In twenty-fourteen, I: Got waylaid in Denver after snow and de-icing delays on a flight from Washington to Burbank, California. Shared Sunset Rolls and Fire Dragon Rolls, Sapporo and warm saké, with my little sister Stephanie, and then met The Invisible Woman in LA. On foggy Venice Beach, wandered past muscle men, tattoo parlors, surfboards and funnel cakes, and contemplated the medical marijuana advertised for sale. Caught glimpses of adorable houses, with secret patios and lazy cats, on a stroll through the Venice Walk-Streets. Went window shopping on Abbott Kinney Boulevard. Drove six hours to San Francisco from LA through a parched California landscape to meet my friend Jayne. Laughed at the antics of harbor seals at Fisherman’s Wharf and met Monarch butterflies that looked like clusters of densely packed brown leaves at the Monarch Grove Sanctuary in Monterey. Drove 17-Mile-Drive at Pebble Beach. Sampled some wine on the Silverado Trail. Saw the iconic cloud-shrouded Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco from the deck of the Sausalito Ferry. Laughed at the antics of sea lions at Pier 39. On the way back to LA, vicariously lived the high life at Hearst Castle in San Simeon. Dropped by Old Mission Santa Barbara, walked through fan palms and California chaparral at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, and ate fish tacos on Stearns Wharf. Visited the garden at Mission Buenaventura in Ventura. Met Rosie of wandering rose and listened to the reverberations of classic rock at Bob’s Big Boy‘s classic car show. Was inspired by a Poets & Writers LIVE! event in Los Angeles, where I embarrassed myself in front of Chinese writer Da Chen (My Last Empress) when he asked me the for the title of my book and a business card (I had neither). Had cocktails at the Brig and ate dinner out of a food truck on Abbott Kinney. Took a hike with Rosie around Corral Canyon in Malibu and ate more fish tacos at Malibu Seafood. Left behind sunny California to head back to icy Virginia (nomad, interrupted).
Click on any of the pictures below for a full-sized slide show.
Stephanie & her pooch
Steph’s house in Reseda
Steph the artist
Me at Venice Beach
Venice Beach
Venice walk-streets
House on Venice walk-street
Shop on Abbott Kinney
Shop on Abbott Kinney
Shop on Abbott Kinney
The Brig
Classic Car Show at Bob’s Big Boy
Rosie & me at Poets & Writers LIVE!
Malibu Seafood
Monterey, California
On Fisherman’s Wharf
Pebble Beach 17-mile-drive
on the Silverado Trail
Jayne & the Lone Cypress at Pebble Beach
Along 17-mile-drive
Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
Sailboats and the Golden Gate
San Francisco in fog
The Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco
Sea lions at Pier 39
Hearst Castle
Inside Hearst Castle
On the grounds of Hearst Castle
At Heart Castle
Neptune Pool
At Hearst Castle
Old Mission Santa Barbara
Old Mission Santa Barbara
Succulents at Old Mission Santa Barbara
Succulents
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
No fishing at Stearns Wharf
Mission Buenaventura
at Mission Buenaventura
fountain at Mission Buenaventura
Ventura, CA
Cantina in Ventura
Saw tundra swans and parchment-like leaves dangling like wind-chimes on American beeches at Mason Neck State Park. Was inspired by National Geographic’s 2013 Travelers of the Year. Saw seagulls walking on water at ice-encased Annapolis Harbor. Learned 20 things about Storytelling Photography from National Geographic photographers Ami Vitale and Melissa Farlow. Chased freight trains and photos along the CSX Main Line at Henryton, Maryland. Suffered through snowstorm after snowstorm in Northern Virginia, and then searched for spring at Green Spring Gardens. Heard the thundering roar of Great Falls while strolling with Alex, Bailey and Mike along the Patowmack Canal. Took a photowalk through the hardscrabble part of Baltimore. Found the gravesite of the patentee of the Ouija Board at Green Mount Cemetery. Walked Richmond’s Monument Avenue 10k in the rain with my daughter Sarah. Drifted with cherry blossoms on the Tidal Basin in D.C. Said “ahoy, matey!” to pirates at the Privateer Festival in Baltimore. crisscrossed flowing streams & waterfalls at White Oak Canyon. Stayed overnight at a sleep clinic to test for sleep apnea. Wandered through flowering trees at the Virginia Arboretum. Was charmed by wisteria at Dumbarton Oaks. Finally found spring, after a long and grueling winter, at Meadowlark Gardens. Celebrated Sarah’s 30th birthday in Richmond by sipping wine with the whole family amidst Chihuly’s Red Reeds at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, topped off by a feast at Bacchus. Cloistered myself at the Franciscan Monastery. Sampled wine and cheese with the family at Doukenie Winery. Won prizes in photography competitions through Vienna Photographic Society and had my Hot air balloons over Cappadocia photo featured by National Geographic on Instagram. Finished the third draft of my novel, Scattering Dreams of Stars, but never got around to sending out query letters. Applied for 40 jobs stateside and didn’t get anything. Applied for jobs in China and got an offer from Sino-Canadian International College of Guangxi University in Nanning. Went on safari with sculptures of metal animals in the “American Metal” exhibit at the Corcoran in its last days. Was awed by the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Opened my heart to water lilies at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Worked on joining hearts with Mike at Eastern Market in D.C. Saw “Words & Letters” made into art at the Athenaeum. Felt general malaise at a Civil War Encampment at Sully Plantation. (nomad, interrupted).
