Reading the Bands

Last March, Silvia Purata, Antonio Sierra, and I reviewed some of the dendrometer bands (see How to Make Dendrometer Bands) that we had left in the Selva Maya to measure tree growth (see Selva Maya III).  In most cases, the bands were in good condition and recording notable diameter increments. In other cases, well...[NOTE: In spite of hurricanes (see Selva Maya Interrupted), lost calipers, and various other setbacks, this research has collected an unprecedented amount of information about the growth of timber trees in the Selva Maya. Deep bows to all involved.]

Rattan Truck II

I've always really liked this image.  I had paused to catch my breath near 7 mile camp on the Ledo Road (see Myanmar 2005 and Hukaung Valley Rattan Survey) when this old green trunk loaded with people, fuel, and rattan came barreling by. You can see where my interest was. Everything in the image is slightly out of focus because of the speed of the truck - except the rattan cane next to the passenger's window.  

Right Livelihood

This beautiful Buddha is sitting outside the back door of the main hall at the Garrison Institute (see Dharma Gates are Boundless).  I can't help thinking that the lap full of pennies provides a perfect example of right livelihood, i.e. supporting yourself by the diligent practice of seated meditation.

Graduation Day

My daughter graduated from Middle School this morning.  Last one of these I will attend in this lifetime. Sigh. Congratulations, Amy. [NOTE: Her graduating class contained 413 students. Took a while to get through all the names.]

Jiaxiu Pavilion

Jiaxiu Pavilion stands on the bank of the Nanming River in Guiyang, China. The three-tiered pavilion was built in the 26th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1598 C.E.). Breathtaking at night.

Backstreets

Some of the alleys and backstreets in the Miao villages that I visited recently in southeastern Guizhou. Lots of cool details here: dried corn hanging from the eves, intricate stonework on the stairs, passageways going under houses, blue-tinted windows. 

 

Ancient Way of Life

This clip shows Miao villagers tending and planting their rice fields. Which is something that they have done for hundreds - if not thousands - of years and are very good at. [NOTE: If you look carefully, you can see the string the farmers lay out to make sure they plant in a straight line. I love the water buffalo lounging in the mud.]

Firewood

Many of the Miao families in southeastern Guizhao cook and heat with firewood. Household interviews (see Wudong and Tao Jiung) suggest that a family harvests about 75 kg of firewood a week, and twice that amount during the winter months. Taken together, this represent about 1.2 tons of wood per family. Villages with 100 families, e.g Taojiang and Wudong, may remove over 100 tons of firewood a year from local forests. This material reportedly comes from fallen or dead trees, or live broadleaf stems less than 6 cm in diameter (such as those shown in the image above). This annual creaming of small diameter broadleaf trees is undoubtedly having an impact on the floristic composition of the forest. Conifers are being planted, while the regeneration of broadleaf species is continually eliminated through firewood collection. [NOTE: Among other things, our research in Guizhou will asses the impact of firewood collection on the structure and composition of local forests.]

Welcome

Miao villagers at Lang De (see A Gathering of Miao and Fixing an Earring) perform a dance of welcome for visitors. [NOTE: The entire village came down from their fields to do this.]   

A Gathering of Miao

Another image from Lang De (see Matriarchs, Fire Hydrants, and Fixing an Earring). The faces, the silver, the embroidery are all captivating.  I was also struck by the verdant moss growing on the tile roof in the background of this shot.  Truly a magical place.