Mikey's Adventures in China (May to August 2008)

The Journey of my Life.

2008-08-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

The Journey of my Life.

Explore. Find happiness. Follow your dreams.

The start of a new chapter (FINAL blog post)

2008-08-02T21:39:00.000-07:00

Travel. Explore. Find happiness. Go after it.

Remember, reflect and learn from your experiences...

At first I didn't know what to expect when going on this trip.
See new things, have fun, meet new people, and then come home.

But I'm NOT coming home.
Someone else is coming home.
A new me.

It's scary to think when I get back I won't be going back to school but I plan to live life to the full every day and seek what makes me happy.

It's a small world.
Whether you live in China or Canada you will cross paths again with good friends.
As my students said at the end of my last class in Yangshuo...
"The world is a ball and we will meet again eventually"

I'm sad to go. But happy to have came.
As a great student of mine named Ben told me last night...
"Happiness is accompanied by sorrow, and it would turn sunny after rain as well."

The things I've done and the people I've met have truly opened my eyes.
The world is your playground. Don't always settle for what was put in front of you.
Go out! Look for more!

Sorry for the deep and philosophical posting but I think in reflecting on my experience I realize that I have found a new level of happiness and joy that comes from surrounding myself with the things I love.

What makes me happy?
Helping people, dancing, leadership, teamwork, friends, family, health.

What makes you happy?

I hope I've inspired you.
Travel. (Don't make excuses! Everyone has a reason NOT to leave home. Just go!)
Explore. (Leave your comfort zone! Be open, be adventurous, live with locals, try new things.)
Find what you love. (What makes you happy? Explore! Find these things and go after them.)
Be happy. (Smile!!! it's contagious :o)

For all of you who commented that you want to travel, explore and find yourself, I support you all the way. Maybe we can meet up before you go! Keep me posted on YOUR adventures!

Toronto family... I miss you...
China family... I miss you...

I will see you both very soon.

- Mikey
(Getting ready to go back to Canada, planning to come home to China.)

VIDEOS GALORE... last blog? maybe 2nd last...

2008-08-02T20:05:00.000-07:00

This is my last set of videos.
ONE more blog to come to wrap up my journies... for now.

This is Hope.
He is a ninja.
He beat me in a handstand contest.
I cried... he laughed.
He is only 9 years old.
This boy has lots of potential.
GO hope GO!!!

Bboy Battle on our vacation to Guilin (from Yangshuo)
BBoy Piecez (me) and Bboy Stussy VS. Guilin Bboys

Devil sticks master: 48 year old peter from USA practicing on the streets of Hong Kong

When there are no local bboys in a town (Huangshan)
you must make due with what you have... yourself!!!
HOTEL HOUSE DANCING SESSION!!!!
Is this normal...? Or is Mike crazy? Both?

This is the WORST voice dubbed cartoon I've EVER seen.
Holy monkey, I wouldn't want to be a kid in Vietnam...

Mysterious BBoy Monkey on the busiest street in Yangshuo (obviously... next to KFC)
I'm not sure why I'm posting this one...(runs away embarassed)

BBoy Piecez and BBoy Stussy hitting the streets.
BBoy routine from the new crew in Yangshuo
"How Ren Laeia!!!" (local Yangshuo Bboy battle slang)

Mysterious James Brown impersonator at LOOVE Bar.

My students performer for the whole school.
I taught them this song!!! GO kids GO!

"Hey Mikey!"
"Yea?"
"Go jump in the lake!"
"... okay!"

Huangshan the land of beautiful mountains and bad spelling

2008-07-31T19:14:00.000-07:00

Spelling comes second?
This was a reassuring sign to see before getting on an airplane.
This is my new QQ #!
Add me on QQ if you have it!!!
Keep in touch China friends, I miss you all! :o) This is a meal I had in Huangshan with a family that sells art in a small shop. I went from buying 2 pieces of art to talking with their son for 2 hours to help him practice his English to having dinner with their family! THIS is why I love China, feeling at home in someone else's home.
What are you smiling at?
(I'm pretty sure that building was smiling at me. We had a smiling contest. I won.)
After the staring contest was over I sat atop a pavillion alone at the top of a hill and a man came up to me. He tried to steal my watch. I ran for 15 minutes to get back to civilization.
All is well in the universe. Moral of the story? Don't get robbed.
I think someone needs help spelling....Old School Beauty.Full day of climbing a mountain... painful and sweaty
reaching the top... Visa....... i mean... priceless!I love days like this!!! I love the SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!!!!
(my face as I watched the sun set at the top of Huangshan mountain)
inspired by song: Sean Escoffey: I love days like this (house remix)
When something is in the way of your goals...
Go the road less travelled :o)
and you will reap great rewards (in this case a beautiful sunset.) I don't even know what they were trying to say here... any guesses?
Zing!
Swish!
I'm concerned that anyone might follow these instructions.

Listen to the mountains. Reflect. hahahaha. This can mean whatever you want it to mean.
Self explanatory. Rules were made to bent.
MORE unity in China! The UNITY tree at Huangshan mountain!
Living on the edge.

Hey Guys,

Just wanted to share with you another blog entry of my most recent solo journey to Huangshan a mountain in Anhui province of China. I hope these pictures help you to realize the beauty of this amazing place. It was a great place to contimplate life one last time before coming home on the silence of China's most beautiful mountain. I'm going to post a lot of pictures in this blog including mountainy goodness and bad spelling hilarity of this amazing place.

