Ulysses Program - Review Program in Tarry Town New York

During the review program, all teams - Laos, China, Mexico, Uganda, Ethiopia and India were sharing our team story, not only with other Ulysses teams and facilitators, but also with members of US leadership team and US extended leaderhip team.

During the program, we have been debriefed for Leadership, Diversity and Sustainability obtained during the projects. A lot of discussions on those topics based on our experience taken place during the week.

Further, the outcome of Ulysses journey is to gain increasing clarity of personal leadership vision. All of ys have all been working on our personal leadership challenge since the Foundation Programme. At the Review Programme we also worked on the next version of our Personal Leadership Vision which were shared at the end of the Programme.For Farewell Dinner, we have the dinner on a yacht which sailed in the Hudson River. At this time we really had fun time with all the participants and the coaches.
With the end of the Review Program, the Ulysses Program was officially adjourned.

Finalization of the Project in Beijing

After finalization of reports in Fuyang and Hefei including carrying out workshops for SC Hefei, Fuyang, NGO's, Village Committee and Government Official, we headed to Beijing to discuss our reports with SC Country Director, Wyndham James who just replaced Kate Wedgwood as Country Director.

We addressed all issues and recommendations raised during our projects to him. The draft reports and workshop materials have been provided to him and he reviewed them entirely and if he has no any comments the reports were considered finalised.

Workshop for SC Hefei

At the end Kevin and I have finalised our report on the project in Hefei. As such, we needed to carry out a worshop for SC staff and NGO supported by SC. Based on our findings during the projects in Hefei we noted that the main issues for two NGOs supported by SC were that fund raising and governance. As such, we carried out a workshop for Fund Rainsing and Corporate Governance. Approximately 16 persons from SC and NGOs attended the workshop. In this workshop Kevin and I decided to wear the suit since we brought the suit but we never wore it during the project. We needed to wear the suit at least once otherwise we carried it for nothing.

Donation of a TV to Happy Family Club

After visiting several Happy Family Clubs around Fuyang, Kevin and I noted that there is one HFC which has no TV. Our discussions with the kids prevailed that they would like to have TV so that they can watch cartoon video or sing via karaoke. The old TV set had been broken after being used for 6 years. As such, Kevin and I decided to donate a TV set for this HFC.

The kids are happy since they can view the cartoon video now in the club. They were together watching the Disneys cartoon video.

Shexian - Memorial Archways (Paifang)

Shexian County, formerly known as Huizhou, is located at the southern foot of Mt. Huangshan, in the upper reaches of the Xin'an River, surrounded by mountains and streams. Ever since Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Shexian has outgrown other areas in Southeast China in economic and cultural development, making it the birthplace of the unique Huizhou Culture, which is represented by the Xin'an painting, Huizhou architecture, and Xin'an medicine. The influence of the Huizhou Culture and the prosperity of the area have earned Shexian County the title of "Southwest Zou-Lu." Zou-Lu is the hometown of Confucius and Mencius, meaning that Shexian is the home of art and culture in the southwestern China. Indeed, Shexian County has produced many artists, philosophers and men of letters, great educator Tao Xingzhi and master painter Huang Binhong are just two examples. Shexian County has many well-preserved courtyards, gardens, pagodas and bridges, once owned by wealthy salt merchants and most of these were built during Ming and Qing Dynasties, some were constructed as early as Song Dynasty. These historical sites are described as "gems of ancient Chinese architecture." In particular, the elegantly constructed ancient residential houses, ancestral temples and memorial archways are unique in China. Experts refer to them as "the three wonders of ancient architecture." The most famous ones are: Tangyue Archways, Xuguo Archway, Doushan Street and Yuliang Dam. The arches acknowledge the political career, filial piety, chastity and charity of a successful local family.

