Forbidden City
Splendors of Chinas Forbidden City: the Glorious Reign of Emperor Qianlong.

The Private Life of Chairman Mao
From 1954 until Mao Zedong's death 22 years later. Dr. Li Zhisui was the Chinese ruler's personal physician. In this book, Dr. Li vividly reconstructs his extraordinary time with Chairman Mao.

Greatwall of China
The Great Wall was listed as World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987.

Insects as Food
The term for eating insects is entomophagy. Throughout the history of mankind, eating insects has actually been a common idea.

On this page, you'll find links to recent articles and photos of a trip. Beijing to Xi'an by train, then onward to Lhasa and Nepal. Highlights included a 16 day trek covering the Annapurna Ciruit, 130 miles and crossing a 17,700 foot pass.

Slideshows

Flash5: China/Tibet October/November 2006.

Flash6: Annapurna Circuit, Nepal, November, 2006

Flash4: Southern Yunnan, China, November 2001.

Shanghai, China, November 1995. B&W

Shots from Yangzhou, Shanghai, and Jinghong China, May '94 - December 2001. Color

Articles & Commentary

Diy Trekking: Going Light In Nepal
A guide to do it yourself mountain travel. Common sense, physical conditioning, studying up on acclimatization and Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), and some basic research are all it really takes to trek in a country with three-quarters of its territory covered by mountains.

Altitude Adjustment Required: Himalayan Rescue Association Helps Trekkers In Nepal
A guide to do it yourself mountain travel. Common sense, physical conditioning, studying up on acclimatization and Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), and some basic research are all it really takes to trek in a country with three-quarters of its territory covered by mountains.

Commentary: Memories of the Chairman, 20 October 2006
While the Chinese prepare to showcase their city for the 2008 Olympic Games, the cult of personlity lives on.

Commentary: Time for Terracotta, 24 October 2006
Some speculate that Qin Shi Huang, the Emperor in 221 BC, had one million workers build the terracotta army to "create an illusion of strength and manpower."

Commentary: It Doesn't Taste like Chicken, 21 October 2006
What does one eat after a hike on a steep section of the Great Wall of China? Why, little critters of all sizes and shapes at the Beijing Night Market.

Maria's Musings: Part 2, 22 October 2006
The Temple of Heaven is like at the ancient religious sites of Greece. I felt a certain awe overcoming me at the sight of the vast, circular altar structure, surrounded by 3 levels of wide, sweeping marble balustrades, each post intricately carved with mythical dragons, and a total of 24 gates.

Maria's Musings: Part 1, 20 October 2006
Reminiscent of Eastern Europe in its day, Beijing is one of the most polluted cities on earth, and on this day, the sun did not get through the yellow-grey haze.