Enjoy and see you all soon!

Back home August 4th!

love

- Mikey ikey

Goodbye FOR NOW. A journey well begun is half done.

2008-07-27T23:43:00.000-07:00

1 week left until I'm home.
See you soon my friends.
Enjoy the last few blogs (maybe only 2 more after this)!

Ghost stories by the Yulong River under the stars.
My last goodbye to my LAST class. See you soon my friends and I know you will all make it!
Dream big.
Since goodbyes weren't enough from the group above they made me a going away present.
Can't wait to reunite Chinada!!!
the OFFICIAL crew (last night in Yangshuo partying it up ALL night at LOOVE bar)
My AWESOME 10 minute sleep at LOOVE bar before hitting the airport to Huangshan.
I always keep my cell phone, my rose and my ninja sword on me in China... just in case.

UNITY in Yangshuo.
Ready to swim folks!? The current of the Yulong River may be strong but nothing can stop this Chinese fashion statement.
Stussy starting the BBQ next to the Yulong.
This journey was one of my last nights but one of my best memories. Thanks bro.Swimming anyone?
How about some of my famous river chicken?
(BBQed by me on our ghetto stone BBQ)

Haircut on the streets. (check out my barber's shirt!!! Pimpin!!!) Kong. Another great new friend from Yangshuo.
Kong has the kindest heart but struggles to learn English. Kong came to Yangshuo to learn English by working at a bar. I was there when he went through some tough times but I supported him all the way and spoke with him as much as possible to help him practice his English. I know you will find your way bro!
My LAST school!!! *tear...
(School # 5 out of 5 that I taught at in 3 weeks)
This sign is proof of why they need great english teachers like me.
haha. oh... I mean...
I love my school!
Why do topics always have to end in the gutter when teaching adults?
Hilarity and learning all in one!
2 girls from ANOTHERr class I taught. One of the smiliest groups I've worked with so far. This was the last time I saw these 2 girls. I hope their smiles go on for miles!

I'm going to miss you Yangshuo.

I've been gone 2 days and I already miss my Yangshuo family...

Mark, Nina, Stussy, Stussy's friend, Tina, Kong, Emily x 2, Willow, Oman, Billy x 2, Mr. Wonderful, Lily, Carol, Snake, Julie, Rebecca, Fang Fang, Ben, Sophia, Smoch, Thomas, Mike, Faber, Evonne, Milk, Justin, Vicky x 2, Kelly, Ms. Helen Wu, Kirk, Mr. Lee, Hope, Zoe, Aaron, George, Nina's brother, Nina's mom, ALL of the students & teachers from all of my schools: Omeca / Landscape / Nanning / Xie Jie / Xie Jie West, the BBoys of Guilin, all my dancing students, all the people who I met who I don't remember your names x 100's... see you soon.

- Mikey ... at Huangshan mountain ( missing home... Yangshuo and Toronto).

PS mountain pictures coming soon.
I just needed to do a proper last, goodbye post and salute to Yangshuo.

A vacation in a vacation

2008-07-20T00:37:00.001-07:00

I am one with the animals.
Bored on a bus...
While some choose to sleep, I choose to entertain myself!
In the process of entertaining myself I met a new friend!!!
A little kid who was as smiley as me but didn't speak a word of English.
We played peek a boo, hand games and shared pictures for 2 hours.
The next picture shows when my new friend got off the bus a few stops before ours.
Oh the joy of children!!!
The first step to success is to try.
Never give up.
A present from one of my students after I left yet ANOTHER school after a week of teaching.
Plant a seed now and watch it grow into a great oak.

:o) Dumplings anyone?Spell check anyone?
Silly in Guilin. (on vacation while on vacation. nuttyness!)
Battle scarS of teaching English. Beware of sharp blackboard edges!
I clearly didn't learn my lesson after cutting myself the first time. Milk drinking milk.
Student = Milk
Drink = milk
Our evening hang out 9pm to 3am EVERY night.
LOOVE Bar crew (minus a few).
Clear out the tables, bring on this dancing! (and the sweaty tshirts!)

Landscape foreign language school, last day of classes.
Look at the kid on the far right at the bottom!!! His name is Hope.
He is my favoritest!!!! He is also a circus ninja (video coming soon...)
Here is a pic with me and my students (and the super cool little kid Hope.)
His name is REALLY Hope. No lie.
I feel the positive energy of this kid and I am confident Hope will be happy and successful.
Soooo much potential, only 9 years old!!!
(wait until you see the video of him in ninja action... to be posted in a few days)

Students caught in the act.
Vandalizing my blackboard before I arrived to class.
As you can see, I've been brushing up on my art skills through teaching.
Look out Picaso!My 9 year old student Hope in circus ninja action (video clip coming soon...)
Hungry cat.
Be careful what you ask for!!!
This is what students drew after I told them to draw a picture describing the word "dangerous". OHHH the innocence of 10 year olds.

Have you ever been on vacation and felt at home?
That's how I feel in Yangshuo.

I felt so at home here that when I left this last weekend to take a break from my teaching and go to Guilin I actually missed Yangshuo. Not only did I miss Yangshuo but people who live here saw me off and asked when I what time I would arrive back. Well now I'm back and the adventures have continued. After bboy battling in Guilin, being silly in the streets, eating local noodles and having a blast I'm back home in Yangshuo.

