{"id":241,"date":"2012-08-16T15:09:35","date_gmt":"2012-08-16T15:09:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chinagriffith.com\/journal\/?p=241"},"modified":"2012-08-16T15:09:35","modified_gmt":"2012-08-16T15:09:35","slug":"best-of-june-and-july-2012","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chinagriffith.com\/journal\/?p=241","title":{"rendered":"Best of June and July &#8211; 2012"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>June and July were busy busy months and I never seem to get around to putting this together until now. We visited <a href=\"https:\/\/chinagriffith.com\/journal\/?p=229\" target=\"_blank\">Xi&#8217;an<\/a>, celebrated our anniversary, took a 10 day mancation to Yunnan and then winding down and geting ready to leave. This will be a long post. Click through on any photo for more details and information. <a href=\"#photo\">Photos below after the break<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"photo\"><\/a><strong>1.<\/strong> &#8211; The Unbroken Soldier<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7320195590\/\" title=\"The Unbroken Soldier by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8165\/7320195590_556c4bebb3_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"The Unbroken Soldier\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>2.<\/strong> &#8211; Xi&#8217;an City Wall and Moat<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7324575386\/\" title=\"Xi'an City Wall and Moat by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7233\/7324575386_1f3097aa0a_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"Xi'an City Wall and Moat\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>3.<\/strong> &#8211; Riding the Wall<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7327394868\/\" title=\"Riding the Wall by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7224\/7327394868_40d4638895_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"Riding the Wall\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>4.<\/strong> &#8211; The Bike Wall Gang<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7327409718\/\" title=\"The Bike Wall Gang by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7229\/7327409718_baeaaccf67_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"The Bike Wall Gang\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>5.<\/strong> &#8211; The City Wall Door<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7154569883\/\" title=\"The City Wall Door by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8146\/7154569883_437a38d3c4_c.jpg\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" alt=\"The City Wall Door\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>6.<\/strong> &#8211; Guardians of the Gate<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7345391526\/\" title=\"Guardians of the Gate by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8149\/7345391526_b6ceef797e_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"Guardians of the Gate\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>7.<\/strong> &#8211; China<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7174334123\/\" title=\"China by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8017\/7174334123_947096e6b7_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\" alt=\"China\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>8.<\/strong> &#8211; The Morning Glow<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7361644328\/\" title=\"The Morning Glow by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8149\/7361644328_080832914a_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"The Morning Glow\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>9.<\/strong> &#8211; The End<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7383898448\/\" title=\"The End by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7213\/7383898448_9b88ca4116_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\" alt=\"The End\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>10.<\/strong> &#8211; The Weight of Forever<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7379951754\/\" title=\"The Weight of Forever by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7228\/7379951754_0297c4f3c9_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"The Weight of Forever\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>11.<\/strong> &#8211; The Old Goat<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7408024164\/\" title=\"The Old Goat by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8025\/7408024164_2e4303d88a_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"The Old Goat\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>12.<\/strong> &#8211; Granny Naxi<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7408037552\/\" title=\"Granny Naxi by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm6.staticflickr.com\/5275\/7408037552_30d9d91a5a_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\" alt=\"Granny Naxi\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>13.<\/strong> &#8211; The Mekong Big Bend<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7476352922\/\" title=\"The Mekong Big Bend by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8167\/7476352922_884b3fa3e0_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"The Mekong Big Bend\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>14.<\/strong> &#8211; The Pass at 14K<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7494719804\/\" title=\"The Pass at 14K by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8159\/7494719804_27cce37dc2_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"The Pass at 14K\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>15.<\/strong> &#8211; Prayer Flags at 14K<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7470442320\/\" title=\"Prayer Flags at 14K by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7114\/7470442320_da167361b7_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\" alt=\"Prayer Flags at 14K\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>16.<\/strong> &#8211; Temple at Feilaisi<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7472404396\/\" title=\"Temple at Feilaisi by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8167\/7472404396_728c80ddaa_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"Temple at Feilaisi\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>17.<\/strong> &#8211; Meido in Upper Yubeng<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7518308878\/\" title=\"Meido in Upper Yubeng by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8024\/7518308878_c43b80db03_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"Meido in Upper Yubeng\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>18.<\/strong> &#8211; A Days Work<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7457368894\/\" title=\"A Days Work by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7264\/7457368894_3114c97a25_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"A Days Work\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>19.<\/strong> &#8211; View Valley Down<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7530974088\/\" title=\"View Valley Down by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7276\/7530974088_e92cb5c86b_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\" alt=\"View Valley Down\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>20.<\/strong> &#8211; Smiling in the Rain<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7461080730\/\" title=\"Smiling in the Rain by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8155\/7461080730_71637f3143_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"Smiling in the Rain\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>21.