The Encourager

Avanti II

2008-03-02T20:00:00.001-08:00

This is our newest addition (and oldest) to our
transportation mode. 1969 Avanti II 32,000 miles. Had the top end of the engine redone making it tamer. It packs at least 375HP with great torque. It has a deep throb.

Born Free

2007-11-15T22:20:00.000-08:00

This is a painting in works by a former classmate Wendy Risdale - see her works at www.wendyrisdale.com

this oil painting is about 36 x 24 and will hang in our home by summer 2008.

She has named it "Born-Free"

We were never meant to be in captivity.

Our 36th Anniversary

2007-11-15T22:07:00.000-08:00

We are both smiling because we are enjoying the fellowship/companionship of each other, yes it is sweeter as the years go by. We are in the Copper Room - Dining in the Harrison Hot Springs Hotel.

We have spent several anniversaries staying in the Hotel. Now the last couple years we stay in our Classic Coach and walk to the Hotel. We have found travelling and staying in the Coach a delight.

Sharon's Golden Birthday - Oct 7/07

2007-10-31T18:23:00.000-07:00

We camped in our Classic Coach on the edge of the town of Harrison Hot Springs.

The sandcastle display - an annual event. World class sand sculptures.

A misty, wet day.

NAIT Reunion

2007-10-17T07:26:00.000-07:00

40 years later. Our classroom was the Penthouse - you can see a little of it in the building behind me. The classroom shown here is one of two present classrooms - much larger than what ours was. The tables are the same type we had and no doubt some are still there. Tehy do have another classroom for CADD while back in the 60's we used a slide rule and pencil. We started out with 21 and 17 finished. At our 40th Reunion only 4 of us showed up.

The four that showed up for an enjoyable Gala evening. Monika, Jack, Wendy and myself.

Following our stay in Edmonton we drove out to the Tolfield area to visit Wendy and view her art studio - which pretty much includes her whole house. She was working on 3 painting for an up-coming art show. One of the large paintings will end up in our living room. Check out her web site www.wendyrisdale.com

Sept Trip - Edmonton and Nelson

2007-10-09T20:45:00.000-07:00

Look close and you will see me next to the middle tire. Snow on pass. We missed the snow fall by one day - whew! There were a number of female deer and one male at our campsite in Jasper. He is sitting down on the grass just beyond the back of the coach.

We camped on a church parking lot in Kamloops.

In Jasper - we had an enjoyable day walking around the town as well as lunch and dinner.

ANIKA"S 4th Birthday

2007-10-09T07:46:00.000-07:00

Jared and mom on a walk downtown Nelson.

Anika in the play box. Give her a wonderful present (from her grandma and grandpa) and she heads for the box. Next time save your money and just buy an empty box. What was in the box was a battery driven car. Kim, Paul and Anika.

Great grandparents with grandma and Anika.

Wonderful time at Birthday party.

Alaskan Cruise

2007-09-23T16:37:00.000-07:00

CAPTIAN DWAYNE - DON'T ROCK THE BOAT (SHIP)

The stop at the Glacier - awesome sight.

The Girls all dressed up and ready to go girl go!

Leaving the Ship for a day of shopping - plus tours at Skagway. Wonderful small town.

Our ship was great - great environment - atmosphere - detailing - food and more food and service. Recommend Royal Caribbean.

Langley Cruise-in

2007-09-09T13:57:00.000-07:00

here I am parked next to a Dragster.
I had more than a hundred people thru our Classic. Many were wannabees - had always noticed the Classics and wondered what they were really like inside and to drive.
I spent the day - showing and answering questions. Lots of fun - for a guy.

They had approx 2000 vehicles registered - and I was the only Motor Home. The couple with the dragster were not showing their RV although it was just behind their car. Amazing the amount of interest in the Classic GMC and the other goes un-noticed.

The Fort

2007-09-06T16:55:00.000-07:00

This is the latest work done on the Alexander's Fort. Next trip will finish the job. The children are having a great time and now they are protected from the rain and coming snow. The only problem with it so far is I have had no time to play with it. I did try the slide, swing and zip line.

Ocean Shores Washington

2007-07-24T22:24:00.001-07:00

We arrived last night and had dinner in a hotel dining room overlooking this beach. We camped at the far south end of the spit (Jetty) and came back this morning - drove out onto the beach. They have horseback riding rentals, scooter and peddel carts for rent also. As you can see - the Pacific Ocean is to the right and blue sky above. The sea gull followed me around waiting for something to eat.
We headed further north today and arrived in Anacortas - campsite for the evening. Tomorrow we will spend time in La Conner. Hey you should look La Conner up on the web - great place. Also check out Ocean Shores - Washngton.
We have to take the family or friends down to this place for a few days. Imagine horseback riding on the beach.

