I’m hoping to wake up from a cloudy nightmare.

Recently, life has put me a lot of things to do, a lot of things to worry about and a lot of things to think about. All of these things have stolen my smile. I don’t want to live this way, and I think I need to stop and start to restore my life again right now.

Until few days ago, light has shed on my life after reading a post from a nice and great blogger. She told us that she has to do other thing and to end the blogging life. I was so sad after reading her post, but at the same time, when I was commenting on her post, I realized that that was what life is. We always have to move on to do other things and leave the old things behind us.

Suddenly, I felt that it was unnecessary for me to feel so overwhelmed by recent life’s challenges.

Sometimes, we need to let go of what has happened and to move on. And sometimes, we just need to let go of the thought of what might or not to happen and follow our heart to do whatever things we miss and enjoy to do in order to restore our life again.

Although in this passing month, life has just made me see nothing but only troubles, but now, I think I am stepping out from the cloud and restore my life again.

Thank you for reading this post and for yours company. I feel uplifted again!

Built in 17th century, to defend Macau against outside attacks. These original fortifications were replaced by new barracks in 19th century to help protect the city. Luckily, the barracks remain untouched. No attack was ever mounted from across the border. Today, the barracks are home to the local police, as well as home to some old cannons from days long gone.

Cristina

Camera: Canon 450D
Location: San Francisco Garden

Beautiful flowers that I see in this morning. Have a nice weekend everyone!

There are so many bad things happening in the world recently, making people very tired.
Let’s sleep and wake up fully charged.
Have a nice weekend everyone.

One day, a man approaches the cage and asks the monkey:
Man: “Do you want to go free?”
Monkey: “Yes, I do.”

Man: “Haven’t you read the instruction written on the blackboard?”
Monkey: “I have.”

Man: “If so, why don’t you unlock the door and go free?”
Monkey: “I already did.”

Man: “Did you?”
Monkey: “Yes, I did. I can unlock the door by using the key placed in my pocket. After that, I will be free! How easy it is! I’m free!”

Man:”…Do you really understand what it means?”
Monkey: “Of course I know!” So simple! Unlock the door and go free!”

The monkey wants to go free. He says he knows how to go free but he never really try follow the instruction to unlock himself from the cage.
He knows how to free himself, but he does nothing.

Yesterday, I and my boyfriend went to a bookshop and bought two books about Heart Sutra (a comic version and a word version). We began to read it last night, and today when we meet each other we talked about them. In our conversation I suddenly realize that without practice and experience I cannot fully understand what something is really mean. It is just like that I know salt is salty, but if I never taste it I cannot truly say that I know what salty is.

Have a nice weekend!

The words of the name of the organization, “Tung Sin Tong ”(同善堂), represent the following meanings:
同 – together; be the same as
善 – kindness; goodness
堂 – hall; big room

As I entered the hall of Tung Sin Tong a feeling of gratefulness ran through my veins when I saw what looked like over a hundred portraits of past contributors hung upon the wall. Those past contributors did a lot of goodness for others. Their act of kindness and contributions did make a difference.

This picture was taken at the headquarter of Tung Sin Tong, which was the place where people were taking care of in the past. At the present, Tung Sin Ton continues to provide free medical care, education and baby- sitting service, as well as promoting charitable activities to the public.

I wish the spirit of this kindness remains forever…

Cristina

Camera: Iphone 4S
Location: Tung Sin Tong

Empty chairs…

I have a question.
Do we play life or life plays us?
If we play life, we are freely to choose. If life plays us, we don’t have choices at all.

Look at the world we are living in. Look at the people around us. Look at their lives. Look at ours. What do you see?

I think I’m freely to choose, because I’m aware that there are countless of thoughts that I can choose to have at the moment I think about anything, there are thousands of words that I can choose to say at the moment I speak, also, there are so many actions that I can choose to take at the moment I do anything.

This idea seems to be true but it also seems to be untrue when I recognize that the choices I have made have fatefully brought me to a situation in which I will more likely to think that the choices I have made were already decided. Not decided by myself, but by life itself.

Also, there are other times that I realize no matter which path I choose to take, it would eventually takes me to the place I should be.

If that is true, it is life that plays us. Not us play life.

