Virtual China: Gansu's Rainbow Mountains

 Today's virtual adventure takes us to the Rainbow Mountains in Gansu.

There are four sites like this is the world...one here is in USA (The Painted Desert) and are naturally occurring sandstone layers.

Located in Danxia Landform Geological Park, the first thing you'll notice is most photos taken of them are heavily enhanced to draw out the colors...they are much subtler in person.

Natural Color Photo

 Still pretty amazing!

https://youtu.be/B_sgNwQu9PM

They are thought to be about 6 million years old.

The mountains cover nearly 200 square miles. The park itself is 112 square miles.

Tour of Park

https://youtu.be/rbWFSx2rTFc

The layers and landforms were caused by erosion.

The first viewing platform.

Called The Colorful Meeting Fairy Platform...it is closest to the entrance...the largest...and the easiest to climb...almost ground level.

The Second platform has both high viewing and low viewing and is called The Colorful Sea of Clouds.

The top platform has 666 steps and takes 30-45 minutes to climb.

There is a winding wooden boardwalk to the top and you can get a panoramic view and photo from here.

The third viewing platform is called Colorful Embroidery.

It allows viewing of the Seven Color Fan...popular with tourists.

The fourth is Colorful Clouds Platform.
 

And is perfect for sunset photography!

I hope you have enjoyed The Rainbow Mountains!

Next time we will try the favorite dish of Gansu.

Until then...

 

 

Memorial Day Weekend

 Yesterday's rains giving way to the next four days of sunshine and 70+ degree days!

Starting the holiday weekend with Friday's leftover cold pizza and Coke.

Breakfast of Champions!!!

As you can see, the warmth and rains have absolutely made my roses bloom like crazy.

 

Also my flag irises and our little spruce, that started out as a 6 inch straight stick,  basically.  It has turned into a small Christmas Tree. I see decorations this December.

Gardening today in my Crazy Plant Lady ball-cap, shades and the cool Zelenskyy Green tee-shirt...lol! 

A gardening fashion statement.

Going to take advantage of a few nice days and trim the bayberry bushes...weed the borders...clear away the leftovers of spring foliage and get the beds and pots ready for summer bedding plants.

And open NPB for basking.

Enjoyed a visit and KFC dinner with Nicole, Emma and Aiden last Sunday...and currently making plans for her (soon to be) birthday. Once my DIL...now just my daughter-I-never-had.

John and I getting excited about our trip to Logan's soon...and later our Dinosaur Date!!!!

Dominion will be out soon.

 The Movie this Week:

Excellent drama/thriller...not new new, but new to me.

Exciting...keeps you on the edge of your seat and nice twist ending.

Well worth a watch!

Nothing terribly exciting out there in the way of new books...but did snag a couple of good cookbooks on Bread-making and Artisan Breads to try.

Also on the lookout for a great beach to paint for summer.

(...have a fresh canvas and all the paints...just need a subject...)

Koko (...a twitter-friend of mine who is an artist...)

recently started selling some of her original work reproduced on ceramic mugs...thus I now have this on the way from her Etsy shoppe.

Still saving for one of her original wall pieces.

And this:

 My Dad kept a yellowed newspaper image of this 1945 photo in his wallet until the day he died. Amidst that mass of humanity on the Queen Elizabeth II...somewhere...is my dad. Coming back from WWII. 

They docked in NY. 

The war was over.

 

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

 

Spring Visit...Parainfluenza...Monkeypox and Pneumonia

 Don and I enjoyed our Spring Visit...with blooming daffodils and irises...80 degree weather...sit out on the patio and catch up...politics...and Chinese Brunch!

It was very nice.

John and I waiting to see how his left upper lobe pneumonia resolves before committing to our Marshall Getaway.  He is sounding much better and fevers have diminished, so there is still hope. He has been on two antibiotics and breathing treatments. If not...we will reschedule and catch Logan's somewhere between now and then. 

Getting him healthy is our priority.

