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DAY TO DAY ITINERARY
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~ China & Tibet ~
May 19 to June 4, 2006
Qigong & Tai Chi Dream Vacation
Join us, for an uncommon
journey to the most sacred and spectacular sites in Asia.
Learn unique styles of Qigong for Self Healing, Stress
Release, and Anti-Ageing
1) HIGHLIGHTS
Join us, for an uncommon journey to
the most sacred and spectacular sites in Asia.
Learn unique styles of Qigong for
Self Healing, Stress Release, and Anti-Ageing
● Enjoy the China that lays off
the beaten path, its ancient spiritual centers set in the serene and
quiet beauty of nature.
●
Practice daily Tai Chi and Qigong in ancient sacred settings.
Learn unique styles of Qigong, Internal Alchemy and Self Healing
techniques from trip leader, Mark Johnson who has over 35 years
experience as a master instructor. (Often regarded as one of the
highlights of the trip)
● Benefit from a program designed by experienced
teachers, to support your personal practice and goals.
● Explore
Hua Shan Mountain (one of the 5 most sacred mountains in China), its
temples, shrines, caves of hermit monks, and incredible panoramic
vistas.
● Visit Xian, the ancient walled capitol of China
and home to the famous Terra-Cotta Army and archeological
interpretive center.
● Stay overnight as guests of the Daoists at a 1,000
year old monastery on sacred Mount Qing Shen Shan near Chengdu.
● Explore Tibet, the “Roof-top of the World” for 4
magical days: tour Potala Palace, Drepung, Sera and Jorkang
Monasteries, Norbulinka Park, Tibetan Traditional Hospital, 1,000 year
old Barkor Bazaar in the heart of Lhasa
● Visit a Tibetan family as guests in their home,
have butter tea with them and learn about
Tibetan customs
and their daily life.
● Visit unique Giant Panda Research Center, Buddhist
Temples, Chinese Herb Markets, and more...
DAY TO DAY ITINERARY
Day 1:
May 19, Friday Travel Day - Depart from San
Francisco at 2:20 pm Cross the International
Date Line We will learn Qigong Techniques for Travelers before
departure and have a "recovery from jet lag" session after we arrive.
Day 2:
May 20 - Saturday, Arrive in Xian, the ancient walled city and
capitol of China. Situated at the end of the famous Silk Road, Xian was
Marco Polo’s destination and will be our first stop in China. We will
stay at the Bell Tower Hotel, in the center of Xian, near the Bell
Tower, Drum Tower and famous Muslim Bazaar. Every evening, there
will be an opportunity for our group to gather and discuss the lessons
and activities of the day.
Day 3:
May 21 – Terra Cotta Warriors, Mount HuaShan; Jade Spring
Monastery: In the early morning, we will meet for optional morning
Qigong Sessions with Mark which include instruction in early Morning
exercises, Daoist Internal Alchemy and Eight Extra Meridian
Qigong/Taiji. After a delicious breakfast buffet we will take a scenic
drive to sacred Mount Hua Shan, along the way we will visit the
incredible site where 16,000 Terra Cotta Warriors from the Qin Dynasty
were unearthed. In Huashan we will meet the Daoist and take a guided
tour of Jade Spring Monastery.
Day 4: May 22 – Hua
Shan: After morning Qigong and a leisurely breakfast we will take a
cable car half way up Hua Shan, one of China’s sacred Daoist
mountains. At 7,000 feet, its majestic peaks rise above the clouds.
We will visit many temples and shrines as we climb the stone steps to
our temple guest house near the top of the mountain. (Those
uncomfortable with heights and primitive conditions may stay at a hotel
in town) Evening meditation on top of the mountain as we watch the sun
setting beneath the “cloud sea” will be followed by a family style meal
shared with the Daoist.