Maihuayu Village, located on the south bank of the Xin'an River, is known as the home of Huizhou potted horticulture. Most villagers here are expert gardeners specializing in raising pretty bonsai. That is why Shexian is regarded as one of the places where the art of miniature landscape originated. Shexian also produces excellent inkslabs. The art of inkstone making has been famous for over 800 years. "The She Inkslab" is among the best in China. Shexian has two nicknames: "Hometown of Archways" for the thousands of arches scattered in the county, and "Hometown of Tea" for the production of high quality tea in large quantity. In fact, Shexian County is a perfect place to examine the culture of ancient China's feudal society.

Shexian County is home for the descendants of a group of people who played a key role in the Chinese economy 400 years ago. Today, the people of southern Anhui, province are mostly farmers, but from the fourteenth to seventeenth centuries, their forefathers were the wealthy merchants of Huizhou, famous the length and breadth of China for their commercial acumen and integrity. They used their money to build large family houses, with whitewashed exteriors and beautiful wood interiors. The distinctive features of these houses are a result of social and environmental factors and are attempts to deal with the weather, earthquakes and the risk of attach by bandits. May of these houses still remain, sometimes a little run down, but still a testament to the enterprise of the Huizhou traders.

(Source: Huangshantravel.net and DK - China)

Tunxi - Lao Jie

At the foot of the Mt. Huangshan, in the bend of Xin'an River, lies the beautiful mountain town called “Tunxi” or “Huangshan City”. The "Tunxi Ancient Street" or “Lao Jie” is located in the center of Tunxi District. The street starts in the west at Zhenhai Bridge, a stone arch bridge built during the Ming Dynasty, and ends in the east at the "Memorial Archway." Its total length is about 1.5km and the sides of the street are laid with slab stones. There are hundreds of old but well preserved rows of shops, evoking a bygone era in buildings that are simple and elegant. It is a commercial street that is only for pedestrians. The merchants from the Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Fujian provinces jostle each other in a crowd that resembles the picture "The Spring Festival along the River". An ancient Western-European architect once visited the old street and said that he had found "The Eastern Ancient Rome."

First built over 700 years ago, during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the street is flanked by some buildings from this period. Emperor Huizong (1082-1135) moved his seat of government to Lin'an (now is Hangzhou), when many architects and workmen were conscripted to construct the new capital. After returning to their hometown, they imitated the structural style to build architecture along the street, so Tunxi Ancient Street was formed. At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), a merchant in Anhui invested money to build 47 stores so as to attract businessmen, which contributed to the communication of the street with outside world. Gradually it developed into the distribution center for materials in and out of Anhui in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), in particular to Huizhou. The shops, workshops and residences have continued to maintain the characteristics and operational layout of ancient stores such as "shop in the front and workshop or house in the back". Most of the buildings are only three stories high, stone-based and brick-laid. They are decorated with small green tiles, wood carvings in the Hui style, ancient shop signs, and red-lacquered with double eaves on the roofs. Once a professor from America was amazed by the street and he said he had found an Oriental Ancient Rome. Nowadays the street is also used as a natural studio for films and TV series.

The street is simple and elegant, magnificent and clean. The pavement is 5 to 8 meters wide with a total length of 1,273 meters (about 1,392 yards), of which 895 meters (about 979 yards), laid with large red flagstones. Whether you are wandering along the old bridge, visiting the fish beside the river, finding shoots of bamboo on the slope, or standing under a tree and listening to the birds whistle, it is easy to rest and attain mental tranquility by getting back to the nature.

Shops and stalls sell an interesting mix of antiques and knick-knacks including ink stones, brushes, local teas, Mao badges and advertising posters from the 30s. There are also many small food vendors and some excellent dumpling restaurants. The shop names in the ancient street have a lot of culture meanings, which shows that the merchants in Huizhou are scholar-merchants. Many of these shops carry more than a hundred years of history, such as "Tongderen" (Medicine Shop), "Tonghe" (Steelyard Store), and "Chengdexin" (Sauce and Pickle Shop). These stores continue to use the same methods of production, display, and operation as they did in ancient times. Curios and knick-knacks including inkstones, brushes, local teas, and Mao badges can also be found while other buildings also serve as restaurants. It is a paradise for tourists to buy souvenirs rich in Chinese culture with comparatively lower prices and is a must-see when you are traveling in Huangshan City.

