Monday, November 24, 2008
Food in the City
Food in the City
Jeremy and I are both great eaters, and to my delight he took me on a culinary tour of Beijing. It was great having a local take me to all the best spots, and a considerate friend who catered to my culinary palate and steered clear of meats and spicy foods. With that said, Carrie entered the land of decadent eating and ate till she was full EVERY TIME.
Some of the Highlights:
Chinese noodles, a Beijing staple. This is common lunch grub
Japanese all you can eat and drink sushi joint. I broke my vegetarian and non-drinking habit hard core here, eating all the sushi and fish in sight and washed it down with five shots of Saki and had beer for dessert. It was really good, really decadent and to both of our surprise I felt really fine the evening and day after…
Local Dumpling Dive
Dumplings are a family tradition in China. To celebrate the New Year kids go home and make dumplings with their family. Dumplings are a bit labor intensive, so it makes for a great opportunity to come together. Since it takes a bit of effort to create the dumpling there are restaurants in China that specialize in just making dumplings, offering a large variety of dumplings to choose from. Jeremy also explained that in China pork is not considered food, but a seasoning—like salt, and they put it in EVERYTHING, small quantities to add flavor.
Hot Pot
Similar concept to the fondue, except instead of Chees it is like a soup broth that you do your dippin gin.
Dim Sum
Lika a fancy Sunday brinch with presentation, atmosphere and servise as important as the food served, we enjoyed steamed cake (which was very nice and moist), dumplings and great veggies.
Hot Pot
Lotus root salad and hot pot dippins'
A happy Jeremy enjoying an American Sunday Brunch.
Tree fungus- a delicacy
Hong Kongnese meal-- complete with Jo- a rice porridge. Yum!
Jeremy and I are both great eaters, and to my delight he took me on a culinary tour of Beijing. It was great having a local take me to all the best spots, and a considerate friend who catered to my culinary palate and steered clear of meats and spicy foods. With that said, Carrie entered the land of decadent eating and ate till she was full EVERY TIME.
Some of the Highlights:
Chinese noodles, a Beijing staple. This is common lunch grub
Japanese all you can eat and drink sushi joint. I broke my vegetarian and non-drinking habit hard core here, eating all the sushi and fish in sight and washed it down with five shots of Saki and had beer for dessert. It was really good, really decadent and to both of our surprise I felt really fine the evening and day after…
Local Dumpling Dive
Dumplings are a family tradition in China. To celebrate the New Year kids go home and make dumplings with their family. Dumplings are a bit labor intensive, so it makes for a great opportunity to come together. Since it takes a bit of effort to create the dumpling there are restaurants in China that specialize in just making dumplings, offering a large variety of dumplings to choose from. Jeremy also explained that in China pork is not considered food, but a seasoning—like salt, and they put it in EVERYTHING, small quantities to add flavor.
Hot Pot
Similar concept to the fondue, except instead of Chees it is like a soup broth that you do your dippin gin.
Dim Sum
Lika a fancy Sunday brinch with presentation, atmosphere and servise as important as the food served, we enjoyed steamed cake (which was very nice and moist), dumplings and great veggies.
Hot Pot
Lotus root salad and hot pot dippins'
A happy Jeremy enjoying an American Sunday Brunch.
Tree fungus- a delicacy
Hong Kongnese meal-- complete with Jo- a rice porridge. Yum!
Ode to the tree trees of Beijing
Ode to the Trees of Beijing
Joseph Campbell studied the myths and religions of the world and did an amazing ob finding the same components that are threaded between them. One common thread is the worship of the animal or food crop that sustains life of the people of that culture. In India it si the cow, for the Native Americans of the plains it is the buffalo, the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest, the salmon.
I am here to say that for the city of Beijing, it is the tree (they just don’t know it yet).
The trees here in Beijing get easily ten times the amount of karma credit then the trees I know back home in Colorado. The amount of work they do in a day, flitering China’s air is more then any tree I have ever seen! (So if you want to become a tree that gets good karma credits faster—go to China!)
Okay, so the air in Beijing is bad, windy days and days following windy days the air is actually nice.
But China keeps on driving, and operating their facgtories and burning their vast supply of coal that is the diertiest type of coal around… So it is up to the trees to get the cleaning job done.
