This hotel is fantastic. It’s 4 stars and well deserving of each one of those stars.

The room is quite nice and fantastic for out of towners. There’s a water cooler in the room with fresh delicious non-threatening water and tasty treats greet you when you open the fridge. Would you like some slippers? they are beside the bed table. Robes galore, tasty nuts, and much appreciated air conditioning, this place has got it all.

Included in the “got it all package” is the plethora of cute women in formal chinese dress. Formal chinese dress is very glamorous. There are also dudes in official garb maning the doors and pointing in a military like manner as they direct cars through the driveway.

Also, the rooms have real toilets. This is something I didn’t truly appreciate until I had to use the bathroom at the mill today. Bathrooms at mills in China consist of an oval hole, and two traction pads adjacent to it. After carefully squatting, you do your business, and then we americans use the toilet paper that we brought from home to clean ourselves. I don’t know what the Chinese do. I don’t ask.

Probably about a good 8 or 9 hour drive from where I’m staying is Song Shan and the Shaolin Temple. Kung fu loosely translates to “skill” and can mean anything from martial arts to musical strengths. Shaolin translates to “young forest” and the monks that practice there are known for the incredible feats of will and strength.

Unfortunately, I’ve read that this area has, to a certain degree, sucumb to blatant commercialism.

I’m told that the Kung Fu that I’m learning is a Shaolin style. but I’ve also been told that it’s a southern style… and the temples that I’m referring to in this post are most definitely in the north.

I’ll try and figure all this out and get back to you with more information.

Who is Chairman Mao?

Mao Zedong is a famous historical figure in China who had a huge political and cultural influence on the country. Born in 1893, Mao’s young life lead him to politics and ultimately Marxism.

By 1949, after many military victories, Mao had reached great political status . He had successfully overtaken his US Supported adversary Chiang Kai-shek and established “The People’s Republic of China.” He took over the media and boosted the public support of the Party. At first he was open to suggestions on ways to run the government, but this soon changed and those that showed opposition were persecuted.

In 1958, Chairman Mao took over the private farms and food providers and moved much of the farm labor into industrial work in an effort to boost the country’s industrial standing. Unfortunately, this “great leap forward” did not work out and millions of Chinese peasants died in a massive famine.

In 1966 Mao began the Cultural Revolution which sought to secure the rule of Mao by giving more power to the army and pull the country out of the past and into the future. The army went about and destroyed all sorts of cultural heritage while severely punishing anyone who spoke against the Party. This included intellectuals, many of whom were imprisoned. The Cultural Revolution was ended in 1969.

Chairman Mao died in 1976.

His rule is controversial. While many say that he improved the social and economic strength of China, it is clear that many mistakes were made and tens of millions of Chinese died because of his actions. Even still, his body is buried in a mausoleum in the center of the Great Square. It is shown every day at dawn and dusk and many Chinese still idolize him as the founder of modern China.

Rock Stopped day four

The Rock Stopped
An MSPaint Gallery by mike d

Title: No Power.
Comments: This was by far my favorite suggestion when people were giving me ideas for my rock stopped gallery. It’s so simple! yet… devestatingly annoying.