| Tao Yuan Nanjiang County Sichuan, China |
10:07PM September 1, 2004
So, I attempted to ride a taxi on my own to meet Dan and the crew at the Min Shan Hotel for dinner to discuss the trip tomorrow. Fearing that I'd
get lost or the taxi driver would drive me in circles to bump up the fare, I made it to the hotel under 10 yuan and saw Dan waiting for me where I
asked to meet him. Of course my face lit up as I ran to him and gave him a big hug!!! (Wow!! I hugged Dan Hinkley!) We walked to the
restaurant where the rest of the gang were having dinner. Boy, did I want to make a big impression! I came into the private room where they were
having dinner and exerted every ounce of enthusiasm I had in me as I shook the teams hands. First there was Dave Demers who looked like he
was near my age (hmmm...the competition for supreme horticultural youth. hehe/ he's actually 25...Point 1 Riz.. hahha) Ozzie Johnson was next,
very friendly southern guy from Atlanta, Prof. Zhao who was interested in which Chinese Medicinal Herb I was taking for my diarrhea and Liu Li,
our guide. Tomorrow, another fellow from Georgia will join us, Scott McMahan.
I want this to go well so badly you have no idea. Now that my stomach problems are passing, I'm starting to feel like I'm getting a
cold...AAARRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!
So, the plan is, I meet them at 11:30AM at the Min Shan and we head for Guanyuan where we'll stay overnight and then we head for Tao Juan.
I can't believe this is happening y'all. A PLANT EXPEDITION WITH DAN HINKLEY! Wish me luck folks! It's happening!!!!!!!!!
Oh yeah, of course I made it back taking another taxi "Chuan2 da4 dong1 men2" (Sichuan U East Gate)...cost the same...so I succeeded!
Riz
So, I attempted to ride a taxi on my own to meet Dan and the crew at the Min Shan Hotel for dinner to discuss the trip tomorrow. Fearing that I'd
get lost or the taxi driver would drive me in circles to bump up the fare, I made it to the hotel under 10 yuan and saw Dan waiting for me where I
asked to meet him. Of course my face lit up as I ran to him and gave him a big hug!!! (Wow!! I hugged Dan Hinkley!) We walked to the
restaurant where the rest of the gang were having dinner. Boy, did I want to make a big impression! I came into the private room where they were
having dinner and exerted every ounce of enthusiasm I had in me as I shook the teams hands. First there was Dave Demers who looked like he
was near my age (hmmm...the competition for supreme horticultural youth. hehe/ he's actually 25...Point 1 Riz.. hahha) Ozzie Johnson was next,
very friendly southern guy from Atlanta, Prof. Zhao who was interested in which Chinese Medicinal Herb I was taking for my diarrhea and Liu Li,
our guide. Tomorrow, another fellow from Georgia will join us, Scott McMahan.
I want this to go well so badly you have no idea. Now that my stomach problems are passing, I'm starting to feel like I'm getting a
cold...AAARRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!
So, the plan is, I meet them at 11:30AM at the Min Shan and we head for Guanyuan where we'll stay overnight and then we head for Tao Juan.
I can't believe this is happening y'all. A PLANT EXPEDITION WITH DAN HINKLEY! Wish me luck folks! It's happening!!!!!!!!!
Oh yeah, of course I made it back taking another taxi "Chuan2 da4 dong1 men2" (Sichuan U East Gate)...cost the same...so I succeeded!
Riz
11:01PM September 12, 2004
Back from fulfilling a lifelong dream... sorta
It's Sunday night, 11:00PM and I have my first Chinese class tomorrow at 8:30AM. [yeah, I missed the first week =( ] I have to get a journal
entry in to let you guys know that I'm still alive and I made it back from my awesome trip with Dan and the rest of the group!
Without re-writing my daily journal entries, here is a condensed version of our trip:
Back from fulfilling a lifelong dream... sorta
It's Sunday night, 11:00PM and I have my first Chinese class tomorrow at 8:30AM. [yeah, I missed the first week =( ] I have to get a journal
entry in to let you guys know that I'm still alive and I made it back from my awesome trip with Dan and the rest of the group!
Without re-writing my daily journal entries, here is a condensed version of our trip:
Thursday September 2
Meet at Min Shan Hotel at 11:30AM and load the van and jeep. Lunch
near West Gate of Sichuan University and on the road to the city of
Guangyuan in N.E. Sichuan Province where we stayed for the night.