Here are some photos from the last week of my new class, my new friends and my new experiences. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Word birds!

Enjoy the heat!

love love and love

- Mikey in his 2nd home (yangshuo china.)

PS I really loved ur comments in the last entry, hugs to you all for taking the time.
much love.

Okay. I lied... Yangshuo is OFFICIALLY my favorite place in the world

2008-07-13T18:59:00.000-07:00

Happiness.

This is the best way to describe what Yangshuo has brought to my life.
And for those of you who know me I'm already a pretty happy guy but after teaching an English summer camp for 1 week to Nanning city's foreign language students my life has changed.

Out here I've never been busier but NEVER been happier.
Daily schedule: 7am wake up, 8am to 1130am class, 12noon lunch with school, 1pm to 2pm prepare lessons for the next day, 3pm to 6pm class field trip, 7pm Breakin class (after school with kids), 8pm Popping class (after school with kids), 9pm to 3am party and breakin practice alll night every night with Bboy stussy. If I started to write some of the stories it would literally take DAYS so I don't want to bore you with words, check out the pictures below.

Stories will come in the next bloggeroo.
This girl made my year.
No wait... actually... maybe she made my life.
I don't know whatever she did... she made me cry.
When we said goodbye for the last time today she showed me something that she had made to remember our experiences learning English together.
You truly CAN make a difference in 7 days. (see necklace picture below)

The kids have finished their classes for the week and gone back to the city of Nanning.
It's been 2 hours since they left. What am I going to do!?!!?!?!?
After taking hundreds of pictures on the last day of class I began signing notebooks, tshirts and ... hands ! That's right, ink poisoning or not I left my mark on these kids.

The newest BBoy crew in Nanning from class # 3. Class # 2 had about 6 bboys as well.
Make me proud guys!!!

I never spoke to this girl much because she wasn't in my class but she had the biggest and brightest smile I've ever seen.
Unfortunately this picture doesn't fully capture it because she's "smiling for the camera" but when you smile at her and she smiles back it could make anyone's day!
Bboy Stussy (yellow shirt) and his MC friend. We hung out EVERY night, went to LOOVE bar, took over the 2nd floor for breakin and popping and partied till the break of dawn. As soon as I met these guys we were family. Some of the coolest guys I've met. In order to teach kids you need to be a kid. I think I fit that role quite nicely.
This kid had NO idea what this shirt meant. I explained it to him. He ran away. I laughed.
This is the CREW. Bboys for life. (notice SMOCH in the middle with the fan. good boy SMOCH!)
This is what it's like to be a foreign teacher in a Chinese English school (lights, camera, action!)
Me and SMOCH!!!! SMOCCCH!!!!! This kid was great. He didn't really speak English at all...but his name was SMOCH!!! Everytime I saw this guy we'd do a secret handshake, yell at eachother in jibberish and laugh like crazy. I think he learned a lot...Try learning 120 names in 7 days.
Now that's a challenge with matching t-shirts, smiley faces, and black hair for all!
That's right folks in China you eat the WHOLE chicken. Bon apetite!
Boiled chicken blood. Yummers in my tummers.
This guy was awesome... he had a speech impediment but I would always take the time for him and smile even when he was struggling. A brave soul this young one and ALWAYS pushing himself to be in the action.
The things that dreams are made of. MMMmmm... My first (and last) pig's brain soup.
(I love how they called it "pigs mind". It sounds so much more elegant!)

Material things are just things. This is my bed in Yangshuo.
Here is the only place in the world I am happy sleeping here. All you REALLY need.

Class # 2 (my 1st group of students, 34 in total.)
A great story that I will never forget is once we switched classes and they moved me to class # 3 I managed to sneak on the bus for class # 2 on the 2nd day after the switch. As soon as I stepped onto the bus the kids started clapping and screaming for joy.

I'm going to miss these little buggers!

False advertising? or Genius marketing strategy? I think we both know it's genius.

Not if I can help it!

Some interesting people I met: Tina, Emily, Willow, Justin, Tai Chi Teacher, Fang Fang, Nina, Mark, BBoy Stussy and ALL of his friends, Julie, Helen, Mr. Lee, a homeless guy who wanted to learn english songs (and I taught him), 5 store owners who I RANDOMLY ended up giving bboy/popping lessons, all the kids, all the teachers, TONS more people that I could name for DAYS!!!! In 7 days you can start a new life.

Yangshuo. I knew a place like this existed.

Peace and UNITE!

- Mikey making Yangshuo home base.

Long awaited videos!!!! (Fast internet in Yangshuo ROCKS!!!!) like the mountains... wait those ARE rocks. okay... i'm done

2008-07-08T08:27:00.000-07:00

After 2 days on a boat ride with nothing to do you start to get... creative.

These ducks were ROCKIN out.
I'm not sure if this is more funny or amazing...

A baby battle I've been meaning to post for a while from southeast asia.
I repped hard and put my hand in chicken shit mid-battle.
On a positive note... my set was DIRTY... get it? DIRTY!!! hahaha...!
Kid took me out with his elbow breaking concrete suicide.
I asked for round 2 but I think he was trying to hold back his tears.
Tough kid. convincing battle strategy

PS My first day of english teaching was UNFREAKINGBELIEVABLE.
I'll tell you about it later though (you still need to catch up on my last few blog entries!!!! :o)

Hearts.

- Mikeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Bearded in Bangkok

2008-07-06T17:21:00.000-07:00

Monks caught in the act.
A new speciality in Laos: ant butter.
The only light I had in a small town in Lao with no electricity.
Are YOU afraid of the dark? Because I sure am.
speechless.
After I whiped that silly grin off my face in the picture above I jumped off that waterfall.
and lived to talk about it! Swish!
Niagra falls ain't got nothing on Lao.

relaxing. volunteer book. cereal. the journey of my life. (overnight train in Thailand)

Sometimes I wish I never saw this. Other times I wish I never took a picture of it.
Sharing is caring friends!
House dancing with old Thai ladies. How do I get myself into these situations.

House dancing on the streets of Thailand. Not as good as Toika but it'll have to do for now!!!

That's right. I got it dreaded.
Trying to keep a low profile out here

Dear Family, Friends and random blog checkers!

Quick blog.
More pictures then talk.

Leaving Thailand today after much bboying with locals, and great food.
Entered a 1 on 1 bboy battle here and it was amazing, thanks to bboy Gonza for showing me around and letting me enter last minute, good times in random local thai clubs.

Hip Hop / bboy and english teaching in Yangshuo here I come!!!

Chow for now!

- Mikey Mike spreading UNITY Asia like wildfire

Southeast Asian Experience (Nam and Laos)

2008-06-30T02:37:00.000-07:00

Post card sceneries in Laos (not a post card... YET!).

Lady cutting raw meat in a Vietnamese market within centimetres from her dirty bare feet.
She was also made some pretty stinky "toe" fu.
Steak anyone?
Me riding speckles the elephant through the jungle.
Who knew you could stear an elephant by tugging it's ears!

Sliding down a waterfall in Laos.
and YES... this IS as dangerous as it looks.
Don't worry only 4 people died last week doing this. (kidding!!!...???)

Elephants pooped in the waterfall.

(note to reader: this poop was excremented post waterfall swim.)

Question Mark!!!!

Shop keeper in Vietnam hard at work.

Sometimes you gotta suck it up and be a man!
(I promise I chose this bike only due to a lack of options! seriously!)

This is a disturbing display of dog transport.
I don't think they were being shipped to Disneyland
:o(
Homey... ? Horney... ? Either way it's funny.

This is the picture of ANOTHER kid I battled in a small village. This time in Laos.
Video on it's way (as soon as I find some faster internet connections!!!)

That's right folks.
I'm rocking out in South East Asia and it's been a CRAZY adventure.

Unfortunately, Vietnam wasn't my favorite place. So to all those who warned me, I learned my lesson. I sweated like a pig, people stared angrily, I got spat on, people laughed.
Good times.

A tuk-tuk (cab) driver horked a nice one on my shirt after he decided to decline our services because the group I was with wanted a FAIR price for our late night ride home from the bar.
I in fact had nothing to do with this price negotiation. I didn't care about the extra 2 dollars we would've paid for his cab. However I was the closest in spitting range so I was granted with his horkey treasure splat on my shirt. Yummers.
Oh how I love Vietnam.

Luckily I was only there for 2 days.
The people of Laos however are suuuuuuuuuuper friendly/awesomely awesome
(and luckily I spend an entire week travelling across Laos!)

Lots of adventures have gone down there too, quite an extradinary place for active citizens.

Some of the crazy adventures in Laos:
1. Bike ride deep into local villages off the beaten path.
This was great! I wonder why all the little kids were laughing at me... oh yea!!!
I was riding a bright pink girls bike with a pink basket and a constantly ringing bell.
Shucks.

2. Solo tube ride down a river with an intense current (got split from all people who came with me with no money and was eventually saved by a little girl from Laos who could swim like a ninja. Unfortunately she wanted me to pay her for the save but all I had were the clothes on my back. So that's what she got. Not satisfied after I told her money wasn't an option she pointed at my hat. It happened to be my Funk Fanatics breakin crew hat. Please give a warm welcome to the newest member of the Funk Fanatics crew, Bgirl... Laos Fish!)

3. Elephant Ride (pictures provided. Our elephant's name was speckles!)

4. Waterfall sliding (this was more stupid then it was fun. It's the type of place that stays open for tourists until someone dies. Luckily I was not that person. Woo hoo!)

The only reason I am making this post is because I'm soooooooo tired and moving is no longer an option.

Southeast Asia Total Travel Time: 40 hours on a bus in 5 days
(and counting)

See you on the other side of the world!

PS look at a squirrel for me... I miss squirrels.
Ohhh and um...

PPS Eat a bowl of cereal for me...
Here's the fractional bowl mix break down:
3/10 mini-wheats
2/10 wheetabix
4/10 life
1/10 shreddies

Seconds anyone?

- Mikey

Got to Vietnam. Alone!

2008-06-24T05:10:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,

I'm currently in Vietnam and I'm all alone. After walking around for a bit and eating some dinner it started to get dark so I figured I'd go back to my hotel and eat a weird local popsicle on my walk back.

Here are the remaining pictures and videos from Taiwan that I really wanted to share because I had such an amazing time in Taiwan
(unfortunately only for 3 days... Maybe I'll go back before August? who knows!)