There are two well-known museums in the street. One is the Tunxi Museum with a display of furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties on the first floor and an exhibition of calligraphy, paintings and china upstairs. The other is Wancuilou, a four-storey structure which is the first private museum of ancient architectural style. Famous ink stones and the four treasures of study, writing brushes, ink sticks, ink slabs and paper are displayed or for sale on the first floor. Here you can find the biggest inkstone weighing more than 12,500 kilograms (about 27,558 pounds). Cultural relics and other artworks collected by the owner of the museum are exhibited on the second floor.

(Source: DK - China, Wikipedia and travelchinaguide.com)

In Indonesia, the situation of the street is comparable with Pecinan Jakarta at Pancoran West Jakarta or Pasar Baru.

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

Huangshan is thought to be one of the most beautiful and breathtaking parts of China, the startling, cloud cloaked peaks of Huangshan have for centuries been celebrated by poets and painters. Even if the name is not instantly familiar, most people will have seen the iconic images of umbrella trees and sheer rock faces portrayed in Chinese paintings, for which the Yellow Maintain’s spirit is the muse. In return, painters and poets bestowed names of the dramatic peaks such as None Dragons, Taoist Priest and Fairy Capital.

Although the main peak is under 1,900m, the 70 sheer rock cliffs are spectacular to hike, and the winding concrete steps are usually very crowded. The group of mountains has 72 peaks, many of them unexplored and not reachable by regular travelers. Regardless, what is accessible will etch an unforgettable and dramatic image in your memory.

Even when shrouded in mist as is the norm, the scenery of precipitous peaks, bamboo groves, and ancient twisted pines is unusually beautiful. Accommodation is available in pretty Wenquan or nearby Tangkao. Consider spending a night at the top for spectacular, but not solitary, sunsets and sunrises.

In clear weather, the rugged mountains jut out of fluffy white clouds that settler as a halo around the peaks. Trees and shrubs grow from impossible crevices and little streams and brooks carve their paths through the rocky surface.

Even on a misty day (which is the one you are more likely to witness) when vapor obscures the views, the eerie smoke that seems to swirl around the trees and mountains adds an enchanting air of mystery and magic.

The best time to visit the mountain range is early in the morning and many people camp out among the peaks to be sure to witness the sunrise. Other luckier travelers will have secured one of the sought-after rooms in one of the hotels at the top of the range.

For those who are not such early risers and who are not staying at the top of the mountains, cable cars are available in certain areas.

There is always the option for the more energetic tourists to climb the steps. Most of the cable car ports have an additional pathway for those who choose to walk. However, through a rough calculation there are 30,000 almost vertical steps to the top, an endeavor in itself even on the way down.

While you huff and puff your way along the five kilometer (the eastern route) trek nimble porters trot up and down the mountain carrying their loads on bamboo sticks balanced over their shoulders with practiced ease. The western route (9 miles/15 km) is up to twice that. Some hikers choose to take the eastern route up and the western route down. Two cable cars allow you to bypass much of the walking, but the line ups are usually very long.

If it all gets too much, there are even porters ready to crate tiring tourists the rest of the way, however, with the steep incline this would be the far more petrifying option.

Once at the top you can idle your time away along the craggy paths, take in the breathtaking scenery and even have a few romantic moments.

With a trip to Huangshan, you will be able to share an understanding with those ancient artists who in their time were so inspired by the vision of Huangshan, perhaps in turn inspiring who now visit.

Source: (In the high land of poets by Jenny Hammond, Shanghai Daily Monday 30 July 2007 and DK – China).