Hey folks,
For those of you that are following this blog, I apologize for the brief posts. This trip the internet has been sporadic at best so once I get home I will elaborate more.
Home in a little more than 24 hours!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Kunming/Qujing
September 18th, 2009
We got up this morning and headed out to the minority village of Yunnan Province. Yunnan Province has the largest minority population in China. There is a park, that resembles Epcot, that shows all of the minorities cultures.
We did get a chance to have our laundry done at this hotel. Unfortunately, when we got it back about 30 minuets before we left it was still damp but at least it was clean, I was running out of clothes.
We got on the bus and headed for Qujing which turned into a 3 hour trip because of the traffic.
We arrived at the hotel early for a change and had dinner with local county officials. After a great dinner we had the rest of the evening to ourselves. We stayed in this evening and sat and chatted with Allison and Barb.
Tomorrow we have a TV interview and our last concert.
Kunming
Today, I had the opportunity to speak to music students at Yunnan University. I basically talked about the history of country music and its influences that has made it what it is. Alli, Gary and I did a vocal demonstration and Alli and I did a fiddle song. There were several questions about the structure of country music and the forms that it takes.
Afterward, we had lunch with the Vice president of the school and the dean of the arts school.
That evening we had a great concert! The crowd was very energetic. I wish that I could bring home all the flowers that were brought to me on the stage. On the last song the crowd filled the front part of the stage and dancing it out! We were going to do an encore but JJ busted the head on his snare drum so we were done for the night.
Heading to Qujing on the morning!
Afterward, we had lunch with the Vice president of the school and the dean of the arts school.
That evening we had a great concert! The crowd was very energetic. I wish that I could bring home all the flowers that were brought to me on the stage. On the last song the crowd filled the front part of the stage and dancing it out! We were going to do an encore but JJ busted the head on his snare drum so we were done for the night.
Heading to Qujing on the morning!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Beijing/Kunming
September 16th, 2009
We got up this morning and headed out to the great wall. We first stopped at a jade carving factory where I have never seen so much jade in my life.
Once on the great wall I did not even try to climb up it. I know that was supposed to be my goal but unfortunately life got in the way and I didn't hit the weight or training goal that I wanted.
Cheryl can now see why I love this place so much.
After the great wall we went to a Cloisonne factory for lunch and shopping.
At the airport we got stiffed by the check in girl for over weight baggage. After Mr. Song did some serious butt chewing we were able to get it reduced by half. Everyone pitched in and we got it taken care of.
We got on the plane and, lucky me, I got a middle seat! They supposedly gave me a better seat with more room, I would have hated to see the original seat that they gave me!
We landed safely and headed to the hotel, which didn't have air conditioning. Welcome to China!
We got up this morning and headed out to the great wall. We first stopped at a jade carving factory where I have never seen so much jade in my life.
Once on the great wall I did not even try to climb up it. I know that was supposed to be my goal but unfortunately life got in the way and I didn't hit the weight or training goal that I wanted.
Cheryl can now see why I love this place so much.
After the great wall we went to a Cloisonne factory for lunch and shopping.
At the airport we got stiffed by the check in girl for over weight baggage. After Mr. Song did some serious butt chewing we were able to get it reduced by half. Everyone pitched in and we got it taken care of.
We got on the plane and, lucky me, I got a middle seat! They supposedly gave me a better seat with more room, I would have hated to see the original seat that they gave me!
We landed safely and headed to the hotel, which didn't have air conditioning. Welcome to China!
Shenyang/Beijing
September 15th, 2009
We got up this morning and headed to the train station for a four hour trip to Beijing. If you have not had the experience of trying to get through a train station in China you are missing an experience. After a four hour trip we arrived in Beijing.
We got on the bus and I noticed my back back was unzipped as I looked in the bag I saw that my IPod touch was gone. Someone had unzipped the back and reached in and grabbed it while it was on Cheryl's back.
We then went to the Forbidden City and spent the rest of the afternoon there. Even though this was my second time there I am still amazed by it's beauty and intricacies.
We then headed to a pearl factory where I finally got Cheryl to spend some money on herself. She picked out a set of black pearl earrings and a necklace.
Our tour guide hooked us all up with massages so Cheryl and I jumped at the chance! After dinner they came to our room and then we really had a great nights sleep!
