Puppet Pilgrimage 4

Entry 4 in Journal

It has been three months since Vesak and my last journal entry. During Vasak I got to see the buddhist flag raised into the air and hear the marvelous hymns of my religion. I enjoyed it a lot, praying under one roof with many monks and friends. It was an amazing experience. I cannot believe that I have finally made it to Qinghai. The land is rich and plentiful. The area is perfect to raise a family complete with a farm of yaks and crops. The people are friendly and the air is fresh and calm. The place is thriving with fish from the Yangtze and wildlife that are attracted to the clean blue water of the river, it is all very perfect. For some reason, out here I feel even closer to Buddha. The tall mountains in the distance of Qinghai are grand and beautiful. The place is perfect. I bought a horse from a man who lives in a small settlement three miles away from Qinghai, where our settlement will be. The horse, a beautiful creature was not cheap. I had to trade half of my supplies for it. But it doesn’t matter, since the horse will shorten my journey by several months. I cannot wait to bring my family here. They will love it. Today I prayed for my family and for good health here at our new settlement. Even though I am slightly nervous what awaits me on the path to my family, I cannot wait for the journey ahead.

Puppet Pilgrimage 3

Entry 3 in Journal

I have come to the place where my memories become sad and lonesome. I have come to the city of Chongqing. This is where my mother and father were buried. It had all started when they went out to the rice patties for another day’s work. They were working fine until they accidentally disturbed a rice paddy snake. The snake bit both of them. The bite wasn’t deadly but their bites got infected and two weeks later they both died from the infection. They were buried here with over 310 other civilians. Even though the cemetery is a home for so many deceased people I find the whole cemetery grand and beautiful. I wonder what people thousands of years from now will think of it when they discover it. Even though this is a sad place for me it brings back memories from my childhood. I learned of confucianism today when I was walking the streets looking for food from the market. The man told me that we were the first dynasty to embrace it. I cannot believe this. I feel that our dynasty is really changing things. I am proud of the dynasty that I live in. Today I visited a buddhist temple. I prayed there for my family. I was amazed of the intricate designs and colors of the temple. The experience was very sacred to me. I have only been to a temple several times in my over thirty year life and this temple really stood out. For some reason I felt extra calm and sound in this temple. I will never forget this experience. Tomorrow is Vesak, I will be going to the temple again to celebrate it. I will bring flowers for the offerings. I cannot wait to sing hymns and pray during the birthday of Buddha with the many people I grew up with in this very village. I cannot wait for Vesak tomorrow. Tonight I prayed for my family and for good luck. I cannot wait to see what comes my way tomorrow.

Puppet Pilgrimage 2

Entry 2 in Journal

Over the past two weeks I have made great progress on my journey, I have covered over 869 miles along the Yangtze to the city of Yichang. I met up with a family in Yichang. The family was very hospitable and I learned that a new trade route called the silk road had been developed. This silk road carried a variety of trading supplies like spices, silk, ivory, stone, and other supplies. I was fascinated by the innovation behind this amazing trade route. The family told me that the emperor Zhang Qian had opened it up. I went with the father of the family and helped him sell supply at the market, we traded the supply for different agriculture and other living supplies. When I was in the market I saw a stand where a merchant was selling tin and jade figures, I bought a tin figure of a goat and another of a tortoise. I will treasure these amulets and will keep them forever. After the market we headed back for dinner. For dinner we had fresh chicken cooked with rice and bamboo shoots from the market. For a side we also had pears and chestnuts from the garden in the family’s backyard. After supper I went to the guest area the family had and prayed to Buddha for good health and that I would have a safe journey. I also prayed for my family and friends back at home and wished them very good fortune. I have had a very good journey so far and I hope that tomorrow my journey will have good fortune. I cannot wait to see what happens tomorrow.

Puppet Pilgrimage 1

Entry 1 in Journal

It has been five days since I left the city of Shanghai at the beginning of my journey. My quest will lead me 3,915 miles across several cities to the source of the Yangtze,

Qinghai. I am hoping the best for my journey, anything could happen here...to make sure I have a safe journey I have already prayed to Buddha with my friend, a monk who lives in Shanghai. I hope that my journey will lead me to my destination safely. For I need to scout the area where my family wishes to live. If it is a good area I will come back to my family and we will make the journey again along the Yangtze. I am hoping for the best. For if the land is fertile around our settling point we will build a farm and we will keep Yaks. Today, I met a friend, Buwei who has a small settlement along the Yangtze 50 miles from the city of Wuhan. We harvested lotus plants and fished. We then took our harvests and sold them at the village market. Buwei and I finished the day with a prayer to Buddha. Overall the start of my journey has been better than I thought. I miss my wife and four children, I hope that when I come too my destination I will find a peaceful land full of life and good fortune. I cannot wait until I am reunited with my family again. I will pray for them and wish them good fortune while I am gone. Overall, I can’t wait to see what Buddha brings to me tomorrow.

