Lots of dog barkings and lots and lots of dreams in between. Giving a hug to Sophie, watching Brian cut open a car tire, in anger as usual, body fighting to hold down my soul to stay in this body but it wanted to raise up, flew toward the woods, birch and aspen trees, the green leaves I could only see through an oval-shaped prism. Then there were lights shining on me, pale yellow to bright, I could see through my third eye. Oh, let the light in, what a powerful feeling. Then, I opened my two normal eyes and it was still dark out.

I shall come back here just to dream some dreams.

Daerji called and said he had arranged a couple of elders in the village to see me. After breakfast, Sangji and I walked a few houses over to a two-story brick building. Upstairs, all the nice bright orange furnitures and two big stoves in the middle. Compared with Sangji, they must be quite affluent. The old lady held a new born boy by the window. The old man smoked cigarette. I was offered to sit by the old man.

Daerji and Sangji helped me briefed the old man. Even though I couldn’t understand what they were speaking, I could guess they were retelling some of the stories of last summer, when I came and rode with them to see the sand dunes and that both of them were “selling” me to the old man. Eventually, everybody was ready. The old man looked full of emotion when he spoke on camera. What could I do to fully honor their trust?

I really like the look of the old lady, her very wrinkled smile radiated happiness. Not much she could say though, just smiled in shyness.

The next family in the next village. The elder had left the village to go to Langmusi, so the son talked instead. He was funny and talked very eloquently. Their house was an old wooden one that looked really pretty. Even they have already had a house, the government still insisted on building a new brick house for them, and of course, they have to get a loan to pay it back. The wife could say a bit Mandarin so we talked while she breast-fed their little new born. Loved her look by the fire. I wished I had more questions for her as she seemed very eager to talk.

After having another meal, Sangji took me back home to wait for Baisang who just came back from Langmusi. We went back to his home which is almost done decorating and talked very briefly. When he was young, Baisang ran away to India and spent some time there as a monk. One of Sangji’s brother ran away to India as well and stayed there. Lots of story here if I dig deep enough.

Bo was already waiting while we were at Baisang’s. He followed us back to Sangji’s and I bid a quick farewell to the family. He offered me a yellow Khada on my way out — I’m truly honored. What can I do for them in return?

Can’t say I’ve gotten too much great footage for this stay, but at least, it strengthened my relationship with the herders in these villages. It’s hard to say I’ve gotten a story yet, since for people in this village, their lifestyle hasn’t changed that much, something not quite what I perceived last time. Their nomadic practice still remains, and it’s really hard to show the slow changing environment. I need to come back to film them move houses and yak herds next time. Or, the better question, why am I so hard on myself for doing all these? Maybe I can help them with making something with yak fur? Or have scholars here to study the causes of the desertification and make suggestions? What? What? The call of adventure always win.