Camera: Iphone 4S

Hotel Kapok Beijing is a boutique hotel located near the Forbidden City. When you leave the hotel, turn left and go straight. It takes you about 10 minutes of walk to get to the East Gate of the Forbidden City. However, visitors are not allowed to get in the site through East Gate, visitors need to follow the path to the ticket office which is located at the main entrance of the Forbidden City. You will find that not only the location of the hotel is great, but the price and the service are great as well. The hotel room is very clean (really clean, I mean it), modern and comfortable. There are free drinks placed on the tea table to welcome visitors as well. Also, the staffs are quite helpful and friendly. They always wear a warm smile on the face. It cost only RMB$600.00 per night during Spring Festival.

Behind us is the east side of the Forbidden City. Walking on the sidewalk, you can see some people selling souvenirs for RMB$2.00 or $3.00.

The day that we successfully got in the Forbidden City was the 6th day of Chinese New Year. Comparing it to the day that we attempted to visit Forbidden City, at the 4th day of Chinese New Year, fewer people were queuing for tickets in that morning. So, we were able to get in easily and more quickly.

I was lucky that I was able to have a picture of myself in the frame alone without anyone joining me in the photo.

In this picture, you can see visitors were heading to the doorway to take a look at some precious items displaying inside the hall.

Behind me, it is one of the two biggest clocks displaying in the Clock and Watch Exhibition Hall. It is a Chime Clock, and it was made during the Qing Dynasty by the royal clockmakers.

Most of the watches and mocks are mostly made in Switzerland, England, France, the United States and Japan. Also, there are some Chinese made timepieces on the display. To enter the Clock and Watch Exhibition Hall, you have to pay an extra fee which cost RMB$10.00/per person.

This is the picture which was taken after we left the site and looked back at the outside wall of the Forbidden City. It was already 1 o’clock in the afternoon. We spent nearly 2 hours and half in the Forbidden City only for a rough visit. If you are a person who enjoys looking at details, the time you need for visit would be a bit longer.

This photo shows that the Samadhi Vegetarian Restaurant and Teahouse, located at the 2nd floor of Shifanghaoting, no. 16 Xinyuan Nanlu, is closed during Spring Festival. We came to the restaurant by a taxi, 20 minutes of drive, and it cost us RMB$100.00. We thought that taking a taxi would get us faster to the destination than taking a subway train, as the time required to walk to the subway station, wait for the train, change line and walk all the way to the restaurant, would at least takes 1 hour.

The restaurant is closed. We had to look for another place for lunch.

About 5 minutes of walk, we found a small restaurant serving noodles.

The closest subway station of this area is Liangmaqiao Station (subway line number 10).

We took subway train and got off at Yonghegong Station (subway line number 2), and went to the Wudaoying Hutong.

I like this place as it has more old and traditional Chinese houses.

The warm light hitting the surface of the houses made the atmosphere here more interesting and nostalgic.

I wish those flowers were fresh flowers.

I find it funny. Can you read that?

“Must Wear Defense Mask” (if you need to go inside the toilet)

This is the street which leads you to the entrance of Imperial College. We were late. It is closed when we arrived.

There is a nice vegetarian restaurant located not far away from the Chongwenmen Station. Even if you never want to be a vegetarian, the restaurant, Gongdelin, will definitely add good impressions to your trip in Beijing.

This little map shows the fastest walking route from Chongwenmen Station to Gongdelin Vegetarian Restaurant (功德林). It takes only 10 minutes of walk. Walking distance is only 500 mm.

This is Lo Han Zhai that we ordered (羅漢齋).

This is sweet and sour pork (酸甜骨).

Yam with blueberry juice (山藥配藍莓汁).

Coconut milk pumpkin cakes (椰奶南瓜糕).

It cost an average RMB$100.00 per person.
After dinner, we took subway train and got off at Qianmen Station to Da Shan Lan Street.

Da Shan Lan Street (大栅欄) is a shopping street surrounded by famous traditional Chinese stores and old buildings. I visited Da Shan Lan Street in the evening. The atmosphere created by the street lights and the surrounded old buildings is magical. Walking on the street, it is like travel back in time to the old Beijing in the period of more than three centuries ago.

The theatre.

You can find souvenirs here with reasonable price.

Travel Tip: By subway, go to Qianmen Station via subway line number 2 (RMB$2.00), exit C, walk to the bus parking area, then follow the sign post on the street to “大栅欄”. Located not far away from the subway station, it takes about 5 to 10 minutes of walk to the destination.

DAY FIVE -
(2013.Feb.16)

Got up early in the morning, checked-out the hotel and walked to the nearest subway station to catch a subway train to the airport.

