China

Royal Tailors

Bangkok, Thailand

3 January 2008

Dear Family and Friends,

From Boca Raton , in sunny South Florida , my generous friend and once-upon-a-time mother-in-law, Helga D. sent me this New Year’s message:

Beijing People's Republic of China 5 January 2008 Clear and Cold Dear Family and Friends,
	Please click on the image for more photos of Tian'an Men and The Forbidden City.

Sorry, sports fans. "Yu Li to Song Na to Xin Ying" is not the double-play combination on the Chinese Baseball Team in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Yu Li (Lily) and Song Na (Jasmine) and Xin Ying (Elsa) are my never-let-me-out-of-their-sight girl-guides in this capital city of 15.2 million.

Beijing People's Republic of China Sunday, 6 January 2008 Dear Family and Friends,
	Click on the photo for more images of Temple of Heaven and Lama Temple.

In New York City, the exquisite white marble, Neo-Gothic St. Patrick's Cathedral sits on bustling and narrow Fifth Avenue and not in the middle of Central Park. The venerable French Gothic Notre Dame de Paris sits on the Île de la Cité and not in le jardin des Tuileries. But in Beijing where The Son of Heaven prayed for good harvests, the Temple of Heaven sits in the middle of a 267 hectare (660 acre) public park.

Beijing Bandaling District China Monday 07 January 2008 Dear Family and Friends,
	Please click on the image for more photos of the Great Wall.

Here’s what I thought: “Book a tour. Ride a bus. Buy a ticket. Climb up on to the Wall. Then, take a leisurely stroll along the Wall.” I was correct, except for that last part. Listen . . . .

Jasmine went back to work but she enlisted her former colleague and good friend Elsa to be my guide for the day.

Beijing China 08 January 2008 Dear Family and Friends,
	Please click the photo for more images of the Summer Palace.

“The rich are different from you and me.” They have homes and compounds in Palm Beach or Palm Springs, or Beverly Hills or Pocantico Hills, on Cape Cod or Cape May, or in Oyster Bay or South Hampton on Long Island.

Royalty are very different. HRH the King of Thailand owns a palace on the seashore and one in the mountains as well one in the capital. South of Thailand, the Sultans of Malaysia collect Rolls Royce motorcars. And the Maharajas of India? Do they collect everything?

Harbin
China
11 January 2008

Dear Family and Friends,

"Oh, my goodness!"

Please click on the photo for more images of Harbin.

The airplane from Beijing descends through the clouds towards the Harbin airport. I stare at the landscape below and I think, "Oh, my goodness!" Actually, "Oh, my goodness" is not the exact phrase that comes to mind. "Holy cow" is a little closer but still not 100% accurate.

Harbin
Heilongjiang Province
China
12 January 2008

Please click on the photo for more images of Harbin.
My Dear Friends and Family around the World,

Xi`an
Shaanxi Province
China
16 January, 2008

Dear Family and Friends,

Please click on the image for more photos of the Ancient City.

Luoyang
Henan Province
China

18 January 2008

Please click on the photo for more images of Luoyang.

Dear Family and Friends,

My old friend Konrad is curious about my traveling lifestyle. He writes, "How did it all begin? How would you suggest one get started?"

The reasons for my travels are varied and complex and Konrad deserves a proper response. In the meantime, I can offer two simple answers to his questions:

Luoyang
Henan Province
Peoples Republic of China

Sunday
20 January 2008

Yesterday: Light Snow
Today: Heavy Snow
Tomorrow: More Snow