We had a long provincial ride from Chengdu. We boarded our vehicles
with our pack for about two weeks in a town called Tao Yuan. I was
fortunate to ride with Dan for the 6 hour ride across paved highways and
views of vast mountains and farmlands. We had a nice chat about so
many different things, I was wanting to savor the moment so I snapped
photo of him as he dozed off going through the Sichuan flora and working
in his notebook accessioning his plants at Windcliff!! It's amazing how
much this man tries to do. Since I didn't want to be a pest, I pretty much
just put on my headphones on the whole time lip-syncing to a random mix
of 80's power ballads, alternative rock, and some selections from Pure
Moods.
Meet at Min Shan Hotel at 11:30AM and load the van and jeep. Lunch
near West Gate of Sichuan University and on the road to the city of
Guangyuan in N.E. Sichuan Province where we stayed for the night.
We had a long provincial ride from Chengdu. We boarded our vehicles
with our pack for about two weeks in a town called Tao Yuan. I was
fortunate to ride with Dan for the 6 hour ride across paved highways and
views of vast mountains and farmlands. We had a nice chat about so
many different things, I was wanting to savor the moment so I snapped
photo of him as he dozed off going through the Sichuan flora and working
in his notebook accessioning his plants at Windcliff!! It's amazing how
much this man tries to do. Since I didn't want to be a pest, I pretty much
just put on my headphones on the whole time lip-syncing to a random mix
of 80's power ballads, alternative rock, and some selections from Pure
Moods.
Dave Demers and Ozzie Johnson
Dan Hinkley
Scott McMahan, Prof. Zhao Zuocheng, Riz Reyes
Leaving the MinShan Hotel
Friday September 3
Depart Guangyuan and drove through horrible roads through pouring
rains to the city of Nanjiang (further N.E of the province) and stayed
the night there.
I swear, our drivers are superheroes. The "salad tossing" in the
vehicles didn't seem to phase them. I rode with Scott today and got to
know this nice fellow from Georgia. As we both endured the bumpy
ride, Scott asked, "Do you get car sick?". I replied, "Uhhh, I didn't
until you mentioned it."
One of our trucks gets stuck so we stepped out until our guide and the
drivers could fix the problem. Dan gets out to see how everyone was
after the hours of cajoling in the cars and when we asked him how the
ride was for him, he sarcastically said, "Oh, it was pleasant as can be,
WE WERE READING!"
Depart Guangyuan and drove through horrible roads through pouring
rains to the city of Nanjiang (further N.E of the province) and stayed
the night there.
I swear, our drivers are superheroes. The "salad tossing" in the
vehicles didn't seem to phase them. I rode with Scott today and got to
know this nice fellow from Georgia. As we both endured the bumpy
ride, Scott asked, "Do you get car sick?". I replied, "Uhhh, I didn't
until you mentioned it."
One of our trucks gets stuck so we stepped out until our guide and the
drivers could fix the problem. Dan gets out to see how everyone was
after the hours of cajoling in the cars and when we asked him how the
ride was for him, he sarcastically said, "Oh, it was pleasant as can be,
WE WERE READING!"
Saturday September 4
We drive up to 1000m in elevation and begin our first collection on the
pass headed for the small village of Tao Yuan. Once we arrived to the
small town (which was further developed since Dan came a year ago) we
set out for a short walk just outside the hotel and found our first "hot spot"!
Encountered first leach while washing socks! Ewwww
Our accommodations during this trip were pretty nice. I was totally
expecting to rough it, but it was far from rough; we stayed in rooms
complete with western toilets, hot water showers, television, and air
conditioning/heaters. While we had some minor issues, we couldn't
complain. The ones complaining were the people who had to come into
our rooms after each collection day to clean up after bringing mud and the
whole jungle back into our rooms! Plants, fruits, cuttings, flowers, even the
insects. Dave and I roomed together during this trip and we totally just
trashed the place each night sorting through plants and cleaning seeds.
What was worth complaining about were our meals. While some were a hit
with my fellow group members, a lot of it we just had to force down so we
had something in our stomachs.
We drive up to 1000m in elevation and begin our first collection on the
pass headed for the small village of Tao Yuan. Once we arrived to the
small town (which was further developed since Dan came a year ago) we
set out for a short walk just outside the hotel and found our first "hot spot"!