Travel tip: Subway line number 1, then transfer at Jianguomen Station, get off at Dongzhimen Station. After that, you can see the airport express train station to Terminal 2 and 3.

Subway train fee: RMB$2.00/per person
Airport express fee: RMB$25.00/per person

- The End -

Camera: Iphone 4S + Canon 500D

It is easy to get to Badaling Great Wall by train, but beware not to be confused Beijing North Railway Station with Beijing Railway Station shown on the subway map. Beijing North Railway Station will get you to Badaling Great Wall, but the Beijing Railway Station will not. (In the picture, it is the Beijing Railway Station)

Beijing North Railway Station is located above the Xizhimen Station (on the subway line number 2). The train ticket to Badaling cost only RMB$6.00 per person, and it takes 1 hour and 20 minutes to Badaling. Then, it takes about 10 to 15 minutes of walk to the entrance of The Great Wall. All seats are first come first served. I hope that the time you visit Badaling Great Wall could provide you soft seat tickets in the train. The period of time that I travel in the train did not provide soft seat tickets.

We were lucky in the beginning of the trip. We found empty seats in the train from Beijing North Railway Station to Badaling Station, but good luck didn’t stick with us when traveling back from Badaling to Beijing North Railway Station. All seats were taken. I saw people chose to sit on the ground, but I chose to stand in the train for more than one hour.

I forgot to tell you that there is a small food store in the railway station, where you can buy instant noodles, drinks and snacks while waiting for the train. Hot water is free and could be found at the corner outside the ladies room, which is located on the left hand side of the railway station (opposite to the food store).

Badaling Station is the final station of the train. All trains to Badaling is begins with “S2”. Also, you can get your return ticket right after you arrive at Badaling station.

We were lucky that there weren’t too many people around.

Badaling Great Wall is easy to climb. Handrails are installed inside each side of the wall, and the steps are well-paved.

I feel shaky when looking down.

You can see that there are so many steps to climb.

Lastly, I make it to “the eight tower in the north”, and after that I didn’t want to climb further up.

Looking back.
I wonder how it looks like when all the landscapes covered with snow.

You can choose to descend the Great Wall through the side path.

This is the side path that I am talking about.

To be continued.

Camera: Iphone 4S + Canon 500D

Fok Un福緣

The word “福” can be translated as “good fortune”, and the word “緣” can be translated as “fate”, “circle – no beginning no end”. They are pronounced as “Fok Yun” (福緣), and these two characters “福緣” is the name of this beautiful tortoise you see on the picture, whose age with more than 100 years old.

Last year in October, Fok Yun was found by a couple in the market, hanged upside down inside a fishnet, waiting to meet his fate. The lovely couple, instead of leaving the distressing scene alone, compassion was aroused, they stopped to free the big tortoise.
From that moment, the big tortoise’s destiny has been rewritten.

The lovely couple bought the tortoise. Then, with help from friends, a group of kind-hearted people, help applied licenses, and finally, took the big tortoise to Macau. Later, they named the tortoise as “Fok Yun” (福緣). Also, they found him a peaceful place to live.

There is a saying, “Once a destiny has been decided it cannot be changed.”

I’m wondering if what it looked like to be a turning point of the fate of the tortoise was also a part of the destiny. Did the tortoise escape from his destiny? Or, was the story of the escape from the market was merely a part of his destiny? I don’t know, and I guess that the answer may not be an absolute answer. It may be something very different from what I could think of.

Anyway, I don’t think it matters now, what most important is that Fok Yun, the tortoise, is now enjoying his life, peacefully, in a peaceful temple in Taipa.

Life is precious. Even a life of a small animal or an insect deserves the right to live.

We, who can save, please save.
We, who can help, please help.

Hope the world fills with joy, love and compassion.

Cristina

Camera: Canon EOS 450D
Location: Pou Tai Temple, Taipa

Wang Fu Jin Street is a shopping street with 15% old and 75% new, 8% traditional and 92% modern buildings, mixed together. I don’t feel I like this kind of mixture. If I were asked to describe the street simply in one or three words, I would say, uninteresting or out of harmony.

Travel Tip: Please consider not selecting Wang Fu Jin Street as your first place to visit in Beijing. Visit it only after visiting Da Shan Lan Street, which is located near Qianmen Station. Both of them are shopping streets, but the difference is that Da Shan Lan Street is surrounded by famous traditional Chinese stores and old buildings.

