Hobbies

[alton]

Well, I would not call "dieting" or "lifestyle changes" necessarily hobbies, but outside of these issues we all share, what else are you interested in?

I like to do some genealogical digging.

I have become more interested in history since my son has been getting older.

As a family, we have enjoyed going out and exploring our home state. You never know when you may have to relocate and wonder "I wish I had done that while I lived there".

I also like to scrapbook. I am a bit behind but I still have my things organized and ready to pick up where I left off.

[Sprocket]

Hobbies, well, with me they vary, it seems I go through phases with them, but I have a core of hobbies I do, which seem to be by them lasting a few years, more like permanent hobbies, these would include Landscape and urban photography, metal smithing to include precious metals, gems and black smithing, I also dance, an ethnic Egyptian dance called raks sharqi, also erroneously known as belly dance.

A hobby that comes and goes with me, is that of restoration, the restoration of things that come my way, a hobby that I have taken to understand is because of my need to know how things work and what I can teach myself in the process. Currently my restoration project is my bike, this time last year, it was a retro mountain bike a few years back, it was a 1979 VW combi/camper and prior to that the thing that taught me mechanics and welding was a 1955 series one Land- Rover which I got with a snapped chassis and cracked engine block, plenty of skills needed with that thing, but I got it sorted eventually, and even fitted it with an aviation quality wiring loom made out of fire proof wiring and quality connections, something I am repeating with my bike, less the fireproof wire, but there will be no electrical problems due to poor connections with this bike.

Things currently I am trying to learn, which might become a hobby, if I can learn some rhythm that is, is tabla drumming, with an Egyptian doumbeck.

[CrazyCarl]

Tabla drumming is insane but what a great percussion sound to add to almost any jam. I'm a djembe man myself as I think they're one of the most versatile hand drums on the planet full capable of kickin' huge low while keeping nice and snappy highs.

AND NOW FOR YOUR TABLA LEARNING ENJOYMENT!



CC

[Sprocket]

Yeah, the djembe, most around here that drum use those, and they are very versatile, but there are a few doumbek players, they being good with the light and fast drum. I recently met with some of the drumming friends at a commune and we spent the night drumming and dancing to a mixture of North African and West African rhythms, djembes and doumbeks together, so simple enjoyment.



My kind of drumming, and my favourite dancer

[LH1953]

Hobbies? Don't know if you would call it a hobby or not....42 years of Tae Kwon Do training and teaching. 30 years of drag racing. had to give that up when I came to China. I've looked and looked..can't find a dragstrip anywhere that isn't covered with taxis and pedestrians.

Lots of thing I used to do, I can't do any longer in China. I used to build cars, race cars, build custom choppers.

I am going to attempt...attempt mind you! to buy or lifetime lease a traditional walled courtyard home and turn it into a palace. That little quest will start as the weather gets warmer. One thing I can do anywhere is design and build a home. Some place are more difficult than others, but it is possible everywhere.

[CrazyCarl]

LH,

There are plenty of GongFu places in Chengdu. Some are formal and others are informal. There's a serious formal school about 1 hour SW of the city which is a HARD CORE self defense class. From what I understand it was a JeetKundo based school with a little Wushu mixed in. It's straight up no nonsense, how to take a person down and out training...like a body guard training of sorts. Informally there are little lessons held all over the city by old dudes (who I still wouldn't mess with) that have students for free in the early morning hours. Gotta find those in the nooks and crannies though.

Your courtyard project sounds sweet! I got some friend who currently live in such a place near the "Flower City" south of the Chendu a little ways... a few kms past teh normal university. They're in a band and have been living there for quite some time. They enjoy the quiet and relatively low rent but the major issue (to me) with those places is lack of facilities like gas and power. Not that you can't find them, mind you, but it may be a little more difficult. Either way, I'm sure it will be an adventure... like everything else in China. Would you do all the work yourself or contract some out?

CC