Early in the morning on July 23 I found myself back to the same spot where my life 56 years ago literally started in Altay , the far northwestern corner of China. I chose to paint standing on a bridge arched over Kolan River there. On my left located on the bank of the river you will still find the local hospital where I was born, on my right you will still find the local high school which I attended from grade 1 to 12. Just down below the river about hundred yard away, you will still find the small neighborhood where my childhood adobe house used to stand. Right in front of me remain standing there the peaks of Altay Mountain Range. And above all, it was right on the river bank one day when I was about 6 years old that I first encountered a plein air oil painter who had casted such a spell over me right there and then . While painting there I drew quite a crowd of curious people. They would never have guessed that I was from so far away and yet rooted so close by!