Diner in Florence

2007-07-22T19:29:00.000-07:00

This 50's Ford has a real turbo motor, dining table in the middle and a bench seat in the trunk.

The Chevy front end serves as the cash desk.

These are real fronts of cars and on the side is a complete side of a pink caddy.

Interesting. They could do with some good Roadhouse cooking though.

Oregon Coast

2007-07-22T19:23:00.000-07:00

The bridge in Newport.

Florence, Oregon - a lovely little town. I had medalians of Tuna with a peach salsa last night - delicious.

Queen on land or water.

The Rally - Redmond Oregon

2007-07-21T20:43:00.000-07:00

Here we sit surrounded by the BIG GUYS. I figured that out of the 4000 plus RV's there would have been a brother or sister to our coach. The pics below are taken from our roof top. We are miles away from the Rally Centre. They have us in a farmers field. There are three such fields. We had electricity though. The Rally was more geared for the BIG BOY TOYS. The seminars - I attended one and found it very informative. We took in one evening show - last night - and BJ Thomas was very good even after 40 years.

After a slow start this morning (Sat) - the coach didn't want to go anywhere. I checked the trans oil and found it too low. I walked over to a guy out walking his dog and asked if he had any oil in his RV. No, but he would drive me to get some, which he did and stayed with us until he knew we were OK. Another lady passing our iste saw our coach and came over offering her help and a place to stay. Her father now 93 has a GMC coach and loved the RV and she knew she should offer to help. Great felling when people just pitch in to help. We headed into town to look at some wood carvings then to a festival going on downtown. After sharing a Bison Burger we drove to Sisters, Oregon and explored the neat town. Then drove to Winchester Bay and enjoyed a sea food meal. Right now we are camped just outside Dunes City. We figure on meandering up the coast on our way back home.

The "Girl" in my life

2007-07-03T07:25:00.000-07:00

You notice that the hair is coloured to blend in with the environment.

This was during lighter days.

Most recent style and colour

I saw a couple the other day. They were walking to their car, she helping him along. He was much taller, thinning white hair graced his head and she a full head of dark brown hair. The first thought was - she was helping her dad to the car. When they got to the passenger door, he opened it and waited for her to be seated before closing the door and slowly making his way to the drivers door. His walk was unsteady and I thought - what is he doing driving?. Just before her door was closed she turned enough for me to catch a glimpse of her face, seeing that she too was indead not his daughter but his wife, for the years did show.

Now while Sharon looks much younger than her real age - which I am unable to broadcast, she in fact looks much younger than myself as my hair turns colour naturally. So do I do what many other men are now doing and turn to Colour or???? what's your thought??? Please help me stay forever young.

some of the guys

2007-07-01T10:18:00.001-07:00

Jordan, JAcob and Carson - nice smiles guys

Cliff - well the fish I cought in my pool was this tall - really!

Jacob - now just give me the bat

Jason - admiring the gift from Morgan on Father's Day 07

Some of the Girls in my life

2007-07-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

Morgan playing First base.

Tammie - looking real good for the camera - right!

Jana Hey "Deeeewaaayneeeeee eeeee check out my face - will ya!

Faith - OK Papa - I'll eat it all -

Emily and Hailey - No I'm the cutest -

Shannon, Sharon and Lise - on Lise's 33rd - very nice to celebrate together.

More Playtime

2007-06-24T17:25:00.001-07:00

Well before I could get this finished the kids were all over it. First there was the slide - steep and fast but they loved it that way. Then came the 3 swings, and they were on them, then the monkey bars - not shown here, and the climbing rope. Last was the Zip line. about 80 feet long and high enough to keep the lightweights off the ground. An acceptable slope and ride. Well seems the swings now sit idel and the slide collects dust.
Next time - I'll only build a Zip line, which I enjoyed the most. If it weren't for the younger ones I would have played on it more. So I'll be back to complete the paly house - roof and all.

Playtime

2007-06-24T17:17:00.000-07:00

Fishing

2007-05-31T14:00:00.000-07:00

Here we are fishing in the Great Fraser River. Jason, John, Emily, Q and myself.(I was taking the pics) but I also cast my hook and line in and caught two. Now what I caught and brought to shore with my hook and line. You have to guess. The winner gets a fishing trip here on the Fraser River. There are those who know and they are restricted from answering.