Day 5: May 23 – Hua Shan; Eight Immortals Temple: Morning
will provide free time to explore the mountain or view the sunrise above
the cloud sea. After breakfast, we will take the scenic cable car down
and pass the bazaar at the foot of the mountain on our way back to our
bus. Drive to Xian and visit Eight Immortal Temple with opportunity for
shopping at the outdoor bazaar where farmers sell Han Dynasty antiques.
Evening dinner will be a banquet of the local specialty, Jiaoza
dumplings, in dozens of shapes and flavors followed by delicious flaming
hot pot soup. Stay at Bell Tower Hotel
Day 6:
May 24 - Chengdu; Qingyang Temple: Morning Qigong in the
central town square, followed by flight to Chengdu. We will take a van
from the airport to our hotel. After settling into our comfortable
accommodations we will have free time to explore the area. In the
afternoon we will visit the Daoist at famous Qingyang (Green Sheep)
Temple and tour the printing house with over 10,000 ancient, hand carved
wood blocks still used to print the Daoist Canon. Dinner will be a
Banquet of famous Sichuan cuisine.
Day 7:
May 25 - Giant Panda Research Base: After breakfast, we will
take a scenic drive to the spacious bamboo forest park where the Giant
Panda Breeding Grounds and Research Facility is located. We will have
the opportunity to see both Giant Pandas and the smaller Red Pandas and
their adorable babies in their natural habitat and learn about this
beautiful and amazing endangered species. Our group may have the rare
opportunity to actually hold baby pandas. (This experience delighted our
group in 2005) In the afternoon there will be free time in Chengdu or
for those interested in fine food, an opportunity to attend famous
Sichuan Culinary Arts Academy to learn techniques of preparing delicious
world famous Sichuan cuisine. In the evening we will visit the Sichuan
Opera famous for its amazing performances, including the incredible mask
changing show.
Days 8:
May 26 - Qingcheng Mountain; Scenic Cable Car Ride; Ferry on Yuecheng
Lake Tianshidong Temple: After lunch we will arrive at Qingcheng
Shan, one of the sacred Taoist mountains and one of the most beautiful
areas in China. Next we will slowly float across calm and beautiful
Yuecheng Lake on a picturesque ferry and then ride the cable car to the
top of the mountain enjoying scenic views of the forested slopes. We
will follow a picturesque trail flanked by ancient pines leading to
Tianshidong Temple (the Cave of the Heavenly Master). We will enjoy a
delicious welcome dinner, featuring special delicacies, like gingko seed
soup, the “five famous foods of Qingsheng Mountain” and the best steamed
buns in China. We will spend the night in the temple guesthouse under
the protective branches of an ancient giant ginkgo tree planted over a
thousand years ago, by the founder of the Northern School of Taoism,
Master Zhang-Daoling. Evening discussion.
Day 9:
May 27- Day on Qingchen Mountain. In the morning we will enjoy
practicing Qigong in the beautiful outdoor practice area built into the
side of the mountain. Special Chinese Calligraphy classes taught by
Mark are always a highlight of our trips. We will meet in the ancient
temple courtyard with our brushes and ink. Even local Chinese have
joined our classes.
Day 10:
May 28 – Ancient Temples; return to Chengdu: Morning Qigong
in Tianshidong courtyard, and breakfast in temple dining room. Then we
are on our way to enjoy a scenic walk and visit several ancient temples
as we leisurely journey to the foot of the mountain. In the evening we
will return to Chengdu.
Day 11:
May 29 - Lhasa, Tibet: In the morning we will fly to Lhasa, the
capital city of Tibet, one of the most spectacular places on earth. At
an altitude of over 12,000 feet above sea level with beautiful mountains
that stretch to the horizon on one side and the blue water of the Lhasa
River with picturesque Yak-skin boats navigating in it on the other. We
will travel to our Tibetan style hotel located in the heart of Lhasa
near the Barkor, and Jorkang Temple and settle into our accommodations.
After acclimating to the climate of Lahsa, we will take a leisurely
excursion to explore the local area. After dinner, our evening
discussion group will continue.
