Being in China without ready access to the internet made it simple to focus on the present, observe my thoughts and write about what I was experiencing. I need a strategy to continue thinking and writing now I'm home and have broadband and 4G on tap. The internet has been a compulsion ever since I … Continue reading Internet
In the People’s Park
A white woman practices tai chi earnestly. Her movements are precise. She bends deeply, flexible and strong. Her face contorts in concentration. She studies with an honoured master. A calligrapher sets up his materials A brush, a pot of water, the path His movements flow like his water As he dances his ephemeral poetry. The … Continue reading In the People’s Park
Wandering
I was looking for the historical district along the canal when I took a wrong turn down a street full of bridal dress shops, and in between the bridal dress shops, bridal accessory shops. And in between bridal dress and bridal accessory shops, alleys with racks of bridal dresses and tables of accessories. I soon … Continue reading Wandering
Tiger Hill
East Side "Every corner is suitable for making poetry", and Here I sit, a freshly minted poet In a pagoda on top of a hill Surrounded by bamboo and birdsong Overlooking Sunzu's parade ground. Artist, scholar, and warrior are all one. North side Clouds melted in tea fragrance Now surrounded by tea bushes and the sound … Continue reading Tiger Hill
Commerce
I ate some deep fried tofu in spicy sauce and steamed bread for lunch from some shacks outside the Humble Administrator's garden, and then bought some jabotica fruits from a smiling woman who kept adding flourescent things to my box, even though I didn't want them, and told her, in Chinese. Then she weighed the … Continue reading Commerce
At Yang Yang
Ordering wine in Suzhou with my limited Chinese is an adventure. When the waitress told me the only bottle of white wine, was "mei you le"; a glass of Shui Xiang Guo Se (silver) at 38 yuan, under the heading "Chinese yellow wine" seemed like reasonable value for money. 38 yuan is about AUD$7.20. I … Continue reading At Yang Yang
To the lady with the pink hair
To the lady with pink hair I caught trying to put money in my shopping bag in the toilets of the Beijing South Train Station: the shopping bag was from Parkview Green. It was sitting on top of my Samsonite hard case. And the toilet attendant didn't want your money either, whether you were American … Continue reading To the lady with the pink hair
Untours Food Tours
At the appointed time and place, Chang introduced herself and delivered the good news that our tour would just be the three of us. After checking our tolerance for foods and chilli, and giving us a brief overview of the tour, including a warning to give timely notice so she could locate 5 star facilities … Continue reading Untours Food Tours
Panjiayuan Antique Market
After touring the art collection of the hotel I was staying at, by the time I got the subway to the antique market, most of the stallholders were packing up. Judgement regarding the stalls aside, I realized, not for the first time, that I have no desire to collect things. I admire the collection of … Continue reading Panjiayuan Antique Market
Yuanfen
Hi Liu Xu Thank you so much for walking around Beijing with me today and allowing me access to my old haunts. It really was great good luck that you answered the phone when the guards called with my crazy request. I appreciated our conversations and your insights into contemporary Chinese culture. I hope our … Continue reading Yuanfen
Sarah Bonnar 