Our friend Charlcie...not so lucky...and hospitalized with Parainfluenza (viral) which has now went into viral pneumonia and taken over both lungs. The dx was a new one for me...you can teach old dogs, it seems...but the gist seems to be that it is something that takes 7-10 days...and the body has to fight it off because there really is nothing they can do about it.  

sigh

She has had a rough couple of years.

And something new has popped up in 12 countries now.

Monkeypox.

Usually only seen in Africa...now 80 cases in 12 countries and 6 of those in the US.

It has also been found in UK, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, Canada and Australia.

This has never happened before.

 The name derives from the first time it was found after a group of lab monkeys contracted the virus....it is actually found in rodents (rats...squirrels)

A relative of Smallpox...it creates pustules that turn into craters...burst and scab over and cause terrible scarring.

It is too early to speculated why it is spreading into Western areas...or how likely it will continue...but watching this one.

Now found in Dallas Texas, Massachusetts, and New York.

Perhaps mutation of a long stable virus...perhaps something else...we will see.

Itchy and painful with (currently) a 10% mortality rate.

If this would be a next-plague situation...it certainly could not be ignored like Covid has been.

Raining outside and much cooler. Today is a Cinderella Day...and hoping to see Nicki and Emma and Aiden tomorrow!

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

 

 

 

Virtual China: Gansu

 

Just next to Sichaun is the sliver of a province known as Gansu.

You are HERE.

Part of The Silk Road ran through here and is known as The Hexi Corridor. 

This area is also called The Cradle of Chinese Civilization.

 https://youtu.be/sRySHM4qn08

About 25 million people call Gansu home. The primary language spoken is Mandarin Chinese...and most are Buddhists...with some Taoists, Christians and Hui Muslim also scattered about.

This is also the home of the Bingling Temple and Grottos...which we will explore later.

 

The Silk Road and Museum.

 

Wonderful beef noodle cuisine...which we will make!

 

And a sight to rival the Painted Desert of Western America...The Rainbow Mountains.

 

All this and more...

Gansu from Above

 https://youtu.be/pSotXMWxR_Y

 Until next time.

4 Years Together...Sister's Day...Loretta...and Celebrating with Brenden and Aiden

 

The quiet before the storm...

"Oh Dear God...are THEY gone yet???"

                                                      -Sofi

A wonderful, if people-y, week/weekend...starting Thursday as John and I celebrated 4 years back together, at Almost Home Tearoom.

Dining alfresco in the mild cool breeze!

Here's onward to #5...lol

Can't wait for our trip, later this month :)

On Saturday, we had Sister's Day!

With A Quiche Brunch and Tina's "Naughty Motivational Coloring Book"...lots of laughter and chat...and sometimes passing soft drink through your nose!

And a drive-by Coffee and Sweet Bread (ing) with Loretta and her oldest son who was in town for her church's bicentennial.

So great to catch up and we will be down to see you in the fall....miss you already!

Sunday was all about the boys.

Now 12 and 8.

Individual small cakes and candles...dad using my 8 inch cleaver to cut them into equal slices...James...Aiden...Brenden...Riley...Ethan...Jess...Nicki and me (after she got off work) 

They are getting sooooo big!

Hard to believe Brenden will be a teenager next year!!!

Sofi hiding out beneath the sofa for the duration...then coming out warily when everyone was finally gone.

(...yes...a few more people and I would have been hiding right with you...lol)

Slow today...recovering...Amber will be here soon!

Have a great week!

 

 

 

 

"All UR Cooler R Belongs to ME!"

                                                    -Gadget

Virtual China: The Giant Leshan Buddha

 

At 233 feet tall seated, the Leshan Buddha is one of the best known Buddhas in Sichaun.

 Carved out of red sandstone it sits on the Min riverside.

To give you an idea of how large the Giant Buddha is...imagine...his head alone is 48 feet by 33 feet, His ears 27 feet long. 79 feet wide shoulders. His smallest toenail can fit one seated person comfortably.

