John Locher, world traveler, lover of all things China, and tour leader for our Spirit of China trip, guests this week on Halle’s blog.

Recently in my spiritual life, I have fallen in love with China…

How do you answer when someone asks why you fell in love with a person? Often the answer sounds something like: “I just know.” This was China’s surprise for me.

The best love is when it catches you off guard. Surprise love grips you. It fascinates you and consumes you. China reminds me of a beehive and I am Winnie the Pooh. I am amazed at the bees, what they are doing, and how they make the honey. In my Asia Travel, how do I enjoy some of that? It is an intriguing mystery that demands my attention, scaling my own Great Wall. I have a fondness for the grandeur, traditions, spiritual life, and the people. I am captivated and must try to understand. Isn’t this the definition of love?

I did not know what to expect when I visited the first time during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Who knew I would travel there seven more times since! And I cannot get enough. Perhaps growing up with news of China as Nixon helped open it up, and all the decades of Asia Travel stories since, cast a curious expectation. My trips have taken me to the Great Wall, to China Travel Expos, Beijing Tourism events, scouting for upcoming trips, and taken several groups to expand their spiritual life. The next group trip cannot come too soon. The more I discover the more I want to go.

What makes a Spirit Quest Tour to China so unique? We have a mix of exclusive access, a unique custom approach, expert teachers, hand-picked guides and the leeway to get it right. We provide a “just-right” paced tour with a plethora of educational opportunities during our Asia Travel. We balance your time with history, including a private visit to the Great Wall, our own handpicked experts and local colorful characters, the spiritual life of the locals (such as Tai Chi), incredible dining including a Dim Sum feast, modern life in some of the greatest cities in China, the arts and of course, fun! The itinerary is molded right up to our final deadlines to match the desires of our guests. Every traveler is different. The sharing of experiences with each other allows us to feel things in new ways. I can’t wait to fall in love all over again…