Still looking for my matriarch. That’s it for the China videos, at least for now. Had to cut the trip short just a bit. But still, 10 videos, that’s a full season right there. I originally thought these might be the first and last videos I ever made of China, but I’m thinking now I should go back for more. Hopefully I haven’t been permabanned from the country. It’s a beautiful country full of adventures to be had-as long as forget about the elephant in the room for awhile. 

 See you in the next one, 下次见

@bazketcase117

6 ай бұрын

I enjoy all your videos no matter what country it is.. Hope you get to feeling better and bring us many, many more. Thanks Brother.

@craighughes536

6 ай бұрын

You definetely are my favourite linguistical travelling KZreadr.. Keeping Xiamanyc on his toes..and to get a Chinese wife is definetely right round the corner

@GardenerEarthGuy

6 ай бұрын

China videos rule!

@user-wi6sg4oi6p

6 ай бұрын

世上本无事，庸人自扰之。有时事别臆想太多，尤其你还是个游客

@davidlericain

6 ай бұрын

Is Taiwan a possibility at some point?

As a Chinese American, I built a hope school in yunnan China while I was in China. The hope school is called: 佳桥阳光希望小学 in 腾冲。 If anyone goes to Yunnan you guys can go visit there and say hi to the 200 kids there.

@user-dt6xb4ux8i

4 ай бұрын

great！👍

@junyinghuang4909

3 ай бұрын

你是一个大善人

@yoingen

11 күн бұрын

好人有好报。

I searched online and there's a spanish anthropologist named Anna Boyé who's an expert on matriarchal societies and spent some time with the Mosuo.

@Ekopasterpraiseyah

6 ай бұрын

THE WHOLE WEST IS A MATRIARCHAL SOCIETY ,THE FOOL EVERYONE TO THINK IS FIFFERENT .EVEN THE NAME MARRIAGE COMES FROM THE WORD MOTHER.

@tonybaloney6656

6 ай бұрын

Unreal series thanks , looking forward to many more, China so different and interesting

@dlasky

6 ай бұрын

It must be her.

@zhangzes

6 ай бұрын

因为经济和旅游业的发展，对摩梭族人冲击很大，有些摩梭族家族开始分裂，兄弟之间会为了房产而打官司。

@benthekeeshond545

6 ай бұрын

@@zhangzes Isn't that normal Homosapien behavior? Even siblings fight over money. Two groups of people who share the same ancestry became deadly enemies. This is the year 2023, we now have 2 ongoing wars fought between closely related people. Siblings fighting over property is nothing compared to fighting between 2 groups of people but it is the same analogy. It is unfortunate that there are many reasons for us to fight.

Mosuo has two tribes, one in Yunan, one in Sichuan. The Yunan tribe is officially of Mosuo (aka Naxi) ethnicity, while the Sichuan tribe, yes the old man was right, are actually categorized as Mongolians. The old man knows his history.

@achtungbaby2009

6 ай бұрын

The mongols in sichuan was part of the defeated mongols of the yuan/Ming dynasty period. They retreated & surrendered to the Ming dynasty. stayed in the remote hills as farmers/peasants.

@l.d.landau8846

6 ай бұрын

you know a lot

@joemam12

5 ай бұрын

Mosuo and Naxi are two different minorities. I believe it was the CCP that labeled them as one (perhaps because of similar geography). The Naxi have their own distinctive ancient script, almost like pictographs, and I believe do not claim Mongolian ancestry.

@APDM_OSINT

5 ай бұрын

@@joemam12 Mosuo people call themselves Naxi people, Mosuo is a exonym. They are related but different subgroups. Just like Han Chinese has many subgroups.

@mewsuen2325

2 ай бұрын

​@@joemam12you should find proofs not just saying "I believe"😂

I‘m from China and I learnt a lot about my country from your videos, exellent work! Hope u get well soon and welcome back!

Tommy thanks so much for your videos. I lived in northeast China for 3 years teaching English. It’s such a beautiful country, and when I was there, about 15 years ago, my students and colleagues were welcoming and curious about all things western. I wanted to go to Yunnan but never made it. Thanks again for a taste of their culture.

