written yesterday but had problems w connection so here it is now:

I am.. not really in the mood to write... I can't seem to get myself out of the house before noon (when lunch beckons and tummy starts to whine), but I also realise that each of the city's sights are so huge and my pace of seeing things is so slow that I will need an entire day from early morning till closing time (at about 5-6pm for most sights) to get my fill of a place.. and I still need to run errands today.. sigh..

But yesterday was good. Clear blue skies. Lovely sunset at the Temple of Heaven. A little cold, but beautiful. The sheer scale of the public ceremonial spaces and the ordered approaches to each sight.. truly a masterpiece in experiential orchestration, inspiring awe and respect.. I feel many things when I look at it.. in a way, it's a huge part of where I came from. My people and culture. Things I've been far removed from and have, at times, ridiculed and felt embarrassed about, but now have trying to repossess and understand, as I try to find my place in the world, and to understand who I am and what will make me happy...