Exploring China: The Terracotta Warriors

Tuesday, 11 August 2015

Next I was off to Xian to see the famous terracotta warriors. Wow, another amazing sight. They have found 7,000 warriors and they believe that there are possibly more still buried close by. I was awe-struck by the level of detail on each warrior. The warriors are life size and when you look closely at their faces you realize that they are all unique. They all have different faces and expressions or hair styles. It is hard to imagine how much work and how much time must have been put into these clay warriors. It would have taken a small army of workers to create this army.


It is believed that these warriors were created to protect first emperor of China in the afterlife. Sometime around 210 BCE these figures were buried with the emperor and rested there until 1974 when they were found by a farmer digging a well in the country side. Now this site is a massive museum that opened in 1979.

Exploring China: The Great Wall

Tuesday, 11 August 2015

It is a dream come true - a visit to the Great Wall of China. It did not disappoint. I was so surprised and amazed. 6,000 KM of a grand wall. It is so hard to believe and to imagine until you see it. Wow! It lines the tops of the mountain top and it really takes your breathe away. I only got to spend 2 hours on the wall and I wish I could have the chance to hike the wall. I would like to know how far you can really go. This section of the wall has been repaired and levelled to make it easier for people to walk on. I have heard from other people that the older sections of the wall are hard to walk on as the steps are uneven. I am now ready to plan my next visit. I want to go back someday soon.

Exploring China: The Ming Tombs

Tuesday, 11 August 2015

In Beijing I had a chance to visit the Ming Tombs. These are located in the country side on the way to the Great Wall. There were 13 emperors from the Ming Dynasty buried underground here. What I found interesting is that each worker had to stamp their name into each brick they made for the tombs. The emperor wanted the highest quality bricks so at any time the emperor could look at the bricks and identify which worker was to blame if the quality was not up to standard. The tombs are deep underground and it is hard to imagine the workers digging out this space in the mountain by hand. It must have been a big job with thousands of workers.


Here is some background history for the tombs from http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/ming_tomb.htm

"Zhu Di, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, built his Changling Tomb here, the succeeding twelve emperors had their tombs built around Changling during the next 230 years, covering a total area of over 120 square kilometres."

Shanghai Sky Line

Wednesday, 29 July 2015

Shanghai! Here is the view from the bund. This area was the trading concessions for the English and dutch and Germans. It was a hazy day but a nice temperature to be walking around the city.

Chingis Khan

Wednesday, 22 July 2015

We had a chance to visit this staute of Chingis Khan. It was build in 2011 to honor the history of Chingis Khan. We got to climb up inside and arrive at the horse's head. It was a nice view looking out over the hills.

Traditional Clothing & Dance

Wednesday, 22 July 2015

We stayed at a tourist camp - see all the ger tents in the background - the staff put on a show for us to explain Mongolian traditional clothing. It was really interesting.

Russian Influence

Wednesday, 22 July 2015

This is an apartment block built by the Russians in the 1950's. We got to stay here for a few nights while we were in UB. My photo doesn't really capture the feeling. It seemed like a ghetto. The outside of the apt block was very run down and dirty. The area felt very poor. But inside the apartment it was surprisingly modern and newer. I guess it had been remodelled.  

Making Friends

Saturday, 11 July 2015

I was out trekking and this old guy came along on his motorcycle. I saw him with his fancy dress and hat and thought here is a chance for a photo but instead he pulled up beside me and stopped. He got off his bike and opened this little box to spread out his wears. He had cute little trinkets made from felt by his wife and he was out to find tourists to sell his stuff to I didn't buy any thing but I did request a photo with him! What a great memory.

Nadaam Festival

Saturday, 11 July 2015

I am now in Ulan Bator or UB, the capital city of Mongolia. I went to the opening ceremony of the Nadaam festival. The Mongolians celebrate archery, wrestling and horse racing. It was a very cool experience. The opening was very exciting with dances and performances and singing. It reminds me of the Calgary stampede. I really enjoyed watching the opening.

Mongolia: The Gobi Desert

Sunday, 5 July 2015

Here I am at my home stay. I am spending the night with a family out in the gobi desert the 5 the largest desert in the world. So far I love Mongolia. The people are friendly and down to earth. The food is simple and delicious. The big open spaces and sky remind me of Saskatchewan. So perhaps it is no surprise that I love Mongolia!

Mongolia: Day 1

Monday, 29 June 2015

Here's a look at our accommodation tonight. This is a ger. I am super excited to have a chance to stay in one.

Mongolia

Monday, 29 June 2015

Here is our first look at Mongolia! We arrived to our friends apt. It was a treat to have some where to stay that had a kitchen and living room and view of the city.

I have started a plan to travel to 40 countries by the time I am 40 years old. I call it the #40by40 plan. Mongolia is country #39 so it is a step the right direction to get me to a new country. 

