set against a stunning backdrop - the Erhai Lake, with the imposing Cangshan mountain range.
The next morning we took a frightening boat trip on the Erhai Lake to a little ethnic village - Bai. I have never felt so threatened on a boat, like I was that day. The water was very choppy and we were on a small ill equipped boat, which was frightening. I know that Heavenly Father was watching over us that day - I am sure of it.
That afternoon we boarded a flight back to Kinming.

The morning of January 25 (Sunday) we had a very spiritual meeting in the hotel with the Qingdao teachers.
In the afternoon, we boarded the airplane to Hanoi, Viet Nam...

Upon arrival in Hanoi, we visited the old part of the city and the Dong Xuan market. That evening, we attended a very entertaining water puppet show.

Monday morning, the 26 of January, we visited the "Hanoi Hilton" and I felt a very emotional, sad spirit there. There were many awful things that happened during the Viet Nam war in the "Hilton" and the feeling there is eerie. I could not help myself from shedding tears of sadness for all the American GI's that were there in the late 60's and early 70's.
We also drove to HaLong Bay, one of the world's natural wonders. We took a boat trip to the Bay and visited the island with some awesome caves. We were served a neat lunch on the boat and it was a fun time. The boat ride was exciting and we had a great time with all the teachers from the Kennedy Center.

The next day we went to Cambodia - to the beautiful city of Siem Reap. We visited the ancient 12th century capital of Angkor Thom. We saw huge statues - the South Gate - depicting the churning of the ocean of milk. We also saw the Bayon Temple with its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara. Also the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.
In the afternoon, we visited the most famous of all the temples on the Angkor plain - Angkor Wat. This temple covers over 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. It's distinctive 5 towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Rog climbed Phnom Bakent and watched the sunset with a spectacular view of the western Baray and Angkoe Wat. There must have been 1,000 or more people that climbed to see the sunset - I chose to sit in the bus and read a most interesting book.

January 29 we continued the temple visits. Included were Prasat Kravan, Srah Srang (place once used for ritual bathing), Banteay Kdei, Eastern Mebon(guarded at its corners by stone figures of harnessed elephants, some of which are still in pretty good shape), and then Ta Prohm - one of the most beautiful temples. The Ta Prohm has been left relatively untouched since it was discovered.

Friday, January 30, we visited the floating village of the Chong Khneas, near Siem Reap. We took a wooden boat ride on the Tonle Sap or "Great Lake" - the largest lake in Asia. In the afternoon we boarded another airplane and flew to Hochi Minh City, Viet Nam.

January 31, we visited the Viet Nam War museum - a very sobering experience. There were so many things displayed that showed the Americans to be cruel and unfair. But the thing that was the most unsetting to me, was the pictures they had with Viet Nam writing and no English language to explain - in other words, they were things that were negative about the Americans and our involvement in the war. When I saw the American soldiers uniforms and clothing, cigarettes and fighting equipment, I must admit that I shed tears. There was such a negative, evil presence there. I was very happy to leave that place...
In the afternoon we drove to the CuChi underground tunnel, which was where the Viet Kong lived and used as a passageway, to attack the South Viet Nam Republicans and Americans, during the night. The tunnels were very small and tight - something a claustrophobic person would not want to experience! I chose NOT to enter the tunnels. Rog did however, and he was really glad that he had the experience. The space was very tight and hard to squeeze through. He saw many things that he could never have imagined otherwise. I will sent photos to show everyone.
That night, we had a lovely dinner on a floating restaurant on the Saigon River. It was so beautiful and romantic.

February 1, we visited My Tho town, in Tien Giang Province - one of the 11 Provinces in the Mekong Delta. We rode on a boat and visited a farmers house and garden. Lunch was on an islet on the river and then we visited a coconut candy store. This was our last day on the road and we were most anxious to get home, to Qingdao.

We really felt the Spirit when we were on the trip. It was a "once in a lifetime" experience. There are many places we want to return BUT neither one of us want to return to Viet Nam again.
Southwest China was one of the best trips we have ever taken. But, the time spent with the BYU Teachers and the experiences we shared were unforgettable. They are some of the most talented, remarkable people we have ever met. We love them as family and the things we have shared are very special to us and we will never forget them.

We realize, more than ever, how much we love and miss our family at home. The blessings we have are innumerable and we are thankful for this time in China and in our lives. These people, the Chinese, are chosen and very special. We continue to pray that our influence will affect them in some small way. Also, we pray that we will never do anything that will have a negative effect on them. We also realize that we will meet them again someday, somewhere else and they will remember us. This we are sure of....

Much Love,
Mom