Mason Neck State Park
American beech leaves
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis Harbor
Snow
…and ice in Virginia
Chasing freight trains on the CSX main line
Train tunnel at Henryton, MD
orchid at Green Springs Garden
Me with Alex at Great Falls
Great Falls
Hardscrabble Baltimore
Ouija Board patentee gravestone
me with Sarah in Richmond
The Monument Ave 10k
Cherry blossoms on the Tidal Basin
Cherry Blossoms & the Washington Monument
Privateer Festival Baltimore
Privateer Festival Baltimore
Adam at White Oak Canyon
On the grounds of Graves Mountain Lodge
Virginia Arboretum
Virginia Arboretum
Wisteria at Dumbarton Oaks
Tulips at Dumbarton Oaks
Meadowlark Gardens
Peony at Meadowlark
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Lewis Ginter
Dale Chihuly’s Red Reeds at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Mike, Sarah, Alex and Adam at VMFA
Franciscan Monastery
Franciscan Monastery
At the Franciscan Monastery
Mike, Adam and Alex at Doukenie Winery
Civil War encampment at Sully Plantation
“Words & Letters”
Eastern Market
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Last days at the Corcoran
Searched in vain for a happy 4th of July, as both my mother-in-law and my father were admitted to the hospital; my father’s problem was corrected without complications, but my 88-year-old mother-in-law’s health went into decline and she went into hospice care in early July. Went with Alex on a road trip to New Hampshire, where we stayed in a cottage on Lake Winnipesaukee, seeking a reprieve from Shirley’s illness and our sadness. Drove the Kancamagus Highway through New Hampshire’s White Mountains, topped by a hike at the Flume Gorge. Stopped to buy a bird nest ornament in a garden shop in charming Woodstock, Vermont, where I was mistaken for Alex’s girlfriend (ha!). Admired painted “meeses” and mountain lions in Bennington, and scrambled over rocks at Kaaterskill Falls in New York. Returned home to watch helplessly as my mother-in-law continued to decline; she passed away on July 17. Went in search of light-crazed sunflowers in memory of Shirley, who loved gardening. Visited the George Washington Masonic National Memorial as we waited for Shirley’s memorial service, which was on Thursday, July 25. Took our 12 1/2-year-old border collie, Bailey, to the vet when he got sick the day after Shirley’s memorial service; he died the next day, sadly, at the human age of 88. Searched for summer, and solace, at Solomons, Maryland, where empty boats conversed in a language of their own, groaning, clanking, lamenting and whining. Hiked at Calvert Cliffs State Park where a kid told me: “My dad says your name is Stranger.” Dropped off my passport at the Chinese embassy to get my work visa, and while in D.C., stopped in unannounced at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral for a brief tour in darkness. Came full circle and revisited summer at Meadowlark Gardens, as I did when I first arrived back in Virginia from Oman (nomad, interrupted).

