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Kate's Chronicles
We continue to have MAJOR internet problems here so fingers crossed I get to post this blog. We seem to be the meat in some bureaucratic sandwich and it is driving us all crazzzzzzy......Have only managed to get to my emails about twice a week and as for getting onto any websites...forget it!!!!
It is certainly heating up here - averaging around 35-38 each day - so I am rather glad that I get the summer holiday break over July/August when the heat is at its worst. This city is called one of the "3 furnaces" of China so that gives you an idea of what summer will be like.
University life continues merrily along. My students are getting worried about their exams...I'm trying to finish writing exam questions in between teaching. Ive had very positive feedback regarding my performance and have been offered a further contract. Signed on the dotted line today so will be teaching here until at least 30 June 2012. Still so much to see and do.....beginning with learning Chinese!!!!!
Have been out sightseeing and managed to get lost YET again. I seem to be making a habit of this given the impossibility of me reading Chinese street signs!! A lovely Chinese man "rescued" me this time and walked me to the Metro station. He was happy to be able to practice his English while out for his daily walk and managed to save me at the same time....its truly amazing how helpful some people can be :)
Managed to go and see Sun Yat-sen's mausoleum...climbing all 392 steps up and 392 steps down - my legs haven't forgiven me yet. Now for the history behind this.....Leaning back against Purple Mountain, the impressive mausoleum is home to a man widely regarded as one of the founders of modern China. He is credited with helping to end the rule of the hopelessly corrupt and incompetent Manchu dominated Qing dynasty. After the revolution in 1911, China was in chaos yet again as various warlords in different localities battled and quarreled amongst themselves with little regard for the needs of the country. Dr. Sun had intended to change that and for many years lead the struggle against them, but he would not live to see all of them defeated. He died in 1925 of liver cancer, merely 58 years old. The design of the mausoleum was selected and construction began in 1925, with the tomb being finished 4 years later. Leading up to the hall housing the sarcophagus is a 480 meter long stairway consisting of 392 steps. The hall itself is made out of Italian marble, with the coffin in the center of a large ring for tourists to walk a complete circle around. The crazy thing about this place is that the actual body is NOT here!!!! His body was returned to the city of his birth but that hasn't bothered the millions of Chinese who visit this site each year.
Chinese tour groups everywhere wandering around like a pack of sheep...... each tour group seems to have its own hat design so they don't get lost....so you end of fighting your way around a group of white hats, red hats, orange hats etc!!!
I then headed over to the Linggu scenic area which houses a large Buddhist complex. The Linggu Temple is also known as the Soul Valley Temple and it serves as a memorial hall for the army service men killed during the early civic war (the Northern Expedition Period) against the Qing Dynasty and warlords, and during the Anti-Japanese War. The presidents of the Republic, Dr. Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Jieshi), both left their calligraphies here. a beautiful area with lovely gardens pavilions etc and a 9 storey pagoda. The reflections on the water were a delight and the peace and serenity enjoyed before return to the hustle and bustle of city life.
Nothing else to report so I'll sign off and see if I can post this! hope everyone is fit and well.
Bye for now. xx
It is certainly heating up here - averaging around 35-38 each day - so I am rather glad that I get the summer holiday break over July/August when the heat is at its worst. This city is called one of the "3 furnaces" of China so that gives you an idea of what summer will be like.
University life continues merrily along. My students are getting worried about their exams...I'm trying to finish writing exam questions in between teaching. Ive had very positive feedback regarding my performance and have been offered a further contract. Signed on the dotted line today so will be teaching here until at least 30 June 2012. Still so much to see and do.....beginning with learning Chinese!!!!!
Have been out sightseeing and managed to get lost YET again. I seem to be making a habit of this given the impossibility of me reading Chinese street signs!! A lovely Chinese man "rescued" me this time and walked me to the Metro station. He was happy to be able to practice his English while out for his daily walk and managed to save me at the same time....its truly amazing how helpful some people can be :)
Managed to go and see Sun Yat-sen's mausoleum...climbing all 392 steps up and 392 steps down - my legs haven't forgiven me yet. Now for the history behind this.....Leaning back against Purple Mountain, the impressive mausoleum is home to a man widely regarded as one of the founders of modern China. He is credited with helping to end the rule of the hopelessly corrupt and incompetent Manchu dominated Qing dynasty. After the revolution in 1911, China was in chaos yet again as various warlords in different localities battled and quarreled amongst themselves with little regard for the needs of the country. Dr. Sun had intended to change that and for many years lead the struggle against them, but he would not live to see all of them defeated. He died in 1925 of liver cancer, merely 58 years old. The design of the mausoleum was selected and construction began in 1925, with the tomb being finished 4 years later. Leading up to the hall housing the sarcophagus is a 480 meter long stairway consisting of 392 steps. The hall itself is made out of Italian marble, with the coffin in the center of a large ring for tourists to walk a complete circle around. The crazy thing about this place is that the actual body is NOT here!!!! His body was returned to the city of his birth but that hasn't bothered the millions of Chinese who visit this site each year.
Chinese tour groups everywhere wandering around like a pack of sheep...... each tour group seems to have its own hat design so they don't get lost....so you end of fighting your way around a group of white hats, red hats, orange hats etc!!!
I then headed over to the Linggu scenic area which houses a large Buddhist complex. The Linggu Temple is also known as the Soul Valley Temple and it serves as a memorial hall for the army service men killed during the early civic war (the Northern Expedition Period) against the Qing Dynasty and warlords, and during the Anti-Japanese War. The presidents of the Republic, Dr. Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Jieshi), both left their calligraphies here. a beautiful area with lovely gardens pavilions etc and a 9 storey pagoda. The reflections on the water were a delight and the peace and serenity enjoyed before return to the hustle and bustle of city life.
Nothing else to report so I'll sign off and see if I can post this! hope everyone is fit and well.
Bye for now. xx
- comments
Wayne Good to hear .........your OK and still alive.........very cold here