Join my journey to the corners of this world
I did not expect to see a pair of lesbians taking photos dressed in Western wedding garments on the banks of the Qianhai Lake, just north of the Forbidden City. Then again, I did not expect to see Beijing so beautiful, tidy, and welcoming. It has been close to 25 years since my last visit to the capital, the People’s Republic of China. What did I expect? A better-managed version of Afghanistan?
The leaves ain’t brown, and the sky isn’t gray. I went for a sail, on a spring’s day. I would be in quarantine if it was today.
Corona dreaming, on Hangzhou’s western lake.
Wait a minute! What is this place?!
You can ask yourself many existential questions while navigating the narrow road down Tiger Leaping Gorge in southwest China. Can a river cut through a Himalayan Mountain range? Can a tiger leap across a 20 meter-wide torrential river? Can we survive this ride without being crushed by falling debris?
The answer is: Surprisingly Yes. Unlikely. We did, barely.
Now for the details.
