a gift from Grandpa Li
By loading the map, you agree to Google's privacy policy.
Learn more
Ever since Lanzhou, the road has constantly risen up to pretty high altitudes. Now I’m at 2200m above sea level again (the last time was around Scandinavia).
Well, the air is fresh and the sky is very clear up here:
Potatoes were for lunch, and then I drank tea and had a very enjoyable discussion with a Mr. Li 李先生 who was in the cement business. We talked about this and that and a lot of other things, and I really enjoyed how the conversation seemed to flow from one subject to another while staying interesting and polite all the time. La classe.
Mr. Li had a friend:
I was so overwhelmed by this little one’s charms, I even forgot to ask his name.
…
Another thing – you know I usually don’t like wearing sunglasses, but now I had this dope-ass master plan.
Little did I know I would fail so miserably, but that’s another story…
Anyways here’s me walking through a small village market, looking for a cheap pair of shades:
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy.
Learn more
That’s where I met Grandpa Li 李爷爷:
He asked me what I was doing, then he decided to give me company for a little while.
When we finally parted ways on the hot concrete under the white clouds, Grandpa Li wouldn’t let me go unless I accepted his own shades as a gift:
Once again, I felt so humbled by the kindness and hospitality of a good man.
Looking back now, I think maybe I should have been more persistent not to accept that gift. But then it was only a pair of plastic sunglasses, and I didn’t want to hurt his feelings either, so I agreed and decided to send him a picture of us both once I got to the next city, as a souvenir and as a token of my gratitude.
…
The rest of the way was just like a breeze:
Once I got to Wushengyi, it felt like the mountains had moved closer to the road, trying to lock everything up in their massive embrace:
The population of this place consists mainly of the Muslim Hui-minority – Muslims and water fountains, babies walk on roads inclined, Azzurro):
Tomorrow is probably going to be totally different: I’ll be in the Tibetan self-governed township of Tianzhu 天祝 by then, and I’m already excited.
Maybe I’ll even get to see a yak or two?
Hendrik
Every day i am exited in opening your Web site.
Amazing the trip you are realizing.
Great photo's and stories.
Take care
Hendrik
Achille
yes, sometimes foreigners are overwhelmed by people's hospitality and friendliness in China. Since you've been in China for a couple of years, i guess you know that well:)
anyway, try to mingle with a different culture when u are in a different place. Like(入乡随俗).
Hermann
Viel Glück mit den Yaks. Am Lago Ritmo (Tessin) sah ich 14 Murmeltiere, drei Steinadler und einen kapitalen Steinbock. All diese Tiere hatte ich noch nie in Freiheit gesehen. War schwer beeindruckt.
Barry
Ich würde ja Yaks genau in der entgegengesetzten Richtung erwarten, bzw habe ich sie dort gesehen. Aber warum nicht auch im Norden.
Die Sonnenbrille wollen wir natürlich beim nächsten Selbstporträt-Video dabei haben.
Und die Berge, die man auf Bild 6 sieht und das schon bei einer aktuellen Höhe von 2200. Schick schick, ich bin tierisch gespannt und spare schon mal wieder ne Tüte Neid zusammen.
Becci
süßer kleiner fratz… und geile sonnenbrille! 🙂
Gisela
Lass Opa Li wissen, dass er und seine Brille im www weltbekannt werden. Er sieht stolz und glücklich aus. Überhaupt machen die Menschen einen zufrieden Eindruck. Ist es so?
Der kleine Mister Namenlos ist ja wohl der Hit des Tages!
ataraxia
today's trip must be very lovely and enjoyable huh…
not all Hui-minority people are Muslims, me for example…
Christoph
Hendrik: Glad you like it, welcome to the way!
Achille: Oh, I mingle so well people practically think I'm a businessman from Shanghai when they see me! 😉
Hermann: Waren es genau 14 Murmeltiere? Bist du sicher, das keins zwei mal aufgetaucht ist, um dich zum Narren zu halten?
Barry: Die Brille ist für was anderes…
Becci: Der ist gut ne, besonders mit den Blumen!
Gisela: Ich glaube, die alten Leute in China haben nicht so viel Geld wie die alten Leute bei uns, aber sie haben anscheinend ein reicheres Sozialleben. Das ist mein Eindruck, kann natürlich auch täuschen.
ataraxia: Okay. Am I right to assume that all Hui-Chinese have had ancestors who followed the Islamic faith, though?
Barry
aber da kann man doch nicht drauf sitzten *Kopf schüttel*
ataraxia
That assumption is safe. Hui-minority can date back to 7th century A.D. when Islam was first introduced into China. Before PRC there were no Hui-Chinese, because the only difference between us and Han-Chinese was the religion. We don't have our language system. However, due to cultural and religious differences, the Hui identity was established following the foundation of PRC and we become a "minority"…
Christoph
Barry: Nee, hat schon was mit dem Kopf zu tun!
ataraxia: Very well… got it!
Barb
Keep in mind, when someone wants to give you something it is because their soul has moved them to do so. To deny the gift is to deny their inner need to give. Sometimes a gift is hard to accept (especially if you don't want it); accept it anyway and move on.
王玮
这些山就是在飞机上看到的山脉的一部分吗？这种层峦叠嶂的景致真是美。谢谢。