<\/strong> &#8211; Can&#8217;t see the Forest for the Moss<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7538955590\/\" title=\"Can't see the Forest for the Moss by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7118\/7538955590_ba8a65bf56_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"Can't see the Forest for the Moss\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>22.<\/strong> &#8211; Stone Cold Hiking Machine<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7546020982\/\" title=\"Stone Cold Hiking Machine by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7107\/7546020982_a718a3fbde_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"Stone Cold Hiking Machine\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>23.<\/strong> &#8211; Through the Woods<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7463445048\/\" title=\"Through the Woods by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7131\/7463445048_a77e81d7b5_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"Through the Woods\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>24.<\/strong> &#8211; China or Pacific North West?<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7546012804\/\" title=\"China or Pacific North West? by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8426\/7546012804_e63d2d6994_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"China or Pacific North West?\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>25.<\/strong> &#8211; The Old man on the Stairs<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7463453804\/\" title=\"The Oldman on the Stairs by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8159\/7463453804_f07d76b390_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"The Oldman on the Stairs\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>26.<\/strong> &#8211; Smiles in the Rain<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7549629520\/\" title=\"Smiles in the Rain by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7130\/7549629520_b4419f4fa4_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\" alt=\"Smiles in the Rain\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>27.<\/strong> &#8211; Sidehill<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7526970050\/\" title=\"Sidehill by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8149\/7526970050_d68cdc4806_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"Sidehill\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>28.<\/strong> &#8211; Holy Lake<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7558404126\/\" title=\"Holy Lake by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7277\/7558404126_9db5c23476_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"Holy Lake\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>29.<\/strong> &#8211; Heel Clicking in the Rain<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7559014158\/\" title=\"Heel Clicking in the Rain by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8024\/7559014158_a3792c3860_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"Heel Clicking in the Rain\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>30.<\/strong> &#8211; Through the Moss<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7527000890\/\" title=\"Through the Moss by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8025\/7527000890_da8bf2ab92_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"Through the Moss\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>31.<\/strong> &#8211; Rounding<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7594575682\/\" title=\"Rounding by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8012\/7594575682_954e6d64d5_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"Rounding\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>32.<\/strong> &#8211; The Middle Tower<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7596798818\/\" title=\"The Middle Tower by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7134\/7596798818_597ce98fa2_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"The Middle Tower\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>33.<\/strong> &#8211; Pause to Admire<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7483285812\/\" title=\"Pause to Admire by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8145\/7483285812_cf3ab922a8_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"Pause to Admire\"><\/a><br \/>\n<strong>2.<\/strong> &#8211; <\/p>\n<p><strong>34.<\/strong> &#8211; Framed<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7612480136\/\" title=\"Framed by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7254\/7612480136_0075d43237_c.jpg\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Framed\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>35.<\/strong> &#8211; Hard Rain<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7614903894\/\" title=\"Hard Rain by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8002\/7614903894_0487995ae0_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"Hard Rain\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>36.<\/strong> &#8211; The Floyds<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7704056912\/\" title=\"The Floyds by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7251\/7704056912_cf0b5184b0_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"The Floyds\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>37.<\/strong> &#8211; The City Shone<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7673111374\/\" title=\"The City Shone by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7273\/7673111374_324635c7d7_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"The City Shone\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>38.<\/strong> &#8211; Saint Peng<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/niffgurd\/7691246382\/\" title=\"Saint Peng by Mark Griffith, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8283\/7691246382_5e9487a4dd_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" alt=\"Saint Peng\"><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>June and July were busy busy months and I never seem to get around to putting this together until now. We visited Xi&#8217;an, celebrated our anniversary, took a 10 day mancation to Yunnan and then winding down and geting ready to leave. This will be a long post. Click through on any photo for more &hellip; <a class=\"read-excerpt\" href=\"https:\/\/chinagriffith.com\/journal\/?p=241\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&raquo;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,31],"tags":[60,36,114,83,94],"class_list":["post-241","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-by-mark","category-photography","tag-bestof2012","tag-china","tag-photography","tag-xian","tag-yunnan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chinagriffith.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/241","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chinagriffith.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chinagriffith.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chinagriffith.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chinagriffith.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=241"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chinagriffith.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/241\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chinagriffith.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=241"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chinagriffith.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=241"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chinagriffith.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=241"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}