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Wow, I recently returned from a fantastic two-week trip to the vast country of China. I traveled with a group of wonderful people, primarily Emei qigong practitioners and Grandmaster of the Emei tradi- tion, Fu Wei Zhong. We spent our time in Beijing, Guangzhou, Leshan, Chengdu, and several places in between, practicing qigong and fitting in as much as possible via planes, bus tours, rickshaws, gondolas, and hiking. There is so much happen- ing in China, and so many ancient and new sites to see! I recommend this trip to everyone who has
a spirit for adventure and doesn’t mind walking up hills and stairs. It was a non- stop whirlwind of activity as we saw Emei mountain and surrounding villages and temples, exquisite waterfalls and jade pools, pandas munching bamboo, amazing dig sites and museums, phenomenal restaurants, and the jade, pearl, silk and tea districts to name just a few. It was simply astounding! To know that at least 1.3 billion people live in China is hard to fathom. That number is an estimate – as it is “give or take 300,000,000.” The flow of people and traffic through the city streets can boggle the mind and mesmerize one for hours. It is a non-stop mix of cars, bikes, buses, scooters (often with two or more riders plus cargo!), trucks, and pedestrians all weaving in and out of the streets and sidewalks. Somehow they do it harmoniously. In two weeks of travel we saw just two fender- benders and no instances of road rage. Now THAT is amazing! One thing that is clear as one travels through China is that nothing is wasted
and every available resource is used to its utmost potential. In food, all parts of the animal are used. Fresh, seasonal vegetables and rice are the mainstay ingredients in all dishes. Paper is a rare commodity, even in restrooms. We learned quickly to always carry our own. The same is true of water, another very precious commodity indeed. In this issue of Natural Awakenings we focus on our water resources and what we can do to protect and conserve this precious asset (see page 14). Recent development projects in China now include golf courses. While I have a fondness for golf and the grassy courses in my area, I couldn’t help but question the wisdom of the idea for China, as it appears the majority of the Chinese people will not be able to afford this luxury. As I read about the courses in the airline magazine, and how each course will require enough water that could instead be used for 400,000 people (annually) I couldn’t help feel that this will tip the balance of the local eco- systems further out of tilt. I suppose time will tell. Apart from the rugged, undevel- oped mountains and the land preserved for the national exhibits and temples, most of the land we visited was used for housing and growing food. It is a reality check to come back home to the large yards, woods, and walking trails in my neighbor- hood. Certainly the Chinese national parks and land reserves were amazing, spa- cious, and very well kept and developed as national treasures. But in most of the areas we traveled, it was a rare site to see a private flower garden or land not put to use growing food, tea, or herbs. I have renewed sense of conservation now that I’m home. After living without some creature comforts, and seeing how so many people can live on so much less, it’s hard not to have a different perspective. Starting simply, I’m walking more, and using less. It’s a great place for all of us to start. In your travels, near and far, please remember to “pack out what you pack in,” and leave only footprints, take only pictures.
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4 Hartford County Edition
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