We got up this morning and headed to the train station for a four hour trip to Beijing. If you have not had the experience of trying to get through a train station in China you are missing an experience. After a four hour trip we arrived in Beijing.
We got on the bus and I noticed my back back was unzipped as I looked in the bag I saw that my IPod touch was gone. Someone had unzipped the back and reached in and grabbed it while it was on Cheryl's back.
We then went to the Forbidden City and spent the rest of the afternoon there. Even though this was my second time there I am still amazed by it's beauty and intricacies.
We then headed to a pearl factory where I finally got Cheryl to spend some money on herself. She picked out a set of black pearl earrings and a necklace.
Our tour guide hooked us all up with massages so Cheryl and I jumped at the chance! After dinner they came to our room and then we really had a great nights sleep!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Shenyang
September 14th, 2009
This morning we headed out to Shenyang Technological University for an outdoor concert. The concert was a celebration for the freshman class that just finished 2 weeks of required military training.
We took a tour of the school given by the English club. They were very excited that we were there to play music for them.
We tried to do a sound check but the wind was blowing around 30 mph. It was knocking over JJ's cymbals and caught the big banner behind us and ripped it off it's stand. We then noticed that it was getting cloudy out when the rain drops started hitting us. We got all of our equipment out of the rain and put away then went to lunch and headed back to the hotel to change for the show.
The show tonight was CRAZY! There were somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 college students there at the show and they were all enjoying themselves.
Believe it or not, Cheryl even got in on the action. She was going out in the crowd and getting them to dance with her. She even got on stage and threw out the cowboy hats to the crowd!
After the show we ate dinner from food that was grown and prepared there at the college. It was a great honor to have that.
Heading to the train station again in the morning and heading to Beijing.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Changchun/Shenyang
September 13th, 2009
Well got up this morning and toured Jilin University Arts school. We walked through the pottery building and one of the teachers asked if any of us would like to make something, I jumped at the chance. I made a couple of bowls with the help of one of the teachers, I can't wait to get the bowls after they've been fired and painted.
There were some sculptures that were for sale and one stood out to me, it was a small ceramic cross. I immediately bought it and to my surprise the artist was there and I was able to thank him for it and tell him what the cross means to me.
From there we went to a German restaurant that served Brazilian BBQ with a buffet that had traditional Chinese food. So far the most surreal moment of the trip.
We then did a driving trip around the city of Changchun and saw Pu Yi's last palace when he was the puppet emperor for Japan during WWII. (Watch the movie “The Last Emperor” and you'll see what I'm talking about.)
We then took a bullet train to our next destination of Shenyang. When the train stopped we only had a short amount of time to get our luggage off before the doors automatically closed, but we made it!
Had a hour drive in a very small van to our hotel. Have a concert tomorrow, I wonder what that will bring?
Well got up this morning and toured Jilin University Arts school. We walked through the pottery building and one of the teachers asked if any of us would like to make something, I jumped at the chance. I made a couple of bowls with the help of one of the teachers, I can't wait to get the bowls after they've been fired and painted.
There were some sculptures that were for sale and one stood out to me, it was a small ceramic cross. I immediately bought it and to my surprise the artist was there and I was able to thank him for it and tell him what the cross means to me.
From there we went to a German restaurant that served Brazilian BBQ with a buffet that had traditional Chinese food. So far the most surreal moment of the trip.
We then did a driving trip around the city of Changchun and saw Pu Yi's last palace when he was the puppet emperor for Japan during WWII. (Watch the movie “The Last Emperor” and you'll see what I'm talking about.)
We then took a bullet train to our next destination of Shenyang. When the train stopped we only had a short amount of time to get our luggage off before the doors automatically closed, but we made it!
Had a hour drive in a very small van to our hotel. Have a concert tomorrow, I wonder what that will bring?
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Changchun/1st concert
September 12, 2009
Well I woke up this morning and blew the power for our floor and then ripped down the curtains in our room, ah the life of a rock and roller! ;)
I woke up around 5:30 am after going to bed early and getting a great nights sleep. We had some issues yesterday with the power strip so I thought to check the breaker and it was kicked off. I reset it and tried to use the flat iron and that's when all hell broke loose! Smoke, crackling sounds and flashes of light all pretty much happened at the same time. No power at all. Nothing worked. Gary Jennings was in the room next to us and we even knocked out the power it his room. Was I done creating chaos? NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! We decided to open the windows to get some air coming in since the air conditioner actually runs on electricity. As I went to push the curtain over that was (note past tense) in front of our patio, it all came crashing down on me! I decided to not touch anything the rest of the day.