Day 12:
May 30 - Jorkang Temple, Barkhor Street Market, Norbulinka Park,
- After morning Meditation and Qigong in the courtyard we will have a
delicious breakfast at our hotel. After breakfast we will visit 1,300
year old Jorkang Temple, considered the holiest temple in Tibet. The
temple is notable for its roof of solid gold and interior labyrinth of
shrines, halls and galleries, and the many pilgrims who continually
visit this holiest sight of Tibetan Buddhism. Outside the temple is the
famous Barkhor Street Market, a commercial hub of the Himalayas for
1,000 years, and an opportunity for some extraordinary international
shopping and amazing bargains on handcrafts from Tibet, China, India
Nepal. In the afternoon we will visit the beautiful Norbulinka Park,
the former Summer Palace of the Dalai Lama. In the evening we will
enjoy a special Banquet of Tibetan food with Tibetan Dancing shows
Day 13: May 31 - Potala
Palace, Sera Monastery - After morning Meditation and Qigong and
breakfast at the hotel, we will be off to visit the Potala, one of the
architectural wonders of the world. Dating from the 17th century, it is
363 feet high, and its 1000 rooms cover 102 acres. We will also visit
the Tibetan Carpet Factory, where the weaving process is still carried
out all by hand on huge vertical looms. We will visit the Sera
Monastery in the afternoon, if we are fortunate we will observe the
monks debating Buddhism in Sera monastery.. Dinner followed by evening
discussion.
Day 14:
June 1 - Yamdrok Lake, Visit a Tibetan Family in Their Home, Ride
Yaks - Day trip to beautiful, deep turquoise blue, Yamdrok Lake, one
of Tibet’s 4 sacred lakes. Along the way we will travel over Kambala
Pass, view a glacier and have the opportunity to ride Yaks. A highlight
will be visiting a Tibetan family in their home,
have butter tea with them as their guests and
learn about Tibetan customs
and their daily life.
Day 15: June 2- Early
morning Qigong followed by free time to explore Lhasa.
Optional afternoon tour of the
Tibetan Traditional Hospital to learn and explore the unique Tibetan
ways of keeping healthy. Tibetan medical science is an arcane field
whose theories are influenced by Indian and Chinese medicine and are
backed up by Tantric texts. Farewell Banquet
Day 16:
June 3 - Early morning departure for Chengdu. After setting back in to
our hotel we will have free time all afternoon to explore Chengdu, do a
bit of shopping and prepare for our departure to the US in the morning.
We will have a Farewell Banquet followed by our last evening of
discussion and sharing.
Day 17:
June 4 - Chengdu, We will depart for the USA at 1:45 pm. and arrive in
San Francisco 2:10 pm the same day after crossing the International
Dateline.
Daily Classes in Qigong, Tai Chi,
Internal Alchemy and Self Healing Techniques
(optional
The daily Qigong sessions lead by Mark Johnson include:
Five Elements Qigong, Daoist Internal Alchemy,
Integrating our Physical, Meridian and Auric Bodies.
The daily Qigong sessions lead by
Rebecca Kali include: Medical Qigong for Healing Yourself and
Others, Bua Duann Gin, (one of the oldest forms of Qigong),
Daoist Meditation, Qigong for Arthritis, Chronic Pain
and Chronic Fatigue, Qigong for Detoxification and Addictive Disorders,
and Daoist Internal Alchemy.
*************************************************************
3) TRIP
LEADERS
Mark Johnson
Qigong (Chi Kung) healer and Tai Chi
instructor, started his Chinese studies in 1970 when he joined the I
Ching scholar, Khigh Dhiegh at the Taoist Sanctuary in Los Angeles.
During his 4 year stay at the Sanctuary, he studied the I Ching, Taoism,
Feng Shui, Yang style Tai Ji Chuan and the Chinese language.
