tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8290973459084131413.post7148130536754532703..comments2024-03-23T06:42:28.774+08:00Comments on the view from fanling: journey to the west: part 2Dennis Hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09409579380626581592noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8290973459084131413.post-26099731254515166042013-03-20T08:04:03.355+08:002013-03-20T08:04:03.355+08:00I think you understand why the sight of a cotton t...I think you understand why the sight of a cotton tree provides such an uplift to the spirits Rum.<br />Dennis Hodgsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09409579380626581592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8290973459084131413.post-66639474659358722732013-03-20T07:50:08.045+08:002013-03-20T07:50:08.045+08:00I can’t answer your question about Chinese soldier...I can’t answer your question about Chinese soldiers Pat, because I never see any in off-duty moments, even though my house overlooks another military base, and I often see (and hear) them training. They can be noisy though.<br /><br />Thanks for the suggested identity of the white blossoms. I’m still looking for confirmation, but your suggestion does sound right.<br /><br />Using a whistle on a Dennis Hodgsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09409579380626581592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8290973459084131413.post-65772446728811691682013-03-20T04:39:51.163+08:002013-03-20T04:39:51.163+08:00I loved the first post and also loved this one! Gr...I loved the first post and also loved this one! Great photos and interesting information. I was right there with you on every turn of the pedal. <br />Is the average Chinese soldier as rigid as the western media presents them to us? Or are they less formal in day to day life? <br />The beautiful photo of that awesome Cotton tree made me think about the first post. I went back and looked at the Pat Tilletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17699973774273291205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8290973459084131413.post-42297236628571649912013-03-20T00:00:08.399+08:002013-03-20T00:00:08.399+08:00Wow, that is different - flowers before the leaves...Wow, that is different - flowers before the leaves and I can imagine just how soft their pillows must feel. It also seems like they don't let anything go to waste. <br />Ah Dennis, just scrolled back up to see the link about the cotton trees. Since I've already mis-laid a previous link of yours, I will make sure I put this one in my computer to read later, maybe with a nice glass of cool Rum-Punch Drunkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13531893705181077869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8290973459084131413.post-59758486886629474502013-03-19T10:04:31.718+08:002013-03-19T10:04:31.718+08:00If you were impressed by the cotton trees Kris, th...If you were impressed by the cotton trees Kris, then just wait for the flame trees. Unfortunately, they don’t flower until June, although they will probably be early this year. <a href="http://dennishodgson.blogspot.com/2011/06/in-praise-of-trees.html" rel="nofollow">This post</a> includes a picture of a small specimen.<br /><br />The ‘witch's cottage’ is much larger than it appears in the Dennis Hodgsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09409579380626581592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8290973459084131413.post-87540256401143555392013-03-19T04:41:08.007+08:002013-03-19T04:41:08.007+08:00Loved the red cotton trees and the Hansel-and-Gret...Loved the red cotton trees and the Hansel-and-Gretel witch house...hard to believe someone can live in such tiny quarters! I'm glad to hear you're carrying a cell phone on these long excursions. I was worried you were going to get in some kind of trouble at the military base, but it sounds as if that all went smoothly. Great post!Helena Fortissimahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02038388794311046455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8290973459084131413.post-63721061284468018732013-03-18T06:18:06.966+08:002013-03-18T06:18:06.966+08:00Thank you Big D. Your reaction is what I hoped for...Thank you Big D. Your reaction is what I hoped for when writing this post.<br />Dennis Hodgsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09409579380626581592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8290973459084131413.post-4407161505411578182013-03-17T20:34:04.014+08:002013-03-17T20:34:04.014+08:00I don’t know if you followed the link about cotton...I don’t know if you followed the link about cotton trees Rum, but their unusual feature is that the flowers appear <i>before</i> the leaves! They’re called cotton trees because their seeds are enclosed in large balls of fluff, which local villagers used to use to stuff pillows. The flowers are often harvested, after they crash to the ground, for use in Chinese medicine.<br /><br />Thanks for the Dennis Hodgsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09409579380626581592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8290973459084131413.post-42145406867397286962013-03-17T19:12:08.182+08:002013-03-17T19:12:08.182+08:00I enjoyed that. Fun to read and lovely pics. I enjoyed that. Fun to read and lovely pics. Dale Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13911232031451509568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8290973459084131413.post-2663521295198965982013-03-17T15:35:12.177+08:002013-03-17T15:35:12.177+08:00You always seem to have so much fun when you ventu...You always seem to have so much fun when you venture out to these wonderful areas Dennis. I just love the scenery too. Some places look absolutely spotless and the picture with the bridge using sheet metal as flooring, I can just see an accident waiting to happen (especially if I was on it).<br /><br />The cotton tree against the hill and greenery looks absolutely amazing. I love the shocking Rum-Punch Drunkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13531893705181077869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8290973459084131413.post-64928394327574932422013-03-17T08:05:51.071+08:002013-03-17T08:05:51.071+08:00“Onset of spring” Marty? We’ve had the mildest win...“Onset of spring” Marty? We’ve had the mildest winter here I can remember, and spring has been going full throttle for at least six weeks: I heard the first koel on 2nd February, the cotton trees started flowering around the same time, and swallows have been diving about for several weeks. I even saw a few dragonflies a couple of days ago; these are usually one of the last signs of spring to Dennis Hodgsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09409579380626581592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8290973459084131413.post-35218526005625166522013-03-16T23:30:41.800+08:002013-03-16T23:30:41.800+08:00Dennis, this is precisely the kind of adventure I&...Dennis, this is precisely the kind of adventure I'd love. You describe everything so well I feel I'm right there with you. Now I'm looking forward even more than ever for the onset of spring so I can start doing some journeying myself. nothing profoundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02538561601096574876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8290973459084131413.post-47215993192378487402013-03-16T19:02:41.606+08:002013-03-16T19:02:41.606+08:00I think I’ll give North Korea a miss Ian. I might ...I think I’ll give North Korea a miss Ian. I might not get out again.<br /><br />Cotton trees are always spectacular, but this year has been exceptional. They are very common around these parts.<br /><br />Dennis Hodgsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09409579380626581592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8290973459084131413.post-1512443910179224732013-03-16T12:41:26.042+08:002013-03-16T12:41:26.042+08:00Very interesting Dennis. Another eye-opener!
Soun...Very interesting Dennis. Another eye-opener!<br /><br />Sounds like a tricky route though, especially with the military. I reckon you may be able to crack North Korea next.<br /><br />btw, what a spectacular tree.<br /><br />Cheers, ic<br />iancochranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18300908747367109450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8290973459084131413.post-30894890322693782282013-03-16T07:38:57.664+08:002013-03-16T07:38:57.664+08:00I’m not sure what else I could say about the Chine...I’m not sure what else I could say about the Chinese military presence in Hong Kong Matteo. I don’t think it poses a threat to ‘freedom’ in HK, although of course there are no guarantees. However, the British also maintained an extensive military presence here, and I don’t think anyone ever saw that as a threat.<br /><br />Incidentally, my house overlooks another army base (Gallipoli Lines in Dennis Hodgsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09409579380626581592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8290973459084131413.post-23934757402967983662013-03-16T00:49:10.416+08:002013-03-16T00:49:10.416+08:00Are you going to do a post to follow up your comme...Are you going to do a post to follow up your comments regarding the military base? Is HK going to retain the 'free' society that it has enjoyed for so long? Matteohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07339424635893623978noreply@blogger.com