A walk in the park...

After we take Caleb to preschool, Susanna and I often go for a walk in the park along the river. There is always quite a variety of activities going on, and it's a great place to observe culture. Friday morning was gorgeous--brilliant sunshine and cool breezes, thanks to the passing of rainy season. So I thought I'd take my camera along and let you join us on our walk... (I've included links of video clips if you're curious.)

First stop we listened to the beautiful refrain that this gentleman was playing on his flute. It was a cheerful melody that reflected the peace of the morning. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5715798710006929428

Next we passed the street sweepers and a lady washing her laundry in the river--and I was complaining about not having a dryer!

Not much farther we passed through what I call the bird sanctuary. Every day, some men bring cages of birds down to the park and hang them in the trees. I'm not sure if they're selling the birds or what, but it sure does add some lovely natural music to the riverside. It sounds like we're in the middle of a forest as we pass by. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2276035614143735165

After the birds began the tai chi--several different groups of people (mostly ladies) doing many different kinds of exercise to traditional Asian music. The first group we passed Friday was moving gracefully with swords--their music wasn't on yet, so I think they were just doing their warmup while they waited for everyone to arrive.

The next group doing tai chi had clackers of some sort and were a bit more lively. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-28336946438266115

After they finished the clacking routine, they took a short break, said hello to Susanna of course, and switched to fancy, bright red cloths for their next routine. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4717386318618679586

Then came a smaller group of ladies using rings with their tai chi exercise. This was a slower paced routine, and it seemed as if the lady in the red and black was giving lessons to the other ladies. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1354945694268332913

The final group we passed was the largest and liveliest. Their routine was less like tai chi and more like dancing--line dancing to be exact. It perhaps could have even passed for the electric slide... =) http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4482065622322684292

Not everyone enjoys group exercises, however, such as these ladies across the river. They preferred solitude and sunshine. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5916992137313876620

There were other lone exercisers all along the way--people walking, jogging, doing situps, pushups, jumping, swinging their arms--you name it and someone was probably doing it. I think it's great that they don't need privacy or a gym to do their workout--they just go outside and get to it.

And of course, interspersed throughout the park were people of all ages involved a number of other activities--heated badminton matches, children playing, ladies knitting, groups of men squatting along the sidewalk chatting, people playing mahjong, and more.

This man was honing his skills with this fancy type of yo-yoing. Pretty interesting to watch; he would balance the orange gadget on the string, swing it around, throw it into the air, and catch it again with the string. As you can see, there are a wide variety of hobbies around here!

Of all the that we saw on our walk Friday, the image that remains in my mind above all else is the face of this lady with her grandchild. I chatted with her a bit, exchanging pleasantries and letting our babies greet one another. I couldn't help but wonder as I looked into her weathered face, what has her life been like? What has she seen, what has she been through, what does she think and believe? I am looking forward with great anticipation to the day when I can really talk to and get to know precious people like these. What a privilege it will be to share life with them. But for now, until I can communicate and understand more, I will just enjoy observing as I take my walk in the park.