It was relatively late in my life when I began seeking spiritual answers that were genuinely mine, rather than those imposed on me by society. The significant turning point occurred when I hiked the El Camino de Santiago from France through northern Spain. As I prepared for this journey, I resolved to use the time to explore my genuine feelings, regardless of whether they were right or wrong. I formulated five questions I needed to address, and by the end of the 31-day pilgrimage, I had answered them for myself and felt assured in my responses. This was truly "me," like it or not. Encouraged by that success, I approached the Kora with a similar mindset, bringing just one question to consider. A shorter pilgrimage meant a shorter question list, humorously speaking. My inquiry during this period was to ascertain whether I believed I existed for myself or for others. Knowing the answer to this is crucial for shaping how I spend the remainder of my life to realize my true purpose. Initially, the answer seemed quite straightforward, but it soon revealed itself to be a challenging question. Examining this question from different religious viewpoints yields completely different answers—take, for example, Buddhism versus Christianity. I identify as neither and do not adhere to organized religion, which means it's my responsibility and necessity to understand MY answer and pursue that purpose.
Documenting numerous personal, unpleasant specifics and certainly too much information. If you're squeamish, please exit now.
I realize I've discussed toilets quite a bit, but I think it deserves a separate post. The only Western-style toilets were found in hotels. In fact, the one in Chengdu was fully electronic; it had self-flushing, a heated seat, an integrated bidet, and a control panel on the wall that was too intricate to figure out during an overnight stay. Other hotels featured fairly typical flush toilets. After that, things took a turn for the worse.
Today, I find myself in a somewhat melancholy mood. One member of our Back of the Bus Gang has left. Helena is on her way to Nepal, having departed today with a couple from Malaysia, which means our tour group is now reduced to 7.
One aspect I didn't expect and that wasn't clearly outlined in the itinerary is the significant time we would spend traveling. Mt. Kailash is quite distant, the roads are extremely rough, and there isn't much to see along the way aside from stunning landscapes. Although the journey is worthwhile, it wasn't my favorite aspect.
Some tasks to complete tomorrow, October 5.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is nearly here, signaling it’s time to celebrate with a feast!
Several tasks to complete tomorrow, October 4.
After my meticulously planned itinerary for China fell apart, I decided to go with the flow for the first two weeks before heading to Yunnan. Two full days in Dalian had been sufficient, and I chose Yingkou as our next destination. The cities on the Liaodong Peninsula appeared to offer little, and I struggled to find any information in English about them. Yingkou at least boasted an "ancient street" that also served as a night market, along with a nearby beach town that seemed somewhat intriguing. The absence of travel articles or blogs about the city suggested that, even if there were no attractions for foreign tourists, we would still get to experience a truly Chinese city. The worst-case scenario would be simply wasting a couple of days.
Within the extensive collection of Chinese folk arts, few are as enchanting as the rolling lantern.
Several tasks to accomplish tomorrow, October 3.
On the way to Lhasa.
Last day
I apologize for the wait. You'll see why as I explain.
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