8/2/2008Today is the day after the eclipse. Wow, I'm still on the eclipse high.
We traveled to Dunhuang, China, a jewel in the desert. This city is only about 160,000 in population, but has the most vibrant atmosphere. Founded around the only oasis for hundreds of kilometers, in ancient times, if a caravan missed this oasis, they died.
The hotel here reminded me of a spiritual resort in Santa Fe. I will be back. When we arrived in Dunhuang, we visited the oasis, where I road a camel, slid down a sand dune and visited a pageant after dinner.
I met Khati on the 2005 Galapagos Eclipse Tour and traveled with her on the add-on tour to Machu Piccu.
Lynn is a friend I first met at the 2001 African Eclipse.
The pageant, a combination of dancing and acrobatics, tells the story of a goddess who was injured by a dragon (warlord), saved by a shepherd, married the shepherd with whom she had a daughter. After a burning of the village by the same dragon, the goddess gave her life to save the village. A famine followed and the daughter went on a quest to get holy water to bring wealth back to the land. The dragon again attacked just as she was to pour the water on the land, instead she drank the water, then spilled her blood on the land and brought back wealth and happiness back to the land. This story is apparently told in painting at the Mogao grottoes near the Oasis.
More tomorrow. Leticia
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