The "TOM" guy at the back of the group photo looks a lot like you!
Did you get any comments from the Chinese about all foreigners looking the same?
---
Tom and I both have dark hair and goatees, but that's about the end of the similarity. There were no comments about our looks. Sometimes they were clearly astounded by our size, though. Especially Miles. The funniest story about that: Miles is about my height, and much more stocky. One little boy looked up at him in awe -- and then reached up and rubbed his stomach! That's when we gave Miles his new nickname: Buddha. (Or, because he was a hearty laugher, Laughing Buddha.) -rc
I just wanted to say that of the 100+ groups I have escorted across China (both for my company and the others I have worked for), none of them has ever been as special as this group. They are truly witty, dynamic and selfless people. They are the best traveling companions you will ever want to be with and we were never short of laughs at any time!
This is True Readers are the coolest people on earth! They are a great tribute to you Randy, and a testament as to why This is True has endured for so long and keeps going strong! Thank you for the great honor of arranging your first readers tour Randy!
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The pleasure was ours, Jia. Thank you for creating a wonderful trip for our first outing. -rc
OK Randy, sign me up for the next This Is True reader adventure trip. I've very much enjoyed the blog entries. The story about Lilly and her helpers is the perfect ending to a great series of tales.
Thanks for sharing.
What a tremendous compliment to your traveling companions. Clearly your wit and charm has attracted a special group of people. No "whiners or prima donnas!" I'll bet they all carry GOOHF cards to share!
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I brought along a stack of plastic GOOHF cards and orange wire ties so that everyone could put one on their luggage. It was great when we flew, since if we saw the bright orange tag on a bag we knew it belonged to someone in the group. We could spot our bags a mile away. -rc
If I'd known it was possible to go in a wheelchair, I might have signed up, but figured it was impossible... :)
Thanks for sharing the trip with us, Randy. Lilly's story sounds like an ideal submission to Heroic Stories.
I traveled to China in the early 1980s. It was the only overseas trip we made with a group -- the Smithsonian took a group in when Northwest China was first opened to tourists.
The one aspect of the trip that most impressed me were the people who came up to us in the streets wanting to talk. Strolling along the Bundt area in Shanghai we had a group of young men approach us just wanting to talk and asked if we needed help in returning to our hotel.
Another thing that impressed me was that not at any time were we approached by children with their hands out for money. We had placed our cameras down for some reason and someone immediately came up to let us know we were leaving our parcel. Our things were safe in our rooms in every city we visited.
We were on a train for several days traveling to the caves of the Buddhas and I remember getting off the train at several stops to buy fruit. (I got very sick on the train and could not tolerate anything but the wonderful Asian pears I was able to buy.) I remember standing in the market and immediately being surrounded by a group of old men watching as I paid and then received my change.
It was truly a great experience. We we in China during the month of September during the Moon Festival -- their Moon pies were out of this world -- filled with dates.
---
Yes, it was amusing to me how people would gather around to watch things, whether it was us buying things in markets, or a native getting in an argument with another native. -rc
Randy, thanks for the wonderful account of your amazing travels. We love "our" precious Jeff and Lilly and are forever in your debt - all of you- for your selfless care for them during the time Lilly couldn't walk. As you know, she would do the same for any of you - also, Jeff.
What an amazing group you all had. Just the sort I'd want to be with on a trip anywhere - in fact being at home with them would be pretty special too.
I know that because of your sacrifice for someone else, you all had a much different experience that you would have had otherwise. Kudos to everyone participating in such a time of not only seeing the sights but being an example to all of us - "the world at large" for how we are supposed to be living our lives.
Those 'makeshift' trucks are common in China. We were down in the south-east (just across the strait from Taiwan) and they were everywhere.
We weren't in a 'tourist' area and we were constantly watched too, as we were the only non-Chinese to be seen.
China: My Conclusion - Comments
The "TOM" guy at the back of the group photo looks a lot like you!
Did you get any comments from the Chinese about all foreigners looking the same?