DAY TWO -
(2013.Feb.13)

Pack of people lining up at the ticket office at the near entrance of the Forbidden City. That day was the fourth day of Chinese New Year, and the number of visitors that I saw at the place had made my desire of getting in the museum to shatter.

After taking some photos, we both decided to leave.

Following the direction shown on the website Tripadvisor, we took the subway line number 2 and got off at Yonghegong Station to look for a vegetarian restaurant.

I know that there are two vegetarian restaurants in the Yonghegong area. One is located besides the entrance of the Lama Temple (雍和宮), named Fairy Su, and the other one is located at the street opposite to the entrance of the Lama Temple, named Xu Xiang Zhai Vegetarian Restaurant.

After lunch, we walked to the Lama Temple. The most interesting thing to see in the Lama Temple is the Giant Buddha at the Ten Thousand Happiness Pavilion, which is located at the rear part of the temple. This Giant Buddha statue is 26 meters high, 8 meters in diameter, 18 meters above the ground and 8 meters underground, and it says that such huge wooden Buddha statue is rarely seen in the world.

People were praying and burning candles in the Lama Temple.

After visiting Lama Temple, we went to the Temple Fairs at Ditan Park (地壇廟會), which is a common custom during Spring Festival. It cost only RMB$10.00 to get in the park. Things to do in this place are watching folk dances and performances, tasting local snacks and shopping. It is worth a visit if you like cultural experiences.

Travel Tip: By subway, go to Yonghegong Station via subway line number 2 (RMB$2.00), follow the sign post in the subway to “地壇廟會”. Located not far away from the subway station, it takes about 10 minutes of walk to the destination.

There are at least four places to visit at the Yonghegong Station:
1. The Lama Temple (雍和宮)
2. Temple Fairs at Ditan Park (地壇廟會)
3. Imperial College (國子監)
4. Hutong (老胡同)

There are two vegetarian restaurants nearby:
1. Fairy Su Vegetarian Restaurant (next to the entrance of the Lama Temple)
2. Xu Xiang Zhai Vegetarian Restaurant (opposite to the entrance of the Lama Temple, at the Imperial College Street)

To be continued.

Camera: Iphone 4S and Canon 500D

– Thank the blogger who nominated you.
– Share seven things about yourself.
– Nominate up to 15 fellow bloggers.
– Add the Versatile Blog Award logo on your blog post.

I’d like to say thank you to Angrygaijin (Cameron Ohara) for the nomination!! You’ll never get bored when reading his blog. His humor writing style impresses me a lot!

Here are the 7 things about myself:

– I love visiting zoo.
– I love planting.
– I love traveling.
– I love Linkin Park.
– I love dreaming and I love keeping a dream journal.
– I love watching Master Jing Kong youtube channel.
– I love to be with my parents, they are the most loving people in my life!

Here’s my nominations:

http://dragoneystory.wordpress.com/

http://guapola.wordpress.com/

http://cocomino.wordpress.com/

http://clover58.wordpress.com/

http://herenownotforeva.com/

http://legomyphoto.wordpress.com/

http://abcofspiritalk.wordpress.com/

http://mikeshinoda.com/

http://likeitiz.wordpress.com/

http://refrigeratormagnate.wordpress.com/

http://thejourneyofawoman.com/

http://helenog.wordpress.com/

http://urutoranohihi.blogspot.com/

http://shellriver.wordpress.com/

http://thismansjourney.net/

P.S.: This is a scheduled post. My mind and body are still in Beijing.

The things listed above are only part of the traditions of the Spring Festival. There are so many other details which I haven’t described them here, like giving and receiving lucky red pocket money, burning firecrackers and fireworks, family gathering, playing lanterns, put money under the bed, pillow, kitchen, lion dances, lucky words, lucky dessert, new clothes, new shoes, color to wear, color not to wear, words to say and words not to say, etc etc…

Although it sounds that the to-do and not-to-do list set for people to follow in the Spring Festival is endless and a bit “tiring”, however, I don’t see many people here are following strictly to all of those details.

To me, the things that make me really happy and enjoy to do during Spring Festival is that I can receive lucky red pocket money, no need to go to work for a few days, and to hang out with friends and family.

Happy Lunar New Year, everyone!

P.S.: I’m traveling to Beijing to spend the Lunar New Year and Valentines Day!

UNITY
This is the statue of Guan Yin, the Goddess of mercy, located on a manmade island off the city, near the Cultural Center of Macau. The statue is clad in bronze. It weighs 50 tons. The figure measures 20m (65ft) in height, and the lotus stand measures 7m (23ft) tall.

