Hiking 八大处 w/ my buddhist neighbor 孙远

My neighbor, 孙远, is super great! I adooooreeee him--and not just because we have the same family name! He is the first devout Buddhist that I've met who is also my age in China. I especially like him because he likes to use his money (earned from his online business and teaching 太极拳） to buy animals from the wild animal market and then set them free. When we walk together, he will also take the time to stop to pick up little insects that he finds on the street and move them to the road side. Although it is very inconvenient to stop so frequently, it is also at the same time very cute. Unfortunately, he's planning on becoming a monk (出家) so there's no hope to be anything more than just friends! :p


Incenses


The Lama that I met today (he is a friend of 孙远’s). We ended up hiking to the top of the mountain together!


孙远 looking at a fading Maozedong quotes written on the side of a temple. It no doubt can be dated to the time of the Cultural Revolution.


one of the birds of prey that he bought from the wild animal market for 250rmb ($40)