I was in China for the first time
this summer. I am not sure if I would
like to go back soon, but seeing China made me think about a different part of
the world during my whole trip. I could
not help but think of the choices people make in life. I went to three cities in China, Beijing,
Xi’an and Shanghai.
I remember
that the first morning that I arrived in China, I felt a strange energy of
constriction. Not because I knew about
the country. It was the feeling that
something is not right. The same feeling
continued even after we arrived at our five star hotel, a Marriott and even after
I entered my room which was one of the best that I have stayed among the
hundreds of hotel rooms I have stayed in.
In the middle of the evening I woke up.
I looked out my wide window. My
room had a wide view of that part of the
city. There were no cars in the wide
boulevard of a city of millions. I felt
a strange chill down my spine. The
energy of Beijing made me uneasy during the three days that I was there. With its high rises, with the modern look,
Beijing looked like a developing city. Still there was something that was
making me uneasy. Something hard to
describe, yet very real.
Sometimes
you move into an apartment and although the location might be great, although
the apartment may be in great condition, you can never feel comfortable in
it. It happens with shops and offices as
well. Some shops in a certain location never have good business while the shop
next door might be flocking with customers.
The problem may be the land the building is on and sometimes the problem
is the people who owned or used to live in the building. The energy of past troubles, the energy of
the old occupants might still be there, affecting the people who live or work
there now. Customers might keep away
because our subconscious, our energy knows that there is a problem there. And we keep away. Beijing had a similar effect on me. It was as if I was on my toes trying to keep
away from trouble. The five star hotels,
the high rise buildings, the clean look of the main boulevards were not enough
for me to ignore the feeling. In Xi’an
and Shanghai the feeling did not disappear, however, it was definitely
strongest in Beijing.
2012 is the
“Year of China in Turkey” to honour the
40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Turkey and
China. The year 2013 will be the “Year of Turkey in China.” As some of the might remember because of my
connection with Japan, with different foundations and groups in Japan as well
as my connection with Lions Clubs in Japan, I had taken part in various
organisations and events to honour the “Year of Japan in Turkey” in 2010. Together with Fethiye Lions Clubs, which I am
a member of, and Lions Clubs International Turkish Council we had organised
concerts and specials events in Fethiye, İstanbul and İzmir. Two years later Turkey is increasing its
connections with another country, China this time. And I do not feel prepared. Visiting China in this special year was an
opportunity for me to start to learn about this country and its people
personally.
Visiting Shanghai and seeing the city from the Shanghai Tower, Oriental
Pearl Radio & TV Tower as it is formally called, was an experience that
will stay with me forever. The Tower was
completed in 1994 and until 2007 it was the tallest structure in China. It is 468 metres high. I had the chance to have dinner at the
revolving restaurant which is at the 267 metre level. The open buffet restaurant had food from all
parts of the world. I found myself drawn
to the Japanese buffet again. The miso soup was excellent. So were the sushi. The restaurant was revolving quite fast. If you were standing of the side that was
revolving and if you took more than a few seconds you would find your table
getting away from you. However, apart
from that it felt very comfortable.
Also, as the restaurant was revolving and the buffets at the center were
stable and stationary, I would need to walk different distances to reach the
various parts of the dinner buffet. The
big circular restaurant was quite packed and it is worth the money and the
effort. If I went to Shanghai away, I
probably will like to repeat the experience.
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The antenna of the Oriental Pearl Tower which adds 118 metres to the
structure is used to broadcast radio and TV programs. And with this antenna,
the Tower reaches its height of 468 metres.
At the 90th metre of the Tower, there is another observatory level, one of
the fifteen in the Tower. At that
level there is a glass deck that you can
walk on and see the city under you as well as out. I tired to get on that glass bottom balcony
and I have to admit my head started to spin, chills –again- went down my spine,
my stomach tightened. I only could lie
down on the glass floor. I could not
walk to the glass side of this glass deck.
There were some who could do it.
However, among the hundreds of people who were there, only very few
could do it. It is strange how our body stops us from doing this that our mind
finds safe and reasonable, how our body literally stops us from something our
heart wants. Our deep rooted reflexes
unexpectedly kick in.
Shanghai with its hundreds of high-rises and skyscrapers made me forget
that I was in China instantly. I had
been in New York and Tokyo many times.
These two cities were symbols of modern age to me, may be Tokyo even
more. I had not been to Dubai, so I might
be missing out on another important benchmark.
I had been to the capital of South Korea Seoul before seeing China. The city had seemed quite modern. Going to Seoul again after seeing Shanghai,
everything looked a bit dull, not high-enough.
After seeing Shanghai it is hard
to be impressed by another city. With
this colourful city of continuous constructions that seem to be growing higher
every day, China has certainly created an impressive image in Shanghai. Of course to be able to know the real China
with its 1,3 billion people and 9,6 million square kilometres, one might need
to travel a much different path...
...
Before I started to write this
week’s piece, I chose a card from the “Saints & Angels” Card Deck of Doreen
Virtue with the intention of asking for support for all those who will read
it. The message came from St. Agnes of Rome and her message was
“Don’t Compromise”. The main message
translates as “The need to take a stand in favour of our truth and
self-esteem.” This does not mean to
fight with those who do not agree with us, but rather first to try to make
others see and understand our point of view peacefully. However, if those efforts do not work, still
to make sure that we stay with our beliefs and values and not to compromise as
the main message says. This surely is
not an easy path, but maybe is the only one that will make us truly peaceful
and happy even if it is difficult. You
may invite St. Agnes of Rome to support you to live with your beliefs whenever
you feel the need. May this energy
support us during this week.
With best wishes,
Zeynep
_______________
Quote of the Week:
“Birth and death are not two different states, but they are different
aspects of the same state."
Gandhi
Affirmation of the Week:
From Louise L. Hay: “I know that
old, negative patterns no longer limit me.
I let them go with ease.”
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