ByHealth Factory Visit - No Permanent Location

Mom pays a visit - No Permanent Address

Hot spring located north of Guangzhou - No Permanent Location

15.03.2025 - 15.03.2025

Sunac World and Circus - Unspecified Location

04.04.2025 - 04.04.2025 20 °C

CANTON FAIR - No Permanent Location

I can't recall when I first learned about the Canton Fair, but I finally had the chance to attend as a "buyer." I had to bend the truth a bit and claim I was shopping for electronics to bring back to Canada. It's an enormous trade event that takes place three times a year in Guangzhou. When I attended, it was the electronics segment. I went on another river cruise and then returned to the hostel. A German guy generously shared his Lithuanian vodka with me, and I ended up a little intoxicated. When I returned to the room, I caused quite a stir upon seeing all the clutter on the table that I wanted to discuss with them. I scattered their belongings throughout the room, and they called the police. I stayed up all night and left for home in the morning. I received a refund for that terrible hostel (Lazy Gaga hostel; avoid it, as it is filled with homeless individuals rather than backpackers).

Zen Buddhism, Bodhidharma, Kung Fu, and My Journey - Ramdas Iyer's Global Travels

Gazing at the stunning temple at the base of the Songshan Mountain range in Henan province, southeast of Luoyang, I had finally reached a destination I had longed to see for many years. I was captivated by the legendary Shaolin temple, known as the residence of the renowned Indian monk Bodhidharma, who is credited with founding Zen Buddhism and the martial art of Kung Fu. The temple's historic architectural complex, notable for its significant aesthetic appeal and deep cultural meanings, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After completing my usual photographic exploration of the temple, I settled in front of a statue of Bodhidharma and entered into deep meditation. As a practitioner of transcendental meditation, I found it effortless to transition into dhyana, despite the distractions of occasional tourists wandering through the temple, which is predominantly recognized by the public as the birthplace of Kung Fu martial arts. My personal link to this temple, shared with many fellow individuals from my home state of Tamil Nadu, India, stems from the great Bodhidharma himself, who arrived from our city of Kanchipuram in 520 AD to introduce Mahayana Buddhism to China. He spent nine years living in the Shaolin temple, and I plan to share his story through the perspective of Tsutomu Kambe (a former physics professor at the University of Tokyo), drawing from his book 'Bodhi Dharma and Oceanic Silk Road.' I have long wished to write about the esteemed Bodhidharma for my blog readership since my visit to these regions in 2003. Ensuring safety is always a priority for me when exploring remote areas.