In 1974 Mark relocated to Taiwan to
study acupuncture. While in residence there, he studied with several
famous Taoist Masters. After a year in Taiwan, Mark returned to Malibu,
CA where he continued his Taoist training for 8 more years. During that
time, he learned 3 Taoist styles of Qigong/Tai Chi, and the 8 Treasures.
He also studied advanced I Ching, Feng Shui, and enhanced his natural
healing abilities.
In 1982, Mark taught Tai Chi to
Francis Ford Coppola and the cast and crew of the movie "The Outsiders"
.While with them, his Qigong healing abilities were recognized so he was
asked to return to do healing for the cast and crew of "Rumble Fish".
Mark's students included: Tom Cruise, Nicolas Cage, Patrick Swayze,
Ralph Macchio, Mickey Rourke, and many others.
Since 1983, Mark has founded
Integral Tao Centers in Tulsa, OK, Taos, New Mexico, New York,
Vancouver, Canada and in Cuba. He now resides and teaches in the Sonoma,
CA area. He has been teaching throughout North America for nearly 35
years in a variety of formats: private sessions, on-going community
classes, weekend and week long seminars and workshops. He is a certified
Tai Chi tournament judge and has worked over 50 tournaments in the past
13 years. He has produced three video's: "Tai Chi for Healing", "Tai Chi
for Women" and "Tai Chi for Seniors" which is the highest selling Tai
Chi video in the country. (over 550,000 so far!)
He is one of the founders of the
National Qigong Association. He lives in Marin County, and is the proud
father of his daughter Sita. In his "spare time" he is a pilot and
amateur astronomer.
Rebecca Kali
Rebecca Kali is the founder and
director of the International Qigong Alliance, former Executive Director
of the National Qigong Association; and founder and owner of Dao of
Well-Being™. She has practiced meditation and energy-work for over 40
years and led Qigong and Daoist sacred journey tours to China since
2000. Her practice of Qigong, which began as a means of recovery after
an auto accident, has led to the development of a Qigong program to help
those with chronic pain and autoimmune disorders to regain a symptom
free, active, lifestyle and exuberant energy. Her motto is “No one
should be in pain!” Rebecca has studied Qigong in hospitals in Beijing
and Taoist philosophy and meditation techniques in monasteries and
temples throughout China. She teaches many styles of Qigong, meditation,
Daoist Inner Alchemy, is a Qigong Healer and leads Qigong Wilderness
retreats for women. Rebecca is certified as a Medical Qigong and Taoist
Qigong Instructor. (World Academic Society of Medical Qigong - Beijing -
2000 - Qigong Empowerment Association - USA - 1999). She is certified as
a Wilderness First Responder by Wilderness Medical Associates - USA -
2004. Rebecca lives in northeastern MN where she enjoys kayaking,
hiking, outdoor photography and Qigong in the famous Boundary Waters
Canoe Area Wilderness. She is grandmother to 6 beautiful grand-children.
4) REGISTRATION:
All Inclusive Trip fee: $3,890.00
All-inclusive cost: Includes international airfare
from San Francisco and all air and land costs in China, including all
lodging (double occupancy) and most meals including all breakfasts and
dinners (some lunches are on your own – a lunch in China cost typically
$2 to $4 US) Single room where available 350 US extra
RESERVE YOUR PLACE NOW with a $600 deposit.
Payment in full due 90 days before departure
Checks, Money order, Credit cards (Visa and MC )
accepted.
* register by phone - call 218-365-6330
* register by email: info@qigongchinatrip.com
* register by mail: mail your $600.00 deposit to:
Rebecca Kali
132 East White Street
Ely, MN 55731
* the size of our tours is intentionally limited to
a small number of participants in each tour - please do not wait to
register, if you are interested in this tour.
At time of registration you will receive a detailed
list of what to bring, what to wear etc.
A suggested reading list will also be provided.