@Hi-Nikola

6 ай бұрын

hi ,teacher . There are many schools in China that have foreign teachers, including my high school ,but I was too shy to say hi to these teachers when I was in school .

@joybird5495

6 ай бұрын

@@Hi-Nikola you should say hello to your teacher. I really liked getting to know my students. They often helped me with Chinese. And sometimes when I was lonely they cheered me up. Where do you live.

@Hi-Nikola

6 ай бұрын

@@joybird5495 I live in Wuhan

@Hi-Nikola

6 ай бұрын

​@@joybird5495 if I have chance ,I have to greet with them.

@chenwu944

6 ай бұрын

Hi,teacher.I remember in the summer of 2008,there are two American college students came to my high school located in a remote mountain town in Jiangxi for a few days.The boy's name is Kyle,the girl's name is Kate,they gave a lesson to us in our classroom,they teach us english and shared their feels and thougts.That was the first and only time l ever met Americans,they were so nice.I really appreciate them.May God bless them.

I hope you come back to China! Thank you for taking us there! You are awesome! We love you! Taking care of yourself! See you soon! 下次见！

So sorry you got sick. Yours is one of my favorite KZread channels and I hope you are well enough to get out there again soon. Your presence is invaluable.✌️😊

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences Tommy. How stunning was that landscape once again!? The beauty even on a screen is making me slightly emotional. Sorry you got sick. May your health increase by the heaps! Despite your journey being cut short this video was wonderful. You improvised and got the job done once again! Many thanks!

Thank You very much, sabbatical. You respectfull way talking and listening to the people you meet is heartwarming. Thank You and hopefully your health Will become better soon

Enjoy your vlogs honest, off the beaten track, the real deal. Keep up the great work and wishing you a speedy recovery and hopefully back vlogging somewhere in the world soon. Take care.

Love your videos! Wouldn’t ever have known about this lovely region and the people there if not for this one. You do a great job of ‘show not tell’ - I feel that’a a true picture, the real vibe. Thank you!

It's amazing that you go to these rural areas of China. Thanks for sharing.

Tommy, glad to hear that you’re feeling better 😊. Your videos are so informative. Thanks for taking us along on your journey.

Gutted you couldn’t finish the series how you originally planned, but it was still very informative and entertaining. Keep up the great work (without risking your health) - looking forward to seeing where you head to next.

Thank you for the nostalgic China videos! I’m so sad you had to cut your trip short, but you gotta take care of your health so you can go back there again and make more videos! Hope you’ll get a chance to go to places like 伊犁哈萨克，西双版纳，哈尔滨--gotta go there during the ice sculpture festival.

Sorry to hear you have not been well. I have really enjoyed watching your videos. I love your style of just walking around interacting with local people and showing us a side of China we never see on main stream media. Can't wait to see where you will take us next.

in chinese traditional , we said that's "水土不服” means when a man come to a new environment, he is not going to fit the environment very well , the food the water the weather etc etc and has some healthy problem, so when you visit a new province try to take time to let your body fit the enviroment, slowly try local water and food bit by bit.

@user-gt3wz8ly4o

6 ай бұрын

其实水土不服不是这么理解，真正的原因是肠道微生态环境失调

@danieldanuarta8472

6 ай бұрын

especially in rural areas whereas the food and water hasn't "standarized"

I love your videos from China and. This is my favourite part of your channel. I hope your health gets restored and you will get back there for few more "seasons".

What a gem I have come across. Found you at 1am, it is now 9am and I still have you on my second screen, taking it all in. So amazing to have something like this available for free on the internet. Many thanks!

I hope you are feeling better I can't wait until you can get back to China. It's been my life Passion to Explore China and the cultures. Keep up the great work. The Asian countries and cultures are my favorite .take care of yourself, and thank you for sharing your travels

Love your channel. It’s interesting, informative and low key, unlike many influencers who appear to be manic and loud and use You Tube as a begging bowl. Appreciate your linguistic abilities too.

your videos are awesome Tommy. I thoroughly enjoyed your coverage in China. Thank you for showing us these wonderful moments. and for sharing your thoughts. Thank you for being so kind and open to the Chinese people.

- Your camera is great. Such clarity and definition. It always amazes me how you’re able to learn enough of the various languages to converse with the locals so well. Safe travels from Ma, USA.

