Show Me The Money

Justin took this shot of us outside the village of Xingping, near Yangshuo, at the spot that is the image on the back of the 20 RMB bill. I tried to play with the color in our photo to make it similar to the coloring on the money... couldn't quite get it the same, but I had fun trying. :-) I'm sure you'll notice the similar topography in the two images below.

Doors

I'm not sure what it is about doors that are so intriguing to me. I suppose its the fact that there is something behind them, something often left to my imagination. A window to the soul of a family, perhaps? I took this group of door pictures while we were in Yangshuo a couple of weeks ago, many of them on the hike we took through the karsts, ending in the small, ancient town of Xingping. Some of them are doors we encountered on the occasional farm houses that were tucked away in the wilderness, others were in Xingping itself.
I am always amazed at how Mao is still revered here in China, despite his sordid record as a leader of the country. His portrait is prominently displayed inside this home in Xingping. Bonus when a door is open and I can actually peek inside!



Notice all the red couplets on and above the doors. These are traditional Chinese New Year decorations, wishing good luck, happiness, health and prosperity to the occupants. I think think these decorations stay up throughout the year, weathering as the year progresses, until they are replaced with fresh ones for the following lunar new year celebration. Even the stable below is decorated!

This is the front door of The Giggling Tree, the guesthouse where we stayed outside of Yangshuo. See Gwen standing in front of it?! This door opened into a courtyard where meals are served from the guesthouse kitchen in good weather. Our family and Justin and Mary enjoyed several lovely evenings around a table in the courtyard behind these doors!

We all loved the site of this pup peeking out of the opening in the wall beside this door we spotted on our bike ride. We saw these same openings next to many farmhouse doors... anyone have an idea what they're for, besides a lookout for dogs?

Strength

As I watched Madelyn tackle these karsts in Yangshuo and find herself so daring and courageous, I was overflowing with thanks to the Lord for what He has done in her life.

"I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip, He who watches over you will not slumber." Psalm 121: 1, 2

Goodbye to M & J

Justin and Mary left us this afternoon. They're probably somewhere over the Arctic by now, on their way back to Chicago. We've been looking at pictures and talking about the wonderful time we all had together. What a gift it was, these weeks together. Thanks for making your way to us, you two. We love you!

Cormorant Guy

An image of the old cormorant fisherman down by the river in Yangshuo...

Have you read the classic children's book about Ping, a little duck who lives on a boat on the Yangtze River? When Ping strays from his boat, he meets strange dark birds who dive for fish that they bring back to their master. Cormorants! These fisherman still exist in Yangshuo and you can go out on a boat and watch them work with their birds. For 2 RMB you could pose with a fisherman and his cormorants, which we did, but I think this picture just of him is pretty cool.