Shirley and Bailey: both left us in July
Richmond on the 4th of July
Albany Covered Bridge along the Kancamagus Highway
Sabbaday Falls
Flume Gorge
Lake Winnipesaukee
Woodstock, VT
Painted moose in Bennington, VT
Painted cougar in Bennington
Kaaterskill Falls in New York
Sunflowers at Mckee-Beshers
Sunflower
Bud of sunflower
view of Old Town Alexandria from the George Washington Masonic National Memorial
George Washington Masonic National Memorial
Solomons, MD
Walk to Calvert Cliffs
St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Sampled rum & grapefruit juice with Mike at Mango’s upon our arrival in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Was coated like a sugar cookie by a maelstrom of sand at Ocean Park. Savored every bite of mofongo — mashed plantains — at Raices in Old San Juan. Had a close encounter with the Baño Nazi on Paseo de la Princessa. Took a self-guided walking tour through colorful Old San Juan, admiring views of Bahia de San Juan along the periphery of El Morro. Came face-to-face with an iguana at Castillo de San Cristobal and together we enjoyed views of the Atlantic. Climbed into a cloud forest on the Mt. Britton Trail at El Yunque rain forest. Ate fabulous Caribbean Benedicts at El Convento. Sought shelter from the rain at Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico. Visited the “ghost town” of Aguirre in the south of the island. Was disappointed at Hacienda Buena Vista to see only the historical buildings and not any actual coffee plants. Got roared at by painted lions at Ponce and took pictures of the historic firehouse and famous landmark, Parque de Bombas. Looked in vain for 007 (“Bond, James Bond”) and Jodi Foster at the Arecibo Observatory, the setting for Goldeneye & Contact. Enjoyed a day at the Ocean Park Beach and gorgeous sunset at El Morro before returning home to Washington. Continued to work with Mike on our reconciliation after our seven-year separation and felt good enough about it to go abroad again. Spent the next two weeks getting ready to move to China. Left the U.S. on August 30 (notes from north america).
Lupi’s Mexican Grill in Old San Juan
Bahia de San Juan
El Convento ~ THE place for brunch
El Rogativa
Old San Juan’s colorful buildings
Iguana at Castillo de San Cristobal
View from Castillo de San Cristobal of the Atlantic
The Capitol in Old San Juan
Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery
El Yunque rain forest
the “ghost town” of Aguirre
Hacienda Buena Vista
Painted lions in Ponce
Arrived in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on September 1 and was installed in a gritty apartment with a view over a lotus pond. Spent the first couple of weeks in Nanning getting a phone, internet, a medical exam, and the visa. Took a walk with another new teacher, Caleb, on Qing Xiu Shan in dreadful heat & humidity, where we saw koi in Sky Pond and a 1350-year-old Cycas King in the Cycad Garden. Climbed to the top of Longing Tower where we saw views of Nanning and the Yongjiang River. Encountered communication problems when haggling in a Chinese market. Experienced the fringes of Typhoon Kalmaegi as it brushed past Nanning. Spent a frustrating day trying to figure out how to buy train tickets to Guilin. Finally acquired a bicycle after much rigmarole and rode to Nanning Zoo, where I watched Chinese visitors feeding junk food to the animals. Began fall semester on September 22. Encountered students with funny English names: Maleah, Kitty, Yuki, Albert, Hebe, Lancy, Shally, Amber, Azura, Nyako, Spring, and best of all: Yoyo, Echo, Coco, Smoothies and Evita. Heard tell of other teachers’ students: Biscuit, Yogurt and Potato. Was flummoxed when trying to find simple household products such as shampoo, conditioner and floor cleaner at Nan Bai Supermarket. Learned how to say Xièxiè (thank you), Ní hǎo (hello), and Wǒ yào yīgè daizi (I want one bag).