Thanks Tommy. Hope you're feeling better. Always happy to see when a new Sabbatical video is out. You're a very genuine and intelligent person and I really appreciate that you do show the regular life of places you go to and how you approach the locals, the customs and the history. The hyper touristy videos that most others put out get quite tiring. I have an off topic question, you had mentioned once that you wanted to start a company when you lived in China pre-covid. Maybe you could do a vlog about what you wanted to do and what happened, if you're still wanting to do it. Etcetera.

I'm glad your safe Tommy, and traveling to a somewhat rare place for most people of the World. Happy Sunday east coast America...... be well and safe 🕊️

The view from the back patio was shockingly beautiful. Great video. Thanks

Hope you feel better soon. Thanks for the yunnan video of the naxi people. I loved that beautiful area too. Stunning scenery. Went by bus from kunming to lijiang.

Tommy, thank you for the amazing tour! Stay healthy, keep doing what pulls at you, and please, please keep sharing whatever it is. You're a phenomenal tour guide 👍

Hope that your health returns to full and you can continue to make travel blogs. You travel the way I like to travel mixing in with the people, no tours, just live in the culture. I look forward to more of your travel blogs. Twenty years ago I was fluent in Mandarin, read and write. However, things change and I didn't go study in China. Maybe some day I will get back my language skills and travel there. Look forward to your more of your travels. Thanks!

I really appreciate how you try to show stuff that may not appear as exciting to some people and also that you take your time to explain things more thoroughly. I enjoy the pace of these videos and since discovering your channel I have not missed a single one. It's pretty motivating for me to be diligent when it comes to learning new stuff. Looking forward to the next trip. Also China is pretty cool.

I enjoyed your video. I'm sorry you couldn't finish it the you would have liked. Here is hoping that you will feel better in the future and have a chance to do more.

Thanks for the China series videos! Good luck with your health stuff. Look forward to what you do next! A big fan of your style of videos!

I hope you feeling better, I loved this China vlogs, very unique. I hope you make it back there soon

Great eye-opening video series. You are always welcome back to China!

Your China series of videos have been fascinating. I'd love to go some day, to the rural areas. I'm from Scotland, I'm not sure how I would handle the humidity but the geopolitical stuff really doesn't put me off. More about having responsibilities, not got the time unfortunately. Hope you are on the mend, thanks for this series of vlogs.

Looking forward to your next adventure. You are the only travel vlogger I watch because you come off as authentic. Like a real traveler who happens to make videos and not just another youtuber looking for content.

Your China videos/work is so good, you do a great job with your content and stay focused on genuine thoughtful interactions. Aspirational for any young person ready to follow in your example!!

Thank you very much for the China videos! Hopefully you will add to them in the future. We will be waiting. :-)

Hope you’re feeling better now Tommy! I really enjoyed China and really hope you’ll make more 🤙🏼

Hope your feeling good again now Tommy! Your China videos have been amazing and educational! I'm hoping to see you do some more Japan videos sometime but health goes first! Look after yourself man!!

Your videos are so fun and I gain a lot knowledge and history from your videos. As an English learner, I can practice my listening by your videos as well! Thank you so much!!!!! Hope to see your creating more!!!! All the best wishes with you!

The area is spectacularly beautiful. The air appears very clean and the contrast of the blue skies the white clouds and the green farmland is just breathtaking. Cool video.

These China vlogs were really interesting Tommy. A different perspective.

Thank you for all of your open minded travel vlogs. Too many people focus on the bs. People are people no matter where you go, and their government, policies, and politics don’t define them. The people define the country, not the other way around. Keep up the good work!

@EbuzzNYC

6 ай бұрын

It's not bulls, but I get your point, sadly, the "leaders" in that country are trying to start a war, literally with every country around them, from Bhuttan, India, Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Japan, and of course the good people in Taiwan that did nothing to them. In that sense, I believe the leaders have defined the country.

@MattZim101

6 ай бұрын

To be honest, it'd be incorrect to say that chinese are not behind their government. We may not agree with them but honestly chinese have proven to be the most pragmatic soceity on this earth. What they have achieved so far has been historic, nowhere else witnessed in human history. I believe this transformation wouldn't be possible without robust state policies and rule of law.

