For news from Baghdad see Girl Blog from Iraq . . . Let's Talk War, Politics and Occupation.

Young Chinese woman (she liked to be called "Michelle") who happened to be on the bus from Taiyuan to Wu-Tai Shan. Although she had been born and raised in Taiyuan she had never been to Wu-Tai Shan, one of the area's most famous attractions. The night before I arrived in town she had a dream that she was going to meet a foreigner. The next day she quite by accident happened to bump into the bus driver who said that a foreigner had signed up for the trip next day to Wu-Tai Shan. She decided to take three days off work (she teaches English to kindergarten students) and also go to Wu-Tai Shan. We ended up spending three days in Wu-Tai Shan together. A more delightful and charming person could hardly be imagined.

Wu-Tai Shan in Shanxi Province, one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in China

It would appear that Saddam Hussein's Worst Nightmare has come true. But not really: see Mongolians Return to Baghdad, This Time as Peacekeepers.

More Beijing Street Action: Why are the two young women smiling?

She's Everywhere, She's Everywhere!

Hillary Clinton's new book is for sale in every book store in Beijing. And on the plane to Taiyuan I noticed two Chinese women reading it. And it was even for sale in the little book stall in my hotel in Taiyuan. But the Chinese version appeared to have been edited: for the story see Hillary Gets Chopped; for the censored portions see Hillary Longer and Uncut.

Six Beijing Residents After Reading Hillary's Book

Just got back to Mongolia this afternoon after a short sojourn in China.


Ground Zero in China: the entrance to the Forbidden City on the north side of Tiananmen Square

Just returned from Wu Tai Shan, one of the four sacred mountains of China, in Shanxi province. Photos to follow. Spend two days in Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi. Now in Beijing. More to come. . .

Ladies of the Khangai Mountains

RIP Johnny Cash

Stupas at Erdene Zuu, founded in 1578 by Avtai Khan, great-grandfather of Zanabazar

Shop at Amazon.com!

privacy policy

Madame Blavatsky superimposed on a Shambhala thangka in the City Museum in Graz, Austria, the Dharma Wear capital of the World.

Just reread Madame Blavatsky: The Woman Behind the Myth. Great "Truth is Stranger than Fiction" book. No one could have ever dreamed up Madame Blavatsky but Madame Blavatsky herself.


Madame Blavatsky