Wednesday Pics

2007-05-30T07:43:00.001-07:00

White Rock Pier - tide going out.

The Bird Bath - a basic concrete bird bath decorated by Morgan - pieces of tile, glass beads, sea glass and stones. Had a wonderful time doing this project with her.

This is the first blossom on this vine this year. I'll get one in June when it is loaded with blossoms.

40 Year Old

2007-05-26T10:22:00.000-07:00

This is the 40 year old that LaLa and J just bought. It is older than either one of them.

LaLa has a birthday coming June 20th. Can you guess how old she will be.

BIG TRUCK

2007-05-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday this guy pulls up in this rig accompanied by his daughter. Her school teacher had called him saying his daughter had been exaggerating about the truck her dad had bought and thought he should know about this. His daughter had been telling her class about this BIG truck her dad had bought. Do think she was lying???

When you open the door the step comes out from under the chrome works, then folds back up when the door is closed. It did get the attention of the young women in our office.

This weeks contest! Guess how much he has spent so far on this Truck and you will win the chance to ride in it.

Seniors Housing

2007-05-17T07:31:00.000-07:00

This is located the mining area. We brought them new adjustable beds, linen, adult diapers and medical supplies. Also had our representatives in Romania fix their washing machine. They were so appreciative of our help. We were the first foreigners to visit and to give them quality goods. Again they are amazed that we are giving them something without strings attached. Love gives and never demands in return. The young lady in red is Claudia. She is a tremendous help to us and to her own people! You are a blessing Claudia!!!

Mining Area - Romania

2007-05-17T07:05:00.000-07:00

We were in a city located in the mining area of Romania. The industry was shut down and more than 80% of the people here were unemployed. These highrise building were built to house the miners families, but were never finshed. The top several floors were open to the elements unless someone could scrap up some materials and windows to enclose them. The elevators and heating system were never completed. You can see one of the building had just about everything that could be removed, removed.

We stopped and these 2 young children approached us, interested about what we were doing there. We talked with them about their lives, their interests. We saw their mother watching and called her over to ask if it was Ok to give her children some money to buy themselves something, and she got mad because she first thought we were wanting more from her children then to give them something. Why would strangers want to give her children something. The only reason she could think of was they wanted something in exchange. Our interpreter talked to her and told her of the help we were doing for the Romanian poor and asking nothing in exchange. She found this surprising and agreed. We gave each about $3.00 cdn dollars (it would to equal to about $30.00 cdn dollars in North America), you should have seen the expressions on their faces, priceless. Well! the boy leap into the air - his face full of expression of joy. They thanked us and ran off to tell their friends then head to a convenience store. We delivered a partial container full of goods to an Elementry school and a Seniors care home in the area, with much needed items. Thanks to Rotary International for all their support.

To understand the situation, the country had been under the control of a Dictator. The people were kept poor while only the few in control lived a life of luxury. Ownership of land was taken away. The government built these apartments, many never completed but under sub-standard conditions the people were forced to live. Since the fall of the reign in 1989 many things have improved but there still remains a high percentage of poor. Socialism did not work and still does not work. People have to have a HOPE.

Dracula Castle and area

2007-05-16T20:35:00.000-07:00

The topo in Romania is similar to many parts of BC Canada. There you come across cultural ways with years between. The scenery is beautiful.

Dracula's castle. Villages in the valleys. Worth going there to experience it.

Sharon WOW

2007-05-16T14:02:00.000-07:00

WOW (Wordless On Wednesday)

Character Pics- Romania

2007-05-14T21:03:00.000-07:00

We started going to Romania in 1992. There was so much need everywhere in the country. There was a strong sense of hopelessness . The infastructure was in poor shape. Poverty was a way of life with the majority. Over the following years we saw progress to a better life. It was rewarding in 2003 to see many of the people we had helped for years finally in a position to help others. Our next visit back will be to attend a wedding.

The two colourful young women are gypsy's - we came upon them routing through garbage behind the concrete wall. They poised for the pic.

The lady selling flowers. The man with the cat.

Without a Word today

2007-05-09T18:40:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2007-05-09T08:03:00.000-07:00

It's hard not to say a word! So I will - taken at Crescent Beach - about 10 minutes from home

Shash and LaLa swam here.

