The Most Beautiful Village in China

posted by Alan
click on the pictures to see them full-sized
click on the link at the bottom to see a full photo album

So our goal for this trip was adventure, rugged travelling and incredible scenery and that's exactly what we got. The 20 hour train ride to Hunan was brightened by some good conversation, new Chinese friends and a constant barrage of New Years Eve firework displays in the countryside as we rode by. It was a pretty unique experience. It was Myself, Daisy and our friends Beverly(NJ) and Nikita(Clifton, NJ by way of Jamaica).

Part 1 - Pandora

We took the train directly to the city of Zhang Jia Jie (张家界), a mid sized city in Western Hunan province that is surrounded by mountain ranges and is host to the famous Zhang Jia Jie National Forest Park. Our plan was to find our hostel tucked away inside the park and spend two days exploring the trails and ridiculously shaped mountains. Yes, these are the mountains that the Hallelujah Mountains of Pandora from the movie Avatar were inspired by. Looking at the peaks from above with a layer of fog and mist, it really did look like the mountains were floating just like in the movie. It was a great few days of extreme cold, no running water and mountain hiking.

Part 2 - The Village
After two nights on the mountain, we packed our bags and made the journey from ZJJ to a place that we found only mentioned on a few online travel blogs. Described as "the most beautiful village in china" and "a scene from a fairy tale," the scenery just became more and more amazing as our bus made its way through the Hunan countryside. Buildings and people gave way to distant mountains and layers of green farming terraces. The village of De Hang(德 夯)is a Miao minority village built into a mountain valley and is a true hidden treasure of China. It's a farming town of about 500 people and numerous cows, chickens, ducks and pigs roaming around. Without a doubt, the most quaint, beautiful and peaceful place I've been to in China.

We checked into our family run guest house and spent four days trekking mountain trails, eating local Hunanese food, enjoying the quaintness of the village and getting to know the locals. Daisy couldn't stop saying how much she loved being there while playing with the local children and their fireworks, dodging cows and their droppings and really relaxing. We were even "treated" to the annual Chinese New Year festival that brought 10,000 people from all over Hunan to the village for the day to eat, play games and celebrate their traditional Miao culture.


On our final night in De Hang, we went to our favorite little restaurant for dinner where we were now friends with the owners. As we were eating, we heard what sounded like a movie playing from the village square. We were also wondering why there we no kids running around. We finished eating and walked over to the square, where someone had set up a large screen and the locals were watching the new movie 'Confucious' starring Chow Yun Fat. Of the incredible things we saw on this trip, the scene in the picture below was my favorite. I realized that while the natural wonders of this earth are awe-inspiring, its the people of and the communities that we build that are the most lasting. What the people in that village have is true community and it was beautiful and heartwarming to see.

So, we're back in the Hai after a tiring, cold, dirty (none of us showered the entire trip) and totally satisfying trip. As Beverly put it, it made her "fall in love all over again with rural China, reading, and train travel."

If you'd like to hear more about our trip, feel free to ask us anytime, or you can just take a look at the pictures (fully captioned!) here: HUNAN 2010 PICTURE ALBUM

Response to comments:
Lin - Pictures are there for ur viewing pleasure. Why live vicariously? Come back to Asia.
Eric - which eric is this? And yes, we were in Pandora.

Hunan for the Holidays

posted by Alan
click on pictures to see them full size


So you might have seen Daisy's gmail status this past week, which read "like the week before Christmas." Chinese New Year is easily the biggest holiday of the year here. For the past week, people have been busy preparing to travel back to their hometowns to spend the week with their families. For those of us that don't have family out here, this week means travel time. For the last Golden Week (there are three in China) in October, we went international to Malaysia. And just a few weeks ago, we made a trip overseas back home to New York. For this Golden Week, we wanted to do something IN China. We were looking for something not too touristy and a little off the beaten path. When outsiders think of China, it seems that people tend to think of pollution, crowds and chaos. Unfortunately, the natural beauty of this country is often overlooked. And there is ALOT of it.
DeHang, "The Most Beautiful Village in China"

