Lazy Photographer

My younger son is bored with the empty house, so I took him to the Calgary Zoo this afternoon. The animals are all out for the spring air and we hiked for three and half hours!

Johnston Canyon

After the children have gone to school in the morning today, three of us ladies left Calgary at eight o’clock sharp with the excitement for a hike at Johnston Canyon that is 18 km northwest of Banff (130 km west of Calgary). This place shows the power of nature and time - rushing water carves limestone into a canyon and potholes over the years. It took us three hours to reach to the Ink Pot and came back to the base – 11.6 km and 215 m elevation. There were icy patches where hiking boots didn’t help, but we were glad we did not give up.

The chick monk tries to get the pine seeds out of the mess!

Mountain Jay

What is the beeping noise you are making?

Ink Pot (spring water bubbles from the sand / mud)

Do you know what kind of bird this it? It stares at our lunch when we ate by the Ink Pot.

Upper Fall

Lower Fall

Driving Back - Rundle Mountain in Banff

Back to Yang Shuo 又回阳朔

I still have tons of pictures of our China trip to share with you.

Ten minutes before leaving Rong Shui to Yang Shuo on April 5th, 2010, I sneaked out with another team mate to the farmer’s market close to our hotel. Farmer’s markets always fascinate me in any place in the world.

This photo reminds me a Chinese folk song, "A chicken in my left hand, and a duck in my right, I'm carrying my chubby baby on my back and going back to see my maiden family!"

左手一只鸡，右手一只鸭，身上还背着一个胖娃娃呀！咿呀咿嘚喂！

I am not sure if these are ducklings or goslings.

If I see the fresh veggies in a farmer's market, I think I can live here.  Love the bamboo baskets.

The orphanage arranged two vehicles for us heading back to Guilin through the beautiful inner Guang Xi Mountains. I had a light motion sickness due to the numerous sharp turns on the road. When we arrived in Yang Shuo, the West Street welcomed us in a familiar atmosphere! I am back!  The costumes of the people from multi-ethnic groups always attract my attention. Girls in this area are good at sewing and crafts. They are slightly shorter and gentler than the northern Chinese.

We could not wait to check into the hotel on the West Street and merged into the steam of shops and people. Walking on the pebble street, there was no noise from the vehicles. I felt that this place is like a home. Shopping is extremely fun, especially for a shopaholic with a habit of searching for a good deal.

For me, an outdoor rusty café with a glass of wine and a cheese cake or a cone of an ice-cream and a couple of good friends is a heaven! This place is exactly what I like.

When we had enough with food and drink, we walked around for shopping. There are many unique things around. A guy selling knock-off brand name watches followed us and had several interesting conversations and bargainings with us. That was fun. I bought lots of things as gifts for my friends (place mats, pendants, table cloth, silk scarf, and tea), and I was crowned with "experienced and professional shopaholic”. That is not fare at all!

Colorful Miao cloth (I am not sure what they are for)

Silk Scarves

When I was shopping, I was thinking about my future Kuwaiti friends too!

We went to the Narrow Gate Café and I had the best pizza in my life! (This one is a different one)

West Street

The "Mei You" (没有- means nothing）Restaurant was said the best one on the West Street. I like the late Qing Dynasty interior decoration that was filled with the smell of rusty copper. You got to visit this place at least once.  Great food.

春日放飞

                    谁作彩蝶翩？

                    似心动永不返，

                    愿乘一线凭飞去。。。

                   

                    愚童仰面时，

                    我        

                    泪噙，

                    心颤。

                    回首寻白杨，

                    春风，

                    还记得，

                    抚我枝上鹅绿？

                    不忍离，

                    怎舍得去？

                    但求人相思。。。