Day 3 - Last Day in Beijing

So here I am again - it's just now 9 p.m. (or 21:00 as the hotel clock reads) on Monday, November 10, 2008. I feel like I'm writing from the future and conveying what it's like to everyone back in the United States since it is 7 a.m. on Monday morning back home.

I hope everyone's Monday is as good as mine! Today was, yet again, another wonderful experience. Terri and I woke up this morning a little sore (thanks to our Great Wall experience) and got ready for the day. We have a little issue in our room ... with only one electric converter (why was it we didn't bring two again?) and many electronic devices that require the use of one - laptop, 2 camera chargers, cell phone charger (which is why my cell phone battery is dead - no time to charge), flat iron (it's for your hair), etc. we are are learning how to become efficient with our electricity schedule. But we made it on the bus, Starbucks in hand, on time and ready to tour.

First stop - a Pearl Factory. Yes, this educational tour also afforded us the opportunity to once again shop. It was interesting to learn about the cultivation of pearls and how you can tell a real pearl from a fake pearl. But I won't go into detail because there is so much more we did today that is way more interesting.

Second stop - the Summer Palace. What a breathtaking sight that is. It was a beautiful morning to stroll the grounds of a magnificent place. When I write 'palace' that is a little misleading. We didn't actually tour the palace. The palace is built on a hill that overlooks a Kunming Lake. The grounds are spectular, ecompassing over 700 acres. There is the famous 17 arch bridge that links a small island to the mainland. There is also the long corridor that spans one side of the lake and is over 2,000 feet long and is, like everything else that was built for the emperors ... opulently decorated. Of course Matt, Colleen and myself walked the corridor, disregarding the time, and held up our tour ... I know, know big surprise ... it was just too beautiful not to take in.

What is really interesting about the summer palace - as well as other public spaces in Beijing - is that the people of China really utilize the grounds. We've seen people playing musically instruments for enjoyment (not for tips), others doing tae chi, and this morning I even participated in dancing with ribbons to traditional Chinese music (I've posted a picture). It was so much fun to be at the palace grounds this morning.

Another interesting place at the Summer Palace is the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity. I'm sure you all know exactly what that is, but for the few of you who don't, I'll explain. The Hall is another opulent building where the emperor and emperoress would conduct important state business like receiving foreign dignitaries, performing expected ceremonial duties, and (no lie, I took a picture of the plaque) accept laudations. I'm trying to figure out how to get that job duty written into my job description. Any thoughts?

From there we boarded the tour bus headed to the hutong area. But before we could get there Terri and I held up the tour bus (big surprise) purchasing a roasted sweet potato from one of the street vendors. Let me tell you - it was delicious!

We made our way to the hutong part of Beijing. What is a hutong? Cliffnote version: it is an old alleyway where people live in courtyard homes. There are different areas where hutongs are located and many have been either been destroyed by new development or have been renovated ...The hutong area we were in was located near a small lake and had some new development (still keeping the historical characteristics much like an historic district would dictate) but very much contained the old and less appealing homes. We took a tour of the hutong district by way of rickshaw. No, it was pulled by a man ... the new rickshaws are bicycles with the cartlike carraige for passengers attached to the back. I took a picture "driving" a rickshaw ... If I ever decide to relocate to Beijing I just might take it up as a profession. (that was a joke).

We then were welcomed by a family into their home in the hutong. The lady prepared an incredible lunch - served traditional chineses "family" style. It was probably the best meal I have had so far. The family was very kind and welcomed us into their modest living space. We entered through the kitchen which is no bigger than a closet. Literally no more than three people could stand in it at one time and really only one person if cooking ... The bottom floor also had a small living space and another 'bedroom' and bathroom. The refrigerator was in the living room and because there was about 20 of us, card tables were put up in both the living area and the bedroom and we were wall to wall. There was also one bedroom upstairs. This family was fortunate to have their own private bath/shower. Most of the people who reside in the hutong use a public toilet. I will say that walking through the alleyway there were some interesting odors.

Once we finished our feast we made our way back out through the hutong to wait for our tour bus. While walking the streets I kept noticing an interesting looking jar with a paper lid on top in the food-type stores. I would also notice those same jars with straws in them left at the store. My curiousity was peaked and so three yuan later (equivalent of 50 cents) I purchased one. It's yogurt. And I took the ceramic jar ... is that stealing? I did pay for it afterall. (I took a picture of it and posted it on this blog).

Our next stop on the Beijing tour was the Temple of Heaven. Another very fascinating site. Again, this structure was completed under the Ming Dynasty (that dynasty was very busy, let me tell you) and is known as the largest circular structure built completely out of wood - no nails. It too is located on a large piece of land. The grounds where it sits is absolutely beautiful - the trees and landscaping is gorgeous. I've posted some pictures.

We then left the premises and made our way to some Eastern Medicine facility where we were given an overview of TCM (not to be confused with TMZ - two completely different things). TCM is Traditional Chinese Medicine. Of course, we had the opportunity to purchase such items after our educational experience.

After that we had a dumpling dinner - very delicious. I really do like Chinese food and haven't tired of having rice (I even eat it for breakfast).

A couple of strange things I want to share with you. First, and I know this is weird for me to write on a blog to entire public but I really find it odd and want to share - the toilets. They are ... um... different. Not sure about the men's room, but in the ladies room they are in the ground (again, refer to posted picture). After much contemplation over the logistics of using one, I actually find them to be cleaner than a typical American toilet. Our hotel, however, is very westernized. OH, but wait, there's more ... in many (but not all) of the places we've visited ... the toilet paper is located outside of the stall. So, just be sure to know this before proceeding.

Something else that strikes me as odd is the fact that others in China find me odd ... Twice I've asked if I could be photographed and once a girl just walked up to me and took my picture - what am I in the circus. Another time, while viewing relics in the Ming tombs, a Chinese gentleman with broken English asked me if I was from the United States and then said his friend thinks I am pretty and would like to have a picture taken with me. Today, a similar experience. Very, very strange.

Another peculiarity is what we are served to drink at lunch and dinner ... our choices are coke (no diet coke is available), water, hot tea and beer. No joke, every meal, same options. There isn't any wine anywhere (well, OK, in the hotel there is imported wine but you just don't see people drinking it). And what they do call wine - I call hardcore liquor. Their 'wine' at 112 proof with the taste of gasoline, would be very difficult to pair with food. Also, I haven't seen any articial sweetners anywhere - which is why their, I suppose, we haven't seen any diet coke.

OK, I know there is more I could write, but I am exhausted. It's almost 10 p.m. and I still have to upload the photos. AND tomorrow we have to get up at 4 a.m. because we are flying to Shanghai. Can't wait - a new city to explore!!!