Archive for the 'travel' Category

Couch Surfing

Friday, June 27th, 2008

      At the outset of this semester, I planned myself a long long journey in the up-coming summer holiday. However, lots are to be taken into consideration even when I am just day-dreaming about it. Accomodation is one of the most bothering one.

      Because I am only an on-campus college student without high income, I can hardly cover the expense on the way. Accomodation costs the most. Good for me to know that there is one fashione way of travelling called COUCH SURFING.

      It is a free international net-based hospitality service.Currently it covers 226 countries withe hundreds of thansands registered members. Membership can be easily obtained on its website. That is what I have done recently to get in touch with those offering couches in the cities I’m planning to go to.

      If  you get permition by a host, you can go to his or her city and live in their house for a certain period of time. They offer you a couch to sleep in without any charge. And you, only have to enjoy your journey and at the same time make sure not to disturb the normal life of the host. That means you should respect their way of living  and go back to the house on time, instead of 2 o’clock in the night.

      Very much likely, I’ll try one of them in a possible destination. I’m not sex discriminated, but I think it would be much safer for me to go to a female’s house, who have an extrovert personality. Good luck for me and the potential host. Hope I won’t ruin their houses. Just for a joke.

 Let me make a wish: I’d like a couck like this!

Life Styles in North and South

Monday, November 5th, 2007

  Because of great differences in climate, people in the North lead a quite different life from those in the South. The southern people have hotter and longer summers, and their winters are warmmer and moister than the northern’s. Therefore, they enjoy night life very much, because it’s too hot to go out in during the day time.

   In contrast, nights in the north are much more peaceful and quiet. People prefer to stay indoors and go to bed early. And the southerns don’t like living in a house facing south, while the northerns do , because sunshine in the north is quite limited in winter.

My National Day at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda(1)

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2007

The Birdview of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda

As I planed, I went to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda on the National Day to work voluntarily as a tour guide. You may not know the excitement my colleagues and I were sharing.On arriving at the pagoda, we were amazed by the fascinating sceneries.

 S1 We were very lucky, because the weather that day was very bright. The trees and flowers were much more charming than ever for they had taken a bath the day before in a cold drizzle. It seems the whole world is cleaner and tidier than ever before.

 s2All the properties in the pagoda are both historically and aesthetically precious.

 s3  This is the statue of the famous Chinese ancient poet–Libai.

 s4 And this is the statue of Xuanzang who contributed a lot to the construction of the pagoda. He is most famouse for his Buddist achievements.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Friday, September 28th, 2007

  As the National Day is approching, I’m busy preparing myself as a voluntary tour guide to the famous historical site– Big Wild Goose Pagoda. It might be a chanllenge for me to carry out the task, ’cause I’m not a local resident in Xi’an myself. But fortunately, I’ve been to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda several times . And it’s really an amusing  place that I’d  recommand to you to visit.

  Located in the southern part of Xi’an city, the pagoda is a component building of the Ci’en Temple, whose constrution started in Sui dynasty. The temple, actually, was firstly named Wulou Temple.

  When it comes to Tang Dynasty(648 AD), the prince of the period, Lizhi, added an extension to the temple, in honor of his loving mother. Consequently, he renamed the temple Ci’en Temple, which means”affection” in Chinese, in praise of his mother’s great love for him. The extended architectual complex was composed of 13 compounds, with 1987 rooms in total. He also invited the famous monk, Xuanzang, to take charge of the temple. Xuanzang is famous for his journey to ancient India, fetching thousands of scriptures back to Chia. And he mainly did his tanslation work in this temple. So it was a hot place for pilgrims to visit at that time. The king (the former prince) then organized the constructiong of the pagoda to store the numerous scriptures in 652 AD.

  It was quite a disaster that the temple was mainly burnt up in the wars at the end of the Tang dynasy, leaving only the pagoda. And all the other buildings remain today were rebuilt in Ming and Qing dynasity.

  There are several stories of how the pagoda was named. One of them is derived from the Biography of Xuangzang Rt. Revd. It’s said that one day a big wild goose was lost from the migratory team. It fell down to the ground after a day’s seek, exaulsted to death. Right in the temple, the monks discovered this wild goose, and they  believed that the goose the the Buddha’s metamorphic body. So they decided to build a pagoda for it. So the pagoda was named Goose Pagoda, or Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

  Another saying is still more legendary. Before Xuanzang started his journey, he sweared not to have even a step back towark east until he’s got the scriptures. En routeto the holy west, one day, he was running out of water supply in a desert. He was extremely thirsty and was about to drink the last few drops of water in pot. A big wild goose flew over, dying of thirst. It robbed Xuanzang of his pot and drank the water. Sorely angered, Xuanzang follow the wild goose all the way, until he was brought to a clear steam of creek. Being graceful towards the wild goose, he decided to build a pagoda for it after he finished his journey.