About 10:30 we met everyone and headed to a sculpture park the is the largest in China. There were several sculptures that were made by people all over the world. I believe there were over 400 countries represented by the works there. It was quiet awe inspiring.
We then headed to lunch at King Dumpling and we ate, you guessed it, dumplings. Most of the restaurants that we eat at on these trips are usually locally owned, but this was a chain that was all over China.
After lunch we headed back to Jilin University and finished up rehearsal for the show that evening.
The greatest honor that was bestowed on us so far on this trip was the meeting of the Mayor of Changchun. That may not sound like a big deal but to the University is like have the President of the United States showing up. Changchun is an extremely large city, couple of million people probably more, so the university was very excited that she was coming to see us.
After the show and several pictures taken with students and audience members we headed to dinner. Where we had my favorite meal, HotPot! Hotpot is a meal similar to fondue but usually cooked in a broth. I think is was the best dinner by far on this trip.
Sunday night we get on a train and head to Shenyang and do a concert on Monday night!
Daniel
Well I woke up this morning and blew the power for our floor and then ripped down the curtains in our room, ah the life of a rock and roller! ;)
I woke up around 5:30 am after going to bed early and getting a great nights sleep. We had some issues yesterday with the power strip so I thought to check the breaker and it was kicked off. I reset it and tried to use the flat iron and that's when all hell broke loose! Smoke, crackling sounds and flashes of light all pretty much happened at the same time. No power at all. Nothing worked. Gary Jennings was in the room next to us and we even knocked out the power it his room. Was I done creating chaos? NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! We decided to open the windows to get some air coming in since the air conditioner actually runs on electricity. As I went to push the curtain over that was (note past tense) in front of our patio, it all came crashing down on me! I decided to not touch anything the rest of the day.
About 10:30 we met everyone and headed to a sculpture park the is the largest in China. There were several sculptures that were made by people all over the world. I believe there were over 400 countries represented by the works there. It was quiet awe inspiring.
We then headed to lunch at King Dumpling and we ate, you guessed it, dumplings. Most of the restaurants that we eat at on these trips are usually locally owned, but this was a chain that was all over China.
After lunch we headed back to Jilin University and finished up rehearsal for the show that evening.
The greatest honor that was bestowed on us so far on this trip was the meeting of the Mayor of Changchun. That may not sound like a big deal but to the University is like have the President of the United States showing up. Changchun is an extremely large city, couple of million people probably more, so the university was very excited that she was coming to see us.
After the show and several pictures taken with students and audience members we headed to dinner. Where we had my favorite meal, HotPot! Hotpot is a meal similar to fondue but usually cooked in a broth. I think is was the best dinner by far on this trip.
Sunday night we get on a train and head to Shenyang and do a concert on Monday night!
Daniel
Friday, September 11, 2009
Changchun, Jilin, China
September 11th, 2009
Well for a change on these trips we actually got to sleep in this morning. Thankfully our bus call was @ 11:30 am where we headed to lunch. Which, by the way, was totally awesome! Our hosts for this portion of the trip were extremely grateful that we are here and have been wonderful to us.
After lunch we headed to the University, where our first show will be tomorrow night, for rehearsal. We sat and listened to a student band rehearsing and then listened to the Student/Faculty band rehearse for tomorrow night. They did a great version of Dolly Parton's I will always love you and a medley of Gloria Estefan's songs.
We then began rehearsal and after we got our sound issues figured out everything started to come together. The Bass teacher of the college asked if he could sit in so we moved Rick to rhythm guitar and things really started to click.
After rehearsal we headed to a meeting with the University President where he told us how excited that they all were the we are there and that we are the first US group to play there. This is such a momentus occasion that the Mayor and other local government officals will be attending tomorrow night, so no pressure! ;)
They then took us to dinner and then they took us for a foot massage! Needless to say we are going to sleep like babies tonight!
One thing I was worried about was that Cheryl can get car sick really easy. Boy did I miss that call, she loves the way they drive over here. As I have said in earlier posts the rules of the road are more of a suggestion. I think the book that they pass out for student drivers is called "The suggestive rules that you may or may not want to follow of the road!
