I Missed That Blue Sky

Our first full week in South Africa was pretty laid back. We’re both just trying to get re-acclimated to life in the western hemisphere. Our first weekend here was wonderful. Saturday we did some wine tasting with friends down in the winelands, and Sunday we spent exploring on our own, and we managed to pick up a BBQ (or Braii as they call it here) on the way.

At the same time though, I think I’m in a bit of a culture shock state. I was signing up at the local gym this week and the guy doing all my paperwork asked me what the biggest difference between South Africa and America is. I thought about it for probably way too long and still, for the life of me I couldn’t think of any differences. I had to explain to him that I’d just been living in China for the past year, and at this point in time, there were no differences to me. Then he started asking me if it was true that the McDonalds meals are bigger in the states, cause he’d heard they were (I’m signing up at the gym people). Again, I disappointed him cause I told him I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had a McDonald’s meal, and I definitely hadn’t had one in South Africa. But why is the guy at the gym asking me about McDonald’s?

We both are really happy to be here and just feel like we have a whole new sense of freedom. The weather has been beautiful, and we’ve been lucking out with some great warm sunny days (in the middle of winter mind you). It’s great to see the blue sky again.


~The first Winery "Meerlust"~


~Wine barrels~


~Eliot sipping outside of Spier~


~Sunshine~


~The smallest one is a normal sized wine bottle~


~Sittin Pretty~


~Cheetahs trying to stay cool~


~They're in love...~


~On the Indian Ocean side, having lunch~


~waddle waddle~


~Taking a break from fishing~


~I just love these little guys~


~Sun going down~


~Striking a pose~


~And another...~


~Taking flight~

Dear China

I knew this day would come; and it’s now time to say goodbye. Sometimes I anticipated it, wanting so much to get out, and other times I dreaded it because I know I’ll miss you when I’m gone. Saying goodbye is never easy, but it’s hard to keep growing without letting go of some things. So China, as a dear friend, here is my farewell to you.

I want to thank you for everything you’ve taught me. Like a mentor that repeatedly puts their student into difficult situations to teach them about a craft, you have done this for me. Only the craft is I. My boundaries have never been more tested. In doing this I’ve learned not only a lot about myself, my heart and my desires, I’ve also learned about the things I don’t want and about the person I don’t want to become. I have never in my life had so many revelations that have come to me when I’ve been either reduced to tears in frustration, or been so overwhelmed with happiness that I cry even then too.

Not only have you taught me so much, but I’ve been humbled with the realization of how much I don’t know. You’ve left me wanting to explore more, learn more and experience more. China, you have showed me the most wonderful sides of humanity and you’ve also shown me the darkest. I’m glad to see both. I don’t want to be sheltered in the world and I believe that one is necessary to understand the other. Both are very powerful, and I always want to keep them with me.

This is what I now know. I want to be an enjoyable person; the type of person who doesn’t bring people down, but lifts them up when I can. I want to be a good friend. No, scratch that, I want to be a best friend. Someone my friends know they can count on. I also want to have best friends and people I know will always be there for me.

If there’s one things that stands out to me that I’ve learned, it’s that I don’t want to surround myself with people that tend to suck the energy out me. It’s not always easy to spot this and it seems very easy to form superficial relationships with people. But I now know that these relationships are toxic, and I don’t feel good about them. I’m a social person, and I love having people around, but I need to take a closer look at which people I share my time with. Not that my time is so important, but it’s mine and I want to make better use of it.

Along with my time, I love going out and socializing with friends, but I don’t want to have plans every night. I enjoy the time Eliot and I spend together when it’s just the two of us and I don’t feel like we have to have a busy social schedule to verify ourselves. I realize now how much I love staying in, cooking a meal and watching a film, or playing games. Maybe it’s cheesy, but it’s honest.

Thanks you China for the love, and for the good times along with the tough times. Thank you for showing me a new place and leaving me wanting to see more of it. For all the wonderful people I’ve met, along with the ones I’d rather not see again; thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Miss you, Love you,
Ashley

Boat Launch!

