West Meets East

West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick BorNei

Best of China Feng Shui Tour

For those who have been reading the last two articles on how I created a “Life List” to help focus on what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, below is an example of traveling to China once again, manifested. After finishing the list, I folded the sheet of wishes into a neat bundle and placed it my silver “Wish and Intention Bucket” which resides in the Helpful People and Travel section of my house, which is also my office. I keep lights turned on 24/7 in this special Heaven Corner. A large angel doll with wings stands patiently in the area, waiting to take the messages that she thinks are good for me to the heavens. Anyway, I visualize this! This is also the corner of the Grandfathers.

Soon after I placed this note in the Heaven Helpful People Gua, email began pouring in, too-good-to-be-true travel values. Special cruises, flights and world trips filled my mailbox! I deleted 99% of them, but one travel agency took my eye. It was special, and trips to places I wanted to go filled the screen. I still didn’t reply to the ads. Then one day the phone rang, and the woman on the other end was the owner of the company. She continued to call over the next few months. I am not naive and so finally decided to check out her track record. Yes, she was real, and people who had traveled with the company were pleased and loved the tours. After eight months we would visit over the phone just for fun. Our values and spirit matched. She pleaded with me to do a tour. No, was my answer more than once, and then finally my friends said, “Let’s go.” The rest is history, and here is the itinerary for next year, March 2009. I also plan to go to Tibet and Ireland with her. I hope many of you will join us. Is this too early to be thinking about it? No, visas are now needed and updated passports. I tell many of my clients, “Get a passport even if you never plan to travel, because it sends a message to the powers-that-be, ‘I am flexible, willing and able to experience new things.’” You may want to just frame it, but it is a powerful little book. Read below some of the things we will do on this trip of a lifetime.

This is a unique tour created especially for those who want to experience the roots of Feng Shui firsthand. Caroline will teach you to see, feel and touch the 5 Elements of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Learn about their colors, shapes and forms. Absorb the mysteries of temple traditions, such as why you enter from the right doorway. Why is the entry elevated, and what do the brass knobs on doors reveal? Why is incense burned continually at these sites? Visit medicinal herb shops to see the plants for healing. View art images filled with ancient symbols. Treat the senses with vibrant delicious foods, indulge in a relaxing massage, immerse yourself in China’s scenery, or shop till you drop! Caroline speaks from experience when she says, “Make this journey and your life will be forever changed! Don’t miss this opportunity!”

Caroline traveled to China in 2004 and to Taiwan in 2007 with her Master Teacher, His Holiness Grandmaster Lin Yun of B.T.B., as a senior student, and continues to attend his world-wide workshops. Some of her other mentors are William Spear, Roger Green, Lillian Bridges, Deborah Gee and Katherine Metz to name a few. Caroline owned “Caroline’s Arts & Feng Shui Shoppe” near San Francisco for nine years, which provided her with the opportunity to conduct over 5000 Feng Shui consultations. She continues to consult individuals and corporate facilities here and abroad about The Art of Placement and uses her abilities as an artist, illustrator, newspaper columnist (“WEST MEETS EAST” for the Benicia Herald in California) as a format to educate her readers about detail design and how the dwelling affects the health and well being of its owners, and she passes on direct information to her clients from Master Lin.

CHINA DELUXE FENG SHUI TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1 March 8 Leave USA for China BEIJING

Day 2 March 9 - BEIJING - Arrive in Beijing. Meet and transfer to hotel. Chinese dinner and relaxing evening.

Day 3 March 10 - BEIJING - Buffet Breakfast at hotel. Tour the Great Wall, Beijing Cloisonné Art Factory, Ming Tombs, and view the grandiose 2008 Olympic stadiums. Afternoon visit 798 Art World District. Dinner.

Day 4 March 11- BEIJING -Buffet Breakfast at hotel. Tour Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Imperial Palace Lunch. Enjoy traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony. Then visit Tong RengTang, China’s largest herbal pharmacy. Enjoy relaxing foot massage. Peking Duck dinner.

Day 5 March 12 - BEIJING –Buffet Breakfast at hotel. Visit to Temple of Heaven for Feng Shui lesson. Visit Lama Temple. Visit the Panda Garden. to see the pandas. Then enjoy visits to Chinese Rug Weaving Studio, China Art Gallery and explore Hutong neighborhood by rickshaw. Visit Courtyard hotel and meet with Interior Designer. Farewell to Beijing dinner at Bai Family Restaurant.

Day 6 March 13 - BEIJING TO YANGSHOU -Buffet Breakfast at hotel. Fly to Guilin, met and transfer to Yangshuo, a small 1400 year old town in southern China with special topography beside the Li River and an amazing variety of all the charm and attractions and shopping you could want. Visit Fan Village and see generations of fan making artists. Dinner at a local restaurant. Evening free to shop and explore West Street.

Day 7 March 14 - YANGSHOU - Early morning Bamboo Rafting. Return to hotel for breakfast. Free time in Yangshuo, Lunch at Lucy's home with visit to Moon Village. Afternoon visit to Old villages and local markets. Dinner at hotel. followed by the world famous “Liu San Jie” outdoor performance, weather permitting.

Day 8 March 15 - YANGSHOU – Excursion by boat to Liugong Island, a local fishing village of scenic beauty. Dinner at hotel.

Day 9 March 16 – GUILIN TO SUZHOU - Buffet Breakfast at hotel. Bus to Guilin, then flight to Shanghai, bus to Suzhou, the “Venice of China”, famous for its canals, architecture and gardens. Visit Old Shantang Town. Dinner.

Day 10 – March 17 – SUZHOU – Buffet Breakfast at hotel. Feng Shui at Lingering Garden, then visit No 1 Silk Factory to see how silk is made, stop at Midu Bridge, Su Garden. Afternoon bus ride to Shanghai.

Day11 – March 18 - SHANGHAI - Buffet Breakfast at hotel. Visit Shanghai Museum. Stop at People’s Square. Tour Jade Buddha Temple, and enjoy herbal teas. Then enjoy Embroidery Show and Old Shanghai Town. Farewell Dinner and breath-taking night cruise over the neon-lit Huangpu River.

Day12 – March 19 - SHANGHAI TO HOME CITY

Note: Caroline Patrick BorNei (pronounced Bornay) is Caroline's Chinese name give to her by her Master Teacher His Holiness Grandmaster Lin Yin.

Traveling is in full swing for fall of 2008. August traveling to OKLAHOMA, September 17-October 1st, teaching ARIZONA Workshops in Watercolor, Oil Painting and Feng Shui including a visit to Diamond Mountain Buddhist University, ALSO a workshop on Feng Shui in Phoenix...November BOSTON, teaching in NEW YORK 1st week and KANSAS CITY. 2nd week.... REDDING, CALIFORNIA the 1st week of December workshop on Feng Shui. CHINA TOUR MARCH 2009 WITH CAROLINE, SIGN UP BEFORE JANUARY 1^st. For schedules & contact info go to www.fengshuiartistry.com

Please consult your physician for physical problems as this article only gives ideas and suggestions. Caroline is not responsible for anyone using these suggested plants or advice for cures or healing any problem either medical or Feng Shui claims. This column and article is for entertainment only. Please seek help from a qualified physician, naturopath, herbalist or other certified person for treatment.