Blood Mountain: Life Without Cell Phones (written in the early '90's)

   Hiking through ancient, awesome landscapes on the Appalachian Trail (the AT), away from the influences of civilization, seems to bring out our true human natures. Without modern communications, the AT is like a series of human ant hills, each hiker pausing to exchange greetings and information.

will continue in a bit

Hunting Elephants In Shanghai

William Shatner and Priceline didn't invent "name your own price", the Chinese did a long time ago.
"Duo shad qian" is all you need to know. How much is it? The seller will whip out an old-fashion calculator, punch in her American dollar amount and hand it back to you. (Before that they used bead boards).

You say no, no, no and put in a lowball price. Then the haggling and fun begin.

My wife and I mined the fabulous markets of Shanghai in search of one item: elephants. It is important you have such a set goal or you will be lost in an ocean of things and people.

Once focused on your prey you zen for the purchase. I play the dumb American (which comes naturally) and try to get the seller down as much as I can. Then my wife comes over and says "no way, get real". We haggle more. All the shops and people become a blur, and you go into another world with the seller (Shatner does this ALL the time). It's not just numbers now. I say, "I think I see a little nick here". The seller makes up a story about how this elephant came from Tibet. You make freinds and share the sale.

Finally, I say O.K., but another little elephant has to be thrown in, which she agrees to. Of course then you have to buy it. Then you own the experience and the elephants own you. Captain Kirk is still out there somewhere exploring new universes, but elephants never forget.

China To Blueridge

What some people will do for smooth skin!

The little suckers were feasting on my wife. Ying, who is a traditional Chinese doctor, was amused by the hundreds of "doctor fish" (actual name garru-rufa) eating her dead skin. Imported from Turkey, these inch-long minnows don't  have teeth, just a suction cup mouth.

As soon as we got in the hot springs at The Crown Spa Resort on Hainan Island, China, they covered us. I got out after a few minutes. I've been in many lakes in America where these type fish do the same. Ying stayed in way too long and had little red spots all over. Think hikkies.

I had much more fun on the reefs in Sanyo at the south end of Hainan. The water is pretty clear and there are some fish left, but the Chinese are destroying the reefs and everyone, including the government, is trying to make a buck off tourists.

But it is very cheap (like half the cost in The Florida Keys) and still very beautiful. If you go, take your own snorkling equipment and just snorkle the reefs off the beaches.

We have many more stories to tell about China. Ying is finally living with me in Georgia. We brought back many items and Chinese herbal medicine so you may visit our site at http://www.chinatoblueridge.com/