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Welcome to the bridge, John St. Augustine here in Chicago. Delighted to have you joining us from all over the world at triple W. WC RW 11 ninety.com. Of course New York City and of course, Washington DC on 1190 Am I can't tell you how excited I am today. Because my good friend who Young is finally back from her extended assignment on designated assignment. And Music Monday is just not the same without her. Three weeks ago, Linda, you stepped in very gracious and had some great music choices. We had a great conversation. Two weeks ago, I pushed the rest of the team in Bay Bay bailed on me but I got Leo yen and SimCity and we had a great time. And last week, I put together the best of what I thought was some of the best musical guests we've had the past year like Heidi Newfield and Steve Dorf, and air supply and David Stoddard and KT Tunstall in the Playing For Change. It was just a great outing, but it's not the same. It's just not the same, unless I have my friend into the highly regarded broadcast journalist who young joining me from Beijing.
Hey, John, thank you for that intro. And I've missed you. I've missed the bridge. I'm so happy to be back on the show and have some good music to share with all of you.
Mm hmm. Well, we had some pinch hitters, as we call it in baseball here. Linda, you as well, a pinch hitter is like you've never heard the term.
I have no idea and sports lingo is simply not my thing. So please explain.
Let me happily pass this along. And I expect to use you use this in Beijing at some point and people go What the heck are you talking about? Baseball, you have your regular nine guys in the lineup, right? You have first baseman all you have nine guys in the field. And when somebody isn't hitting, they'll send in what's called a pinch hitter to to hit for that guy. So it's a pinch hitter. So when the regular person is not batting, a pinch hitter steps in and so you were not batting for the last few weeks, we had pinch hit or step in for you.
Oh, well, thank you. And make sense. Yes, it is. And I've checked out some of the previous shows on Apple podcasts of the bridge. And it's so much fun. And you guys have a great giggle over many things.
Yes, we do. And I have to tell you, Linda, you was I had to talk her into it a little bit. She is a she's a hardcore news woman. You know, I mean, she's she's on the headlines, even though she's retired. But she does have an affection for music and she has affection for you. She told me to pass along her best wishes. And well, thank you so much. And she stepped in and she had done all her diligence. She had all the background stuff and on the music and she did a really, really good job. And I sent her the link when the show was up and she said you know me, I don't go back and listen to anything I've done. And I'm like, come on, it was so much fun. So I haven't heard back yet. But hopefully she had a chance to do that. And like I mentioned baybay kind of jumped out she didn't want to do any music but sipsey and Leo yen stepped in. We had a very eclectic mix. I'm here to tell you because Leo Yen's tastes, and since these tastes are not John's tastes, but that's what it's all about.
Alright, well, I I know, John. Well, John, I know for um, to some extent, what you like. Yeah. I know for sure. That little Yeah. is very different.
That was an interesting conversation. Yeah.
Did he make you play some like rap music? Pop?
I knew it. Yeah. And actually, quite frankly, there was a couple he asked for like, these are not radio friendly. There's some words in there that will get in trouble for so let's not use those. So we worked around that. But yeah, he was all about that.
Yeah, well, sometimes. The music taste of your friend. It's not that predictable. Yeah, there you go. But once you know it, I think you just kind of know this extra layer. Yes, this person.
Yeah. Well, that's what allowed me to help with the lineup. Look, you've been on the road weeks. And you know, we're gonna do this first song. And then I want you to come back and kind of tell everybody what you've been up to because it's been fascinating. We've stayed in touch a little bit. We talked yesterday and got ready for today. So because I know you pretty well. I picked out your playlist for you.
Oh, well, this is a first and I'm excited about it.
I'll drop the needle on the first one. We'll come back into Talk on the other side about your adventures all right,
let's do that
What about sun What about arrays? Who are the things that you said we were to gain? What about killings? Is there a time who thought about all things that just said your mind Did you notice have a blood shed before Did you notice this crying?
We've done to the liquid we've done it all the piece that you play at your own
Is there a child about all dreams that just set your mind Did you notice all the children did you know? Use the glass beyond
There are not many songs that I would call a masterpiece. But boy oh boy, that is if that's not one, I don't know, what is
an every time, especially, you know, towards the course but it's like it pounds on my heart so, so much. And every time after listening to Earth Song, especially I think in recent years, it it just makes me just sort of, well, I miss Michael Jackson a lot such a great talent. And also just, you know, for like, I think this song came out in 1995. Yeah. So, so many years ago, and then this musician, this artist, and he already saw, you know, what is something still so hugely relevant today? Yeah. Yeah. Quite incredible.