Encountered first leach while washing socks! Ewwww
Our accommodations during this trip were pretty nice. I was totally
expecting to rough it, but it was far from rough; we stayed in rooms
complete with western toilets, hot water showers, television, and air
conditioning/heaters. While we had some minor issues, we couldn't
complain. The ones complaining were the people who had to come into
our rooms after each collection day to clean up after bringing mud and the
whole jungle back into our rooms! Plants, fruits, cuttings, flowers, even the
insects. Dave and I roomed together during this trip and we totally just
trashed the place each night sorting through plants and cleaning seeds.
What was worth complaining about were our meals. While some were a hit
with my fellow group members, a lot of it we just had to force down so we
had something in our stomachs.
Sunday September 5
Went up higher in elevation to a Nature Reserve where they were
stopped by a landslide last year. Same situation this time around so we
just stepped out and hiked the area. Found some wonderful woodland
perennials and some select evergreen shrubs, etc. Had our usual lunch
of crackers and fruit. Dave gets bitten by leeches. blah...
Dave scored early with a stunning Paris with purple undersides. We
also sited Podophyllum, various Viburnums, Cornus kousa in bloom,
and Hosta ventricosa. We also spotted Hoebelia with some really
awesome fruit and the bright red berries of Schisandra chinensis which
were a bitch to clean!
Today, I had a lengthy chat with Prof. Zhao who's a representative
from the Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
With his limited English, I seemed to be the only one who could
communicate effectively with him. I like to think that my years of
working at a retirement home helped me be patient with him as he
struggled to communicate with us. What's amazing about Prof. Zhao
was the fact that these expeditions were like a walk in the park for him.
While we carried our packs and REI gear, he came with a simple
overcoat, slacks, thin socks and plain shoes and with only an umbrella
protecting him from the variable weather, he stayed the driest our of all
of us!
Went up higher in elevation to a Nature Reserve where they were
stopped by a landslide last year. Same situation this time around so we
just stepped out and hiked the area. Found some wonderful woodland
perennials and some select evergreen shrubs, etc. Had our usual lunch
of crackers and fruit. Dave gets bitten by leeches. blah...
Dave scored early with a stunning Paris with purple undersides. We
also sited Podophyllum, various Viburnums, Cornus kousa in bloom,
and Hosta ventricosa. We also spotted Hoebelia with some really
awesome fruit and the bright red berries of Schisandra chinensis which
were a bitch to clean!
Today, I had a lengthy chat with Prof. Zhao who's a representative
from the Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
With his limited English, I seemed to be the only one who could
communicate effectively with him. I like to think that my years of
working at a retirement home helped me be patient with him as he
struggled to communicate with us. What's amazing about Prof. Zhao
was the fact that these expeditions were like a walk in the park for him.
While we carried our packs and REI gear, he came with a simple
overcoat, slacks, thin socks and plain shoes and with only an umbrella
protecting him from the variable weather, he stayed the driest our of all
of us!
Paris sp.
Cornus kousa
Monday September 6
Went to another Nature Preserve with stunning views of the Sichuan
landscape and more wonderful plants!! This was a treat for us since
none of the group collected in this area before. We also celebrated
Dan's B-day today!
Liu Li, our guide, had planned out something. Because he was
responsible for our accommodations and required our passports to
check in at the hotels, he noticed Dan's birthdate and arrange for a
special dinner.
This was plant hunting at its best. I was with a tremendous team of
avid plantsmen and surrounded by scenery I only imagined in my
dreams of ever experiencing. And the plants! It was a botanical
candy store and I felt like a kid with a thousand dollar allowance to
pick and choose whatever I liked!
It was a long day with various obstacles. A wood plank bridge over
raging waters we barely managed to cross, scaffolding of bamboo
and unfinished trails 50 feet over a deep ravine that Ozzie and I
gingerly walked through, and a crowd of locals who gathered and
stared at our bags of "weeds".
Went to another Nature Preserve with stunning views of the Sichuan
landscape and more wonderful plants!! This was a treat for us since
none of the group collected in this area before. We also celebrated
Dan's B-day today!
Liu Li, our guide, had planned out something. Because he was
responsible for our accommodations and required our passports to
check in at the hotels, he noticed Dan's birthdate and arrange for a
special dinner.
This was plant hunting at its best. I was with a tremendous team of
avid plantsmen and surrounded by scenery I only imagined in my
dreams of ever experiencing. And the plants! It was a botanical
candy store and I felt like a kid with a thousand dollar allowance to
pick and choose whatever I liked!