@kenyup7936

6 ай бұрын

ty for that comment, but same comments should be towards China side too, coz our govt propaganda, there's sentiment anti-US among ppl too, you can't blame one side and ignore else side right, im sorry as Chinese, sorry for our govt did

@supremacy2040

6 ай бұрын

That’s not entirely true. Bc ppl do back their gov beliefs and do push it on the rest of society

@patrickoneill1011

6 ай бұрын

​@@supremacy2040 Some Totalitarian governments control their citizens through fear. Outsiders might see the people as devoted and supportive to their government leaders when in reality the people are opressed and living in fear.

Thank you for all the insights, really hope you get back to it and that you stay in good health Tommy. Always welcome to come and chill or vlog here in Holland. Your style of content creation doesn't have to be limited to China x

I feel relaxed when I watch your videos. Thank you.

So strange, Tommy. While enjoying your video, I was wondering if you ever get sick, especially while in such remote places and then abruptly you told us that you'd had to leave Yunnan, and indeed China, because of an illness. So sorry to hear that and wish you a speedy recovery. Keep up the great work mate but most importantly stay healthy.

Thanks for showing us the peace and tranquility of China. This series has totally changed my outlook on the country

Man what a beautiful region. Thanks again for the great content. Safe travels man and keep them coming!

Great series, keep yourself healthy! Looking forward to your next series

Realy enjoy your video travels and commentary. You always make it both fun and interesting. I sincerely hope you are feeling better soon and off on another journey. Take care, Chris in Dallas TX. Peace ✌🏻

Sorry to heard about your health brother, i hope now you are stable, thank you for the videos, maybe in the near future you will come to finish this adventure. cheers!

@JoeQuellen

6 ай бұрын

not yet but okay

@JodieXiao

6 ай бұрын

U have 10 mil subscribers, how come u only have 60 mil views in total

@JobOthoniel

6 ай бұрын

@@JodieXiao Hi Jodie, i had issues with yt video policies, so i had to erase lots of my best videos, but i´m doing now acording to their policies.but i dont want to hijack the comment section from my friend @sabbatical

Love your channel. The best videos of China can be found here

Sorry you weren't feeling well, thank you for making these videos. They really are something special. Entertaining sure, but even the small bit with the old explaining his Mongolian ancestry touched me in a way few this in this modern world do. I think a video on the Ainu in Japan would be fascinating but I'm sure you've got enough your plate and I'll watch whatever you put out. Best wishes brother!

I have loved watching all your videos as you have a unique way of managing to transcend all boundaries showing that as humans we have so much in common no matter what our upbringing or language. Hope your health continues to improve. X

@benthekeeshond545

6 ай бұрын

You have to relay your message to Ukraine/Russia and Arabs/Israelis.

You are the best. I wish that I could give this 100 thumbs up!

Hope you're feeling better man. Recently found your channel and I love your adventures in China. Hope to see you visit other countries as well

Not sure if you saw my comments on all your China videos but I feel listened to haha thanks for making your way there!! There are so many interesting subcultures out there in Yunnan!

I really appreciate your videos and the china series has been fascinating. Sorry it’s over but glad you are well and look forward to your future adventures.

Love your china blog，very interesting！

I’m sad to see it ending prematurely but I’m very happy to have been able to watch these videos you have made. I really appreciated your effort to show the daily lives and culture of the people from the standpoint of a regular person instead of having any kind of agenda or point to make , purely showing the beauty of the country and it’s people . I look forward to your next adventures , and stay safe

@NicolasNuykenCompositions

6 ай бұрын

And feel free to come back to Suriname anytime , we can have crack a cold Parbo together!

Ahhh….what a shame to cut short this video of your travels in Yunnan Province. What an amazing place and a fascinating village you visited. Speedy recovery and I look forward to your next one.

Tommy, you have an army of people out here who rely on your content and feel as though we know you. Everyone of us is wishing you good health and happy trails.

Thank you for sharing your journey with us and how every day people live across the world. Get well soon and remember health is wealth.

