Archive for January, 2012
Yunnan – Part Three Posted by sasha on Jan 14, 2012
For our last day in Dali, we took the cable car up to the top of Mt. Cangshan, where we hiked along the Cloud Traveler’s Path, admiring the beautiful scenery. Afterwards, we enjoyed a delicious vegetarian meal, and then we made our way back to Kunming. 大理古城 – dà lǐ gǔ chéng Dali Ancient City…
Feng Shui (风水) Posted by Stephen on Jan 13, 2012
Feng Shui or 风水 (fēng shuǐ) is an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to use the laws of both Heaven (astronomy) and Earth (geography) to help improve one’s life by receiving positive “qi” (气). Also known as geomancy, this style of Feng Shui is done by reordering and moving furniture, room orientation and even wall/window/door locations to…
Qigong (气功) Posted by Stephen on Jan 10, 2012
I’ve been told that it is best to make decisions over the space of seven breaths. It helps, mostly because it allows you to slow down and fully weigh your options. However, it wasn’t until I started practicing tai chi (太极拳) and kung fu (功夫) that I learned the true value of controlled breathing and…
Yunnan – Part Two – Cycling and Swimming in Dali Posted by sasha on Jan 10, 2012
For our second day in the ancient city of Dali, we rented bicycles and went on a cruise of the countryside. We stopped to swim in the Er Hai Lake, rode by a famous temple with its three pagodas, and enjoyed a delicious lunch. In the evening, we strolled the streets and enjoyed some more…
Greetings and Salutations! Posted by Stephen on Jan 8, 2012
When beginning to learn mandarin, finding someone to practice speaking with (and endure your tonal deficiencies) is no easy task. Even in China, the wrong pronunciation or a wrong word will leave you with a blank smiling face, and more and more frequently now, a response in English. Here are some greetings and salutations that…
Introduce Myself (自我介绍) Posted by sasha on Jan 6, 2012
When learning a language, one of the first things you need to learn how to do is how to introduce yourself (自我介绍 – zì wǒ jiè shào). Whether you are making friends, chatting with co-workers, or looking for love, you’ll obviously have to be comfortable talking about yourself and sharing basic personal information. As a…
Occupy Wukan, Pt. 1: The Leadup Posted by Stephen on Jan 5, 2012
2011 was a year of revolution. From the Arab Spring to the Occupy Wall Street, mass protesting, rioting and police suppression have marked this past tumultuous year. With economic recovery still slow across the globe, and with breakthroughs in social media and mobile tele-communications, people have grown fed up with “business ass usual” and they’ve…