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June 25, 2006
Lijiang丽江
Someone once told me that if there was one place in China that he could just go for escape, that would be Lijiang. I came all the way from the other side of the earth to escape, with my parents though. So it should not be called "escape" because one can never escape from her/his parents.
I did not understand the magic of this little old town but I have wanted to come for many years. Three years ago when I came back to China it was part of the plan to come here with my two best friends. We did not make it unfortunately so I was late, for three years. As a person who believed that everything happened for a reason, I was sure on this one again.
Some people said that Lijiang has become too commercial, it was true; Some people said that Lijiang was just a place for a temporary stay, it was true too. I would not see myself live there for the rest of my life even though I was being told that many people have done so. In spite of all these, Lijiang still amazed me and won my heart in many ways.
I have been to many places and some of them are very beautiful, however I don’t feel that they are MY cities. The chemistry is just not here. Yet Lijiang made me feel very close and intimate the first time I set my foot on this little old town. It was raining and full of tourists. However my eyes saw through the rain and the people, dropping on the old stone roads, the narrow alleys, the people who were so skillful and diligent working on the crafts, the small bridges over the small stream of the water, the girls dressing in the traditional costume trying to get the attention of the tourists…the striking colors, the fresh smell and even the near or far noise opened up all my sensations.
I felt alive. I fell in love.
I loved walking in those narrow alleys restlessly. Each time my camera would find something different. I loved watching my mom bargain with those local people to get all kinds of colourful stuff, feeling content. I loved sitting in a bar drinking all those foreign stuff like baileys, café au lait in this small little town watching people in different restaurant compete with each other with those endless silly songs. I loved that one particular afternoon, when my parents were taking a nap, I sneaked out to a book bar, sitting alone reading a book, with some traditional Chinese music coming along with the wind; I loved all the memories that a single smile has brought me, full of surprises and harmony; I loved having Lijiang at my foot, being drown in the tenderness and the caress of the night...
The dream did have smell.
Posted by pengbo at 3:19 AM | Comments (0)
June 24, 2006
Kunming 昆明
Kumning was supposed to be " the City of Spring", however when we arrived, it turned out to be " the City of Spring Rain". And I could not say that I was being thorough and objective since I only stayed for 2 days. However nothing was really objective as a traveller. You only saw what you saw.
Therefore Kunming to me, was not very attractive. It seemed that it was stuck in the middle. It was not as grand and modern like Beijing or Shanghai but it was not as cozy and unique like Lijiang. It would be like many other cities, made a dot on my travelling map, but never left a print in my heart...
Posted by pengbo at 7:15 PM | Comments (0)
June 22, 2006
Beijing 北京
When the airplane landed at Beijing airport, strangely, I had no feelings, as if it was just another stop. That scared me a little bit because Beijing was supposed to be the place that made me feel like home. I used to have a home there for many years. However this time I became a stranger, a visitor, a foreigner except that I spoke the language.
It was always exciting to see my family and friends after so long. I was being discreet this time. I did not contact many people. I wanted to spend some quality time with quality friends. In fact that was the feeling that I had for Beijing: People. People who have left a footprint on my life path. They have brought me back to those good old days. I used to think that I had a great memory. My mom said once that my brain was used to remember those useless things because I always picked up some details which were not relevant at all, sometimes. OK most of the times. Like: I would remember the birthday of the ex-boyfriend’s ex girlfriend. However this time, I found that a lot of things that my friends mentioned had been lost in my memory chip. I did not know if that was because that I was getting old….er or because I had a selective memory or I still continued to remember useless things.
I finally met Li, after talking to each other for so long. And through her I have discovered a cool place and met some really cool people. The short stay of Mr. La Grange definitely was another delight. It was too bad that I did not get enough time to spend with him but I still truly enjoyed the afternoon that we walked across the small Hutongs in Jishuitan with our cameras.
And there were some intimate moments that truly belonged to myself. The night when I was rereading the letters from a life-long friend from 1988-1997, reading my youth, my dreams, my innocence and silliness; The steaming afternoon when I was dozing in a cab to a place called 798, caressed by the eternal warmth of the white and brown; the seemingly sunny day at the airport behind a big billboard when my tears were running behind my big sunglasses, the cozy afternoon when I had that "sex and the city" afternoon tea with three gorgeous women......
Then I realized that no matter I stayed or ran away, Beijing always had my stories......
Posted by pengbo at 10:36 PM | Comments (0)
June 17, 2006
我回来了
I am back. Don't know where I belong.
In the past 4 weeks, I haven't written a word, even thought I've had tremendous thoughts and feelings. Maybe they are beyond any word.
In the past 4 weeks, I have stopped worrying about my future, my life and my problems. I lived for the moment. I walked in those narrow small alleys in South China with my camera, discovering the new world throught its eyes; I sat in the crowded Chinese restaurants with my beloved friends, savouring the delicacy of the food and their smile; I played cards with my parents, not minding the laughters would deepen their wrinkles; I opened my eyes in the middle of night, listening to the scream of a horny cat; I could not get my hands off those CDs and DVDs, like doing a big Christmas shopping;I further developped my eternal love relationship with beautiful shoes......
In the past 4 weeks I stopped being a thinker. I only used my limited time to think in between each take-off and landing.
In the past 4 weeks, I tried to stay away from computer and for the first time in a long while, I have realized that it was not a big deal not to be on line.
In the past 4 weeks I forgot many things and rediscover many things as well about myself.
In the past 4 weeks, I laughed, cried, experienced, explored, observed, discovered and most importantly loved.
Too many thoughts often put me to silence, like now. Don't know where to start. I guess I can't do like Norah Jones' New York City, using the same lyrics to express different feelings. To make my babbling feelings less babbling, I decide to take the shortcut to categorize my trip by the cities that I have been.
But now, the jetlag is hitting me so please be patient. I will be back.
Posted by pengbo at 12:25 AM | Comments (0)