The King's Calendar Website is really not designed for writing photographic articles, so I do that at Magic City Morning Star News in Maine USA. (links provided at the bottom of these photos)
These photos are just additional photos to compliment those that will appear at Magic City in the coming weeks.
Du Fu's Thatched Cottage in the Du Fu's Thatched Cottage Museum Park ChengDu
These 3 photos are of the famous Poet's Cottage. It's original site was a few hundred meters away. Du Fu wrote many beautiful yet realistic poems about his life experiences.
A tower in the vast Du Fu's Thatched Cottage Museum park complex
10,000 Buddha Tower in Du Fu's Thatched Cottage Museum park complex & Below the original foundations
The reconstruction required new foundations with a 22 degree shift to allow the old foundations to be seen
Calligraphy at the Du Fu Museum Park Many people say that my cursive Chinese writing is just terrible scribble. Now I know that they are just jealous because I have mastered a unique form of calligraphy.
A beautiful walkway in the Du Fu Museum Park
The Tang dynasty Archaeological Museum in the Du Fu's Thatched Cottage Museum Park This Museum in addition to relics like the clothing below, shows an excavation from the time of the Tang Dynasty. I've seen something similar next to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris France. Very Interesting.
A mural in a temple currently under construction at the QingYangGong Daoist Temple in ChengDu This little temple is opposite the Tea House, and the photos below are of some Tea House staff members. I promised them I would publish their photos. The side street on the other side of the road is within walking distance of Du Fu's Thatched Cottage Museum.
An assortment of Animals At the Da Xiong Mao Ji Di Panda Park www.panda.org.cn
Sleeping and Eating - What a life
Red Panda For 50 RMB you can have one on your lap and have a friend take photos.
Bamboo walkway at Da Xiong Mao Ji Di Panda Reserve ChengDu
Girls in Training to pour Tea Taken in a beautiful Mall Type area within walking distance of the Daoist Temple
Carol's Coffee House This place makes the best pizzas in the world - REALLY!. Located not far from the Taoist Temple (somewhere). Don't quote me but I think it is next to the WuHou Temple Complex and is called the JinLi Street Bazaar. It is a very ancient street with traditional buildings.
A photo of ChengDu at night taken from the 18th Floor of the ChengDu Pearl International Hotel The Pearl is a 3 star Chinese Hotel but very suitable for foreigners at only 238 RMB per night. Not much to look at from the outside, it is exquisite in the foyer. It is so close to the North Railway station, and central to every place I visited. The number 001 and 302 busses were our main form of transportation to everything. Pearl Internatonal Hotel http://www.cdpih.com
A Temple - but where? I can't remember
The photos above and below are in the same place In was in this street of buildings that the girls were pouring Tea.
Praying and Worshipping Everywhere I went, even if there were no worshipping facilities provided, young and old were bowing and praying to statues everywhere.
This is the first file of photos from ChengDu In Time I will create specific files for the various places visited and will link them to the appropriate stories published at Magic City. Check in occasionally at http://magic-city-news.com/cat_index_33.shtml which is the directory for my Newspaper Column, and you will see ChengDu articles as they appear, and each will direct you back to King's Calendar to view larger photographs.
Poems by Du Fu (712-770 CE)
The Empty Wallet
Green cedar leaves and gorgeous sun-glow May be food for the immortals, but not for men; The world is tough and real, my road full Of hardship; Nothing to cook, so leaving The well stiff with ice; Not clothing enough So sleeping cold through the night; yet It is bad to have one's wallet completely Empty, so I leave a coin in it Just to comfort me.
The Lovely Lady
Surely The most lovely of her day Now relegated to this back valley, Memories of happier days buried With her amidst wild greenery; The fall of the capital has taken Her brothers; not even did their Great rank save them, or enable Their corpses to be found; The world has no time to waste On the unlucky; love is like A candle in the wind; her husband Has found a new woman already, in His eyes as beautiful as jade; Leaves fold up together at dusk, The wild duck does not sleep alone; Her man sees his new favourite Smile, but does not hear His old one weep; In the mountains the water flows Well and clear; but down on the easy Plains, it grows muddy; she has sent Her maid to sell bits of jewellery for food, Then returning, help her to pull vines And mend the broken hut; She picks a flower, though not To wear in her hair; cuts a bundle Of pine branches; there is chill In the air and her sleeves of coloured cloth Are thin; yet unheeding, she stands Leaning against a bamboo, Watching the sunset.
Du Fu Selected Poems Translated by Rewi Alley Foreign Languages Press 2001
If you want to view other China Stories - please view the following links
Best Wishes
R.P.BenDedek February 19th 2006
List of BenDedek's Stories from China at King's Calendar
The Following is a list of Photographic Stories from China, published by R.P.BenDedek in his International Column at Magic City Morning Star News:http://magic-city-news.com/index.shtml and in reverse order to publication dates.
Photographic Article about Australia written by A.V.Stewart Brisbane City's Captain Sandy Stewarthttp://magic-city-news.com/article_3011.shtml Sandy Stewart, or "Captain Sandy," as he became known to his friends and passengers before he retired as a Brisbane City, "City Sights Tour Operator", now has Alzheimer's Disease, and he is doing his best to see the world before he forgets who he is. A.V.Stewart.
Stories from China: Season's Greetings & Farewell http://magic-city-news.com/article_2524.shtml Many are growing up feeling the heavy burden that has been placed upon them, resenting their responsibilities and longing for "real freedom". This is not a political ideology, but a personal one.