POSER. I like to THINK I'm a popper.

Bravo!!! And the award for best store name goes to...

Bboying on the streets of Taiwan (after blowing 2 amplifiers we finally got down after 2 hours of waiting. Well worth the wait, although Taiwanese people need to learn to make some NOISE!)
This is my new friend A-jin from Taiwan. She is as nice as she is smiley!
I had the pleasure to hang out with A-jin on my last day in Taiwan.
Oh and the ice cream was as delicious as it was tall.
It was also as melty as it was ... ice cream!

Based on popular demand... here is a picture of santa claus...
Lay out the milk and cookies folks!

After doing some street bboy shows in Taiwan I was challenged by a seemingly normal old man. My first impression of this firecracker was deadly wrong. In fact he proved to have some spunky tricks up his sleeve and by the end of it we were best pals. He needs to work on his under hand toss though.

Anyways that's it for now.
Off to the streets of nam!

I heart my family (aka you)!

- Mikey

Taiwan ROCKS.

2008-06-21T12:49:00.000-07:00

Me and my brother Krazybones (more often known as "jason" here in Taiwan or italian painter because of his new pimpin mustache. That or the pizza boy)

Me and bones on a chinese motorcycle. (don't worry mom! just posing for pictures, we didn't hit any highways!!! this time :o)

Taiwanese Mikey!
Look!!! He's wearing a hat!

I severely doubt she knows what this shirt means...
hilarity... and cleaarly this is not true, unless she hasn't eaten since...?

This is the fire extinguisher on my floor in Hong Kong. It seems to have gone missing.
I believe the caption in red says, "fire extinguisher out to lunch, better luck next time".

yadrrr maytee... keep diggin!

Usually in a coughing situation with back to back passengers on subway cars coughers have 2 options:
1) cough into their sleeve
2) cough in your face
Unfortunately numerous times I was confronted with # 2 and that is what left me with a nasty cough and cold. (but at least I am healed now from magical chinese medicine!!! woo hoo!)

This is me after pulling an all nighter partying and then getting to the airport to go to Taiwan.
This is the time I arrived at the airport. still... no sleep.
This is Cathay Pacific airline's breakfast sandwich. I kid you not it is the best breakfast sandwich I have EVER had. 3 layers of ham, 2 layers of egg, powdery fresh bread ... ohhh yea. In fact it was so good that when I told the flight attendant how much I liked it he brought me 4 more. I humbly declined his offer and only indulged in 1 more.
The story of the two best breakfast sandwiches in my life.An immediate shot of me after devouring the 2nd breakfast sandwich. pure bliss.

How's it going chums!?

Long time no talk!!!
I hope you're eating lots of apples and spreading lots of happiness.

Booby (grandmother) I hope you are feeling better from your surgery! I love you lots!

I've been on the road too much to post lately but me and Krazybones are kickin it in Taiwan and it couldn't be better!

We've hit up funk style classes/practices, student film festivals, a locking competition, fried rice stands and some of the best bubble tea places known to man.

Krazybone's popping is getting to the next level.
He's still a superstar in Taiwan. He's been acting in some of the biggest movies in Taiwan and he is a chick magnet (these are all lies that krazybones told me to write! except for the part about his popping, he is definitely taking it to the next level)

I'm preparing myself to venture off to Vietnam, Laos, Thailand! Then to teach some English in Yangshuo, learn some kung fu in Shaolin and maybe take a tour of Shanghai and surrounding mountains.

Many adventures to be had!
Stay tuned. (same bat time. same bat channel.)

peace and hugs!

love

- Mikey

Happy fathers day!!!

2008-06-14T22:14:00.000-07:00

Sending MUCH love from China to all the father's out there (especially my father!!! hi dad!).

My favorite HK building ("ohhhh SHINEY!!!")

Blister anyone? (sharing is caring! :o)

A new friend! (Karl Siu is a keen Hong Kong student who face book stalked me, messaged me, randomly met up with me (to practice his english?) and ended up being my tour guide for the day! Thanks Karl!)

The BEST Japanese green tea bean pancake thing ever.
and YES it is as good as looks *oooze

Thursday night partying (5:47AM)Saturday night partying (5:46AM)

Back in Grade 5 I used to be best friends with these two guys Cad and Mick in Canada. In grade 6 they moved to Hong Kong and we lost touch. A few months ago Mick facebook messaged me and we started to talk again. Yesterday we met up for the first time in 8 years!!!
Oh how we've grown up... sigh.

PS mom I told Cad and Mick you say hi! :o)

on a final note...

Bboying (or "breakdancing" as some call it) is an AMAZING thing.
I've been hanging out with Rhythmattack the top HK bboy crew for the past few days going to practices, clubs, internet gaming bars and just going about the city. I find it amazing how everywhere I go (even if the language is different) I can find so many people through dancing.
Moral of the story... I love break dancing? that'll do.

much love and a turtle dove.

- Mikey

special shout out to christine!

2008-06-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

you know my memory only goes as far as my post it notes do!
:o)

PS
I love you ALL. especially you... "me?" yes... you.

good night.

Lijiang. gone. for now. solo travels here i come.

2008-06-10T09:34:00.001-07:00

The view on the bus ride from Lijiang to Dali.
Looking out the window beats reading a book!

