Introduction
In usual fashion, my parents and I went on our (mostly) yearly trip overseas. This time, our destination was China...but for the first time, not Beijing. Our China trips usually consist of spending the entire time in Beijing visiting relatives or being treated to dinner by family friends and colleagues. (I have not touched Peking Duck since 2008) The whole purpose of this trip was to explore Southern China. We spent the bulk of our time in Sichuan Province, my maternal grandmother's homeland, and Tibet. These two places alone could be their own countries in terms of climate, lifestyle, food, and culture.Places Visited
1
Though we arrived first in Hong Kong, we immediately flew to ChongQing the next day. We spent a lot of time in ChongQing visiting our relatives and friends. It would serve as a "hometown" to return to between excursions to Tibet and ChengDu. A city situated along the Yangtze River, ChongQing is home to spicy dishes (and thus a place that is not kind to my stomach). [10 pics]
2
After a few days in ChongQing, we hopped on the train for the two day/two night ride to Tibet. The pictures in this gallery were all taken through our window. Unfortunately, I have no idea where these places are. [20 pics]
3
Welcome to the Roof of the World. Oxygen deprivation is a curious thing. Our symptoms ranged from headaches to sudden tingling sensations in our extremities. We traveled from Lhasa to Shigatse by car. The pictures in this gallery are from the road and Shigatse. [35 pics]
4
We arrived in Lhasa coincidentally during the Saga Dawa holiday, celebrating the birth and death of Buddha. Tibet was filled with pilgrims making their way to Lhasa. The most devout pilgrims would take a few steps, pray, kneel, and then prostrate themselves. Repeating this every few steps can cause a single journey to sometimes take years. Many wear covers on their hands and knees but you can see the huge calluses on their foreheads from prostrating themselves. It is truly one of the most moving sights I've ever seen in my life. Just the fact that decades of Communist rule has failed to dilute or kill the Tibet spirit is a testament to the strength of their inner beliefs. [26 pics]
5
When we visited the Palcho Monastery, we happened to be in time for the arrival of some sort of sacred tapestry. Tibetans had lined the main square in anticipation of its arrive and a large group of monks awaited its arrival outside. [22 pics]
6
After returning from Tibet, we ventured to a village outside of ChongQing which was preserved in the style of Old China. While a place like this in the US would be a gimmicky tourist trap, this village was a living, breathing home to its local residents. I desaturated the pictures a bit to get an old-time feel. [21 pics]
6
We then took a quick trip to ChengDu, ChongQing's close neighbor. Our friends and relatives were quick to point out the differences between the two cities in terms of food and culture. I, personally, could not tell. "Yup...this food is just as spicy..." [8 pics]
7
It has always been a dream of my parents' to attend the annual June 4th Vigil in Victoria Park. The gathering is a yearly thorn in China's side as a reminder of the city that flies the Chinese flag, but lives by democratic morals. June 4th was on a Friday night and it was incredibly moving to see a crowd comprised mostly of students who cared about an event that occurred before most of them were born. The estimated attendance for this occasion, the 21st anniversary, was around 50,000. The whole event made my family feel that as long as Hong Kong exists, June 4th will never be forgotten. [34 pics]
8
Oh, and we also found some time to visit some of the touristy parts of Hong Kong too. [8 pics]Special Galleries
Just people going about their daily routines. [28 pics]
Get a towel or napkin, because these pictures will make you drool. [27 pics]
And what China gallery would be complete without a section dedicated to horrible translations and weird sights. [27 pics]