The Forest of Sweet Osmanthus

Named after the sheer abundance of osmanthus trees native to the area, Guilin (桂林) is a city located in Guangxi Province in the southeastern part of China. The Yangshuo (阳朔) area of Guilin is most well known for its picturesque karst landscapes and rice terraces cut neatly and systematically into the mountainside. Such scenes have been depicted on countless numbers of paintings and, undoubtedly, inspired poets of past and present. In 2013, I finally got the chance to visit the area on two separate occasions and with each time, a sense of surrealism engulfed me as I woke up in the morning to the sunrise peeking over the distant mountains. Simply wonderful.

As we wandered through the mountainside of the Longji Terraces, local villagers asked tourists if they needed a place to stay for the night. Seeing as we wanted to really experience this place, I spoke with one of them and they generously offered us a room in their house situated right in the center of the terraces for a small sum of 100CNY or approximately $15USD. Why not?

She escorted us down to her home down the slope some ways. As we walked downwards, the sun was setting in the distance and coupled with the rustling of the crops and the dropping temperature, I remember thinking to myself, "this is...amazing". 

The world is so big. Take chances and go travel. Seriously. This world has so many beautiful things to offer us. Don't miss out on it.

The Snow Monkeys of Jigokudani

The Japanese macaque, or also known as "snow monkeys", are a distinct species of primates that are native to Japan. No other species of primates live in a colder climate than them. Japanese macaques are highly intelligent and also exhibit some unusual behaviors, one of which brought me to Shigakogen in the Nagano prefecture of Japan back in 2011.

Japanese macaques are arguably most well-known for their joy of bathing in local hot springs during the cold, winter months. Here, members come to cleanse themselves along with other members of their troop, and quite simply put, to get out of the cold. 

The particular hot spring that we were venturing off to was called Jigokudani. There was a bit of a hike to the springs, as expected, but thanks to a well-travelled path, the journey was trouble free. Hiking through the woods in the dead of winter with temperatures below freezing sounds like a mad idea, but the experience was simply breath-taking. Standing in the middle of a snow-covered forest, catching a glimpse of a smoking chimney in the distance, and the smooth, crisp sensation of fresh, morning air made the experience worth all the "trouble". 

As we snaked our way through the mountains, we caught glimpses of monkeys migrating slowly towards the spring. The closer we got to the spring, the more monkeys appeared...

These monkeys sure know how to relax. I observed carefully for some time as monkeys would slowly crawl into the hot spring, careful not to jump in too quickly. A number of them would grab a hold of the stone boundary, close their eyes, and exhale as they entered a nirvana of relaxation. Parents would help clean their child, who is reluctantly laying down as they wanted to play with the other children. The more I observed, the more I realized the beauty of this world. It's a wonder. 

A Long Hiatus

Here I am, four years later, updating a blog that I've neglected. The travelling hasn't stopped nor has the photography. Due to personal circumstances (let's be honest, laziness played a big role), I just simply forgot about this blog. But I'm here again, and ready to roll. 

A quick summary of what I've been up to since the last update:

I've been fortunate enough to have traveled to many new and exciting places from Thailand to Japan to rural areas of China and even back to Korea (where I am currently residing). Over the course of this next week, I'll be adding new posts with my experiences and photos over the last four years from my travels. They won't be in too much detail, but I'll try my best to recall the best experiences (and worst). 

So stay tuned for the first of several overdue updates. Cheers!

Hunan Province

Hunan Province (湖南) is located in Southern China and borders provinces Hubei in the north, Jiangxi to the east, Guizhou to the west, Guangdong to the south, and Chongqing to the northwest. By high speed rail, visitors can reach the capital Changsha in just under 3 hours (from Guangzhou). The province offers a good mixture of historical sites in a modern surrounding, from pristine nature parks to temples to museums. However, the province is best known for its historical significance, in that it was the birthplace of Chairman Mao Zedong (pictured above). Thousands of visitors make the journey each year to visit the former residence of Chairman Mao, where preserved artifacts are maintained to provide an authentic experience. Despite his later rulings, Mao Zedong is still highly revered by the Chinese for his role in uniting the country during civil war in the early-mid 20th century.

Dancers perform for a special celebration in the main courtyard near the former residence of Mao Zedong.

