hodgepodge of Eastern beauty

It's a spring, Sunday morning in the city. The train across the way just gave a little hoot. Last night we had a cat night. Cat nights are similar to cat days, and include blankets and HBO movies (we are trying it free on Comcast for 6 months :). Before watching Scarface, we came across Richard Bangs travel series, "Adventures with Purpose." (clink on the link to visit the website and see a trailer.)

I'm so excited that this show exists! Richard Bangs (such a sweet, interesting man he seems) is the host and the show documents his travels from his unique, peaceful and holistic way of experiencing a place, it's people and culture. The episode we caught was about the "Pearl River Delta," which includes Hong Kong, Macau (modeled after Las Vegas) and Guandong, (previously known as Canton.)

When flying from Tokyo to London in 2009, I changed planes in Hong Kong. Flying in at night time, I was astounded. Looking out the window below me, beautiful, mountainous penisulas oulined the shimmering sea and millions of twinkling lights. I immediately wished that I had scheduled more time to explore there and have always wanted to go back. Seeing the show last night, really drove that home.

They seem to have found a way to blend the man made city with the natural environment of gentle, lush mountains and the sea. The Chinese practice Feng Shui, and how energy which they call Qi (pronounced chi) moves most harmoniously whether in a city, house or in the physical body. Looking at Hong Kong, the sense of art is noticeable. Huge, glass and metal skyscrapers are so modern and advanced, tucked in and placed among the natural curves of the coastline. They exemplify to me that it is possible to be modern and evolving and yet down to earth and in tune with the natural world. A seemingly perfect balance.

http://place2visit.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/hong-kong-peoples-republic-of-china-prc-asia/

Richard Banges described that this way of approaching balance and harmony permeates the culture. He quoted the great Chinese thinker Confucius and explained some of his ideas which are still respected today, forming much of the culture.  I really liked them, and so did a little research on him.  And so, a la Wikipedia:

Confucius was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period.

The philosophy of Confucius emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity.

Confucius presents himself as a "transmitter who invented nothing". He puts the greatest emphasis on the importance of study, and it is the Chinese character for study (or learning) that opens the text. In this respect, he is seen by Chinese people as the Greatest Master. Far from trying to build a systematic theory of life and society or establish a formalism of rites, he wanted his disciples to think deeply for themselves and relentlessly study the outside world, mostly through the old scriptures and by relating the moral problems of the present to past political events (like the Annals) or past expressions of feelings by common people and reflective members of the elite, preserved in the poems of the Book of Odes (詩經).

I am inspired by this man Confucius, I like his under the radar teachings- they seem peaceful and make me feel free. Read some of his quotes here.

Adventures with Purpose Pearl River Delta and learning more about Confucius remind me and make me miss Japan. The Eastern way of living is valuable to me, and on this day of  the one year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami in Northeastern Japan, I send my heart that way, to my second country home. The spirit there is harmonious too. Sweet spirited people, empathy is a given with most every person. Also, a perseverance and strength of will- Samurai spirit lives indeed.

(In searching for images of Hong Kong, I came upon this site. In a small nutshell, it is an idea being considered (?) to help with the immense problem of pollution. Introducing...... living architecture! Check it out here.)