Los Pensamientos..

From two weeks ago...


I'm in quite a reflective mood. On life and my desires. What I want to do next. Just had a late workout, had some dinner showered and now laying out just organizing life and it's many lessons. Such an amazing puzzle piece with what seems like an endless array of possibilities with regard to a life's impact. The many forces tangle and tango each and everyday to create the image we encounter each day. Do we stop and ask why we do what we do? What is the purpose of my work, my life's labor? Is it all too excessive? Should we follow the path laid for us by those around us or create the trail that will lead to what it may? Does it matter? How does desire interact with inertia? Is it simply that we shutdown at some point? Is it that we forget what passion really is? I need passion. Prem is passion. It is me. I crave an expedition deep into my heart and soul. It is here we find our collective heart and soul. By discovering yourself, only then may you finally see the truth in others. Have I discovered myself? Yes. But I am ignoring it. Trying to delay what is true. Trying to believe that the masses are correct. Society knows what I want, what I need, what will complete me. Yet, after it all, I still feel a deep sense of unaccomplishment, possible regret and most definitively a real craving for something shiny and new to pursue. Is it just that I need a change of scenery or is it my work that is the culprit. So much more later. It's hard. Life, but I know that you must make decisions and make them with your heart. The outcome will be dealt with no matter.

Photos from China..and some thoughts on the big C

Here is a link to the pictures from the trip that I have put up so far: China Photos

Annnnd my thoughts ->

So, I really wasn't sure what to expect. Would people live in abject poverty a la dwellers in India? Was the newfound wealth visible past the shiny buildings in Shanghai? Did people live better than they used to? There are many more questions here, but that should give you a basic idea of my ignorance on all things China-related. Luckily, this trip would again quench my quest for knowledge and supply me with the answers I so desired.

Speaking of which, everywhere I traveled, I saw the same thing: desire. I saw it at every level of the social strata. Life was changing for the better and at a pace that was unprecedented. I don't believe I EVER saw a car that was more than five years old. Shops, restaurants, streets and buildings were all filled to capacity with citizens of all descriptions. I felt such chaos all around, but at the same moment, a deep sense of resolve and peace in the people. The world was changing, and, finally, it was for a better future. This was the theme; it was the overarching canvas on which Chinese life would be painted.. Growth, prosperity, and fear??

Fear. Yes, even in China. Housing and food inflation, the obvious and growing discrepancy between the coastal rich and the interior poor, government graft, and a faltering political regime have many worried that the worst could happen at any moment. The good times, the golden age, could be cut short by a structure that does not want to acknowledge opposition, does not want to include the people in decision making, does not want to champion free-will. An economic collapse / political revolution are not topics that seem so far from what could possibly take place in the near future for modern Chinese. Whether it was sitting on a train, chatting with a passenger on a flight or talking over drinks at an eatery, it always came up. Ordinary people have to run just to keep up with the massive growth that is sucking away the traditional pace that captioned life for so long. So, yes, fear.

But, fear withstanding, the China dream is fast becoming the symbol of new world growth. Export driven and capitalistic (not minding the many state run operations), China found its bearings by producing for the West. Now, it, too, is transforming into the consumer society it once fed. It is becoming a center of culture, political power and economic prowess opposite to the US and Europe. It yearns for its rightful place atop the world's governing bodies and is now finding those avenues open. An amazing run that has brought countless hundreds of millions of Chinese out of poverty and into the middle class, the Chinese growth story is captivating. It was definitely one of my top reasons for going; to actually make contact with this system and see it in the flesh, and to understand if it was sustainable.

So is it?... Yes!     ?

Ha, that is the current state of the conversation. Wage growth vs. Inflation, Private companies vs. State companies, Individuals vs. Government, Interior vs. Coastal Cities, Chaotic growth vs. Stability. What wins remains to be seen?


t r a v e l  b e a u t i f u l

p r e m i n c h i n a

My Purpose:

To explore the culture, economics, tourist spots, hospitality and, most importantly, food and beverage of the unknown land of billions known as China.

My Journey:

Fly out March 2, 2011 - Fly back April 4th, 2011

Beijing 

Xi'an

Chengdu

Shanghai 

Yangshuo

Guangzhou

Shenzhen

Hong Kong

Home

What an incredible trip. Surprised. Thrilled. Happy. I booked the trip two weeks before I had left. Although such a short planning cycle, I had envisioned making this trip for far too long. I had initially booked the trip for Aug/Sept of 2o1o, but canceled due to an Emory leadership class that I decided was more important at the time. Finally, it became real. I was set myself free to be mystified by this ancient, character dependent society that, before our eyes, was transforming itself into a global power.

The timing of the trip couldn't have been better as the weather was generally quite pleasant. Yes, quite cool, but also bearable. I'm sure the summer would have been sweltering at best. There was also the annual meeting of the Communist Party in Beijing which added a bit of spice to my stay there. Finally, the tsunami and resulting nuclear catastrophe allowed me to gain a significant insight into Sino-Japanese relations.

Before I left, I had my doubts. How would I be received? Would I simply hate it and believe it to be the biggest mistake in my traveling career? Was I going to be jailed? Would I be able to comprehend hanzi and pinyin? Would there be any meaning to the trip? Was it simply going to be a polluted, mannerless wasteland of corporate communism that would suck the life out of my soul? Would I be moved? and, finally, Was there better out there? Would I regret it?

Yes, lots of questions! Although with any trip, you do go through some hard times (travel pains), for the most part, I refuted all of my worries on this trip and actually LOVED China! How could this happen, you may ask? How does a person that has not a clue about another culture, who is ill-prepared for the experience, and knows nothing of the language or which way he was to be traveling even have a chance at surviving much less thriving in this foreign, non-democratic territory? Well, it's actually pretty simple: Just eat, drink, sleep, talk, walk, dance, question, laugh, smile, love and move like the locals. Doing this, I was loved by those around me and had the best time learning so much about our Red Giant (and Giant Pandas). :)