The statue took 90 years and three generations to complete.

People come from all over the world to view Maitreya (as he is called) and this is a world heritage site. 

Tour

https://youtu.be/jMhbbpTXOp8

More information

https://youtu.be/vVUqYqMNkw4

Next up: The Province of Gansu

Mother's Day...And the War is NOT Over.

 

A day of relaxation...bubble bath with scented candles...flowers...catching up with everyone...gardening and a nap...good food and tea with wild honey and toast!

A knock by James...and a bouquet for my table.

                                        What a wonderful surprise!

Outside...I woke up to most of my daffodils bloomed , and a beautiful sunny day.

This week promises to be warm, sunshine and dry. Hoping to get my borders cleaned and start planting!

Filled the galvanized half barrel with 25 miniature daffs...but as yet only one has sprouted. I am thinking the torrential rain may have ruined them.

 My guy...taunting me with fresh cotton candy from a nearby street carnival...lol!

Today marks our 4th year back together and our 40th year knowing one another...hard to believe.

Yes...apparently we have grown old together!

We are brunching later this week...and then running away for a proper celebration near the end of the month.

Anyway...it is May 9th...and much to Putin's chagrin...the War in Ukraine is not over...lol.

In fact, Russian troops have been losing ground (...also men...equipment..et al). I am seriously beginning to believe the Ukrainians are going to send them back to Russia.

GOOD!

Zelenskyy is amazing...and during an awards ceremony, presented a medal to PATRON (...the mine-sniffing terrier...) as well.

Which was perfect!

I am emotionally invested in this little pooch.

Have a wonderful week!

 

 

Virtual China: Dan Dan Noodles with Char Sui Pork

 

Although most of Sichaun's food is mind (and mouth) numbingly hot...I managed to find a dish that was moderately hot and delicious.

While looking for the ingredients for "Hot Pot" most of which are searingly hot chilis and Sichaun peppercorns, I found the recipe for Dan Dan.

Since I had pork on hand that I thin sliced, and found an online source for Char Sui, the choice was an easy one.

I was introduced to Char Sui Sauce many years ago in Chicago's Chinatown.

It is a form of Chinese BBQ Sauce, pleasantly sweet, a little plummy...and spicy.

Back then, a three hour trip to Chinatown and a Chinese food market was the only method of acquiring this wonderful stuff...and I often did.

Now, everything you can think of, is as close as a credit card and mouse click.

Progress!

The pork is thinly sliced and stir fried in my wok...the cleaver makes easy work of this.

The Dan Dan noodles are steamed or boiled and drained.

Either method works well as they are substantial.

The Char Sui is thick at first, spooned from the jar directly into the stir fried meat and added noodles...but thins out and coats everything well as it is stirred

The aroma filling the house is amazing.

Served hot...it has a tiny bite...but is not the numbing tingle of many of Sichaun's dishes.

Delicious!!!

Next we will explore the Leshan Giant (seated) Buddha.

Virtual China: Sichaun and Pandas..Pandas...Pandas

 

 

Sichaun is home to 30% of the Giant Panda population.

15 Sanctuaries and Scenic Parks devoted to them are set aside for a wild population of about 2060.

Most are found in the Min Mountains.

These gentle giants are omnivores and will eat grasses, tubers and occasionally meat...but 99% of their diet is bamboo shoots and leaves.

A common term for them in China is simply "Bamboo Bear".

They are about 6 feet long and can weigh up to 350 pounds.

Their paws have five fingers and a thumb to hold food.

They live about 30 years in captivity and 20 in the wild.

One Sichaun Sanctuary

https://youtu.be/dEJDRxIKDX8

Giant Pandas

https://youtu.be/IPz5jkSLG6A

Panda Sanctuaries

https://youtu.be/Mq0uw_tDs9s

 

I hope you have enjoyed today's adventure.

Next we will check out Sichaun Cuisine.