Our Romanian Daughter - Claudia

2007-05-08T19:27:00.000-07:00

Claudia and Morg watching the cruise ship pass under Lions Gate Bridge. Next is the 2 of us in Amsterdam - change over in planes allowed enough time to take the train to the town centre. Her first airplane ride and first time to set foot in western Europe. Hey I can still wear that shirt.

The pic on the left shows her and her shadow walking Long Beach, Vancouver Island. Pacific Ocean. Can you spot Japan on the Horizon?

With Sharon at Niagara Falls then a visit to Shashi's.

We met Claudia in 1996 - she as 16 and had taken an English class in High School. While we were in Romania a friend of hers invited her to go for a walk with us so she could interpret for him and a few other friends. I was the first actual English person she had met and talked to. The communication was mainly about what it was like in North America with youth. When I returned in 98 (twice) and 2000 then again in 2003 Claudia would always come along and act as an interpreter. She also had a keen sense about people and would let us know if the people we were meeting with were for real to help others or out for themselves. We promised to bring her to Canada and that came to pass in 2003. She spent 3 1/2 months. She was such a blessing to everyone she had contact with and they in return blessed her greatly. She came with nothing and left with gifts. a sewing machine, clothes and finances enough to support her year in University. While her she suffered from teeth aches. A dentist who is a tenant of ours took her in and his dentists and assistants went to work on her teeth. Claudia spent a few 5 hr sessions plus some 3 and 4 hr ones and walked out with all the work given as a gift. It was instrumental in restoring her health. Today she still lives with her widowed Mother in a apartment (250 sq.ft.) in Romania and works for a Swiss company providing english/romanian language support.

We are waiting for the invitation for her wedding. She says her boyfriend has to ask me for her hand. Sweet.

My Car

2007-05-05T16:54:00.000-07:00

I have decided to sell my 1997 - 740iL BMW - all bells and whistles - runs smooth - this was
the model James Bond used in his 1997 movie. Name the Movie and you will win a chance to drive my car. Or if you buy it you get to drive it at will.

OH - your asking "What's the price" well the original sticker price was 96,000.00 cdn. greenbacks - imagine just 10 years later and it sells for 15,000. - now where did that

81,000 go? besides up in smoke. All new radials.

The Prize

2007-05-05T16:41:00.000-07:00

The Bay separates Canada and the US.

To the west, the Islands a far off is also the USA including the tip of the dark strip of land. The beach below has many restaurants.

So to win "2 or 3 nights stay and enjoy this view, plus a walk on the beach, plus kayak's with gear, plus Breakfast for 2 each morning at a famous restaurant"

you must guess the order the couples got married. See the earlier blog on matching the couples.

This contest IS NOT open to my relatives - PLEASE follow the rules.

Oldest Grandson

2007-05-04T20:52:00.000-07:00

Jared with Anika (our 1st great granddaughter)

Match the Couples

2007-05-04T20:15:00.000-07:00

Daughter "A" dancing with my 2nd oldest Grandson at our Oldest Granddaughters weddingDaughter "B" with a different look

Daughter "C" with 2 grandchildren - ones not hers.Daughter "D" in a house up north
Son-lin-law "1"

Son-in-law #2

Son-in-law #3

Son-in-law #4

So match the right letter with the right number - and win!!!!!!!

Lower Mainland Grandchildren

2007-05-04T19:52:00.000-07:00

"let me really think this one through!" "Carse - the youngest man"

"Grandpa - hows this look? - calm and cool? Jord the oldest man

Jan - "the middle child " - married one - "Hey Grandpa deeeween - how about I sing you a song!

North Country Grandchildren

2007-05-04T19:40:00.000-07:00

"Look PaPa an old birds nest - can we make soup with it?" Tallest - Morg, Em, and Hail,

Hail- her birthday bike - wow!

PaPa - i dun't want my picture taken now, but i still wuve you!

"How do you spell - yummm yummm good!" Emi - the 2nd oldest

Our Ontario family

2007-05-04T19:28:00.000-07:00

Hey! PaPa wait! i'm not ready for the picture! This is the youngest -JakeCum-on PaPa lets race! This is the "Q" the oldest

Hey PaPa try broad jumping this portion of walk! - this is Li - second youngest

This is with Shashi and Missy - all dressed and all sorts of places to go. Missy is the second oldest. Shashi is our number 3 of 4 daughters. Doesn't matter what kind of hat she wears.

Out for a walk

2007-05-02T23:41:00.000-07:00

That's 2 of my grandchildren on a bright Ontario day. U can see our shadows - so that means a very nice summer!

Grandchildren - Eastern Canada

2007-05-01T16:45:00.000-07:00

How about this for a rain cap PaPa!