A statue of Chairman Mao greets visitors as they enter the Mao Zedong Library.

Untouched nature can still be found despite all city hustle and bustle.

Parks offer visitors and residents alike serenity away from the city.

Visitors to Changsha especially enjoy the natural surroundings, when coming from a big city.

A museum dedicated to famous Chinese poet, Du Fu (712-770) lies within Changsha city proper.

The museum dedicated to Du Fu is decorated in traditional Chinese architectural style.

-Michael

340kph

340kph. The speed at which the train in the latest high speed rail system travels in China. Currently, the train departs from Guangzhou and ends in Changsha city, Hunan province. A 697km journey, approximately 9hrs by automobile, can now be trekked in a little under 3 hours. The new rail system is phase one of a project to provide a much needed link between the capital, Beijing, and southern China's key transport and trading port, Guangzhou. The proposed railway will help make possible a 10-hour trip from the two major cities.

My personal experience:

While riding in the train, you often forget that you're on, fundamentally, a metal tube barreling through the countryside at 340kph. The ride is remarkably smooth and everything from the seats to the automatic doors just says, 'quality'. Noise levels are low enough to enjoy a nice conversation without yelling or completely crawl into your own world with a book or be immersed in listening to your favourite tune. Now take one glance out the window. The sight of seeing small villages zooming past is enough to shake you up. I cannot even begin to describe how fast you fly past the sights, all while sitting in comfort in your seat, either snacking or listening to tunes without even giving it a second thought. Transport, apparently, isn't all bad.

-Michael

Anilao 2009

Anilao is a barangay (or district) of the municipality of Mabini, Batangas, Philippines. It is located south of the capital, Manila, on the large island of Luzon, at the Southern end of the peninsula. Anilao is highly respected by scuba divers and snorkelers alike for its rich and diverse sea life, varying from anemone clown fish to the different species of colourful nudi branches. Unlike most popular dive sites, Anilao is rather conveniently accessible. A three-hour ride by car or bus from Manila International Airport and you'll have arrived at a dive paradise. The following images are from my dives there. Enjoy.

The healthy coral of Anilao provides shelter (and food) for many species of fish.

An unidentified fish floats idly.

Anilao is home to many species of nudi branch, including this Nembrotha kubaryana.

A Moray Eel peers out from its rocky home.

Large schools of fish can often be seen such as these jack.

After a day's dive, the gear is rinsed with freshwater and left out to dry.

Along with the magnificent sea life, Anilao provides great scenery and landscape for non-divers to enjoy as well.

-Michael

South Korea 2009

In October 0f 2009, I visited South Korea for the first time. To really see and experience a country, one needs to allot a good amount of time to explore. However, due to time constraints, I was only able to stay for one week's time. Within this short period of time, South Korea has left an exceptional impression on me. From the surroundings and atmosphere of its various cities to the interactions I have had with the local people leaves me intrigued, wanting to experience more of this wonderful country. The following images are from the places I was able to visit. Enjoy.

*Side note: We were able to get close enough to the North/South Korean border, so close that you could see into North Korea. However, cameras were not allowed at this point. Because of this restriction, I do not have any photographs further into the DMZ. Secondly and regretfully, I did not take the tour to the actual border where North and South Korean negotiations take place. I will return there in the future.

South Korean flags were a common sight along the DMZ, reminding us of a divided nation.

Banners clutter a wire fence with pleads of peace and reunification in Imjingak, South Korea.

Stone slabs create a "natural" walk way in one of the many temples in South Korea.

Jeju Island provides a refreshing, natural environment for its visitors to enjoy.

Jeju Island is an outstanding getaway from the city of Seoul. A mere one-hour flight results in a complete transformation of the environment.

Men dressed in traditional guardsmen attire stand at the main entrance of the Gyeongbokgung Palace, in the centre of Seoul.

Intricate stone carvings decorate the railings of the many houses of the Gyeongbokgung Palace.

A ceremonial parade through the Gyeongbokgung Palace gives visitors a culture-rich experience.

The Nurimaru APEC House was the site of the APEC 2005 Korea meeting in the southern city of Busan, South Korea.

The Seoul Tower stands tall in the heart of Seoul city proper at a height of 479.7m above sea level.

Clean roads, skyscrapers, and electronic billboards are typical of an intersection in Seoul city proper.

-Michael