Home AgainThursday, August 20, 2009
We have been back from our awesome trip almost a week now and it has given me time to think. So much of what we did was so unbelievable and I'll never get the chance to do those kinds of things again. Who does a trek through the jungle next to the great wall and learn ShaoLin kung fu from warrior monks in the same week? This trip was an experience to be sure and one that I'm sure will have a positive influence not only on my life, but on those of everyone that went on it. The places we went and things we did are truly life-altering. Not to mention the many lifelong friends I have made. (We are already planning our first reunion.) I remember so much of the trip very vivdly and I think its because they are memories that will always stay with me. Daniel who went on the trip and goes to my school as well has two classes with me this year and I could not be more excited. This trip has been not only the trip of a lifetime, but a trip I think will play a huge part in shaping what I do with the rest of my lifetime.
Buddhist Monk For a DayWednesday, August 12, 2009
We had an early wake up this morning. We got up at 4::30, which for sensible people is still the mddle of the night, and had morning prayers at Shao Lin temple with the buddhist monks in the temple's great hall. While the chanting was on Sanskrit and we didn't understand it didn't really matter because if it was in Mandarin we wouldn't have understood it either. The prayers lasted about an hour, but it was amazing to comprehend that we were in midst of prayers with monks in the birthplace of jung fu. After prayers we had breakfast with the monks, and then helped with chores around the temple.
We then went back to Small Dragon kung fu school and had another two hour workout, but this time we got weapons! After working near to exhaustion we got a break for lunch, had a quick rest, and then it was back to the school for two more hours. We are working on a traditional combination of Shao Lin kung fu to perform for the monks tomorrow. While its been quite trying I'm sure we will all pull it off excellently! --- ______________________________________________________________________ Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting!Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Ni hao everyone! This morning we had quite an experience. We had a two hour kung fu workout at Small Dragon kung fu school. After we woke up and had our "breakfirst" as our Chinese guides call it we got in the bus and headed down to the school. Everyone was really excited for today and couldn't wait. Stephenie was so anxious to start kicking butt she decided to try out her moves by attacking a wall. Needless to say I doubt it turned out the way she imagined it would.
When we got to our class we were split up into two groups and each group had two masters teaching them. After a quick jog and some stretches as a warm up we were ready for the real stuff. The master would show us a move and then we would repeat that move. We built move upon move until we had a highly complex combination together. Then as we repeated the combination over and over the masters would come around fixing our form and making us hold each position so we became stronger. The masters were very intense and hardly smiled. They expected the same seriousness and perfection from all of us. For some who are not the next Bruce Lee that was a little difficult. What is so intense about kung fu is that every pose works your body so hard. Everyone was working up major sweats and many of us left pretty sore. Some of the poses and transitions in and out of poses were very quick and it really gave you a good workout. After our next few sessions I'm sure we will all be in excellent shape. The workout may have been difficult, but there was something fulfilling about it too. The sense of accomplishment leaves you very empowered and despite being worked super hard I think everyone left our first lesson in great spirits! --- ______________________________________________________________________ Practicing Kung Fu in DengfengMonday, August 10, 2009
Powered by NetMobile. ______________________________________________________________________ Louyang and Shao Lin
This morning I woke up on a train that was taking us from Beijing to the central part of China, specifically the city of Louyang. After arring in Louyang we freshened up and went to Longmen or Dragon Gate Grotto. There we saw thousands of Buddha statues carved into the limestone rock of the mountain. The tallest one we saw was a massive carving 17 meters high. It was awe inspiring.
We then got back on the bus and drove to the nearby town of Dengfeng, the birthplace of kung fu and our home for the next few days. After a quick rest we went to visit the one and only Shao Lin temple world famous for its kung fu and a place we will spend some time at the next few days. We went into the part of the temple reserved for meditation and got an insightful lesson on Shao Lin temple amd its effect on Buddhism from the temple's supervisor. We then got a very different kung fu experience when we went to visit a nearby martial arts academy. There were literally thousands of students dressed alike outside practicing their moves in perfect synchronization. This was both impressive and intimidating. We got an even closer look with some of the more advanced students and what they were able to do was fascinating. They were so quick and agile it seemed almost superhuman. They would flip and kick and punch so quickly and precisely it seemed nearly robotic. We then witnessed a kid about 10 years old do head flips across the room and I think that kid could beat me up any day. At dinner the girls kicked the boys out of the students table so us guys ate with the Chinese guides. It ws great to have some more time to talk with them one on one. Especially Ping who told us about her time working during the cultural revolution. She was a miner at age 15 and only learned English after Chinese policied were more relaxed. She taught herself English and encouraged all us boys to learn Chinese because if she could teach herself English than we could learn Chinese easily. I don't know if it would be that easy, but I definitely want to continue learnin Chinese. --- ______________________________________________________________________ ChengdeSaturday, August 8, 2009
Today was our first full day in Chengde. First, we visited the imperial summer moutain resort, or the emperor's summer home. Then we went on a hike on a mini great wall of china, which after a 6 hour trek yesterday we were all so happy for. We walked for about two hours and then finally arrived at where we had lunch.
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Today we hiked for abou 10 km along the rampant part of the great wall of China. While this may bot sound too rigorous it soon turned into a full on trek including a stretch through dense jungle. I sweat more and drank mor water in those 5 hours than I have in my whole life. We were all pretty much covered in sweat and it was a little bit nasty. The views were amazing and it was really hard to believe that we were actually hiking the great wall. It was treacherous and difficult, but the feeling of accomplishment and the panoramic scenery were worth it.
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