What's included: Costs include airfare from San
Francisco to China and back, transportation within China including bus,
boats and private van; all lodging (double occupancy accommodation);
study tuition; excursion and sight seeing; translation; most daily
meals, including banquets; admission charges to temples and tourist
sites.
What's not included: Does not include China Visa,
travel insurance (required) , optional Culinary School, taxi or
rickshaw fees for extra excursions during free time, gratuities to
guides, drivers and porters; trip cancellation; excess baggage charges
on airplane, laundry, or personal purchases.
Cancellation and refunds: If the tour participant
cancels the program, cancellation fees will be adjusted according to the
following schedule: refund will be given 90 or more days before
departure, less $200; 89-75 days, less 25%; 74-35 days, less 50%, no
refunds within 34 days of departure. We require that all trip
participants purchase travel insurance such as TravelEx, which covers
trip cancellation fees.
Note:
This trip will include lots of walking, including many stone steps up
the mountains. The itinerary is not the ordinary tourist tour. Instead
we offer opportunities to experience a part of China, not readily
available to most groups. We offer what will be a spiritual pilgrimage
for many of our trip members.
Instruction on Daoist Qigong practices as well as
meditation will be part of the daily program. We will attempt to
practice being as present as possible in all situations and at all
times. In this way we will be practicing the greater Way and perhaps
experience some of what Laozi described as:
The sage is one who goes
about teaching
Without talking.
The Ten Thousand Things
Rise and fall of their own accord.
She creates yet does not
Hold onto her creation.
She works yet
Does not take credit for her work.
When the work is done
It is then forgotten.
In this way it lasts forever.
Besides being
an exciting adventure in the outer sense, this will be an inner journey
as well. We will meet people who have been practicing TaiJi, Qigong and
the Daoist arts for many years. If we open ourselves to experiencing
their being, their composure and their energy or Qi we will begin to
understand truly what these practices and this lifestyle have to offer.
We will see wonderful and amazing sights and do practices in the very
mountains of the immortals; the reverberations from this trip will echo
throughout the rest of your life.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions
you have about our itinerary or travel in
China and
Tibet. We would love to
discuss the details of the trip with you and answer your questions.
Call 218-365-6330 or click here to send us an
Email
REGISTRATION:
All Inclusive Trip fee:
$3,790.00
All-inclusive cost: Includes international airfare from
San Francisco and all air and land
costs in
China, including meals and
lodging (double occupancy) Single room where available $350
US extra
RESERVE YOUR PLACE NOW with a $500 deposit.
Payment in full due 75 days before departure
Checks, Money order, Credit cards (Visa and MC ) accepted.
*
register by phone - call 218-365-6330
*
register by email
click here to send us an email.
*
register by mail
click here
for a printable registration form
* register on
line
click here to go to the registration page
*
the size of our tours is intentionally limited to a small number of
participants in each tour - please do not wait to register, if you are
interested in this tour.
At time of registration
you will receive a detailed list of what to bring, what to wear etc.
A suggested reading list
will also be provided.
What's included: Costs include airfare from San Francisco to
China and back, transportation within China including bus, boats and
private van; all lodging (double occupancy accommodation); study
tuition; excursion and sight seeing; translation; all daily meals,
including banquets; admission charges to temples and tourist sites.
What's not included: Does not include China Visa, travel
insurance (required) , Chinese International ($15) or domestic ($3)
airport taxes; taxi or rickshaw fees for extra excursions during free
time, gratuities to guides, drivers and porters; trip cancellation;
excess baggage charges on airplane, laundry, or personal purchases.
Cancellation and refunds: If the tour participant cancels the
program, cancellation fees will be adjusted according to the following
schedule: refund will be given 75 or more days before departure, less
$300; 74-35 days, less 25%; 34-16 days, less 50%, no refunds within 16
days of departure. We require that all trip participants purchase travel
insurance which often covers cancellation fees. Let us know and we can
provide you with information.
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