E - Just back from dance lessons and looking so pretty!

E invited me to a day trip to the Safety Park with her school class - on a school bus full of grade 1 and 2ers. That's for the day E!

Parking the RV

2007-04-17T11:53:00.000-07:00

IN Oregon 05

Emily with us on the trip to Disneyland

Q. with us on the same trip. Great time for the 2 grandchildren with us.

In California

This was taken in November 2006. The RV is going no-where at that moment. Next is the Beamer also going no-where. So we do occasionally get snow here. These coaches are wonderful to drive and spend a few weeks in. you can check them out at www.gmcmotorhome.com and look at those for sale on the linked site : Bethune Sales. There is a great support group and clubs all over North America. We bought ours - a 1977 model - had only 27,000 original miles and in excellent shape, in Washington State and had no problem bringing into Canada. We've been to California and back, to Prince George twice, to Oregon a couple times and into Washington State plus Harrision Hot Springs.

RV

2007-04-16T19:55:00.000-07:00

This is ourClassic Coach we so much enjoy.

Eating

2007-04-15T20:09:00.000-07:00

We are guests in a home - a hot pot - delicious meal. Behind you can see the kitchen sink. Then to the left is what was their balcony- now kitchen - a short cabinet at each end. Two burner electric counter-top stove, a fridge and microwave. A western cook would have a time with this.

Server pouring our tea. By the way - many of the tea's we had were made from all sorts of plants/flowers. all very good.

We each had our own small hot pot - It was excellent. That's beef, the green - is spinach noodles

Here the cook is preparing to carve our Peking Duck - we watched it go into the wood bruring oven (they frost pre-cook the birds) for browning. You put it in a small tortillia (soft) and add spices and sauce.

Yummy but we passed on this selection of sea food. They will stick it on a stick and deep fry it.

This was a street vendor - it like a crepe' then something added to the centre.

Overall we really enjoyed the different foods we tried. S. mastered the chop sticks.

Forbidden City - Beijing

2007-04-15T19:52:00.000-07:00

Behind is the first entry into the "Palace Museum". Construction began in 1406 and 24 emperors ruled the whole country from here for nearly 500 years. Much older than us!

Ceramic mural

The buildings are all done up real good - lots of detail.

Retaining wall surrounding one of the many inner courtyards.

The Palace occupies an area of over 720,000 sq.mt. (close to 8,000,000 sq ft or just under 200 acres) and has 9000 bays of halls and rooms. The surrounding walls ar 33 feet high. A moat surrounds the outside walls. The Forbidden City is divided into two parts: the outer court and the inner court.

A small kiosk on the grounds. The green pipes are supports for the leaning trees.

Summer Palace - Beijing

2007-04-15T19:35:00.000-07:00

Summer Palace in Beijing. Built in the 1400's - much of it was burned by the English and French armies. So most of what we are looking at is a restoration job. The place is now within Beijings city limits but I think years ago it seemed far out when travelling by foot and horse. The detail is wonderful.

Sharon is colour coordinated for this place. She is my Queen - so being in a palace is not out of place for her.

Looking down on the golden colour - glazed tile roofs - courtyards - and their private lake.

This is close to where we entered the grounds. We do the walk along the lake front to the palace - then up to the top and donw th back side.

Part of the grounds.

Two happy tourists. When going there - wear very comfortable shoes with good grips. A backpack comes in real handy for - watrer, kleenex, nuts, camera, and gifts.

Cave Dwellers

2007-04-10T17:26:00.000-07:00

There are thousands living in the hillside in this area. This cave house is occupied by a 93yr old woman - bedridden - she is laying on the tiled platform just beyond the person sitting. This platform is their bed - for the family. It is heated by the stove at one end using the underspace to capture the heat and radiate it thru the tiles. Ladies - that it for a cookstove once the wood or coal is lit.
This is looking into the back of the space - on the imediate left is the kitchen work table and shelf for cooking ingredients. Beyond that I don't know what's under the tarp. On the right are some things stored, and back towards the front they had two old dressers and a small wooden kitchen table with 3 chairs. I figure she lives here alone and her daughter and husband live in the next cave as seen in the next picture. There must be other members of the family living in their same compound. What I mean is they have an outdoor courtyard with 4 cave entries, the courtyard is fenced with a high wall of brick. a large steel gate for the entry door. Note there is electricity - although they didn't have it on and I never saw evidence for any plugs. The washroom or rather outdoor toilet is a communial thing set on the edge of the bank and wide open on one side with 3 sides of approx. 6 ft high brick. The air freshener was not working the day we were there.
This is in the inner court - this face is only face deep and the carved out caves behind. I found it very damp and musty inside. The floor was made of brick with sand joints. Not sure what they used to smoothen the walls and arched ceiling.
The hills are alive with the sound of . . . . . . well anyways they have hundreds of these structures in this area for as far as the eye can see. Some are abandoned. I was told that Chairman Mao spent time here with his army befoer he took control. They all lived in these type of structures.