And to this, I thank you, I worship you, you you tired, poor, overworked, underpaid, overstressed beautiful, strong, caring always giving, unselfish trees.
I notice all that you do.
I notice that you look tired and sometimes lonely when you are a street corner, all alone without another tree in sight.
I notice the amazing difference in the air quality when I stand next to you.
I do not take for granted the parks where you gather and create pockets of utopia for my lungs to drink among a city of polluted haze.
I notice you
I applaud you
And I LOVE YOU
I will walk on your side of the street any day.
With love and the Deepest of Gratitude,
Carrie
Joseph Campbell studied the myths and religions of the world and did an amazing ob finding the same components that are threaded between them. One common thread is the worship of the animal or food crop that sustains life of the people of that culture. In India it si the cow, for the Native Americans of the plains it is the buffalo, the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest, the salmon.
I am here to say that for the city of Beijing, it is the tree (they just don’t know it yet).
The trees here in Beijing get easily ten times the amount of karma credit then the trees I know back home in Colorado. The amount of work they do in a day, flitering China’s air is more then any tree I have ever seen! (So if you want to become a tree that gets good karma credits faster—go to China!)
Okay, so the air in Beijing is bad, windy days and days following windy days the air is actually nice.
But China keeps on driving, and operating their facgtories and burning their vast supply of coal that is the diertiest type of coal around… So it is up to the trees to get the cleaning job done.
And to this, I thank you, I worship you, you you tired, poor, overworked, underpaid, overstressed beautiful, strong, caring always giving, unselfish trees.
I notice all that you do.
I notice that you look tired and sometimes lonely when you are a street corner, all alone without another tree in sight.
I notice the amazing difference in the air quality when I stand next to you.
I do not take for granted the parks where you gather and create pockets of utopia for my lungs to drink among a city of polluted haze.
I notice you
I applaud you
And I LOVE YOU
I will walk on your side of the street any day.
With love and the Deepest of Gratitude,
Carrie
CCTV (China TV)
CCTV
It only took four days in Beijing before I got to be on China T.V.!!! The television show is called “Common Ground,” and the topic for the day was “how the outside world viewed China and specifically Confucianism. This topic is right up Jeremy’s (my host in Beijing) alley as he has a masters in Ancient Chinese Literature. He loves, lives and breaths all things ancient about China. We sat in the audience front and center and got to ask questions to the speakers. (I am really glad they didn’t ask me, because I don’t know a lick of Chinese!)
It was great to see this part of China, by the end of this show the resounding theme was that this topic is much too broad to fit into one television episode.
~~Jeremy, do you have anything to add??
The China Central TV (CCTV) Tower-- you can see it for miles (when the pollution's not bad)
Some Chinese ads-- they love their spa treatments...
It only took four days in Beijing before I got to be on China T.V.!!! The television show is called “Common Ground,” and the topic for the day was “how the outside world viewed China and specifically Confucianism. This topic is right up Jeremy’s (my host in Beijing) alley as he has a masters in Ancient Chinese Literature. He loves, lives and breaths all things ancient about China. We sat in the audience front and center and got to ask questions to the speakers. (I am really glad they didn’t ask me, because I don’t know a lick of Chinese!)
It was great to see this part of China, by the end of this show the resounding theme was that this topic is much too broad to fit into one television episode.
~~Jeremy, do you have anything to add??
The China Central TV (CCTV) Tower-- you can see it for miles (when the pollution's not bad)
Some Chinese ads-- they love their spa treatments...
City of Urban Monkeys
**I have heard about the tragic bombings in Mumbai, I am safe and sound in Beijing. I will be studying in the southern part of India starting on the 2nd, and I will not be near Mumbai, and I will be careful.**
There are a lot of skyscrapers here in Beijing. The people here are like monkeys, spending most of their life above ground level, only replace the trees for these really tall buildings.
Jeremy was really excited to point out that you could see the mountains in the distance today... good air quality day.
The above pictures are taken from Jeremy's 23rd floor apartment. The below pictures are from around town.
On Sunday we took a 30 minute taxi to CCTV (China Central TV) which is on the outer side of Beijing. For 30 minutes all I saw was skyscrapers... I kept waiting for things to shift and see short houses or mountains or water, or something, but it never came. Definitely left me feeling a bit claustrophobic. What a city!