Lotus

Saturday, 27 June 2015

It's the time of lotus flowers in Macau. The "pond" is covered in beautiful pink blossoms. Yesterday there was a jazz band playing in the park. It was so relaxing to wonder through the flower gardens.

Summer Holidays

Saturday, 27 June 2015

Summer has arrived! School is over for the year. It is hard to believe that I am now on holidays. I am packing and getting ready to leave to Mongolia. I can't wait!

Water Horse

Monday, 22 June 2015

Here is my thought of the day. I am sharing this photo that I took in the Bangkok airport back in October when I was on my way to Laos. It seems like that was a long time ago. It makes me wonder about all the adventures that I have this school year. 2014-15 is wrapping up with just 4 more days of school. The yearbook has already arrived and been handed out to everyone. That was such a relief to have that project done and printed. It is a big job to put that publication together. Now I just have a little bit of marking to finish up. I need to update a few files and then start packing things up. I have to box up all my treasures that I want to keep for next year. I have to strip my bulletin boards and wipe everything down. Time will go fast and I will be on holidays before I know it. I am starting to feel excited. Some teachers I know are already on holidays and that makes it all the more exciting to know that my turn is coming soon.

A Different Way To See Macau

Wednesday, 17 June 2015

I love this photo taken my photography student. So proud!

#40by40 Plan

Saturday, 30 May 2015

The school year is almost done and I am excited to welcome June on Monday. Ah, Macau is growing on me. I guess it takes time to set down roots and feel settled in a new place. I am enjoying my time here but I am excited to come home to Canada for the summer. Macau is great but it will never replace Canada in my heart.


The #40by40 plan is to visit 40 countries before I am 40 years old. I am proud to report that I have visited 39 countries so far and I am hoping to visit one more this July. I am headed to Mongolia for a 2 week tour before I head home to Canada. That will make my #40by40 plan complete. I will have to make a new travel plan. Perhaps #45by40. That could be my new challenge!

Summer Holidays are just weeks away

Saturday, 30 May 2015

Here I am in HK surrounded by billboards and flyer of ads. Talk about ad clutter. This is it. Time is going fast I am shocked to realize that Monday will be June 1st. Just 3 short weeks and it is final exams. It is hard to believe this year is going to be over. Time is strange how it goes by. Sometimes time feels slow and I wonder how I ever make it to my summer holiday. Other days time passes so quickly I am surprised that yet another week has slipped by. It is hot and humid in Macau and it is impossible to be in the apt without the air con on. It rains at any moment just like today when I biked home from work and got caught in a rain storm.

Casinos

Saturday, 30 May 2015

I was in Macau side the other day and I snapped a few photos of the casinos. The first one is the Lisboa and the second is the Wynn. I actually like to look at the better in the night time when they are all lit up with the lights!

Rain

Wednesday, 20 May 2015

My rainy view from my walk home from school! 3 casinos in the background.

Highlights of 2014-15

Tuesday, 19 May 2015

Here are the highlights of my school year. Wow, time goes fast. Just 5 more weeks till final exams and report cards. Bring it on!

Macau Weather

Monday, 18 May 2015

Grey skies in Macau. It was a wet weekend. It rained for most of Saturday. The rain has brought out the toads and lizards. They seem to be everywhere on the roads and sidewalks. The humidity also brought the cicadas. Yesterday evening I heard them buzzing away. It is a sign of spring.

Time For Nature

Saturday, 9 May 2015

This is a poster from Taipei and I thought it was cute. I like the little hikers and the bear. We got a chance to hike Elephant mountain when we were in Taipei. It was a hot hike with a rain shower in the middle. Luckily we were able to find a place to hide and stay dry when it rained. When I was in Taiwan I thought that it was very green and I even saw areas where they created green spaces. For example on a steel construction wall they had created this wall of plants. It was so cool. It made the construction fencing into a green space. I thought, wow, why don't we do this in Macau too. There are construction walls everywhere. It would be perfect.

Jumping For Joy

Monday, 4 May 2015

A jump at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The memorial was so massive. It is hard to explain how small you feel when you are standing in this square. The rain had just stopped and it was perfect timing for us to snap some photos.

Rabbit Rabbit

 

Monday, 4 May 2015

Our breakfast spot in Taipei. Rabbit Rabbit! We had the best waffles with maple syrup and whipped cream. It was a little taste of heaven. A cute restaurant. I would recommend if you visit Taipei.

Longshan Temple

Sunday, 3 May 2015

One of the temples we visited today. It is beautiful. It was interesting to learn that the temple was built in 1738. Originally intended to serve the locally based settlers that had moved to the area from the province of Fujian. It was really busy and there were so many people visiting the temple. Both tourists like me and also locals coming to pray. I really enjoyed walking around and taking photos. It was Saturday afternoon when we visited there so it was super busy.

