Our Way Home

So we left Wudang a whole 3 days ago but it feels like ages...
I'm really sad. There's just something so amazing about waking up every day and knowing you're going to spend the whole day doing something you're passionate about. Of course there's parts of the training that almost feel like torture but when you can see better results all the time it makes those times feel so much more important.

Our last couple days of travel have been pretty bad. Spent seven hours in hard seats on the train from Wudang to Wuhan. Then our taxi driver couldn't find our hostel so he chose to drop us off on the side of a dark road in the pouring rain to fend for ouselves... people amaze me sometimes. Anyways, we got another taxi who also couldn't find our hostel but at least dropped us off at a pretty decent hotel. We visited a Daoist temple the next day which was certainly the highlight of our time in Wuhan. The monks there were really friendly and nice. I don't think it was a very touristy temple. We got more stares than normal. Hahaha.

Sleeping on the train was really great. I mean we had beds, but you can't sit up in them so we spent 17 hours laying down. Can't complain too much.. better than 17 hours sitting.

Shanghai has been really good. We've been surprisingly busy... going here and there, looking for this and that. We went looking for a silk market yesterday which we didn't find, but found alot of other things instead. Including some silk. Haha. That's just the way things work sometimes.

Pretty much since we left I've really just been looking forward to getting home. Big cities are really not my thing so I'm glad we're leaving tomorrow. Not looking forward to getting up at 530am though.

Since I haven't packed yet.... that's the end of this post.

Coming to a close

Hey so it seems like forever since I've blogged so it's gonna be a long one. Around Christmas time I started to have some major problems with my lower back. Major problems to the point where sometimes I was bed ridden because I couldn't sit and could only stand for short periods of time. Also one of the reasons I haven't blogged in ages.

So it's been about 10 to 14 days now since I stopped going for acupuncture. I feel alot better. I've really recovered well. The training's going really well. I finished my horse whisk form (which I swear is definitely the most difficult form I've ever learned) and just a few days ago finished Tai Chi 28. The next form I'm planning on learning is the most basic one (which I should have started with). Live and learn.

I've made a kind of crazy decision. There's a program being run by the headmaster of our school here (Master Yuan), which is either 3 or 5 years long depending on how far you want to take it and so I've decided to at least do the 3 year program. It's basically all of the forms of the school and includes some hard chi gong and alot of internal training. I'm really looking forward to it. It starts in September. It's become almost like a second home here. Me and Brandi have really become close to quite a few of the students.

I've also started training Iron palm which I surprisingly really love.. I'm not sure yet what it is that I love about it but the benefit is definitely obvious.. it's a 3 year process so it's a pretty big commitment in itself. I also plan to do other iron body training which I'm also really looking forward to.

So we're leaving in less than 2 weeks which I'm excited about and sad about. I really don't want to return to the working force for any amount of time but I'm sure it will reap it's benefits in the end. I can't wait to see everyone when I come home....!!!!!

My First 3 Weeks

So Brandi and I have been training now for almost 3 weeks. I love it here. It's really different not having to worry about work and what's happening on the weekend with my friends. Considering I don't really have a weekend.

We train outside in a old temple that is currently being renovated. Which is wonderful. I can't remember the last time I got so much fresh air. We train usually starting in the morning at 630am with the 5 animals qi gong. Our first class is from 830 to about 11 and the second class is from 3 to 5. I've done more kicks in the past 3 weeks than I probably have in a year but it's nice because the only thing on my mind usually is how sore I'm going to be tomorrow. I don't have to cook because all the meals are provided. Although I love cooking and I miss it, I'm usually so exhausted that I'm just happy there's always food to eat.

Master Yuan is an amazing instructor. I don't know many people who understand their bodies as well as he does. I think you could probably see every ropy muscle in his body. I aspire to understand myself this well sometime. I have a long way to go. We've been practicing a really cool Tai Yi form. I've never seen or heard of it before. It's strengthened my body in a way that I didn't even know that it was weak. My posture is improved and when I practice my forms, I can already see an increase in speed and timing.

