Bali, Indonesia

The island of Bali -- a magical place in the Indonesian archipelago. From the white and black sand beaches to the jungle ravines and rice fields, Bali is a graceful dream. Hindu, in a Muslim nation, descended from artists, priests and musicians who came from Java to Bali in the 15th century. A very mellow time with friends Frank and Lynn who graciously invited us to share their villa for a week.

The People of Cambodia

ANGKOR WAT CAMBODIA

ANGKOR WAT "the city that became a pagoda,"
the capital of the Khmer Empire for over 500 years, 800-1300AD.
A million people lived here then,
one of the great and remarkable civilizations of Asia.

In the midst of the jungle, ruins of temples rise out of the mist,
over 60 square miles, large deep moats, still with water, long narrow
causeways into these temple compounds, where Hinduism and Buddhism coexist, in earthly and otherworldly harmony.

Bangkok, Krung Thep, "The City of Angels"

Mark is consulting on an exhibit for UNESCO and the National Science Museum of Thailand and we are living in the center of Thailand's megalopolis. The Guinness Book of Records registers Bangkok's name as the world's longest name for a capital. It can be translated "the city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city, ...the grand capital of the world endowed with nine prescious gems..." It is also a city built on and around canals, with 5.7 million vehicles and less than 5% of its space for roads, about one-fifth the percentage of most American cities. We live in a quiet soi two minutes from one of the busiest corners and most popular night street food markets in the city. We travel on the back of motorcycle taxis driven by men in orange vests, by Skytrain, tuk-tuk, taxi and boat. The most incredible beauty exists inextricably interwoven with poverty, squalor and the evidence of years of wear and tear and pollution on this once graceful city.



We miss the children of Shanghai, and the fulfillment that came with teaching them, but our life here and work with UNESCO are great growth opportunities.



Some Bangkok children

Hangzhou, "not a city on Earth to compare"

So said Marco Polo when he arrived in Hangzhou shortly after 1279 when Kubla Khan moved China's capital to Beijing.
We found Laughing Buddha with big pockets carved into the hills along a stream . . . cycled around West Lake -- visited Ling Yin temple with thousands -- an escape into the peace of the ancients all around us.

Second Shanghai Moon

The moon is waxing again in Shanghai, its thumbnail outline appeared in the sky as I was biking in the 6 pm darkness a couple days ago. We celebrated Mark's birthday on the 38th floor above Tomorrow Square, looking out on the city and People's Park.

A typical street scene, with all the contrasts between old and new.

Sights of Shanghai

We have been in Shanghai for a month -- an amazing and fascinating place. Longua Temple was our unplanned destination Friday. We set out on our bikes for People's Park and the Shanghai Museum, but took a right turn and followed Zhongshan Lu instead of Ya'Nan for miles!! But the thriving temple, with many Buddhist devotees lighting incense and praying to the many statues was more than worth the trip.

We can post images to the blog, but we can't see our blog -- no access from China!! Our whole school turned out Thursday
for this performance on the athletic field -- they do these exercises every day, and it was awesome!

This morning our Tai Chi teacher let me film him teaching Mark, which will help both of us practice. We love our teacher, and
Tai Chi. Shanghai continues to fascinate and delight us every day!!


These are our neighbors, Vila and Lois, taking us on a bike ride to the library. Vila and her husband Owen invited us for dinner the other night, as their first foreign guests we were very honored. And we had lots of laughs with them, they are so openhearted and friendly!!

Golden Week in Shanghai