Yeah, the great ones. have that foresight. You know, they, they write these things, they stand the test of time, and so many great songs, you look at them 1020 3040 years later and saying, you know, they wrote this during, let's say, the Vietnam protests in the 60s. And it applies today, which means we're not moving real fast, unfortunately. But tell me about where you've been my friend what's been going on?
Okay, well, if you listen to the bridge, which I know you do, and you probably know that I am based in Beijing. And this time, I've had this very rare opportunity to go on a reporting trip to Tibet. the Tibet Autonomous Region is very far from Beijing. So this time, well, we managed to fly to Sydney, which is the capital of Ching Hai province, and that is in pretty much the south west part of China. And then we took the train from seening to Lhasa and that last up being the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region and this train line goes 2600 And something kilometers long. And it was a 22 hour train ride.
You're able is it like us like the sleeper cars and all that are you to sit this chair were you able to lay down?
Well, yes, we did take the sleeper train and I happened to get the top burger. Oh, so you know usually there are three the bunk beds lined you know, on top of each other in the sleeper car and also you get you know, luxurious sleeper car, which you only have like two beds lined horizontally on top of each other. Yeah, and we didn't get luxury couldn't first Yeah, yeah. And also this As peak season, and it's a really good time to travel to Tibet for multiple reasons. One being that during summertime, the weather's so much nicer. And you get more oxygen, because, you know, the trees, the plants, you know, they're in full bloom for Lush. So Tibet is so beautiful. And it's great to go there. But I have to tell you something, John, I think myself and our team we achieved definitely something of a personal best. Okay, that is, we did a radio show, on the train to Tibet.
So it was while it was moving.
Yes, of course. And you know, when when, when you're kind of also feeling a little bit dizzy, and some people throw up. Some people like myself, yeah, I was getting a little bit of the high altitude sickness, but it will fully kick in once you get to Tibet, because of the altitude of Tibet is on average, like more than 4300 meters. Let me see what would that be in feet. So definitely above 10,000 feet above sea level. And that's Tibet, but on the train when we passed the town Gula mountain pass. That's the highest point on the railway that connects Tibet and Ching Hai. And that was above 5000 meters. So more than 1700 17,000 feet. Yeah, yeah. Wow. level. And that's what we were doing. The recording for the the radio show. And it was crazy. And because I guess we were so focused on work, and then we didn't realize, you know, yeah, says the, the highest point is trip. And then it got really quiet like other people were like, yeah, the trade I think they were they were taking a moment of rest. And then for us, and after doing the show, we're like, oh, so exhausted. Sure. And then our producer was like, Yeah, you just passed. Tong. Gula mountain pass. Wonder. Yeah, but that was very cool. And you have something to tell my grandchildren maybe,
right? I mean, that's like a very rare opportunity. I've there's a couple places I've always thought about in my mind. As I was since I was a kid Tibet, one of them Australia was one of them. And, you know, Tibet was always this mysterious place somewhere, you know, just mountains in mystery and things. And, you know, of course, that's just in my mind reading books when I was a little kid, but to know that you've actually been there and to share that a little bit. That's very, very cool.
Oh, well, it's definitely a trip worthwhile taking and I recommend it to anybody who is up for a little bit of challenge physically. And also good way to put it. I hope you are in like, you know, top form of health Right, right. Yeah. And before we left, some people said that Oh, it's you know, the really big guys you know, like you know, with a lot of muscle content on on a nice guys would feel it the most Oh, sure. I bet. But it's not always true. Like on our team, some of the like, camera guys. They're huge. And very tall. Or like, you know, somebody like you John, you know, I know you. You're very tall and you do your your body building stuff. And our dear friend baybay once called you tall and
thick and heavy, oh, thick and heavy and she says it's a really it's a compliment, John. Okay, not right.
I understand that. I understand that she must meant it in the best way. Yeah, so, in theory, it would be a little bit more possibly difficult for you to maybe get climatized as opposed to me smaller person
can be 100% True.
But no like, I suffered from this mountains sickness or high altitude sickness from beginning to end 14 days. And, and the camera crew like some of the guys, they were like fine after a couple of days. So it's kind of hard to tell like it kind of depends on yet the cards that you're dealt by God your constitution
or your your your frame your machinery, everybody's a little different, the highest I've ever been hiking has been in Colorado, and that's just over a mile up like 5280 feet, maybe a little bit higher than that 6000 feet. So a mile up in the air. That's why they call Denver the Mile High City, you can definitely tell, but you get acclimated within, for me, it's like three or four hours. It's and then then I'm fine. You know a lot of water, you may have a little headache, and you kind of move on from it. But I can't imagine being up that height 17,000 feet. And that's like when you start to need oxygen at some point, you know?