The past 3 days I've been pretty sick with the flu and it's hard to recover when my body is under so much stress but I've still gone to every class. I'm starting to finally feel better. I thought I knew what I wanted to do when I come back. But I've realized that I haven't actually made any decisions except one. I'm going to continue my study in the martial arts... I'm going to enjoy my time here, it seems like it's going to fast already. I'll make those decisions when the time comes.. live in the moment....

The Oddities of China

So China's a very strange country.

The first thing I noticed was the spitting. Everyone feels free to just hoark a loogie anywhere and spit it everywhere. In the train station. In a restaurant. On the street. It's all the same. Brandi actually saw two guys shoot a snot rocket in one day! Disgusting!

No one follows the traffic rules. If the light says don't walk, more people walk across the road than when it says it's okay to walk. The cars change lanes whenever they feel like it and turn from any lane they want. They honk at each other constantly as though somehow this is going to stop the other person from doing what they're going to do anyways.

The other day Brandi and I were walking down the street in Beijing and they were spraying some kind of chemical on the trees. We were downwind and didn't have time to escape so for days all I could smell was something similar to the smell of varnish! It burned my lungs and eyes, but the guy standing out in the street spraying it had no protection. Crazy people here.

We are now in a smaller city called Luoyang. The babies here have little suits with holes in the bum so that if they poo their pants, they just poo on the street instead.

The toilets on the train were so disgusting I almost barfed. No wonder the people here get sick. They're massively over populated and the sanitation is non existent. No soap in the bathrooms. I mean come on get with the program.

I'm really excited to start training. I'm tired of being around people constantly. The great wall hike was amazing, it's the least amount of people I've been around since we left home. Ahh home.. So much space. I miss the space. I know... we've only been gone just over a week!

Goodbye Shanghai

So Shanghai was interesting to say the least. Thank god we stayed in a really great hostel. The ladies that work at the reception here were incredibly helpful. I don't know if Brandi and I would've gone anywhere without getting lost.
Besides a few dramatic moments, like almost being ripped apart trying to get off the train during busy hours, and trying to get a taxi in the rain, it has been an enjoyable stay. We ate at 2 really great vegetarian restaurants. The faux meat here is so much better than what's available in Edmonton.
Although the traveling is going well, I didn't realize how much me and Brandi would be arguing. It's funny because we haven't lived together in years and I just thought since we get along so well normally that we would be the best of friends. Not that we're not getting along at all. But I remember what it's like to argue with my sister every 10 minutes. Haha. I blame the jet lag.
Today was the highlight of our time in Shanghai. We visited a monastery called Yofu. Just walking along beside it on the street I felt the most calm I've felt in weeks. The smell of incense wafting out was like heaven.
We went to see a Jade Buddha. Which I've seen before in Thailand. But this was different. Sorry. I have no pictures because they were not allowed. It was a spiritual experience. The most beautiful serene looking Buddha I've seen in my travels. I feel much more like myself.
I'm looking forward to Beijing and the great wall. But more than anything I'm looking forward to starting my training. Every day is almost like we're just passing time, seeing sights, before we really begin our journey.
Soon our crazy overnight train ride will begin. Hopefully we make it through in one peace.
Hello Beijing!

Departure from japan

So it is our last day here and I am almost regretful that we're leaving. Good thing that there is a lot to look forward to. Yesterday Brandi and I went to the Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi park and then spent the day walking around Harajuku. I don't think I've ever seen so many clothing stores. It's comparable to West Edmonton mall. But at least it's outside.
We then had an amazing macrobiotic, vegetarian dinner at a famous restaurant that has served people such as Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney. It was excellent!
Today we got up early and packed and spent most of our day touring the imperial gardens. Working in a Japanese garden this summer made me appreciate all the time and effort put into sculpting the trees and shrubs. The detail put into the pruning amazes me.
We went for organic tea at a great little cafe and had a wonderful chat with the woman who owns it. Sometimes it's difficult to communicate but she was very patient.
Last but definitely not the least we went and ate soba noodles at a little restaurant without chairs and where slurping and burping are heard so often they go unnoticed. Perfect for me! Hahaha.
Although Tokyo is far too busy for me, it's been a nice little vacation and I got to see some of the culture which I thoroughly enjoyed. Next time I would like to see more of the country. I will return again sometime in the future. Goodbye Japan!