The Land of Hong Kong

Have you ever thought about living in Hong Kong? Many say that the economy is coming back and that now is the time to find the jobs and get the big money. In all this ruckuss there is simply still one thing that can be said about this place...Hong Kong is unique. If you are here to get the big bucks, wear fancy shirts, hang with the high rollers or simply lounge at one of the many restaurants at Lan Kwai Fong, you are here for a reason and you are an integral part of the culture and life. The Island is much different than Kowloon or the New Territories showing as much diversity yet with the feel that only being here can produce. I live in a little 500 square foot two bedroom flat in the heart of Wanchai and the concrete, buildings and people squeeze me as to take away my breath. The one major thing that people who have only heard of Hong Kong is the simple reality that this place is over 80% wilderness. That's right, once you pop out of the densely populated areas there is as if a beckoning ice cream on a sweltering hot day beautiful parks, trees, lakes and mountains that in an instant (literally a five minute walk in some places) sweep you into the peace of nature. Birds, insects, butterflies and even monkey bid you welcome to their home with open arms. The monkeys in some areas are so welcoming that they will take whatever you are holding as a gift to the king to enter their kingdom. Now just when you think you have found your paradise you come upon beaches, coves and waves that have never seen a human before. The water surrounding compliments rectifies the reality of living on an island. So I must for the record say that at least now you can think and imagine about living in Hong Kong. You can always Discover Hong Kong here.

Potala Palace in Lhasa

There are some that say change is inevitable, while others think that is created by natural influences. Does everything always happen for a reason? The Potala Palace once the home of Dalai Lama is now a sacred museum void of the once bustling holy men that roamed the halls. There is a sense of emptiness of yearning for the spirit of an almost forgotten past. Stairs lead up to the many mausoleum's of ancient bodies that lie in wait to observe their spiritual reincarnation. A monk greets the tourists and blesses them as they walk on bye...a Chinese, a Tibetan, a Canadian...the one commonality is to pay their respect and observe the past through eyes of a crumbling old building with emptiness in it's bossom. Potala Palace a place of grandness, history and mystery...a place of forgotten peace.

In Lhasa

Hummm which way

Mike & Megs

McKay's Special Pictures

It's those precious moments that capsulate the joys and dreams of life.

Hey Chickens wanna see my brothers sweety blog...go to landon wood and endulge yourself.

Tibet the Final frontier as many would say. The emotions of landscape, blistering sun and snow, wind raptured prayer flags, chanting monks, countless ruins, Dalai Lama and the cultural revolution conjure a documentary that few have tried to produce. In 2001 I landed in Lhasa shocked with altitude and the historical culture. Less than twenty years earlier the capital still boasted dirt roads and more Tibetans than Chinese. Times inevitably change and typically not the way we would like. In August 2005 I attempted my second run to tame my dreams and once again landed in the capital. The development and building that greeted me was a collage of brick and concrete, coupled with countless Chinese and their work hard philosophy. Even after just four year the landscape of Lhasa had evolved to the depth of so called "modernity". Development and "liberation of the Tibetan people" was the initial shout from a government that destroyed over 90% of all holy buildings and structures. Since then the battering perpetual call to free the Tibetan people of an old, caring Dalai Lama issues his final plea of governance and accepts the rule of an obsessive ruler to concur a culturally rich and military lacking race. For those who have dreamed to touch the mountains, play the clouds, and feel heaven your time to reach "the top of the world" needs to be sooner than later. The once Tibet is now becoming overrun.

Yak...Yak...Yak...Have you ever seen a Yak? Well the first time I saw this hairy beast was on the Tibetan Plateau. Equiped with bells, horns, nose ring and hair that would make Marg Simpson jellous. So always watch out for the "Yak Attack". 

The Zombies of Hong Kong

If you have ever walked through the streets of notorious Hong Kong you will quickly realize that you are not alone. In fact the more you wander the more you find that walking here is actually like a video game. Meandering zombies on their way to their master Count Dracula to report the feeds of the day. Working 8:30 to 7:30 six days a week certainly can not be healthy...that is unless you find time amidst the onlooking of a suspicious boss to work out, go swimming, take a leisurely walk, pray, read your spiritual book, take a vacation, and do the required work on hand. Alas, this can not quite be a reality and thus I capsulate these monotonous individuals to the slave driving force behind Dracula's thriving regime. I will evermore become the Zombie killer.

Hey...when you play with knives be gentle.

Can These Guys be trusted???? What do you think?

Do you sometimes feel like this Chinese New Years Dragon when you wake up in the morning? 

Recently Julianne and I went to Taiwan and boy did we eat like kings. In fact if you look closely you can see just how big my belly really is at this Japanese Restaurant. 

Yes Dog's Latrine. 

Have you ever seen a dog latrine before? Well while I was hiking I came across one. Good thing dogs don't need privacy while doing their thing. 

The Boys on St. Helens Sometimes it's those great memories that last forever.

Solitary Confusion

Within the confined walls of my thoughts; Endless impressions of raindrops; Cover your body with unmanageable consequences; This scene imprints my mind and embeds itself into history; Where thoughts of happier days resurface to seek fame and power. So skip happiness along the nearest lake and pretend it never sinks, Because our imaginations could never disappear. And still we persist to glow as fading lights on a mission for blackout; Dreading the moments conceived through absentmindedness; Covering every tear with four letter words; While managing to conceal reality with smiles and white teeth. But now the tortured notion of solitary confinement; Distinguishes itself in every reflection; That grins back though the polished tiles; They seem to lead my life; Square by Square by Square By Landon Wood