Oh, yes. And oxygen is you know, so sweet. Once you get
makes you appreciate breathing, doesn't it?
Oh, yes. When you can breathe. That's the most important thing.
So great. So when you got back, and you were on sea level, what was it like for your body then? I mean, did it? Did you? You were okay, right away? Did you have to readjust?
Well, I got sick. So as in I got a hold. Oh, yeah. So once I was back, it felt great. You know. Like now if you have amazingly fast railway highway that connects the Tibet Autonomous Region to the other parts of China and like you can get there within a day. Well, if you take the flight, then it's only a matter of like, four hours or so from Beijing. So that's the easy way, you know, but by train, you get to see this, you know, very unique and beautiful scenery along the way, which is nice, but I can see the merit to flying there to
your right. But anyhow,
like the high altitude and then like still, at the end of the day, you realize the harsh environmental sort of, and just the climate on the plateau. So even till today, although you know, with technology and development and and so much, it's much, much better than what it used to be like, you know, decades ago. But once I'm back in Beijing, I'm still, you know, just so delighted.
Now, I got to ask you the big question, you ready?
Let's go.
Did you see the Yeti man?
Ah, I've been wandering about the Yeti man since I was, well, primary school students. And this was possibly the closest chance to get in the vicinity of one and I did not see him.
Big place you could be hiding anywhere.
Yeah, it's such a beautiful place. Basically, now in the cities such as Lhasa she gets or Nenshi these are the cities that I've been to like, they're surprisingly modern, like, very convenient to live there. Like you can get a taxi you can hail a cab, or one of those Uber. Car hailing apps are used they're in and it's called DD in China. And like food delivery, and also like you can, oh, public bathhouses, really? Yeah. Because I think traditionally if it was, let's say like maybe herdsman like they don't, they would take baths in the hot water. Sure, bring Sure yeah. And then gradually as people move into the city, you know, and adopt the urban life style. Not everybody used to have, you know, the bathing facilities. Oh, yeah. For the showering facilities at home, so there's the demand of having these public bath houses and and yeah, like, you know, there's that and what else all and and ride sharing as it oh my gosh, yeah the
Chicago public baths
Yeah, these public baths are quite kind of fun, like they have these, like individual shower rooms, and then you just, you know, pay 20 yuan or so. So I'd be like, less than $3 and then you can take a one hour shower or whatnot. But but but you can if you want. Yeah, and I saw people like local people, you know, really? enjoying the experience? Yeah.
I bet. Well, sounds like a great time.
Yeah, it was definitely eye opening very different from what I'm used to, like, I've lived in, you know, Beijing line. Work and I Oh, actually, in the US, yeah. Very different kind of natural climates. And therefore, I think it breeds very different kind of lifestyle and what's all what's really heartwarming as the hospitality of the local people in Tibet and, and because, even till today, like most of the local Tibetan people, they are Tibetan Buddhists, believers, and, and also there in Tibet is actually very much a multi ethnicity, place, and you've got ethnic minorities of other types and men, they have their own music, fashion, religion, and, and also, of course, Han people there too. So it's, it's Yeah, I guess harmonious might be the word that comes to mind that, you know, people have different beliefs and ethnicity, but, you know, pursue, pursue their, their, their, their lat own religion and also, you know, religious beliefs. Also just wanting a good good life, and, and, and getting on with their lives, and it was just so great to sort of witness what's going on there. And also, you know, get to talk to some of the local people I wish we had more time to know like, experience what it's really like living in Tibet, because for us, you know, on a reporting trip, rushing around a lot, and but just getting, you know, a glimpse of life in Tibet is already really rewarding. And I would recommend anybody if you have a chance to come and visit and, and form your own sort of perception of what it's really like, they're like, people they're actually we tend to romance the size like oh, you know, being a herzman You know, owning like 100 sheep and and Oh, yaks, you know, that's
gotta have a good yak I'm a huge fan of yaks. I've always been a fan.
Well, this kind of Castle they have very long hair. Yes. And they're strong and sturdy. And
like thick and heavy. You see why I appreciate them so much.
Now I have a better idea. That's it. And they are truly a treasure of the nomads people in Tibet I think they they use use the Yaks for leaving to to make blankets and cloth out of it. And also people eat yak meat. Wow. Yeah, I
don't know about that part that I do okay with the other stuff. But I remember from my yak studies back in the day that when yak I run a herd most cattle just kind of clump together but yak all put their rear ends together and face out the circle. Everybody's looking out, you know this?