  Aren’t these interesting? I think both the stories and sightseeings in the Big Wild Goose Pagoda are amazing. It is really a mixture of architectual, historic and Buddist elements. You can check it out. It is worththewhile.

Jiuhuashan trip

Tuesday, September 4th, 2007

July 23 to July 27, my wife and I went to one of the four famous Buddhist Jiuhuashan worship Buddha. Many read carefully before starting Strategy for the development of good self-help firms plan. Now, I said this trip feelings.

Transportation: Shanghai to Tongling T776, 6:21 start, the journey of 6.5 hours. Tongling station - the bus now Jiuhuashan prices, 20 yuan. The overcrowding on the grid, time still tight. While Jiuhuashan - Tongling the bus two classes a day, starting time from 9:30 pm and 4:30. One way around 1.5 to 2 hours. Tongling, and the train back to Shanghai on day one, at 14:52, so that the station will wait for a long time. The proposed fight car Jiuhuashan - Tongling in the package price around 200. Tongling - Shanghai train journeys 7.5 hours.

Attractions: We worship Buddha’s left, integrated Strategy, and their physical considered, we can do what we are capable. Our line is: 6:00 am seeking to minimize She signed, and then went to the Body Fat, down to eat breakfast, rest briefly, on the tram ride 100 Palace, after taking down the mountain road, Baidoa other monasteries. Afternoon free shuttle bus ride to Phoenix loose, and walk to the cable car (about 10 minutes), tram reliability, but also go a long way to get to the roof Temple, the relatively narrow steps, demanding more. Physical poor can all sit down on the tram. Comparison Unfortunately, because of the time shortages, in Jiuhuajie Huachengshi and on the contrary, not only to Temple Park into. Jiuhuashan scenery is pretty good.

Lodging: Originally scheduled a week early reputation of the better-bin, Villa, to the best of it, the price hundred wife, I did not counter-offer, I only asked to help retain good room, she Strip, Tongling in Shanghai to train, she is also playing the phone to me, I confirm to the Jiuhuashan trains . Unexpectedly, we found, there is also a two tourists in Shanghai to pick the room, reached the second floor and saw that the best location, since we will be saying that since this was. Wife not remained silent, only quietly told us: “You go to nice.” Oh what logic? ! I set a good week in advance, because it early on the others than we can count! This is Barron’s business practices! ! ! Because it is to worship Buddha, I too lazy, and her theory. Then read broadly about where all the rooms have to say disappointing standpoint, the room layout is not that simple, but also very dirty, the walls are small insect, we helpless, called the Ctrip asked Dongya still room hotel, Ctrip residence are back, we broke, only in the Bin China spent an unforgettable evening. They wife that we entrance, a narrow room, Chuangbanshang have insect body, only five TV channels. We ask the wards, wife to us for housing to the north, where some more spacious, but very humid, toilet rooms are small insect, the boss also did not answer this insect bites, I Khan ah! Small throw not, and tears have a water fight, heat shock, my wife even in a bathtub to see your. A pumping toilets, water tanks on overseas Biao, splash clothes. The next morning thinking about going to require She signed for, and get up early again Hair Washer bathe Unexpectedly, a half-hour water or cold water, only to abandon. In addition, room and electricity Coil on Coil asked the proprietress, to film, the wife did not answer, only burning of mosquito coils, the evening opened an air conditioner, a point the burning of mosquito coils, the smoke stopped. In a night-bin, I probably slept on I put up to three hours, is unbearable. Here, to advise the high demand on the health of tourists, do not consider China a bin. Because the next day will be spent on the downhill strong physically, it affects the rest productive. The next day, in recognition of a road trip due to the Friends of the Shanghai emergencies back to the hotel room Dongya give us, we fled this bin China Villa. Dongya hotel facilities and services are very good in this, the couple once again to express our sincere thanks!

Food: Good Luck Restaurant, the monarch. Color smell things, even my wife also has been a series of critical praise. Her family’s meat is a must dried bamboo shoots ah, we have also asked to buy a lot of dried bamboo shoots wife, back to Shanghai. Chicken soup is also delicious appetizers soil. Jiuhuajie of a Cuisine Noted Place called “Zeng **” (to the hotel name I forget) at the price of high-quality, cost-effective low, do not try to advise you of. The proprietress very enthusiastic to help us on the spots where, when we heard for the next day to go to sign immediately reminded me, too teachers over 80 years old, a little temper, I am also hearing, it is not really mind, either prior to her psychological foreshadow I, I really was too scared teachers that, Ha Ha. Meanwhile, good luck Restaurant Garden City is not only a market already demolition, for a long time before we ever find. If going to, or a wife phone so she can to pick up, if soil drinking chicken soup, preferably a day early booking because Youdun long.

This Tours generally more fun, planned for next year will go.

222.JPG