PICTURE POST

okay, im back in kunming and have more to say, but im paying for the internet time now so ill leave the update for later and show you guys some of what ive been fortunate enough to experience.

ANOTHER DISCLAIMER: im new to this blogsite and havent figured out the formatting yet. go ahead and laugh if you want.



jes goes to the heaven temple in beijing. the air got really smoggy as the day went on, so i was really lucky to get such a clear picture in the morning.
















the respectable chairman a la tienamen square. i have a picture of me in this, but apparently the chinese ideal is to have yourself centered with the building and the flag in the background.... unfortunately this does not fit in with MY ideal profile pic entitled "mao is my homeboy". this will have to do, perhaps digital editing to come later.








KUNMING! aka, the awesomest city ever. this is near the city center and the building pictured in the background has a sister that kunming is known for.
















wo de pengyou!! left is danny, one of the tallest people in china; center is sunny, the fashionista and secret gf of danny; and the right is keisha the hostest with the mostest who is never full. they are standing in front of the steps to yunda, the university of yunnan province. i only saw a part of the campus, but its french architects and talented landscapers knew what they were doing.







the bell tower at the golden temple in kunming. even though the park entrance is to visit the temple, this tower is about three times the size of it.
















upon some deep reflection, i dont think, even at the zoo, that i had ever seen a camel. after we had climbed probably 11 or 12 flights of steep stairs, i came around the corner to see this sexy beast. it was only about $.70 to sit for a picture... i couldnt say no!!!










this is lake dianshi (see blog for description). despite being overgrown with -im going to call it- swamp weed, the sheer size of the lake in the city and, here, the contrast of orange on green with a foggy background are things to be appreciated.









cut to the countryside about 45 min outside of kunming. there was a gated village in the mountains and each house (usually 2 or 3 stories -however dicrepid (sp?)- has its own courtyard and wall. notice the fine detail of raised glass at the top of the yang's wall - a common characteristic in this village.


outside the gate was a xiao go (pup) and inside was a family of cats (one mommy and four kittens). apparently, the dog watches the gate and the cat eats the mice - no free rides thank you. (i believe this cat is the neighborhood stud).




the villages high tech sewage system. in my three days and two jogs there, i never figured out where the ditches led, but i assume its some lake where they draw their water... who knows?














okay now that ive painted an awful picture of the countryside, let me show you the wonderful family with golden hearts with whom we stayed (ill do my best with descriptions). left is robo, american man of mystery; next to her in the red is yang laoshi's sister (also a laoshi); next to her in the white is yang laoshi (whom robo believes may be wang laoshi's assisant?); bah! hiding behing yang laoshi is mi, the adorable 15 year old that was my savior out in the wild; on the right in the orange and grey are the family's grandparents (in grey is actually THE original yang laoshi, lol i guess teaching is in the family); the nuhai (little girl) up front is ying yu, yang laoshi's little one. shes nine years old and NEVER tired. next to her in the yellow is wo de didi (little bro). i never caught his name, but i think hes five and always cranky lol.

i have a million more to post but i think youll just have to come hang out with me for that (who am i kidding, you could also go to facebook at some nondescript point in the future). id like to give a shout out to kerbear for making these photos possible (thanks!!). i hope you guys are enjoying the blog thus far.


and now, a signpost for the organizationally retentive:

soon to come is a mini series in wang laoshi's second appartment which should be interesting because theres no supervision there. next will be the largest chapter of the camp from this saturday (my time not yours) to the next and then finally we will have (i presume but who knows) the denumont in shanghai (more than likely followed by a lengthy epilogue).