Lancang River in Xishuangbanna

I was doing a Mandarin Language course through Keats Mandarin Institute and saw this epic boat on the Lancang River. In the evening I saw it through the fog, and blaring loud music. So finally I found it and it was pretty neat. There was music and even the soccer game being played on the electronic display on the bridge. Here are some videos:

River cruise in the Lancang River in Xishuangbanna with Maestra Viajar

Lancang Night River Cruise

I Took a Riverboat Cruise on China’s Mekong

Why This River Cruise is Worth the Trip

Dijintasi Temple in India

This temple was incredible. There were so many people there. Many wanted to stop and take pictures with us, but it was strange and made me a little uncomfortable when they started to delay and futz about their cameras so that I got separated from my group. I am used to large crowds living in China but the crowds in India are super intense! We Visited India’s Most Mysterious Temple There are so many people! Then there are the cows. The cow is just standing and grazing next to the temple. There are people offering to put the sika on your forehead and a blessing bracelet on your palm. It was an amazing and colorful experience. Exploring the Mystical Dajintasi Temple: A Journey Through Xishuangbanna

The Surreal Beauty of Mysore, India

I Visited the Most Unbelievable Temple in India

Tolmie State Park in Olympia, WA USA

Tolmie State Park is one of my favorite places in Washington. It has black soft sand at low tide, but lots of mini pebbles at high tide. There are some sea creatures such as oyster, and hermit crab and mini crabs and fried egg jellyfish and moon snails and others. The Coolest State Park in Washington It’s a great place to go and sit and watch the world go by and tidepool. I had taken my son and met friends here for many years. Here are some videos from a day in the sun with my cousin Tammy. Hidden Gem: Tolmie State Park

Hidden Sea Creatures of Tolmie Park

Crazy things I did in China

Chinese ear cleaning — it was so strange! But it did get my ears super clean. Here’s a video talking about it: I tried Chinese ear cleaning in China

I would do it again. And when I went to the doctor, they noticed that my ears were so clean. I commented that I had done Chinese ear cleaning. They laughed and laughed.

Food street in Kunming

I have now visited the food street in Kunming several times. I always find the most amazing sights and sounds and food on this street of wonders.

Here is an ice cream vendor and the cone is an interesting rolled contraption: Delectable delights on Kunming food street

Kunming's Street Food: A Masterclass in Culinary Artistry

The Incredible Street Food Artistry of Kunming

Kunming Pandas

I saw both the red and black and white pandas in Kunming at the research center. Red Panda Research: The Cutest Conservation Crisis Pandas are everything you would imagine them to be. They are big and bumbling. They kind of rolly polly move around. They sleep a lot. They climb up onto the platform, play a little and just fall off or roll off. Then they plop down to take a sleep.

Pandas actually were in the wild, but the Chinese found that they weren’t really thriving on their own and they made a center to not only promote them as a symbol of peace and a symbol of China all over the world, but also to help them survive and thrive.

Pandas eat tons and tons of bamboo. Additionally, they are only fertile for 4 days in a year. So they need to mate in that time or else they are not able to mate. Then they carry the babies for many months. When they give birth, they often birth 2 but are only able to care for one. So the research center cares for one and trades it back and forth without the bear noticing (it really isn’t very smart).

These are the red panda. Much smaller, and a bit different: I Visited Panda Paradise - YouTube

Fish pedicure is weird and amazing

I’ve tried the fish pedicure in China and Korea, and it is very strange but yet wonderful. Little fishes biting on you does not hurt, but occasionally there is an ouch. I even went to a spa in South Korea where you could sit in a warm pool with the fish biting on you. Here is the fish pedicure in Xi’an: Fish pedicure at the spa Xi’an

Searching the world for wishes

I love to find spots for wishes all over the world. I always wish for one thing (ssh) — to be reunited with my son, Liel Quinn Guthrie.

Here is one at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda: Big Wild Goose Pagoda wishes - will yours come true?

Manting Park: Secrets of the Wishes Manting Park

I visited Muslim Street in Xi’an China

At the drum and bell tower in Xi’an, I found Muslim Street which was completely amazing. I returned and visited it so many times. The food is AMAZING. I even made two friends on the street. One helped me when I couldn’t find my hotel and was asking for directions, another I met while walking down the street. What an amazing place. Here is one video: The Incredible Muslim Street Food of Xi'an

Street Food in Xi'an: A Journey Through the Ancient Capital

Eating raw squiggling octopus in S. Korea

Here I am trying fresh killed octopus in Busan, South Korea at the fisherman’s wharf restaurant: Eating a live octopus in Busan at South Korea fish market restaurant

The Great Wall of China!

