Although I am really glad to be back home, I am desperately jetlagged. The first couple nights I slept for 12 hours straight, and then last night I slept for only 3. Coming back from the Pacific has always been a tougher transition than going there, I wonder why that is?
In anycase, my trip was a blast. You can read about some of my thoughts, and browse through some pictures here and here. Whenever we’re at an international trip, I never want to come home. I love these times where we can gain another perspective from another part of the world than our own - expanding my worldview and vision is something I treasure greatly, and want to continue doing as I live out my life.
Here are a couple shots that you might appreciate from my trip - remember that sock project I brought with me? Guess what I was able to do on the plane?
I was also knitting on my Yangtze River cruise too (and yes, you’re seeing it right - the Yangtze River water is BROWN).
I was able to see alot of crafting on that side of the world as well - check out what this lady is doing, madly detailed embroidery:
And for my spinner friends, I walked into a silk factory and check out their wheels!
And what would a trip be without yarn shopping? These shots are from Shanghai - yarn was SO cheap (they had such beautiful and cheap silk yarn!), but unfortunately, I didn’t purchase any (I’m on a strict self-imposed yarn diet):
Lastly, what you’ve all been waiting for - my sock progress! I’m glad to say that this time around has been very positive!
One sock done:
Another one almost finished:
I had all sorts of responses while I was KIP in China. A few locals would come up to me and inquire about what I was making (although alot of those who approached me had never used dpn’s before, they weren’t intimidated by them at all - some of them are lace knitters, sweater knitters, etc.). Fellow tour members approached me and jokingly asked when my baby would be due (har har har). One Canadian tour member, another fellow knitter, had never done socks before and was inspired to try them out after seeing my progress. Spreading the gospel of knitting has never been so fun and so fruitful. =)
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Wow - looks like an awesome trip! I agree with you about foreign travel, it is so interesting to learn about other cultures all over the world.
Looks like you got a lot of knitting done on the trip. So neat that you got to see crafters in China! Although, I have no idea how you resisted that yarn. :)
By Cyndi on 08/10/06 11:22 am | Permalink
Such a fun trip!! All of the yarn is beautiful, I bet you went into sensory overload!
By Gracie on 08/10/06 12:05 pm | Permalink
Wow, the yarn in Shanghai looks so good, it would’ve been my undoing!
By The Skirt on 08/10/06 2:19 pm | Permalink
I’m am impressed by your restraint in not buying yarn. That must have hurt!
I’m glad to hear you are back safe and that you had a wonderful trip.
Amy
By Amy on 08/10/06 2:44 pm | Permalink
Sounds like you had a wonderful trip. Your socks look very similar to a pair I am working on from the One Skein book. Great photos too! Thanks for the mini-virtual vacation.
By cher on 08/10/06 7:12 pm | Permalink
Welcome back! How did you resist buying more??
I’m glad you found the yarn shops, the last time I was in Shanghai I hadn’t gone back to knitting so just drooled outside the shops and last year I was sent round and round Guangzhou by some helpful ladies who turned out had no clue what I really wanted. :(
By Sally on 08/10/06 8:31 pm | Permalink
Wow. Looks like you had a splendid time going ‘back home’. Sorry about the wet stuff in your flipflop.. The Wall is absolutely.. astounding. I knew it was long but I didn’t know HOW long. I was wondering about what modern Chinese thought about Communism these days.. I’ve seen those buildings in the background of the Shanghai pictures… Never realized it was Shanghai.. I’m dizzy, keep thinking of Seattle! heheh
By LaBean on 08/11/06 11:28 pm | Permalink
Hi Ruth
Wow what a fantastic trip!! Reminds me of my tour of China 6 years ago, but I wasn’t into knitting then so I never looked for yarn stores! How could you resist buying any yarn!!
The socks look great.
By Ling on 08/13/06 2:05 pm | Permalink
i’m realy impressed w/ the fact that you didn’t buy any yarn. iw ould have stuffed my suitcase, bought a 2nd and 3rd suitcase and stuffed them full too. :) you did a great job knitting on your socks! i haven’t flown international in a while, so i haven’t had the opportunity to knit on an international flight. :) i bet it makes time pass so much faster. i need to hit asia and go shopping!
By Jen da Purse Ho on 08/14/06 2:32 pm | Permalink
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