Holy Grail Part 2 - Legacy of the Emperors

Well, here we are again, on our journeys to fill in the missing pieces of our Shaolin art and to answer the questions that we did not answer on part 1 of the journey. This time Sibok Mike Mitchell, Sifu Odette Mitchell and Sibok Laurence Newton are to venture around China in search of the last missing parts of the Kung Fu and Tai Chi system in order to provide us with accurate and definitive teachings.

You will be amazed at what we are to bring back with us.

The main objectives of the mission are:

Verify all the moves of the 108 San Chien Form

Learn in depth knowledge of Ba Gua Zhang- Eight Trigram Palms

8 Trigram theory

Advanced Chi Gong

Advanced Tai Chi

Nine sectional chain

Chinese Fan

The journey will be as follows:

01/04/07

Set off from the UK

02/04/07

Arrive at Beijng

Tian An Men Square

Tian An Men Square

Tian An Men Square

Tian An Men Square

Forbidden City

Spot Sweet Cheeks for 4 free lessons

Forbidden City

Forbidden City

Forbidden City

Forbidden City

Temple of Heaven

Temple of Heaven

"mmmm I wonder where i can get a red hat"

Mike continues his search for a red cap with no success

Temple of Heaven

Temple of Heaven

04/04/07

Arrive in Nanjing

Big Park

Big Park

Laurence finds his true gods of the Dragons to join in his dance

Yantze River

Yantze River

Yantze River

Yantze River

Yantze River

Mike and his collection of signs, saying "hide soldier cave" (1)

Mike and his collection of signs, saying "<something> building" (2)

Confucius

The ancient pose of Chris Purcell

Confucius lion

Shrine of Confucius

Mike takes his search for the illusive red cap to Nanjing

06/04/07

Arrive in Suzhou

On our way to Suzhou Odette had the magic idea of stopping at Wuxi to  sail along the canal and take in the sites of the country, however the boat ride on the canal was at the other end of town and we had the problem of luggage only realising this after getting off the train we had to wait just over 2 hours before the next one.  Never mind.  During our relaxing sit down on the stone wall we gathered a crowd who were rather interested in our tattoos and wanted to practice their English on us.  We were however warned by a fairly fluent speaking Chinese man that it would be much safer to wait in the waiting room.  Arriving in Suzhou we went in search of the famous gardens that were to our misfortune closed

:( maybe tomorrow. Our journey lead us to a rather empty bar with a free pool table, get in :D

Odette thrashing mike at pool

Ancient markings of unfortunate characters

He was rather good at pool

07/04/07

Humble Ministers Garden, North Temple Pagoda, Lion Garden

Humble Ministers Garden

Humble Ministers Garden

Mikests favouritests vase in the worldest

Crazy bonsai tree

Lots of bonsai trees

Plant pot garden

The Buddha wouldn't stop laughing for some strange reason

Garden in the North Temple Pagoda

North Temple Pagoda

Lion Garden

Lion Garden

07/04/07

Arrive in Shanghai

Arrived late in shanghai first impressions werent great we were tired and hungry and it was dark.  After a past trial on the Nanjing metro and finding it pretty easy to use we attempted to get the metro to a station a short walk from the hotel.  HAHAHA maybe not signs were terrible and people kept showing us to the ticket office for the main railway.  We got a taxi in the end and couldnt decide if it was any better as the taxi drivers dont understand the English names of hotels and roads.  Made it to the hotel got some beers and a couple of giant pot noodles, BRING ON THE MARKETS.

08/04/07

The Bund, Nanjing Road, Yu Yuan Garden

Picture through a decorated window

There was a big crowd here honest

Yu Yuan Garden

Yu Yuan Garden

View from the Bund of the Huangpu River

The search of the Legendary red cap took us to Shanghai but still no luck

A view of China's tallest tower from the Bund

Mike and his collection of signs, saying "south pole stone" (3)

Shrine inside the Jade Buddha Temple

Koi for dinner mmmm

Unfortunately no photos were allowed to be taken of the actual jade buddha and you had to pay a second entry fee to go see it what a rip off.  Mike did however sneak a bit of footage HAHAHA.  It was rubbish.