This is a chinese garbage truck... "Mike why would you take a picture of a chinese garbage truck?" well that's a very good question billy! I'll tell you... there is a story...
Chinese garbage trucks play the same music that ice cream trucks play in Canada...
So my natural reaction to this music was to run to the truck...
In sadness I learned it was no ice cream truck... but a rotten garbage truck.
I relieved my sadness by buying a green bean Popsicle at the local grocery store :o)
note to foreigners in China: garbage trucks are misleading.

This is ANOTHER random kid I battled in Dali. Well we weren't really battling. We were just jumping around and stuff.. we were doing the running long jump but he was just wearing sandles so he kept hurting his feet.. ie: this picture.. hahaha sucker. I won again!!!

This picture is really funny looking. I'm not sure why...

Proud supporter of the Olympic games. Scruffy the dog.

After canoeing for about 30 minutes we got hungry. so as we approached another boat we learned that he was... COOKING FISH ... ON HIS BOAT!!! and so we ate... some of the best BBQ fish ever with mountainous backgrounds and sparkly lakes... ohh shiney!
Don't leave strawberries in your van. Flies infest. (and this picture only captures the flies on the CEILING, imagine how many were flying around me to take this picture.) but don't worry. I just opened my mouth and moved my head around. problem solved :o)

Lijiang food makes mikey (fill in blank)

Barf bag? or SARS horse? (you decide...)
Chinese pimp? or...? I don't know what else he could be.... (you decide?)

"Soo Yo Cha". HEAVEN in tea form. This is the best thing ever. ingredies;Tea with yak's milk butter/oil, nuts, cracked egg, heaven and tea. You haven't lived until you've tried this local specialty. I will miss this forever... this and green bean Popsicles.

The bugs of china.
Swish!
We'll see about that!
The snow mountain surrounded by... not snowy mountains... real? YES!!! crazy? that's what i'm trying to tell you!!! (@ Tiger Leaping Gorge, Lijiang)

Inspired by the words of jeff prosserman (aka my brother). funny because i was thinking this the whole trip so far and then I saw this sign. spooky.

Look they are ... hugging! (PG 13 censorship)

4506M and climbing. Jade snow mountain, Lijiang. taking a quick break to sip on some oxygen tank air so I don't pass out from breakdancing at an elevation where my head could implode.
Bboying on the snow mountain.
These guys were the guitar player and bongo drummer at a bar we went to. I think they saw me tapping the table while they were playing so they decided to let me play the bongos for about 4 songs. super fun times. mikey's shirt translation: "I heart china"
Eagle... BEFORE it tore my eyes out and ate the skin off my face. (joking...?)

Look it's kitten puppeteering!
(No kittens were harmed in this puppet show... except the one in the picture... just kidding...?)

Johnny kissing a dog.
Yummy!
Baby running around with a chef hat on. it's funny because he couldn't see!

Hey all,

Sorry for so many pictures.
I'm just bored. and it's late. and i'm in hong kong. alone. and everything is closed...
and i needed to share my lijiang experience

I'm now in Hong Kong and I've already started to long for Lijiang!!!
Natural beauty.
Mountains.
Blue skies.
Running water.
More mountains.
Preserved ancient architecture.
Did i mention there were mountains?

Lijiang is my new 2nd home.
If possible I would teach English there for a few months.
Maybe 1 semester of english schooling.
and break dancing.
and UNITY
spreading UNITY to small town Lijiang.
have battles on the mountains.
this is NOT only a dream.
anything is possible.

anyways enough of my ranting.

enjoy the pictures.
MMMMMmmmm pictures.

PS I love all of your comments... for example: Adrian, Jeff, Julla, Booby & Zaidy, Shrek, Jordan, and all the other one off or anonymous posters I heart you all. (your comments make me smile... and smiling makes me happy... and happiness, is nice.)

love a dove dove.

- Mikey Mike and the funky bunch

I miss you too!

2008-06-06T09:45:00.000-07:00

Have you ever cried after seeing something so beautiful? This was my face before it was shocked by tears. I know I'm a big loser. But with a green tea at the top of a mountain on a sunny day looking at this picture below (but in real life) for an hour will do crazy things to you.
Lijiang... My new home... English teaching jobs anyone?

BEAUTIFUL Lijiang. wow.

take a moment...

look again...

wow. The morning ritual in Lijiang. Tooth brushing :o) (on the street)
It's sad... but true. DIRTY toilets in china galore!
Mmmmm... Duck tounges... and YES I did eat this one! Go big or go home!

Interesting translation...
We stayed one night in Kunming and I wish we could've stayed longer because on the one night we were there I met soooooo many people in our hostel and some little kids tried to tie me up and throw me off the roof the building. But their arms were too small and their mom didn't let them so I was in good hands. (see picture above)

What are you looking at?! (peacock at random big tree tourist location. I settled for this tour spot because on my second day of biking around Yangshuo I got lost and couldn't find the Moon Hill rock climbing spot I was looking for. At least I met this bird thing :o)

Need I say more?

Hey chums!!

I'm sorry I haven't been around for a few days.
Things have been busy out here in China and my time to the internet has been few and far between. I managed to find an open opportunity after everyone went to sleep.

Since we last spoke I arrived travelled from Guilin to Kunming to Lijiang.
The train to Kunming was about 20 hours. An experience I will NEVER forget.