We decided on a trip to Hunan province, located towards the southern coast of central China. Our first stop will be to Zhang Jia Jie National Forest Park, famous for its jagged, scenic mountains. So scenic, that one of the peaks was officially renamed after the mountains in Avatar. We'll spend a few days hiking and backpacking around the park before we head to the mountain village of DeHang, described by one travel blog as 'the most beautiful village in China.' It's been described as the real life version of those Chinese scroll paintings. We'll stay in guesthouses with the locals and eat spicy Hunanese food. I can't wait to get back to rural China. All it will take is a 20 hour train ride. Check back next week for pictures and stories.

Zhang Jia Jie National Forest Park

i DO wish that we could be here for the opening night's festivities of Chinese New Year. We've been told that the entire city is impressively lit up with fireworks until 4 or 5 AM and the streets are covered in the red fireworks paper. And if you refer back to this or this blog post, you'll remember that we have an ideal view for the spectacle. Even as I type this, I can hear and see fireworks exploding and its the night BEFORE Chinese New Years Eve. All around the city there are tables set up with massive fireworks for sale. It is truly a pyromaniacs dream.

This guy has some big plans; fireworks and DVD's (right downstairs from our apartment too)


Well, whatever you're celebrating this weekend (Chinese New Year, Valentine's, NBA All Star Weekend, birthday (Happy Birthday Kaitlyn!), Winter Olympics) we wish we could celebrate it with you wherever you are. One thing I learned in all of my travels is that building relationships, family and sharing joy with people you love is universal.

SHANGHAI SNOWBOARDING

posted by Alan
click on pictures to see them full size

Daisy left her board and gear back in the States because she figured she wouldn't get a chance to use it over here in China. They have snowboarding in China in a few select places up north, but it's not even close to a regular activity over here. So imagine our surprise to learn about the Indoor Ski/Snowboard Slope that is in Shanghai.

An outside and inside view of "Mount Shanghai"


We met up with our friends Zach, Krystle(Arizona) and Rachel(ATL)and headed 45 minutes south of the center of the city to a 14-story structure called the YinQiXing Indoor Skiing Site. For about $22 USD, you get boots, board and snowsuit rental and all u can board for 2 hours. This includes the "lift." We all opted to skip the teletubbie-like snow suits and just go in our regular clothes.

We were warned about the grossness of the boots, which were confirmed when we walked into the rental area and u just pick your own boots off the shelf. This means that when people are finished, they just take them off and put them back ON the shelf. So ur boots might have just been worn and put back on the shelf. In a stroke of genius, we came prepared with garbage bags, which we wrapped around our feet before sticking them in the boots. U also just select ur own board off the rack. It slowly went from trying to find a good one, to finding an acceptable one, to just finding one that fits ur boots and finally, just finding one that fits and isn't broken. A process that took about 45 minutes. Thank goodness our time card doesn't start until we get on the slope.



Walking into the slope area is quite the revelation. There was so much to take in that it was hard to process all at once. From the fake christmas trees, to the salt-like fake snow, to the dozens of people decked out in yellow and purple snowsuits at the bottom of the hill, it was definitely a thrilling experience. And THEN we get to "The Lift."

The lift was a revolving string of long retractable poles that went straight up the slope. It never stops and you have to grab one as it passes, hitch it between your legs and let it drag you up to the top of the slope. All you need to do is keep your balance. I went first, and after a few seconds of flopping around on the floor like a dying fish while holding onto the pole as it dragged me up the slope, i managed to get on my feet and got the hang of the lift. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the rest of us. Rachel and her low center of gravity and Daisy both managed to figure it out after awhile, but The Lift still owns Zach. High comedy watching Zach try to get on the lift.

DZ giving up on the lift and just walking up the slope; Top of the Mountain; Rachel on the "lift"


Overall, it was fun just being on a board with friends. The boarding itself is just ok. The "snow" was soft and sandlike, but did simulate the feeling of boarding. Falling was painless because the snow didn't pack. The run took about 8 seconds to get down the slope and about 4 minutes to get back up. There WAS one jump that looks kind of fun. But like i said, overall, it was a fun experience and I'd go again just to hang out and have some fun with friends.