There are a lot of skyscrapers here in Beijing. The people here are like monkeys, spending most of their life above ground level, only replace the trees for these really tall buildings.
Jeremy was really excited to point out that you could see the mountains in the distance today... good air quality day.
The above pictures are taken from Jeremy's 23rd floor apartment. The below pictures are from around town.
On Sunday we took a 30 minute taxi to CCTV (China Central TV) which is on the outer side of Beijing. For 30 minutes all I saw was skyscrapers... I kept waiting for things to shift and see short houses or mountains or water, or something, but it never came. Definitely left me feeling a bit claustrophobic. What a city!
Please play "Material Girl" by Madonna while reading this post
If Beijing is like New York City on steroids, then the neighborhood where Jeremy lives and works is like Manhattan on speed. Jeremy's three most important places: work, apartment, and the gym, are within a one block radius of each other. There are two other gyms within four blocks of his home but hey, why walk four blocks when you only have to walk one? Anyway, as I was saying... Paris, New York, London, Milan, step aside and make room for Beijing. The shopping complex nearby is the nicest in the city and I almost had a coronary walking into it. The stores I passed upon entry: Coach, Rolex, Chanel, Emporio Armani, Gucci, Prada, Fendi, Burberry... and it went on and on for THREE FLOORS! Aunt Patricia, you would absolutely LOVE shopping here. Uncle Michael, DON'T let her do it! The quality of all the clothes was superb, and if you could ad a little fur to it (or a lot) well, consider it done. I liked what they were selling, and when I become exorbitantly wealthy and want to do some international shopping, this is where I will go.
After visiting the nearby mall, my activities for the day included taking the subway line down to the Silk and Pearl Market (a place where the tourists go) to buy myself a custom tailored Chinese style dress. Originally Jeremy was going to have one of his assistants go with me, but as their day at work became busier then expected, I had to fend for myself. "No problem" I told Jeremy as we were talking over the cell phone... "I can go there on my own." Who am I kidding?! Miss Directionally-Challenged Carrie, who recently got lost in the bowels of the New York City Subway for two hours before surfacing, find the Beijing Silk Market? Anyway, I did find it but only after getting lost and finding another mall in the mean time. I find this to be a stroke of luck actually, because in this mall I could see where the shoppers shop, and rest assured, there are regular malls here. (I was getting a little worried there for a moment.)
Notice the Ritz Carlton Hotel in the background above.
After visiting the nearby mall, my activities for the day included taking the subway line down to the Silk and Pearl Market (a place where the tourists go) to buy myself a custom tailored Chinese style dress. Originally Jeremy was going to have one of his assistants go with me, but as their day at work became busier then expected, I had to fend for myself. "No problem" I told Jeremy as we were talking over the cell phone... "I can go there on my own." Who am I kidding?! Miss Directionally-Challenged Carrie, who recently got lost in the bowels of the New York City Subway for two hours before surfacing, find the Beijing Silk Market? Anyway, I did find it but only after getting lost and finding another mall in the mean time. I find this to be a stroke of luck actually, because in this mall I could see where the shoppers shop, and rest assured, there are regular malls here. (I was getting a little worried there for a moment.)
Notice the Ritz Carlton Hotel in the background above.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
This is not your grandma's Beijing
My friend Jeremy, first came to China ten years ago and has lived in China for about the last seven of those ten will be able to tell you first hand, this is not your grandma’s China.
Ten years ago he would have to bring olive oil from home to China. Yesterday we took a walk around his apartment and he showed me a couple of five star Italian restaurants. Emporio Armani has a store in Milan and their second store is in… well, yep you guessed it, Beijing. You can tell where they putting their money.
Walking into Jeremy’s kitchen was yet another shock. It looked much like the kitchen I remember he had when he lived in Boulder. You can get chips, salsa, Campells chunky and designer organic cereal these days—ten years ago, not so much. It looks like the Chinese of Beijing are adapting to this thing called luxury and convenience very nicely.
Ten years ago he would have to bring olive oil from home to China. Yesterday we took a walk around his apartment and he showed me a couple of five star Italian restaurants. Emporio Armani has a store in Milan and their second store is in… well, yep you guessed it, Beijing. You can tell where they putting their money.