Um, I haven't really heard about that. But I did hear that you know yaks, like traditionally until today like it's sort of like what do you call that light? Like, like the boat on the high high plateau so proverbially, I guess it's just very important, a way of transportation and also they exist in just various respects.
Yes. Yes, very versatile animal. Yeah, yeah,
you can definitely tell that. Yeah. Well,
if I did go to Tibet, I'd have one thing I'd be hiring a guide to find the Yeti man. Much like you. I've been enamored with the Yeti man and hammered with Bigfoot enamored with Loch Ness Monster. These are things that I've just seen. I studied on him. I've read upon him ever since I was a little kid. And there was a there's a movie out like in search of the Yeti or I don't know what the heck was called The Abominable Snowman or something. And it was done in the 1950s it's kind of a black and white schlocky sci fi movie, but it was wasn't bad. And, you know, once I watch something like that, I'm like, Alright, I know they're out there. Where they at? I want to go see the Yeti, man. So
the Yeti MAN Yeah. Hey, John, how would you feel if you know? All proven to be real?
I'd feel so great. I think that are real. I would. I think that our world needs those magical things. You know, I always bring up the coelacanth Have I ever told you about the coelacanth who? Yeah, I don't think so. John. All right, time for the coelacanth talks. So the coelacanth is, is a is a lobed fish. So it's, it's got five fins on it. And it's got, you know, front dorsal fins and rear delts or fins and then the top fin and the dorsal fins almost looked like legs were there once so it's either becoming inland animal or was Atlanta animal. Anyway, they thought the coelacanth was extinct like 35 million years ago. There's their, you know, fossils and everything. In 1934 Off the coast of South Africa by Durban. A trawler pulled up a fish nobody recognized. And guess what it was? A coelacanth? Oh, so my thing is if a sealer and they found hundreds of them since but everybody thought they were extinct. And they were gone. There wasn't any but there are coelacanths so whenever I get into this little discussion about these other possibilities, I always talk about the coelacanth. There's the it could happen
that is so funny.
Anyway, but listen, I got a we got a couple more songs to get to and I one of my favorite rock bands is the Rolling Stones. Everybody knows him around the world. And last week, the drummer for the Rolling Stones Charlie Watts passed away at 80 years old. And to think that he was still playing at his age. Were there all those guys? I think Mick Jagger is like 147 Keith, Keith Richards 202 or 300 years old. These guys were amazing. But anyway, Charlie, they're back out on tour. He stayed back in London. He wasn't feeling well and he passed away and it was a very sad thing. So in honor of Charlie Watts, and one of my favorite rock bands, here's my favorite Rolling Stone song because it also has a nice subliminal message to it.
Today at the reset Have a glass of wine I knew she was going to meet her connect at a fee was fun you can always get what you owe you can always get what you owe you can always get what you want do this demonstration to get my fair share of abuse if we're going to blow a 50 amp fuse Can you can watch we just win to the gym to get yo prescription fee we missed the gym a man we decided that we will have a flavor Why are you just mad? T shirt in a glance was bleeding she was practiced at the Art well I could tell by blood. On time
Think the subliminal message in that song as you can always give it to very subtle.
It sort of gets stuck in your head after listening. Yeah. What a great song.
Classic, another classic and that that's like the lesson in life. You know, I those guys put that into a song in 1969. And every time I hear it, it's the reminder that you can't always get what you want. But you always get what you need. I always like to add, may not just be the way you want it. And I think if we find ourselves in difficult circumstances, maybe there's something in there we need, but we just may not want it. And there's a big difference between what needs so great reminder for me every time I hear that, and, you know, again, what, uh, uh, lost to have Charlie Watts passed away, but the man was at I mean, you know, come on, and he was with the Rolling Stones for almost 60 years. Amazing.
Wow. Yeah. So many years. Yeah. And the Rolling Stones, they're still one of the most successful bands. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. And maybe it takes, you know, having a good band, dad and a mom. kind of figure in the band to hold it together. Like some people say that, you know, Mick Jagger, he's maybe the dad and Keith Richards, Keith Richards. And he's, he's the mom, kind of person on the team. I don't know. But, but it's, yeah, it's always fascinated me how these bands managed to stick together because a lot of them break down after reaching. Oh, yeah. Yeah.
