We have decided to do Qi Gong in the park everyday. Last night I had coffee and as a result had another terrible nights sleep, I am still not over jet lag, and it really was silly to make it worse. Any way, up at 7.00am  and out to play in the park. Today we had a lovely spot looking out over the lake which is a little piece of tranquillity in this busy city of at least 12 million. We started our lovely routine, which as a stiff old bird, I am finding hard to look elegant. Half way through our set an old lady came towards the back of our group and joined in, then another two. They have asked if they can join us every morning, so we are looking forward to seeing if they do.

Our group of old men were out doing keepy uppy again with a shuttle cock, while the ladies with the fan routine were out with swords today. It is such a fantastic start to the day, of course the weather is good, which helps, but taking time to practice something good is such a wonderful tradition.

Our day in the hospital involved a lecture by our professor of flying needles and watching him in his clinic.  He seems to get the really chronic cases, and has amazing results.  But to get any result requires lots and lots of treatment. Stroke patients are treated daily, some of whom are in patients at the hospital. We were delighted to then spend some time with a different doctor and his staff, who were actually doing things that were very familiar to us! We could say here that the treatment chosen, we would have chosen. It involved moxa, the only difference being that the moxa was left to burn the skin. (Do not worry I will not try this at home). It seems that many of the senior doctors have developed completely their own styles, all however routed in classic theory.

Then we were asked if we would like to experience a foot massage, I am not talking reflexology, this was a doctor standing on your back to massage it. Muggins here and here pals decided it was a good idea, unfortunately the poor young doctor had not anticipated my shot back, he looked shattered afterwards! So was I, I think moving however many tons of earth in the summer has finished it off! 

This evening we spent it doing a bit of local shopping and had a little tea occasion in a tea emporium. Then I am sorry to say we went to a Haagen- Dazs and had ice cream.

Got my pants back from the laundry, nicely ironed..... 

Having had beer last night and getting home late, it made sense to get up early having had a poor nights sleep to do Qi Gong in the park. Hence my reference in the title( not a chinese version of a drunken music festival held in Scotland every year).

We left early and went to a park near by with a lake and lovely view of a hill with a pagoda on the top of it. The park was full of people, mostly  octogenarian, doing their daily practices.

Picture walking through a park with different secluded but public areas with various groups of friends or individuals going through their daily practices. If you want to enjoy good health all I say is follow their example, eat less and do Tai Qi or Qi Gong, these people are remarkable.

Others had badminton rackets playing keepy uppy in groups, some octogenarian men were keeping football keepy uppy with a shuttle cock, astounding. There was no competition, just gentle movement subtle exercise improving vitality and flexibility. Others were going through a cracking fan routine, they were doing Tai qi type moves and cracking their fans out at the end of some of the moves, these old ladies had a cassette player with traditional music on in the back ground. There was a small pagoda with a man on it going through his sword routine, I think he would be arrested in the UK. Danny our lovely group leader showed us a routine which we would like to do every morning.  This aspect of things I intend to continue and practice at home....look out Tyninghame beach. Lily the dog will just have to wait for me.  

The hospital remains a culture shock for me, it is so different I don't know where to begin....

Putting photos on my blog also remains a mystery, I put some on but notice they have been blocked, so wonder if I shouldn't try any more. 

Just had a coffee at Starbucks, pathetic I know.

Chop sticks are now second nature and I love the tea we are getting. Food continues to be good, but we won't be eating in the restaurant next door where a goat was slaughtered yesterday, the head is still there on the street. Fresh though...There is also a very smelly fruit thing for sale, it smells completely rotten but seems to go down well with the locals. 

Took my washing to a  Chinese laundry today, was dismayed when they shook out the contents in front of everyone, must remember to take clean pants to the laundry next time...oh the shame of it...

Today we spent time with Dr Dehui Fan who is an expert in spinal manipulation and acupuncture, (who incidentally is the very same person who manipulated my shoulder, more of that later when I manage to get the video). He has practised all his life and started to learn tui na (manipulation) from his Grand Father when he was 5 years old.  He is now clearly a master at what he does and is highly sort after as a physician. In many ways we are honoured to be given as much time as we have had with him. Although he works with his hands and can diagnose disc herniation and compression etc with his hands, the hospital also uses MRI scans to corroborate diagnosis and to ensure he is working correctly.  Many of these patient will be in-patients and will be treated daily to realign the spine to relieve nerve pressure.  Although this is not something that we are learning to do it has made me think about using osteopathic manipulation and acupuncture in conjunction, as these patients will also receive acupuncture and moxabustion to alleviate pain and to remove stagnation and nourish qi, all of which we all do in our clinics. However alongside this we are learning and observing techniques that are not really found in general practice in the UK. Flying needles being one.....its all in the name.....don't worry I won't be doing this at home unless I am at a party( only joking). The other being fire needling...again it is all in the name...

We have walked through the central park and are out to take tea tonight.  I also need to think about a laundry, but thats not really very exciting but goes to show that life continues to have it's mundane aspects.

It is still around the 30c mark plus and continues to be quite humid. Hence the need for a laundry....

No onesies spotted but I have enjoyed the comments regrading the UK onesie phenomena. 

Still working out how to get photos on this site, most frustrated by technology..

Laters J