Photography day

If I didn't go outside until all my work was done, I'd never see the light of day…I'd never see the moon either, come to think of it. So today I decided the work could wait. I needed an outing. So I took my camera (which is technically part of my work) and headed out.

 Here is part of the city skyline; the photo was taken from atop the old city wall.

 Canals run through the city.

 Skyscrapers, rivers, and many, many bridges

A lonely little tea shop atop the city wall had no customers, just two pet birds sitting out in the shade and breeze.

 Thank you God for making so many flowers pink! I truly love them.

Water, rocks, trees, flowers, humongous goldfish, pagodas, tea houses -- a little slice of Chinese paradise.

 Pagoda -- I can see this from the balcony at my apartment.

 Rooftops

A steaming cup of green tea to quench my thirst at an outdoor tea shop ends my outing in the best, most relaxing possible way. Thermoses like the ugly blue one pictured are the world's most superb thermoses. Ask anyone who has been to China and they'll confirm. Anyway, the tea shop gave me a cup with green tea leaves and a thermos. If I wanted, I could sit there all day and refill my cup with the thermos's steaming hot water.

I really must find a way to do this more often. 

Spring in Bamboo Forest

Golden days of December

The golden leaves are even more beautiful today than they were before. It seems that fall colors are peaking later than usual this year, no doubt due to the overly hot summer. Above, commuters wait at one of our strikingly beautiful bus stops.

The town is awash in golden leaves. These glowing gingko trees are planted in rows all over the city. I don't have to leave town to see the changing seasons. I am so thankful to live in beautiful Bamboo Forest, thankful we have professional artistic landscapers, and thankful to have a God who gives them life. I am in awe.

Capturing fall

The cool air, the golden leaves, the filtered sunlight -- a camera just can't capture the feeling of fall like my senses can. Nonetheless, I wanted to share some of the beauty of fall in Bamboo Forest with you. I am grateful to live in a climate that has four seasons, but I wish fall would last the longest because I love it most.

Off the wall

Off the wall ... literally. This is a photo of a eclectic wall inside a Beijing mall. I love the style and colors.

Pansies, perfume, Pekingese and holidays

The last three days have been holidays here -- May Day. While everyone else in town is out soaking in the sunshine, I'm packing, upgrading computer operating systems, backing up hard drives and other tedious stuff. But pretty soon (next week) I'm going on a trip within this country, so that ought to be fun.

I suppose you think it is not safe to tell people when you are going to be away from home. However, (a) I only know one person who reads this blog who has any idea of where I live, and she's nice; and (b) I have a mean dog staying in the house with a dog sitter, so there is no vacant house to invade when I am gone. Trust me. My dog may look like an angel, and even act like one most of the time, but she will take a chunk out of your leg if you mess with her. Americans don't need guns to defend themselves. They just need some Pekingese.

I did break away from the house yesterday to go to a nursery to buy a new plant for my balcony. On the way there by e-bike, I was quite taken by the pansies planted in the median, so I decided to stop and take a photo of them. They plant pansies of varying colors pretty much all the time. This is one thing I didn't expect when I moved to this country. I expected drab dark bleakness. I had no idea that this country is into high-end landscaping. Everything looks beautiful where the professional gardeners have been. They must employ thousands of them. This city is gorgeous.

The azaleas and some other tree with white blooms are so fragrant right now that the air is infused with the smell of perfume. It's like walking through a perfume section of a department store. Wow, sure beats some of the other smells that are usually going on around this crowded country! :-)

Azaleas

The entire city looks like one big explosion of pink thanks to the azaleas in bloom all over the place. I love them. They serve as even more proof that God likes pink. 

Dragonfly

It smells like sandalwood, and relaxing flute music plays over the speakers. 

You can get a manicure, pedicure, eyebrow wax or massage.

You walk in by crossing a bridge with water running underneath it like a pond.

I could live at this place.

Apparently the sinks don't get scrubbed often at this place. Those rocks are permanently glued in. 

Asia at its best.