I remember. I read a story the other day about how the dynamics of this band I mean, these guys are as big as it's ever gotten, arguably as big as the Beatles, right, you know, so. I apparently one time Charlie was the steady Eddie and the whole group. He didn't go out much. When they're on the road. He was in bed early. You know, he's like the old grandfather. So apparently, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards comes rolling in to the hotel about five o'clock in the morning after being out all night. Jagger says I'm going to call Charlie and wake them up. And Keith Richards says Don't call him and wake them up. Well, Mick Jagger call them anyway. And all he said was, where's my drummer? And he hung up the phone. And about 15 minutes later, there's a knock on Keith Richard and Mick Jagger's hotel door. And it's Charlie Watts standing there. Five o'clock in the morning. Totally showered, totally dressed like he just he. He got out of bed. He got all ready. He was barely Natalie dressed and ready for the day. And he walks right past Keith Richards up to Mick Jagger and says I'm not your drummer. You're my singer. Don't ever forget it and punched him right in the nose. Love it. Yeah. Somebody's putting Mick in his place. Yeah. So funny. One of the other songs that that I racked up all of your stuff goes into a folder and you know we got folders everywhere. But one of the songs you offered up was from Yo Yo Ma and Coco.
Oh, Coco Lee Yeah, yeah, that was from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Yes,
it was. Yeah, love that film. Love that film. So let's drop the needle on this one okay.
The sky the sea Yo yo
in the. One of my favorite movies of all time?
Crouching Tiger, Dragon? Yes, yeah. What really, you know? Capture interest?
Well Chow Yun Fat is an amazing actor. I just thought he was just top notch as libo by Yes, yes. just top notch. And, and I don't recall the name of the actress that played up opposite him she's very famous. Michelle young? Yes, correct. And she was outstanding and the story had to be captured, like right out of the gate. But the special effects. Yeah, they're running across the bamboo and fly just thought it over the top great over the
Yeah, the aesthetics of that movie and everything else and also on Lee's direction. The film, you know, that was all I think the stars aligned that yes made it a masterpiece like the I remember when I chose the song for the bridge revisited some of the snippets of the movie and for a Chinese person who enjoys reading the Wuxia novels are these martial arts novels and I did when I was a teenage girl and what onli managed to do was sort of really kind of teleport what has been portrayed in these novels in onto the movie screen. And it visualizes, you know, the really poetic scenes that you read from the novel and it was just really great to be able to see it Yeah. Sort of live up your imagination. Wow Yeah.
Well, I I was that was captivating to me all the performances were great. It was not without you know, the martial arts part which I've always enjoyed. Big Bruce Lee fan you know, amazing all that stuff. And but it was there was enough comedic edge in there. You know, to keep the thing moving and stuff but The Chow Yun Fat playing that that character with such stoicism in such integrity and such discipline was just so interesting to me because he I mean it just was really amazing I don't nothing about the characters I had no background I just saw the movie when it came out and I was just captivated by his performance of this man who was so disciplined that he lost loved because of it. Ah, you know yes, right yeah, right so yeah, so him and Michelle young they they were they kept trying to get together never happen and he was always about the greater calling and it was hard for him was really interesting. Yeah,
and I think that's character that of Li mu by played by Chow Yun Fat is the ideal of what a swords man slash almost intellect
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Very smart.
Yeah, and that's what like traditionally Chinese people look up to for in the best kind of man
a great inner strength yeah had in that movie and you know I I don't nothing about him as an actor. I've seen him in some of the other theater bulletproof mugs and that was fine but that that performance in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, you know what's gonna happen I'm gonna have to watch it now again for the 12th time because we talked about but anyway, time to wrap this one up. Who young so glad to have you back. It's so good to hear your voice and my arrogance 7000 miles away. I'm glad the trip was a little daunting but rewarding for you. And just good to hear you back again.
Well, it's so good to be back on the show with you John. And always a pleasure to be on the bridge and yes, I think I'm still sort of taking my time to get back used to the normal pace of life and also trying to sort of let it sink in and come up with my reflection of what the trip to Tibet has. has turned out to be And yes, I'm glad to share the experience on the bridge with you. Thank you so much for spending time with us have a beautiful day we'll see you again on the bridge
thank you for being a friend traveled down the road and back again. Your heart is true you're a bell and a car
I'm not ashamed to say I hope it always will stay this way. My hat is off. Just stand up and take a bow
potty invited everyone you knew who you see the biggest gift would be me and the God of dance would say thank you
bag bag bag you for me it's a car you leg. I totally buy you a Cadillac. Whatever you need in a time of the day I'm not ashamed to say I always stay this way. My hat is off to stand up and say goodbye with walking Kayden hair even though I will stand