Walking into Jeremy’s kitchen was yet another shock. It looked much like the kitchen I remember he had when he lived in Boulder. You can get chips, salsa, Campells chunky and designer organic cereal these days—ten years ago, not so much. It looks like the Chinese of Beijing are adapting to this thing called luxury and convenience very nicely.
Tryambakum
Tri—means three
Ambakam—means eyes
Amba—Mother or Shakti (female life-force energy)
The number three is found in many religions, many things come in threes, there is the body, mind and spirit, God as Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent, the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. Earth, Sky and Heavens, the three gunas, rajas (active) tamas (lazy) and sattvic (balance of action and inaction- stillness). A stool with three legs is always more stable and will be much more solid then a chair with four legs—because even if one of the legs is shorter then the other the stool still will not wobble. Three is a good number—it covers all the bases.
I am excited to have three parts to my travel trip, China with a friend, South India on a business/academic, and then India as a yoga/spiritual adventure. The combination of these three feels like a solid, balanced trip to body, mind and soul. Hopefully by the end of these adventures I will feel like a stool, balanced and stable—not wobbly, and enriched in all areas of life.
Ambakam—means eyes
Amba—Mother or Shakti (female life-force energy)
The number three is found in many religions, many things come in threes, there is the body, mind and spirit, God as Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent, the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. Earth, Sky and Heavens, the three gunas, rajas (active) tamas (lazy) and sattvic (balance of action and inaction- stillness). A stool with three legs is always more stable and will be much more solid then a chair with four legs—because even if one of the legs is shorter then the other the stool still will not wobble. Three is a good number—it covers all the bases.
I am excited to have three parts to my travel trip, China with a friend, South India on a business/academic, and then India as a yoga/spiritual adventure. The combination of these three feels like a solid, balanced trip to body, mind and soul. Hopefully by the end of these adventures I will feel like a stool, balanced and stable—not wobbly, and enriched in all areas of life.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Jeremy, my Beijing Host :)
Some people you are meant to be with for a lifetime and others only a short while, yet they will leave an impression in your heart that lasts a lifetime.
The summer I got divorced was a dramatic one, complete with restraining orders and court dates. Once the dust had reasonably settled I looked around to see myself with a summer work schedule of three long work days and four day weekends. Now the mind is a powerful thing you know, and what you think about expands, so I am careful with what I think. With four days off I found myself with two ‘thinking’ options: 1. Sit around my apartment, with my cat, absolutely depressed. 2. Find myself a rebound. I went with the latter. That is how I met Jeremy. His Craigslist post read: Summer Adventures “I have the summer off before I have to move back over seas...” It was perfect—I could even rebound responsibly. On the second date, he said, “Carrie I look in your eyes and see so much sadness, why don’t you put your head on my shoulder and just cry.” That was when Jeremy’s status was promoted from rebound man to transition man. His strength and sensitivity helped me transition that summer to the next phase of my life.
He will be my host as I stay in Beijing for the next ten days!
The Sanskrit Crew
In my journey through life one of my more recent goals has been to focus on self expression. This desire has drawn me to the sacred vibrational language of Sanskrit. LOVE IT! The practice of Sanskrit has helped me become in sync with the rhythm of life and the vibrations of my true nature- I look forward to sharing more as this travel journey unfolds. (I will be spending a whole week learning Vedic Chanting in South India the middle of December.)
I have been lucky enough to have some lovely ladies join me in my Sanskrit studies. We meet every week, and this Tuesday they treated me to tea at the Brown Palace to wish me well as I embark on my adventures. Thank you Lovely Ladies!!! It rocked!
Saying good bye to my cat, my plants, and the Borg
I talked to my friend in Beijing, Jeremy, Sunday night after returning from San Francisco. He wanted to touch base and clear up any details. This was a very good call—clearing up the minorly major detail that my flight actually leaves on Tuesday night the 18th, instead of Wednesday night the 19th like I originally thought. This gave me a good 12 hour adrenaline rush. Luckily it all worked out.
Here are some of my farewells:
To mom and dad
My Cat
My Plants
The Borg Cube (ie my worm farm that turns vegetables into dirt):
Can you hear them?