Response to comments:
Kristen - Don't get me wrong, I don't mind Five Guys at all. They just opened a Carl's Jr. here in Shanghai though. That'll have to do for now.

We're BACK

posted by Alan
click on the pictures to see them full sized

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Birthday MLK and soon to be Happy Chinese New Year! That's alot of holidays since we've last posted. Had an awesome visit home to NYC for the holidays and it really does seem like a new chapter is beginning here in Shanghai. It feels like the first 8 months were an orientation period. It took time to adjust to a new culture and language, to find the rhythm of the city and find our way around. Now that we've done all of that, I'm personally excited to really dig in and start to make an impact in what is slowly starting to feel like our city.

It was really really good to see everyone at home. Three weeks was just about enough time to spend catching up with people and doing some of the things that we missed:
- Kids getting bigger, but are still the same kids.
- Family Christmas dinner with the same insane amount of food.
- Since when were there so many Five Guys' Burger chains everywhere?
- Avatar in IMAX 3D. Thank goodness we saw it at home because it's a phenomenon in China and impossible to get tix.
- CEMCQ Winter Retreat.
- The bitter cold NYC winter makes Shanghai's winter much easier to bear.
- Sour Patch Kids, Amy Ruth's, Hot Dogs, NYC Pizza, parents home cooking, Taco Bell, I could go on....
- ...I will, White Castle, Twizzlers, gyros, big fat STEAKS. Just a list of what not to expect if you come visit.
- Did u know that the internet is blazing fast in the US?

Yep, a great trip home. In many ways, it felt like we never left, which was very comforting. Home will always be home. But after three weeks, we were ready to get back. We're here for a reason and it was time to get back to that. We didn't like leaving, but we came back recharged and refreshed. With the winter about to break, the World Expo and the World Cup a few months away and Chinese New Year just around the corner, this is an exciting place to be. As big as this world is, we have the capacity to appreciate all of it. That's a blessing if I ever heard one.

More frequent updates to come!!!

Random pictures from the past month:
Actual video played at Shanghai Int'l Airport (click on it and see what it says); "Avatarrrr"

Daisy makin Mochi; Henry and Grace...soon to be in Shanghai?

Christmas dinner with the cousins; Amy Ruth's soul food in Harlem

Happy Holidays

posted by Alan
(click on the pictures to see them full size)

I guess everyone is in full holiday mode right now back in the US. Being over here, it's easy to forget things like black friday shopping and Thanksgiving morning football. While the 'holiday season' isn't as boisterous as it is back in the States, China (I guess I can only speak for Shanghai) is beginning to take on it's own way of celebrating the seasons.

It felt strange to work on Thanksgiving Day. This made it easy to forget that it was actually Thanksgiving. But the large expat community here in Shanghai goes a long way in helping you feel a little slice of Home while you're overseas. We embrace the Chinese culture and really do cherish the local lifestyle, but Shanghai really is that international of a city where this mix of Western and Eastern lifestyles IS the local culture in this city.

Daisy and the Feast; "Happy T-Dry"

Thanksgiving Dinner for us was hosted by our friend Jeff(california). Turkey is pretty non-existent out here, but a few hotels ship them in and for a substantial price, a full Thanksgiving meal can be ordered. This, along with the pot luck dishes that everyone brought (Daisy did Mac and Cheese) made up a ThanksG dinner that rivals most at home. Although my family ThanksG dinners are pretty hard to top. We topped the night off with a few rounds of MAFIA. Thanks Jeff, Matt and our friends here for helping us feel closer to home. The only thing that killed the feeling was knowing we had to work the next day. We had another ThanksG dinner on Saturday night, but this time we skipped the turkey and just had three different kinds of chicken.

