The Greatest Fly Fisherman I Ever Knew

Hello My Dear Great Ones,
One of the most gifted athletes I ever knew was an excellent fly fisherman.   He was an expert.  I had the honor of taking him fly fishing a few times.  While I struggled with the co-ordination of whipping the fly fishing rod back and forth, the expert made his line sing as he whipped it back in forth in perfect rhythm.  When he let the line go it would hover over the fishing hole like a fluttering insect and gently drop into the water.  A classic lure for a hungry fish.  And this fly fishing expert caught a lot of fish, cause not only did he cast the perfect line, but he was a predator deftly scooting from rock to rock in the stream, his mind processing every ripple, every still pool, for signs of his prey.

 Meanwhile I was untangling my line from a tree and had slipped on some rocks soaking my feet. Yet the fly fishing expert, after getting a good picture of his catch would let it go,  after gently, like a surgeon, extracting the hook out of the fish's lip.  That expert fly fisherman was my son Erik.  I am so thankful for the times I got to go fishing with him.  I am thankful for the conversations we had driving to the rivers and creeks that he got to know so well.  Those are memories no one can take away.  They are mine and they are gold.  Rest in peace Erik and I believe your section of heaven is a paradise of pristine clear creeks and streams with dramatic mountain views, excellent caddis hatches, and plenty of huge rainbow trout to keep you happy forever.

Love adios and ping on!

Dirk/Dad

Ordinary Guangzhou

Hello My Dear Great Ones,

Similar to Hong Kong many people live in homes that compared to North American standards would be considered simple.

These apartment blocks in Guangzhou had great roof top gardens.

Many people in China travel by motorcycle.  Very few use bicycles which is a shame.

Many streets in Guangzhou are narrow with little or no trees or plants.

Some corner stores are rather rugged looking.

Some very tight and narrow streets.

Many vendors use souped up motor bikes to sell their wares.

 Many streets in Guangzhou are very decent.  The shops here are all well kept.  No name brand stuff, but good prices for anything you want.

Have a great week everyone!

Love adios and ping on!

Dirk

A Trip Not To Take

My Dear Great Ones,

If you like to have your senses assaulted by a high pitched, microphone enhanced, Cantonese(more ugly sounding than even German or Russian) voice, incessantly speaking in an aggravated tone; gaudy lights that sear your retinas; disgusting smells of unkempt toilets, and overcooked dumplings that trigger your stomach to hurl the contents of your lunch overboard; plus pushy, loud crowds that have gone feral due to the inhuman, hot, sweaty conditions of the a waiting room; then a Pearl River cruise in Guangzhou is the answer.  It is a taste of hell!  Below is some photo evidence of the torture Celia and I endured.  We naively got hoodwinked to going from advertising that suggested a Pearl River cruise is one of the greatest things to do in life.  NOT!  Big time NOT! Big waste of good money!

 Here I am being herded into a very small, very crowded, waiting room.  A woman is blasting instructions in cantonese over a microphone that only adds to the stress. 

 Once it is finally time to board the ship, we are herded on to the dock like cattle.  MOOO.

 The gaudy lights on the boats are an insult to the eyes.  Dark sunglasses would have been welcomed.

 The trip on the Pearl, actually it should be called the Sewer since it so polluted, is hard on the eyes due to the millions of lights.  The Chinese just don't understand that classy and subtle is better.  Instead its full on blast your eyes with lights. 

Inside the boat the smell of urine, from the unkempt toilets, and a buffet of dumplings and poor critters, plus the noise of the people trying to be overheard over the too loud guide yelling in a microphone, will cause you despair.  It is hell.

 The Canton tower changes lights every 30 seconds or so.  If you wait about 2 hours you can pay a fortune to ride to the top and go on a vertical ferris wheel, thats right vertical,  (check it out online) and see exciting Guangzhou below.  No thanks.

 Lots of cool building trumpeting China's remarkable economic success.

China has many natural marvels and wonders.  Check those out and be inspired.  Stay away from the Pearl River cruise.  You have been warned...

Love adios and ping on!

Dirk

Shawan Ancient Village

Hello My Dear Great Ones,

Guangzhou, a city of about 15 million people, is located 1.5 hours due north by train from Hong Kong.  Guangzhou is just north of Shenzhen, population 11 million, a city that borders Hong Kong pop. 8 million.  So that means 34 million people, @ the population of Canada is packed in this tiny area here.  Whoa.  Anyway Guangzhou has many interesting things to do and see.  One of them is visiting Shawan Ancient Village which reminded me of the great Old City pedestrian zones that are common place in European cities.  Here are a few impressions.

Merchants hawking a giant rat.  

A man doing woodwork.  A scene from the 1800's.

A lily pond.

Yum yum soup with dumplings.  The femur adds flavor.

Ladies dressed in Chinese army fatigues hawking water.  Hmm

Another man selling windpipe instruments and peacock feathers.  Hmmmm

Some temples.  It is the year of the rooster.  So displays are pertaining to that.

Lots of interesting passage ways.

L

And doorways.

A buddhist tower.

Rooftops are interesting.

Loved the narrow passageways through the ancient village.  Very interesting.

Banana vender.

Year of the rooster?!

And of course.  Who loves Chinglish?  I do!

Guangzhou is an interesting place with a great metro system that is cheap, cheap, cheap.  Lots of good deals in the colorful commercial corridor that is Guangzhou.

Have a great week everyone!

Love adios and ping on!

Dirk