Today's Pictures
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Travel/Changchun
September 11th, 2009
Well after the longest trip I have ever taken 30+ hours we are in our room in Changchun. We left Nashville @ 8:00 am CST on Wednesday the 9th, flew to Atlanta and met up with our drummer JJ Bower. We left Atlanta @ 1:00 pm CST and headed to Seoul, Korea where we landed around 4:00 am CST. We then headed to another terminal where we boarded a plane at 7:00 am CST for our flight to Shenyang, China. We landed in China (after avoiding North Korean airspace) about an hour after that. Then we went straight to the hotel and got a good nights sleep......blah, blah, blah. If wishing made it so!
NOPE! We then waited until 10:00 am CST for our host to arrive from Chengdu, China so we could get on a bus and drive 5 hours to Changchun, China. Finally around 3:30 pm CST we have arrived and are in our room attempting to wind down after this long day. BTW, it is 4:30 am Friday September 11th local time, I missed a whole day! I haven't done that since I worked shift work. Cheryl said it seemed like we were never going to get here!
The big music festival that we were supposed to play for on Saturday was canceled by the Chinese government because of the H1N1 scare. They don't want large groups of people gathering to help try and contain this flu.
Most of you know that our fiddle player Alli contracted H1N1 last week and was not able to go with us. We are still trying to get her to hook up with us later in the trip but we are afraid that they may not let her into to the country or worse quarantine her when she gets here. She is feeling better and actually would be ready to go by this coming weekend, we will see what happens.
The hotel where we are staying is not really a hotel it's more of an apartment for the Jilin University. The bus stopped on this dark street and we thought he was just letting some of our assistants/translators off and take us to a hotel. Oh how wrong we were! We then walked a block or so and up three floors to get to our room/apartment/home for the next three days. It does have hot water and an actual toilet so it not all bad and the air conditioner works very well (I should be able to hang meat in here by about 9 am)
Well, going to try to get some sleep they are letting us sleep in this morning. Bus call is at 11:30
Take care,
Daniel
Well after the longest trip I have ever taken 30+ hours we are in our room in Changchun. We left Nashville @ 8:00 am CST on Wednesday the 9th, flew to Atlanta and met up with our drummer JJ Bower. We left Atlanta @ 1:00 pm CST and headed to Seoul, Korea where we landed around 4:00 am CST. We then headed to another terminal where we boarded a plane at 7:00 am CST for our flight to Shenyang, China. We landed in China (after avoiding North Korean airspace) about an hour after that. Then we went straight to the hotel and got a good nights sleep......blah, blah, blah. If wishing made it so!
NOPE! We then waited until 10:00 am CST for our host to arrive from Chengdu, China so we could get on a bus and drive 5 hours to Changchun, China. Finally around 3:30 pm CST we have arrived and are in our room attempting to wind down after this long day. BTW, it is 4:30 am Friday September 11th local time, I missed a whole day! I haven't done that since I worked shift work. Cheryl said it seemed like we were never going to get here!
The big music festival that we were supposed to play for on Saturday was canceled by the Chinese government because of the H1N1 scare. They don't want large groups of people gathering to help try and contain this flu.
Most of you know that our fiddle player Alli contracted H1N1 last week and was not able to go with us. We are still trying to get her to hook up with us later in the trip but we are afraid that they may not let her into to the country or worse quarantine her when she gets here. She is feeling better and actually would be ready to go by this coming weekend, we will see what happens.
The hotel where we are staying is not really a hotel it's more of an apartment for the Jilin University. The bus stopped on this dark street and we thought he was just letting some of our assistants/translators off and take us to a hotel. Oh how wrong we were! We then walked a block or so and up three floors to get to our room/apartment/home for the next three days. It does have hot water and an actual toilet so it not all bad and the air conditioner works very well (I should be able to hang meat in here by about 9 am)
Well, going to try to get some sleep they are letting us sleep in this morning. Bus call is at 11:30
Take care,
Daniel
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Returning to China
Well, there is one week to go before I get to go back to the land of enchantment. This time my wife is going to be able to go with me. We will be there about 14 days this time including travel. Here is a tentative schedule of where we will be. Once again, your prayers are needed and welcomed!
Daniel
Daniel
The Itinerary of China Trip
Luck House
September 9—21, 2009
Sep. 09 Wed.
Fly to China from Nashville
Sep. 10 Thu.
Afternoon: Arrival Shenyang International Airport, Then transfer to bus to
Changchun, (the capital of Jilin Province), Arrival Changchun, Transfer to Hotel
Sep. 11 Fri.
