Beijing, China

It just felt like coming home even though I have not been there since 1994...memories still vivid in my mind from the time long ago...I am trying hard to recognize places and sights but without much success...this city has changed so much that even some of the most traditional landmarks feel so different...even before the Olympics, Beijing has dawned the new look, but the historic event in 2006 just took it to the whole new level….still, even with the whole new outside, deep within for some strange reason this place feels the most familiar to Belgrade out of all the points on the globe. It is funny how things come to full circle in life….just like over a decade ago I made the journey together with my mom, which made it that much more special...not only to be able to re live some of the moments myself but to also be able to see my mom make the same trip down her memory lanes was priceless.

Spending Sunday among the people of Beijing at the Temple of Heaven was once again an incredible experience…walking around and just absorbing the atmosphere of unity and togetherness every step of the way…Whether coming together to sing, dance, or meditate on their own, every step of this magnificent place breathes with how life should be for all of us: happy, content, and full of little things that make it. 

From there on to the Forbidden City, and whether you are there like me, to retrace the steps from 15 years ago or like many others steps of the hundreds years of history, royal families and ordinary people, it just feels like a special place. Knowing that you are sharing the same cobblestones and sights with the history of this magnificent country and its center once upon a time is feeling like no other. Today I appreciated it even more than while running through it as a 15-year old boy :-) 

Also we got to spend some time with Milanko, our long time family friend and his family…we got to immerse our selves in some of the local life which came as a perfect balance to all the tourist things you usually do on the road…And as I said, the whole week felt just like coming home…Coming home to some dear people, dear places and above all sharing it with my mom…a perfect recollection of yesterday, today, and 15 years in between….