As per usual I am constantly being overwhelmed with the differences of this country. Every place we go has it's own unique character. The food of Kunming is AMAZZZING!!! People are afraid of Chinese food because they don't understand it or have false interpretations of what it actually is but if you sat down to the same meal I had the night I was in Kunming I guarantee you no matter what species you are Chinese food will be your new favorite.

I heart you all!!! HEART!!!

- Spikey Mikey spreading UNITY... worldwide.

Dance battle in China (mikey vs. chinese toddlers)

2008-05-31T04:42:00.000-07:00

Mikey battling kids about 3 hours into our bike ride in Yangshuo in a random small village along the river side.

Round 1: Mikey tries to create a soul clap, kids get confused and eventually give up.

Round 2: Kiddies come strong with a routine combo and chinese singing. Some stiff competition!

Round 3: Mikey take the kids out in the last round. Sorry kiddies but Canada has to represent!!!

The battle was close.
I'll leave it for you to judge in your comments!!!
Who to

Hope these videos actually work.
if not at least you got my last blog posting (you guys are getting spoiled with all this posting!)

ENJOY!

M to the I to the K to the E to the Y

Yanshuo. my new favorite place.

2008-05-31T04:19:00.000-07:00

Me and Johnny about 1 hour into our bike ride (it had just begun)

Driving between endless mountains for a 4 hour bike ride today. Somehow we made it back on bamboo rafts down the river because if we didn't find these rafts I don't know how we would've gone 4 hours back in the other direction. Sometimes luck is on your side.
An amazing small village that we had the priveldge to stumble upon. really shows how people can live truly happy lives with a very basic standard of living. Not out to get new cars, just out to raise healthy families.
Some kids at a local playground (bad joke.)

Climbing the rice field mountains of Longshen. Once again... UNREAL.

Hats off to the Li River! (between Guilin and Yangshuo)

Need I say anything about this one? and if you're wondering ... no i didn't try it!

One thing that amazes me about CHINA is just when you think you've seen the most beautiful scenery that exists, the mountains, rivers, rice fields and even wild life prove you wrong.

Scenery for days, and I hope it never ends.
I've never felt so at peace with myself and the things around me.
People in Yangshuo have it good. There is no such thing as rich people here. Everyone gets by and seems to be very happy the way things are. I love the family vibe out here, so nice.

I've been doing lots of hat tricks for random little kids and they seem to love it.
I battled 3 five year old girls in dancing today in a small village. I showed them whats up.
I didn't know what they were saying and they were asking me for money so I just started dancing and then we battled. It was very wierd. If I can figure out how to post a video I will because it's quite hilariously ridiculously awesome.

After a 5 hour bike ride today on the mountains we are just about to go out for some drinks and relax. I can't wait to sleep! :o)

We are staying at a hostel called the Yangshuo culture house. It is quite amazing as well. We live here with a family who cooks us breakfast, lunch and dinner. They also teach you taichee, chinese calligraphy, cooking and sooo much more all for the cost of the room. The hostel costs us $10 Canadian per night with all that fancy stuff I mentioned included. Pretty sweet deal!
Plus the owner is AMAZING and he said if I moved to Yangshuo he'd help me start up a business here. Hopefully we can start up some branches of UNITY world wide in the next few years. Now we have potential contacts in the Phillipines, Japan, UK, Yangshuo, Guangzhou and soon to be other parts of China.

Anyways I seem to be rambling but I truly hope you are enjoying my blog as much as I'm enjoying posting it.

peace and UNITE!

- Mikey
LOVING it
in Yangshuo, China

Guilin... Beautiful.

2008-05-28T09:35:00.001-07:00

The best kind of caves to visit.

they are... sleeping. Menu picture. don't worry I didn't order this.

WAHAHAHAHHAA

My sweet new hat

Our Classy hostel closet.

Good to know.

At the top of a Guilin mountain

I made this old lady's day. She was collecting water bottles so I chugged mine and gave it to her. Wierdly awesomely awesome.

Why I love Guilin.

Hey Blog Folk!

Just wanted to share with you my first experiences in China in Guilin for our first 4 days in China. Off to Yanshuo soon. Thank me later for this because the internet here is SOOOO slow and uploading pictures is quite painful. Especially at 1am after climbing mountains all day.

Mock conversation between you and I:
Thanks Mike! (you)
No sweat chum! (me)
I can't wait for your next post! (you)
and I can't wait to share it with you. (me)
(conversation over)

Food... AMAZING.
Sights... UNREAL.
People... LOVE TO STARE.
Lost... ONLY WHEN YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE.

Enjoy the view!

Peace

- Mikeeey

Arrived in Guilin

2008-05-27T05:03:00.000-07:00

Hey Familia,

I have arrived in Guilin, China safe and sound.
Today we saw some surreal mountains that pop up out of nowhere.

Our AC didn't work in our hostel last night so we sweated up a storm all night, but we figured it out for tonight so it shall be all good tomorrow :o)

I will post pictures another day of the mountainy goodness.
Just wanted to throw up a post that I arrived in China.

happy summer tanning!

peace in the east,

- Mikey Mike P.

Woke up WAY too early today!

2008-05-24T16:06:00.000-07:00

Since I couldn't fully sleep in today as planned I am blessing you with another posting
Plus I got to do laundry! woooo to clean clothes!