08:00 AM: Breakfast
08:30 AM: Rest or city tour
12:00 PM: Chinese lunch at a local restaurant.
13:30 PM: Rehearsal with Jilin Arts University Band
18:30 PM: Chinese dinner at a local restaurant
Sep. 12 Sat.
07:00 AM: Breakfast
08:30 AM: Changchun Music Festival
12:30 PM: Chinese lunch at a local restaurant.
14:30 PM: Festival
18:30 PM: Chinese dinner at a local restaurant
Sep. 13 Sun.
07:30 AM: Breakfast
08:00 AM: Leaving for Shenyang by train. (The capital of Liaoning Province)
11:30 AM: Arrival Shenyang. Meet and transfer to hotel
12:00 PM: Chinese lunch at a local restaurant.
13:00 PM: City tour or rest
16:00 PM: Rehearsal
19:00 PM: Snacks before the concert
20:00 PM: Concert at the Liaoning Ligong University
21:30 PM: Chinese dinner at a local restaurant
Sep. 14 Mon.
08:00 AM: Breakfast
09:00 AM: City tour
12:00 PM: Chinese lunch at a local restaurant.
14:00 PM : Fly to Jinan (The Capital of Shandong province)
18:00 PM: Arrival Jinan. Meet and transfer to hotel
19:30 PM: Chinese dinner at a local restaurant
Sep. 15 Tue.
08:00 AM: Breakfast
09:00 AM: City tour
12:00 PM: Chinese lunch at a local restaurant
14:00 PM: Rehearsal
19:00 PM: Snacks before the concert
20:00 PM: Concert for Shandong International Oversea Chinese Organization
21:30 PM: Chinese dinner at a local restaurant
Sep. 16 Wed.
07:00 AM: Breakfast
08:00 AM: Leaving for Beijing by train
11:30 AM: Arrival Beijing Train Station
12:00 PM: Chinese lunch at a local restaurant.
14:00 PM: Beijing City tour. Leaving for Qianmen and Tiananmen Square
15:00 PM: Tour the Forbidden City
19:30 PM: Chinese dinner at a local restaurant
20:00 PM: Check into Beijing Longhu Spa Hotel, 86-10-6711-9988
Sep. 17 Thu.
08:30 AM: Breakfast
09:00 AM: Leaving for Great Wall
11:30 AM: Visit Chinese Genuine Pearl Museum
12:00 PM: Chinese lunch at a local restaurant.
13:00 PM: Tour the Great Wall
20:00 PM: Fly to Kunming (Dinner on the airplane)
23:30 PM: Arrival Kunming. Check into Kunming Lianhua Hotel
Sep. 18 Fri.
08:30 AM: Breakfast
09:00 AM: City tour of Kunming
12:00 PM: Chinese lunch at a local restaurant.
13:00 PM: Exchange with the Conservertory of Yunnan Teacher’s University
16:00 PM: Rehearsal
19:00 PM: Snacks before the concert
20:00 PM: Concert at university
21:30 PM: Chinese dinner at a local restaurant
Sep. 19 Sat.
07:30 AM: Breakfast
09:00 AM: Leaving for Qujing by Bus
11:30 PM: Arrival Qijing. Meet and transfer to the hotel
12:00 PM: Chinese lunch at a local restaurant.
13:00 PM: City tour
16:00 PM: Rehearsal
19:00 PM: Snacks before the concert
20:00 PM: Concert at the Qijing Grand Theater
21:30 PM: Chinese dinner at a local restaurant
Sep. 20 Sun.
07:30 AM: Breakfast
09:00 AM: Leaving for Yuxi by Bus
11:30 PM: Arrival Yuxi. Meet and transfer to the hotel
12:00 PM: Chinese lunch at a local restaurant.
13:00 PM: City tour
16:00 PM: Rehearsal
19:00 PM: Snacks before the concert
20:00 PM: Concert at the Yuxi Civic Theater
21:30 PM: Chinese dinner at a local restaurant
Sep. 21 Mon.
07:00 AM: Breakfast
09:00 AM: City tour
12:00 PM: Chinese lunch at a local restaurant.
14:00 PM: Fly to Beijing
17:00 PM: Arrive at Beijing International Airport
21:15 PM: Leaving for USA to back home
Arrive home at same day and finish whole journey
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