Your China videos are genuine and fascinating. Sorry to hear you had to cut your trip short. Keep up the excellent work 👏

Upload more please Tommy.your knowledge and content on your travels keep me sane,I have watched 90% of your travel vlogs,they are great.

Hey, I really enjoyed watching your journeyed series throughout China, and really appreciate you doing your research and giving informative takes on a lot of things. There aren't many other video vloggers nowadays who do it like you do in trying to show it for what it is for the most part. Your videos feel classic and genuine and I love that style the best. I know you did similar travels around other parts of the globe, and although I have my own bubble of criticism of places I feel you shouldn't promote too much for viewers to travel to, I very much appreciate you going to such places and really trying to see it from the local's perspective, which I wouldn't really have the balls to do if I'm being frank. Although, pointing fun at it, I especially found your backyard pool to be the most scenic ending to it all. A stark contrast to how even the biggest cities or the most rural parts of China can feel crowded to watch from a video viewer's perspective here in Canada. Overall, I really enjoyed these hidden gems of Asia a lot more as a fellow North American. Good to know if I ever do plan on travelling when I get older. I cannot wait to see where else you plan to go, if you are taking future suggestions (I don't know if you had visited these places before), I would love to see you cover the rest of the world (lol), maybe sooner or later Mongolia, maybe the Scandinavian Peninsula all around (used to dream driving across the Norway roads there, heard it os breathing taking and that there is a highway inches above the sea), and really interesting to me as of late is Japan; I know you visited Japan already but not really much I feel, and I would really like to see you unpack the culture to the best of your knowledge. So maybe in the coming years a proper revisit and exploration of the prefectures in your light would be really really interesting and massively helpful for future me down the road. Japan is a very isolating nation, so it may be more difficult for you than China I feel. I know there are a few prominent KZreadrs who reside there, but they are just not my vibe to watch to put it frankly. I would absolutely love your video style take on this wonderful country, as well as many other countries! Either way, cannot wait to see your next exploration. Cheers and hope you get better. 👍

I like your moderate generosity and no BS in your clip. You are being yourself.

Feel better Tommy. Thanks for dropping these

Hi Tommy! I've recently been seeing all your videos and I love them, I'm from Mexico I live in the city of Mazatlan, it's a very beautiful port. If you ever get back to Mexico, I'd really recommend you come and explore, there's a lot of history and small towns to visit here. We also have the tallest natural lighthouse in the world. Keep it up with the awesome videos!

When I travelled to Yunnan with my grandpa, we both got sick after a week, we had to leave a week earlier than we planned, once we were back to Beijing all symptoms were gone without doing anything, people told us it was because we didn’t adapt to the climate, water and food well in Yunnan.

@obsmagician

6 ай бұрын

This is so strange, why people cannot accommodate in Yunnan village but anywhere else in China? I become suspicious about what people there give you to eat... accidentally or on purpose, who knows.

@benthekeeshond545

6 ай бұрын

Food poisoning. After a week, your body healed. I only consume well-cooked food and drink bottle water when traveling.

@CM-zl2jw

6 ай бұрын

@@obsmagician oh those matriarchs. 🧐. Ya never know. I’m guessing that they don’t want foreigners around. Witches brew. Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble. 😎

@nailatron

6 ай бұрын

what symptoms did you get? I lived there and had constant sinus issues because of the dry air.

@chongqingcapybara1306

6 ай бұрын

老水土不服了

Your videos are awesome as always but the nature and weather there seem amazing.... nature looks beautiful.

Thanks for the RIDE ! Hope to listen to more videos like yours.

I can't ever thank you enough for your videos. There are very few I honestly look forward to, but yours are at the top of my anticipating hopes. Take care of yourself, and again, thank you. I can only dream of your adventures ❤!

Mr. Sabbatical, thank you for taking us places that I could have only imagined. We're so lucky to not only have you as your virtual tour guide but to have you as an incredible American Ambassador (representing the good parts of us). Your genuine kindness and respect for people's culture and languages is remarkable. Best of luck with your health and rest, I know there are many more adventures that await you.

Amazing Videos Tommy.Hope you get well and do more Thanks.

Thanks Tommy , you never disappoint , I was looking forward to the meal and party at the hotel tho. Cheers from New Zealand

Great, people seem freer and less paranoid than in the city, thank you for this wonderful video.

