Sunday, November 10, 2013

A sanctuary by the sea

After visiting Shaolin monastery (the birthplace of Kong Fu) and then spending a week catching up with the Crooks and catching up on our laundry, we started the trek to Beijing.

Our first stop was Qingdao...and that's been our only stop. The first night we arrived in this gorgeous beach town I had a reaction to the amoxicillin I'd been taking for the past week to clear up a respiratory infection.  Within twelve hours my whole torso was speckled red.  Brian said I looked like a red and white bullfrog.  I told him I preferred to be compared to the much more dainty robin's egg.  

When the rash continued to spread to my legs, arms, and neck and it started to burn, off we went to the hospital.  I'm not quite sure what all the doctors gave me, but it's working.

While we weren't planning to stay in Qingdao as long as we have, it's been the perfect place to recover.  Ironically, our hostel is in an old church.  I guess you could say we found sanctuary here (bah-dum-ching!).  Qingdao was occupied by Germans at the turn of the 20th century and the architecture still reflects their presence.  The streets are curvy and hilly and lined with big trees boasting of fall, which is quite different from what we've found in the rest of China.  And then there's the glistening sea and the beaches covered with broken shells and sea glass galore.  It kinda feels like a New England town and definitely made me long for home.

Tomorrow (11/11) we leave for Beijing, our last stop in China before we head to Manila, Philippines.  Hard to believe month two and our time in China is already coming to an end.



Just an average morning for Kong Fu students.  Do you see those swords!?!



The King George crew.  Brian and Andrew, our gracious host in Nanjing.


Yes, we are going ridiculously fast on the train from Nanjing to Qingdao.


The rash in its early phase.  I never had the chicken pox, but now I think I can empathize.


Two's my lucky number (for real).


If we're gonna be stuck some place, I'm glad it's here!


















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