One week to go before I leave.
Still haven’t figured out what to pack clothes wise. Will be dealing with two different climates, which for me is always hard to plan for. The common advice is wear layers, how many and what? Am never sure what layers mean.
Managed to buy a new suitcase that is much lighter than my others, it has 4 wheels and spins. Much too big I think at 26” but am sure that I’ll manage to fill it up. If not before than during the trip. Have to be careful with the weight though, domestic flights only permit 44lbs.
I have never quite understood the people that go for an infinite time, with a little carry on. Whenever packing and luggage comes up in travel forums they are invariably those, who are the most virtuous of all, they make us who take a check in suitcase seem like nincompoops. To be honest I probably could use a smaller bag.
My good knee has been bothering me for a very long time then about 6 weeks ago I was in agony. The doctor gave me Naproxen which seemed to take care of whatever was ailing me. 2 weeks ago the pain started again and I was referred to an orthopedist. To make a long story shorter, I have a torn meniscus.
When I got the news I started to cry, I thought the trip was off. Fortunately the tears didn’t last, when the doctors came back into the room I was calm and the news were good. Yes, I can travel, they will inject cortisone a couple of days before I leave and give me a prescription for pain. Am self medicating right now, ibuprofen, knee brace, bed rest and ice.
The best part of the visit, I got a recommendation to a Cambodian restaurant in my neighborhood.
All is well with the world.
Of course now my concern is Seoul. One of the meeting arrangers sent one of those pre-arrival letters informing us that many of the meals, are going to be at very low tables sitting on the floor. At the best of times that is not my favorite position for eating. I don't like eating on the floor, ground, or reclining. I would have done very poorly in Roman times. Give me a regular chair to sit on, and I am a happy camper. So the worry, which is silly, since there is nothing I can do about it here and now, is how I can stretch my leg out, and feel comfortable?
Otherwise the pre travel karma continues. The other night I went to a jazz performance, and this magnificent woman in dread locks wearing a hat from Mali admired my Obama pin. Naturally we started talking, it turns out she will be in Shanghai when I am there.
There is a restaurant in Beijing that I wanted to try, it is the kind of place where you should really be more than one, and lo and behold I have two dining companions the night I arrive. We connected through Fodor’s Asian forum.
Am working on my Chinese art appreciation,
Metropolitan Museum has a magnificent temporary show of Chinese art
“Landscapes Clear and Radiant: The Art of Wang Hui” (1632–1717), which I had read about in The New York Sun, which has a great Arts section.
http://www.nysun.com/arts/landscapes-as-labors-of-love-wang-hui-at-the-met/85597/
A friend and I went the other day; I knew nothing about this kind of art except that the article made it sound awesome. It was very impressive and educational as well. We happened to stand next to a Chinese man who it turns out is an art dealer specializing in ancient art. We got a lovely lesson and walked out completely sated. It was the kind of exhibit that lifts your spirits.
A similar painting to the ones we saw:
“ Along the river during the Ching-Ming Festival”
This painting was originally painted during the Northern Song Dynasty, 1085-1145. It was repainted again during the Qing Dynasty. It measures 528cm. in width and 24.8cm. in height. It is considered as one of the Great Treasures of China and was exhibited in the Hong Kong Museum of Art last year. (Control the speed of picture with your mouse)
http://www.npm.%20gov.tw/exh96/%20orientation/%20flash_4/index.%20html.
