A lot of people have asked me what exactly i'll be doing and where will i be going. To a lot of those questions i have to answer "i don't know", the program hasn't given us a lot of details about what and where and i think that is because they don't know for sure yet either. It sounds like there are a number of possible plans that we may follow and the exact specifics all depends on weather, road conditions, and the group. I will, however, try to give the best description of the trip as i can so you all know generally what i'm getting into. On April 13th we'll arrive in Chiang Mai, Thailand in the northwest of the country. We'll be getting there just in time for Songkran, the Thai new year, also known as the water splashing festival. During April 12th thru 14th people splash water on each other to symbolize the washing away of anything bad from last year. This seems like an auspicious start to the trip, beginning a new adventure refreshed and renewed, ready to take on what lies ahead. Plus Chiang Mai is going to be HOT so the occasional splash of water should be welcome. After Songkran we will head into the nearby Doi Suthep National Park where we spend a number of days in the northern mountains in the Pangmapha district.
On April 25 we leave Thailand and fly to Kunming, China in the Yunnan Province. Yunnan is supposed to be the most biologically and culturally diverse region in all of China. We will spend a few days in Kunming exploring the city, learning about the culture and urban ecology of a modern Chinese city. At the same time we will have crash courses in Chinese, lecture presentations, and numerous excursions around the city. After we leave Kunming we will be moving through various mountain regions working our way northwest towards the Tibetan Plateau. The areas we will visit include Jianchuan, Lao Jun Shan, Lijiang, Tiger Leaping Gorge (I've seen pictures of this gorge online, it is absolutely beautiful), Haba Shan, and Xianggelila. They haven't been specific about what we will be doing, but they say it includes assessing forest condition and forest plant species richness. During our backcountry excursions we will both camp and stay in lodges depending on what is available.
After all that its back to Bangkok for a day and then back state side (with a short 10 hour layover in Taipei first). I'll landing at SFO sometime in the morning on June 1st most likely ready for a much needed nap.
After all that its back to Bangkok for a day and then back state side (with a short 10 hour layover in Taipei first). I'll landing at SFO sometime in the morning on June 1st most likely ready for a much needed nap.
I really don't know what to expect on this trip, I have so little experience with anything like this that i can't even imagine what it is going to be like. I suppose that is for the best, rather than going with lot of preconceived notions about what it will be like i can just accept what comes at me at face value. I'm sure what ever i encounter it will be amazing. From what i've read this part of the world holds incredible natural beauty, and a wide variety of vibrant, colorful cultures. Also since the communists have taken over the party has suppressed most minority cultures, fearing they would lead to disunity or separatist movements. However, in the last decade or so this has changed, the party now supports the development of "authentic cultures" meaning more traditional, indigenous groups. This has been somewhat controversial, some see this as a good thing, promoting cultural diversity, others see it as a government attempt to enhance the tourism appeal of certain regions, and take control over minority groups such as religious and ethnic organizations by making them government sanctioned and sponsored. I'm really excited to see how this controversy is playing out, and see how it is affecting average villagers. Yunnan has apparently been fairly independent throughout it's history, but now as China expands it is becoming increasingly the focus of development efforts in order to tap natural resources and open new markets, I can't wait to see both the good and the bad of what seems to me (from what i have read about the area) to be fast track globalization/modernization.
OH Man!! Rereading that last paragraph it sounds so theoretical, like it was a case study taken from a text book. NO. I can't wait to see people whose lives are different to mine, to live in a culture different from mine, and to see plants and animals different from what i have ever encountered simply because they are different. Really i'm going in search of something NEW. I'm looking to see something new so that when i come back i can see familiar things in a new way. In any case i'm ready to throw myself in head first, so in the immortal words of peter pan, "hold on tight boys and girls cause here we go!"
I've been to Lijiang!! You are pretty right on your discussion of China's acceptance and dealings with minority cultures--I def felt the touristy side in Yunnan, and Lijiang is no exception--but regardless, it's going to be magnificently beautiful. Try all the yak stuff that's out there! Yunnan has yak everything--meat, yogurt, butter...I had yak, donkey, bee, flower soup, tibetan food, sooo much good stuff that you can't get in the U.S. Anyways, stay safe, I'm excited to hear your Chinese skills when you get back--nice kickoff entry.
ReplyDeleteCurious as to whether you felt the earthquake in Western China, and whether it will have repercussions on where you go and what you can do on the China leg of the trip. Sent a moment of panic through my soul when I saw the reports of the 7.0 temblor on the news ... and the fact that it was felt as far south as Bangkok!
ReplyDeleteHope all is going well - and you're surviving the heat!