China! A land of mystery, of diametric personalities (bet you didn’t know I even knew that word! I will admit I wasn’t sure how to spell it)… as I was saying a land of diametric personalities — the ancient world meets the most modern of worlds and seem to co-exist and accept each other for what they each bring to the amazing existence of a country like no other.
Where else can you walk The Great Wall and visit state of the art cosmopolitan metropolises in the same day? Journey back in time to see archeological discoveries of an ancient era, peak back over the centuries to watch the cormorant fisherman earn his keep the same way his father, his grandfather, his great-grandfather did in their time. Yet still be close to the best the modern world has to offer.
It’s crazy and here’s something else that is crazy: A serious word of advice – DO NOT decide to take a rickshaw in any major city driven by an ancient looking man in the absolute middle of the night. When you have no clear idea of where you are going. And you are all by yourself. And you realize the streets he is taking you down are deserted and it is taking a very long time to get back to your hotel… and no one will hear you when you scream for help! Okay, so I didn’t scream for help but I did stop and make him let me out and took my chances on finding a taxi.
Make good decisions, fellow travel enthusiasts! But get out there so you can make them! You will find yourself in places you’ll never forget!
