Actually our adventure started when we got to the airport and thought we had an hour to wait, that turned into about two hours after that hour was up. We wiled the hours away by playing cards and being generally obnoxious like we do. We touched down in Beijing around 2am and got to our hotel/room around 3ish. I didn't sleep until about 4 and we were up for breakfast around 8.30. We hit the first tourist trap of The Forbidden City which took us a few hours. Gate entrances after gate entrances and the palace grounds kept going and going. We passed by rooms, official government meeting places even a terrace building specifically to change the Emperor's robes...its good to be Emperor! The city is enormous, old and fascinating. I can't believe people actually lived there. I wonder what it looked like 800 years ago when it was new.
We had a lot of existential moments today as we walked around...it was definitely an experience that makes you reexamine your existence, the moments you become so self aware, and realize that once again this world is so much bigger than a test at school, or if gas went up 10 cents.
This city was made for one person. One guy they declared to be supreme ruler, who sent up sacrifices to the god's to make the crops grow, and the skies open up or be calm. That is mind blowing to me. This random dude, who for all accounts is someone that just showed up one day and was declared divine (that's how I see it in my head) and BAM he's got it all. Gardens, patios, huge tracks of land (no really, its just land) and gardens for his many wives too. He also has other stuff like a sacrificial temple and a summer palace...basically Beijing was the Emperor's playground. Lucky guy.
The sun was behind us all day as we trooped through crowds, over huge doorway steps and by palace rooms that all blurred together. My legs are probably completely cooked from the inside out by now, but surprisingly they haven't turned red...yet.
There are so many people here. There's huge swarms of guided tours with matching orange hats, all the way to people strolling around in two's or threes. Also, our celeb status got taken down a few notches. Sadly we are not the only people of non Asian descent anymore, and the other foreigners are numerous and easily spotted.
Tonight we'll take it easy, have a rest and hit the hay early because tomorrow is the big one: The Great Wall.
Ok, so I really meant to write each day bout what happened then post it all at once. Now I'm afraid I have so much to write about that I won't cover it all in under 10,000 words. So instead of posting a blog of enormous proportions, I will highlight the best parts, in bullet point form of course, and you can ask the juicy, or nitty gritty, or sweaty, or emotional, or fascinating details after when I return home...in two months.
1) The Great Wall was incredibly great, and wallish. We did not know the hike would be so...vertical. Also playing tag.
2.) Never trust a tour guide.
3.) Make time for traffic.
4.) Tourist spots are touristy, but that doesn't negate the experience of seeing an awe- inspiring architectural wonder in person.
5.) I've seen two wonders of the world now, only 15 of the Seven left! (exaggeration...or is it?)
6.) Happy Hour
7.) The rainiest yet most adventurous day just from wanting noodles for lunch. Hint: I've used almost all types of transportation in China now...including the rickety "microwave" vehicle.
8.) Swim caps mandatory, especially if a bikini is involved
9.) Traveling with non family members is an entirely new experience
10.) Xi'an is actually a really cool city, and completely opposite of what I expected
11.) Jade is expensive...unless you decide its not
12.) Being hard-hearted is acceptable while shopping at a silk market. Be unabashed.
13.) Dalian is a beautiful city, and we all agreed that by the end of the trip, we missed home.
14.) I will have these fantastic memories of my time in China, hopefully for the rest of my life and it was worth, every penny and every single minute.
Everything else...well you'll just have to ask :)
No comments:
Post a Comment