Today I am going to enter a random break dancing competition in Kyoto, supposed to be a big thing out here. 2 vs 2 competition competing with someone I will meet today, setup by someone I met yesterday.

Oh the world of bboying (break dancing) is so small.
Anyways here are a bunch of pictures
(my very last batch from Japan including Kyoto and Osaka)

Kyoto, beautiful. Osaka... lets just say Im glad we were only here 2 nights, except our hostel was TOP NOTCH!
Anyways less talk more pictures

Peace in the east.UNITE!

= Mikey Mike P.

The massively busy subways of Japan! wooooah!!! I can't breath!

Random children in a budo school training to be ninjas

High flying in Kyoto

Me and random Japanese Jr high school students in the peace pose

Yummy

Twisssssssty tree

Bboying in Kyoto

BUS ride to hell! (8 hours, no sleep over night bus! but we survived)

You get what you pay for!

Johnny doing his turtle shot put!

The perfect fruit of Japan comes at a cost
Canadian price conversio
$100 grapes
$50 melon

Sake served from an Ostrich egg. Yummy.

THE CREW!

Happy face stir stick being watched by predetor

Beautiful temples of Kyoto

Johnny's RAW beef burger *I was too chicken to try this but Johnny survived (stomach of steel)

peaCE!!!!!

Tokyo comes to a close (kyoto and osaka here we come!)

2008-05-20T19:42:00.000-07:00

The truth.

Kung fu at it's finest

The Bitzer family!

Crazy hostel crew and 5 random Japanese girls in subway station

My modo.
Everyone always says Japan is ahead of the times.
This proves my point...

Getting sick is tough but whatever doesn't kill you will make you stronger!!!

On top of the world!

Bboying in Shibuya

After my many adventures in Tokyo unfortunately everything is coming to a close here.
A summary of my adventures...
- Seeings famous sumos
- Eating lots of sushi and funky Japanese food
- Going to a new york house dancing festival
- Meeting crazy hostel folk (UBER crazy... stories for days!)
- Chilling with Maddie's family
- Break dancing on the street
- Getting my first batch of stomach sickness (better now then in China! :o)
- Running through crowds and crowds and crowds of friendly Japanese people
- Getting an extremely small umbrella

Have a great week chums!

peace in the east.

- Mikey Mike P.

Tokyo Pictures of Joy!

2008-05-17T09:30:00.001-07:00

Traditionally brewed Japanese green tea in random ladies house/cafe thingy

Space cars, driven by space men!
SUMO wrestler *we couldn't get in so we clapped as they entered the stadium

The crew: Shaw, Julla, Marlene, Johnny and Mikey
The REAL Pickachu

York University in JAPAN

an action packed day around Japan.

Not too much time to talk, need sleep.
So here are some pictures to do the talking for me :o)

enjoy chums!

ARRIVED SAFELY

2008-05-16T20:23:00.000-07:00

After over 28 hours of travelling I arrived in Japan!!!!

wooo hooo

don't have time right now to post anything too long.

Just wanted to let you know I'm home safe... Wherever that is in Japan.

A few interesting things we did on our first night here when we were SUPER tired:
- ate street noodle vendor
- went to mysterious bar. it was actually called mysterious bar
- got kicked out of 2 bars for not being Japanese
- finally settled down in one last bar until about 430am and when we came out.. DAYLIGHT!

Fun times.

and i'm off.

hope all is well in the universe!

Leaving on a jet plane.

2008-05-14T07:19:00.000-07:00

Leaving on a jet plane... I don't know when I'll be back again.
(don't get too emotional... ITS A SONG ! :o)

Here's a rough idea of where I'm off to:

Japan: Tokyo
Osaka
Kyoto

China:
Guilin
Yangshuo
Kunming
Lijiang
Hong Kong

South Korea: Soeul
Taiwan?

back to China:
Guangzhou
Guangdong
Meizhou
Jiangxi
Hangzhou
Suzhou
Xi'an
Chendu??? (pending earth quake situation)
Dunhuang (in the Gobi Desert!!!)
Jiayuguan
Beijing
Qingdao
Hong Kong

Home?

Just because I am uber excited about this one location I'm going to (Dunhuang), here is a picture of this unreal looking place. IF I make it there somehow please compare this photo below from the Internet to my actual photo. But who knows maybe it is just a mirage but I'm willing to go and find out!

Deep within the Gobi Desert (at the end of the great wall of china) lies this hidden gem which I plan to pluck from the adventures of my tree of life.

...

You're probably wondering...
and don't worry I don't think that made any sense either.

Anyways here's the pic.

Wish me luck!

peace and UNITE!

- Mix master Mike.
(in Canada for 22 more hours)

4 days and I'm off

2008-05-11T12:09:00.000-07:00

I can't wait!...

But unfortunately I'm going to have to. And so are you!
Blog posting may be infrequent but I promise... IT WILL BE AWESOME!

All of our UNITY events for this year are complete.
Wheels will be moving while I'm gone
I also plan to spread UNITY in Asia :o)

Things are looking up.
Bags are packed.
Good to go!

Although I will probably one day get homesick I've been replaced by a fluffy white creature so hopefully if people hug our new dog enough they may think of me... minus the smell.

Anyways, looking forward to keeping you posted on my ZANY adventures in ASIA!

See you all in a few months...
Until then drink some green tea for me.

peace and UNITE!

Mikey in Canada.