Yak-Yak-Yak

Not pertaining to incessant talking, but the real thing-the 6 foot tall bovine, weighing in at one ton! I did not get to see any yaks, much to my disappointment, however, if I had, more than likely it would have been a cross between a bull and a yak....(a yabull?) and not quite the same color as the wild yak which is usually found in colors of black or gray.

The yak in the Tibetan plains has decreased sharply to only about 15,000-I don't know how they manage to keep such an accurate count with that number. I sure saw my fill of yak meat along the streets in Tibet! I had no idea how vital this animal is to the people in Tibet~

Hardly any part of the yak is wasted when killed. The heart is used for local medicines and the dung, for fuel. Tibetans rely on the yak for milk used in making butter and tea. The butter is used in tea-that's right, gives it a lot of yakkie flavoring- and in butter lamps that are found in the monistaries. Yak hair is woven into rope. The wool is used to make blankets and even tents. The hide is used for the soles of the Tibetan boots. Oh, did I mention yak beer? Oh yeah, I tried it........ with the yak burger and fries! Time for me to stop my yaking!

Food, Glorious Food

When 1.3 billion people reside in a country, food is a constant concern.Visiting numerous major cities throughout China, there certainly was no lack of food anywhere we traveled. Street vendors and restaurants saturate every available inch of space with foods on display, cooking devices, chairs and tables. The gatherings are informal and friendly. Local people assemble for a quick bite before work, lunch and dinner. Farmers who make deliveries into the cities" eat on the go." Many families in the countryside are not equipt to prepare home cooked meals. Workers in the cities don't have the leisure to arrive home early to prepare dinners for their famliy. Some apartments are so small, there is no kitchen..........hence, a plethora of food and eating establishments everywhere. I guess it all depends on what you are hungry for........

ECO Friendly Corn Drying

It's not that this young man isn't concerned about being environmentally responsible, I'm sure he is....I hope....but this is a way of life for many of the farmers who grow corn along the banks of the Yangtze River and throughout the countryside of China. Thousand year-old cities and villages are now being built on higher grounds and life continues as it has for centuries. There are new buildings, new homes, new streets, but as you can see, some things just haven't changed.......my voyage along the world's third largest river revealed many contrasts as the old China slowly disappears leaving the ancient battle grounds, industrial ports and etheral beauty a thing of the past..........buried under the waters of the Three Gorges Dam project.

Same Foods, Different Looks ~

Today I received a kind message from Christine~she was wondering if I had returned from China. Well, yes , I am home again and things are almost back to normal. I have missed my blogging friends ~it's going to take me weeks to catch up on all your past posts, but I will certainly put forth the effort. I love reading the blogs~it is nice to be back!
China was incredible........the smells, the myrid of new sights, the foods - a few I could not recognize or get near........that's the beauty of traveling and being a tourist, you are exposed to so many different cultures and you realize firsthand how others do differently what we believe is the"right and only way"...........I will give a preview of things you may recognize, just with a different look..........I may think again about eating duck.........The market photos were shot from one of the relocated villages along the Yangtze River. This town will remain safe from the controversial Three Gorges Dam project that is submerging so many towns and villages along the river bank.