For Chinese New Year in 2024, I visited Beijing and went to the Great Wall of China, which was incredibly amazing. It is so amazing and long and truly unbelievable. Here is a video from the Wall. The magnificent Great Wall of China. I rode the cable car up to the Great Wall: Riding the Cable Car to the Great Wall of China! It was suggested to me that I ride the tobbaggen down from the wall instead of taking the cable car back down. At first I thought it might be scary. But I watched from the wall for awhile to see how it worked and whether it was OK. As a matter of fact, it’s kind of slow and you have a big break to be able to slow it down. It was fun. It inspired me to get a GoPro camera so I could record it in the future: I Went Tobogganing on the Great Wall of China

Muslim Street in Beijing

While on a food tour of Muslim Street in Beijing, I discovered an amazing Muslim grocery store and many food vendors. I returned several times to try the delicious foods and see the sights. The meat skewers and the Muslim season was some of the best I have ever had. It’s hard to believe that all over China are many regions that have Muslim areas with traditional Chinese-Muslim foods. Here is a video: Explore the foods of Muslim street in Beijing.

Here is some information about Muslim food in China: China boasts a large Muslim population (nearly 30 m), they all have the tradition of consuming the Halal food for a long time. Actually about 10 ethnic groups, like Hui, Uyghur, Kazak, Dongxiang, Kirgiz, Sala, etc, set up their own Muslim food styles based on the Islamic dietary laws. In China, Halal food is labeled as “Qingzhen (清真)” food. (Halal Chinese Food & Muslim Food History, Culture, diversity - Easy Tour China)

The Incredible Muslim Street Food of Beijing

Trip on the train from Guangzhou to Dalian

China high speed train near Funingdong

China fast train leaving Rizhao China

Lion dances in China are amazing

Here is a lion dance for Chinese New Year in Foshan, China: Lion Dance at Foshan Ancestral Temple for Chinese New Year

Here is another lion dance video: Foshan's Lion Dance: A 1,000-Year-Old Tradition Revived

I went to Foshan to meet my Chinese language teacher and have an adventure day. The Incredible Lion Dance Tradition of Foshan, China

Guilin in China is amazing!

One weekend I took the train from Guangzhou to Guilin and the Karst mountains there are simply amazing! Here is a video of the mountains: Tours of Guilin karst mountains and a boat trip: Guilin travel guide through the karst mountains in a bamboo bost

Santa Con in Seattle and China!

I did Santa Con 2023 in Seattle with my friend Jim and it was so fun. Imagine hundreds of people dressed as Santa, Ms. Claus and the elves. It’s a riot. Then they do a pub crawl around the city. In 2024, I found a Santa Con in Guangzhou, and here it is: Santa Con 2023: The Wildest Christmas Party in China and here: Santa Con: The Most Unhinged Christmas Party (Happy Monk China 2023).

I love to find games all over the world

Here are some games I have found in the park.

Chinese checkers in the park: The Most Insane Chinese Checkers Board Game

Chinese card games: Chinese Card Game: The Secret Life of Clifford Lake

Cards in the park in Dalian: Card game in the park Dalian

Here are some men playing cards: Card game in the park at Dalian

Playing games in the park: Why China’s Card Game Craze is *WILD*

Shopping with a chef in Phnom Penh Cambodia

I did a cooking class in Phnom Penh, and did shopping with a chef. Here are some videos of the adventures: A Chef’s Guide to Shopping in Cambodia

Here’s a breakfast market tour: A Breakfast Worth Crossing an Ocean For

Massage around the world

Here is an interesting clapping massage in Cambodia in the middle of the market: Inside the Bizarre World of Cambodian Massage

Here is a foot tapping technique in China: The Secret Behind Chinese Foot Massage (Tapping Techniques)

Shampoo and massage in Vietnam:

The $7 Luxury Hair Wash in Vietnam

Foot massage at Son Tra market in Vietnam: Son Tra Market's Secret Foot Massage Experience

Street foods of China

Here are some street foods in China:

Rice pancake in Guangzhou: The Rice Pancake Revolution

Jian Bing Guo Zi Chinese wrap: The Incredible Story Behind Jian Bing Guo Zi

Chinese pancake artistry: The Insane Pancake Artistry of Guangzhou

Fried pork at Cheers Food Street in Guangzhou: China's Fried Pork is Next Level

Me trying roasted pig brain: The Unbelievable Dish That Uses Roasted Pig Brains

Me sampling Cantonese chicken feet: I Tried Cantonese Chicken Feet

Some “noodles” which were gelationous in a “salad” at Jinshitan market: The Secret Noodles of Jinshitan Market

Here is a Northern China wrap: Why Northern China's Unique Food Wraps Are a Culinary Revolution

Northern China’s WILD street food - The Craziest Food in China

Here is the street food on bazaar street: China's INSANE Street Food