It was a long day with various obstacles. A wood plank bridge over
raging waters we barely managed to cross, scaffolding of bamboo
and unfinished trails 50 feet over a deep ravine that Ozzie and I
gingerly walked through, and a crowd of locals who gathered and
stared at our bags of "weeds".
Paris sp.
Viburnum henryi
Tuesday September 7
Sorta lame day. Dave led the professor and I up a steep hill,
wrestled with bamboo, slid down the hill and found nothing worth
noting. Professor got bitten by 4 leeches and Dan was bitten in
the wrist.
Sorta lame day. Dave led the professor and I up a steep hill,
wrestled with bamboo, slid down the hill and found nothing worth
noting. Professor got bitten by 4 leeches and Dan was bitten in
the wrist.
Wednesday September 8
Sorta lame again, but weather was stunningly beautiful despite
previous cool, wet conditions before. Encountered some Arisaemas
and a rare vine Sinofrachettia. Dan stops vehicles for the first time
on this trip to take photos of a boring Ilex. LOL!
Sorta lame again, but weather was stunningly beautiful despite
previous cool, wet conditions before. Encountered some Arisaemas
and a rare vine Sinofrachettia. Dan stops vehicles for the first time
on this trip to take photos of a boring Ilex. LOL!
Arisaema lobatum
Thursday September 9
Scored some great finds including Sassafras in the road edges and
Paris, Arisaema, and Podophyllum in the woodlands. I got separated
from the group and there was a 3-4 hour search for me. I felt
sooooooooo bad. To make things worse, I experience one of the
scariest accidents in my life. Scared the hell out of Dan! This was a
tough day, despite the beautiful weather and tremendous thrill of the
plants we encountered.
It's been bugging me for a while, but I think I let the pressure get to
me. Having a travel companion close to my age, there's a sense of
competition and wanting to prove that I wasn't a weak link. I think I
really let it get to me.
I had a little one-on-one talk with Dan that night. Even with my
obvious disappointment, he still was the most encouraging guy who'd
maintain a sense of humor even in through tough times.
Scored some great finds including Sassafras in the road edges and
Paris, Arisaema, and Podophyllum in the woodlands. I got separated
from the group and there was a 3-4 hour search for me. I felt
sooooooooo bad. To make things worse, I experience one of the
scariest accidents in my life. Scared the hell out of Dan! This was a
tough day, despite the beautiful weather and tremendous thrill of the
plants we encountered.
It's been bugging me for a while, but I think I let the pressure get to
me. Having a travel companion close to my age, there's a sense of
competition and wanting to prove that I wasn't a weak link. I think I
really let it get to me.
I had a little one-on-one talk with Dan that night. Even with my
obvious disappointment, he still was the most encouraging guy who'd
maintain a sense of humor even in through tough times.
Podophyllum sp. Paris sp.
With Sassafras
Friday September 10
I decide to stay behind to rest and just clean seed and plants and
work on my herbarium specimens as the group returned to the same
site we went to on the 6th. Made preparations to leave the next day to
visit a neighboring province.
I decide to stay behind to rest and just clean seed and plants and
work on my herbarium specimens as the group returned to the same
site we went to on the 6th. Made preparations to leave the next day to
visit a neighboring province.
Saturday September 11
Depart Tao Yuan to cross the border to enter Shaanxi Province where
we had lunch and then it was back to Guangyuan to stay overnight. We
made one stop to look for plants, but came up with nothing.
Depart Tao Yuan to cross the border to enter Shaanxi Province where
we had lunch and then it was back to Guangyuan to stay overnight. We
made one stop to look for plants, but came up with nothing.
Sunday September 12
Departed for Chengdu. Had a good lunch, made plans for final hot pot
dinner on Wednesday, and driver graciously drove me back to the
International Student Dorms.
Departed for Chengdu. Had a good lunch, made plans for final hot pot
dinner on Wednesday, and driver graciously drove me back to the
International Student Dorms.
| The trip was amazing! Dan said this was one of the best trips just because most of the sites we visited were so rich in ornamental plants worthy of introduction into cultivation. The expedition had its many moments both good and bad, but it was certainly memorable and an experience I'll take with me for the rest of my life and career in horticulture. |
Photographs and Site Contents Copyright © Rizaniño H. Reyes. All rights reserved