Arrival at Guangxi University
The view of the lotus pond out my apartment window
downtown Nanning
Guangxi University main gate
Bronze drum at Qing Xiu Shan
View of Nanning from Qing Xiu Shan
Chinese market
Nanning Zoo
Overcame numerous communication problems and made it to Yangshuo for the National Holiday. Took a motorized bamboo raft with hundreds of other Chinese tourists down the Li River to Xingping, the scene of the picture on China’s 20 yuan bill. Strolled around Yangshuo and Green Lotus Hill, where I was surrounded by magical karst formations. Met Audrey, the niece of an elementary school classmate of mine, at Demo Tiki Bar and then ate Thai food together, accompanied by lots of wine, at Rock-n-Grill. Bicycled with Audrey through the Yangshuo countryside, where we took an almost-skinny-dip in the Yulong River. Ate a late lunch at a Passion Fruit Leisure Farm. Went on a motorbike tour through kumquat orchards to Xianggang Hill, where we saw karst formations with names like Nine Horse Fresco Hill, Lad Worships Goddess, and Grandpa Watching Apple. Traipsed through the Seven Star Tea Plantation. Took my own private bamboo boat ride down the Yulong River. Returned to Nanning, where I began teaching an English Interest Course on Storytelling Photography. Got hooked on Mad Men and watched all the seasons. Walked through artistic trellises at the Guangxi Medicinal Plant Garden. Encountered crazy communication problems on a trip to see Detian Waterfall on the Sino-Vietnamese border. Straddled the border of China and Vietnam in a bamboo boat and was sprayed by the Ban Gioc-Detian Waterfall on my 59th birthday. Received a cake for my birthday from the Student Union; I happily shared it with some of my colleagues, cherry tomato toppings and all.
the fast train from Nanning to Guilin
Yangshuo at night
Karst landscape on the Li River
Xingping ~ the scene on the 20 yuan bill
View of karsts from Green Lotus Hill
Chinese woman on our bicycle ride through the Yangshuo countryside
Audrey and her bicycle
Guy loading bamboo boats at Dragon Bridge
View of the Yulong River from Dragon Bridge
Bicycling through Yangshuo
Bicycle path through Yangshuo countryside
Countryside north of Yangshuo
Yangshuo countryside from a motorbike
view of Li River from Xianggong Hill
Li River
view of the Li River from Xianggong Hill
Seven Star Tea Plantation
Seven Star Tea Plantation
Bamboo raft down the Yulong River
Yulong River rafting
Bamboo boats along the Yulong River
Trellis at Guangxi Medicinal Plant Garden
Guangxi Medicinal Plant Garden
Detian Waterfall
Ban Gioc-Detian Waterfall
Detian Waterfall
me with my birthday cake
Went to a student-teacher Halloween party on a sweltering night where everyone was sweating in their costumes. Visited the Guangxi Museum of Nationalities, where I saw excellent exhibits on Guangxi’s twelve indigenous ethnic groups. Ventured to Nanning People’s Park where hordes of Chinese people were dancing, singing, and playing traditional instruments. Watched all 8 episodes of True Detective and began to watch Breaking Bad. Took a trip to Ping’An, where a Zhuang guide led me on a hike to see Nine Dragons and Five Tigers and a Yao long-haired woman. Posed in traditional costume at Seven Stars with Moon. Took a 5-hour hike alone to the Longji Rice Terraces, where I got lost numerous times. Spent an afternoon of disillusionment at Elephant Hill Park in Guilin. Treated myself to a whole body massage, a foot massage and pedicure in Guilin to try to alleviate my four days of sickness while traveling.
Guangxi Museum of Nationalities
Rongshi Miao ~ “Mang Hao” dance (the mask dance)
Nanning People’s Park
Rice terraces at Ping’An
Nine Dragons & Five Tigers
Yao long-haired woman
me in traditional costume
Seven Stars with Moon
Longji Rice Terraces
Longji Rice Terraces
Longji Village
Farmland outside of Longji Village
Me at the Longji Rice Terraces
Elephant Hill Park in Guilin
Chinese massage place in Guilin
Encountered a styrofoam lady on the way to Wal-Mart. Watched a Chinese love story with English subtitles, Fleet of Time, that shed some light on the lives of my college students. Watched all 10 episodes of Fargo. Survived another challenging Chinese bus ride to Yangmei Ancient Village. Spent Christmas day alone wandering downtown Nanning, sipping a Toffee Nut Latte at Starbucks, watching The Taking of Tiger Mountain at Wanda Cinema, and finally Skyping with my family in Virginia. Went to a Christmas party arranged by my students, where I attempted to make proper dumplings, played and won a REAL game of Chinese checkers, and sang karaoke. Went to a free acrobatics show in Nanning.
the Styrofoam lady
Fleet of Time
Yangmei Ancient Village
Christmas in downtown Nanning
My poor attempts at dumpling-making
me in front of the poster for the acrobatics show in Nanning
Happy New Year! May all your dreams come true in twenty-fifteen. 🙂
Related posts:
twenty-thirteen
weekly photo challenge: my 2012 in pictures
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