How i love your videos, totally in awe.

Glad you're feeling better. Thanks for the videos.

I'm really glad you make these videos man. It really keeps my interests sparked in world culture and I get to see the beauty of things I wouldn't be able to on my own. You really make it feel like I went to these countries and visited and was able to speak to the people to get insight. It's like I was right there with you. Very cool experience. You are really good at that. I hope you'll always feel good and never feel ill again.

@user-bl2lu2nx2u

5 ай бұрын

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤me. Too❤❤❤

@kacklerot

5 ай бұрын

@@user-bl2lu2nx2u ❤

Great and informative as usual. I wish you good health Tommy.

Thank you Tommy for the amazing videos, l enjoy traveling so much, what I have learned from you is priceless. Your courage and knowledge of languages is impressive, keep up the good work, take care of your self and God bless you. نراك في الفديو القادم. See you in the next video.

I am sad that this is your last China vlog. Thank you so much for sharing your travels in China, they are inspiring and your personality is very calm and polite.

@44bett

3 ай бұрын

Agree, Adios Tomas.

thanks for a great series man loved it!

Cool stuff man. I have really enjoyed it and I fully agree with you. I hope you recuperate well. Cheers!

Really beautiful place! Love the nature ❤.

I spent a lot of my life in Thailand. Mostly Bangkok. I learned to speak Thai and married a Thai lady. I did take many enjoyable extended trips into China and liked it very much. My one regret is not spending more time in China and speaking Chinese as you do. I'm getting too old for exotic travels now and settled down where I was born, Manhattan NYC. I enjoyed your episodes very much. Good Luck

@avery.a5948

5 ай бұрын

How long did you live in Thailand?

@user-bl2lu2nx2u

5 ай бұрын

Very. Frustrating. When. You. Can't. Travel. Because. Ojg. Age. Or. Ill Health. Take. Carr❤❤❤❤❤

Thanks tommy hope you’re feeling better always look forward to your videos ❤ take care

Those views are amazing, thanks for sharing.

I thought Tibet was quiet and peaceful, but this place is surely more quiet and more peaceful! Very very relaxing adventure indeed!

@greenmachine5600

6 ай бұрын

This place is Tibet too. The mosuo could be considered a Tibetan ethnicity. They also practice Tibetan Buddhism

I've never clicked so fast... My boy Sabbatical dropping another banger.. Feel better Tommy...

You're the best man!! I appreciate all the informative adventures and I hope to see you back at it asap! Get well soon buddy!

LOVE your videos, hope you feel better now. Looking forward to your next travel.

I’m sad the china tour is over! It was so enjoyable to watch and remember when I was there before. I hope you go back again! I know I want to!

This just makes me wish I could see ancient China even more, if some of these traditions still exist today, imagine how different life was back then. Get better Tommy!

@EbuzzNYC

6 ай бұрын

Mao's main legacy was to get rid of the traditions of China, from the written language, to religion, and even any hint of individual thought.

@WisdomAndCats

6 ай бұрын

Keep in mind the Mosuo tradition is extremely unique, very different from anything that can represent ancient China.

@EbuzzNYC

6 ай бұрын

Yes, it's Tibetan, not Chinese, just highlights the fact that Tibetan should be an independent nation and it was invaded by China@@WisdomAndCats

@user-zo5bx6qo7p

6 ай бұрын

@@EbuzzNYC First of all, half of this ethnic group belongs to the Mongolian ethnic group, and the other half belongs to the Naxi ethnic group. The Mosuo people have nothing to do with the Tibetans. It's just that the Mossi people living in Sichuan Province speak a language similar to the Tibetan people because there are Tibetans living in this area.

@fidel7182

6 ай бұрын

@@GWT1m0 No, down with nation states.

WOW! 😮 What an exceptional video! No apologies necessary. Many Thanks, and keep up the Great Work!!! 👍😎

I have really enjoyed your travels and insights especially now the way our world is going....awesome stay well❤👍

Yes, my wife was there just before Covid. She did visit some of those family units and was surprised by the arrangement, and how peaceful these units were. Just a matter of survival I guess while facing such poor living conditions, as a minority group in China.