Happy Halloween 2012!

The East Coast of the USA has been taking stock of the devastation left behind by Hurricane Sandy, who graced the Eastern seaboard with high winds, rain and early snowfall, in addition to leaving downed trees, flooding, wrecked infrastructure and residences in her wake.  Now she is inflicting damage on Canada before she is finished.  Perhaps it is finally time to recognize once and for all that climate change is real and not something imagined as some people who should know better keep saying.

While it may take time for New York City and New Jersey, along with other areas that bore the brunt of Sandy's wrath, to return to a semblance of normal life, today is a Big Day for children everywhere else.  It is All Hallows Eve, better known as Halloween.  As it was with my own children, my grandchildren prefer Halloween above all other celebrations.

This is partly due to carving pumpkins into jack o'lanterns, as Prince Tyger helped his father do last year.

The Prince really was quite good at scraping out the pulp, which is definitely the messiest part.

But the favorite part - for nearly all children - is dressing up, such as here with Prince Tyger and friend Prince K, attired as Superheroes.  Although Spider-Man is definitely a favorite for Prince Tyger, he had to be satisfied to be Superman instead.

But at least he wasn't a mere cow, as was Prince Lightning's fate last year.

Prince Lightning was not happy about that.

So Princes Tyger and K left him behind with Sweet Momma H while they went off to collect their trick-or-treat goodies.

And Prince Lightning will appreciate the holiday a lot more this year.

For some great pumpkin carvings, check these out.  Happy Halloween!

Travels in China - Temples and Prayers

Historically, "religion" in China has been pluralistic, which frankly sounds much more reasonable and humanistic to me than what is usually foisted - even coerced - on masses of adherents in other areas.  Thus, according to those who know much more about such things than I can ever pretend to, "religions" in China are more appropriately described as "cultural practices," "thought systems," or philosophies.  However one wishes to describe it, nearly one-fifth of Chinese, like many other peoples throughout Asia, practice some form of Buddhism - and have done so since Buddhism was introduced to China in the 1st century.  As a result, Buddhist temples are scattered prolifically throughout Beijing.

The roof designs and sculptures can give one an idea of the temple's importance.  According to HWMBO, the designs on this one - and unfortunately, I do not know its name - indicate that this building is quite important.

The entrance is also ornate,

while the courtyard promotes peaceful reflection

and expansive meditation.

Prayer wheels abound,

complete with instructions,

which this visitor proceeds to follow, even as she poses for photos.

Lanterns lead the way to a stand

where prayers for intercession can be purchased, and

placed where they will - hopefully - do most good.

Travels in China - Locomotion and Beijing Vignettes

Because Beijing is one of the most populous cities in the world with a population of nearly 20 million, there is no way that everyone can use a motor vehicle, even if they could afford one.  So, while there are indeed motor vehicles of all kinds there, most Chinese use pedal power.

Cycle rickshaw (pedicab) stands are easier to find than taxi stands.

Pedicabs and pedestrians coexist along some of the more picturesque pathways, such as here along one of Beijing's lakes,

and pedal-powered vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians and motor vehicles all manage quite well in residential-commercial neighborhoods.

Some vehicles rely less on horsepower and more on people power, such as this three-person cycle, with three young girls lost in giggles - likely at the sightseers.

Because bicycles in frequent use need repairs, this young entrepreneur can set up shop just about anywhere.

Rather than head to the countryside for a day of fishing, city dwellers can fish in the lakes,

and, in this case, the fisherman's pet bird can enjoy an outing as well.

HWMBO was charmed by occasional glimpses of the life behind walls, such as here,

by descriptive restaurant facades like this one,

and also by these Chinese telephone "booths"

that may well have been designed by CAFA students.

Travels in China - The Wall, Part 2

The Great Wall was constructed of various materials over the years: stone, brick wood, tamped earth and other materials.  Mutianyu, however, is constructed principally of granite, likely one reason for its enduring qualities,

and is crenelated on both sides so that defenders could fire at enemies from within or without.

This section of the Great Wall is also enhanced by the construction of watch towers.  There are 22 watchtowers placed along Mutianyu's 2,250 meters of length.

It is an extremely popular spot for visitors, whether from other parts of China

or from around the world.

Once at the top, there was still a lot of walking to be done,

but HWMBO seemed to enjoy every thrilling moment

of this experience of a lifetime!

Travels in China - The Wall, Part 1

It is said that no visitor to China should miss seeing the Great Wall.  The "Great Wall of China" refers collectively to a series of fortifications generally built in an east to west line along the historical northern border of China, basically paralleling the southern border of Inner Mongolia.  Some of these fortifications began as early as the 7th century BC.  They were strengthened, added to and reconstructed.  Initially built to provide protection from intrusion by nomadic forces or invasion by warlike peoples, they also provided a form of border control for the imposition of customs duties, regulation of trade and the monitoring of immigration and emigration.

As part of their own China visit, HWMBO and the study group went to visit the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall.  Mutianyu is located approximately 70 km northwest of central Beijing and is quite popular with visitors.  Parts of Mutianyu were constructed in the 6th century but it was rebuilt in the 16th century and most parts are well preserved.  It is considered to have the best quality of all the Great Wall sections.

Because it is such a popular area, there are quite a few vendors hawking souvenirs

or selling alternate types of excursions or activities for the adventurous.

The intrepid travelers did not have to climb all the way to the top of the wall, courtesy of the cable car,

and here the Wall looms before them on the way up.

But there were a few steps at the end of the cable ride.

Once on top, they were treated to a splendid panorama

and could imagine how the sentinels of old must have felt.

Travels in China - Exhibition at CAFA, Beijing

China's Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) is the only advanced academy of fine arts that is under the direction of the Chinese Department of Education.  The academy includes six specialty schools as follows:  School of Fine Art; School of Chinese Painting; School of Design; School of Architecture; School of Humanities and School of City Design.  It also includes a School of Continuing Education and an Affiliated High School of Fine Art.

While CAFA is principally associated with painters and sculptors, its curriculum also includes graphic design, product design, fashion design, digital art and environmental art design, among others.  Because HWMBO and his study group were housed at the academy and it was nearly the end of the term, they were treated to an exhibition that featured student projects.

Obviously, there were many projects that featured painting or photography, or some combination of both.

Others were decorative items like these mushroom-themed stools, that could also be considered as wall art.

This one featured modern versions of ceramic animals

in a whimsical display.

Old materials were presented in contemporary ways

as furnishings,

and if one wished for something striking in garden furniture, this grouping might fit the bill.

Designs for futuristic motor vehicles abounded, such as here.

and again here.

How about a yellow cab, version circa 2053?

Or an all-purpose vehicle for both land and water?

Perhaps we'll see some of these designs in our own future some day.