Walking the Yangtze #4

After five months of s-scavenging food and looking for human life I-I have finally f-found a-a habitable v-village. I am b-being treated by a d-doctor.

I have just woken up in a motel, I remember that I was treated and cured. I am not sure what disease I had but thats not important, I must get to Shanghai before Christmas. I fill my pack with food
and thank the villagers I then head off, this time along the Yangtze River. Kayaks calmly paddle on the Yangtze one man offered me a ride, I had to accept. I had never been on a kayak before so it would be a new experience for me. "Hold on", said the driver. "Hold on?" BAM! We hit the rapids at top speed. The kayak banged left and right, I held on for dear life. I thought we would sink, fortunately after five minutes in the rapids the water calmed down. The warm sun took the energy away from me. I decided to take a short rest. I woke up to the sound of thick ropes throbbing on the canoe. "This is your stop, Shanghai is only 30 miles that way." He smiled. I thanked him and started walking to my final destination. It was weird that the driver of the canoe knew where I was going. Maybe a rumor spread? Whatever it was Shanghai was in range!

After miles of running to Shanghai I decide to take a break. I sat on a small bench and pulled out some water, if there is one thing I learned its stay hydrated. With a lot of courage I got up and ran as fast as I could to Shanghai. I was determine to get there.

Hours later of running I finally reached Shanghai. The beautiful city lay beside the still and calm Yangtze River. I made it. I made it before Christmas, A group of people welcomed me. I finally did it, after months of traveling I finally completed my journey. I thanked everyone for encouraging me, but sadly there was no time for party. I had a family and a girlfriend at home. I couldn't leave them for another day. I jumped on the biggest boat I have ever seen, for traveling to distant countries and as I left the harbor I waved to those who waved to me and to those with a close family and to those who are going through hard times, I waved to them all.

Walking the Yangtze #3

After walking with wildlife along the Yangtze River I see the Silk Road. The Silk Road is a trading route snaking through many villages. Men on camelback go around selling silk, cotton and other resources. They get their money by going throughout the villages selling their goods. But, the scary thing is that it can also carry disease from the men, camels or resources passed around by people. The disease would spread like a wildfire yet everyone needs resources so a lot of bad things can happen if nobody stops this madness. I leave the Yangtze for a couple of miles and walk along the Silk road. The silk road will soon give way to the desert. But for now the tropical rainforest seems to drive my wonder.

After hours of walking along the silk road I come upon another small village, however the streets seem to be empty. Their were closed doors and shut windows. I dared myself to go into the village, I could taste the fiery wind and smell the horrible odor of corpses. I cannot write on. I leave the village in astonishment, there was no sign of life everything seemed dead. I continued walking the silk road. Oddly there didn't seem to be any others walking along the road. No camels no men no caravans, it was an apocalypse.

As the sun set for another day I took camp in an abandon house, the only refuge. I pulled out some food out of my pack and slowly nibbled at it. I had a bad feeling I wasn't going to see many people living along the silk road. I must go back to the Yangtze.

Walking the Yangtze River #2

After a long day of fishing and cutting tea leaves with Sa, (the middle aged villager) I decided to take a break. As the sun set between the mountains I thought about what Sa said, how the village would eventually die if the Yangtze River ever dried up. I lied on the bamboo bed, and thought how easy my life was compared to these villagers. It is sometimes easy to forget how lucky you are. But for the poor its hard to forget that you have so little.

The next morning I woke up to the smell of roasted hazelnuts, I walked down the stairs to meet Sa and the translator making breakfast. I asked for my help but they insisted as a guest I relax. As they made breakfast I asked them about their culture and what they believe in. They said that they were one of the very few Christians in China. They said they prayed every six'a clock. PM and AM. They amazed me and told stories about the spirits protecting the Yangtze River. They then finished making breakfast and we feasted in. After breakfast I packed my belonging, it was time to go. I thanked the translator and Sa for letting me live in their shoes. It was truly a great experience,  as I walked off into the morning mist it was hard to believe that such poor people could just let any stranger into their home. You must be god's angels to do that. I am now back to walking the Yangtze and the wildlife is everywhere. Monkeys hop from tree to tree fiercely ripping bananas off the trees. Hippos lurk around the waters, predators of the deep hunting for prey. Blue jays guard their baby eggs waiting for them to hatch. Wildlife is everywhere.