Helen(Sao Paolo, Brazil) and Daisy tearing apart the turkey

The city has really taken on the Christmas spirit since then. Christmas lights and decorations can be seen everywhere you go in Shanghai. Almost all of the hotels have Christmas music playing and fake trees are all over the place. It's very exciting to see China open it's doors to the world in this way. Part of me would like to be here for Christmas to celebrate with my company and local friends and get to share with them the joy of what Christmas is all about. This week I took a clothing donation at my company for some of the needy people here in Shanghai and the response so far has been awesome. I have to empty the donation box every day after work because it's always full! A few of my coworkers have asked me about what we're doing and why and some have even expressed a desire to come along. As great as it would be to be here with them during this time, I can't deny that Daisy and I are both definitely looking forward to coming back to New York to spend Christmas at home.

Decorations in my office; street decor in Shanghai

We'll be getting in on December 18th and will come back to Shanghai on January 8th. We don't have cell phones yet, but we're always reachable by email:
agong029@gmail.com
daisydaze@gmail.com
We definitely would love to see as many of you as possible while we're home, so get in touch!

Response to comments:
The answers to last post:
1. FAKE - almost any DVD you find here will be fake.
2. REAL - real Kellogs Frosted Flakes. Why they changed the name? I have no idea.
3. REAL - Coca Cola is EVERYWHERE. I saw Coke ads on some of the most desolate roads in Africa. Amazing.
4. REAL - Oreos also available with chocolate, strawberry and mint green frosting. None are as good as the original.
5. FAKE - it's a safe assumption that anything Crocs here is also fake.
6. REAL - As much as North Face is faked here, this is a real one. I only know because I bought it in the US. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to tell.
Glennis - I should've put a disclaimer that anyone who has lived in China before is not eligible to participate. And yes, your pinyin is correct, but I had to adjust it for American pronunciation's sake.
Libby - If you come visit, I think I should hold your wallet. Like a designated driver.
Corey - We'll see if you're able to figure out what shoes I wear when I'm back are real or fake.
Brendon - You got em all right except for the Coke. Thought too hard about it. I wear everything around in the States. I'll keep you guys guessing.

Zhen de, Jia de? (Real or fake?)

posted by Alan
*click on the pictures to see them full sized

Most people know that China is the counterfeit capitol of the world(unofficially). Everything from DVD's, sneakers, bags, watches, clothing, food and even Tylenol have been copied and sold here.

Now, I'm not here to debate the moral issue of using these goods (over here, sometimes there just is no alternative). In fact, the quality of the duplicates have gotten SO good, that oftentimes the only way to tell that they're fake at all is where you're buying them and how much you're getting them for. And even then, you wonder if they're real but just stolen or defective in some way.



Since coming here in April, i'd say the most faked brands have to be Crocs and UGG's. They are both EVERYWHERE. You can buy them in stores, at fake markets, off a blanket or a cart on the street in any style and color you could ever want on your feet. UGG's just started popping up because winter is coming, and Daisy and I were completely at a loss as to whether they were real or fake. Thats how good the quality is. There's actually debate about whether they're fake or are they somehow factory surplus or something. But it's clear that fake UGG's rule the Shanghai winter, while Crocs own the summer. UGG's can usually be bargained down to about $18 USD and Crocs could usually be had for about $3-$5 USD.

Now, because I've lived here before, many of my friends automatically assumed that things I was wearing or using were fake. I DO have some fakes, but I also lived in America for 90% of my life and occasionally purchased some genuine products over that time. But it actually amused me, having people ask "Is that real?" To keep people guessing, my usual response would be something along the lines of "If you have to ask, then it doesn't matter." For some reason, certain people pride themselves on being able to differentiate between real and fake goods. So, here's the contest. Check out the items below, listed by number and see if you can guess if they're real or fake.

1. Battlestar Galactica Season 4 Box Set (for nerdy Daisy)

2. a.k.a Frosted Flakes

3. in Chinese phonetics, this says "Kuh Kou Kuh La"

4. "Ow Li Ow (Oreo)

5. Croc slippers

6. North Fake?


Response to comments:
How does one type an awkward silence?