Travel Adventures to Taipei, Taiwan

Thursday, 30 April 2015

First look out the window at Taipei, Taiwan. I am here for the long weekend. Today I am hoping to go explore and hike a small mountain located right in the city. More updates soon, I promise.

Birthday Mail

Tuesday, 28 April 2015

I got mail! Here is a photo of my hand-made birthday card. I believe it is a finger painting from my friend Charlie in Vancouver. I thought it was worth posting on my fridge. It is always fun to get a letter in the mail. Usually I only get my monthly cell phone bill in the mail.

Earth Day

Tuesday, 28 April 2015

Here are my Multimedia students jumping for Earth Day! (April 22). This post is a little late. But I thought I would share this photo with you as it is fun to look at. I am in the photo but I am hard to see as I am behind some of the students. For Earth Day we spent 40 minutes outside in period 1 taking photos and walking around so we didn't have to use power in the computer lab. We were able to turn off the lights, A/C and computers. It was a small step but worthwhile to participate in this global event.

KL Travel Tips

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

Hotel: WOLO - a very cool boutique hotel in downtown KL. It is located on the corner of Jalan Bukit Bingtan and Jalan Sultant Ismail. Visit www.thewolo.com for more details

EAT: Bijan - this is a great restaurant with real Mala food. It is an easy walk from the WOLO. You might need a reservation. They are often very busy as it is a popular spot.


TAXI: When you arrive at the KLIA airport you will need to take a taxi into the city. It is a 1 hour drive and you have to pre-buy your taxi ticket from a counter. My last trip into the city cost me $75RM = $25CDN.

Shaking To Your Higher Self

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

I came across this article in Bali. It is talking about "shaking" I haven't heard of this concept before but I do like how it sounds. The idea is that you shake to clear or release the bad energy that is blocked in your body. This energy block could cause disease or depression or disharmony. You shake and move the bad energy out of your body. There is no correct way to shake. You just move and try to engage all parts of your body. I think it might be worth a try. Shake it out.

India = Cows In The Street

Tuesday, 14 April 2015

This is India. Cows on the street. They just get to go where ever they want. They have free roam to hang out. This little mountain town was so cute. It was on the banks of the Ganges River. It is a popular place for people to visit and there are many yoga and ashrams here. We saw a lot of foreigners and backpackers in this town. I liked it. We were only here for 2 hours but I wish that we could have stayed longer.

India & The Taj Mahal

Saturday, 11 April 2015

Here I am at the Taj Mahal. It is hard to describe. First, there were so many people there. You can sorta get a feel for the crowds by looking at the balcony of the Taj. There were thousands of people at the site. It was hot but also cloudy and hazy so it wasn't unbearable. Second, the Taj is so white. It is made of white marble and it is beautiful. It is really hard to explain but the white shines in the sun and it seems so pure and peaceful. Third, it is so big. It is hard to describe the size. It is bigger than I imagined. It is truly a wonder of the world. It took my breath away.

Client Meetings for Marketing Students

Tuesday, 14 April 2015

Client Meetings! Here are my marketing students in a "real" client meeting. They had 5 minutes to ask the client questions about the details for the video advertisement they have to make for his company. It was fun to see the students raise to the challenge and come up with some good questions. They made sure to get the facts straight and to get more details about the target market for this brand. I can't wait to see their commercials.

Wild Animal Sighting

Tuesday, 14 April 2015

Leopard! This photo is from YALA National Park in Sri Lanka. We went on a jeep safari and we were so lucky to spot a leopard. This is a wild leopard. There are only a few living in the park and we happened to see this one walking along the road. I only got to snap this one photo and than it turned into the trees and was gone. It was a magical experience to be able to spot a wild leopard.

Just Another Day In The Office

Saturday, 11 April 2015

Teachers learn too! Here we are at a professional development day to learn about conflict and how to have difficult conversations with your team. We are working in our PLC teams to decide on our norms for handing conflict. It was a little tough to focus on a Good Friday when Easter holidays were looming. We did have some good conversations and ideas though.

Sleeping In A Tent

Thursday, 26 March 2015

Here is a view of my tent. I have my own enclosed bathroom with shower. It is a cozy little tent. The students were stressed out to stay in tents but I think these are better than they expected. The boys are all together in a large room with 6 beds. I hear them talking and laughing. I hope they don't stay up to late. We have breakfast at 7am tomorrow. I am sure the birds will wake them as the peacocks start making a racket at 5am. It woke me up today. Both the peacocks and then roosters, it was impossible to stay sleeping.

Yala National Park - Again!

Thursday, 26 March 2015

Our view from the jeep in YALA National Park. There are 2 elephants in the right corner but they are hard to see in this photo. It was a mom and a baby elephant eating grass. We stayed here and watched them for about 20 minutes. It was so peaceful. I am so lucky to be back in YALA again.