---
Tom and I both have dark hair and goatees, but that's about the end of the similarity. There were no comments about our looks. Sometimes they were clearly astounded by our size, though. Especially Miles. The funniest story about that: Miles is about my height, and much more stocky. One little boy looked up at him in awe -- and then reached up and rubbed his stomach! That's when we gave Miles his new nickname: Buddha. (Or, because he was a hearty laugher, Laughing Buddha.) -rc
Posted by: tony, Japan | November 5, 2007 10:16 PM
I just wanted to say that of the 100+ groups I have escorted across China (both for my company and the others I have worked for), none of them has ever been as special as this group. They are truly witty, dynamic and selfless people. They are the best traveling companions you will ever want to be with and we were never short of laughs at any time!
This is True Readers are the coolest people on earth! They are a great tribute to you Randy, and a testament as to why This is True has endured for so long and keeps going strong! Thank you for the great honor of arranging your first readers tour Randy!
---
The pleasure was ours, Jia. Thank you for creating a wonderful trip for our first outing. -rc
Posted by: Jia, CA | November 6, 2007 12:02 AM
OK Randy, sign me up for the next This Is True reader adventure trip. I've very much enjoyed the blog entries. The story about Lilly and her helpers is the perfect ending to a great series of tales.
Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Jim - Texas | November 6, 2007 9:10 AM
What a tremendous compliment to your traveling companions. Clearly your wit and charm has attracted a special group of people. No "whiners or prima donnas!" I'll bet they all carry GOOHF cards to share!
---
I brought along a stack of plastic GOOHF cards and orange wire ties so that everyone could put one on their luggage. It was great when we flew, since if we saw the bright orange tag on a bag we knew it belonged to someone in the group. We could spot our bags a mile away. -rc
Posted by: George, Virginia | November 7, 2007 12:34 PM
If I'd known it was possible to go in a wheelchair, I might have signed up, but figured it was impossible... :)
Posted by: Ann, Tennessee | November 10, 2007 11:52 PM
Thanks for sharing the trip with us, Randy. Lilly's story sounds like an ideal submission to Heroic Stories.
Posted by: Heather, FL | November 11, 2007 2:17 AM
I traveled to China in the early 1980s. It was the only overseas trip we made with a group -- the Smithsonian took a group in when Northwest China was first opened to tourists.
The one aspect of the trip that most impressed me were the people who came up to us in the streets wanting to talk. Strolling along the Bundt area in Shanghai we had a group of young men approach us just wanting to talk and asked if we needed help in returning to our hotel.
Another thing that impressed me was that not at any time were we approached by children with their hands out for money. We had placed our cameras down for some reason and someone immediately came up to let us know we were leaving our parcel. Our things were safe in our rooms in every city we visited.
We were on a train for several days traveling to the caves of the Buddhas and I remember getting off the train at several stops to buy fruit. (I got very sick on the train and could not tolerate anything but the wonderful Asian pears I was able to buy.) I remember standing in the market and immediately being surrounded by a group of old men watching as I paid and then received my change.
It was truly a great experience. We we in China during the month of September during the Moon Festival -- their Moon pies were out of this world -- filled with dates.
---
Yes, it was amusing to me how people would gather around to watch things, whether it was us buying things in markets, or a native getting in an argument with another native. -rc
Posted by: Glenda/Texas | November 11, 2007 3:11 PM
Randy, thanks for the wonderful account of your amazing travels. We love "our" precious Jeff and Lilly and are forever in your debt - all of you- for your selfless care for them during the time Lilly couldn't walk. As you know, she would do the same for any of you - also, Jeff.
What an amazing group you all had. Just the sort I'd want to be with on a trip anywhere - in fact being at home with them would be pretty special too.
I know that because of your sacrifice for someone else, you all had a much different experience that you would have had otherwise. Kudos to everyone participating in such a time of not only seeing the sights but being an example to all of us - "the world at large" for how we are supposed to be living our lives.
Posted by: Betty - Texas | November 11, 2007 3:54 PM
Those 'makeshift' trucks are common in China. We were down in the south-east (just across the strait from Taiwan) and they were everywhere.
We weren't in a 'tourist' area and we were constantly watched too, as we were the only non-Chinese to be seen.
Posted by: Neil - Australia | November 20, 2007 4:41 PM
Read the article that everyone's commenting on, or post a comment about it.