“Resistance is futile! You will be assimilated!” You WILL become dirt.
Here are some of my farewells:
To mom and dad
My Cat
My Plants
The Borg Cube (ie my worm farm that turns vegetables into dirt):
Can you hear them?
“Resistance is futile! You will be assimilated!” You WILL become dirt.
San Francisco Weekend
Family
What a blessing to be able to spend a weekend with my mom, dad, and brother before the big trip, especially since I won’t be with them over the holidays. It was a bonus to also be with aunts, uncles, cousins and second cousins in the setting of a great wedding! The bride was beautiful, the groom was beaming and a great time was had by all. Congratulations Maureen and Paul!
Me and my Bro at the wedding
Friends
For those of you that may not know, I started practicing yoga when I was 14 because it cured my insomnia. By the time I was a sophomore in high school I had classmates asking me why I was so happy all the time— I mean, a girl going through puberty in an uber-competitive high school that is still bright and bubbly just doesn’t make sense—yoga was the only answer I could give them. They promptly asked to learn and so I started the yoga club. Within the first six weeks of my junior year I had had over 160 students attend. It was quite an adventure! My dear friend Marina was my side kick during these times, wearing the hat of “VP of the Yoga Club.” We have remained close ever since, and I was so happy to spend time with her this weekend. She was with me when I began my high school yoga adventure, and I am glad she was with me the weekend before I began my yoga travel adventure. We even rounded off the weekend with a trip through China Town. Beijing… here I come!!!
Marina and I in front of the San Francisco Golden Gate bridge
What a blessing to be able to spend a weekend with my mom, dad, and brother before the big trip, especially since I won’t be with them over the holidays. It was a bonus to also be with aunts, uncles, cousins and second cousins in the setting of a great wedding! The bride was beautiful, the groom was beaming and a great time was had by all. Congratulations Maureen and Paul!
Me and my Bro at the wedding
Friends
For those of you that may not know, I started practicing yoga when I was 14 because it cured my insomnia. By the time I was a sophomore in high school I had classmates asking me why I was so happy all the time— I mean, a girl going through puberty in an uber-competitive high school that is still bright and bubbly just doesn’t make sense—yoga was the only answer I could give them. They promptly asked to learn and so I started the yoga club. Within the first six weeks of my junior year I had had over 160 students attend. It was quite an adventure! My dear friend Marina was my side kick during these times, wearing the hat of “VP of the Yoga Club.” We have remained close ever since, and I was so happy to spend time with her this weekend. She was with me when I began my high school yoga adventure, and I am glad she was with me the weekend before I began my yoga travel adventure. We even rounded off the weekend with a trip through China Town. Beijing… here I come!!!
Marina and I in front of the San Francisco Golden Gate bridge
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Wedding
Conversation with my brother who lives in California last month:
Jay: I am so excited that you are going on this trip! How long will you be gone?
Carrie: Over five weeks.
Jay: So you mean I won’t see you when I fly in for Thanksgiving?
Carrie: Nope
Jay: What about Christmas?
Carrie: Nope
Jay: When will I get to see you?!
Carrie: Don’t know
Jay: What about the wedding?!
Okay Stinks, Mr. Sweetheart-and-a-half. I am going to the wedding. I don’t know how it happened, but I am all packed for my trip, all ready for my finals, and somebody broke up with their girl-friend two weeks before the big wedding day- opening up a seat for me. I am flying to San Francisco this weekend—five days before I leave for Beijing…let the games begin!
Jay: I am so excited that you are going on this trip! How long will you be gone?
Carrie: Over five weeks.
Jay: So you mean I won’t see you when I fly in for Thanksgiving?
Carrie: Nope
Jay: What about Christmas?
Carrie: Nope
Jay: When will I get to see you?!
Carrie: Don’t know
Jay: What about the wedding?!
Okay Stinks, Mr. Sweetheart-and-a-half. I am going to the wedding. I don’t know how it happened, but I am all packed for my trip, all ready for my finals, and somebody broke up with their girl-friend two weeks before the big wedding day- opening up a seat for me. I am flying to San Francisco this weekend—five days before I leave for Beijing…let the games begin!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
In memory of my Great Aunt Sarah Ann
My Great Aunt died this Sunday at the age of 92. She was the oldest of three sisters, and if any of you know, a family made up of three sisters is a force to be reckoned with. These sisters have contained the magic glue that has kept their extended family together since before I was born. We have had family reunions every three years since 1978—the sisters, their spouses, children… everyone, from all over the country. I have some of my greatest childhood memories at these week-long events.