Wow! What a perfect end to an amazing almost 1 year in China. Last Friday Eliot and the guys he has worked so hard with launched the very first boat out of the China factory. It was quite the event in Fuyang complete with camera crews and fireworks. Traffic was stopped along the river where they were launching due to a lot of spectators trying to figure out what this thing was they were putting in the water. The boat was christened by yours truly. I was quite honored that they had asked me to do it. This is a huge milestone for these guys and they should be so proud of everything they've managed to accomplish in some very difficult circumstances. Thanks you guys for letting me be a part of it, it meant a huge amount to me.


~At 6am and already 80 degrees~


~Setting it up and getting ready for the splash~


~Trying not to sweat on the boat~


~There's something really unsettling about seeing something this big suspended in the air~


~John, the Chinese company owner, staying cool~


~Of course Champagne~


~And it floats!!~
(big sigh of relief from those responsible)


~First run out on the Fu Chun river, way to go guys!~

Xi An and the Terracotta Warriors

So as our last full weekend in China we really wanted to make the most of it (next weekend we'll be busy packing and getting ready to shove off to South Africa). We have wanted to go and see the Terracotta Army, but have just never been able to find the time to go. I remember my grandma telling me about it when I was a little girl after their trip to China, and not even being able to comprehend what she was talking about. Why would anyone bury a bunch of statues in the ground? Since then she's always had a small replica of a Terracotta warrior in her house, so when we knew we were going to be living in China I've been thinking how cool it would be to go and get our own Terracotta Warrior. It seems like one of those trips you really have to plan for. But we decided to just go over a weekend and kind of cram it in so to speak.

I'm so glad we did.

The sight is completely breathtaking. Even just standing above the first pit, trying to wrap my head around what had transpired here, made me a bit dizzy (it could have been the heat and humidity but I'm pretty sure it wasn't). The Terracotta Army is one of those things that you truly have to see to believe, and even then it doesn't feel real.

A brief rundown: 2000 years ago in around 200BC, the self proclaimed first emperor of China Qin Shi Huang wanted to build an army around his tomb to protect him in the afterlife. There were 4 pits excavated to house the soldiers and cavalry, but only 3 were completed before the construction ended. They dug out large corridors, placed the figures in them and then put large wood planks over the top. On top of the planks they put down mats and then covered those with clay, all to try and preserve the soldiers.

The soldiers themselves were built out of clay, and the bodies are believed to have been built in 3 parts. They also believe that they had 8 different molds for the heads of the soldiers, but clay was then added to them to create individual facial features. Every solider is unique, there are no 2 alike. Different armor, clothing and hairstyles were given depending on the rank of the soldier. After they were made they even went as far as to paint them. This is insane considering in the 1st and largest pit they believe that more than 8,000 soldiers are buried.

All this was underground and unheard of until 1974 when some farmers wanted to add a well to their land, started digging and found this…

My photos don’t even begin to scratch the surface of a truly amazing story. But here they are, enjoy!

On the bus, heading out to the pits!


Trying to get a good close up shot. The lighting in there was just not ideal for photo taking. They asked people to not use their flash. I took over 100 photos, but most came out blurry or too dark.


Pit #1, the largest of the three.


Dedicated soldiers


Pieces that still need to be put back together. Why does Humpty Dumpty come to mind?


So many.


Overwhelming.


This is where the statues are brought when they are pulled out of the pit to be reconstructed.


Being put back together.


Horses












This was in the 3rd pit which is believed to be the officer’s quarters. This was where all the logistics of battle were to take place in the afterlife.




So much still to do.

As for the rest of Xi An…

A really interesting city with a lot of culture and places to see. One of the few cities left that still has a wall surrounding it.


The Bell Tower.



Eliot


Kites in the sky.


The drum tower.






Sweets at the market.


The Market


Huge fountain show that goes along to music. Completely puts Hangzhou’s West Lake fountain show to shame.


Pagoda.




A fierce lion.