Awakening to the REAL   
 - Culture Discovery & Life in a Guangxi Dong Village 

​There is only one true retreat
and that is to remain in this undivided place
where duality and the world of meanings cease.

Let Truth be revealed inside your stillness.
Personal determination, 
knowledge or force alone
will not produce the desired result
of awakening to the Real.
Simply keep quiet and open to Grace.
Invite Her in with all your heart.
She listens and responds to your heart’s plea.
​

Length:  7 days, 6 nights            
Location: Guilin Guangnan
Timing: Dec 19-26 ( Matching the Dong Near Year ), All year around suitable

About the Retreat

This time, 
let us unveil the life of Dong Minority with its true life experiences.

live in the Dong village and travel back to its origins.
from nature to art, we will live the life of the local Dong.

Discuss in the "Dou", ( Dong Village's social center )
Sing the local tunes, and express life through music...

Share with the local child and encourage to draw the audacious dream,
sow the seeds into the little hearts and same to ours...

Every moment is the path towards,
the awakening to the Real....

Itinerary

Day 1 
"Guangnan Village..."

--:-- Gathering from Campus:
       First pick up : School Campus ;
      Second pick up : Follow school set up address
      (a break after two hours drive in high-way service area)

--:-- Flight to Guilin Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL)
       (flight number not clear yet)
       Arrive Guilin, bus pick from airport to Guangnan
       Arrival Village and introduction of the village history
18:00 Dinner together
19:00 Local Welcoming Singing Ceremony
22:00 Good sleep

Day 2  
“The Nature of Guangnan... ”

07:00  VitaStretching Opening of the day
08:00  Breakfast
08:30  Departure for a hike in the nature around, 15-20 KM Hike today.
          Around 3-4 hours hike to the local " King Worship Spot",
          natural forest, waterfall...
12:30  Road Lunch
13:30  Continue the hike
16:00  Hike back
17:00  Rest and reflective of the day
18:30  Local Dinner
19:30  Discovery the Humanity Sociology Research Topic
          Introduction the " Dou" of Dong Minority 
22:00  Sleep time

Day 3
 “The Artists of Dong...”

07:00  VitaStretching Opening of the day
08:00  Breakfast
09:00  Visit the local church and meet the local musician, get to know him and,
          with a demonstration of the bamboo instruments and performance on site.
          Also, a little bit of the history how Christianity comes into Guangnan. 
12:00  Local Lunch
14:00  Visit the local Pipa Workshop, the Guangnan "Wolrd Heritage Project - Pipa Song"               The couple who are the transmitter of the World Heritage Art will show us
          on site the making and performance of the art and workshop with us.
          Sharing time with the artists.
18:30  Dinner 
19:30  Dou time 
21:30  Stretching and rest

Day 4
​“Traditional agriculture & DTF ”

07:00  VitaStretching Opening of the day
08:00  Breakfast
09:00  Understand the local Traditional Agriculture Methodology
          Walk the trails for the agriculture, observe the old oil tea tree,
          - Learn how to make the biologic tea oil, the big sticky rice etc
          - Learn how the locals use the traditional way to preserves the food  ​          
          - how to use the Sticky Rice straw for the straw dragon & lions
12:00  Local lunch, like the normal man/women who works in the field,
          experience using the mountain spring cook sticky rice.
15:00  In the afternoon, after some rest, 
          we will visit the local primary school of over hundred years,
          get to know the students, and as outsider to mingle with the kids.
          "Draw The Future"
           together in team with the local children,
          Make teams mingle with visitors and local children,
          Brainstorming as a team, and on a big paper to draw together the dreamed future.
          Sharing as team the result "Drawing of the FUTURE"
          Each leader share feeling of collaboration within team, especially local child
19:00  Local Dinner
21:00  Exercise, stretching and rest

Day 5
“The Unesco artist of Dong Jin Cloth... ”

07:00  VitaStretching Opening of the day
08:00  Breakfast
09:00  Free time in the village,
          Dress up like a local Dong, walk around like a normal villager,
​          take your phote & videos
12:00  Local Lunch
14:00  Visit the Unesco art form transmission artist of Dong Jin
          Learn on site the making and performance of the art and workshop with us.
          Sharing time with the artists.
18:30  Dinner 
19:30  Dou time 
21:30  Stretching and rest

Day 6
“Architecture Visit & Summary before the leave”

07:00  VitaStretching Opening of the day
08:00  Breakfast
09:00  Today, we will get into the Dong Architecture and its history
          looking for the bridges, patagons & towers...
12:00  Local Lunch
14:00  Summary of the stay in Dong village
15:30  Leaving for Guilin
18:30  Checking hotel & Local Dinner
21:00  Back to hotel and good rest

Day 7

08:00 Breakfast
09:00 Departure for a day discovery tour in Guilin
12:00 Local Lunch
 --:--  Late afternoon Arrival Airport ( flight not confirm yet on timing )
 --:--  Arrival Shanghai and send back to Campus
​
Included
- All transportation from Campus and return 
- Insurance
- All Meals as per itinerary from Day 1 till last day lunch
- Local workshops as itinerary describes
- Accommodation as the itinerary

Not Included
- Activities and expenses not mentioned in the itinerary
- Last day dinner
       
Equipment
​
- Hiking shoes
- Hiking jacket/pants or rain proof jacket,
-  Weather protection according to season,
   In spring summer: Long sleeves TS, quick dry sports clothes
   in winter warm layers fleece, quick dry inner layers, down jacket depend on season
- Mountain sunglasses, Lip balm, and sun protection
- Backpack 50-60L for luggage (suggest not to bring suitcase)
- Drinking bottle (no plastic bottles because refill is often with boiled water)
- Some snacks as you wish
- Personal medical care
- Personal washing kit, like towel, Toothpaste toothbrush

Celebrate life, Spring, Autumn, Winter, Summer…
Every encounter, every connection,
open and devote to the total abundance of NOW

No matter who you are or where you are from…
Come and join us at the moment like family together.
Simply, we were born to be…

 

 

 

  

Some Local Experience/Workshops 
(we will choose time during the days to conduct )
​
Hiking Workshop

The night before our hike,
there will be a basic hiking workshop covering:
How to dress hiking jackets,
How to walk with hiking poles,
How to start a hike,
What are the key prevention points during a hike.
Outdoor disciplines 
​  
Local Bamboo Instrument Music 

We will visit a local famous singer with his making of bamboo music instrument and perform with the instrument.
Learn how the instrument is made and listen to his stories about art.

Dong Pipa Workshop

Visit the local Pipa Workshop, the Guangnan "Wolrd Heritage Project - Pipa Song"
The couple who are the transmitter of the World Heritage Art will show us on site the making
and performance of the art and workshop with us.
Sharing time with the artists.

Dong Jing Workshop

Visit the Unesco art form transmission artist of Dong Jin
Learn on site the making and performance of the art and workshop with us.
Sharing time with the artists.

​​Enjoy your vitality,
devote to the Present and experience nature with serenity…
See you soon!

  
​

-> INFORMATION & BOOKING