definition of hurt
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This post is about a 23km walk from Luquan to Jingxing. I walk past a prison, a lot of environmental damage, and a funeral procession.
I woke up and went down the hallway to brush my teeth:
Then I put on my backpack and started walking on that long winding road.
I had no idea about the suffering that I would see today.
For everything there’s a first. Here’s my first prison in China:
At least that’s what people were telling me. This is one where they make people work in the labor force. I didn’t dare to go near, but someone told me that the inmates have to break their backs doing this:
Mud. As you can imagine, digging up mud in a penitentiary isn’t very pleasing and doesn’t pay very well. I wondered if this was part of laogai – the so-called “reform through labor”.
But it wasn’t only the inmates who were having some pretty rough days.
It was worse: the very soil that they lived on, the ground that I was walking on today, it was suffering. In fact the earth sometimes looked like an open wound itself:
Always remember that THIS is what the glitzer-towns of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are built upon.
Layer after layer of the earth gets taken away.
It’s nature’s last stance in some places.
…and the water:
It reminded me of Yellowstone’s volcanic springs. In a very cynical way.
After all this I needed a break – and I found the perfect spot for it:
There wasn’t a bit of suffering up here.
Listening to the vehicles rushing by on the highway below, I was having crackers and a yogurt drink. That was until something came up soaring from below and BLASTED just a few meters from me, almost shattering my eardrums and thus ruining my lunch break.
Another f… wedding ceremony, I thought.
Someone once told me that I am very often wrong:
It was a funeral.
I didn’t want to bother these poor grieving souls, so I kept my distance, didn’t take a lot of pictures and just observed what was going on.
Suffering and sadness. Beautiful for the onlooker.
…
Enough of that – here’s something funny to round it up for today:
Would you go eat there?
Everybody knows that some people in China eat dogs. It’s true. And every Chinese person is going to tell you that they don’t eat as many dogs as you would think. And that they only eat a special breed of dog, a kind of meat-dog, not your average pet dog around the corner. This is also true.
And so I wonder: who the hell came up with the idea for the design with the sad puppy in the pot? I mean, COME ON…
Oh, and I made sure that my hotel room had some adequate heating today:
It was right next to the power plant. I’ll have a warm night I guess.
To the poor souls hurting today, to Nature bleeding away, to the people being or not being reformed through labor: I wish them peace.
Hailey
Haha I could pick up a bowling ball when I was 4, you dork. Besides, it's not about experience, it's about SKILLS. And I got skills!
On a serious note, how do you afford hotels every night? How long did you save up for this? Do you buy food everyday?
Don't mean to interrogate 🙂 I've been telling everyone about your journey; I think it is way cool! Glad you have a warm bed to sleep in tonight. 🙂
Wanda
Me too…I pray for peace, no pain, and no dogs eaten!
Marvin
Dogs hu! Did you ask them about cat's and tell them you had one you would like to volunteer? Well I have to say I pray for different things than my lovely wife, although she prays for goodthings. I hope you have made plans to cover your butt when you get into the mountains. I'm sure they are going to be 10 times colder than walking up Rock Road in the winter time into a stiff Kansas wind. Remember? I don't think I have ever seen a more miserable soul. Ha, Ha.
Christoph
Hailey: Up until now, I can live off about US$15 a day, sometimes a bit more, sometimes even less. The whole thing is financially based on a legacy though, and I think things should be okay for these two years until I am back home. And THEN I'm going to earn my money by being a professional bowler! HA!
Wanda: Sometimes I think it's weird that dogs are poor but cows are not?
Marvin: Gotta give some credit to the pioneers back in the days, for Kansas weather can be pretty rough, man! I should be fine though: I am all wrapped in crazy fly outdoor-gear (though I spilt yogurt on it yesterday).
Gay
Christoph,
You may not remember me, but I am Wanda's sister. She has gotten me hooked on this incredible journey! Your pictures and stories are wonderful, and I am sharing with other friends and family. I admire you for what you are doing, as you have much courage. I will be watching for your book!
Christoph
Hey Gay, I saw you at the wedding, didn't I?
I am so happy you guys are actually enjoying this, really, that means so much to me!
Plus I noticed this is a wonderful way of staying in touch with my beloved family in KS!
Jean-Luc
Wenn ich mit überlege, was für Umstände wir hatten, um Hund zu essen. Und jetzt läufst Du direkt dran vorbei.
Christoph
Hehe, auf dem Land wird gegessen, was auf den Tisch kommt, in der Stadt ist das was anderes!
alexyue
德国人吃牛肉，则触犯了印度人，因为牛在印度被视为神；吃猪肉则触犯了阿拉伯人，因为违反了伊斯兰教的教规；我个人觉得那些被屠杀的鸡鸭，兔子们也很可怜“`所以我觉得，除了虔诚吃素的佛教徒以外，批评中国人吃狗肉是不是有点虚伪啊，呵呵“`ale
Christoph
哈哈哈，说的也对！
Meagan
The billboard with the sad puppy hurts my heart. But your comment about cows was also very poignant and thought provoking. It is something I think about often.
Joshua
China’s degradations to environment
Reminds me of here
In California
If it was 100 years in future
And population had continued to ballon
As it now is (Ca is growing by nearly 500k people per year!)
I started your blog in Kazakhstan and it’s fun to re start w young Chris