Stone Tablets

2007-04-07T19:17:00.000-07:00

There is a book I encourage you to read "Jesus in Beijing" and this is where I first learned of this tablet. I had expected to find a small building with this tablet only but much to my surprise this museum has over 1000 works on display. Earliest ones from the Han Dynasty (206BC to 220AD) This particular stone 279cm high x 99 cm wide was inscribed in 781 the author: Jingjing ( a Nestorian missionary from Persia) it was unearthed in 1623 and collected in 1907. The Nestorians brought the Gospel to China in 635 AD. via the Silk Road.
Today many Chinese attend Bible institutes in China with the vision the retrace the routes of known as the Silk road.

Some of the many other tablets behind a modern day creation.

Here we see a man in the process of producing a rubbing. He first applies then black ink then like applying wallpaper he applies the silk paper, allows it to dry then removes the paper.

Following our visit to XIAN and this museum we flew to Lansou - which is in the centre of China. Very desert like environment and in fact we were in a sand storm that started in the Gobbe desert. The air was filled with a fine yellow sand getting in your eyes and throat, nostrils, ears, hair and clothing. Not healthy because with it are pollutants.

We met a business man who stated that Christianity is a western religion. I had never given it any thought previous but the answer that came to my mind was " Christianity originated in what is Israel and it came to China more than a 1000 years before it came to North America, and while giving this answer I pulled out the rubbing purchased the day before and watched his expression when he read the rubbing from the Nestorians Tablet. God is a Good God.

Terra Cotta Soldiers

2007-04-07T18:00:00.000-07:00

The Subterranean Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang - The 8th Wonder of the World.

Qin Shi Huang was born in 259 BC and died in 210 BC. He was only 13 when he became King. When he turned 22 he was formerlly crowned in 238 BC. He had the Prime Minister murdered and his mother put under house arrest. He developed both agriculture and the military. Under him China became a unified, multi-nationality empire under a central government. He established himself as the First Emperor. He completed projects that included a network of roads and the linking up of defensive walls and fortifications and thus began the Great Wall of China. According to estimates based on historical records, in the first 10 years of China's unification, 500,000 soldiers were sent to guard the mountains in southern China, 500,000 laborers were recruited to build the Great Wall, 300,000 troops were stationed in the north against teh Xiongnu tribes, 700,000 men engaged in the construction of the E'fang Palace and the mauseleum of the E'fang Palace and Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

In 1974 when 3 villagers began to dig for a well they struck hard earth. The pics show what they actually came across. 3 pits were discovered - 20,000 sq mt. - 8000 terracotta warriors and horses and more than 100 wooden war chariots.

These are all life size figures - possibly even bigger than the people of that day. It is an amazing museum to see. There is work still going on in the repair of figures. There are many still be to uncovered.

China Trip

2007-04-07T11:47:00.000-07:00

This blog shows several examples of common means of transportation or transporting seen in China today.

The Beginning

2007-04-07T10:59:00.000-07:00

We came upon this outdoor market in XIAN, the vendors stretched a block long each with their specialties. Now how appetizing does this look? We wanted to taste them but reframed from doing so.

This pic shows the perimeter water canal surrounding the Forbidden City in the centre of Beijing. The haze is actually smog.

If you look closely you will spot Sharon in the white coat and copper coloured hair. This walk on the Great Wall is truly an experience of a lifetime. This wall stretches for more than five thousand kilometers from east to west like a gigantic dragon wriggling its way across deserts, grasslands and mountains. It took more than 2 millennia to be completed, beginning from the 7th century BC until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). There were sections that the climb was at a extreme angle and care was taken to hold on the rails. Going up was difficult and more so coming down. I encourage you to make this a destination to visit.

This brick arch is located on the mountain side just outside XIAN close to where the find of the Terra Cotta Soldiers are. This hill side was where Jung had hid with some of his army and was captured. The collilition was formed and the communist party gained control over China. Jung (democratic) made it to Tiawan and set up government there.