10/04/07

Arrive in Lantau Island

Woooohoooo were back and this time we have the crazy banana with us oh and Odette.  Mike couldn't wait to film it all over again and for Laurence to record over it yay.  The first day it was getting a bit late for site seeing after the bumpy bus ride so it gave Mike and Laurence chance to Odette the sites and sounds of the silver mine beach and we had a nice pizza and beer and the China Bear (which wasnt there last year mind)

11/04/07

Visit Po Lin Monastery and Various Temples

Man Mo Temple

Hung Shing Temple

Pak Tai Temple

The Silver Mine

The Silver Mine Waterfall

View of Silver Mine Bay from the highest point we had walked

A hidden Grave

Hello Big Buddha

Another Buddha

Rarrrrr

Mike and his collection of signs (4)

Mike and his collection of signs (5)

Mike and his collection of signs (6)

The Wisdom Path

View of the Big Buddha from the top of the Wisdom Path

Lantau's tallest peak

Tai O fishing village

12/04/07

Arrive in Xian

Well the adventurers almost didn't make it to the hotel let alone Xian, to start we had a trainee Pilot flying the plane and it took 2 bouncy attempts to land the plane.  Laurence being asleep as usual never noticed a thing.  After the 2nd successful landing we got in to the taxi after a bit of trouble like always the taxi driver set off.  After 5 minutes he started to slowly fall asleep :-s not good.  Mike had to keep poking him to keep him awake but he assured us he wasn't tired after having several near misses and the taxi swerving from side to side he pulled over for a drink.  We set off again and luckily made it to the Hotel in one piece although Mike and Odette's nerves were shot to pieces.  The brave travellers followed the rabbit to their rooms and went straight to sleep.

13/04/07

Great Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower, Drum Tower

"Do you have any King's?"

"Go Fish"

Dance Snake Hips dance

Wild Goose Pagoda

Awwwww

The trail of the red caps was thing in the Wild Goose Pagoda

View from the top of the Wild Goose Pagoda

Bell of the Bell Tower

Drums of the Drum Tower

14/04/07

Visit the 8th wonder of the world the Terracotta Army, tomb of Qinshihaung and Hauqing Hot Spring

We searched the Terracotta Army but still we couldn't find any red caps

THE ARMY

You shall not pass

Mike and his collection of signs (7)

After the Terrocotta Army we went to visit the tomb of Qinshihaung and we found to our dissapointment that you couldnt go inside, but instead u climbed the stairs to the top of the mound of the tomb where it was spoilt by drinks/tat vendors

The stairs to the top of the tomb

Map of the inside of the tomb

Mike and his collection of signs (8)

Pumped source from the hot springs

Source of Hot Springs 1

Source of Hot Springs 2

Temple in the Hot Springs

Hmmmm This all looks a bit falsified to me

And still we have yet to find a single red cap

Garden Hotel Tai Chi Master

16/04/07

Arrive in Guilin

Too hot nuff said

Twin Pagodas

I'll never find a red cap

Mike and his collection of signs (9)

Mike and his collection of signs (10)

Solitary Beauty Peak

Li River

The Epicentre of the Reed Flute Cave

The magic mirror

Who wears short shorts

Under the sea

18/04/07

Arrive in Beijing

Intense grading with 4 Masters in the art of Ba Gua, Chinese Fan and Nine sectional whip chain.

Well we're back in Beijing Woooo Hoooo and its time to start our real training oh and don't forget the markets. This time we're staying in a different hotel pretty easy to get to and with our knowledge of the metro we can go anywhere.

19/04/07

Summer palace

Half horse half dragon thing Rarrrrrrrrr

Ahoy red caps dead ahead

Hmmmm maybe not, damn we'll never find one

We took a pedal boat around the Summer Palace lake nice to see mike busy as ever

Nei Hoe

Temple on a hill

Laurence had Cupping therapy done 14 cups in total

Michael had tread back walking and 4 left over cups

22/04/07

Laurence being given his painted Chinese name "Happy Cloud"

Michael being given his painted Chinese name "Arriving Cloud"

Yu Xuan Zhang, Master Zhang Sheng Li, Odette Mitchell, Mike Mitchell, Laurence Newton

The Training Court Yard

23/04/07

The Great Wall of China

Simatai Section of the wall

Just chillin

So many steps

I love climbing up steps

Not them again

The sign at the 14th tower

On the 19/04/07 something terrible happened mike being obsessed with finding a red cap took an unfortunate turn for the worse.  Those who frighten easily please look no further as a local photographer took pictures of the horrific event.

Mike got caught up with the package holiday and was never seen again

Phrases of the Journey

You'll get stuck (referring to Laurence)

Wait for me (Odette)

Hurry Up (Referring to Odette)

How do I wee into a hole in the floor (Odette)

It's rubbish (Laurence)

It's pennies

Have you still got cheese on your hand

Stop being Disgusting (Referring to Odette)

Awww mi back (Mike)

Your feet stink (Referring to Mike)

Told ya

Sweet deal DM

It stinks (Referring to the streets)

Wheres the Crazy Banana

Stop Pressurising

No washer woman I don't want to buy your wares

Let me see your wares

Haggle, Haggle, Haggle

Laurence's song to the tune of "I'd like to teach the World to sing" I want to fly in a world of trees and dance with a chimpanzee with fluffy chickens and forest fires and hamsters without knees