An island called Gulangyu

I was born in the northeast of China and spent nearly 20 years there. However, I always yearned for the life in the south of the mainland. At the age of 18, I left my hometown and went to a university located in the southernmost tip of China. There, I met my friend who introduced the beautiful island called Gulangyu to me.

I wanted to embrace nature and be surrounded by flowers all year round. I liked the wind blowing from the sea and going through my hair. I enjoyed the feeling of being awakened by the warm sunshine and hearing the melodious chirping of birds. All these beautiful images come together on the island.

Gulangyu is a place full of romantic sentiment. It is surrounded by the sea and immersed in the sunshine all the seasons. Many famous modern Chinese poets live on the island. There is no bridge connecting the island to the mainland. The only way to reach the island is by taking a ferry. It seems that Gulangyu is a place isolated from the noisy world.

Walking on the boardwalk along the coast you will be immersed in the shadow of towering old trees. You can smell the humid grass and salty sea. The streetlights along the side of the silent path are just like vintage decorations in a retro shop. It’s as if everything existing on the island comes out of an old painting.

The most popular sceneries on the island are Sunlight Rock and Shuzhuang Park. Buildings in these places are a blend of modern art and ancient architectural style.

I have been to Gulangyu twice but it never seems enough for me. If you want to while away a few hours siting in a tiny but exotic coffee shop on the island reading a book, It will be a fantastic experience for you. Trust me you will enjoy it.

Lasting rains of spring

When I was a little girl - which seems a very long time ago - my family celebrated the Spring Festival or better known as the Chinese New Year every year. No matter how far we lived apart this was a special occasion which brought us together. This year, that will happen as usual but without me.

I never thought that one day I would not be able to stay together with my family during this special holiday. However, life is changeable. I can still remember clearly what we had for dinner on that day last year. It was dumpling with shrimp mixed with leek and egg in it. That is the most traditional dumpling.

There is always snow at the beginning of spring but the gentle rains wash it away. It is like a cleansing of the earth. As a family we used to watch TV programs which showed the festivities leading up to midnight. There is a special copper bell in the city of Beijing which is struck at midnight. Then, we know that the New Year has begun. Many people go outside and light firecrackers which bath the skies with brilliant hues. Everyone changes into their new clothes. We also have a tradition of putting signs on the two sides of the door which convey luck and prosperity to the family. Having everything new marks the exact beginning of the new year (according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar).

Although the initial legend has blurred, we still keep the customs. People stay up till very late in the night. Since I am on the other side of the Date Line, time is 12 hours behind. When my family celebrates the festival at midnight, I am awake in the middle of the day. Thanks to technological development, my family can still keep in touch on the Internet. The celebrations this year will be a combination of both modern and archaic heritage which will start another chapter of my memory book.

Travel in My Memory

“In the sunset of dissolution, everything is illuminated by the aura of nostalgia.” 

I came across this quote from Milan Kundera and suddenly realized the place where I wanted to escape out of is the place I really dream of. 

Once you leave somewhere, it will live in your memory. I had been living in China for more than 20 years and I was fed up with everything that surrounded me: air pollution, water pollution, fast-paced life, superficial relationships amongst people, etc. Everything began to annoy me. 

Finally, I got on an airplane flying to Canada which is miles and miles away from my own country. When the sunshine is down on the ground here, it is midnight and full of darkness in my hometown. Canada is really a brand new world to me. 

Honestly, I do not miss my old country, but I do indeed miss many aspects of my life there. The food I liked, the places I travelled to, the festivals I celebrated together with my beloved family and friends; these memories are just like the blood circulating in my body. 

I keep this blog as a container for my forever lasting memories. My past is full of life and I will present it here for you.