Saturday, July 20, 2013

Guilin is beautiful in the summer. Lazy evenings are spent on the Lijiang river, eating sweet mangosteens from the fruit peddlers cart, and watching the world turn slowly. Pretty girls in long, flowing skirts wear wreaths of chrysanthemum in their hair and dip their toes in the water, laughing and waving at lean, muscled youths fishing in the hazy twilight, dangling their lines and taking long drags from their cigarettes. Everything smells like sweet tobacco smoke, filling your lungs with a warm, familiar sleepiness. 

Far in the distance, the mountains rise up from the horizon, like ghostly spirits, turned into haunting shadows against the red-purple sky. China is hot, lush, green, and humid enough to make you miss the bone-aching cold of the Northeastern forest. It's bright enough to make you miss the stars and far enough that the distance is almost unbearable. But tonight, underneath the full moon, with the taste of rice wine still sweet on your lips, in the country where the sun rises, you might finally be home.


22 comments:

  1. Absolutely stunning photos! China seems like such a lovely place to visit.

    x Mariana | www.goingteen.blogspot.com

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    1. It is, but, the weather literally sucks all the energy out of me.

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  2. Ooh this place looks so beautiful! I haven't seen much of China even though my parents are from there, hopefully I'll get to visit this place in the future.

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    1. You should definitely visit! China isn't THAT far away from Australia (kinda maybe? I don't really know my geography). If I can withstand a 12 hour airplane ride from Washington D.C., I know you can hahaha.

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  3. Wow, I envy you so much! Guilin is the place I was born, but I haven't been back for many many years. I've always wanted to visit one day, and now after seeing these shots, I want to even more! I hope I get the chance. Thank you so much for sharing these photos. Did you go there for sightseeing? :)

    Lisa

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    1. Thanks Lisa! Wow you were born in Guilin!? That is fantastic. The place is so beautiful, I sincerely hope you get to visit one day. I went there for sightseeing. I took a train with my family from a city in Zhejiang to Guilin. It was pretty fantastic.

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  4. Amazing amazing photographs :) what a wonderful adventure x

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    1. Thanks Jessica! It was a lovely adventure and I have some great memories from it.

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  5. I'm so happy you shared photos from your adventure in China! It's an entirely different world from what I experience daily. Much more the reason to go there...

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    1. The landscape is just so different! China is all mountains, not necessarily big ones, but it is so hilly. Everything is a bit rundown feeling, but I love that people have so many plants and still dry their clothes on the line. The feeling, it is hard to describe. To be somewhere unfamiliar, but still feel very much at home.

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  6. i've never been to china but it looks like a beautiful place, especially your photos of the river and that cave looks incredible!

    little henry lee

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  7. Wow! Very envious! Looks like you are having an incredible time, and it's nice of you to take us with you through photos. The river shots are beautiful.

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  8. I hope your travels are still going well. I also received your letter and will reply shortly, once I get my mind together again.

    All my love,
    Fliss.

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  9. Oh damn, these pictures make me want to travel so bad. It seems so magical and fairytale like. Especially with your description on the smells even everything. Your pictures are great too, as always.

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  10. Oh, god, can you explain the 6th picture? looks beautiful.
    (and I love the 2nd one two) The Remembrall

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    1. Hey Rita! the 6th image was taken from a place called the Reed Flute Cave in Guilin. Basically, because of the mineral composition (limestone for example), a lot of these caves form. It is a pretty crazy antechamber I guess where there is a pond and these beautiful stalactite formations. To attract tourists, they place these beautiful lights to show off the rock formation!

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    2. Wow, Is that I love all that gemstones, crystal and stuff. I am really passionate about that. I've been thinking about purchase a book to learn more about crystals and all the related things. Thanks for sharing knowledge.

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  11. holy shit ........ it's been a while since i last visited your blog. and i'm so overwhelmed and amazed

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  12. now that answers my last question :) great photos. may need to go to China next!

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  13. Your photos are always so amazing! :) I don't say that to make you happy, but because it's the truth. :)

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