Stories from China: Interview with Judy - A Chinese American Foreign Teacher http://magic-city-news.com/article_2515.shtml Now, most of my kids do come in the same shape and color. He's an Asian kid, about yeah tall, black hair, brown eyes, you seen him?
Stories from China: For the Hong Hu Adoptees http://magic-city-news.com/article_2426.shtml And like Cinderella, you had a fairy godmother named "Mom" who made it possible for you to meet a charming prince named "Dad." OK, maybe he isn't that handsome or charming, but he did whisk you away from a life of poverty to a land of opportunity.
Stories from China: YiChang http://magic-city-news.com/article_2514.shtml The people in the immediate vicinity fled their seats, and as the ship continued reversing, the window buckled and smashed, sending shards of glass everywhere.
Stories from China: YiChang's Three Gorges http://magic-city-news.com/article_1971.shtml Instead of the 2000 yuan and more fee, we paid only a modest 500 yuan each, and despite all the regulations in China that are designed to keep track of the movements of foreigners, the agency neither recorded my name nor took any information from me whatsoever.
Being Chinese, his first words were not a welcoming greeting but, "How much is she charging you?" He flipped out when I told him the price and began to argue with her, but I told him to put a sock in it, because I was glad to have arrived in one piece. "Thirty yuan is too expensive," he said. "For that price you could have taken a taxi!" I could have taken a taxi? If I had known that I would have. It would have been worth Thirty yuan to ride in comfort instead of this bone shaker!
Stories from China: A Birthday, a Brief Holiday and a Show Pony! http://magic-city-news.com/article_2424.shtml I hit the roof, called my coordinator who informed me that this indeed was correct. Spitting chips and ready to knock off the first head that spoke an ill timed word, I graciously kept the car waiting at the gate for another 10 minutes or so before deigning to appear. I was greeted with profuse apologies for having failed to "ask" in advance for my cooperation.
Stories from China: Eating out in China http://magic-city-news.com/article_1551.shtml When they tell you that the meal is "fresh," you know they are telling the truth. If it is fish that you want, it will either be swimming around in the tank just inside the door, or floating "belly up."
Stories from China: TianJin http://magic-city-news.com/article_1788.shtml I've had this type of argument so many times with so many Chinese people, and I'm not sure exactly what their stubbornness is about. It may have something to do with the Chinese dislike of asking questions, or of losing face, or the Chinese mentality that foreigners are all stupid.
Stories from China: Parenting Joys. http://magic-city-news.com/article_1493.shtml When I asked QC why he didn't tell me when I got back, he said, "I was meaning to send you an email about that, but every time I went to use the computer, you were on it!"
Kingscalendar Stories from China: The New Semester in Hong Hu, Hubei Province http://magic-city-news.com/article_2116.shtml Naturally I did draw to their attention to the absurdity of their actions. "GET OFF MY BLOODY CLEAN FLOOR AND WIPE THAT DAMN MUD OFF YOUR SHOES!" But I did scream it in a nice way!
Another BS Day in China - Stories from China http://magic-city-news.com/article_2054.shtml “Is this a Television interview?” They do this you know! They don't tell you about it, they just do it! They get all dolled up and you turn up to face a television crew dressed in whatever!
Kingscalendar Stories from China - Wuhan http://magic-city-news.com/article_1693.shtml While these temples look really great, given China's past repression of religion, it is difficult to say how many temples were originally on this site, but I do intend one day to talk to the monks and find out.
Kingscalendar Stories from China - Wuhan http://magic-city-news.com/article_1518.shtml 'Free Time?' - What's that? Sometimes, I just need to escape, and my refuge is the Qin Chuan Holiday Riverside Inn in HanYang Wuhan!
KingsCalendar Com - Entertainment in China http://magic-city-news.com/article_1639.shtml And forget the feminist concern for 'masculine violence' and the banning of toy guns etc. Train 'em while they are young!
PuQi Adoptees - Stories from China http://magic-city-news.com/article_1922.shtml I raised the issue of the PuQi adoptees with them, and they informed me that while they were aware of the situation, they doubted that the records still existed concerning individuals and the identities of their parents.
KingsCalendar "Stories from China" Food http://magic-city-news.com/article_1503.shtml As for me, I looked at the Chicken's feet and couldn't help wondering where they had been walking just 15 minutes earlier.
KingsCalendar 'Stories from China' http://magic-city-news.com/article_1877.shtml Anyone can teach a bird to speak, but that doesn't mean the bird understands what it says. I refuse to have parrots in my class, nor infants for that matter.
KingsCalendar 'Stories from China' http://magic-city-news.com/article_1553.shtml "Yes Ma'am!" I replied with a salute, and returned to sit in silence on my desk. I have never so much enjoyed being put in my place.
KingsCalendar 'Stories from China' http://magic-city-news.com/article_1549.shtml I just walked over, went in, did a quick about face and walked out. It was a while before I realised it was the ladies toilet.
Special Edition of : 'Stories from China' http://magic-city-news.com/article_1507.shtml The little country town of Hong Hu is located on the Banks of the Yangtze River not far from Chibi, the site of the ancient 'Battle of the Three Kingdoms'.
Special Edition of : 'Stories from China' http://magic-city-news.com/article_1506.shtml Two Aussie 'Oral English Teachers' discover Rural China and are introduced the world of the Chinese Senior Middle School.
Special Edition of : 'Stories from China' http://magic-city-news.com/article_1489.shtml The first in a series of photographic articles entitled: Special Edition of 'Stories from China' by Australian Oral English teacher, and author of 'The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran', R.P.BenDedek. Jul 1, 2004, 08:00