I remember two summers ago at a family reunion, my Aunt Sarah Ann hobbled into the evening poker tournament, her buy-in cash in one hand and a beer in the other. We had over 40 people playing. Into the wee hours of the night it was down to two people, Aunt Sarah Ann, and her grandson, sitting across the table from each other, duking it out. Lo and behold—she won. Good times.
I remember two summers ago at a family reunion, my Aunt Sarah Ann hobbled into the evening poker tournament, her buy-in cash in one hand and a beer in the other. We had over 40 people playing. Into the wee hours of the night it was down to two people, Aunt Sarah Ann, and her grandson, sitting across the table from each other, duking it out. Lo and behold—she won. Good times.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Beginnings
Welcome! I am excited to share with you my adventures and experience on this much awaited and anticipated adventure. I will be traveling throughout Beijing and South India on a three part expedition which includes friends, business school, and yoga.
The seeds for this trip sprouted in the middle of September when I saw a flyer on campus for a winter interim course in India from December 2-12. The course will cover Social Entrepreneurship and Global Business. I have tacked on 11 days beforehand to visit China and visit a friend, and 17 days in the last third to study yoga, Vedic chanting, and see the yoga sites in southern India.
In my excitement I have dug out my Lonely Planet guide book to India that I bought six years ago, and realize that the seeds for this trip were planted a long time ago. I have been amazed at how effortless and easy the planning and preparations for this trip have been. It reminds me of a very sacred Sanskrit prayer called the Sri Mrityunjaya Mantra. This is a very powerful healing mantra, and to translate it simply, it asks for healing to mind, body, and spirit in a way that is easeful-- as easy as an apple falling off a tree. In a way, I feel like an observer watching as this trip has just fallen into place. So I will use this mantra to frame my travel blog. The mantra has nine words, and I will use a word a week for the next nine to paint the story of my adventures.
OM— ॐ
As with many mantras, the first word of the Sri Mrityunjaya Mantra is OM. OM is a sacred sound because it contains all the sounds of the universe. When saying OM the sound starts in the back of the throat and travels across the roof of the mouth and ends with the lips, containing all the sounds the mouth can make. It is all encompassing, filled with beginnings, endings, and everything in between.
My voyage will be christened with a weekend in San Francisco to attend the wedding of my second cousin, wondrous beginnings. It is also greeted with the death of my 92 year-old Great Aunt, which is a sad and wondrous end.
The seeds for this trip sprouted in the middle of September when I saw a flyer on campus for a winter interim course in India from December 2-12. The course will cover Social Entrepreneurship and Global Business. I have tacked on 11 days beforehand to visit China and visit a friend, and 17 days in the last third to study yoga, Vedic chanting, and see the yoga sites in southern India.
In my excitement I have dug out my Lonely Planet guide book to India that I bought six years ago, and realize that the seeds for this trip were planted a long time ago. I have been amazed at how effortless and easy the planning and preparations for this trip have been. It reminds me of a very sacred Sanskrit prayer called the Sri Mrityunjaya Mantra. This is a very powerful healing mantra, and to translate it simply, it asks for healing to mind, body, and spirit in a way that is easeful-- as easy as an apple falling off a tree. In a way, I feel like an observer watching as this trip has just fallen into place. So I will use this mantra to frame my travel blog. The mantra has nine words, and I will use a word a week for the next nine to paint the story of my adventures.
OM— ॐ
As with many mantras, the first word of the Sri Mrityunjaya Mantra is OM. OM is a sacred sound because it contains all the sounds of the universe. When saying OM the sound starts in the back of the throat and travels across the roof of the mouth and ends with the lips, containing all the sounds the mouth can make. It is all encompassing, filled with beginnings, endings, and everything in between.
My voyage will be christened with a weekend in San Francisco to attend the wedding of my second cousin, wondrous beginnings. It is also greeted with the death of my 92 year-old Great Aunt, which is a sad and wondrous end.
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