Although this statue represents Guan Yin, the Goddess of mercy, but when you take a closer look at it, it looks like Virgin Mary as well. This reminds me of a dream of mine in few days ago, in which I saw a figure who was dressed in a blue and white robe with a head piece, praying for the souls in the hell, with one hand in the praying gesture, standing on a lotus flower. That figure, at the same time, represents Guan Yin and also Virgin Mary.

I hope this spirit of unity of different cultures will remain and more of this kind of work will be seeing in other places as well. Let our world to be unified as one.

Cristina

Camera: Canon EOS 450D
Location: Statue of Guan Yin

Music is like food to the soul. Tonight, I am at the CCM’s Grand Auditorium waiting for the piano recital by Hélène Grimaud. While I’m still waiting for the performance, I read through the pages of the recital program and learn that Hélène Grimaud will play Mozart, Berg, Liszt and Bartók’s piano music in this evening. Since Mozart is my favorite classical musician, I can’t wait to listen to the piano sonata that Hélène Grimaud is going to bring to the audience.

Here is the recital program:

Mozart　　Piano Sonata No. 8 in A minor, K. 310
Berg　　　Piano Sonata, Op. 1
Liszt　　　Piano Sonata in B minor, S. 178
Bartók　　Romanian Folk Dances, BB 68

Five more minutes to go and this exquisite and beautiful musician is readying to touch the audience’s heart with her profound and passionate performance.

Camera: Iphone 4S
Location: Grand Auditorium at Cultural Center Macau

A female with black frame eyeglasses waiting to cross the street at San Ma Lou.

Will she know that she was being photographed?

Camera: Canon EOS 450D
Location: San Ma Lou (official street name is Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro)
Date: Jan 13.2013

Buddha says, “Your work is to discover your work, and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.”

I always ask myself (this usually happens on Mondays) why I’m trapped in a small office room dealing with uninteresting and boring paper works. When will I be free?

That takes me to wonder, If I had discovered my work, If I had learned the ultimate “lessons” I need to learn at this small and uninteresting working place, would I be free from work then?

P.S.: Only my work that I feel uninteresting, but people I’ve met at my work are all nice and great.

Camera: Iphone 4S
Location: At the office

A SMALL CITY
I was born and raised in this small city. The total land area of it is approximately 29.7 km2, included the two islands of Taipa and Coloane. Its little size would sometimes make me to think it is a town, rather than a city.

If I were asked, what is special about this place, I would say it is a place blessed by Angels and God, as well as a place to find the traditional Chinese culture while at the same time to find Portuguese buildings built in the earliest 15th century. I said it is a place blessed by Angels and God, because it was said by folks that Our Lady of Fatima appeared once on this land.

Also, this city is very religious. Many churches, chapels, temples and other religious communities could be found in here, and the distance between many of them is only within 2 minutes of walk. The various religious communities maintain peaceful relationship with one another. A temple located right behind a church, and a Christian community placed next to a temple. People are free to believe their own religion, and some of them are even followers of more than one single religion. The freedom of belief and respect given to each other make this possible to happen.

To me, this symbolizes harmony and great acceptance of one another. I believe that every different kind of religion in this world is come from the same source, or same “God”. It is because we have different culture, speak different language, and have different background and history, make us to have various kind of religion to be born for different culture and society. I believe the truth is always beyond what we seem, and it is beyond the grasp of our limited human consciousness.

I hope everyone have a great New Year.
I wish you all have a prosperous and joyful year ahead and best of luck with everything.

Cristina

Camera: Canon EOS 450D
Location: Atop the Hill on Estrada de Sete Tanques, Taipa

At the end of the year, I should say “Thank You” to …
- all the blog visitors and followers (without your support, I won’t keep up the last post of the year 2012);

- people who stopping by and comment (you are the most incredible and lovable person on earth!)

- people who liked my posts (thank you for encouraging me to keep it up)

- each and every person that I’ve met (thank you for every smile and kindness)

- my friends
(thank you for always being there for me)

- my coworkers
(thank you for helping me dealing with problems and bearing with my lazyness)

- my parents
(I love you! To see both of you happy, I’m happy!)

- my dearest dear
(thank you for your love (even though I was annoying … sometimes)

- all the people in the world
(just to say thank you)

- all the food I have eaten
(without food, I cannot survive)

- and…

- finally, I have to say thank you to myself, especially to my physical body, without it I would not have chance to experience life and to see the greatness of the world!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!