travel, read, write, listen and be kind…
Chengdu (Sichuan) Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province in southwestern China. With a population of more than 20 million people in its wider metropolitan area, it is one of China’s largest and fastest-growing cities. Atom, my fellow-student from Tianmeng Kung Fu school, had given me the contact of Huqin, …
Lugu Lake (Yunnan – Sichuan) Early in the morning, we take a shared taxi from Lijiang to Lugu Lake, which lies on the border of Yunnan and Sichuan. Unfortunately non of the five Chinese women, nor the young teenage girl, is willing to offer Dave a better seat! So he …
Lijiang (Yunnan) Once more, we decide to take a shared Didi to our next destination: Lijiang. Another pleasent drive, this time with comfortable leather seats, almost like armchairs. We enjoy winding roads most of the journey, until we finally reach the crowded city Lijiang. What a contrast! We are dropped …
Shaxi (Yunnan) After busy and noisy Dali, it is time to move on to a quieter and smaller town: Shaxi. We decide to share a taxi with a Chinese woman, Irene, and her daughter, Felicia, who both live in Sydney. It is a pleasant, scenic journey, passing cornfields and tabacco …
Dali (Yunnan) The city of Dali, in modern-day Yunnan, was once the capital of the Dali Kingdom, also known as the Dali State. It is home to the Bai ethnic group, whose rich culture is still very much alive today. As you wander through the narrow streets of this charming …
Tea ceremony and coaching Being a coach myself, I have met many colleagues over the years: mental health coaches, fitness coaches, sport coaches and life coaches. But until today I had never heard of a tea coach! I met Mabol through Couchsurfing. She couldn’t host me, she invited me to …
Kunming (Yunnan) After two months of training and endless learning at the Kung Fu Academy in Shandong Province, the time has come to move on to a another Province of this vast country. I take a flight from Linyi to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province. Kunming lies on a …
High-speed train to Qufu After spending many weekends at the Kung Fu Acedemy, I feel like travelling on my own for a change, exploring the nearby region. I choose Qufu, an easy destination to reach by high-speed train. The city is best known as the birthplace of one of China’s …
Yimeng Mountain Tourist Area and Gui Meng Scenic Spot It’s the weekend again, and I feel like escaping the school for a while. Looking for nearby mountain areas, the Yimeng Mountain Tourist Area and Gui Meng Scenic Spot come to mind. They don’t seem to be that far away, so …
Linyi After another week of intensive training, a group of students decide to spend the weekend in Linyi. I’m in, as I haven’t seen anything yet – apart from the airport – of this modern city, famous as a major trade and logitics hub. We take Didi taxis, and I …
